doi: 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2008.00793.

Tectonic control on diagenesis in a foreland basin: combined

petrologic and thermochronologic approaches in the Gre`s
dAnnot basin (Late EoceneEarly Oligocene, FrenchItalian
external Alps)
P. Labaume,1 M. Jolivet,1 F. Souquie`re1,2 and A. Chauvet1
1
Geosciences Montpellier, Universite Montpellier 2-CNRS, 34095 Montpellier, France; 2Present address: Departement de Geosciences,
Universite de Franche-Comte, 25030 Besancon, France

ABSTRACT
Combined petrographic study and apatite fission track analysis
(apatite FTA) across the Gre`s dAnnot basin document maximum
temperatures reached by this turbiditic sandstone formation,
from around 60 C at the SW basin margin up to around 200 C
below the Penninic frontal thrust, in relation to burial below the
front of Alpine nappes. Increasing diagenetic grade across the
basin is primarily expressed by the development of silica
transfer by pressure solution and correlated porosity loss. We
infer the nappe thickness profile, from the nappe front in the
SW up to around 810 km in the NE. Apatite FTA dates
exhumation of the Gre`s dAnnot during the Late Miocene, in
relation to thrusting of the underlying Argentera and Barrot
Palaeozoic massifs. This study illustrates the influence of thrust
front propagation on foreland basin diagenesis and exhuma-
tion, and highlights potential implications for the evolution of
sediment reservoir properties in this context.
Terra Nova, 20, 95101, 2008

stones and the Gre`s dAnnot turbi-

Introduction
Propagation of mountain belt thrust
front can submit foreland basin sedi-
ments to tectonic deformation and
burial below thrust units soon after
their deposition, thus playing a major
role in their compaction, temperature
and uidrock interaction history. In
this paper, we describe the case history
of the Gre`s dAnnot Formation, a
Palaeogene turbidite succession of the
Alpine foreland basin of SE France.
The Gre`s dAnnot have been the
source of inuential models of turbi-
ditic system development (Joseph and
Lomas, 2004), but although several
studies dealt with the sandstone
petrography (Jean et al., 1985; Garcia
et al., 2004) there is no published
work on their diagenetic evolution.
Combining a petrographic study with
apatite ssion track analysis (apatite
FTA), we show the strong correlation
between the gradient of diagenesis
across the basin and the westward
wedging of the nappes that over-
thrust the basin soon after turbidite
deposition.
Correspondence: Dr P. Labaume, Geo-
sciences Montpellier (cc060), Universite
Montpellier 2, Place Euge`ne Bataillon,
34095 Montpellier Cedex 5, France. Tel.:
+33 467 149 354; fax: +33 467 143 642;
e-mail: pierre.labaume@gm.univ-montp2.fr
Geological setting
The Gre`s dAnnot Formation caps the
MesozoicPalaeogene succession of
the inner part of the external Alpine
units (the Digne, Castellane and Nice
Arcs), the Palaeozoic substratum of
which outcrops in two antiformal
structures, the Argentera and Barrot
massifs (Fig. 1). In the NE, the Gre`s
dAnnot are thrust by the Penninic
front. Ahead of this front, the north-
ern part of the formation is covered by
the EmbrunaisUbaye nappes, issued
from the internal Alpine domain and
mainly composed of Late Cretaceous
Helminthoid Flysch. Equivalent nap-
pes also occur SE of the Argentera
massif.
The Gre`s dAnnot Formation cor-
responds to a sand-rich turbidite sys-
tem fed from the south by fan deltas
and featuring a down-current transi-
tion from channel-ll deposits in the
SE to tabular sand bodies in the NW
(Du Fornel et al., 2004; Joseph and
Lomas, 2004). The sandstone has an
arkosic composition mainly sourced
in the Variscan crystalline basement of
the CorsicaSardinia massif (Jean
et al., 1985; Garcia et al., 2004).
Foreland subsidence in the external
Alps began during the MiddleLate
Eocene and resulted in the successive
deposition of transgressive platform
limestones, slope hemipelagic marl-
dites (Ravenne et al., 1987). The onset
of turbidite deposition registered the
westward shift of depocentres, from
Bartonian in the east to Early Rup-
elian in the west (Ford et al., 1999; Du
Fornel et al., 2004). The turbidites
lled distinct SENW-trending depo-
centres formed by early folding of the
sub-stratum (Apps et al., 2004), with
local thicknesses of up to 1200 m.
Their deposition ceased during the
Rupelian with the emplacement of an
olistostrome derived from the front of
the EmbrunaisUbaye nappes, fol-
lowed by thrusting of the lower nap-
pes (the Autapie and Subbrianconnais
nappes) above the NE part of
the basin (Kerckhove, 1969). Cor-
relatively, sedimentation migrated
south-westward in shallow-marine
continental depocentres (Ford et al.,
1999). Further thrusting above the
Gre`s dAnnot occurred during the
Late Oligoceneearliest Miocene with
the emplacement of the Penninic front
and upper EmbrunaisUbaye nappe
(the Parpaillon nappe) (Kerckhove,
1969; Fry, 1989; Corsini et al., 2004).
During the Miocene, basement thrust-
ing uplifted the Argentera and Barrot
massifs (Bigot-Cormier et al., 2006),
and gravitational equilibration of the
thickened crust resulted in the forma-
tion of normal faults that cut the
nappes and their substratum down to

