Strain Partitioning Within Bending Orogens, New Insights From the Variscan Belt (Chiroulet‐Lesponne Domes, Pyrenees)

This study investigates how strain is partitioned within hot orogenic belts in a context of plate reorganization. We document crustal-scale strike-slip shear zones, plate-scale oroclinal bending, and widespread exhumation deep crustal domains the core nascent Pangea during late-Variscan times (ca. 310–290 Ma). The role partitioning finite patterns first highlighted at regional scale by new detailed structural, kinematic, petrologic analysis Chiroulet Lesponne gneiss domes Pyrenees. Vertical response to N-S shortening-dominated dextral transpression secondly documented Variscan Pyrenees, based on synthesis recent geochronological, thermobarometrical, structural data. show that mid-lower crust affected eastward lateral flow upper penetrative thickening localized thrusting. Local transverse extension illustrates gravity-driven instability favored accumulation anatectic melts domes. Finally, we highlight respective position extended shortened area belt late-Carboniferous/early-Permian suggests large-scale reorganization weak continental Pangea. distribution appears significantly different from other orogens similar resulting localization zones belt. highlights influence initial boundary conditions, such as obliquity applied stress field location free-boundaries, patterns.