CONTINENTAL STRIKE-SLIP RIFTS AND THEIR STRATIGRAPHIC SIGNATURE - APPLICATION TO THE BANGONG NUJIANG ZONE (TIBET) AND THE SOUTH PENNINIC ZONE (ALPS)/

Our literature studies show that the thermal regime along continental strike-slip rifts is inconspicuous and that they are flow-volcanicity rifts'' at best. Along with that, young continental strike-slip rifts exhibit no signs of major thermally controlled doming. We suggest that the larger the strike-slip component of a rift is, the less likely ma jor thermal doming is causally associated with the rift zone. Since ve rtical lithosphere movements are reflected in the stratigraphic record of a rifted area, different rift modes (strike-slip, dip-slip) may be distinguished by analyzing the relevant sequences. Two ancient and es pecially suitable strike-slip rift margins in Tethyan mountain belts,t he Bangong/Nujiang zone of Tibet and the South Penninic zone of the Al ps, were analyzed with regard to their uplift history. The results con firm recent regional rift models which indicate in both cases that rif ting was dominated by strike-slip. The stratigraphic approach may prov ide significant clues as to the mode of paleorifting when structural d ata are unavailable.