前陆盆地挠曲过程模拟的理论模型

本文讨论了前陆盆地形成的主要控制因素，包括逆冲负荷、盆地沉积物负荷、地壳内部水平挤压力和地壳力学性质，介绍了前陆盆地弹性和粘弹性挠曲力学模型的基本特征。在此基础上，结合典型实例，探讨了运用粘弹性和弹性挠曲模型模拟前陆盆地沉降和沉积过程的基本方法和基本原理，揭示了造山带与前陆盆地系统演化的动力作用过程。     

3-D Modeling for Flexural Subsidence and Deposition Process of Foreland Basin

前陆盆地是在造山带负荷作用下岩石圈发生挠曲沉降而形成的,并且被主要从造山带搬运的沉积物所充填.为了更好地理解和认识前陆盆地的形成演化机制,特别是受控于周缘多个造山带活动所形成的前陆盆地的演化机制,本文通过建立前陆盆地挠曲沉降与沉积过程的3-D模型,模拟展示了造山带逆冲推覆作用、岩石圈挠曲沉降响应及在山盆体系中由于动力地形变化而导致的河流体系的发育变化及其产生的剥蚀和沉积过程.模型的建立和实验完整体现了逆冲推覆、弹性挠曲沉降和沉积物搬运这三者之间的耦合机制,为全面深入研究前陆盆地动力学提供了理论依据和方法.     

前陆盆地挠曲沉降和沉积过程3D模型研究

前陆盆地是在造山带负荷作用下岩石圈发生挠曲沉降而形成的,并且被主要从造山带搬运的沉积物所充填。为了更好地理解和认识前陆盆地的形成演化机制,特别是受控于周缘多个造山带活动所形成的前陆盆地的演化机制,本文通过建立前陆盆地挠曲沉降与沉积过程的3-D模型,模拟展示了造山带逆冲推覆作用、岩石圈挠曲沉降响应及在山盆体系中由于动力地形变化而导致的河流体系的发育变化及其产生的剥蚀和沉积过程。模型的建立和实验完整体现了逆冲推覆、弹性挠曲沉降和沉积物搬运这三者之间的耦合机制,为全面深入研究前陆盆地动力学提供了理论依据和方法。     

前陆盆地沉降机理和地层模型

前陆盆地形成的主要原因是造山带负载导致的岩石圈挠曲。逆冲作用造成地壳增厚,造山带的巨大质量又导致下部岩石圈的区域均衡沉降,从而临近和平行于造山带发育了凹陷。另外,前陆盆地的演化也受到沉积物供应、盆地内沉积物扩散能力、岩石圈强度、造山带逆冲速率、全球海平面变化、和俯冲有关的动力沉降及俯冲负载等众多其它因素的影响。本文阐述了这些因素与前陆盆地沉降的关系,介绍了与幕式逆冲有关的地层模型和欠补偿-过补偿地层模型。希望本文能够对中国西北地区前陆盆地的研究起到一定的借鉴意义。     

前陆盆地构造-热演化:以龙门山前陆盆地为例

前陆盆地油气资源丰富但构造变形十分复杂,使得前陆盆地构造-热演化模拟面临挑战。前陆盆地演化过程中构造与热的耦合体现在多个层面:岩石圈热演化对岩石圈强度时空分布及其挠曲的影响;逆冲推覆作用的浅部温度效应;快速沉积作用对盆地温度场的影响等。首先,前陆盆地形成时的岩石圈热背景及其造成的岩石圈强度空间变化对盆地后期的演化具有重要影响。同时早期热事件的热扰动也会叠加在前陆盆地的构造-热演化过程中,并不断衰减,影响岩石圈的流变结构,从而带来一系列的影响。热与构造演化相耦合在前陆盆地定量模拟中非常重要。其次,还需特别关注岩石圈深部过程与近地表构造过程的耦合。造山带逆冲推覆、抬升和剥蚀是与前陆盆地形成相关的重要构造活动,这种运动引起的热对流对造山带的热结构、前陆逆冲带以及前渊地区的温度场的分布有着重要影响。最后,前陆盆地形成演化过程中的快速沉积作用对盆地温度场和地表热流产生强烈的压制作用,对前陆盆地浅部热演化的影响不容忽视。因此,在浅部热演化(包括造山带逆冲推覆、快速沉积压实等)与盆地下伏岩石圈挠曲、深部热演化的联合作用下,使得前陆盆地构造-热演化颇为复杂,二者的耦合使得前陆盆地构造-热演化模拟颇具挑战。     

