Int J Earth Sci (Geol Rundsch) (2003) 92:758–778
DOI 10.1007/s00531-003-0351-x
ORIGINAL PAPER
Chiara Barbieri · Barbara Carrapa ·
Andrea Di Giulio · Jan Wijbrans · Glen R. Murrell
Provenance of Oligocene synorogenic sediments
of the Ligurian Alps (NW Italy):
inferences on belt age and cooling history
Received: 19 June 2003 / Accepted: 19 June 2003 / Published online: 11 September 2003

Springer-Verlag 2003
Abstract Mineral chemistry, 40Ar/39Ar geochronology
on white micas and Apatite Fission Track Ther-
mochronology (AFTT), are applied here to study the
provenance of the synorogenic Molare Formation (low-
ermost unit of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin clastic
sequence). The Molare Formation was deposited during
transgression onto the Ligurian Alps nappe stack in the
Early Oligocene. Depositional facies show that clastic
distribution remained transversal, with local sources
located just landward from the coastline. Phengite mineral
chemistry together with 40Ar/39Ar data clearly shows two
distinctive source areas, each one mirroring the compo-
sition of the basement directly beneath the clastic
sequence. Amphibole mineral chemistry allows second
order provenance distinctions within each sector, reflect-
ing heterogeneous metamorphic evolution of the bedrock
complexes. Integrated 40Ar/39Ar dating and AFTT suggest
that, following a fast cooling/exhumation episode of the
Ligurian Alps during the Oligocene, very little net uplift
has since occurred. This is due to a period of general
subsidence from the Oligocene–Late Miocene followed
by comparable uplift from Late Miocene–Pliocene to the
present. In general our data provide an image of the
Ligurian Alps during the Oligocene, which is very similar
to the present-day one.
Keywords Ligurian Alps · Transgression · Provenance ·
Mineral chemistry · Thermochronology
C. Barbieri
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universit di Pavia,
1 via Ferrata, 27100 Pavia, Italy
B. Carrapa · J. Wijbrans · G. R. Murrell
Faculteit der Aardwetenshappen, Vrije Universiteit,
1085 De Boelelaan, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
A. Di Giulio ())
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Universit di Pavia,
Via Ferrata 1, 27100 Pavia, Italy
e-mail: digiulio@unipv.it
Tel.: +39-0382-505852
Fax: +39-0382-505890
Introduction
A multidisciplinary provenance study including facies
analysis, white mica and amphibole chemistry, 40Ar/39Ar
dating and Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology
(AFTT) is performed to constrain the provenance of the
Molare Formation, giving an image of the Ligurian Alps
geology during the Oligocene, and providing data on the
cooling/exhumation history of the belt forming units.
Provenance studies of synorogenic sequences are com-
monly used to constrain the cooling/exhumation history
of mountain belts. This approach allows recognition of
belt forming units that are different from what is observed
today, due to the combined effects of erosion and tectonic
unroofing which leads to near-surface tectonic units being
dismantled and deep units coming to the surface (e.g.,
Critelli and Le Pera 1994; Garzanti et al. 1996; Cibin et
al. 2001).
Mineral chemistry and thermochronology on detrital
minerals have been increasingly used in recent years as
provenance tools (e.g., Najman et al. 1997; Copeland and
Harrison 1990; von Eynatten and Gaupp 1999; Sircombe
1999; Spiegel et al. 2001; von Eynatten and Wijbrans
2003). They can be used to complement traditional point-
counting analyses on sandstone framework grain compo-
sition and heavy mineral associations (Heller and Frost
1988, Renne et al. 1990; Ibbeken and Schleyer 1991;
Dallmeyer and Neubauer 1994; von Eynatten and
Wijbrans 2003; Handler et al. 1997; Najman et al.
1997; Winkler et al. 1997; Dunkl et al.1998; Di Giulio
et al. 1999). In particular, 40Ar/39Ar and AFTT give
fundamental new information for the reconstruction of the
tectonic-thermal evolution of eroded orogenic belts (e.g,
Harrison et al. 1993). However, when using this tech-
nique, the following possible sources of error must be
carefully considered: (1) the distribution of specific
minerals in sediments depends strictly on the occurrence
of source rocks, which possibly provides only a partial
picture of the source area; (2) the distribution of heavy
minerals and certain light minerals, such as micas, is
strongly influenced by their hydrodynamic behavior
 759

which may cause a significant heterogeneous distribution

in sediments, resulting in a variable provenance signal;
(3) both geochemical and thermochronological signals
may be grain size dependent in sediments.
The multidisciplinary provenance approach applied in
this study has the potential to provide a reliable data set
concerning the geology of source areas at the time of
sedimentation of the Molare Formation (Oligocene),
which unconformably covers the tectonic stack of the
south westernmost segment of the Alpine belt (Ligurian
Alps) and forms the oldest transgressive unit of the
synorogenic sequence deposited into the Tertiary Pied-
mont Basin (TPB). The aim of this work is to compare the
Oligocene Ligurian Alps paleogeography with the pres-
ent-day setting and investigate exhumation/erosion pro-
cesses, which affected the belt after the continental
collision. This will allow a better understanding of the
Tertiary kinematics of this particular segment of the Alps,
which is located in the very complex tectonic knot linking
the Alps to the Northern Apennine (e.g., Laubscher et al.
1992).

Geological setting
Fig. 1 Simplified tectonic sketch map of the Ligurian Alps. VVL
Villalvernia Varzi Line
The Ligurian Alps

