Journal of Structural Geology最新文献

Deep-seated structures can exhume deep crustal rocks (>20 km), transmitting the signal of geodynamic processes from the subduction zone to the interiors of the continents. The role of deep-seated structures can be analyzed with low-temperature thermochronological dating techniques. However, studies coupling low-temperature thermochronology with structural geological analyses of the deformational style are not common in the Northern Andes. In this contribution, we present new apatite (AFT) and zircon (ZFT) fission-track data coupled with meso- and microstructural analyses to reveal the deformational and exhumation history of the Santander Massif (SM; Northern Andes) and the related cortical Bucaramanga strike-slip fault (BF). Samples for thermochronological analyses were collected along an elevation profile with a significant elevation difference of 2.4 km across the western flank of the SM, crossing the BF. The time-temperature history modeling of ZFT data reveals phases of prolonged residence in the zircon partial annealing zone from ∼125 to 94 Ma and a cooling phase related to an exhumation episode at around 25 Ma based on samples collected near the BF. Inverse modeling of AFT data reveals structurally-controlled Pliocene exhumation rates of 0.6–0.7 km/Myr mediated by the action of secondary faults. A shift in the deformation style resulting from the oblique interaction of the SM and Mérida Andes domain is interpreted as the main driver of the Pliocene exhumation. This deformation phase is observed in the fault damage zone, where evidence of brittle-ductile deformation was exhumed. Finally, we discuss the geodynamic implications of our thermochronological and structural analyses, contrasting local and more regional competing hypotheses (Pamplona Indenter vs. slab break-off of the Caribbean plate), which may explain the tectonic evolution of the northern part of the Eastern Cordillera and the SM in the Colombian Northern Andes.

A comprehensive structural, petrological, and geophysical study of the 385 ± 2 Ma Devonian El Hornito Pluton (EHP) in the Sierra Grande de San Luis, Argentina, is presented. We establish that the EHP results from the intrusion of three main magma batches. The three-dimensional shape of the pluton was modeled using stochastic litho-constrained gravity data inversion and was complemented with a field geology survey. Results suggest a shallow-rooted, irregularly shaped pluton with a mean depth of 1.5 km, 16 km long and 4 km deep with a volume of 217 km³. Two areas of negative residual Bouguer anomaly reveal the existence of two root zones interpreted to indicate feeder channels. One of the feeders does not have a surface expression, but the other coincides with the central part of the pluton. A hot mafic magma intruded into and rejuvenated a crystallizing granite mush and the thermal perturbations triggered local convection with the development of an ascending magma plume developing mixing/mingling structures. Pluton emplacement was controlled by a shear zone at the boundary between two major metamorphic units. Emplacement is evidenced by the location of the two root zones along the interpreted contacts of the metamorphic zones, and the shear zone along this basement anisotropy provided the space into which magma batches were emplaced. Internal and external structures indicate that space for pluton emplacement was generated by a combination of tectonism with ballooning and stoping assisted by floor depression, which were the most effective processes during the final emplacement of the magma. This was possible due to the contrasting rheological responses of the host rocks.

It has long been debated whether the India-Eurasia collision was a single-stage event that began 60-55 million years ago, or whether it was a two-stage process that involved a collision between India and the Trans-Tethyan Arc before the early Paleocene, and the collision of India with Eurasia during the middle Eocene. Here, we report a late Paleogene angular unconformity (ca. 40-28 Ma) in western Myanmar. This angular unconformity developed around the same time as the Assam unconformity (NE India) but is younger than those found in northern Myanmar. Development of these unconformities indicates that an oblique convergence margin in western Myanmar formed before the middle Eocene, with a major dextral strike-slip fault (proto-Sagaing/Shan Scarp Fault) in the backarc. We interpret this oblique convergence margin to be partial continental collision between the West Myanmar Terrane (WMT) and NE India. In backarc regions, syn-rift successions of the Shwebo sub-basin have formed as a consequence of transtensional tectonics along the proto-Sagaing/Shan Scarp Fault since at least the late Paleocene. The syn-rift successions consist of Asian-derived materials that were not identified in the forearc because of the Wuntho-Popa Arc served as a geographical barrier. The presence of the unconformities and tectonic configuration of the Myanmar backarc sub-basins are inconsistent with the scenario inferred from paleomagnetic data, in which the WMT was part of an intra-oceanic arc at near-equatorial latitudes before the late Oligocene. Instead, we propose that the WMT has been part of continental SE Asia since at least the Paleocene (ca. 60-58 Ma). We reconsider the paleomagnetic data and suggest that the Mawgyi Arc, rather than the WMT, is the oceanic fragment that rifted from the northern Gondwana margin during the Late Jurassic. The Mawgyi Arc collided with continental SE Asia (WMT) during the Late Cretaceous, and then with India during the early Eocene (ca. 51-49 Ma). Our results support the collision between India and Eurasia is a multistage event.

