Penninic thrustfront

This article is about the geology of the (European) Alps. For the main article see: geology of the Alps

Geology of the Alps

Tectonic subdivision
Helvetic Zone
Penninic nappes
Austroalpine nappes
Southern Alps
Formations & rocks
Bündner schist \| flysch \| molasse
Geological structures
Aarmassif \| Dent Blanche klippe \| Engadine window \| Flysch zone \| Giudicárie line \| Greywacke zone \| Hohe Tauern window \| Molasse basin \| Penninic thrustfront \| Periadriatic Seam \| Ivrea zone \| Lepontin dome \| Rechnitz window \| Rhône-Simplon line \| Sesia unit
Paleogeographic terminology
Valais Ocean
Briançonnais zone
Piemont-Liguria Ocean
Apulian or Adriatic plate

The Penninic thrustfront is a major tectonic thrustfront in the French Alps. The thrustfront moves over a developing decollement horizon, and separates the (internal) high grade metamorphic rocks of the Penninic nappes from the (external) sedimentary rocks and crystalline basement of the Helvetic nappes. The last are in France often called zone Dauphiné or Dauphinois.

Thrusting over the decollement horizon continues today, as the Apulian tectonic plate moves westward, converging with the European plate.