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Polyphase deformation of continental crust is analysed through physical analogue models for settings wherein platform–basin geometries at passive continental margins are subject to subsequent shortening and orogenesis. In a first stage, segmentation of the brittle and brittle–ductile models into basins and platforms is achieved by extension. Basins are partly filled with brittle material to allow for a strength difference between basin and platform realms, simulating relatively weaker, incompetent deposits of grabens surrounded by competent pre-rift basement or carbonate platform rock, respectively. In a second stage of deformation, contraction parallel and oblique (10 to 20∘) to the basin axes has been applied, leading to the inversion of basins formed earlier. The experiments show that strength contrasts across platform–basin transitions control the localisation and overall style of compressional deformation, irrespective of the nature of the basal décollement (frictional versus viscous), the rheology of the basin fill, or changing platform–basin thickness ratios. Orientations of thrust faults change laterally across inherited platform–basin transitions throughout all experiments; higher obliquity of basin inversion leads to stronger alignment of thrust curvature with the orientation of pre-existing rift axes. At individual thrust faults, variations in the strike of thrust fronts are accompanied by changes in the shortening direction during incremental phases of deformation. Reactivation of normal faults occurs in oblique basin inversion settings only, favourably at platform–basin transitions where the normal faults face the shortening direction. The amount and style of fault reactivation depend on the material used. Our experiments are relevant for natural cases such as the Dolomites Indenter of the eastern Southern Alps, underlining the importance of inherited geologic features for the subsequent shortening geometries. Field structural data from the western segment of the Belluno thrust of the Valsugana fault system support predicted variations of thrust fault orientation and a lateral change in shortening direction (from SSW to SSE along-strike) along one single fault. Based on our modelling results, we suggest that this variability of thrust fault orientation and shortening directions, controlled by inherited structures, is consistent with strain partitioning during a single phase of deformation and does not necessarily reflect different deformation phases.

The Multi-scale Laboratories (MSL) are a network of European laboratories bringing together the scientific fields of analogue modeling, paleomagnetism, experimental rock and melt physics, geochemistry and microscopy. MSL is one of nine (see below) Thematic Core Services (TCS) of the European Plate Observing System (EPOS). The overarching goal of EPOS is to establish a comprehensive multidisciplinary research platform for the Earth sciences in Europe. It aims at facilitating the integrated use of data, models, and facilities, from both existing and new distributed pan European Research Infrastructures, allowing open access and transparent use of data. The TCS MSL network allows researchers to collaborate with other labs and scientists. By becoming part of the rapidly growing TCS MSL network, new laboratories are offered a platform to showcase their research data output, laboratory equipment and information, and the opportunity to open laboratories to guest researchers through the Transnational Access (TNA) program. The EPOS Multi-scale laboratories offer researchers a fully operational data publication chain tailored to the specific needs of laboratory research, from a bespoke metadata editor, through dedicated, (domain-specific) data repositories, to the MSL Portal showcasing these citable data publications. During this process the data publications are assigned with digital object identidiers (DOI), published with open licenses (e.g. CC BY 4.0) and described with standardized and machine-readable rich metadata (following the FAIR Principles to make research data Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable. The TCS MSL is currently working on linking these data publications to the EPOS Central Portal1, the main discovery and access point for European multi-disciplinary data, and on increasing the number of connected data repositories. info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersion

When continents collide, the arrival of positively buoyant continental crust slows down subduction. This collision often leads to the detachment of earlier subducted oceanic lithosphere, which changes the subsequent dynamics of the orogenic system. Recent studies of continental collision infer that the remaining slab may drive convergence through slab roll-back even after detachment. Here we use two-dimensional visco-elasto-plastic thermo-mechanical models to explore the conditions for post-collisional slab steepening versus shallowing by quantifying the dynamics of continental collision for a wide range of parameters. We monitor the evolution of horizontal mantle drag beneath the overriding plate and vertical slab pull to show that these forces have similar magnitudes and interact continuously with each other. We do not observe slab rollback or steepening after slab detachment within our investigated parameter space. Instead, we observe a two-stage elastic and viscous slab rebound process lasting tens of millions of years, which is associated with slab unbending and eduction that together generate orogenic widening and trench shift towards the foreland. Our parametric studies show that the initial length of the oceanic plate and the stratified lithospheric rheology exert a key control on the orogenic evolution. When correlated with previous studies our results suggest that post-detachment slab rollback may only be possible when minor amounts of continental crust subduct. Among the wide variety of natural scenarios, our modelling applies best to the evolution of the Central European Alps. Furthermore, the mantle drag force may play a more important role in continental dynamics than previously thought. Finally, our study illustrates that dynamic analysis is a useful quantitative framework that also intuitively explains observed model kinematics.

