Studying travertines for neotectonics investigations: Middle–Late Pleistocene syn-tectonic travertine deposition at Serre di Rapolano (Northern Apennines, Italy)

Middle–Late Pleistocene tectonic activity has been inferred through studies on travertine deposits exposed in a tract of the hinterland Northern Apennines. A detailed study on the relationships between tectonics and travertine deposition coupled with ²³⁰Th/²³⁴U age determination of travertines at Cava Oliviera quarry, located close to Serre di Rapolano village (southern Tuscany, Northern Apennines), allowed us to recognise Pleistocene faults, whose activity has been referred to 157–24 ka, at least. Travertine deposition was tectonically controlled by WSW-ENE striking, oblique and normal faults, associated to a main fault (named as the Violante Fault). This structure dissected a regional normal fault (known as the Rapolano Fault) Early–Middle Pliocene in age, which bounded the eastern side of the Pliocene Siena Basin, and gave rise to space accommodation for clayey and sandy marine sediments. Hydrothermal circulation (and related travertine deposition) was favoured by the damaging enhancement due to the fault–fault intersection. Tectonic activity has been also documented by deformation recorded by travertines, which suggest a main tectonic event between 64 ± 5 and 40 ± 5 ka. The tectonic activity described for the study area agrees with the Quaternary tectonic evolution documented in the surrounding areas (e.g. Mt. Amiata and Mt. Vulsini), as well as the Tyrrhenian margin of the Central Apennines, indicating that a widespread tectonic activity affected the inner part of the Apennines until the latest Quaternary.     

Plio-Quaternary stress states in NE Iran: Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud mountain ranges

NE Iran, including the Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud deformation domains, comprises the northeastern boundary of the Arabia–Eurasia collision zone. This study focuses on the evolution of the Plio-Quaternary tectonic regimes of northeast Iran. We present evidence for drastic temporal changes in the stress state by inversion of both geologically and seismically determined fault slip vectors. The inversions of fault kinematics data reveal distinct temporal changes in states of stress during the Plio-Quaternary (since ～ 5 Ma). The paleostress state is characterized by a regional transpressional tectonic regime with a mean N140 ± 10°E trending horizontal maximum stress axis (σ₁). The youngest (modern) state of stress shows two distinct strike-slip and compressional tectonic regimes with a regional mean of N030 ± 15°E trending horizontal σ₁. The change from the paleostress to modern stress states has occurred through an intermediate stress field characterized by a mean regional N trending σ₁. The inversion analysis of earthquake focal mechanisms reveals a homogeneous, transpressional tectonic regime with a regional N023 ± 5°E trending σ₁. The modern stress state, deduced from the youngest fault kinematics data, is in close agreement with the present-day stress state given by the inversions of earthquake focal mechanisms. According to our data and the deduced results, in northeast Iran, the Arabia–Eurasia convergence is taken up by strike-slip faulting along NE trending left-lateral and NNW trending right-lateral faults, as well as reverse to oblique-slip reverse faulting along NW trending faults. Such a structural assemblage is involved in a mechanically compatible and homogeneous modern stress field. This implies that no strain and/or stress partitioning or systematic block rotations have occurred in the Kopeh Dagh and Allah Dagh-Binalud deformation domains. The Plio-Quaternary stress changes documented in this paper call into question the extrapolation of the present-day seismic and GPS-derived deformation rates over geological time intervals encompassing tens of millions of years.     

Uniform slip rates of the Altyn Tagh and the Kunlun faults likely reflect lateral variation of frictional strength of the faults

The slip rate predicted from geodetic and geomorphological measurements is quite uniform on ~800–1,000 km length of the Altyn Tagh and the Kunlun faults. GPS velocity field documents that tectonic loading on the two active faults changes greatly along their strikes. To explore the mechanical relationship between far‐field tectonic loading and fault slip‐rate accumulation, we built a 3D viscoelastic finite‐element model with fault motion governed by frictional strength of contact interfaces. Based on numerical experiments, it is found that the observed uniform slip rate could reflect lateral variation of frictional strength along fault strike. Variation of predicted frictional coefficient ranges from ~0.13 to ~0.02, verifying that the two active faults must be weak for their mechanical strength. In addition, the good fitness between the relatively weak segment of faults and the location of strong earthquakes suggests that seismic activity along the two faults could be related to their frictional strength.     

