Structure of the Abercrombie beds south of Reids flat,new South Wales

The Late Ordovician Abercrombie Beds, south of Reids Flat, New South Wales, and adjacent to the Wyangala Batholith, show evidence of three successive fold episodes. First generation folds are tight to isoclinal, with fold axes ranging from vertical to horizontal and north‐trending, and steep axial‐plane slaty cleavage. Second generation folds are steeply plunging, tight to open with north‐striking axial planes. In pelitic rocks the axial plane structure is a crenulation cleavage which overprints the slaty cleavage. The first two fold episodes were accompanied by greenschist‐facies metamorphism. Granite emplacement occurred prior to the second fold episode. A third deformation was of relatively mild intensity and produced open, north‐trending folds with axial planes dipping moderately to the east, and crenulation cleavage as the axial plane structure in pelitic rocks. These latest folds are correlated with the latest folds in the Abercrombie Beds north of the Abercrombie River. The mapped area has no apparent macroscopic structure and may be considered as a single domain.     

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.     

The establishment of recumbent folds in the Lower Palaeozoic near Queanbeyan,New South Wales

Lower Palaeozoic sedimentary and volcanic rocks east of Queanbeyan, N.S.W., have undergone multiple deformation resulting in four systems of folds. The first of these consists of large isoclinal, recumbent folds (F1). The second generation folds (F2) are the most pronounced; they consist of flattened flexural‐slip folds with well developed axial‐plane slaty cleavage. Minor variants of this system are associated with meridionally‐trending faults. Third and fourth generation folds are minor kink systems.

The existence of first generation folds was established on the basis of F2 fold‐facing determinations, and their likely form was deduced from the geometrical variations of F2 folds. It is thought that all fold phases developed during the Late Silurian Bowning Orogeny.     

Transient inversion during the opening stageof the Wilson cycle “Sardic phase” in the Iberian Variscides –Stratigraphic and tectonic record

The Variscides of Iberia have a bilateral symmetry with east vergence in the eastern branch and west vergence in the western, on both sides of a Centro-Iberian Zone (CIZ), with predominant steep axial planes. All the structures curve around the Ibero-Armorican Arc (IAA). Unconformities in the sedimentary sequences of Cambrian to Early Ordovician age were ascribed to “Sardic phase” by correlation with similar tectonosedimentary events in Sardinia. Recent studies showed diachronism between these events in Sardinia and Iberia but migration of major geodynamic regime in time may be due to regional variation of major events at plate tectonic scale. We studied in detail two critical areas in the CIZ, the Marão anticline in the NE and the Amêndoa-Carvoeiro synform in the SW. Two unconformities can be put in evidence, as elsewhere in CIZ. A stronger lower unconformity of a Volcano-Sedimentary Complex of Lower Arenig (and Tremadocian?) age on top of a Cambrian clastic sequence with flysch characteristics; and a milder upper unconformity of Armorican Quartzite of Arenig age on both the Volcano-Sedimentary Complex and the Cambrian sequences. The lithostratigraphy of the studied areas is described and correlated with other areas in Iberia. The Volcano-Sedimentary Complex and coeval magmatic bodies with bimodal composition are briefly described. The Sardic event corresponds to folds with steep axial planes at high angles to Variscan structures that produce the penetrative cleavage that cut across the unconformity surfaces. Sardic thrusts are also present and can be explained by thin-skinned compressive tectonics. Sardic folds and thrusts suggest a brief period of transient inversion between a major extensional regime from Cambrian to Devonian. The obliquity of Sardic structures to Variscan compression suggests a component of transpression during the Sardic tectonic event, corresponding to a tectonically enhanced unconformity near the Cambro-Ordovician boundary. The transient Sardic inversion is interpreted in terms of a break-up unconformity related to the migration of an intracratonic rift; in the Ordovician this rift moves into the SW of Ossa Morena Zone (OMZ) and since then become the SW Iberia suture during the Variscan Wilson cycle. This migration induced transient compression and dextral strike-slip in the major boundary between CIZ and OMZ due to presence of incipient primary curvature in this segment of IAA.     