The high-pressure metamorphic Nevado-Filábride Complex (NFC) in the Betics mountain range of southeastern Spain exhibits continental and ocean-derived tectonic units, which are key for understanding the geodynamic evolution of the Western Mediterranean. We address the current debate in the definition of tectonic units, the emplacement of (ultra)mafic rocks, and the timing of burial metamorphism by conducting a structural study combined with single grain fusion 40Ar/39Ar dating of white micas in structurally critical outcrops of the eastern Sierra de Los Filábres. One older 40Ar/39Ar age population (38–27 Ma) is found at distance from the main shear zones in the relics of an early foliation, while a younger 40Ar/39Ar population (22–12 Ma) is dominant in the vicinity of these shear zones, where the early foliation is obliterated. Both age groups are interpreted as the record of deformation or fluid-induced recrystallization during distinct fabric-forming events, while alternative scenarios are discussed. A key observation is the presence of an ophiolitic mélange, which—together with new and published geochronological data—allows for a new tectonic hypothesis. This considers Paleogene subduction beneath a Jurassic oceanic lithosphere, followed by the continued subduction of NFC and overlying ophiolites below the Alpujárride Complex. Exhumation during westward slab roll-back led to the formation of an extensional detachment system that obliquely cut nappe contacts. Although the timing constraints for high pressure-low temperature (HP-LT) metamorphism in the NFC remain inconclusive, the new tectonic hypothesis provides a solution that can account for both Paleogene and Miocene ages of HP-LT metamorphism.

International audience; EPOS, the European Plate Observing System, is a unique e-infrastructure and collaborative environment for the solid earth science community in Europe and beyond (https://www.epos-eu.org/). A wide range of world-class experimental (analogue modelling and rock and melt physics) and analytical (paleomagnetic, geochemistry, microscopy) laboratory infrastructures are concerted in a “Thematic Core Service” (TCS) labelled “Multi-scale Laboratories” (MSL) (https://www.epos-eu.org/tcs/multi-scale-laboratories). Setting up mechanisms allowing for sharing metadata, data, and experimental facilities has been the main target achieved during the EPOS implementation phase. The TCS Multi-scale Laboratories offers coordination of the laboratories’ network, data services, and Trans-National access to laboratory facilities.In the framework of data services, TCS Multi-Scale Laboratories promotes FAIR (Findable-Accessible-Interoperable-Re-Usable) (FAIR) sharing of experimental research data sets through Open Access data publications. Data sets are assigned with digital object identifiers (DOI) and are published under the CC BY license. Data publications are now conventionally citable in scientific journals and develop rapidly into a common bibliometric indicator and research metric. A dedicated metadata scheme (following international standards that are enriched with disciplinary controlled community vocabulary) facilitates ease exploration of the various data sets in a TCS catalogue (https://epos-msl.uu.nl/). Concerning analogue modelling, a growing number of data sets includes analogue material physical and mechanical properties and modelling results (raw data and processed products such as images, maps, graphs, animations, etc.) as well as software (for visualization, monitoring and analysis). The main geoscience data repository is currently GFZ Data Services, hosted at GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences (https://dataservices.gfz-potsdam.de), but others are planned to be implemented within the next years.In the framework of Trans-National access (TNA), TCS Multi-scale laboratories’ facilities are accessible to any researchers, creating new opportunities for synergy, collaboration and scientific innovation, according to TNAtrans-national access rules. TNA can be realized in the form of physical access (on-site experimenting and analysis), remote service (sample analysis) and virtual access (remotely operated processing). After three successful TNA calls, the pandemic has forced a moratorium on the TNA program.The EPOS TCS Multiscale Laboratories framework is also providing the foundation for a comprehensive database of rock analogue materials, a dedicated bibliography, and facilitates the organization of community-wide activities (e.g., meetings, benchmarking) to stimulate collaboration among analogue laboratories and the exchange of know-how. Recent examples of these community efforts are also the contributions to the monthly MSL seminars, available on the MSL YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNQFVql_TwcSBqgt3IR7mQ/featured), as well as the Special Issue on basin inversion in Solid Earth that is currently open for submissions (https://www.solid-earth.net/articles_and_preprints/scheduled_sis.html#1160).