Stratigraphy

The stratigraphy of the Jura and Subalpine chains shows marked lateral variations. In the west (Jura) the Mesozoic rocks are dominated by thick limestone units with very few intervening shales. They were deposited in a stable platform environment, building up about 2 km of rock section during the Jurassic and Cretaceous. These limestones are capped by an angular unconformity (subtle) above which were deposited the molasse sandstones and conglomerates. In contrast, further to the east the Mesozoic succession is thicker and more shale-prone. Although there are thick limestone units they are separated by shale units. In the east these sediments were deposited in a slowly subsiding basin, building up over 4 km of rock section. These basin sediments are overlain by Tertiary siliciclastic units, especially turbidite succession (termed "flysch" in Alpine literature).
The different stratigraphic successions (west and east)  might be expected to have different mechanical properties and thus show different types of deformation structure. This prediction can be investigated as you visit the different field locations in this site.