Mesoscopic structural fabric of early Paleozoic rocks in the northern Sierra Nevada, California and implications for Late Jurassic plate kinematics

Analysis of the mesoscopic structure of the early Paleozoic Shoo Fly complex, northern Sierra Nevada, California, reveals three phases of deformation and folding. The first phase of folding is pre-Late Devonian and the second two are constrained by regional relations as due to the Late Jurassic Nevadan orogeny. Main phase Nevadan deformation produced penetrative slaty cleavage which is steep, NNW-trending and parallel to tectonostratigraphic terranes of the region. Cleavage is axial-planar to ubiquitous isoclinal similar folds. Fold axes define a NNW-trending girdle with a distinct, near-vertical maximum. Main phase Nevadan folds have nearly ideal class 2 orthogonal thickness geometry although some class 1C forms exist in more competent units. The overall geometry of main phase folds suggests formation by progressive deformation in a flattening regime with cleavage as the flattening plane and a steep extension axis defined by the fold axis maximum. A steep extension axis direction for main phase Nevadan deformation is supported by analysis of interference relations where folds of this generation deform pre-Late Devonian folds. Late Nevadan folds range from kink flexures to ideal class 2 similar folds with incipient axial-planar cleavage. The kinematic significance of late Nevadan folds cannot be evaluated because of their varying style and orientation throughout the northern Sierra Nevada.Penetrative ductile deformation and near-vertical extension during the Nevadan orogeny was synchronous with accretion of oceanic and/or island arc rocks against the western margin of the northern Sierra Nevada. The kinematic framework of deformation defined for Nevadan deformation is consistent with essentially orthogonal convergence of these exotic terranes with the Sierran margin and argues against a transform/transpressive regime.     

On the structural age of the Rhoscolyn antiform,Anglesey, North Wales

In the Rhoscolyn area of Anglesey, the late Precambrian interbedded psammites and pelites of the Monian Supergroup are folded into a kilometre‐scale antiform, plunging about 25°NE and with an axial surface dipping about 40°NW. Numerous folds of up to a few tens of metres in wavelength are present on both limbs of this antiform. These smaller‐scale folds also plunge about 25°NE but clearly belong to two separate episodes of folding, and it has become a matter of longstanding controversy as to whether the larger antiform belongs to the first or second of these episodes. Close examination of the cleavage/bedding asymmetries from all the lithologies, however, shows that the large antiform is a second‐generation structure, and that on the gently dipping northwest limb, the sense of cleavage/bedding asymmetry of the earlier cleavage in the psammitic units has been almost uniformly and homogeneously reversed (so that it appears to be axial planar to the antiform), while in the pelitic units the sense of cleavage/bedding asymmetry of the earlier cleavage has been preserved. Many of the small‐scale complexities of the observed cleavage/bedding relationships may be explained by appealing to differences in the timing of the formation of buckling instabilities relative to this reorientation of the early cleavage in the psammites during the second deformation. A first‐order analysis of the finite strains from around the large‐scale antiform shows that the orientation of the first cleavage prior to the second deformation was steeply dipping to the southeast. The second deformation correlates with the southeast‐verging Caledonian deformation affecting the Monian and Ordovician units elsewhere in northwest Anglesey, while the northwest‐verging first deformation event, which is not present in the Ordovician rocks, must have occurred before they were deposited. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Polyphase Alpine deformation at the northern edge of the Menderes–Taurus block, North Konya, Central Turkey

