Morphotectonic evolution of the north-western margin of the Paris Basin

摘要

Morphotectonic evolution of the north-western margin of the Paris Basin, - The north-western margin of the Paris Basin and particularly the chalk plateau of the Pays de Caux constitute a essential hinge zone of north-western Europe. This area, located between the Armorican and Ardennes tectonic blocks, has been strongly influenced by the graben dynamics of the English Channel and also been influenced by the by-effects of Pyrenean and Alpine compressions. The plateau thus shows a complex morphology in spite of the relative monotony of its topography. The recent results of research on its geomorphology and geology, presented in this paper, allow a detailed reconstruction of the morphotectonic evolution of the region from the Paleogene to the Quaternary, emphasizing the existence of current tectonic movements at an amplitude of the order of 2 to 5 meters per 100,000 years.