Linking megathrust earthquakes to brittle deformation in a fossil accretionary complex

摘要: Seismological data from recent subduction earthquakes suggest that megathrust induce transient stress changes in the upper plate shift accretionary wedges into an unstable state. These have, however, never been linked to geological structures preserved fossil complexes. The importance of coseismically induced wedge failure has therefore remained largely elusive. Here we show brittle faulting and vein formation palaeo-accretionary complex European Alps record generated by subduction-related earthquakes. Early veins formed at shallow levels bedding-parallel shear during coseismic compression outer wedge. In contrast, subsequent occurred normal extensional fracturing deeper response extension inner Our study demonstrates how mineral can be used reveal dynamics wedges, which respond opposite ways compressional faulting, respectively.