Low-grade metamorphic rocks of Paleozoic–Mesozoic age to the north of Konya, consist of two different groups. The Silurian–Lower Permian Sizma Group is composed of reefal complex metacarbonates at the base, and flyschoid metaclastics at the top. Metaigneous rocks of various compositions occur as dykes, sills, and lava flows within this group. The ?Upper Permian–Mesozoic age Ardicli Group unconformably overlies the Sizma Group and is composed of, from bottom to top, coarse metaclastics, a metaclastic–metacarbonate alternation, a thick sequence of metacarbonate, and alternating units of metachert, metacarbonates and metaclastics. Although pre-Alpine overthrusts can be recognized in the Sizma Group, intense Alpine deformation has overprinted and obliterated earlier structures. Both the Sizma and Ardicli Groups were deformed, and metamorphosed during the Alpine orogeny. Within the study area evidence for four phases of deformation and folding is found. The first phase of deformation resulted in the major Ertugrul Syncline, overturned tight to isoclinal and minor folding, and penetrative axial planar cleavage developed during the Alpine crustal shortening at the peak of metamorphism. Depending on rock type, syntectonic crystallization, rotation, and flattening of grains and pressure solution were the main deformation mechanisms. During the F₂-phase, continued crustal shortening produced coaxial Type-3 refolded folds, which can generally be observed in outcrop with associated crenulation cleavage (S₂). Refolding of earlier folds by the noncoaxial F₃-folding event generated Type-2 interference patterns and the major Meydan Synform which is the largest map-scale structure within the study area. Phase 3 structures also include crenulation cleavage (S₃) and conjugate kink folds. Further shortening during phase 4 deformation also resulted in crenulation cleavage and conjugate kink folds. According to thin section observations, phases 2–4 crenulation cleavages are mainly the result of microfolding with pressure solution and mineral growth.     

Cenozoic tectonics and landform evolution of the coast and adjacent highlands of southeast New South Wales

The Upper Precambrian and Lower Palaeozoic Rocks in the Mt Lofty Ranges, South Australia, have been subjected to at least three phases of folding. The first involved the formation of inclined folds and less common reclined folds. These structures are overprinted by usually upright, moderately tight, second and third generation folds which may show a well developed axial plane crenulation cleavage.

The metamorphism commenced prior to the appearance of penetrative structures and continued in many areas until after the third phase of deformation. It appears to have had its greatest effect during the static period following the first phase of folding.

Mineral assemblages of the pelitic rocks indicate that the metamorphism is of the low pressure‐intermediate type and that there are at least four progressive zones of metamorphism, namely, chlorite, biotite, andalusite‐staurolite, and sillimanite. Cordierite occurs in the sillimanite zone and kyanite is sporadically distributed in the andalusite‐staurolite zone. In the Angaston‐Springton region separate andalusite and staurolite zone boundaries may be delineated which cross as they are traced towards Angaston. This relationship is considered to be due to higher pressures operating during metamorphism in the latter area.

The maximum pressure and temperature reached in the metamorphism of these rocks are discussed in the light of recent experimental data.     

Tangled up in folds: tectonic significance of superimposed folding at the core of the Central Iberian curve (West Iberia)

The amalgamation of Pangea during the Carboniferous produced a winding mountain belt: the Variscan orogen of West Europe. In the Iberian Peninsula, this tortuous geometry is dominated by two major structures: the Cantabrian Orocline, to the north, and the Central Iberian curve (CIC) to the south. Here, we perform a detailed structural analysis of an area within the core of the CIC. This core was intensively deformed resulting in a corrugated superimposed folding pattern. We have identified three different phases of deformation that can be linked to regional Variscan deformation phases. The main collisional event produced upright to moderately inclined cylindrical folds with an associated axial planar cleavage. These folds were subsequently folded during extensional collapse, in which a second fold system with subhorizontal axes and an intense subhorizontal cleavage formed. Finally, during the formation of the Cantabrian Orocline, a third folding event refolded the two previous fold systems. This later phase formed upright open folds with fold axis trending 100° to 130°, a crenulation cleavage and brittle–ductile transcurrent conjugated shearing. Our results show that the first and last deformation phases are close to coaxial, which does not allow the CIC to be formed as a product of vertical axis rotations, i.e. an orocline. The origin of the curvature in Central Iberia, if a single process, had to be coeval or previous to the first deformation phase.     