 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd 95

Tectonic control on diagenesis in a foreland basin P. Labaume et al. Terra Nova, Vol 20, No. 2, 95101
.............................................................................................................................................................
posed into dierent age populations
Pelvo u x 1 using the PopShare software (Dunkl,
FRANCE
2 2002).
3 5
4 6 Diagenesis
Gap Pe All the studied samples have a similar
nn
i n ic arkosic composition, with quartz, K-,
frontal N
thrus Na- and plagioclase feldspars, biotite
t and muscovite as main minerals, and
ne subsidiary granitic, metamorphic and

( in
Ar rA volcanic rock fragments and carbon-
ge lps
Dig

nt ) ate fossil debris (see also Jean et al.,

Digne er
a 1985; Garcia et al., 2004). However, a
ne

basin
strong dierence in the diagenetic
arc

Digne
External

Barrot grade is observed in the eld along

the studied section, from relatively
Barr

unconsolidated sandstones in the SW

basin

Annot (Annot area) to strongly lithied

me

sandstones NE of Grand Coyer

Alpi

(CYbCYt sites; Fig. 2).

Castellane arc rc
ea The weakest grade of diagenesis
ne

Nic
Nice 25 km is observed at the SW end of the
Frontal Thrust
prole (Rouaine, RO site), where
most of the sandstone is uncemented
Fig. 1 Structural sketch of the SW external Alps, with location of the study area
and features the highest measured
(frame). 1 = EmbrunaisUbaye nappes; 2 = Middle Eocene to Priabonian, i.e. the
porosity (27%; Fig. 3A). At this site,
Gre`s dAnnot Formation (south of Pelvoux massif: Gre`s du Champsaur Fm.) and its
shallow-water lateral equivalents in the Castellane Arc and Barreme basin, and
incipient calcite cementation occ-
underlying Tertiary strata; 3 = Mesozoic; 4 = Palaeozoic substratum (mainly urred in metre-sized nodules featur-
crystalline basement in the Argentera and Pelvoux massifs and Permian sediments ing abundant intergranular calcite
in the Barrot massif); 5 = base of allochthonous thrust units; 6: normal and strike- cement in poorly compacted sand-
slip faults. stone (ROi sample with 6.4% poro-
sity; Fig. 3B). In the other samples
from the Annot area (sites BRb,
the Palaeozoic basement (Labaume The grade of diagenesis was deter- FUb, RMt, ARt and RUb), calcite
et al., 1989). During the Plio-Quater- mined on thin sections in optical cement is common, not restricted
nary, these faults were reactivated as (including cathodoluminescence) to nodules, but with variable
strike-slip faults in an NS compres- microscopy and back-scattered scan- abundance on all scales. Some
sion regime. ning electron microscopy (BS-SEM). samples show incipient pressure solu-
We focused the study on features most tion at grain contacts (both in sili-
directly related to the burial depth and cates and carbonates) and small
Methodology
related temperature, in particular quartz overgrowths post-dated by
To detect the tectonic eects on dia- quartz diagenesis which is highly calcite cement (Fig. 3C). Both pri-
genetic evolution, we sampled 18 sites temperature dependent and plays a mary (intergranular) and secondary
along a section roughly parallel to the major role in porosity loss in sand- (K-feldspar dissolution) porosities are
regional tectonic transport, hence stones (e.g. Worden and Morad, 2000, relatively high, with total porosity
transverse to the basin, from Annot and references therein). The porosity values between 10% and 15%.
in the SW to Bersezio in the NE was measured by BS-SEM image From Grand Coyer (CYbCYt
(Fig. 2). In its NE part, the section analysis. sites) to Bersezio (BEt), the porosity
follows the lateral erosion border of Apatite FTA was performed on dramatically decreases to values
the EmbrunaisUbaye nappes, thus key samples distributed along the always below 5%, except at CYb
allowing the study of the eect of section to estimate the maximum where values up to about 10% have
burial under the nappes. The age of temperature reached during burial been measured in some samples. Low
the sampled sediments is Priabonian and the chronology of exhumation. porosity is correlated with a strong
at the CAb, MOb and BEt sites and Laboratory procedures and parame- imbrication of grains, due to the
Early Rupelian at all other sites. On ters are described in Table 1. In each strong development of pressure solu-
each site, we collected several samples sample, apatite FT ages were calcu- tion at grain contacts, including
representative of the various lithofa- lated on 2040 crystals and plotted quartz, but quartz overgrowths are
cies, and located as far as possible on a radial plot (Galbraith, 1990) relatively common only at Grand
from large faults to avoid possible using the Trackkey software (Dunkl, Coyer (Fig. 3D) and are rarely
inuence of thermal anomalies due to 2002). When large single grain age observed or not visible at other sites
localized uid ow. scatter is present, data have decom- (Fig. 3E). Similar to the Annot area,

