Rhône-Simplon line
| Geology of the Alps |
|---|
 |
| Tectonic subdivision |
| Formation and rocks |
| Geological structures |
| Paleogeographic terminology |
 Geology portal |
The Rhone-Simplon line is a large geologic faultzone in the Swiss Alps.[1][2]
The line runs from the Ossola valley over the Simplon Pass and then follows the Rhône valley in an east–west direction. Somewhere south of Sion it goes over smoothly into the Penninic thrustfront.
Geologically speaking, the line serves as a huge dextral strike-slip fault. The northeastern block (called the Lepontin dome) is moving up as well. Geologists see the line as an expression of the continued NNW movement of the Apulian Plate into the Eurasian Plate.
See also
References
- ^ Lee, Timothy; Diehl, Tobias; Kissling, Edi; Wiemer, Stefan (2022-11-09). "New insights into the Rhône–Simplon fault system (Swiss Alps) from a consistent earthquake catalogue covering 35 yr" (PDF). Geophysical Journal International. 232 (3): 1568–1589. doi:10.1093/gji/ggac407. ISSN 0956-540X. Retrieved 2025-08-12.
- ^ Mathez, Edmond A.; Webster, James D. (2004). The Earth Machine: The Science of a Dynamic Planet. Columbia University Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-0-231-12579-6. Retrieved 2025-08-12.