Tectonic zoning of Wrangel Island,Arctic region

The Northern, Central, and Southern zones are distinguished by stratigraphic, lithologic, and structural features. The Northern Zone is characterized by Upper Silurian–Lower Devonian sedimentary rocks, which are not known in other zones. They have been deformed into near-meridional folds, which formed under settings of near-latitudinal shortening during the Ellesmere phase of deformation. In the Central Zone, mafic and felsic volcanic rocks that had been earlier referred to Carboniferous are actually Neoproterozoic and probably Early Cambrian in age. Together with folded Devonian–Lower Carboniferous rocks, they make up basement of the Central Zone, which is overlain with a angular unconformity by slightly deformed Lower (?) and Middle Carboniferous–Permian rocks. The Southern Zone comprises the Neoproterozoic metamorphic basement and the Devonian–Triassic sedimentary cover. North-vergent fold–thrust structures were formed at the end of the Early Cretaceous during the Chukchi (Late Kimmerian) deformation phase.     

Neglected basement ductile deformation in balanced-section restoration: An example from the Central Southern Alps (Northern Italy)

In the construction of balanced sections through thick-skinned belts, basement bodies are frequently assumed to be rigid and internally undeformed (with the exception of regional scale fault-bend-folding) and only backstripping of thrust faults is performed during their retrodeformation, possibly leading to underestimations of the regional shortening. This simplifying assumption is generally made because reliable information on internal strain in basement is lacking and the sedimentary cover of the internal parts of thrust belts has been removed by erosion.In a basement exposure in the eastern Orobic Alps, Alpine-age ductile structures (mainly chevron to sub-isoclinal folds rarely associated with cleavage formation) were recognized on the basis of overprinting criteria, folding style and fabric orientation and their areal distribution was determined by foliation trace mapping. Although unevenly distributed in different lithologies, ductile deformation is considerable (average shortening is 47%). Neglecting such internal strain during construction of balanced sections leads, for this area, to an underestimation of at least 10%, but could be more than 40% if the observed basement shortening is extrapolated to other basement-involved thrust bodies across the entire width of the deformed belt.It is concluded that detailed structural studies of the basement, for example those using a foliation trace mapping technique, are necessary to define the internal strain of basement bodies so that the shortening of thick-skinned belts can be more accurately calculated.     

Contrasting thermomechanical evolutions in the Southalpine metamorphic basement of the Orobic Alps (Central Alps, Italy)

In the Southern Alps a progressive metamorphic zonation, with an increase in the geothermal gradient from NE to SW, has been widely proposed. However, recent investigations have shown that the greenschist metamorphic imprint of the low-grade zone corresponds to a metamorphic retrogression following amphibolite facies conditions. On the other hand, in the medium-grade zone, a later low-pressure, high-temperature (LPHT) metamorphic event has also been proposed. In an attempt to resolve these different interpretations, new petrological and partly new structural data have been obtained for two sectors of the Orobic Alps, traditionally attributed to different metamorphic zones. Thermobarometric determinations, supported by microstructural analysis, indicate the following different pressure-retrograde paths in each sector: (1) in the Val Vedello basement (VVB) rocks, a first metamorphic imprint characterized by P = 7–9 kbar and T = 570–610°C was followed by a greenschist retrogression ( P ≤ 4 kbar and T ≤ 500° C); (2) in the Lario basement (LB) rocks, the first detectable metamorphic stage, characterized by mineral assemblages indicating P = 7–9 kbar and T = 550–630° C, was followed by a LPHT event, synkinematic with F2 extensional deformation. A greenschist retrogression marks the final uplift of these rocks.
Reinterpretation of the available geochronological data indicates a diachronism for the two thermomechanical evolutions. In the light of these data, we interpret the retrograde P–T–t path of the VVB rocks as a pre-Permian post-thickening uplift and the retrograde P–T–t evolution of the LB rocks as a Permo-Mesozoic uplift related to the extensional tectonic regime of the Tethyan rifting.     

