Synthetic structural map of the Western Alps. Major thrust and strike slip faults are indicated, with the Pennicic frontal thrust (PFT) highlighted in bold (after Vialon et al., 1989). Tertiary paleomagnetic rotations versus north are represented according to the code described in the insert. Uncertainty is shown as a pie slice. Number corresponds to the entry in Table 1. A: Argentera Massif, AR: Aar Massif, B: Belledonne crystalline Massif, BZ: Briançonnais zone, DB: Dent Blanche Massif, DH: Delphino-helvetic zone, DM: Dora Maira Massif, L: Lepontine Massif, MoB: Molasse basin, MB: Mont Blanc Massif, PL: Peri-adriatic Line, PN: Prealps Nappes, PZ: Piemontaise zone, PFT: Penninic frontal Thrust, V: Vanoise Massif.