Syn-tectonic deposition of sediments (growth strata) preserves a direct record of mountain building-erosion and basin deformation. When and how these sediments incorporated into forward propagating fold-and-thrust (FTB) belts can shed light on the above processes. Despite many years of research, there is still ongoing debate about the timing and mechanisms of the southern Qaidam fold-and-thrust belt in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Here, we provide insight into the deformation of the Qaidam Basin and the broader tectonic processes of the northeastern Tibetan Plateau through detailed analysis of the Dafengshan (DFS), Jiandingshan (JDS) and Heiliangzi (HLZ) anticlines along the southern Qaidam FTB. Identification of the growth strata by Area-Depth analysis and age determination indicate that deformation of the DFS anticline initiated in the mid-Miocene (∼15 Ma), and has successively experienced lateral growth (∼15–8.0 Ma) and uplift (∼8.0 Ma-present). This timeline of deformation coincides with periods of mountain building in the northeastern Tibetan Plateau and might be related to the removal of mantle beneath northern Tibet. The synchronization of growth strata with an increase in sedimentation and exhumation rates reveals the reactivation of the tectonic belt around the basin in the mid-Miocene, creating the current basin-range landform; since ∼8 Ma, compression has expanded rapidly into the interior of the Qaidam Basin, leading to incorporation of basin deposits into the FTB. Geomorphological analyses coupled with 3-D fold modeling demonstrate that the JDS and HLZ-fold train with S-shaped configuration is a coherent fold system developed by lateral growth and linkage of two different fold segments in the context of the N–S directional compression of the plateau. Considering the prevalent S-shaped constructions within the basin and the current seismicity, we propose that the dominant structures in the southwestern Qaidam Basin are a series of thrust faults and folds controlled by the compression component of the East Kunlun Fault, with a limited influence from the Altyn Tagh Fault.

Physical modelling and observations from seismic sections led to a conceptual model for the rise and fall of salt diapirs during thin-skinned extension, published by Vendeville and Jackson in 1992. Their conceptual model considers an initially tabular two-layer salt–overburden system that is deformed by thin-skinned extension during synkinematic sedimentation, and comprises the formation of turtle structure anticlines bound by passive diapirs and mock turtle anticlines above falling diapirs. The present paper revisits this conceptual model’s underlying mechanism by means of coupled continuum–discontinuum model studies in a ‘numerical sandbox’. The results obtained generally tend to support the conceptual model and show that, with a non-compacting overburden, only a buoyant viscous substratum and a significant amount of extension will lead to the formation of mock turtle anticlines. These numerical results are however at variance with the expectations of the conceptual model, in that salt-cored turtle structure anticlines are found frequently, a feature attributed to the tabular initial geometry of the turtle structure horsts. Analytical squeeze-flow models are used to clarify the mechanical genesis of salt-cored turtle structures and can explain why initially bowl-shaped basins are less prone to develop residual mounds of salt at their base than basins with a tabular geometry.

Transtension is a fundamental process for the development of hydrothermal ore deposits, since it allows the required extension and dilatancy for hydrothermal fluid circulation and resulting ore mineralization. Transtension operates at multiple scales and, therefore, is not only relevant for deposits linked with extensional tectonics but also for those related to contraction/transpression. In this context, brittle-ductile shear zones represent a first-order metallotect that control the emplacement of mineralization. The distribution of ore minerals is largely influenced by bulk strain, kinematics and strain fabrics of these mineralized structures. The modified strain triangle is proposed as a simple tool to characterize strain conditions of transtension-related ore deposits associated with brittle-ductile shear zones, providing valuable information for metallogenetic models. In addition, a structural classification of ore deposits is proposed, based on the discussion of key deposit types and case studies. The main advantage of this approach is that it mainly relies on quantitative structural data and, therefore, is extremely useful for exploration. Furthermore, this classification avoids a priori assumptions on the tectonic setting, which can subsequently be inferred based on further regional evidence.