Episodic,two-stage Neogene extension and short-term intervening compression in Western Turkey: field evidence from the Kiraz Basin and Bozdağ Horst

Western Anatolia (Turkey) is a region of widespread active N-S continental extension that forms the eastern part of the Aegean extensional province. The extension in the region is expressed by two distinct/different structural styles, separated by a short-term gap: (1) rapid exhumation of metamorphic core complexes along presently low-angle ductile-brittle normal faults commenced by the latest Oligocene-Early Miocene period, and; (2) late stretching of crust and, consequent graben evolution along Plio-Quaternary high-angle normal faults, cross-cutting the pre-existing low-angle normal faults. However, current understanding of the processes (tectonic quiescence vs N-S continental compression) operating during the short-time interval is incomplete. This paper therefore reports the results of recent field mapping and structural analysis from the NE of Küçük Menderes Graben—Kiraz Basin—that shed lights on the processes operating during this short-time interval. The data includes the thrusting of metamorphic rocks of the Menderes Massif over the Mio-Pliocene sediments along WNW-ESE-trending high-angle reverse fault and the development of compressional fabrics in the metamorphic rocks of the Menderes Massif. There, the metamorphic rocks display evidence for four distinct phases of deformation: (1) southfacing top-N ductile fabrics developed at relatively high-grade metamorphic conditions, possibly during the Eocene main Menderes metamorphism (amphibolite facies) associated with top-N thrust tectonics (D₁); (2) top-S and top-N ductile gentle-moderatley south-dipping extensional fabrics formed at relatively lower-grade metamorphic (possibly greenschist facies) conditions associated with the exhumation of Menderes Massif along presently low-angle normal fault plane that accompanied the first phase of extension (D₂); (3) moderately north-dipping top-S ductile-brittle fabrics, present configuration of which suggest a thrust-related compression (D₃); and (4) south-facing approximately E-W-trending brittle high-angle normal faults (D₄) that form the youngest structures in the region. It is interpreted that D₄ faults are time equivalent of graben-bounding major high-angle normal faults and they correspond to the second phase of extension in western Anatolia. The presence of thrust-related D₃ compressional fabrics suggests N-S compression during the time interval between the two phases of extension (D₂ and D₄). The results of the present study therefore support the episodic, two-stage extension model in western Anatolia and confirm that a short-time, intervening N-S compression separated the two distinct phases.     

Structure and tectonic history of the foreland basins of southernmost South America

The common elements and differences of the neighboring Austral (Magallanes), Malvinas and South Malvinas (South Falkland) sedimentary basins are described and analyzed. The tectonic history of these basins involves Triassic to Jurassic crustal stretching, an ensuing Early Cretaceous thermal subsidence in the retroarc, followed by a Late Cretaceous–Paleogene compressional phase, and a Neogene to present-day deactivation of the fold–thrust belt dominated by wrench deformation. A concomitant Late Cretaceous onset of the foreland phase in the three basins and an integrated history during the Late Cretaceous–Cenozoic are proposed. The main lower Paleocene–lower Eocene initial foredeep depocenters were bounding the basement domain and are now deformed into the thin-skinned fold–thrust belts. A few extensional depocenters developed in the Austral and Malvinas basins during late Paleocene–early Eocene times due to a temporary extensional regime resulting from an acceleration in the separation rate between South America and Antarctica preceding the initial opening of the Drake Passage. These extensional depocenters were superimposed to the previous distal foredeep depocenter, postdating the initiation of the foredeep phase and the onset of compressional deformation. Another pervasive set of normal faults of Paleocene to Recent age that can be recognized throughout the basins are interpreted to be a consequence of flexural bending of the lithosphere, in agreement with a previous study from South Malvinas basin. Contractional deformation was replaced by transpressive kinematics during the Oligocene due to a major tectonic plate reorganization. Presently, while the South Malvinas basin is dominated by the transpressive uplift of its active margin with minor sediment supply, the westward basins undergo localized development of pull-apart depocenters and transpressional uplift of previous structures. The effective elastic thickness of the lithosphere for different sections of each basin is calculated using a dynamic finite element numerical model that simulates the lithospheric response to advancing tectonic load with active sedimentation.     

Thrust faulting in the northern flinders range,South Australia

The geology of the Northern Flinders Range has been reinterpreted.

Three clastic units, mapped previously (1, 2), were supposed to have been evidence of three late Proterozoic transgressions over the Archaean basement. Tectonic movements resulted in east‐west folds and major fractures zones.

