Tectonic Record of Deformation in Intraplate Domains: Case Study of Far-Field Deformation in the Grands Causses Area, France

A new tectonic study reveals that the Grands Causses region, an intraplate domain north of the Pyrenean orogeny, has experienced far longer and more complex deformation than previously understood. Contrary to prior assumptions, the so-called 'Pyrenean deformation' began around 100 million years ago (Ma) during the Barremian-Aptian epoch, not during the late Eocene as thought, and persisted for over 60-70 million years. This challenges the conventional view of tectonic plates as rigid blocks, demonstrating that intraplate domains can be highly sensitive to deformation from neighboring plate activities. The research combined tectonic analysis with synkinematic geochronology of fault-related calcites, providing a novel timeline for both Mesozoic extension and subsequent compressional events linked to Pyrenean basin dynamics.

Parizot, O., Missenard, Y., Vergely, P., Haurine, F., Noret, A., Delpech, G., Barbarand, J., & Sarda, P. (2020). Tectonic Record of Deformation in Intraplate Domains: Case Study of Far-Field Deformation in the Grands Causses Area, France. Geofluids, 2020, 1–19. https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/7598137