The Ligurian Alps form the south westernmost segment
of the Alpine collisional belt. Their main building blocks
are the Brianonnais domain, and the Ligure Piemontese
domain, including the Montenotte Nappe and the Voltri
Group (Vanossi et al. 1984). Each of these domains has a
relatively well-known lithology, metamorphic history and
related mineral chemistry, thus providing a good data set
with which to compare the mineral chemistry and age of
clastic products within the basin. In the following, an
overview of chemical and geochronological data available
on the Ligurian Alps is also given, since it is necessary for
the discussion of our results.
The Brianonnais domain
The Brianonnais domain is derived from thinned paleo-
European continental crust. Its units record the pre-Alpine
history of the European crust related mostly to the
Variscan orogenic cycle (Devonian–Carboniferous) and
the subsequent late Paleozoic–Mesozoic sedimentary
evolution (Vanossi et al. 1984; Cortesogno et al. 1993).
The rocks of the Brianonnais domain experienced
only a faint re-crystallization during Alpine metamor-
phism, with an exception being the Bagnaschino Massif
(Fig. 1), which has been equilibrated in the blueschist
facies (Messiga 1984). Brianonnais sedimentary units
underwent a first metamorphic event of very low grade
under variable pressure, and a second lower P retrograde
metamorphic event, which developed new chlorite+ albite
parageneses and phengites with Si4+<6.75 a.p.f.u (Messi-
ga 1981; Messiga et al. 1981).
Gneisses and amphibolites constituting the Savona
Crystalline Massif (part of the Brianonnais domain;
Fig. 1) experienced a polymetamorphic evolution char-
acterized by two different pre-alpine metamorphic events
and an Alpine one. The oldest metamorphic phase is
referred to as the Caledonian event (Messiga 1981) and
occurred under relatively high pressure and temperature
conditions (P=6–8 kbar; T=600 C), resulting in amphi-
bolite facies in the pelitic sequence and eclogite facies in
basic rocks. The second pre-alpine event, characterized by
Variscan ages and a relative lowering of metamorphic
conditions (P=3–5 kbar; T=500 C), produced a re-
crystallization in amphibolitic facies in both pelitic and
basic rocks.
The Alpine event faintly affected the Savona Crystal-
line Massif, as demonstrated by phengites that are mainly
characterized by Si<6.75 a.p.f.u. and provide Variscan
ages, although, smaller (<60 microns, mostly <2m)
potassic white mica flakes along Alpine tectonic surfaces
have been observed (Messiga 1984). Amphiboles in the
Savona Crystalline Massif are consistently calcic in
composition. They evolved as pargasitic to edenitic
hornblendes, which are stable under the older eclogite
facies event (Caledonian event), and then as Mg-horn-
blendes to edenitic hornblende during the younger
amphibolite facies (Messiga 1984; Messiga et al. 1992).
An Alpine metamorphism is recorded only in the
Bagnaschino Massif, where Alpine Na-amphiboles were
formed (Messiga et al. 1981).
Few thermochronological data are available for the
Brianonnais domain of the Ligurian Alps (Variscan
760
Crystalline Massifs; Del Moro et al. 1981). Rb-Sr on
biotite and white mica from orthogneiss of the Variscan
Crystalline Massifs provide cooling ages of 327–
297€5 Ma, while K–Ar dating on white mica produces
ages between 231€2 and 293€15 Ma (Del Moro et al.
1981). The 231€2 and 241€3 Ma ages have been
interpreted as being due to the partial opening of the
system during the Alpine orogeny (Del Moro et al. 1981).
No data are available on the western part of the Ligurian
Brianonnais domain. Nevertheless, the common occur-
rence of Late Variscan (330–280 Ma) mica ages in the
Brianonnais domain throughout the Alps is well known
(e.g., Hunziker et al. 1992 and references therein). Few
zircon fission track data on the Brianonnais domain of
the Ligurian Alps exist clustering mainly around 31 Ma
with a few ages around 180–136 Ma. The older ages are
interpreted to be the result of the thermal event related to
the rifting and consequent drifting of the Tethys (Vance
1999).
The Liguro-Piemontese domain
The Montenotte Nappe is derived from the transitional
domain between the Ligure-Piemontese Ocean and the
paleo-European continental margin, and suffered subduc-
tion metamorphism mainly under blueschist conditions
during the Alpine orogenesis (Messiga 1984). No ther-
mochronological data exist on this domain.
The Voltri Group is a metaophiolite massif, which
represents a remnant of the oceanic crust and of its deep-
sea cover from the Piedmont-Ligurian basin, which
formed in the Jurassic between Europe and Africa and
closed during Cretaceous–Paleogene Alpine convergence.
It records Alpine subduction metamorphism under eclog-
ite conditions (Messiga 1984). According to current
kinematic models (e.g., Vanossi et al. 1984; Di Giulio
1996 and references therein), collision along the Ligurian
segment of the Alpine convergent system occurred during
the Middle–Late Eocene. The Voltri Group can be
roughly divided into two main parts. The first consists
of metasedimentary rocks including calcschists, micas-
chists, quartzschists and metabasalts. The second part
mainly consists of Mg-gabbros, Fe–Ti-gabbros and ser-
pentinites, representing the original basement of the
metasediments (Messiga 1984).
The Voltri Group experienced a complex metamorphic
history (Cimmino et al. 1981; D’Antonio et al. 1984;
Messiga et al. 1989; Messiga and Scambelluri1991).
Cimmino and Messiga (1979) detected variations in Si4+
content in phengite and used these as a tracer for the
pressure conditions under which re-crystallization oc-
curred. In general, higher Si4+ values occur in the northern
part of the massif, while lower values can be found in the
south (D’Antonio et al. 1984).
Amphiboles also record the metamorphic evolution
affecting the basement rocks of the Voltri Group (Fe–Ti-
metagabbros, Mg-metagabbros, and metabasalts) as high-
pressure Na-rich amphiboles are progressively replaced
by Na–Ca-rich and then by Ca-rich minerals under
decreasing P conditions (Messiga 1984). Metasedimenta-
ry rocks experienced roughly the same metamorphic
history but generally re-crystallized under greenschists
facies (300–350 C and 6/7 kb), whereas metagabbros
typically show parageneses from eclogite to blueschist
facies (480–550 C and P>10 kb; 300 C and 8 kb;
Messiga 1984).
Very few thermochronological data are available on
minerals obtained from the crystalline bedrocks of the
Voltri Group. K–Ar ages on white micas from gneisses of
the Voltri group range from 30 to 45 Ma (Schamel and
Hunziker 1977; Hunziker et al. 1992; Hoogerduijn
Strating 1991) and 40Ar/39Ar on serpentinite produces
ages of 45€2 Ma (personal communication cited in
Hoogerduijn Strating 1991). These data show that the
peak of the Alpine metamorphism in the Voltri Group was
recorded by the Ar system at around 30–45 Ma. This is
consistent with data from other comparable meta-ophio-
lite units of the Western Alps (Hunziker et al. 1992) and
Alpine Corsica (Fournier et al. 1991).
The Tertiary Piedmont Basin
The northern margin of the collisional nappe stack of the
Ligurian Alps is unconformably sealed by the sediments
of the Tertiary Piedmont Basin (TPB; Fig. 1) The TPB
sediments homoclinally dip northward under Plio–Qua-
ternary alluvial sediments (Po Plain), with the exception
of their easternmost part, where they are truncated by the
Villalvernia-Varzi left-lateral strike-slip tectonic line
(VVL in Fig. 1; Di Giulio and Galbiati 1995 and
references therein).
The TPB basin was generated by subsidence of the
collisional belt after collision (Vanossi et al. 1984). In the
study area, the stratigraphic sequence contains at present a
maximum of 4 km of Oligocene–upper Miocene sedi-
ments (Fig. 2). Subsidence started in the latest Eocene–
Early Oligocene and caused the progressive drowning of
the chain. The related onset of sedimentation on the belt
occurred mostly in the Early Oligocene (Dela Pierre et al.
1995) and continued until Late Miocene time with strong
subsidence during the Langhian (Gelati et al. 1993:
Carrapa et al. 2003a) followed by Pliocene–Quaternary
uplift (Lorenz 1984) allowing the entire stratigraphic
series to crop out at present.
Early Oligocene transgression took place through
short-term transgressive–regressive events (Gnaccolini
et al. 1990; Turco et al. 1994), leading to the deposition
of the coarse-grained, continental to marine deposits of
the Molare Formation which forms the base of the TPB
succession. According to most authors, transgression
progressed from N–NE to S–SW (Lorenz 1984; Lorenz
1979), and it reached the southwesternmost sector of the
basin only in the Chattian (Fravega et al. 1994; Vannucci
et al. 1997). This is why the Molare Formation is dated as
Early Oligocene in eastern sectors, whereas it is dated as
Late Oligocene in western sectors. Up section, the
 761
Fig. 2 Stratigraphic scheme
modified from Gelati (1968),
vertical line pattern represents
the magnitude of unconformi-
ties and in light gray is the
Molare Formation

Fig. 3 Location of the studied

area and samples (modified
from the structural model of
Italy, scale1:500,000). Light
gray area represents the loca-
tion of the Molare Formation
outcrops