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Terra Nova, Vol 20, No. 2, 95101 P. Labaume et al. Tectonic control on diagenesis in a foreland basin
.............................................................................................................................................................
RTF
SW MOb
2530 m
NE
2100 m
Bersezio
Barcelonnette BEt 2500
BEt
RTF a 0
a
Bersezio
b

Ar
MOb fault
CAt

ge
2350 m

nt
MAt CAb
NOm

er
CAt 2750 m 2000 m BEt
LAb 2000 m 1550 m
CAb

a
MAt 1850 m
2500

CEb
0
NOm
Argentera massif
LAb
c 2500

CMb
b (m)
CYt
CYb Grand Coyer
Annot CYt Le Var
CYb 2700 m
ARt RUb
RUb 2350 m
Ba r rot FUb 1350 m 2000 m
ARt 2500 800 m
RMt
FUb 1 5 5 km
BRb 0
2 6 Barrot
Annot
3 7 massif
4 8 2500
c B
A RO 5 km (m)

Fig. 2 Structural sketch (A; location in Fig. 1) and cross-sections (B; location: white lines labelled a, b and c in A) of the study
area, with location of the sampling sites (with altitudes in B). 1 = Penninic units; 2 = EmbrunaisUbaye nappes; 3 = Gre`s
dAnnot Formation; 4 = pre-Gre`s dAnnot Tertiary strata; 5 = Mesozoic; 6 = Palaeozoic sub-stratum (mainly crystalline
basement in the Argentera massif and Permian sediments in the Barrot massif); 7 = base of allochthonous thrust units;
8 = normal and strike-slip faults. Sampling sites: ARt, Argenton; BEt, Bersezio; BRb, Braux; CAb and CAt, col de la Cayolle;
CEb, col de lEncombrette; CMb, col de Mourie`s; CYb and CYt, Grand Coyer; FUb, Le Fugeret; LAb, vallon de la Lance; MAt,
montagne de lAvalanche; MOb, vallon de la Moutie`re; NOm, montagne de Noncie`re; RMt, Rocher des Meules; RO, Rouaine;
RTF, caserne de Restefond; RUb, Le Ruch (the b, m and t letters following site name abbreviations denote samples taken,
respectively, at the base, middle and top of the succession).

Table 1 Fission track central ages.

