Building Topography in a Continental Subduction Orogen: Insights from Geomorphic Analysis and 10Be Denudation Rates of the Albanides
Description
Understanding the relationship between surface and deep geological processes in tectonically active settings, such as subduction orogens, is crucial for unravelling the complex mechanisms driving landscape evolution and topographic growth. Situated on the eastern margin of the Adria plate, at the junction between continental subduction to the north in the Dinarides, and oceanic subduction to the south in the Hellenides, the Albanides offer a prime location for studying this interaction. This study combines topographic and fluvial analysis with basin-wide denudation rates derived from in situ-produced 10Be in quartz-bearing lithologies. Denudation rates from nine basins range from 0.18 to 1.25 mm/yr, with significant spatial variability that correlates well with tectonic structures. These findings suggest a substantial variation in uplift rates across the belt, influenced by deep crustal accretion and fault activity. Specifically, higher rates are observed in the orogenic interior where normal faults are superimposed on a longer wavelength signal, likely resulting from the imbrication of crustal slices scraped off the subducting plate at depth. Our results offer new insights into the geodynamic evolution and tectonic activity of the Albanides, highlighting the need for further research on non-quartz-bearing lithologies to achieve a comprehensive understanding of denudation rates and uplift patterns in the region.