overlying Rocchetta Formation records an open marine
environment composed of hemipelagic and pro-delta
marls (Artoni et al. 1999). Its age is Rupelian p.p.–
Chattian in the eastern sector and Chattian–Aquitanian in
the western sector (Gelati et al. 1993; Gelati 1968; d’ Atri
et al. 1997). The overlying Miocene succession is
composed of interfingering turbidite and hemipelagic
formations and shallow marine units (Fig. 2). The
Miocene succession is unconformably topped by alluvial
and evaporite sediments recording the Messinian Mediter-
ranean salinity crisis (Ghibaudo et al. 1985).
Available stratigraphic data suggest that, during the
Oligocene–Early Miocene, the TPB was divided into
smaller subbasins separated by structural highs forming a
complex seafloor and terrestrial topography that was
progressively smoothed by Oligocene–Miocene clastic
infilling (Gelati et al. 1993; Gnaccolini 1998).
For our study of coupled exhumation/erosion process-
es, we investigated the Molare Formation which crops out
along the southern margin of the TPB (Fig. 3). In the
study area, the Molare Formation overlies all the main
tectonic complexes forming the Ligurian Alps nappe
stack—the Voltri Group, the Montenotte Nappe and the
Brianonnais domain.
Methodologies and samples
Facies analysis
As environmental changes can affect sedimentary trans-
port mechanisms and dispersal patterns (fluvial vs.
shallow marine, transversal vs. along-shore), depositional
facies of studied sections were also considered as
762
supporting provenance analysis. This provided control on
possible changes in clastic sediment distribution direc-
tions related to environmental evolution during transgres-
sion. A detailed discussion of sedimentary structures and
related depositional processes is beyond the scope of the
present paper, as it has been recently considered by others
(e.g., Mutti et al. 1996). In the following, facies analysis
carried out in the field from this research will be
presented in order to add further information on this
multidisciplinary study and to have better control on the
provenance of the studied samples.
Mineral chemistry
White micas and amphiboles were separated from sam-
ples of the Molare Formation and of the underlying
basement rocks. The degree of substitution of Si+ (Mg,
Fe) in phengite is a function of metamorphic pressure
conditions and of paragenesis (Velde 1965; Velde 1967;
Massonne and Schreyer 1987). For example Mg-rich
phengite is characteristic of HP and LT metamorphic
conditions (Massonne and Schreyer 1987). Because of
this variation in Si content, phengite can be used to study
the provenance of clastic sediments, if the source rocks
have experienced different metamorphic histories. These
analyses were performed on 13 samples from Molare
Formation and four samples from basement rocks (Fig. 3;
Table 1).
Several studies in the past have shown the importance
of sodic amphiboles in the reconstruction of HP meta-
morphic source rocks (e.g., von Eynatten and Gaupp 1999
and references therein). Sodic amphibole composition can
range from glaucophane to riebeckite (discussed later).
These two minerals, with their different chemical com-
positions in between, have important implications in
source rock discrimination. For example, glaucophane,
Fe-glaucophane and grossite are characteristic of HP
blueschist facies rocks, whereas riebeckite, Mg-riebeckite
and high-Fe3+ crossite are characteristic of either acid
magmatic rocks or low-grade regionally metamorphosed
metasediments (e.g., Veblen and Ribbe 1982; Deer et al.
1992). Samples were disaggregated by mixing them with
10% HNO3 and 10% Na-pyrophosphate and suspending
them in an ultrasound bath. After sieving, flat white micas
were separated from the 0.25–0.5 and 0.5–1.0 mm
fractions by using a Faul (vibration) table followed by
handpicking; amphiboles were separated from 0.125–0.25
and 0.25–0.5 mm fractions followed by handpicking.
Chemical analyses of separated mineral phases were
performed by a JEOL JX-A 8,800M electron microprobe.
Recalculations for phengite were done with an on-line
ZAF program for raw data correction, and the atomic
ratios were calculated for 20 (oxygens) and 4 (OH, F, Cl)
per formula unit. The standards used for white mica are
Na-jadeite, Mg, Si, Ca-diopside, Al-synthetic Al2O3, K-
orthoclase, Ti-ilmenite, Fe-olivine, Ba–barium-aluminate
glass. The standards for amphiboles are: F-fluorite, Na-
jadeite, Al-corundum, Cl-marialite, K-orthoclase, Ca-
diopside, Ti-ilmenite, Cr–Cr2O3, Mn-tephroite, Ni–NiO,
Zn–ZnO, Sr-celestite, Ba–Ba-aluminate glass, La–Ce,
Nd-REE-doped glasses, Fe-fayalite, Mg-diopside (except
for sample 90 for which Forsterite 90 has been used).
Generally, microprobe analyses have a precision of 1%.
Current and count rate were set to optimum levels in order
to get the highest statistical resolution. The data collected
from sedimentary samples were compared with bedrock
data collected both from literature and from analyses of
our new samples.
40
Ar/39Ar dating
Single grains of white micas ranging in size from 0.25–
1.0 mm were separated from12 sandstone samples and
four pebbles of the Molare Formation. In addition, in
order to increase the available data set on the geochronol-
ogy of the bedrock units, four bedrock samples were
collected and analyzed using the total fusion technique
(Table 1).
The disagregation and separation procedure was the
same as described in the previous section. The 40Ar/39Ar
experiments were carried out at the VULKAAN laser-
probe facility at the Isotope Geology Laboratory of the
Vrije Universiteit in Amsterdam (Wijbrans et al. 1995).
The isotopic composition of the Argon gas was measured
using a double focusing noble gas mass spectrometer
(MAP 215–50) in static mode. The irradiation facility
used for this project was the cadmium-lined CLICIT
facility of the TRIGA reactor of the Oregon State
University Reactor Center. Correction factors for inter-
ferences of Ca and K isotopes were 0.000673 for 39Ar/
37
Ar, 0.000264 for 36Ar/37Ar and 0.00086 for 40Ar/39Ar,
respectively. These values were determined using zero
age K-feldspar and anorthite glass. After irradiation, a J
curve was derived for individual samples by interpolation
between five single fusion experiments on every flux
monitor. We used DRA sanidine with an age of
25.26€0.14 Ma (Steenbrink et al. 1999) as flux monitor
standards for this project. In the present study, system
blanks were determined after every five unknowns. The
unknowns were corrected for the interpolated blank at the
time of analysis of the unknown, and the 2s error on the
blank was further used for the error calculation of the
unknown. 40Ar intensities for the analyzed samples were
on the order of >100 times the blanks (see Wijbrans 1995
for further details on the mass spectrometer sensitivity).
The discrimination factor was, on the average, equal to
1,006. Note that for single fusion experiments, errors
related to uncertainties in J and to the age of the standards
are not included in the 2s errors (Table 2). The exclusion
of the J related errors in the analytical errors reported in
Table 2 enables a better comparison between samples
(Foland 1983). For further details on the calculation of the
ages and related errors reported in Table 2 see Koppers
(2002).
Table 1 Synoptic depiction of data from samples collected in both the Molare Formation of numbers used for amphibole fields see Fig. 7. For further information on 40Ar/39Ar data
and bedrock units for this research and UTM coordinates for each sample. For explanation see Table 2
Molare Formation UTM co-ordinates
40 39 Zone 32T
Area Samples Depositional Facies Amphiboles Phengites Main Ar/ Ar ages (Ma)
age fields
NE 108-9 Rupelian Subaerial part of a fan-delta 2; 5 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=6.8–7.0 40–50 477,478–494,043
NE 54-4 Rupelian Distal part of a fan-delta 2 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=7.0–7.2 Si=6.8–7.0 40–50 465,800–493,815
NE 66-4 Rupelian Continental facies: delta? 2 Chlorite Chlorite 461,000–493,412
NE 83 Rupelian Lagoon 2 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=7.0–7.2 Si=6.8–7.0 40–50 455,600–492,890
NE 64-2 Rupelian Transitional environment: 1; 2; 3; 4; 5 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=6.8–7.0 35–37 461,620–492,711
proximal part of a fan-delta?
NE 7 Rupelian Transition to the offshore 2; 5 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=6.8–7.0 Not analyzed 453,875–492,375
NE 2-2 Rupelian Fan delta 2; 5 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=6.8–7.0 40–50 453,834–492,276
NE 4-4 Rupelian Subaerial part of a fan delta? Not analyzed Si=7.0–7.4 45–60 + step heating 453,834–492,276
NE 86 Rupelian Shoreface 2 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=6.8–7.0 31–50 446,500–493,195
NE 90 Rupelian Transition to the offshore 2; 3; 5 Si=7.2–7.4 Si=7.0–7.2 34–50 445,850–493,190
SW 77 Rupelian Shoreface 2 Si=6.4–7.0 Si<6.4 310 442125–491480
SW 72 Rupelian Subaerial part of a fan delta 2 Si=6.4–7.0 Si<6.4 300–310 448,500–491,220
SW 24-3 Chattian Subaerial part of a fan delta 2 Si<6.4 274–347 423,639–491,334
SW B36 Chattian Subaerial part of a fan delta? Not analyzed Not analyzed 36–50 414,965–491,319
Pebbles
SW SP2 Chattian Transitional environment Not analyzed Not analyzed 303–320 491,012–442015
NE Pian 1 Rupelian Fan delta Not analyzed Not analyzed 39–44 453834–492,276
NE Pian 2 Rupelian Fan delta Not analyzed Not analyzed 45 453,834–492276
NE 103-4 Rupelian / Not analyzed Not analyzed 43–58 487,600–494,500
Bedrocks
Voltri 96 / Metabasalt 2; 3 Not found 448,650–493,290
Brian. 97 / Savona Crystalline Massif Not analyzed Si=6.4–6.8 Not analyzed 448,675–491,190
(Letimbro Granitoids)
Brian. 22-1 / Savona Crystalline Massif Not analyzed Si<6.4 310–286 424,900–491,280
(Letimbro Granitoids)
Brian. A15 / Savona Crystalline Massif Not analyzed Not analyzed 311–302 445,900–491,360
(Nucetto Migmatites)
Brian. 23-2 / Verrucano Formation Not analyzed Si<6.4 272–307 424,980–491,040
Brian. A9 (A10) / Pamparato-Murialdo unit Not analyzed Si<6.4 313 + step heating 415,100–490,882
763
764
Table 2 Total fusion 40Ar/39Ar data from clastic phengites of the interfering nuclear reactions) excluding the uncertainties in J and
Molare Formation and basement rocks.2 s errors reported represent age of the standards and uncertainties in the decay constant. Note
the analytical errors (errors in the regressions of the samples and that the average of J related errors is in the order of 0.3%
blanks, in the mass discrimination factor and for correction of
36 37 38 39 40 40 39
Molare Sample Ar(a) Ar(ca) Ar(cl) Ar(k) Ar(r) Age+2s Ma Ar (%) Ar(k) (%)
East 108-9
1 0.00077 0.00000 0.00045 0.14813 3.48675 99.47€0.95 93.89 5.66
2 0.00239 0.00000 0.00138 0.25215 3.13148 53.16€0.50 81.58 9.64
3 0.00191 0.00058 0.00265 0.48403 4.84879 43.00€0.28 89.55 18.51
4 0.00223 0.00041 0.00243 0.41191 6.69340 69.25€0.35 91.04 15.75
5 0.00026 0.00000 0.00122 0.03388 0.43804 55.32€2.35 85.10 1.30
6 0.00147 0.00029 0.00050 0.23183 5.44954 99.33€0.54 92.61 8.86
7 0.00120 0.00132 0.00115 0.40356 3.70387 39.44€0.65 91.23 15.43
8 0.00074 0.00005 0.00097 0.21554 2.23130 44.42€0.48 91.10 8.24
9 0.00110 0.00062 0.00058 0.18020 2.73370 64.73€0.47 89.35 6.89
10 0.00064 0.00054 0.00094 0.25440 2.46275 41.57€0.33 92.82 9.73

East 54-4
1 0.00097 0.00367 0.00005 0.10752 2.00720 52.18€1.28 87.51 5.52
2 0.00225 0.00214 0.00023 0.15023 2.86248 53.24€1.01 81.17 7.72
3 0.00328 0.00492 0.00002 0.21857 5.15828 65.72€0.86 84.19 11.23
4 0.00078 0.00592 0.00015 0.23252 4.56705 54.86€0.64 95.18 11.94
5 0.00520 0.00000 0.00000 0.23364 11.25886 131.74€1.16 88.00 12.00
6 0.00234 0.00000 0.00000 0.15658 2.59343 46.37€1.02 78.95 8.04
7 0.00223 0.00000 0.00005 0.24038 4.42829 51.50€0.58 87.05 12.35
8 0.00212 0.00078 0.00000 0.15601 2.78566 49.94€1.15 81.61 8.01
9 0.00100 0.00197 0.00014 0.22418 3.86636 48.26€0.75 92.88 11.51
10 0.00035 0.00000 0.00002 0.22746 4.22014 51.87€0.64 97.64 11.68