The onset of the Tan–Lu fault movement in eastern China: constraints from zircon (SHRIMP) and 40Ar/39Ar dating

In eastern China, the Dabie Shan–Su–Lu orogenic belt has been separated by the Tan–Lu sinistral strike–slip fault. Mylonites are exposed along the strike–slip fault system in the southern segment, and along the eastern margin of the Dabie Shan orogenic belt. The country rocks of the mylonites are retrograde UHP eclogites, gneissic granites, muscovite granites and gneisses. The ductile strike–slip shear zone trends 30–40°N (NE30–40°‐trending) and exhibits stretching lineations and nearly vertical, SE‐dipping foliations. Most of the zircon grains separated from mylonites have a weighted average radiometric age of 233 ± 6–225 ± 6 Myr. These data constrain the onset of the Tan–Lu sinistral strike–slip movement and imply that the Tan–Lu sinistral strike–slip motion developed after retrograde UHP metamorphism. The related phengite within the eclogite rocks on the western side of the Tan–Lu fault, with ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of c. 182–190 Myr, is also deformed and aligned parallel to the almost NE trending stretching lineations. Non‐metamorphosed granites exhibit sinistral strike–slip shearing and indicate that the Tan–Lu fault initially developed after 182–190 Myr. Muscovite collected from the mylonite yields ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages of 162 ± 1–156 ± 2 Myr. The zircon SHRIMP age data, the muscovite ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar plateau ages, together with structural and petrological field information support the interpretation that the Tan–Lu strike–slip fault was not related to the Yangtze–north China plates collision, but corresponded to the formation of a NE‐trending tectonic framework in eastern China starting c. 165–160 Ma.     

湘赣边区NNE向走滑造山带构造发展样式

应用马杏垣教授倡导的构造解析方法,对湘赣边区ＮＮＥ 向走滑盆岭山链的构造发展过程及样式进行了研讨,论证了该地区前中生代ＥＷ 向古特提斯构造体系与中新生代ＮＮＥ向滨太平洋构造体系之间的立交桥式横跨叠加关系和构造背景,建立了华南陆壳俯冲 会聚走滑转换造山模型,提出了新华夏式变质核杂岩构造的新概念,并对其基本特征和形成机制进行了阐述。文中强调,发育在湘赣边区的ＮＮＥ 向走滑断裂是郯庐断裂带南段的主干成分,由ＮＥ３０°同向走滑断裂（Ｐ） 和ＮＷ３２０°反向走滑断裂（Ｒ′） 交织而成的雁列菱形网结系统是该断裂在地表的基本构造样式。大多数陆壳俯冲型和会聚走滑型的花岗岩都具剪切重熔成因,雁列的半地堑盆地和新华夏式变质核杂岩体主要受走滑 伸展变形场所控制。指出自晚三叠世以来,该地区曾经历了两次不同的重大构造转换和两个性质及发展趋向相反的走滑造山过程,即印支晚期的陆壳俯冲向陆内会聚走滑转换和侏罗纪时期的会聚走滑造山;早白垩世开始的会聚走滑向离散走滑转换和白垩纪－ 老第三纪的离散走滑造山。每次构造转换和构造变形对该地区的成岩成矿都起到了重要的作用。     

The <Emphasis Type="Italic">M</Emphasis> = 5.1 1980 Arudy earthquake sequence (western Pyrenees,France): a revisited multi-scale integrated seismologic,geomorphologic and tectonic investigation

This paper presents a combination of seismic imaging, geomorphologic, and tectonic data and an interpretation of the M = 5.1 1980 Arudy earthquake sequence putting in relation the seismicity, the inherited faults, and the geomorphologic (Würm and postwürm) markers in this region of the Pyrenees. Since the anticlockwise rotation of the regional compression axis in Oligocene time, western Pyrenees are under a dextral regime and the resulting motion is accommodated along major inherited E–W dextral strike-slip faults. The Arudy aftershocks sequence is controlled by antecedent horsetail splay faults built at the boundary between two shallow Mesozoic crustal blocks most probably due to their differing rheology. This boundary has played the role of a seismic barrier stopping the E–W slip motion. The Arudy earthquake has reactivated the eastern segment of the main E–W strike-slip fault, while the post-seismic aftershocks correspond to local relaxation processes in normal tectonic behavior.     