Altitude qd 104 cm)2 qs 104 cm)2 qi 104 cm)2 Central age
Sample (m) N (counted) (counted) (counted) U (p.p.m.) P (v2) (%) (2r) (Ma)
BEt 1550 20 105 (9806) 16 (83) 311 (1651) 32 50 10.0 1.2
RTF 2530 20 111 (9806) 12 (76) 344 (2167) 35 99 7.4 0.9
MOb 2100 20 92 (9473) 16 (92) 351 (1958) 43 100 8.2 0.9
CAt 2340 20 107 (9993) 22 (103) 348 (1648) 37 89 12.7 1.3
Mat 2730 20 81 (9473 18 (105) 385 (2285) 53 100 7.1 0.7
Nom 1980 20 102 (9473) 18 (100) 300 (1627) 35 100 11.7 1.2
LAb 1800 30 106 (9473) 20 (171) 323 (2716) 33 38 12.7 1.1
CYt 2700 20 108 (9473) 20 (112) 254 (1381) 23 7 16.8 1.7
CYt (pop. 1) 13 24 (79) 233 (773) 20 97 21.1 2.5
CYt (pop. 2) 7 16 (33) 287 (608) 28 97 11.2 2.0
CYb 2350 40 85 (9806) 30 (325) 466 (5037) 58 95 10.4 0.6
CYb (pop. 1) 19 39 (209) 493 (2658) 55 100 12.7 1.0
CYb (pop. 2) 21 21 (116) 440 (2379) 61 100 7.9 0.8
RUb 2000 40 95 (9806) 40 (814) 241 (4929) 33 0 29.1 2.3
RUb (pop. 1) 27 50 (655) 245 (3195) 34 23 37.3 2.4
RUb (pop. 2) 13 21 (159) 234 (1734) 31 99 16.5 1.4
Art 1420 20 114 (9993) 38 (237) 273 (1711) 28 0 31.0 3.6
FUb 810 20 86 (9473) 48 (276) 238 (1357) 33 13 34.0 2.9

N is the number of grains analysed. qd is the CN5 dosimeter track density with the number of tracks counted in brackets. qS and qi represent sample spontaneous and
induced track densities, respectively, with the number of tracks counted in brackets. U is the calculated mean 238U content of the sample. P (v2) is the probability of
chi-squared for v degrees of freedom (where v = number of crystals ) 1). Apatite samples were prepared for fission tracks analysis following the standard external
detector method (Hurford, 1990). Spontaneous fission tracks were etched using 6.5% HNO3 for 45 s at 20 C. Induced fission track were etched using 40% HF for
40 min at 20 C. Samples were irradiated at the ANSTO facility, Australia. Fission tracks were counted on a Zeiss microscope, using a magnification of 1250 under dry
objectives. Mean ages were obtained using the zeta calibration method with a zeta value of 381 8 (F.S.), obtained on both Durango and Mont Dromedary apatite
standards (Hurford and Green, 1983). Ages were calculated using the Trackkey software (Dunkl, 2002) and age populations within individual samples were
determined using the PopShare software (Dunkl, 2002). Ages given in the table and text are central ages, errors are quoted at 2r.

calcite cement is common but with (Fig. 3D and E). Neoformation of (Bet), probably resulting from alter-
variable abundance on all scales sericite is incipient at Restefond ation of feldspar grains and or inter-
and post-dates quartz overgrowths (RTF) and common at Bersezio stitial clays (Fig. 3F).