East 83
1 0.00019 0.00000 0.00032 0.19168 1.61768 41.11€1.01 96.65 19.39
2 0.00056 0.00000 0.00024 0.21093 2.49216 57.29€0.77 93.79 21.33
3 0.00183 0.00000 0.00024 0.18591 1.53250 40.16€0.90 73.93 18.80
4 0.00027 0.00170 0.00022 0.10137 0.82470 39.64€1.56 91.09 10.25
5 0.00044 0.00000 0.00028 0.10768 1.10118 49.69€0.64 89.47 10.89
6 0.00076 0.00000 0.00025 0.11037 1.73547 75.85€1.17 88.59 11.16
7 0.00018 0.00071 0.00033 0.08081 0.65787 39.67€1.28 92.49 8.17

East 64-2
1 0.00022 0.00009 0.00029 0.15834 1.17533 37.10€0.84 94.80 6.50
2 0.00036 0.00000 0.00009 0.18868 1.38712 36.75€0.65 92.82 7.75
3 0.00106 0.00010 0.00059 0.28414 3.38003 59.09€0.63 91.50 11.67
4 0.00093 0.00014 0.00084 0.33570 3.24415 48.15€0.35 92.17 13.79
5 0.00024 0.00026 0.00025 0.13796 1.02817 37.25€0.86 93.50 5.67
6 0.00058 0.00240 0.00012 0.13227 0.92269 34.89€0.91 84.41 5.43
7 0.00132 0.00020 0.00081 0.26750 3.86682 71.56€0.80 90.81 10.99
8 0.00106 0.00000 0.00073 0.33650 3.18388 47.16€0.45 91.00 13.82
9 0.00109 0.00034 0.00068 0.16936 3.15318 91.65€1.08 90.73 6.96
10 0.00128 0.00159 0.00155 0.42424 4.16294 48.88€0.42 91.65 17.42

East 90
2 0.00169 0.04557 0.00008 0.19861 1.84413 44.31€1.65 78.68 15.01
3 0.00271 0.00000 0.00000 0.24007 2.06499 41.08€1.21 72.05 18.14
5 0.00057 0.00000 0.00000 0.16808 1.32738 37.75€1.30 88.73 12.70
6 0.00066 0.00000 0.00000 0.23407 1.66177 33.98€2.25 89.56 17.69
7 0.00110 0.00000 0.00000 0.18693 1.46708 37.52€3.06 81.88 14.13
9 0.00016 0.00000 0.00030 0.11479 1.25148 51.92€3.65 96.26 8.67
10 0.00051 0.19015 0.00017 0.17385 1.32305 36.40€1.99 89.75 13.14

The total fusion technique was applied on an average
of ten single white mica grains ranging in size between
0.25 to 0.5 mm from each sample, in order to detect
absolute ages corresponding to the time since the minerals
cooled below the closure temperature of white mica (350–
420 C; von Blanckenburg et al. 1989; Hames and
Bowring 1994; Kirschner et al. 1996; McDougall and
Harrison 1999). Three step heating experiments were
applied to white mica single grains ranging between 0.50
to 1 mm in size to check sample homogeneity. Only
experiments concordant within 95% confidence intervals,
i.e., MSWD<2.5, were used to derive plateau ages.
Cumulative distribution diagrams were chosen to display
our database in terms of both frequency and precision of
the analysis, since they take into account the error of each
measurement (for further details see Sircombe 2000).
 765
Table 2 (continued)

36 37 38 39 40 40 39
Molare Sample Ar(a) Ar(ca) Ar(cl) Ar(k) Ar(r) Age+2s Ma Ar (%) Ar(k) (%)
East 2-2
1 0.00066 0.00000 0.00000 0.16856 1.20014 40.83€0.68 85.99 4.09
2 0.00023 0.00010 0.00004 0.13507 1.02065 43.30€0.72 93.84 3.28
3 0.00067 0.00103 0.00033 0.65053 4.82774 42.54€0.26 96.03 15.80
4 0.00466 0.00018 0.00032 0.30100 3.56421 67.40€0.61 72.12 7.31
5 0.00038 0.00048 0.00033 0.21619 1.74999 46.35€0.64 93.90 5.25
6 0.00236 0.00380 0.00021 0.46942 3.53200 43.12€0.32 83.50 11.40
7 0.00201 0.00031 0.00005 0.69248 5.18755 42.94€0.34 89.72 16.82
8 0.00046 0.00080 0.00023 0.30685 2.25728 42.17€0.39 94.32 7.45
9 0.00292 0.00045 0.00012 0.42481 4.63050 62.14€0.42 84.27 10.32
1 0.03911 0.00386 0.00012 0.31927 6.47035 61.32€4.39 35.89 42.47
2 0.00473 0.00068 0.00011 0.15344 2.93695 57.97€8.96 67.73 20.41
3 0.00324 0.00182 0.00000 0.15559 2.51505 49.08€8.86 72.41 20.69
4 0.00225 0.00307 0.00000 0.12354 2.36214 57.91€11.11 78.00 16.43
5 0.00313 0.00016 0.00015 0.28898 4.86800 51.11€0.96 84.03 29.64
6 0.00111 0.00209 0.00000 0.11441 2.04062 54.08€1.65 86.17 11.73
7 0.00226 0.00267 0.00000 0.23445 4.14526 53.61€0.92 86.13 24.05
8 0.00195 0.00048 0.00000 0.31822 4.62225 44.16€0.41 88.92 32.64
9 0.00057 0.02252 0.00000 0.01891 0.36736 58.81€6.43 68.61 1.94
Step h
0.25 W 0.00022 0.00000 0.00002 0.00703 0.11272 47.19€16.56 63.36 1.97
0.32 W 0.00337 0.00000 0.00000 0.21592 4.08476 55.55€1.05 80.38 60.46
0.36 W 0.00087 0.00000 0.00000 0.07225 1.33531 54.29€2.15 83.90 20.23
0.39 W 0.00021 0.00078 0.00008 0.01598 0.28039 51.58€6.70 81.62 4.47
0.46 W 0.00009 0.00000 0.00000 0.00992 0.19327 57.20€15.79 88.40 2.78
0.55 W 0.00009 0.00000 0.00000 0.00980 0.18767 56.24€15.7 87.27 2.74
Fsn 0.00023 0.00182 0.00000 0.02622 0.46304 51.91€6.13 86.97 7.34
S 0.00509 0.00261 0.00010 0.35712 6.65715

East 86
1 0.00660 0.00757 0.00039 0.09250 1.05371 51.78€2.47 35.08 26.48
2 0.00519 0.00344 0.00028 0.25660 2.55979 45.42€0.61 62.55 73.44
3 0.00118 0.12389 0.00027 0.19427 1.97718 46.33€1.66 84.99 14.50
4 0.00043 0.27901 0.00000 0.04523 0.30707 31.04€9.67 70.91 3.37
5 0.00375 0.17358 0.00000 0.19450 1.34596 31.63€1.66 54.82 14.51
6 0.00342 0.12384 0.00058 0.21019 2.59312 56.01€2.75 71.97 15.69

West 77
1 0.00019 0.00000 0.00017 0.09104 6.02044 312.10€1.77 99.08 8.86
2 0.00013 0.00000 0.00053 0.15551 10.36692 314.42€1.21 99.62 15.13
3 0.00025 0.00588 0.00050 0.09195 6.02778 309.60€2.1 98.77 8.95
4 0.00064 0.00171 0.00012 0.20654 13.36365 305.90€0.89 98.61 20.10
5 0.00026 0.00000 0.00037 0.17751 11.84916 314.81€1.31 99.34 17.27
6 0.00053 0.00000 0.00017 0.10201 0.76271 38.12€0.97 82.94 9.93
7 0.00007 0.00017 0.00000 0.05935 3.91726 311.56€2.4 99.49 5.78
8 0.00006 0.00507 0.00051 0.06963 4.52877 307.39€2.34 99.62 6.78
9 0.00012 0.00173 0.00047 0.07406 4.83537 308.47€2.11 99.28 7.21

West 72
1 0.00159 0.00230 0.00017 0.22628 3.19200 69.96€0.55 87.16 13.16
2 0.00070 0.00000 0.00017 0.22385 4.58688 100.75€0.67 95.68 13.02
3 0.00026 0.00046 0.00002 0.12872 1.09381 42.47€0.72 93.51 7.49
4 0.00025 0.00176 0.00072 0.38301 14.20966 178.48€0.66 99.49 22.28
5 0.00030 0.00038 0.00061 0.14013 9.24694 306.18€1.59 99.06 8.15
6 0.00000 0.00000 0.00090 0.19676 13.32092 313.48€1.06 100.00 11.44
7 0.00028 0.00432 0.00099 0.16624 11.06876 308.72€2.81 99.27 9.67
8 0.00087 0.02498 0.00067 0.11757 1.66105 70.07€5.34 86.61 6.84
9 0.00055 0.02422 0.00061 0.13672 8.99463 305.33€2.06 98.24 7.95
10 0.00075 3.22164 0.00057 0.36739 22.35749 291.34€2.6 99.02 26.35

