Zooming into the transition between thrusting and strike-slip in an intra-continental compressional setting

We investigated Mesozoic sequences of the Franconian Platform (SE Germany) according to their deformation history. Based on field observations we performed fault-slip and stylolite stress inversion. We could distinguish two stress cycles in an intraplate compressional setting starting with (i) normal faulting, (ii) thrusting and the development of folds and tectonic stylolites (iii) and strike-slip regimes. The first cycle is caused by the Europe-Iberia-Africa collision in the Cretaceous, while the second cycle is induced by the Cenozoic Alpine orogeny. We can zoom into the transition between the thrusting and strike-slip regime of the first cycle by the preservation of a stress field with none principal stress being in the vertical axis. The combination of field and microscopic observations shows a rather complex chronology of this relatively short time span with alternating sedimentary and tectonic stylolites.

With our work we contribute to the understanding of stress development in intraplate compressional settings.