Thermal control on the modes of crustal thinning leading to mantle exhumation: Insights from the Cretaceous Pyrenean hot paleomargins

The prerift Mesozoic sequences of the Cretaceous passive margins fossilized in the North Pyrenean Zone (NPZ) are characterized by high‐temperature deformation in relation with thinning of the continental basement. Our compilation of chronological and geological data confirms a clear correlation between the distribution of the highest paleotemperatures in the prerift sedimentary cover and the loci of extreme crustal stretching. Geological evidences such as the occurrence of peridotite bodies directly underlying metamorphic prerift sediments indicate an early attenuation of the rifted continental crust. This leads us to propose a mechanism of rifting involving boudinage of the continental crust. The lateral extraction of the Paleozoic basement occurred under the prerift cover that is decoupled on the Triassic clays and evaporites. The thermal conditions allowing coeval ductile deformation of the crust and of the prerift sediments leaded to the widening of basins devoid of large faulted blocks. We discuss the implications on the origin and significance of the granulites and the relations between flysch deposition and high‐temperature metamorphism of the prerift sediments. In the NPZ, Albian‐Cenomanian flysch sequences were deposited synchronously with the synmetamorphic ductile deformation of the prerift sequences. Since the base of the flysch deposits also recorded locally the high‐temperature tectonic event, we propose an original mechanism for the evolution of the basins involving continuous deformation of the prerift metamorphic sediments. At the scale of the Pyrenean domain, our results suggest a strong lateral variability in the tectonic style of passive margins, in direct link with their thermic pattern. Key Points Tectonics mode of crustal thinning depends on rifting‐related thermal anomaly Hot prerift sediments are systematically observed on top of mantle rocks Lateral extraction of the continental crust occurs under high thermal regime