Neotectonic extrusion of the Eastern Alps: Constraints from U/Th dating of tectonically damaged speleothems

Research Article| June 01, 2010 Neotectonic extrusion of the Eastern Alps: Constraints from U/Th dating of tectonically damaged speleothems Lukas Plan; Lukas Plan 1Department for Karst and Caves, Natural History Museum Vienna, Museumsplatz 1/10 A-1070 Vienna, Austria Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bernhard Grasemann; Bernhard Grasemann 2Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Christoph Spötl; Christoph Spötl 3Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Kurt Decker; Kurt Decker 2Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ronny Boch; Ronny Boch 3Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jan Kramers Jan Kramers 4Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1-3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Lukas Plan 1Department for Karst and Caves, Natural History Museum Vienna, Museumsplatz 1/10 A-1070 Vienna, Austria Bernhard Grasemann 2Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Christoph Spötl 3Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria Kurt Decker 2Department for Geodynamics and Sedimentology, University of Vienna, Althanstrasse 14, A-1090 Vienna, Austria Ronny Boch 3Institute of Geology and Palaeontology, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, A-6020 Innsbruck, Austria Jan Kramers 4Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Bern, Baltzerstrasse 1-3, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 11 Nov 2009 Revision Received: 16 Dec 2009 Accepted: 20 Dec 2009 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2010 Geological Society of America Geology (2010) 38 (6): 483–486. https://doi.org/10.1130/G30854.1 Article history Received: 11 Nov 2009 Revision Received: 16 Dec 2009 Accepted: 20 Dec 2009 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Lukas Plan, Bernhard Grasemann, Christoph Spötl, Kurt Decker, Ronny Boch, Jan Kramers; Neotectonic extrusion of the Eastern Alps: Constraints from U/Th dating of tectonically damaged speleothems. Geology 2010;; 38 (6): 483–486. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G30854.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract We suggest that the Salzachtal-Ennstal-Mariazell-Puchberg (SEMP) fault, a major strike-slip system in the European Alps, is active. It has accommodated lateral extrusion of the central part of the Eastern Alps toward the Pannonian Basin. The main tectonic activity of this fault dates back to Oligocene and Miocene time, but until now it was largely unknown whether the fault was still active. We present here the first field evidence of neotectonic activity from a cave in the Hochschwab karst massif (Styria, Austria) that intersects a segment of the SEMP fault zone. Damaged speleothems in this cave include scratched flowstone (a hitherto undescribed feature), massive flowstone disrupted by a fault, and ruptured flowstone. The superposition of younger flowstone layers allows constraining the time frame of the tectonic events using U/Th dating. The youngest flowstone of the pre-damage generation is ca. 118 ka (end of the Last Interglacial) and the oldest post-event layer is ca. 9 ka (early Holocene). The tectonic event bracketed by these layers coincided with a growth hiatus during the last glacial period, consistent with the high alpine setting of the cave. Geologic evidence precludes deformation mechanisms other than tectonic. These new data are consistent with vectors of continuous global positioning system measurements as well as instrumental seismicity data, and collectively suggest that the SEMP is an active fault and that lateral extrusion of the Eastern Alps is ongoing. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.