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Tectonic control on diagenesis in a foreland basin P. Labaume et al. Terra Nova, Vol 20, No. 2, 95101
.............................................................................................................................................................
1 mm A 1 mm B cene. Group B corresponds to the
Pg samples in intermediate position on
Pg
M the section, at Le Ruch (Rub) and
Fk Grand Coyer (CYt and CYb), which
present multiple age populations be-
Q
C
tween 8 and 37 Ma. These sandstones
were deposited between 34 and 32 Ma
Q
(Du Fornel et al., 2004). The apatite
P2 Fk FT data are thus interpreted as partial
reset by warming between c. 60 and
D 110 C, with central ages distributed
0.5 mm C a
C
between the sediment source age (Eo-
b
a ceneOligocene) and the exhumation
Q
a C age (Late Miocene). Group C corre-
sponds to the samples from the Annot
b
area south of Le Ruch (FUb and
P2
a ARt), also deposited between 34 and
a 32 Ma (Du Fornel et al., 2004). These
Fk b
P1 samples show highly scattered single
0.1 mm grain ages distributed around mean
values between 31 and 34 Ma but no
F
0.5 mm E obviously separated populations as in
C Q group B. This is interpreted as a very
b a limited reset by temperatures lower
Fk
a than for group B, close to the upper
Q a
Pg
S limit of the apatite partial annealing
a
zone (PAZ) (around 60 C). The vari-
S ations in individual grain ages mostly
Pg
a
M reect variations in source ages and or
a
a a
0.5 mm
variations in the FT annealing kinetics
due to variable individual crystal
chemistry (e.g. Barbarand et al.,
Fig. 3 Microphotographs showing the various grades of diagenesis in the Gre`s
2003).
dAnnot along the studied transect (see Fig. 2 for location of samples). (A) RO
outcrop; very low grade diagenesis is marked by weak compaction, high porosity
(black), lack of cement and preservation of original grain shapes (intense grain Discussion
breakage results from stress concentration at grain contacts cf. white arrow and
corresponds to tectonic deformation at the periphery of a cataclastic shear band). (B) Diagenetic features show an evolution
RO outcrop, a few metres away from the sample shown in A; weakly compacted along the studied section, reecting
sandstone is cemented by early calcite; porosity is very low and mainly consists in various maximum temperatures
secondary porosity due to feldspar dissolution prior to calcite precipitation; reached in the Gre`s dAnnot (Fig. 6).
occurrence of calcite cement prevented grain breakage by compression at grain In the SW (Annot area), the lack or
contacts. (C) FUb outcrop: the slightly higher grade of diagenesis than in A and B is very weak development of quartz
marked by lower porosity (both primary and secondary by K-feldspar dissolution) pressure solution and quartz over-
and incipient silica transfer by pressure solution; intergranular spaces are partly lled growths indicates temperatures below
by calcite cement post-dating quartz overgrowths. (D) CYb outcrop: higher grade of 80 C (e.g. Worden and Morad,
diagenesis than in C is marked by stronger development of silica transfer by pressure 2000). By contrast, the strong devel-
solution. (E) CAt outcrop: typical high-grade diagenesis, very low porosity sandstone, opment of silica transfer by pressure
with strong imbrication of grains by pressure solution at grain contacts; quartz solution as a compaction mechanism
overgrowths are rarely visible, covered by calcite cement. (F) RTF outcrop: sericite shows that sandstones sampled NE of
precipitated along grain contacts, associated with strong imbrication by pressure Grand Coyer underwent deeper burial
solution. Labels: a = pressure solution at grain contacts; b = quartz overgrowths; with temperatures above 80 C. These
Q = quartz; Fk = K-feldspar, often with Na-feldspath exolution (perthite); results closely match those of apatite
Pg = plagioclase, generally altered; C = calcite; M = mica; S = sericite; P1 = pri-
FTA that also show a gradient of
mary porosity; P2 = secondary porosity.
temperature before denudation from
around 60 C in the SW to above
110 C in the NE (Fig. 6). In Le Ruch
Vallon de la Lance (LAb) to Bersezio (Rub) and Grand Coyer (CYbCYt)
Apatite fission track analysis
(BEt). These samples yield ages be- area, the partial reset of apatite FT
Apatite FT central ages can be sepa- tween 7 and 12 Ma indicating a total between 60 and 110 C correlates with
rated into three groups (Figs 4 and 5). reset of the apatite FT thermochro- the transition from low-grade diagen-
Group A corresponds to the samples nometer by warming above 110 C esis in the SW (T < 80 C) to higher
from the NE half of the section, from before cooling during the Late Mio- grade diagenesis (T > 80 C) in the

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Terra Nova, Vol 20, No. 2, 95101 P. Labaume et al. Tectonic control on diagenesis in a foreland basin
.............................................................................................................................................................
12
MAt CYt ARt
25 50
1 2
1 10 45
22 1 40
9
21
0 8 Ma 0 20 Ma 0 35 Ma

7 1 30
18
1 11 2
6 1 25
15

80 6050 40 30 70 50 40 30 70 5040 30 20
Rel. error [%] Rel. error [%] Rel. error [%]

Fig. 4 Apatite ssion track (FT) analysis: examples of radial plots (Galbraith, 1990) from the three temperature zones on the
section. Individual ages are read on the right arc-like scale along a line going from the 0 on the left axis through the cross-
marking the grain. Left axis is the age standard deviation, and the bottom axis represents the error on the age. MAt is a
sample that was heated over 110 C and presents a single, coherent apatite FT age population. CYt is an intermediate sample
that was brought to temperatures between 60 and 110 C. It presents two distinct populations of apatite FT ages with central
values of c. 21 and 11 Ma respectively. ARt is a sample that was heated around 60 C and shows a very scattered population
of apatite FT ages that mostly reect variations in source ages and or in the FT annealing kinetics due to variable individual
crystal chemistry.

palaeo-temperatures across the basin

primarily reects the dierence in
Bersezio
Barcelonnette burial below the thrust units. In par-
A 10.0 1.2Ma ticular, the increase in temperatures
BEt observed from SW to NE is coherent
RTF
7.4 0.9Ma with the proximity of the erosion front
Ar