Transected folds with opposite patterns in Terena Formation (Ossa Morena Zone,Portugal): anomalous structures resulting from sedimentary basin anisotropies

The Terena Formation is located in the central part of the Ossa-Morena Zone (OMZ) and outcrops in the core of a latter (D3) first order syncline. This Formation is a Lower Devonian flysch and shows an unusual “Z” shape, with a central sector trending nearly N-S, and the tips trending NW-SE. This central sector is crossed by the cleavage (NW-SE) showing an apparent dextral (clockwise) transection pattern, anomalous and opposite to the regional widespread sinistral (anti-clockwise) transpression. The same sector with cartographic dextral transection, shows at outcrop scale, mesoscopic folds with a sinistral transection. During the Lower Devonian a N-S trending basin was developed as an effect of an early tectonic deformation phase. This trough was filled with turbidites and its elongated geometry determined the shape of the main syncline. We propose that the dextral transection pattern, at cartographic scale, result from the superposition of the NW-SE upright S3 cleavage on this major regional structure controlled by a sedimentary trough. The mesoscopic folds, observed on the upper levels of the sedimentary sequence were not influenced by the topographic anisotropy of the basin, and therefore they developed a left transection, according to the regional deformation mechanisms.

The “Z” shape of the syncline could be explained as a consequence of two major tectonic shear zones situated along the north and south boundaries of the OMZ, respectively the Tomar-Badajoz-Cordoba Shear Zone and the South Iberian Suture, lined by the Beja-Acebuches Ophiolitic Complex. Both shear zones have a sinistral transpressive character and were active during late Variscan tectonic events.     

冀东太平寨附近太古宙变质岩的构造形式和变形史

研究地区的地层属太古宙迁西群底部上川组。本文涉及其中一部分约4平方公里的面积。岩石都已高度变质,属麻粒岩相的区域紫苏辉石带。由于缺乏顶、底及面向(facing)标志,无法确定其确切层序。     

江西大背坞金矿区及其外围前寒武系控矿构造解析

大背坞金矿区及其外围前寒武系经历了三期构造变形：第一期形成近东西向障公山扇形复背斜及轴面流劈理;第二期形成北东向中常褶皱及轴面折劈理;第三期形成北东向挤压破碎带。第三期构造变形发生于700Ma左右。三期构造变形使围岩中分散的金富集形成三期含金石英脉。成矿受早元古代障公山群第五岩组矿源层、障公山复背斜西倾伏端、折劈理带、挤压破碎带复合控制。     

Structural studies in the Pre-Vindhyan rocks of Rajasthan: A summary of work of the last three decades

