The role of inheritance in forming rifts and rifted margins and building collisional orogens: a Biscay-Pyrenean perspective

A long-standing challenge in tectonics is to evaluate the role of inheritance and define initial conditions a geodynamic system, which are prerequisites understand model its evolution with some accuracy. Here we revisit concept “inheritance” by distinguishing “interface shape inheritance”, includes transient thermal state gravitational potential energy, “persisting encompasses long-lasting structural compositional inheritance. This new approach allows us investigate, at each stage Wilson Cycle, interplay between (innate/“genetic code”) physical processes play (extension/compression, magmatism etc.). The aim this paper provide conceptual framework that integrates study rifts, rifted margins collisional orogens based on work done OROGEN project, focuses Biscay-Pyrenean system. rift system resulted from multistage developed over complex lithosphere pre-structured Variscan orogenic cycle. There general agreement Pyrenean-Cantabrian orogen reactivation an increasingly mature along-strike, ranging west immature segmented hyperextended east. However, different models have been proposed explain preceding rifting influence subsequent reactivation. Results project highlight sequential rift-inherited decoupling horizons identify specific exhumed mantle, necking domains during compressional They also contrasting fate segment centres versus boundaries convergence, explaining non-cylindricity internal parts orogens. suggest more important stages collision, may higher complexity systems respect their external parts. In contrast, when involved orogeny mature, mostly controlled first-order as described Coulomb Wedge theory, for instance. account simpler continuous architecture why most numerical can reproduce architectures better accuracy compared those stages. concepts research now ready be tested other result margins, such Alps, Colombian cordilleras Caribbean, Taiwan, Oman, Zagros or Timor.