Fig. 7

Simplified kinematic model for the evolution of the Sesia–Dent Blanche nappes. The RCSZ is represented by a red line. a Architecture of the margins of the Piemonte–Liguria Ocean at the end of the spreading (Late Jurassic); b progressive subduction of the Sesia–Dent Blanche nappes (Late Cretaceous) and development of the RCSZ (deformation stages D3–D4; Manzotti et al. 2014a, b); c subduction of the Piemonte–Liguria Ocean (Early Eocene) and folding of the RCSZ (deformation stage D5; Manzotti et al. 2014a, b); d subduction of the Monte Rosa–Gran Paradiso nappes (Late Eocene–Early Oligocene) associated with early exhumation of the Sesia–Dent Blanche nappes; e large scale deformation of the nappe stack (Late Oligocene). AS Arolla Series, VS Valpelline Series, IIDK Seconda Zona Dioritico-Kinzigitica, EMC Eclogitic Micaschist Complex, GMC Gneiss Minuti Complex, RCTS Rocca Canavese Thrust Sheets, CZ Canavese Zone. Note that the internal structure of the Piemonte–Liguria units is not shown. In the Sesia–Dent Blanche nappes, thicker lines (in red for the RCSZ) mark the location of the main shear zones. The polyphase internal deformation cannot be represented at this scale