前陆盆地的形成机制和充填演化

前陆盆地发育于前陆褶皱冲断带之上。它是在褶皱冲断带负载的作用下,岩石圈通过区域性均衡调整及流变挠曲而形成的。本文从流变学角度讨论了在前陆地区褶皱逆冲作用下,岩石圈流变、盆地形成及沉积充填三者间的内在成因联系,并着重介绍了前陆盆地形成过程中的两种岩石圈流变挠曲模型及前陆盆地充填演化的模拟反演。     

库车前陆盆地早白垩世岩石圈粘弹性变形的地层记录

基于前陆盆地岩石圈弹性与粘弹性挠曲变形的不同特点,提出应用前隆斜坡带地层结构获取岩石圈力学性质及变形过程信息的思路。对库车前陆盆地的实例分析表明,研究区早白垩世历经了两个逆冲期至宁静期的构造演化,卡普沙良群、巴什基奇克组分别为逆冲期和宁静期的地层记录。在单个逆冲期,随着逆冲加载和岩石圈挠曲变形,岩石圈性质从弹性转化为粘弹性,盆地由向克拉通方向扩展变宽转变为向逆冲带变窄加深。相应地,前隆斜坡带的地层记录为:逆冲早期,地层向克拉通方向渐进超覆和退积;逆冲晚期,地层向逆冲带收缩和前积,形成底面上超/削截和顶面削截—顶超两个重大不整合面。宁静期盆地宽浅,地层平行连续,临近冲断带因岩石圈回弹产生少量削截不整合。     

东秦岭－大别山及邻区盆－山系统演化与动力学

东秦岭－大别造山带受不同块体间的拼合碰撞及其之后的陆内变形控制,在造山带边缘和内部形成了不同的盆山系统。造山带北缘响应北秦岭与华北板块的弧陆碰撞及其之后陆内变形作用,形成了后陆逆冲与弧后前陆盆地系统。造山带南缘三叠纪至白垩纪随着扬子板块与秦岭－大别微板块沿勉略缝合带自东向西的斜向俯冲和之后的陆内旋转挤压,在扬子北缘形成了前陆逆冲与周缘前陆盆地系统。自晚侏罗世末至白垩纪造山带挤压与伸展并存,伸展自核部向边缘发展,形成造山带伸展塌陷与近东西向裂谷盆地系统。大致在中始新世之后,受中国东部环太平洋构造带东西向伸展作用和深部构造作用控制,横跨造山带形成近南北向的裂谷盆地。     

前陆盆地的三维挠曲数值模拟: 以怀俄明西南上白垩统研究为例

前陆盆地的三维挠曲数值模拟是预测盆地三维格架和关键构造要素分布的强有力工具, 如在预测前隆分布方面(低隆起幅度、大范围分布的前隆很难从地下资料中识别)。为了解释详细地层对比中发现的前隆迁移,对怀俄明西南晚白垩世前陆盆地做了三维挠曲数值模拟。模拟过程中采用弹性地壳模型,并以详细的年代地层资料作为基本的输入数据。挠曲负载的估计来源于公开发表的怀俄明逆冲带的横剖面资料和风河逆冲带的缩短速率。模拟结果表明,由于逆冲负载的分布,前隆只局限分布在盆地的南部。随负载的迁移,前隆随时间向东南方向迁移。由于怀俄明逆冲带和风河逆冲带的相互作用,弹性地壳形成三维“前缘穹隆”而不是二维“前缘隆起”。三维挠曲模拟是理解怀俄明西南晚白垩世前隆迁移的关键。     

北天山前陆盆地中段成煤及后期构造演化

早石炭世哈萨克斯坦板与塔里木板块碰撞拼接，古亚洲洋闭合，褶皱隆起形成造山带，与其相邻的地块由于造山带隆升产生的构造负荷作用，引起岩石圈挠曲，在天山造山带南北两侧形成前陆盆地。前陆盆地演化过程中，不仅形成丰富的能源矿产，而且记载了造山发展演化的历史。     

Foreland folding

In the northern foreland of the Alps lithospheric subplate boundaries such as the Rheingraben may be distinguished from structures developed by deformation of the main plate boundary (foreland folding in the strict sense). The latter consists of a very gentle lithospheric bulge (foreland trough and welt) of regional dimensions, and superposed smaller-scale features which are sometimes compressive (Jura) and sometimes extensive (normal faults in the eastern Molasse basin). An explanation is sought in the distribution of weak and strong masses under the Alps and their foreland; a pronounced intracrustal low-velocity cushion under the Alps, and various incompetent sedimentary layers under the foreland. As the subducted lithosphere below and the competent crust above the intracrustal cushion are affected by different boundary displacements, separate stress systems are set up for the two and are superposed in the foreland. Under some circumstances the bending stresses of the lithospheric bulge may predominate and cause extensional (normal) faulting, whereas under other circumstances compression of the supra-cushion crust may be the dominant influence and cause focal mechanisms typical for horizontal compression or, where there is a suitable decollement horizon, even thrusting and folding.     

