Preprints
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2154
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2154
24 Nov 2023
 | 24 Nov 2023

Late Pleistocene – Holocene denudation, uplift, and morphology evolution of the Armorican Massif (western Europe)

Oswald Malcles, Stéphane Mazzotti, Philippe Vernant, and Vincent Godard

Abstract. Elevated Plio-Pleistocene coastal and marine markers in stable continental regions are commonly explained by a combination of eustatic sea-level variations and regional geodynamics (e.g., mantle dynamics, active faults). In this study, we test the role of erosion rates on the Late Pleistocene uplift and landform evolution of the Armorican Massif, western France. Denudation rates are estimated for 19 drainage basins using terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide (10Be) measurements in quartz. They range between 3 and 34 m.Ma-1, with a factor of two difference between the western highland region and the central lowland region (16 ± 8 m.Ma-1 vs. 9 ± 6 m.Ma-1). Assuming a thin elastic plate model, the lithosphere flexural isostatic response to these denudation rates produces an overall uplift of the Armorican Peninsula from 12 – 15 m.Ma-1 in the central lowland region to 4 – 10 m.Ma-1 in the western peninsula and along the coastline. We show that these erosion-driven uplift rates can explain the uplifted Late Pleistocene marine terraces along the Armorican Peninsula coastline as well as the elevated Quaternary marine deposits in the central lowland region, without necessitating additional geodynamic processes such as regional compression or local active faults. Our results suggest that, in stable continental regions, long-term erosion should be taken into account as a driver of uplift and deformation before trying to derive global or regional geodynamic or tectonic conclusions.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Jul 2025
Late Pleistocene–Holocene denudation, uplift, and morphology evolution of the Armorican Massif (western Europe)
Oswald Malcles, Stéphane Mazzotti, Philippe Vernant, and Vincent Godard
Earth Surf. Dynam., 13, 629–645, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-629-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-629-2025, 2025
Short summary
Oswald Malcles, Stéphane Mazzotti, Philippe Vernant, and Vincent Godard

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2154', Timothée Jautzy, 30 Nov 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Oswald Malcles, 01 Dec 2023
  • RC1: 'Comment Review on egusphere-2023-2154', Anne Duperret, 05 Jan 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2154', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Jan 2024
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2154', Andrew Wickert, 01 Feb 2024

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

Comment types: AC – author | RC – referee | CC – community | EC – editor | CEC – chief editor | : Report abuse
  • CC1: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2154', Timothée Jautzy, 30 Nov 2023
    • AC1: 'Reply on CC1', Oswald Malcles, 01 Dec 2023
  • RC1: 'Comment Review on egusphere-2023-2154', Anne Duperret, 05 Jan 2024
  • RC2: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2154', Anonymous Referee #2, 16 Jan 2024
  • RC3: 'Comment on egusphere-2023-2154', Andrew Wickert, 01 Feb 2024

Peer review completion

AR: Author's response | RR: Referee report | ED: Editor decision | EF: Editorial file upload
AR by Oswald Malcles on behalf of the Authors (26 Apr 2024)  Author's response 
EF by Polina Shvedko (07 May 2024)  Manuscript   Author's tracked changes 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (15 May 2024) by Dirk Scherler
RR by Romano Clementucci (13 Jul 2024)
RR by Andy Wickert (18 Aug 2024)
ED: Reconsider after major revisions (22 Aug 2024) by Dirk Scherler
AR by Oswald Malcles on behalf of the Authors (05 Jan 2025)  Author's response 
EF by Polina Shvedko (07 Jan 2025)  Manuscript   Author's tracked changes 
ED: Referee Nomination & Report Request started (11 Feb 2025) by Dirk Scherler
RR by Romano Clementucci (13 Feb 2025)
ED: Publish subject to minor revisions (review by editor) (14 Mar 2025) by Dirk Scherler
AR by Oswald Malcles on behalf of the Authors (31 Mar 2025)  Author's response   Author's tracked changes   Manuscript 
ED: Publish as is (01 Apr 2025) by Dirk Scherler
ED: Publish as is (07 Apr 2025) by Tom Coulthard (Editor)
AR by Oswald Malcles on behalf of the Authors (22 Apr 2025)  Manuscript 

Journal article(s) based on this preprint

28 Jul 2025
Late Pleistocene–Holocene denudation, uplift, and morphology evolution of the Armorican Massif (western Europe)
Oswald Malcles, Stéphane Mazzotti, Philippe Vernant, and Vincent Godard
Earth Surf. Dynam., 13, 629–645, https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-629-2025,https://doi.org/10.5194/esurf-13-629-2025, 2025
Short summary
Oswald Malcles, Stéphane Mazzotti, Philippe Vernant, and Vincent Godard
Oswald Malcles, Stéphane Mazzotti, Philippe Vernant, and Vincent Godard

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Short summary
The Armorican region (NW France), is marked by several old coastal and marine markers that are today located several tens of meters above the sea level. This fact is commonly explained by sea-level variations and complex tectonic processes (e.g. mantle dynamic). In this study we test the role of the erosion and the associated flexural (lithospheric bending) response. We show that this simple model of flexural adjustment is to be taken into account to explain the regional evolution.
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