| Geology
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| Geology
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Introduction -
The Pyrenees orogen represents a collisional
belt between the Iberian and European plates. The range trends east-west
and is only ~100km wide while extending ~1500km from Provence in southern
France to the Cantabrian ranges in northern Spain (Coney et al, 1996).
Convergence took place from Campanian to Early Miocene time (~84-24 Ma)
resulting in continental collision between the Iberian and European plates
and partial closure of the Bay of Biscay. The amount of shortening
varies laterally within the orogen; the maximum shortening (~147 km) has
occurred in the eastern part of the range while less shortening (~75-80
km) is observed in the west central Pyrenees (Munoz, 1992; Teixell, 1998).
Deformational and thermal events associated with convergence were not strong
enough to eliminate pre-collisional features completely. Consequently,
the Pyrenees are one of the few orogens where no major metamorphic or plutonic
processes occurred during collision (Munoz, 1992).
Author: Christina M. Butzer
Spring 2001 Orogenic Systems Project
Last Updated: May 9, 2001
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