MOb of the EmbrunaisUbaye nappes

ge

8.2 0.9Ma (Fig. 6). Assuming a geothermal gra-

dient between 25 and 30 C km)1
nt

CAt
12.7 1.3Ma
er

(Bigot-Cormier et al., 2006), the total

reset of apatite FT above 110 C
a

MAt
7.1 0.7Ma implies a minimal thickness of 3.5
4.5 km for the EmbrunaisUbaye nap-
11.7 1.2Ma A pes from the LAb site north-eastwards
NOm
LAb (Figs 6 and 7A). The highest temper-
12.7 1.1Ma atures detected by petrography at the
B NE end of the prole (RTF and BEt
CYt sites) may result from burial down to
11.2 2.0 / 21.1 2.5Ma 68 km below the rear part of the
CYb
7.9 0.8 / 12.7 1.0Ma EmbrunnaisUbaye nappes and
810 km below the Penninic front.
RUb
16.5 1.4 / 37.3 2.4Ma Barro t To the SW, the temperature trend
C ARt reects wedging of the nappe toe from
31.0 3.6Ma
FUb about 4 km just north of Grand Coyer
34.0 2.9Ma 1 5
2 6
(CYbCYt) to less than 22.5 km
Annot south of Le Ruch (Rub). Hence, the
3 7
4 8 most south-western outcrops possibly
5 km remained ahead of the thrust front
and, due to depocentre shift westward
during the Oligocene, this part of the
Fig. 5 Structural sketch of the study area with apatite ssion track central ages. Same basin did not experience deep sedi-
legend as Fig. 2 (small white dots are the sampling sites not considered for apatite FT
mentary burial. This nappe thickness
analysis).
prole is consistent with previous esti-
mates made from thermo-barometry
NE. At the NE end of the section, (RTF) owing to the larger amount of data in the Argentera massif basement
sericite precipitation attests to temper- sericite. (Corsini et al., 2004) and modelling of
atures around 200 C, probably high- The geological context strongly sub-alpine foreland subsidence (Ford
er at Bersezio (BEt) than at Restefond suggests that the trend of maximal et al., 1999).