A thin orogenic wedge upon thick foreland lithosphere and the missing foreland basin

Along the Caledonian front in central Scandinavia, the expected peripheral or pro-foreland basin is neither physically present nor are there any significant traces in the sedimentary record. In order to explain and quantify this situation, the authors assess the major geometric and mechanical constraints on the Caledonian orogenic wedge and model the orogenic load and its influence on the foreland lithosphere of Baltica. Geologic and geophysical data show a strong foreland lithosphere with a flexural parameter (α) of approximately 100 km. The shape of the orogenic wedge and its critical taper angle are dependent mainly on basal friction and wedge strength. In the external part organic-rich black shales provide a low-friction horizon both at the basal detachment surface and within the wedge itself. The more internal part of the wedge is composed of metamorphic and crystalline rocks, which cooled and strengthened prior to thrusting. As a result, the external part of the wedge had a lower strength and a smaller critical taper angle than its internal part, so the orogenic load is upward concave. Modelling of the effect of such a load on the Baltica lithosphere shows a very small depression in front of the load (2 km). The flexural depression produced by the main part of the orogenic load is filled up by the thickening thrust-and-fold belt, so that there is little space left for a foreland basin. These results imply that the missing foreland basin in front of the central Scandinavian Caledonides is not due to subsequent erosion, but is a primary feature.     

下辽河盆地外围深部构造特征及中生代构造演化模式

深部地质、地球物理综合研究表明，辽西地区与松辽南部地区在莫霍面起伏、岩石圈厚度、壳内高导层深度和分布形式及岩石圈的有效弹性厚度方面均存在着重大差异，这种差异是造成辽西盆岭区与松辽盆地中生代构造发展差异的主要原因。软流圈顶面深度和岩石圈有效弹性厚度决定了盆地类型，壳内高导层分布控制着盆地构造样式。辽西盆岭区和松辽盆地南部构造模式的差异可以解释二者之间构造演化的不同。     

The Siwaliks of western Nepal: II. Mechanics of the thrust wedge

Comparison between numerical models and structural data is used for a better understanding of the evolution of the Siwalik thrust belt of western Nepal. The numerical model involves discontinuities within a critical wedge model, a kinematic forward model of serial cross sections, and a linear diffusion algorithm to simulate erosion and sedimentation. In western Nepal, large Piggy-back basins (Duns) are located above thick thrust sheets that involve more than 5500 m of the Neogene Siwalik Group, whereas Piggy-back basin sedimentation is less developed above thinner thrust sheets (4300 m thick). Numerical model results suggest that thrust sheet thickness and extension of wedge-top basins are both related to an increase of the basal décollement dip beneath the duns. The West Dang Transfer zone (WDTZ) is a N–NE trending tectonic lineament that limits the westward extent of the large Piggy-back basins of mid-western Nepal and is linked to a thickening of the Himalayan wedge eastward. The WDTZ also affects the seismotectonics pattern, the geometry of the thrust front, the lateral extent of Lesser Himalayan thrust sheets, and the subsidence of the foreland basin during middle Siwalik sedimentation. Numerical models suggest that the individualisation of the Piggy-back basins at the transition between the middle Siwalik and upper Siwaliks followed the deposition of the middle Siwaliks that induced a geometry of the foreland basin close to the critical taper. As WDTZ induces an E–W thickning of the Himalayan wedge, it could also induce a northward shift of the leading edge of the ductile deformation above the basal detachment in Greater Himalayas of far-western Nepal. Field data locally suggest episodic out-off-sequence thrusting in the frontal thrust belt of western Nepal, whereas numerical results suggests that episodic out-off sequence reactivation could be a general characteristic of the Himalayan wedge evolution often hidden by erosion.     

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.     

Flexural isostasy in the Bolivian Andes: Chaco foreland basin development

The Chaco foreland basin was initiated during the late Oligocene as a result of thrusting in the Eastern Cordillera in response to Nazca–South America plate convergence. Foreland basins are the result of the flexural isostatic response of an elastic plate to orogenic and/or thrust sheet loading. We carried out flexural modelling along a W–E profile (21.4°S) to investigate Chaco foreland basin development using new information on ages of foreland basin strata, elastic and sedimentary thicknesses and structural histories. It was possible to reproduce present-day elevation, gravity anomaly, Moho depth, elastic thicknesses, foreland sedimentary thicknesses and the basin geometry. Our model predicted the basin geometry and sedimentary thicknesses for different evolutionary stages. Measured thicknesses and previously proposed depozones were compared with our predictions. Our results shed more light on the Chaco foreland basin evolution and suggest that an apparent decrease in elastic thickness beneath the Eastern Cordillera and the Interandean Zone could have occurred between 14 and 6 Ma.