Recent structural and petrographic observations in the western part of the Mt Painter block lead to a reinterpretation of this region. Three tectonic phases may be observed in the Proterozoic rocks: the first phase is characterized by isoclinal folds with axial‐plane cleavage. Three thrust slices of quartzite, carbonate, and schist can be delineated. These thrust slices are separated by shear zones marked by mica schists which could be either basement or strongly deformed Adelaidean rocks. The second phase shows east‐west concentric upright folds with secondary cleavage in their hinges; this phase refolds the first‐phase structures and affects the underlying basement. The third phase created large strike‐slip faults which are superimposed on the first and second deformation.     

Structural controls on orogenic gold mineralisation in the Klondike goldfield,Canada

The Klondike Schist that forms the basement rocks for the famous Klondike placer goldfield was emplaced as km-scale thrust slices in Early Jurassic time, along with some thin (10 to 30 m-scale) slices of greenstone and ultramafic rocks. Permian metamorphic fabrics in the schists were deformed during thrust emplacement by structures formed as the rocks passed through the brittle–ductile transition. Early-formed thrust-related structures were almost-pervasive recumbent folds that affected both the schist and greenstone/ultramafic slices and imposed a spaced cleavage with minor recrystallisation of micas. These structures gave way to shallow-dipping phacoidal cleavage near (within <100 m of) thrust structures. Thrust-related structures have been overprinted locally by well-defined steeply dipping reverse fault-fold zones, and associated upright folding on regional (km) to mesoscopic (m) scales. The fold-fault zones occur as two orthogonal sets of structures oriented NW to N and NE to E. Some of these steeply dipping fault zones have been reactivated by Late Cretaceous normal faulting. Orogenic (mesothermal) gold-bearing veins were emplaced in local sites of extension during or after formation of the compressional fault-fold zones and before normal fault reactivation. Over 400 veins (m to cm-scale) observed in this study imply a general NW strike for mineralised structures (W to N), but with a broad scatter of orientations. Vein emplacement was controlled principally by fold axial surfaces of kink folds of the fault-fold generation. However, some other local extension sites have opened along preexisting structures to host veins locally, including metamorphic foliation and spaced cleavage planes. In addition, irregular extensional fractures with no obvious structural control host some veins. The Klondike mineralised veins formed as swarms with broad regional structural control, but represent relatively diffuse mineralised zones, with numerous scattered small veins, compared to most orogenic vein systems. These diffuse vein swarms appear to be sufficient sources for the rich and geographically localised placer gold deposits that formed in overlying gravels during erosion of the Klondike Schist basement.     

Tectonic setting and petrological evidence for the emplacement of mylonitic granites within the middle part of Sanandaj-Sirjan shear zone from East and South East of Chadegan,Iran

The metabasites and mylonitic granites of the East and South East of Chadegan in the Isfahan province are a part of the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone. This region is a large-scale ductile shear zone which has experienced different phases of deformation and dynamothermal metamorphism. There are at least three phases of deformation in this area. During the first phase which was related to the subduction of the Neotethys oceanic lithosphere under the Iranian microcontinent, the study rocks have experienced regional metamorphism. The second deformational phase was concurrent with the collision between the Arabian plate and the Iranian plate in the Late Cretaceous and caused mylonitization of the metamorphic rocks. The NW–SE trending fold and thrust faults have formed in this stage. The mylonitization have been formed along the dextral transpressional faults. During the third stage of deformation and exhumation of the metamorphic complex, the mylonitic zones have been uplifted to the surface. In this the deformation phase, developed the current morphology of the rocks. The granites have been injected along the extensional shear zones related to the dextral transpressional displacements. These granites are related to the continental collision granites type and have been formed synchronous to the collision between the Arabian and the Iranian plate. Enrichment in LREEs comparison to HREEs and the negative Eu anomaly in the primitive mantle-normalized spidergram and Chondrite-normalized REE patterns support an intra-crustal origin for these granites. Upper continental crust-normalized REE patterns show that in terms of LREEs, are similar to Upper continental crust.     

