Integration of natural data within a numerical model of ablative subduction : the example of the Austroalpine Domain of the Alps

A numerical modeling approach is used to validate the physical and geological reliability of the Alpine geodynamic evolution of an inner portion of the Alpine belt: the Austroalpine Domain. a previous numerical model has been refined to extend the comparison with the natural data to the entire Austroalpine Domain in terms of p-t peak setting. The comparison between the model predictions and the natural data belonging to the Austroalpine Domain highlights a very good agreement for what concern the Austroalpine of the Western Alps. This could suggests that a pre-collisional evolution of this domain, with the burial of the continental rocks (induced by ablative subduction of the overriding plate - Adria plate) and their exhumation (driven by up-welling flow generated in a hydrated mantle wedge) could be a valid mechanism for this part of the Alps. The results are less comparable with the thermal state suggested by the natural data of the Austroalpine of the Eastern Alps.