THE HIGH DURANCE FAULT-ZONE AND THE EXTEN SIONAL REACTIVATION OF THE BRIANCONNAIS FRONT THRUST, TO THE SE OF THE PELVOUX MASSIF (WESTERN ALPS)

The Durance fault is a classical example of late orogenic wrench fault to the SE of the Pelvoux massif. We demonstrate that it belongs to an extensional fault-zone previously developed in the hanging wall to th e Brianconnais Front Thrust. It is suggested that the inversion of thi s major structure controlled the collapse of the metamorphic internal Alpine nappes towards the East, with respect to the Eastern edge of th e external zone.