The Central Southern Alps (N. Italy) paleoseismic zone: a comparison between field observations and predictions of fault mechanics

The internal sectors of the Orobic Alps (Northern Italy) are characterised by Alpine age regional shortening showing a transition, through time, from plastic to brittle deformation. Thrust faults cut Alpine ductile folds and are marked by cataclasites and, locally, by pseudotachylytes, suggesting that motion was accommodated by seismic frictional slip. In the Eastern Orobic Alps the thrusting initiated at depths deeper than 10 km (the emplacement depth of the Adamello pluton) and possibly continued at shallower depths. This demonstrates that thrust motion occurred between 10 km depth and the brittle-ductile transition, i.e., at mid-crustal depths. The Orobic Alps exhumed paleoseismic zone shows different geometries along strike. In the central sectors of the Orobic Alps, thrust faults, associated with pseudotachylytes, have average dips around 40° and show no pervasive veining. Much steeper thrusts (dips up to about 85°) occur in the eastern Orobic Alps. In this area, faults are not associated with pervasive veining, i.e., fluid circulation was relatively scarce. This suggests that faulting did not occur with supralithostatic fluid pressure conditions. These reverse faults are severely misoriented (far too steep) for fault reactivation in a sublithostatic fluid pressure regime. We suggest that thrust motion likely started when the faults were less steep and that the faults were progressively rotated up to the present day dips. Domino tilting is probably responsible for this subsequent fault steepening, as suggested by a decrease of the steepness of thrust faults from north to south and by systematic rotations of previous structures consistently with tilting of thrust blocks. When the faults became inclined beyond the fault lock-up angle, no further thrusting was accommodated along them. At later stages regional shortening was accommodated by newly formed lower angle shear planes (dipping around 30–40°), consistently with predictions from fault mechanics.     

塔里木盆地北部构造样式

塔里木盆地北部发育５种典型的构造样式；基底卷入型压性逆冲构造组成、盖层滑脱型逆冲－褶皱构造组合、隐刺穿刺底檗同幅度褶皱构造组合及张性正断层组合，无论是构造变形时间还是组合分布，在塔北均呈现规律变化，其变形特征及发布受如下３个地质因素控制：（１）区域挤压作用；（２）岩性条件的差异：（２）先期构造格局。     

A Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous metamorphic core complex,Strandja Massif,NW Turkey

In the eastern part of the Strandja Massif constituting the east end of the Rhodope Massif, the amphibolite facies basement rocks intruded by Permian metagranites are juxtaposed against the greenschist facies cover metasediments of Triassic-Middle Jurassic protolith age. The distinct metamorphic break between the basement and cover rocks requires a missing metamorphic section. The boundary between the two groups of rocks is a ductile to brittle extensional shear zone with kinematic indicators exhibiting a top to the E/NE shear sense. Footwall rocks are cut by weakly metamorphosed and foliated granite bodies which are clearly distinguished from the Permian metagranites by their degree of deformation, cross-cutting relations and syn-tectonic/kinematic character. Also, hangingwall rocks were intruded by unmetamorphosed and weakly foliated leucogranites. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar data indicate that the ductile deformation from 156.5 to 143.2 Ma (Middle Oxfordian-Earliest Berriasian) developed during the syn-tectonic plutonism in the footwall. Deformation, and gradual/slower cooling-exhumation survived until to 123 Ma (Barremian). The mylonitic and brittle deformation in the detachment zone developed during Oxfordian-Earliest Berriasian time (155.7–142.6 Ma) and Early Valanginian-Aptian time (136–118.7 Ma), respectively. Our new field mapping and first ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages demonstrate the existence of an extensional core complex of Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous age not previously described in the Rhodope/Strandja massifs.     

PETROLOGY AND AGE OF THE KINNAR KAILAS GRANITE:EVIDENCES FOR AN ORDOVICIAN POST-OROGENIC EXTENSION IN THE HIGHER HIMALAYAN CRYSTALLINE, SUTLEJ, INDIA.

PETROLOGY AND AGE OF THE KINNAR KAILAS GRANITE:EVIDENCES FOR AN ORDOVICIAN POST-OROGENIC EXTENSION IN THE HIGHER HIMALAYAN CRYSTALLINE, SUTLEJ, INDIA     

渤海湾盆地基岩地质图及其所包含的构造运动信息

利用油气勘探资料编制的渤海湾盆地基岩地质图 ,分析了基岩露头分布及其反映的中、新生代构造运动特征。基岩地质图显示渤海湾盆地基底岩层受印支运动和燕山运动影响发育有一系列近EW向、NNE—NE向的褶皱和逆断层等挤压构造变形。基岩露头展布表明渤海湾盆地西部、北部在侏罗纪之前的剥蚀作用明显强于东部和南部地区。基岩地层形成的区域褶皱轴向及各亚构造层之间的不整合面接触关系反映出在下—中三叠统沉积之后至下—中侏罗统沉积之前的某个“关键时刻”渤海湾地区发生了一次重要的构造变革 ,导致早期的近EW向构造被NNE—NE向构造替代。而从区域应力体制来看 ,下—中侏罗统沉积之后渤海湾地区的区域构造环境发生了重要变化 ,从中生代早期的挤压构造环境变为以裂陷作用为主的构造演化时期     

