Arkell.1956.Jurassic..

CORSICA 219
that the Schistes lustres had been driven in between the crystalline
basement and its sedimentary cover to a distance of 30 km. (P. Termier
& Maury, 1928; Lutaud, 1930). More likely, however, the sedimentary
cover first slid eastwards in early Tertiary times over folding Schistes
lustres, by preliminary disharmonic movements of Pyrenean type
connected with early stages in the closing of the Alpine geosyncline that
lay to the east of Corsica. Then, in the final stages of the main Alpine
orogeny, with uplift of the parting, they were forced back again by the
general westerly surge of the Schistes lustres over the foreland (Parent,
1930). In the final paroxysm the nappes overlying the Schistes lustres
were tightly folded and broken up. In places they stand vertical; and there
are wedges of thick Lias limestone, into which have been kneaded shreds
of Trias limestone, pinched in among the schists (Parent, 1930a).
South of Corte the intensity of the distortion diminishes, and before
the outcrops reach the SE. coast of the island almost all traces of disturbance
have died out. Here is thought to be the southern end of the Alpine
geosyncline and orogen (Parent, 1930; Parejas, 1929).
Tithonian rocks of three types, belonging to three separate tectonic
entities, exist in NE. Corsica. First there are radiolarites (black jaspers)
forming part of the metamorphic series of the Schistes lustres and closely
associated with massive volcanic green rocks including pillow lavas (the
ophiolites); secondly there are radiolarites associated with ophiolites but
also with unmetamorphosed limestones containing Calpionella, and
presumed to be lateral equivalents of the first facies; and thirdly there
float on the Schistes lustres klippes of unmetamorphosed white limestones,
with corals, sandstones and breccia (Termier & Maury, 1928). The last
seems to be a continuation of the Tithonian of Sardinia; the first two are a
continuation of the Ligurian 'nappe' of the northern Apennines. Corsica
therefore amplifies the evidence of the northern Apennines and confirms,
the occurrence of submarine volcanic activity in the geosyncline at the
end of the Jurassic.
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