GPS-derived deformation rates in northwestern Himalaya and Ladakh

Deformation rates derived from GPS measurements made at two continuously operating stations at Leh (34.1°N, 77.6°E) and Hanle (32.7°N, 78.9°E), and eight campaign sites in the trans-Himalayan Ladakh spanning 11 years (1997–2008), provide a clear picture of the kinematics of this region as well as the convergence rate across northwestern Himalaya. All the Ladakh sites move 32–34 mm/year NE in the ITRF2005 reference frame, and their relative velocities are 13–16 mm/year SW in the Indian reference frame and ~19 mm/year W with reference to the Lhasa IGS station in southeastern Tibet. The results indicate that there is no statistically significant deformation in the 200-km stretch between the continuous sites Leh and Hanle as well as between Leh and Nubra valley sites along the Karakoram fault, whereas the sites in and around the splayed Karakoram fault region indicate surface deformation of 2.5 mm/year. Campaign sites along the Karakoram fault zone indicate a fault parallel surface motion of 1.4–2.5 mm/year in the Tangste and western Panamik segment of the Karakoram fault, which quantifies the best possible GPS-derived dextral slip rate of 3 mm/year along this fault during this 11-year period. Baselines of Ladakh sites show convergence rates of 15–18 mm/year with respect to south India and 12–15 mm/year with respect to Delhi in north India and Almora in the Himalaya ~400 km north-northeast of Delhi. These constitute an arc normal convergence of 12–15 mm/year across the western Himalaya, which is consistent with arc normal convergence all along the Himalayan arc from west to east. Baseline extension rates of 14–16 mm/year between Lhasa and Ladakh sites are consistent with the east–west extension rate of Tibetan Plateau.     

SHRIMP U–Pb dating of the Antucoya porphyry copper deposit: new evidence for an Early Cretaceous porphyry-related metallogenic epoch in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile

The Antucoya porphyry copper deposit (300 Mt at 0.45% total Cu) is one of the largest deposits of a poorly known Early Cretaceous porphyry belt in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile. It is related to a succession of granodioritic and tonalitic porphyritic stocks and dikes that were emplaced within Jurassic andesitic rocks of the La Negra Formation immediately west of the N–S trending sinistral strike-slip Atacama Fault Zone. New zircon SHRIMP U–Pb data indicate that the porphyries of Antucoya crystallized within the time span from 142.7 ± 1.6 to 140.6 ± 1.5 Ma (±2 σ), and late, unmineralized, NW–SE trending dacite dikes with potassic alteration and internal deformation crystallized at 141.9 ± 1.4 Ma. The Antucoya porphyry copper system appears to be formed after a change of stress conditions along the magmatic arc from extensional in the Late Jurassic to transpressive during the Early Cretaceous and provides support for an Early Cretaceous metallogenic episode of porphyry-type mineralization along the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile.     

Seismic reflection imaging of active faults and their tectonic behavior in the Northern Moroccan margin. Is the Nekor fault a pure strike-slip fault?

The study of 1000-km seismic reflection profiles, along the Northern Moroccan margin, allowed browsing new imaging in detail about the regional geological structures and their functioning. To achieve this goal, we elaborated a high-resolution depth model and a global tectonic sketch. The influence of recent tectonic activity is manifested by normal and strike-slip faults, trending mainly 70° N and 125° N. In this segment, the Nekor strike-slip fault seems to be connected to a secondary major fault system that changes direction from 30° N to 70° N, and changing behavior to left-lateral strike-slip fault with normal component. Analysis of local seismic activity recorded from 1990 to 2014 with moderate magnitudes activity shows alignments in clear superposition with the detected active faults in seismic reflection lines.     

40Ar/39Ar dating constraints on the high-angle normal faulting along the southern segment of the Tan-Lu fault system: An implication for the onset of eastern China rift-systems

High-angle normal faulting in eastern China was an important tectonic process responsible for the rifting of the eastern Asian continental margin. Along the southern segment of the Tan-Lu fault system, part of the eastern China rift-system, 55–70° east-dipping normal faults are the oldest structures within this rift-system. Chlorite, pseudotachylite, and fault breccia are found in fault zones, which are characterized by microstructures and syn-deformation chlorite minerals aligned parallel to a down-dip stretching lineation. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar dating of syn-deformation chlorite and K-feldspar from the fault gouge zone yields cooling ages of ～75–70 Ma, interpreted as the timing of slip along the normal faults. This age is older than that of opening of the Japanese sea and back-arc extension in the west Pacific, but similar to the onset of the Indo-Asian (soft?) collision.     

