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Title

Geology of the Voirons Massif, Gurnigel Nappe (Haute-Savoie, France)

Author Lina María OSPINA OSTIOS
Director of thesis Pascal Kindler
Co-director of thesis
Summary of thesis

The western Alps region has well constrained geological data and their plate tectonics framework has been studied in detail for many years (Stampfli et al., 2002). Nonetheless, a few areas of particular complexity still remain misunderstood. Update previous studies are necessary. This is the case of the Voirons massif (VM), because most of the recent researches on the geology of this region have more than 30 years.

This study is would like to present a new version of the geology of the Voirons massif (VM) with more precise age, stratigraphy and palaeogeographic setting for the Gurnigel nappe (Fig. 1). This nappe essentially contains deep-water turbidites (i.e. flysch) and comprises three stratigraphic units of Paleogene age (van Stuijvenberg, 1980): the Voirons Sandstones, the Vouan Conglomerates and the Saxel Marls (van Stuijvenberg and Jan Du Chêne, 1981). These turbidites supposedly derive from an ultrabriançonnais or south-penninic realm (Caron, 1976). This attribution, however, is controversial.

Therefore, the detailed study of the units which conforms this nappe at this location may bring some answers about the mechanisms that led to the deposition of the sediments that once formed it and may bring some information on their palaeogeographic origin (at least for this part of the nappe).

For instance, we reviewed the sedimentological characteristics of the lowermost unit (Voirons Sandstones) at the base of this nappe and present the preliminary results of biostratigraphical work (planktonic foraminifera dating).

 

Status
Administrative delay for the defence
URL http://www.unige.ch/sciences/terre/geologie/research/projects/sedimentologyStrat
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