While the structural deformation at the Arabia-Anatolia-Africa junction is critical for understanding eastern Mediterranean tectonics, it remains debatable (extensional or compressional). Field survey of the 2023 Mw7.7 Pazarcik earthquake surface rupture along the Amanos Range, and microstructure and composition analyses of related fault rock were performed to investigate this issue. The surface rupture shows transtensional branches, with the main and secondary strands displaying sinistral (normal) offsets of 2.0–4.0 (0.4–0.9) and 1.0 (0.2) m. Slip plane of the secondary fault is marked by a ∼20 cm wide extensional fracture dividing fault breccia from gouge. Meanwhile, the gouge (26 % calcite, 38% serpentine and 36% smectite) is also dominated by tension cracks microscopically. In contrast to the widespread extensional deformation, geological evidence imply that this fault had experienced reverse slip in the Quaternary, as shown by thrusting of serpentine onto alluvium and the consistency of R foliations with reverse shear. We interpret it as the SW continuation of the East Anatolia fault (EAF) that was formerly characterized by transpressional deformation, and reactivated transtensionally due to the change of fault strike during this earthquake. In the broader Mediterranean tectonics framework, the Amanos segment might be interpreted as a recently formed component linking the Karasu fault to the EAF.

Viscous salt layers can introduce significant structural complexity to the basins in which they are deposited. Along basin margins, salt typically flows basinward due to regional tilting of the margin, and can be influenced by the geometry of the surface that it flows over (e.g. fault scarps on the base-salt surface). This interaction can lead to coupling of sub- and supra-salt structures, with the orientation and distribution of base-salt structures reflected in the structure of the overburden. However, the controls on the degree of strain coupling during salt-detached translation are relatively poorly understood, in particular the roles played by the thickness and mechanical heterogeneity of the salt unit. This is, in part, caused by difficultly in deconvolving the relative contribution of variables such as salt thickness, the magnitude of base-salt relief, sediment supply, and regional tectonic regime. In addition, seismic reflection data provide only the present structure of the basin, from which its evolution must be inferred.

To evaluate the influence of salt thickness and heterogeneity on sub-to supra-salt strain coupling during salt-detached translation in the extensional domain, we present a series of physical analogue models with controlled boundary conditions. We use a model apparatus with a simple geometry comprising three oblique basal steps, and vary the thickness and composition of the salt analogue in each experiment to evaluate the proposed variables. X-ray tomography allows us to image the internal structure during model evolution and therefore gain a 4D view of its structural development. Results show that supra-salt structures associated with thicker and more homogeneous salt units are characterised by symmetric extensional structures and large diapirs, with significant vertical and lateral displacements and only weak coupling to the underlying base-salt relief. Conversely, thinner and more heterogeneous salt units are characterised by asymmetric extensional structures and primary welds, with restricted vertical displacement, such that the resultant overburden structure is strongly coupled to the geometry of the base-salt surface. These results document the important role of base-salt relief in the structural evolution of salt basins and provide model analogues that are valuable assets in seismic interpretation efforts on salt-influenced basin margins.

Although many experimental studies have investigated the frictional properties of sandstone, few of them have considered the evolution of slip-surface structures with changes of friction coefficient over a wide range of slip rates. Here we report the results of rock-on-rock rotary shear experiments on specimens of Indian sandstone at slip rates from 2 × 10⁻⁴ to 1 m s⁻¹. The resultant slip behaviors and microscale surface structures indicate two types of dependency on slip rate. At high slip rates (≥5 × 10⁻¹ m s⁻¹), the friction between the sandstone blocks fluctuated markedly and the surfaces of the blocks were intensively worn. At low slip rates (≤1 × 10⁻¹ m s⁻¹), the friction decreased gradually with increasing slip distance and the slip surfaces became reflective. The high slip-rate experiments produced abundant rock fragments (∼10–100 μm diameter), whereas the slip surfaces after low slip-rate experiments were highly polished fault mirrors accompanied by abundant rounded ultrafine grains (∼100 nm diameter). Such slip-rate-dependent evolution of slip-surface structures in Indian sandstone may arise from the relatively low cohesiveness of that rock. This insight may further our understanding of faulting and sliding mechanisms in sandstone near the ground surface.

Fold-and-thrust belts (FTBs) evolve over a mechanically weak basal décollement that separates the overlying intensely deformed rocks from the underlying less deformed ones. Although deformation structures in FTBs commonly show lateral continuity, a closer inspection reveals distinctive variations in structural style (e.g., fold style) along and across mountain belts. This study uses laboratory-scale viscous models to investigate the influence of lateral décollement strength variations on the spatio-temporal evolution of strain patterns in FTBs. These experiments, simulating crustal-scale deformation, show notable changes in the mode of tectonic wedge growth, including the topographic evolution and ductile strain pattern distribution. For example, the deformation front propagates faster over weakly coupled décollement than the laterally adjacent strongly coupled segment, leading to along-strike variations of the topographic slope and curved outline of the deformation front. Constrictional strain, characteristic of regions of weak coupling, is transient and replaced by flattening strain beyond ∼20 % bulk shortening. The latter prevails in regions over strong décollement, whereas complex strain histories mark the transition zone between weak and strong décollements. Based on our modelling results, we propose that variations in décollement strength may cause the segmentation of deformation processes and the development of transverse faults in FTBs.