A new perspective on the significance of the Ranotsara shear zone in Madagascar

The Ranotsara shear zone in Madagascar has been considered in previous studies to be a >350-km-long, intracrustal strike-slip shear zone of Precambrian/Cambrian age. Because of its oblique strike to the east and west coast of Madagascar, the Ranotsara shear zone has been correlated with shear zones in southern India and eastern Africa in Gondwana reconstructions. Our assessment using remote sensing data and field-based investigations, however, reveals that what previously has been interpreted as the Ranotsara shear zone is in fact a composite structure with a ductile deflection zone confined to its central segment and prominent NW–SE trending brittle faulting along most of its length. We therefore prefer the more neutral term “Ranotsara Zone”. Lithologies, tectonic foliations, and axial trace trajectories of major folds can be followed from south to north across most of the Ranotsara Zone and show only a marked deflection along its central segment. The ductile deflection zone is interpreted as a result of E–W indentation of the Antananarivo Block into the less rigid, predominantly metasedimentary rocks of the Southwestern Madagascar Block during a late phase of the Neoproterozoic/Cambrian East African Orogeny (c. 550–520 Ma). The Ranotsara Zone shows significant NW–SE striking brittle faulting that reactivates part of the NW–SE striking ductile structures in the flexure zone, but also extends along strike toward the NW and toward the SE. Brittle reactivation of ductile structures along the central segment of the Ranotsara Zone, confirmed by apatite-fission track results, may have led to the formation of a shallow Neogene basin underlying the Ranotsara plain. The present-day drainage pattern suggests on-going normal fault activity along the central segment. The Ranotsara Zone is not a megascale intracrustal strike-slip shear zone that crosscuts the entire basement of southern Madagascar. It can therefore not be used as a piercing point in Gondwana reconstructions.     

Geological and archaeological evidence of active faulting on the Martana Fault (Umbria–Marche Apennines,Italy) and its geodynamic implications

This paper examines the morphotectonic and structural–geological characteristics of the Quaternary Martana Fault in the Umbria–Marche Apennines fold‐and‐thrust belt. This structure is more than 30 km long and comprises two segments: a N–NNW‐trending longer segment and a 100°N‐trending segment. After developing as a normal fault in Early Pleistocene times, the N–NNW Martana Fault segment experienced a phase of dextral faulting extending from the Early to Middle Pleistocene boundary until around 0.39 Ma, the absolute age of volcanics erupted in correspondence to releasing bends. The establishment of a stress field with a NE–ENE‐trending σ₃ axis and NW–NNW σ₁ axis in Late Pleistocene to Holocene times resulted in a strong component of sinistral faulting along N–NNW‐trending fault segments and almost pure normal faulting on newly formed NW–SE faults. Fresh fault scarps, the interaction of faulting with drainage systems and displacement of alluvial fan apexes provide evidence of the ongoing activity of this fault. The active left‐lateral kinematic along N–NNW‐trending fault segments is also revealed by the 1.8 m horizontal offset of the E–W‐trending Decumanus road, at the Roman town of Carsulae. We interpret the present‐day kinematics of the Martana Fault as consistent with a model connecting surface structures to the inferred north‐northwest trending lithospheric shear zone marking the western boundary of the Adria Plate. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

鄂西建始断裂工程活动性评价

本文通过对鄂西建始断裂的几何分形结构和变形结构的分析,结合其新构造活动、现今构造活动特征,探讨断裂的运动学和动力学特征以及形成演化过程。建始断裂分段特征明显,在燕山主期以逆冲作用为主,在燕山晚期以伸展作用为其主要活动特征,在喜马拉雅期则表现为平面左旋剪切活动;在新构造活动期以右旋剪切为主,北段构造活动性相对较强,中段和南段构造活动性相对较弱。断裂在Ｑ１－Ｑ２时期有过明显的活动,其最新活动测试年龄为     

Seismic behaviour of the North Anatolian Fault beneath the Sea of Marmara (NW Turkey): implications for earthquake recurrence times and future seismic hazard