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Tectonic control on diagenesis in a foreland basin P. Labaume et al.
.............................................................................................................................................................
Onset of
sericite neoformation
Bersezio
>~200 C Barcelonnette
810 km
Ar
ge
nt
68 km
er
a
Strong development of
silica transfer by
pressure solution
> 80C
>4 km
Total reset AFT
>110 C
Barrot
Partial reset AFT
<2 km 1 5
2 6 <~60 C
Annot
3 7 Very limited
4 8 reset AFT
from from
petrology 5 km thermochronology
data data
Fig. 6 Structural sketch of the studied area with distribution of the maximum
temperatures and possible related burial depths reached by the Gre`s dAnnot
Formation. Temperatures are inferred from the petrographic study and apatite ssion
track (AFT) thermochronology, and burial depths are calculated assuming a palaeo-
geothermal gradient of 2530 C km)1 (discussion in the text). Same legend as Fig. 2
(white dots: sampling sites; see Fig. 2 for site names).
The general lack of quartz cement The structural map shows that the
associated with pressure solution in nappe front inferred from our data
the zone of total reset of apatite FT corresponds to the along-strike pro-
suggests expulsion of the dissolved jection of the present Embrunais
silica, possibly due to large-scale uid Ubaye nappe front preserved from
circulation triggered by thrust unit erosion at the NW of the studied
load. Alternatively, this may result section (Fig. 6). Therefore, the nappes
from intense mechanical compaction originally extended more to the SE
before the onset of pressure solution, than in their present location, before
facilitated by the arkosic composition being completely eroded due to uplift
of the sandstone (e.g. Bjorlykke et al., associated with thrusting of the under-
1989), that would have left little space lying Argentera and Barrot massifs
for quartz cementation. At Grand during the Miocene (Fig. 7B). Our
Coyer, the older apatite FT age at results are consistent with those of
the top (CYt) compared with the base Bigot-Cormier et al. (2006), who
(CYb) possibly reects a slight dier- showed that denudation of the Argen-
ence in temperature due to the 350 m tera massif basement began during the
of sediments that separate the two Early Miocene (zircon FT ages
samples. Because those samples were around 22 Ma), then continued
inside the palaeo-PAZ, a slightly high- through the Late Miocene and Plio-
er temperature for CYb could produce cene (apatite FTA ages). In particular,
a younger age than for CYt. In other the 6-Ma denudation event dated by
places, dierences of apatite FT ages these authors in the NW part of the
between neighbouring samples proba- Argentera massif matches with our
bly reect local tectonic and or ther- 7.5 Ma age at the RTF site. In the
mal complications such as diuse uid Gre`s du Champsaur Formation,
circulation in the background fracture equivalent to the Gre`s dAnnot
network. north of the EmbrunaisUbaye
100
Terra Nova, Vol 20, No. 2, 95101
nappes (Fig. 1), Seward et al.
(1999) found apatite FT ages equiva-
lent to ours, mainly between 6 and
12 Ma.
Conclusion
Coupled petrographic and thermo-
chronologic approaches allow to
estimate the palaeo-maximum tem-
perature distribution across the Gre`s
dAnnot basin, from around 60 C in
the SW (Annot area) up to around
200 C in the NE below the Penninic
thrust front. The increasing grade of
diagenesis toward the NE is primar-
ily expressed by the development of
silica transfer by pressure solution as
the dominant compaction and corre-
lated porosity reduction mechanism.
The geological context strongly sug-
gests that temperature increase was
primarily related to burial below the
front of Alpine nappes, emplaced
during the Oligocene soon after the
end of the Gre`s dAnnot deposition.
Burial may have reached around
810 km in the NE below the
Penninic front and was at least
3.54.5 km below most of the Em-
brunaisUbaye nappes, whose lead-
ing edge was located north of
the Annot area. Apatite FT ages
date the exhumation of the Gre`s
dAnnot to the Late Miocene, when
the nappes were eroded due to uplift
resulting from underlying basement
thrusts (i.e. the Argentera and Barrot
massifs).
This study illustrates how the
diagenetic evolution of a foreland
sandstone formation can be closely
controlled by early tectonic over-
thrusting. A direct consequence is
the abrupt reduction in porosity, and
hence alteration in reservoir proper-
ties, due to pressure solution devel-
opment when passing below the
thrust front. The low amount of
quartz cement may result from
drainage of dissolved silica by uid
ow triggered by nappe load, or and
from pore space reduction by intense
mechanical compaction favoured
by the arkosic sandstone compo-
sition.
Acknowledgements
We thank C. Ravenne and M. Zattin for
their constructive reviews.
 2008 Blackwell Publishing Ltd
Terra Nova, Vol 20, No. 2, 95101 P. Labaume et al. Tectonic control on diagenesis in a foreland basin
.............................................................................................................................................................
A Dietrich and R.G. Park, eds). Geol. Soc.
SW
Oligocene LAb CAt MOb RTF (m)
(3025 Ma) RUb CYt
ARt
60 C
110 C
200 C
50 km
8.2
B 12.7 1.3 Ma 7.4
12.7 1.3 Ma 0.9 Ma
16.5 11.2 1.1 Ma MOb RTF (m)
Late Miocene 1.4 Ma 2.0 Ma CAt
(10 Ma) LAb
ARt RUb CYt 4000
0 ing Group of the I.U.G.S.
60 C
110 C
4000
1 2 3 4 5 zeta age calibration of ssion-track dat-
Fig. 7 Schematic tectonic model showing the sequence of thrusting and its eect on
the burial and exhumation history of the Gre`s dAnnot Formation. (A) Burial below
the EmbrunaisUbaye nappes (the Penninic frontal thrust, located NE of RTF, is
outside the sketch limit). (B) Exhumation due to uplift resulting from underlying
basement thrusts (Argentera and Barrot massifs). The topography is speculative and
details of structure in the allochthonous and basement units are not shown (see
Fig. 2B for more details). However, existence of a relief during the Oligocene is
documented by the occurrence of clasts derived from the EmbrunaisUbaye nappes in
the Oligocene deposits of the Barreme basin, west of the nappe front (Fig. 1) (Ford
et al., 1999). 1 = EmbrunaisUbaye nappes; 2 = Gre`s dAnnot Formation (Priab-
onianEarly Rupelian); 3 = Oligocene in western depocentres (e.g. the Barreme
basin); 4 = Mesozoic; 5 = Palaeozoic (basement); ARt, RUb, etc. = studied
samples with apatite ssion track central ages (see Fig. 5 for more details).
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Received 27 August 2007; revised version
accepted 21 December 2007
101