These diagrams were used to subdivide the study area into
different sectors based on the occurrence of different age
populations (Fig. 4). The output produces groups of
related ages (age populations) based on the analytical
precision of the data itself.
Apatite Fission Track analysis
Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology was applied to
one pebble belonging to the Molare Formation (SP2) and
to two basement rock samples belonging to the Brianon-
766
Table 2 (continued)
36 37 38 39 40 40 39
Molare Sample Ar(a) Ar(ca) Ar(cl) Ar(k) Ar(r) Age+2s Ma Ar (%) Ar(k) (%)
West 24-3
1 0.00723 0.00109 0.00024 0.18314 18.53496 312.55€1.98 89.66 19.04
2 0.00348 0.00010 0.00000 0.13772 14.04012 314.64€2.64 93.18 14.32
3 0.00648 0.00126 0.00015 0.15039 13.89986 287.47€2.51 87.88 15.64
4 0.00949 0.00410 0.00000 0.09100 8.00232 274.51€3.77 74.04 9.46
5 0.00532 0.00584 0.00010 0.39962 42.29852 325.66€1.68 96.41 41.55
6 0.00981 0.00885 0.00000 0.24440 25.28861 318.96€1.97 89.71 30.34
7 0.00155 0.00513 0.00000 0.15737 16.38853 320.85€1.77 97.28 19.53
8 0.00164 0.00555 0.00000 0.10112 10.78740 328.01€3.13 95.69 12.55
9 0.00121 0.00423 0.00000 0.14297 14.92964 321.64€1.81 97.66 17.75
10 0.00063 0.00839 0.00000 0.15980 18.14587 347.22€1.96 98.98 19.84

West B36
1 0.00021 0.00000 0.00015 0.02526 0.33070 52.42€2.81 84.34 2.52
2 0.00038 0.00000 0.00030 0.10552 0.96437 36.75€0.67 89.57 10.54
3 0.00013 0.00058 0.00048 0.00787 0.07161 36.58€5.66 65.86 0.79
4 0.00098 0.00166 0.00124 0.21061 1.96925 37.59€0.52 87.16 21.03
5 0.00088 0.00000 0.00040 0.08001 1.00862 50.50€1.07 79.52 7.99
6 0.00023 0.00000 0.00015 0.11442 1.45800 51.04€0.88 95.47 11.43
7 0.00029 0.00059 0.00080 0.18568 2.18513 47.19€0.51 96.22 18.54
8 0.00016 0.00005 0.00050 0.10812 0.97381 36.22€0.76 95.42 10.80
9 0.00039 0.00000 0.00031 0.09101 1.75191 76.56€0.85 93.83 9.09
10 0.00036 0.00059 0.00043 0.07294 1.47083 80.12€1.27 93.29 7.28

Pebbles
SP2 1 0.00101 0.03243 0.00048 0.14856 14.48552 302.76€4.74 97.97 29.07
2 0.00076 0.03624 0.00045 0.08074 8.17817 313.54€8.19 97.34 15.80
3 0.00060 0.03395 0.00067 0.07101 7.13631 311.31€9.23 97.56 13.89
4 0.00045 0.00000 0.00017 0.10850 11.17573 318.41€4.23 98.81 21.23
5 0.00050 0.00312 0.00054 0.10229 10.60057 320.18€4.14 98.61 20.01

Pian 1 (60–90 m) 1 0.00064 0.00000 0.00014 0.05160 0.65038 42.28€4.60 77.54 36.75
2 0.00063 0.00036 0.00000 0.06054 0.80479 44.56€3.31 81.32 43.12
3 0.00048 0.00120 0.00031 0.02826 0.37486 44.46€4.12 72.68 20.13

Pian 1 (90–160 m) 1 0.00067 0.00013 0.00013 0.06791 0.85585 42.23€6.96 81.12 22.79
2 0.00191 0.00255 0.00029 0.15676 1.95156 41.72€2.86 77.61 52.60
3 0.00077 0.00000 0.00018 0.07335 0.86392 39.49€5.86 79.19 24.61

Pian 1 (250–500) 1 0.00059 0.04244 0.00015 0.16122 2.08430 43.30€2.02 92.29 20.51
2 0.00338 0.04663 0.00004 0.47575 6.11792 43.07€0.65 85.95 60.53
3 0.00147 0.00230 0.00019 0.14903 1.81197 40.75€2.42 80.68 18.96

Pian 2 1 0.00050 0.00006 0.00002 0.08792 1.22502 46.57€4.27 89.22 44.81

2 0.00034 0.00085 0.00016 0.06667 0.90999 45.64€5.48 90.10 33.98
3 0.00009 0.00076 0.00018 0.04161 0.66419 53.26€7.93 96.22 21.21

103-4 1 0.00073 0.00275 0.00029 0.11764 2.06125 58.22€2.34 90.49 15.00

2 0.00038 0.00536 0.00017 0.11947 1.66046 46.34€1.85 93.62 15.23
3 0.00043 0.00165 0.00023 0.15335 2.19470 47.70€1.57 94.54 19.55
4 0.00074 0.00360 0.00000 0.14313 2.29468 53.35€2.69 91.29 18.25
5 0.00055 0.00155 0.00000 0.12395 1.60674 43.25€2.63 90.84 15.81
6 0.00088 0.00554 0.00053 0.12668 1.93505 50.86€2.73 88.17 16.15

Basement
Brianonnais 22-1

Savona Crystalline 1 0.00065 0.00000 0.00005 0.27036 15.51975 303.28€1.29 98.77 7.99
Massif 2 0.00036 0.00025 0.00000 0.16230 9.53556 309.82€1.42 98.89 4.80
3 0.00146 0.00065 0.00000 0.34806 20.25995 307.18€0.93 97.92 10.28
4 0.00052 0.00077 0.00000 0.51857 27.96679 286.31€1.17 99.45 15.32
5 0.00072 0.00058 0.00046 0.38946 21.29347 289.95€0.81 99.01 11.51
6 0.00022 0.00091 0.00003 0.35602 19.17702 285.98€1.11 99.65 10.52
7 0.00031 0.00041 0.00034 0.40098 22.04977 291.50€1.10 99.59 11.85
8 0.00024 0.00000 0.00032 0.15842 9.26156 308.41€1.44 99.23 4.68
9 0.00070 0.00040 0.00000 0.24655 14.53583 310.81€1.24 98.60 7.28
10 0.00150 0.00086 0.00000 0.53371 29.55684 293.41€1.51 98.52 15.77
 767
Table 2 (continued)
36 37 38 39 40 40 39
Molare Sample Ar(a) Ar(ca) Ar(cl) Ar(k) Ar(r) Age+2s Ma Ar (%) Ar(k) (%)
Brianonnais A15

Savona Crystalline 1 0.00053 0.00022 0.00018 0.22235 22.22437 311.10€2.11 99.31 76.90
Massif 2 0.00079 0.00027 0.00015 0.06680 6.47537 302.46€7.27 96.51 23.10

Brianonnais 23-2

Verrucano 1 0.00005 0.00000 0.00000 0.37581 22.04695 306.81€0.95 99.94 14.06

Formation 2 0.00029 0.00000 0.00005 0.26068 14.52926 292.66€1.12 99.41 9.75
3 0.00025 0.00136 0.00016 0.23513 12.11767 272.19€1.26 99.38 8.79
4 0.00039 0.00161 0.00010 0.19794 11.95459 272.20€1.97 99.05 7.40
5 0.00013 0.00101 0.00055 0.12112 7.00676 272.21€2.46 99.47 4.53
6 0.00042 0.00022 0.00000 0.31595 18.78472 272.22€1.58 99.34 11.82
7 0.00067 0.00037 0.00006 0.39114 20.36211 272.23€1.08 99.04 14.63
8 0.00029 0.00000 0.00005 0.37596 19.72156 272.24€1.02 99.56 14.06
9 0.00021 0.00040 0.00012 0.24482 14.42553 272.25€1.10 99.58 9.16
10 0.00002 0.00000 0.00023 0.15514 8.66263 272.26€1.83 99.94 5.80

