Elements Magazine Past Issues

The European Alps are one of the most studied orogens in the world. Research over last 30 years is forcing us to rethink our understanding of Alpine evolution: new concepts have emerged that question long-established paradigms. We will provide a petrological, geochemical, and tectonic overview of the Alpine Orogeny, from rifting and spreading to subduction and collision and, finally, to postcollisional uplift and erosion. In this issue, we shed light on the current debates regarding the origins of (ultra-)high-pressure metamorphism, the origins of syncollisional magmatism, and the evolution of rifting and ocean spreading. We also examine the consequences of the new interpretations on the dynamics of subduction and collision.