准噶尔盆地构造动力学过程

准噶尔盆地被古生代缝合线构造包围,周缘山系向盆地方向逆冲推覆,显示了盆地处于长期受压的构造环境;火山喷发由海相转变为大陆相,火山活动由强到弱,表明二叠纪以后,上地幔物质一直处于收缩状态,盆地整体持续下沉接受沉积,地壳增厚。二叠纪进入盆地演化阶段之后,经历了晚海西、印支、燕山和喜马拉雅四期构造应力场的作用,发生了南北向拉张变形、南北向和北西向碰撞挤压变形、南北向和北西向张压交替变形以及南北向压扭冲断、走滑和重力滑覆变形,形成复杂多样构造类型。      

Structural Evolution of Chepaizi Uplift and its Control on Stratigraphic Deposition in the Western Junggar Basin,China

Geological mapping, interpreted cross sections, structural analyses and residual thickness maps were used to characterize the evolution of stress setting, structure and stratigraphic distribution of the Chepaizi Uplift, which is a NW-SE trending structure located in the Western Junggar Basin. The NS-trending faults show an important transpressional phase during the Late Permian, as demonstrated by tectonic stress field and stratigraphic thickness variations. A major compressional thrusting and strike-slip phase during the Late Jurassic created a series of NW-SE faults that originated by the large-scale uplift event in the Northern Tianshan. Faults were reactivated as thrust and dextral strike-slip faults. In addition, the angular unconformity observed between Jurassic and Cretaceous provide evidence of this tectonic event. Lots of normal faults indicate that the area records southward tilting and regional derived extensional stress that took place during the Neogene. Before that, thick Early Cenozoic strata are widely deposited. The balanced cross-section highlights the evolution of stress setting and stratigraphic distribution of the Chepaizi Uplift.     

Tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Miocene Oued Dayr Formation (Ghomaride Complex,Internal Domain of the Maghrebian Rif Belt,Morocco)

This work deals with sedimentological, petrographic, and structural analyses of a middle Miocene late-orogenic sedimentary cycle, denoted Oued Dayr Formation, recognized in the Rifian sector of the Maghrebian Chain (Morocco). The analyzed Formation (75 m thick) starts with 15–20 m of light colored polymict conglomerates, with minor sandstone beds, lying on the Paleozoic basement and Mesozoic cover of the Ghomaride Nappe. Facies analysis indicates a fining-upward deposition in a marine environment characterized by increasing deepening, reflecting a subsidence rate that exceeds sedimentary supply. Petrographic analysis points out that sandstones are represented by litharenites originated by erosion of recycled orogen. The conglomerates pebbles and cobbles consist of Alpine low- to high-grade metamorphic rocks as metarenites, phyllites, mylonitic quartzites, micaschists, augen gneisses deriving from the exhumed deep metamorphic basement, the overlying metasedimentary of the Sebtide Nappes and of sedimentary rocks as sandstones, jaspes, limestones, and shales deriving from the Ghomaride Nappes and their sedimentary cover. Data reveal mixed provenance indicating that the Oued Dayr Formation was fed by the Internal Nappes stack of the Maghrebian Chain. Structural analysis shows that the Oued Dayr Formation accumulated in a Thrust-Top basin, during an early extension (D₀ phase), recorded by synsedimentary normal faults within middle Langhian deposits on the rear of the Internal Nappes stack. Subsequent ductile and brittle compressional (D₁, D₂, D₃) and extensional (D₄) deformation phases occurred during and/or after the stacking, exhumation, and early unroofing of Sebtide Complex coeval with the opening of the western Mediterranean back-arc basins since middle Miocene time.     