Brianonnais A9

Pamparato-Murialdo 1 0.00052 0.00257 0.00002 0.14480 14.47062 311.82€3.58 98.96 38.60

unit 2 0.00136 0.00252 0.00000 0.23030 23.14413 313.42€2.04 98.30 61.40
Step h

1 0.24 W 0.00033 0.00000 0.00000 0.01829 1.70383 292.14€13.22 94.62 2.47

2 0.29 W 0.00093 0.00000 0.00007 0.00955 0.97730 318.52€23.26 77.97 1.29
3 0.33 W 0.00019 0.00000 0.00000 0.01486 1.51572 317.63€19.59 96.49 2.00
4 0.37 W 0.00000 0.00000 0.00000 0.03337 3.47461 323.58€10.47 99.96 4.50
5 0.40 W 0.00027 0.00000 0.00024 0.06635 6.87273 322.08€6.15 98.84 8.94
6 0.43 W 0.00003 0.00000 0.00000 0.04328 4.52765 325.03€8.78 99.78 5.83
7 0.49 W 0.00160 0.00100 0.00069 0.35312 36.48178 321.31€1.70 98.72 47.60
8 Fsn 0.00047 0.00570 0.00043 0.20299 21.09937 323.10€1.95 99.35 27.36
S 0.00383 0.00669 0.00143 0.74182 76.65300
The data listed for the 40Ar/39Ar experiments are: 36Ar (a) atmospheric component in 36Ar; 37Ar calcium-derived 37Ar; 38Ar (cl) chlorine-
derived component 38Ar; 39Ar (k) potassium-derived component in 39Ar; 40Ar (r) radiogenic 40Ar; Age (Ma) with related 2s errors; 40Ar
(%) percentage radiogenic component in Ar; 39Ar (%) increment size expressed as the percentage of 39Ark compared to the total amount of
39
Ark released during the experiment

nais domain (A15 and A9; Table 3). Sample preparation
and analyses were performed at the Vrije University of
Amsterdam following the process described by Hendriks
and Andriessen (2002). Each analysis produced an
apparent age, track length statistics, and a numerically
derived inverse thermal model. In this study, all samples
were modeled using the AFT Solve program (Ketcham
2000) and the Durango-annealing model of Laslett et al.
(1987). The output of the model is two t-T envelopes. The
broader envelope, being the range within which any
thermal history cannot be excluded by the measured data,
and the narrower envelope, being the range that is
supported by the measured data (Ketcham 2000). Typi-
cally between104 and105 iterations were made in model-
ing each sample. Generally the modeling process outlined
by Ketcham et al. (2000) was followed.
Results
Facies analysis
The most common depositional facies and sedimentary
structures occurring in the studied sections are briefly
described (Fig. 5). Generally, the Molare Formation
consists of a lower part with continental to transitional
facies, and an upper part composed of shallow marine
deposits, recording the beginning of the drowning of the
belt. Within this general trend, a great variability is
observed related to the combined effects of basement
paleorelief on which transgression occurred (Lorenz
1984), and minor transgressive–regressive stages, which
accompanied the submersion (Gnaccolini et al. 1990;
Mutti et al. 1995). The former is responsible for thick
continental deposits in incised paleovalley sections and
for the lack of paleopromontories. The latter makes the
continental to marine transition within the formation
generally complex.
768
Fig. 4 40Ar/39Ar ages of white
micas from the Molare Forma-
tion and of the underlying bed-
rocks. In the inset diagrams the
relative cumulative age spectra
obtained from samples from
SW and NE sectors are reported

Table 3 AFFT data. Standard (rstd) and induced (ri) track densities surfaces. m a.s.l. Meters above sea level, Mtl mean track length. SD
(tracks/cm2) were measured on mica external detectors, and standard deviation. Ages were calculated using z=345.4€9.3 for
spontaneous track densities (rs) were measured on internal mineral dosimeter glass CN5
Sample Elevation Stratigraphic domain (Lithology) rstd (105)b rs (105)b ri (105)b c2 (%) Age Mtlb
no.a (m a.s.l.) (Ma€1s) (mm€1s)
A15 550 Savona Crystalline Massif 8.996 2.464 15.922 19.88 24.0€1.4 14.1€1.2
21 Migmatite 13,943 421 2,720 65
A9 550 Pamparato-Murialdo Unit 8.996 2.430 15.473 28.20 24.3€1.6 14.6€0.9
19 Ortogneiss 13,943 307 1,955 79
SP2 600 Molare Fm. (pebble) 8.996 1.842 11.015 78.75 25.9€1.6 14.7€1.0
28 Micashist 13,943 381 2,278 88
a
Italicsshows number of grains analyzed
b
Italics shows number of tracks counted/measured

Fluvial facies
Fluvial facies usually occur at the base of sections
immediately above altered basement bedrock. The alter-
ation of basement rocks can sometimes constitute regolith
horizons of a few meters thick. As previously mentioned,
the thickness of fluvial facies is strongly controlled by
paleotopography. For example, in Fig. 5 section F shows
that very thick, coarse-grained deposits occur as incised
valley fills, whereas section C shows that thin or no
continental deposits occur in sections covering paleo-high
zones. Directly above the altered basement, fluvial facies
are represented by breccias, whose composition directly
mirrors the bedrock. Such deposits are then replaced up
section by very poorly sorted, reddish, often matrix
supported conglomerates and pebbly sandstones with
minor breccias, forming thick, markedly lenticular beds.
Commonly, these conglomerates are interbedded with
silty mudstone layers with red soils developed at the top,
as shown in section F of Fig. 5. Imbrications and current
structures are very rarely observed in these conglomer-
ates, therefore no meaningful paleocurrent measurement
has been possible. This facies association is interpreted as
representing river channel deposits and minor floodplain
sediments deposited by short high-gradient streams
directly entering the sea through shallow floodwater
 769

Fig. 5 Location (inset map) and depositional facies of the studied wavy lines represent the boundary between Molare Formation and
sections. Samples collected in the reported sections are labeled with the underlying bedrock units. Horizontal distance among sections is
numbers beside the corresponding stratigraphic column. The solid reported in the bottom
770
dominated coarse-grained fan deltas (see also Mutti et al.
1996).
Fan delta facies
Transitional facies show the highest rank of variability
because of rapid changes in the dominant depositional
process. As a result, they form very complex associations,
which overlie fluvial deposits or directly overlie basement
bedrock as shown in sections C, D, E, F of Fig. 5, and
generally pass up section to shallow marine sediments.
Three main fan delta facies have been recognized.
Poorly organized reddish conglomerate, often heteromet-
ric and matrix rich, interpreted as hyper-concentrated
flow deposits accumulated in the upstream part of the fan
delta system. Up section, these deposits are substituted by
widely amalgamated, graded sandstone beds, interpreted
as sandy high-density shallow-water turbidites deposited
in a more distal part of the fan-delta system. They form
shelf sandstone lobes seaward from the fan-delta front in a
shoreface environment where the high-density catastroph-
ic flood currents (sensu Mutti et al. 1996) have already
lost part of their energy. Locally, poorly organized
conglomerates are substituted by clast supported well-
sorted conglomerates, generally rich in calcite cement
within pores and containing rare fragments of marine
shells. These sedimentary bodies are interpreted as fan-
delta conglomerates, reworked by waves in a gravelly
beach environment laterally from the river mouth. In
addition, very fine muddy sandstone lagoon deposits with
abundant plant remnants and rare pebbles occur (e.g., in
section C; Fig. 5). They contain abundant fossils,
especially gasteropoda and ostreids, which constitute a
monospecific assemblage association living in brackish
water.
Marine facies
The fan-delta facies are often interfingered with shallow
marine beds that dominate the uppermost part of the
sections. Sedimentary structures are poorly preserved
because of strong bioturbation. However, it is still
possible to recognize the following facies. Foreshore,
very clean, well-sorted fine conglomerate and coarse
sandstone with low-angle cross bedding sometimes occur.
More commonly, parallel and crossed laminated sand-
stones, often alternating with fine-conglomerate lenses,
relatively rich in small lamellibranchia and coral patches
occur and have been interpreted as a proximal shoreface
facies. Sometimes symmetric ripples can be recognized
on the top of beds, as shown in sections D, E of Fig. 5. Up
section, the fossil content increases and graded sands are
generally deposited on erosive surfaces. The bottom
layers consist of coarse-grained sand, relatively rich in
fossil debris (lamellibranchia, macroforaminifera, and
echinoids fragments). The top layers consist of fine
sandstone and hummocky, cross-stratification has been
observed. Generally, these kinds of beds are interpreted as
storm layers, deposited in the distal part of the shoreface
zone. An alternative view is that recently proposed by
Mutti et al. (1996), who interpret them as deposits related
to catastrophic stream floods generating hyper-concen-
trated flows as they pass up-current to fluvial facies.
Because of a lack of knowledge concerning lateral facies
relations of beds occurring in the studied sections, thicker,
coarser fossil-poor beds are interpreted as catastrophic
flood fan-delta facies, whereas thinner fossil-rich beds are
considered storm layers. Up section, similar beds again
occur interbedded with relatively thick intervals com-
posed of strongly bioturbated very fine sand and sandy
siltstones, rich in macroforaminifera and small thin
lamellibranchia in lower shoreface deposits. They pass
gradually to the overlying hemipelagic marls (Rocchetta
Formation) by means of shoreface-offshore transition
facies represented by alternating very fine sandstone beds
and silty marlstones as shown in sections A, D of Fig. 5.
Results from mineral chemistry
Phengite
Phengite compositions from sedimentary samples (Ta-
ble 2) suggest two different source areas (Fig. 6a).
Samples from the NE sector are characterized by high-
pressure phengites (Si=6.8–7.5 a.p.f.u.), whereas samples
from the SW sector are characterized by relatively lower
pressure micas (Si<6.7 a.p.f.u.). These results clearly
mirror the composition of the bedrock as the first overlie
of the Voltri Group, whereas the second crops out mostly
on Brianonnais units (Fig. 6b).
Amphibole
Analyses on amphiboles did not highlight the two sectors
as distinguished by phengite compositions. Nevertheless
they provide a tool, based on metamorphic stages
(Fig. 7a), for further distinction within the phengite-based
sample groups.
In the northeastern sector, two groups of samples were
recognized (Fig. 7b,c; Table 1). A northernmost group
contains high-pressure amphiboles according to the
diagram of Messiga and Scambelluri (1991). The occur-
rence of glaucophane is probably due to the erosion of
Mg-gabbros, Fe-gabbros and metabasalts, of the Voltri
Group. Samples collected in the southern part of the NE
sector (Fig. 7c) display a more complex composition,
consisting of both high and low pressure amphiboles. This
reflects the strong equilibration under greenschist facies
of the underlying units of the Voltri Group. A key
observation was detected in two samples from sections
A–B which crop out in the same area (Fig. 5). A lower
sample collected from shoreface facies (sample 86),
contains only high-pressure amphiboles consistent with
the other samples of the same area, perfectly mirroring