Possible long-term seismic behaviour of the Northern strand of the North Anatolian Fault Zone, between western extreme of the 1999 İzmit rupture and the Aegean Sea, after 400 AD is studied by examining the historical seismicity, the submarine fault mapping and the paleoseismological studies of the recent scientific efforts. The long-term seismic behaviour is discussed through two possible seismicity models devised from M _S ≥ 7.0 historical earthquakes. The estimated return period of years of the fault segments for M1 and M2 seismic models along with their standard deviations are as follows: F4 segment 255 ± 60 and 258 ± 12; F5 segment 258 ± 60 and 258 ± 53; F6 segment 258 ± 60 and 258 ± 53; F7 segment 286 ± 103 and 286 ± 90; F8 segment 286 ± 90 and 286 ± 36. As the latest ruptures on the submarine segments have been reported to be during the 1754–1766 earthquake sequence, and the 1912 mainshock rupture has been evidenced to extend almost all over the western part of the Sea of Marmara, our results imply imminent seismic hazard and, considering the mean recurrence time, a large earthquake to strike the eastern part of the Sea of Marmara in the next two decades.     

Dating of the Karakorum Strike-slip Fault

This paper mainly discusses the timing of the Karakorum strike-slip fault, and gives a brief introduction of its structures, offset, and deformational style. This fault strikes NNW-SSE. Asymmetrical folds, stretching lineation, S-C fabrics, feldspar and quartz σ-porphyroclasts, domino structure, shear cleavages and faults in the fault zone are products of tectonic movements. They all indicate a dextral slip sense of faulting. Mylonitic bands are widely developed along this fault. Phengite appears, indicating rather high deformational pressure. Geochronological data indicate that the Karakorum strike-slip faulting occurred from 6.88±0.36 to 8.75±0.25 Ma. The cumulative displacement from Muztag Ata to Muji is about 135 km.     

The Manyas fault zone (southern Marmara region,NW Turkey): active tectonics and paleoseismology

The Manyas fault zone (MFZ) is a splay fault of the Yenice Gönen Fault, which is located on the southern branch of the North Anatolian Fault System. The MFZ is a 38 km long, WNW–ESE-trending and normal fault zone comprised of three en-echelon segments. On 6 October 1964, an earthquake (Ms = 6.9) occurred on the Salur segment. In this study, paleoseismic trench studies were performed along the Salur segment. Based on these paleoseismic trench studies, at least three earthquakes resulting in a surface rupture within the last 4000 years, including the 1964 earthquake have been identified and dated. The penultimate event can be correlated with the AD 1323 earthquake. There is no archaeological and/or historical record that can be associated with the oldest earthquake dated between BP 3800 ± 600 and BP 2300 ± 200 years. Additionally, the trench study performed to the north of the Salur segment demonstrates paleoliquefaction structures crossing each other. The surface deformation that occurred during the 1964 earthquake is determined primarily to be the consequence of liquefaction. According to the fault plane slip data, the MFZ is a purely normal fault demonstrating a listric geometry with a dip of 64°–74° to the NNE.     

Modification of fabric in pre-Himalayan granitic rocks by post-emplacement ductile deformation: insights from microstructures,AMS, and U–Pb geochronology of the Paleozoic Kinnaur Kailash Granite and associated Cenozoic leucogranites of the South Tibetan Detachment zone,Himachal High Himalaya

The present day South Tibetan Detachment (STD) of Higher Himalaya is a system of low-angle normal faults. In the Himachal High Himalaya, the STD hanging wall is characterized by the presence of S-type per-aluminous Paleozoic (~475 Ma) granite called the Kinnaur Kailash Granite (KKG). This granite is later intruded by Cenozoic leucogranites (~18 Ma) in vicinity of the STD zone. In this work, microstructures, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS), and U–Pb geochronology were carried out on the KKG and the leucogranites with an aim to (a) understand the conditions of fabric development and (b) decipher the tectonic relationship between deformation along the STD and the evolution of these granites. Microstructural features and magnetic anisotropy indicate that the granites are intensely deformed in vicinity of the STD and preserve their emplacement-related fabric in the interior parts. It is inferred that close to the STD zone, fabrics of both the KKG and the leucogranite are tectonic and are modified by the Cenozoic (~20 Ma) right-lateral slip and extensional tectonics. Magnetic fabric in the interior parts of the KKG is related to its emplacement indicating that original fabric was preserved. U–Pb geochronology of zircons from two samples of the KKG yields crystallization age of 477.6 ± 3.4 and 472 ± 4 Ma. The leucogranite gives a crystallization age of 18.5 ± 0.6 Ma. Zircons from the KKG also reveal signatures of a deformation event (20.6 ± 2.3 Ma) at its rim. It is inferred that deformation of the external rim of the KKG and crystallization of the leucogranites are synchronous and triggered by ductile deformation along the STD.     

