A former continuation of the Alps

Research Article| June 01, 1976 A former continuation of the Alps WALTER ALVAREZ WALTER ALVAREZ 1Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1976) 87 (6): 891–896. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<891:AFCOTA>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation WALTER ALVAREZ; A former continuation of the Alps. GSA Bulletin 1976;; 87 (6): 891–896. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<891:AFCOTA>2.0.CO;2 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract There is strong evidence that microplates have played an important role in the tectonic evolution of the Western Mediterranean. A reconstruction of the Oligocene positions of these microplates leads to recognition of the Hercynian "Protoligurian Massif" (new term) and suggests that the Alpine belt (Late Cretaceous and early Tertiary deformation) formerly continued southwest from Alpine Corsica to Calabria and perhaps as far as the Betic Cordilleras of southern Spain. Fragments of this orogenic belt were dispersed during the Miocene-Pliocene episode of microplate movement that also produced the Apennine-Atlas orogenic belt. This hypothesis provides a new solution to the old question of why the Alps presently terminate in Corsica. A comparison of geological data from the Alps, northeastern Corsica, and Calabria supports the hypothesis that they were formerly continuous segments of the Alpine orogenic belt. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.