Fig. 6 Si vs. Mg content (atoms per formula unit) in phengite a
from the Molare samples and b from the bedrock units for
comparison (diagram b). Note that according to Cimmino and
Messiga (1979) three phengite groups can be distinguished as a
function of P/T conditions: i) Si=7.2–7.4 a.p.f.u. within mineral
association stable at P=10 kbar and T>400C; ii) Si=6,8–
7.0 a.p.f.u. within mineral association stable at P=7–8 kbar and
T=400–550C; iii) Si<6.4 a.p.f.u. within mineral association stable
at P=4 kbar and T<400C. In b, Voltri Massif analyses are from
Cimmino and Messiga (1979), samples from the Brianonnais
domain are from the present study
amphiboles from the bedrock, whereas an upper sample,
collected in offshore facies (sample 90), displays both
high-pressure and low-pressure amphiboles similar to that
contained in more southern samples. This might suggest a
southward enlargement of the source area during south-
ward progressing transgression.
In the southwestern sector, the samples contain HP
amphiboles (Fig. 7d) that, on first impression, seem
771
similar to samples from the NE. However, a more detailed
inspection using the classification of Leake (1978)
(Fig. 8) allows a distinction to be made. According to
the data of Messiga (1981), the source rocks for samples
77 and72 could be within either the Montenotte Nappe or
the Voltri Group. On the contrary, amphibole composition
in sample 24-3 suggest a provenance from a source rock
belonging to the Bagnaschino Massif or to metavolcanic
rocks of the Brianonnais domain, which were not
completely affected by the youngest low pressure meta-
morphic event (Messiga 1981). All these sources are still
present in the area as klippen, but their high contribution
of clastic amphiboles to Oligocene sediments suggests
that they may have had a wider extent during this time.
In the northeastern sector, no distinction can be made
between different Na amphibole families (according to
the classification of Leake 1978). For this reason the data
are not presented in Fig. 8.
40
Results from Ar/39Ar dating and apatite fission track
analysis
Basement rocks and pebbles
Several samples collected directly from the bedrock or
from pebbles in the Molare Formation were studied
through 40Ar/39Ar on white mica and AFTT in order to
add to the poor literature data set, recording the cooling
history of Ligurian Alps.
Four samples from the bedrock were analyzed by 40Ar/
39
Ar geochronology, two samples (22-1 and A15) belong
to the Savona Crystalline Massif, which is part of the
Brianonnais domain. In sample 22-1, all ten single white
mica fusion analyses provide Late Variscan ages ranging
between 286 and 310 Ma (Table 1; Table 2). In sample
A15, two grains give ages of 311.1€2.1 and
302.5€7.3 Ma, respectively.
Sample 23-2 belongs to the Verrucano Formation
(Late Permian, clastic cover of the Brianonnais domain;
e.g., Cortesogno et al. 1993; Fig. 4, Tables 1, 2). Analysis
of ten single white mica grains also gives Late Variscan
ages ranging between 274 and 310 Ma, which are
consistent with the bedrock samples mentioned above.
This signal clearly records the provenance of the Late
Permian Verrucano sediments from the underlying
Variscan basement rocks. This would explain the homo-
geneous thermochronological signal provided by the
Brianonnais basement rocks and by their Late Paleozoic
clastic cover.
The fourth bedrock sample (A9) belongs to the
Brianonnais domain (Pamparato-Murialdo unit, Dalla-
giovanna 1994). Two white mica grains give 311.8€3.6
and 313.4€2.0 Ma, respectively, indicating a Variscan
cooling age (Tables 1, 2). Figure 9 shows the result of a
step heating experiment on sample A9. A plateau-like age
(MSWD>2.5) of 321.9€2.9 Ma has been obtained,
suggesting a slightly altered Variscan signal possibly
772
Fig. 7 a Composition of amphiboles from bedrock units as
reference after Messiga and Scambelluri 1991; b–d composition
of clastic amphiboles from sandstones of the Molare Formation
outcropping in different areas. Note that microprobe analyses
Fig. 8 Composition of Na-amphiboles from the SW sector plotted according to the classification diagram of Leake (1978)
due to alteration. The preservation of the Variscan
isotopic signature suggests that the Alpine metamorphic
event did not reset white micas (at least grains larger than
60 m) and therefore it must have reached a maximum
metamorphic T lower than ca. 350€30 C during the
Alpine overprinting (30–45 Ma; see Hunziker et al. 1992;
Wijbrans and McDougall 1986; Villa 1997 for discussion
presented have a precision in the order of 1%. Current and count
rate were set to optimum level in order to get the highest statistical
resolution
on overprinting) in all samples belonging to the Bri-
anonnais domain. These results are consistent with
published data on other Brianonnais units of other
sectors of the Alps (Hunziker et al. 1992).
Four pebbles from the Molare Formation have been
analyzed by 40Ar/39Ar geochronology on white micas
(Fig. 4, Tables 1, 2). Pebble SP2 is a micaschist collected

Fig. 9 Single grain step heating for sample A9 from the Brianon-
nais domain
in the Molare sediments deposited directly on the top of
the Brianonnais domain. 40Ar/39Ar ages on five different
white mica grains give a Variscan signal (Table 2), which
directly mirrors the Variscan signal of the Brianconnais
domain. Pian 1 (Fig. 4) is a micaschist pebble collected
where the Molare overlies the Voltri Group. 40Ar/39Ar
dating on 11 individual white mica grains gave an Alpine
signal of around 43 Ma (Table 2). For this sample,
analysis has been performed on three different grain sizes
to check for the effect of grain size on ages. The results
obtained from all three different grain sizes gave ages
between 39 and 44 Ma, showing no grain size dependence
(Table 2). Pian 2 is a micaschist pebble from the Molare
Formation deposited on the Voltri Group as well. 40Ar/
39
Ar dating on three individual white mica grains give an
Alpine signal of 45–50 Ma. In general, Pian 1 and Pian 2
directly mirror the Alpine signal widely recorded by the
Voltri Group. Sample 103-4 (Table 2) is a micaschist
pebble collected where the Molare Formation is deposited
directly on the top of the Sestri Voltaggio Zone (Fig. 4).
40
Ar/39Ar dating on ten individual white mica grains
produced an Alpine signal between 58 and 43 Ma
(Table 2). Figure 10 shows the results of a step heating
experiment performed on a single grain of sample 103-4.
This analysis gives a disturbed signal with higher ages at
lower T’s. This result could potentially be due to
alteration or excess 40Ar.
Three additional samples (one pebble and two bed-
rocks) were analyzed by AFTT. Each AFTT analysis
(pebble SP2, basement rocks A15 and A9) produced an
apparent age, track length statistics and a numerically
derived inverse thermal model (Table 3 and Fig. 11). The
ages produced were 24.0€1.4, 24.3€1.6 and 25.9€1.6 Ma,
while the mean track lengths were 14.1€1.2, 14.6€0.9 and
14.6€1.0 mm (all errors quoted to1s level), respectively.
Poor apatite yield and low uranium content hampered
collection of high-quality data resulting in high intra-
sample grain age dispersion. However, all samples have
been subjected to the c2 probability test to statistically
773
Fig. 10 Single grain step heating for pebble103-4 collected in the
Molare Formation
assess whether the measured grains within each sample
represent a single age population. All samples passed this
test and the pooled age (age from integration of individual
grain data) is reported. The high mean-track lengths and
’peaked’ length distribution imply that the samples cooled
rapidly (see Gallagher et al. 1998, for further discussion),
which is reflected in the thermal models.
Molare sandstones
Detrital mica ages from the Molare Formation are shown
in Fig. 4. Samples from the eastern sector show a main
age population around 40–50 Ma, which clearly records
the Alpine metamorphic event affecting the underlying
Voltri Group. A few ages ranging around 100 and 65–
75 Ma could represent remnants of early exhumed
oceanic units (possibly the Sestri Voltaggio units but no
data are available on them at present). Figure 12 shows
the results of a step heating analysis performed on sample
4-4. This analysis gave a plateau age of 55.2€1.0 Ma,
suggesting that the main age of 50 Ma represents an
homogeneous signal.
Samples from the western sector show a mix of ages
with two main age populations one around 36–50 Ma and
the other around 310–320 Ma. The 270–342 Ma age
population mirrors the Variscan metamorphic event,
which affected the underlying Brianonnais domain,
while the 36–50 Ma age population mirrors the Alpine
overprint, which affected the Voltri Group and the
Montenotte Nappe. A few ages ranging between 40–
100 Ma and one age of 178 Ma are present. The178 Ma
age could represent either the elevated Tethyan heat flow
of the Ligure-Piemontese ocean basin (Vance 1999;
Cortiana et al. 1998), or less likely, a partly overprinted
Variscan age due to the opening of the isotopic system
during the Alpine orogeny.
774
Fig. 11 AFTT data and thermal modeling
Fig. 12 Single grain step heating for sample 4-4 from the Molare
Formation
Discussion
Si content in phengite and 40Ar/39Ar data on white micas
consistently allow clear division of the study area into two
different sectors fed by different source rocks (Fig. 4).
The NE sector is characterized by a main age population
of 40–50 Ma and phengite Si contents of 6.8–7.4 a.p.f.u.,
suggesting a provenance from the high-pressure meta-
morphic rocks of the underlying Voltri Group. The SW
sector is characterized by mixed ages with two main age
population, one around 36–50 Ma, and the other around
310–320 Ma, suggesting a provenance from the Voltri
Group and the Brianonnais domain, respectively. Si
contents of 6.2–7.0 a.p.f.u. in the SW sector reflect this
dual provenance. In particular in the southwest, the
occurrence of only Variscan ages and Si contents
<6.4 a.p.f.u. are consistent with a source in the Brianon-
nais units which currently form the bedrock in that
particular area (Fig. 4). Amphibole chemistry does not
provide as strong a signal as phengite chemistry, but it is
useful for further distinctions within each sector.
40
Ar/39Ar data on pebbles and sandstones from the
Molare sediments show a mainly Early–Middle Eocene
(~45 Ma peak of 40Ar/39Ar ages from probability
distribution diagrams) signal reflecting cooling following
Alpine HP-metamorphism in the Voltri Group. A minor
Variscan signal mirrors the metamorphic evolution of the
Brianonnais domain.

