Paleogeography and catchment evolution in a mobile orogenic belt: the Central Alps in Oligo-Miocene times

In this study, we reconstruct the surface evolution of the Oligo-Miocene Ce ntral Alps using geochronological, geochemical and petrographical methods o n the foreland basin sediments of both flanks of the mountain range. Our mo del is illustrated in four sketch maps of different time slices between mid -Oligocene to Middle Miocene times. For each time slice, we try to (1) give a palinspastic reconstruction of the Central Alps, based on the post-colli sional lateral extrusion model, (2) show which tectonic units had become ex posed to the surface due to exhumation processes in the Central Alps, (3) d escribe the thermochronologic evolution of lithological units formerly expo sed but completely eroded today, (4) differentiate the catchment areas of t he paleo-river systems which delivered debris to the foreland basins, and ( 5) describe the position of the main drainage divide relative to the expose d tectonic units. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V All rights reserved.