Multiple deformation in all the Precambrian metamorphic-migmatitic rocks has been reported from Rajasthan during the last three decades. But, whereas the Aravalli Group and the Banded Gneissic Complex show similarity in the style and sequence of structures in all their details, the rocks of the Delhi Group trace a partly independent trend. Isoclinal folds of the first generation (AF₁) in the rocks of the Aravalli Group had gentle westerly plunge prior to later deformations. These folds show reclined, inclined, and upright attitude as a result of coaxial upright folding (AF_la). Superposition of upright folds (AF₂) of varying tightness, with axial plane striking N to NNE, has resulted in interference patterns of diverse types in the scale of maps, and deformation of earlier planar and linear structures in the scale of hand specimens. The structures of the third generation (AF₃) are either open recumbent folds or reclined conjugate folds with axial planes dipping gently towards NE or SW. Structures of the last phase are upright conjugate folds (AF₄) with axial planes striking NNE-SSW and E-W. The Banded Gneissic Complex (BGC) underlies the Aravalli Group with a conglomerate horizon at the contact, especially in southern Rajasthan. But, for a major part of central and southern Rajasthan, migmatites representing BGC show a structural style and sequence identical with those in the Aravalli Group. Migmatization, broadly synkinematic with the AF₁ folding, suggests extensive remobilization of the basement. Very rare relict fabric athwart to and overprinted by structures of AF, generation provide tangible evidence for a basement. Although the structures of later phases in the rocks of the Delhi Group (DF₃ and DF₄) match with the late-phase structures in the Aravalli Group (AF₃ and AF₄), there is a contrast in the structural history of the early stages in the rocks of the two groups. The folds of the first generation in the Delhi Group (DF₁) were recumbent to reclined with gentle plunge towards N to NNE or S to SSW. These were followed by coaxial upright folds of varying tightness (DF₂). Absence of westerly trending AF₁ folds in the Delhi Group, and extreme variation in plunge of the AF₂ folds in contrast with the fairly constant plunge of the DF₂ folds, provide evidence for an angular unconformity between the Aravalli and the Delhi Groups. Depending on the importance of flattening attendant with and following buckling during AF₂ deformation, the lineations of AF₁ generation show different patterns. Where the AF₁ lineations are distributed in circular cones around AF₂ axes because of flexural-slip folding in layered rocks with high viscosity contrast, loci of early lineations indicate that the initial orientation of the AF₁ axes were subhorizontal, trending towards N280°. The orientation of the axial planes of the earlier folds has controlled the development of the later folds. In sectors where the AF, axial planes had N-S strike and gentle dips, or E-W strike with gentle to steep dips, nearly E-W horizontal compression during AF₂ deformation resulted in well-developed AF₂ folds. By contrast, where the AF, axial planes were striking nearly N-S with steep dips, E-W horizontal compression resulted in tightening (flattening) of the already isoclinal AF₁ folds, and probably boudinage structures in some instances, without the development of any AF₂ folds. A similar situation obtains when DF₄ deformation is superposed on earlier structures. Where the dominant S-planes were subhorizontal, N-S compression during DF₄ deformation resulted in either chevron folds with E-W striking axial plane or conjugate folds with axial plane striking NE and NW. In zones with S-planes striking E-W and dipping steeply, the N-S compression resulted in flattening of the earlier folds without development of DF₄ folds.     

Characteristics of tectonic deformation of the melange zone in the Lachlan Orogen along eastern coast of Australia

The Narooma-Batemans Bay (NBB) area along the southeast coast of Australia is a part of the eastern zone of the Early Paleozoic Lachlan Orogen. In the NBB, a set of rock association consisting of turbidites, siliceous rock, basic lava, and argillaceous melange zone is mainly developed. According to systematic field geological survey, the deformation of 3 stages (D1, D2, and D3) was identified in the NBB. At stage D1, with the original bedding S0 in a nearly east-west trending as the deformation plane, tight folds, isoclinal folds, and other structures formed in the NBB accompanied by structural transposition. As a result, crenulation cleavage developed along the axial plane of the folds and schistosity S1 formed. At stage D2, with north-south-trending schistosity S1 as the deformation plane, a large number of asymmetrical folds and rotated porphyroclasts formed owing to thrusting and shear. At stage D3, left-lateral strike-slip occurred along the main north-south-trending schistosity. Based on the analysis of the characteristics of tectonic deformation in the NBB and summary of previous research results, it is determined that the early-stage (D1) deformation is related to Ordovician Macquarie arc-continent collision and the deformation at stages D2 and D3 is the result of the westward subduction of Paleo-Pacific Plate. That is, it is not the continuous westward subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate that constitutes the evolution model of the NBB as previously considered.     