In general, the main age populations detected in the
Molare Formation are very close to the 40Ar/39Ar ages
from the present outcropping basement rocks (e.g.,
Hunziker et al. 1992), suggesting a picture of the Eocene
Ligurian Alps, which is very close to the present one.
Furthermore the youngest 40Ar/39Ar ages recorded by
the Molare Formation (~32–34 Ma) are very close to the
depositional age, suggesting that a fast cooling/exhuma-
tion event occurred during the Oligocene in the Ligurian
Alps. A first-order approximation of cooling/exhumation
rates, taking into consideration the youngest 40Ar/39Ar age
recorded in the Molare sediments (sample 86), a negli-
gible time span between erosion and deposition, the
minimum depositional age of the Molare Formation (to
reduce overestimation), and a closure T for phengite of
350 C (McDougall and Harrison 1999; Purdy and Jger
1976), is presented here. Sample 86 comes from the
eastern sector where the Molare Formation is Early
Oligocene in depositional age ( ca. 33.7–28.5 Ma; Gelati
et al. 1993 according to the time table of Gradstein and
Ogg 1999) and gives an 40Ar/39Ar age of 31.6€1.7 Ma,
implying a high cooling rate. Considering 28.5 Ma as the
minimum depositional age (top of the Rupelian) and
350 C as closure T for phengite, a minimum cooling rate
of ~100 C/Ma in the Voltri Group is obtained for the
Early Oligocene time. Note that the use of an older
depositional age for this particular sample would have
resulted in even higher cooling rates. This first-order
approximation is well-supported by the general minimum
40
Ar/39Ar ages around 32–34 Ma obtained in the Molare
Formation. General cooling rates in the Alps average
<20 C/Ma with areas in the order of 34–41 C/Ma in the
Central Alps (Schlunegger and Willett 1999; von Eynat-
ten et al. 1999). Nevertheless, there are also examples,
both in the Central and Western Alps, of very high
cooling rates indicative of fast exhumation similar to that
calculated in this study (e.g., Bergell Pluton and Dora
Maira; see Giger and Hurford 1989; Gebauer 1999).
AFTT on basement rocks and pebble SP2 from the
western Molare Formation (Late Oligocene in deposi-
tional age; Gelati and Gnaccolini 1996), shows that the
Brianonnais domain experienced a rapid cooling event in
the Late Oligocene (Fig. 11). Only cooling events
occurring within the partial annealing zone (PAZ) can
be reliably interpreted; thus for the models presented here,
the primary importance is the rapid cooling between120
and 60 C recorded at about 26 Ma. The ~26 Ma cooling
event is considered to be a primary cooling feature rather
than a post-deposition and burial cooling. This assump-
tion is supported by other thermal indicators such as
vitrinite reflectance (VR) and thermal alteration index on
palinomorphs (T.A.I.; Forcella et al. 1999). VR values are
between 0.2 and 0.7% and the T.A.I. are always less than
2, indicating T’s generally lower than100 C for the
Molare sediments. These data suggest an insufficient
paleotemperature to reset the AFTT system, discounting
any post depositional thermal overprint as a result of
burials and supporting our interpretation.
775
Our data show a major difference in the thermal
histories of the Voltri Group and the Brianonnais
domain. In the Brianonnais domain the 40Ar/39Ar system
records a Variscan signal, while the AFTT system records
an Alpine signal. This in turn suggests that in the Voltri
Group the peak temperature reached during the Alpine
event was >350 C, while in the Brianonnais domain it
was between120 and 350 C. This discrepancy is
consistent with the different tectonic positions of the
respective domains during the Alpine collision as a
consequence of their different paleogeographic origin
(Vanossi et al. 1984). The Brianonnais was situated in an
external position (paleo-European continental margin) in
comparison to the Voltri Group (oceanic domain), and
only the latter was fully involved in the subduction, thus
experiencing a higher degree of metamorphism.
Conclusions
This integrated study of depositional facies and sediment
provenance suggests that no significant long-shore drift
occurred during the transition from continental to marine
depositional environment, as mineral chemistry and 40Ar/
39
Ar ages of both continental and marine deposits
systematically mirrors the composition of the underlying
bedrock units. Each provenance method applied provides
new information on the paleogeology of the belt and the
submersion of it during the Oligocene, however 40Ar/39Ar
geochronology and chemistry on white micas provide the
best constraints for source area reconstruction.
The main 40Ar/39Ar age population detected in the
detrital sediments is ~45 Ma and corresponds to the 40Ar/
39
Ar signal of the present day basement rocks outcropping
in the Ligurian Alps. This implies that a dominant fast
cooling/exhumation event occurred during the Eocene,
which was able to exhume enough crustal material to be
consequently eroded for over 30 Ma. This in turn implies
that erosion has been insufficient in reaching deeper
crustal levels recording younger 40Ar/39Ar ages since
Eocene–Oligocene time. AFTT data and 40Ar/39Ar
youngest ages suggest the presence of a rapid Oligocene
cooling/exhumation event of the Ligurian Alps. However,
this Oligocene exhumation event was not able to overprint
the main 40Ar/39Ar signal.
The picture obtained for the Early Oligocene Ligurian
Alps belt suggests two different scenarios including (1)
very few vertical movements of the belt since Oligocene
time to present, and (2) a budget between subsidence
(before) and uplift (afterwards, not vice versa) very close
to zero since the Oligocene time to the present. The
second hypothesis is supported by data regarding the
geohistory of the TPB succession (Dela Pierre et al. 1995;
Bersezio et al. 1997; Carrapa et al. 2003a). These data in
conjunction with the results reported here suggest a
sudden switch from fast cooling/exhumation to subsi-
dence around the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, an overall
subsidence of the basin since Early Oligocene–Late
776
Miocene and consequent latest Miocene–Quaternary
uplift responsible for the present TPB elevation
(~600 m above sea level).
In a more general context, our study shows that the
cooling/exhumation history of the Ligurian Alps during
collision followed an episodic rather than continuous
path, characterized by relatively short-term events of fast
cooling/exhumation followed by longer periods of subsi-
dence. This style of thermal evolution was reported also
for other segments of the Alpine belt (e.g., Gebauer et al.
1997; Rubatto and Hermann 2001; Carrapa et al. 2003b),
as well as for other collisional systems (e.g., the
Himalaya; see White et al. 2002), suggesting that this
evolution could be quite common in collisional belts.
Acknowledgements B. Messiga is kindly acknowledged for very
useful discussions on the mineral chemistry of bedrock units. The
authors also thank M. Underwood, H. von Eynatten, Y. Najman,
Damiani and an anonymous reviewer for their advice on the draft;
W. J. Lustenhouwer for his fundamental help with microprobe
analysis; R. van Elsas for the important help in the lab. The help of
Prof. H. Oonk of Utrecht University to facilitate the visit of C.
Barbieri to the Netherlands is appreciated. Technical facilities were
provided by the Vrije University of Amsterdam, by NWO (The
Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research) and by NSG
(Netherlands Research School of Sedimentary Geology,
n.20011202). Financial grants for this work came from the Pavia
University Research Funds (FAR) and Erasmus exchange program
Pavia-Utrecht.
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