The Lassee segment of the Vienna Basin fault system as a potential source of the earthquake of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carnuntum</Emphasis> in the fourth century <Emphasis Type="SmallCaps">a.d.</Emphasis>

The Vienna Basin fault system is a slow moving (1–2 mm/y) active sinistral fault extending from the Alps through the Vienna Basin into the Carpathians. It comprises an array of NE-striking sinistral strike-slip segments, which differ both by their kinematic and seismologic properties. Among these, the Lassee segment 30 km east of Vienna is of particular interest for seismic hazard assessment as it shows a significant seismic slip deficit. The segment is located about 8 km from the Roman city of Carnuntum, for which archaeological data indicate a destructive earthquake in the fourth century a.d. (local intensity about 9 EMS-98). Mapping of the Lassee segment using 2D seismic, GPR, tectonic geomorphology and Pleistocene basin analysis shows a negative flower structure at a releasing bend of the Vienna Basin fault. The hanging wall of the flower structure includes a Quaternary basin filled with up to 100-m thick Pleistocene growth strata. Faults root in the basal detachment of the Alpine-Carpathian floor thrust at about 8 km depth. The active faults east of the flower structure offset a Middle Pleistocene terrace of the Danube River forming an up to 20-m high composite fault scarp. High-resolution GPR (40, 500 MHz) mapped at least four distinct surface-breaking faults along this scarp including three faults, which are covered by about 2 m of post-tectonic strata. The youngest fault offsets these strata and coincides with a 0.5-m high scarp. This scarp may be interpreted as the product of a single surface-breaking earthquake, provided that the mapped fault offset formed during coseismic surface rupture. Data indicate that the Lassee segment may well be regarded the source of the fourth century earthquake. The interpretation is in line with local attenuation relations indicating a source close to the damaged site, observed fault dimensions and the fault offsets recorded by GPR and morphology.     

Meso-Cenozoic Tectonic Events Recorded by Apatite Fission Track in the Northern Longmen-Micang Mountains Region

There is a cross-cutting relationship between the E-W trending structures and the NE-trending structures in the northern Longmen-Micang Mountains region,which reflects possible regional tectonic transi...     

The North Maladeta Fault (Spanish Central Pyrenees) as the Vielha 1923 earthquake seismic source: Recent activity revealed by geomorphological and geophysical research

The Spanish Central Pyrenees have been the scenario of at least two damaging earthquakes in the last 800 years. Analysis of macroseismic data of the most recent one, the Vielha earthquake (19 November 1923), has led to the identification of the North Maladeta Fault (NMF) as the seismic source of the event. This E–W trending fault defines the northern boundary of the Maladeta Batholith and corresponds to a segment of the Alpine Gavarnie thrust fault. Our study shows that the NMF offsets a reference Neogene peneplain. The maximum observed vertical displacement is  730 m, with the northern downthrown sector slightly tilting towards the South. This offset provides evidence of normal faulting and together with the presence of tectonic faceted spurs allowed us to geomorphically identify a fault trace of 17.5 km. This length suggests that a maximum earthquake of M_w = 6.5 ± 0.66 could occur in the area. The geomorphological study was improved with a resistivity model obtained at Prüedo, where a unique detritic Late Miocene sequence crops out adjacent to the NMF. The section is made up of 13 audiomagnetotelluric soundings along a 1.5 km transect perpendicular to the fault trace at Prüedo and reveals the structure in depth, allowing us to interpret the Late Miocene deposits as tectonically trapped basin deposits associated with normal faulting of the NMF. The indirect age of these deposits has been constrained between 11.1 and 8.7 Ma, which represents a minimum age for the elevated Pyrenean peneplain in this part of the Pyrenees. Therefore, we propose the maximum vertical dip-slip rate for the NMF to be between 0.06 and 0.08 mm/a. Normal faulting in this area is attributed to the vertical lithospheric stress associated with the thickened Pyrenean crust.