塔北隆起北部叠加断裂构造特征与成因背景分析

塔北隆起在塔里木叠合盆地演化时期经历了古克拉通隆起、早期前陆前缘隆起、库车再生前陆盆地斜坡3个阶段。经过两期成盆构造变革阶段，塔北隆起北部垂向上叠加深、浅层两组断裂系统：深层断裂系统为基底逆冲断裂，发育冲断构造、背冲构造组合；浅层断裂系统为正断层，发育地堑、地垒构造样式组合。两组不同性质断裂系统的发育均对应于两期造山挤压背景下前陆盆地形成阶段。笔者认为，深层断裂并非是处于早期前陆变形区域，而是处于挤压背景下板内塔北古克拉通隆起“纵弯”构造变形中岩层破裂的结果。浅层断裂是库车再生前陆盆地阶段塔北隆起北部基底（前中生界构造层）受水平挤压翘曲变形（纵弯变形）导致上覆岩层引张破裂的结果。     

Constraining the mid-crustal channel flow beneath the Tibetan Plateau: data from the Nielaxiongbo gneiss dome,SE Tibet

Gneiss domes involving the South Tibetan Detachment System provide evidence for crustal extension simultaneous with shortening. The Nielaxiongbo gneiss dome is composed of a metamorphic complex of granitic gneiss, amphibolite, and migmatite; a ductilely deformed middle crustal layer of staurolite- or garnet-bearing schist; and a cover sequence of weakly metamorphosed Triassic and Lower Cretaceous strata. The middle crust ductilely deformed layer is separated from both the basement complex and the cover sequence by lower and upper detachments, respectively, with a smaller detachment fault occurring within the ductilely deformed layer. Leucogranites crosscut the basement complex, the lower detachment, and the middle crustal layer, but do not intrude the upper detachment or the cover sequence. Three deformational fabrics are recognized: a N–S compressional fabric (D₁) in the cover sequence, a north- and south-directed extensional fabric (D₂) in the upper detachment and lower tectonic units, and a deformation (D₃) related to the leucogranite intrusion. SHRIMP zircon U–Pb dating yielded a metamorphic age of ～514 million years for the amphibolite and a crystallization age of ～20 million years for the leucogranite. Hornblende from the amphibolite has an ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar age of 18 ± 0.3 million years, whereas muscovites from the schist and leucogranite yielded ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages between 13.5 ± 0.2 and 13.0 ± 0.2 million years. These results suggest that the basement was consolidated at ～510 Ma and then exhumed during extension and silicic plutonism at ～20 Ma. Continuing exhumation led to cooling through the 500°C Ar closure temperature in hornblende at ～18 Ma to the 350°C Ar closure temperature in muscovite at ～13 Ma. The middle crustal ductilely deformed layer within gneiss domes of southern Tibet defines a southward-extruding ductile channel, marked by leucogranites emplaced into migmatites and amphibolites. We propose a model involving thinned upper crust for the initial extension of the Tibetan Plateau in the early Miocene.     

Structural evolution of the Tuscan Nappe in the southeastern sector of the Apuan Alps metamorphic dome (Northern Apennines,Italy)

Structural analysis carried out in the Tuscan Nappe (TN) in the southeastern sector of the Apuan Alps highlights a structural evolution much more complex than that proposed so far. The TN has been deformed by structures developed during four deformation phases. The three early phases resulted from a compressive tectonic regime linked to the construction of the Apenninic fold‐and‐thrust‐belt. The fourth phase, instead, is connected with the extensional tectonics, probably related to the collapse of the belt and/or to the opening of the Tyrrhenian Sea. Our structural and field data suggest the following. (1) The first phase is linked to the main crustal shortening and deformation of the Tuscan Nappe in the internal sectors of the belt. (2) The second deformation phase is responsible for the prominent NW–SE‐trending folds recognized in the study area (Mt. Pescaglino and Pescaglia antiforms and Mt. Piglione and Mt. Prana synforms). (3) The direction of shortening related to the third phase is parallel to the main structural trend of the belt. (4) The interference between the third folding phase and the earlier two tectonic phases could be related to the development of the metamorphic domes. The two directions of horizontal shortening induced buckling and vertical growth of the metamorphic domes, enhancing the process of exhumation of the metamorphic rocks. (5) The exhumation of the Tuscan Nappe occurred mostly in a compressive tectonic setting. A new model for the exhumation of the metamorphic dome of the Apuan Alps is proposed. Its tectonic evolution does not fit with the previously suggested core complex model, but is due to compressive tectonics. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.