Structural geology of the Dugald River Zn---Pb---Ag deposit, Mount Isa Inlier, Australia

The sediment-hosted Zn---Pb---Ag deposit at Dugald River is situated 87 km northeast of Mount Isa, NW Queensland. It is a mid-scale base metal accumulation restricted to a black slate sequence of low metamorphic grade. The orebody is tabular and consists of fine- to medium-grained sulphides with a dominant mineralogy of sphalerite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, galena, quartz and muscovite. Three different ore types have been recognized based on mineralization textures; laminated, banded and brecciated. The present reserve stands at 38 million tons of ore averaging 13.0% Zn, 2.1% Pb and 42 g/t Ag. A structural investigation has revealed that six stages of deformation have affected the metasediments in the Dugald River area. The first four (D₁, D₂, D₃ and D₄) are characterized by the extensive development of folds and associated axial plane cleavage. They were all generated in a ductile regime and are of considerable significance for the structural evolution of this region as well as for the emplacement and localization of the sulphide mineralization. D₅ provides a transition towards brittle deformation developing strong kink folds with subhorizontal axial planes. D₆ was a brittle event, producing E-W-trending open folds and major NE and NW strike-slip faults crosscutting all the pre-existing structural elements plus segmenting the orebody. Correlation between the development of deformation and the formation of mineralization can be observed from macro- to microscales. Relationships of mineralization with folds and cleavage indicate a post-D₂ (dominant deformation event) and probably syn-D₄ deformation timing for the Zn---Pb---Ag mineralization at Dugald River, as suggested by the ubiquitous truncations of D₂ fabrics by ore mineral assemblages throughout the deposit.     

Structural geology of the Dugald River ZnPbAg deposit, Mount Isa Inlier, Australia

The sediment-hosted ZnPbAg deposit at Dugald River is situated 87 km northeast of Mount Isa, NW Queensland. It is a mid-scale base metal accumulation restricted to a black slate sequence of low metamorphic grade. The orebody is tabular and consists of fine- to medium-grained sulphides with a dominant mineralogy of sphalerite, pyrrhotite, pyrite, galena, quartz and muscovite. Three different ore types have been recognized based on mineralization textures; laminated, banded and brecciated. The present reserve stands at 38 million tons of ore averaging 13.0% Zn, 2.1% Pb and 42 g/t Ag. A structural investigation has revealed that six stages of deformation have affected the metasediments in the Dugald River area. The first four (D₁, D₂, D₃ and D₄) are characterized by the extensive development of folds and associated axial plane cleavage. They were all generated in a ductile regime and are of considerable significance for the structural evolution of this region as well as for the emplacement and localization of the sulphide mineralization. D₅ provides a transition towards brittle deformation developing strong kink folds with subhorizontal axial planes. D₆ was a brittle event, producing E-W-trending open folds and major NE and NW strike-slip faults crosscutting all the pre-existing structural elements plus segmenting the orebody. Correlation between the development of deformation and the formation of mineralization can be observed from macro- to microscales. Relationships of mineralization with folds and cleavage indicate a post-D₂ (dominant deformation event) and probably syn-D₄ deformation timing for the ZnPbAg mineralization at Dugald River, as suggested by the ubiquitous truncations of D₂ fabrics by ore mineral assemblages throughout the deposit.     

鞍山附近“樱桃园组”的构造样式及其时代讨论

本文区分了“樱桃园组”岩石在元古主构造旋回的三幕变形,详细描述了各幕SFL组合和按区段进行了投影。主变形幕D₁的构造最发育,F₁控制着本区的岩性分布。构造序列及样式变化显示由高塑性向脆性的变形格式。本组与下伏的太古鞍山群变粒岩在构造序列、样式和变质相上都有显著差异,过去许多地质学家把二者混划为一个单位,统名“鞍山群”,属太古宙。但本组与上覆的辽河群(上元古)的构造样式和变质相却相似,故其时代相当于早元古Ferrian期。     

The stratigraphy of the arenig series in the Aberdaron to Sarn Area,Western Llŷcn,North Wales

A new interpretation of the Arenig succession in the Aberdaron area is presented based on biostratigraphical correlation. A lithostratigraphy based on section correlation is presented, and three subareas are identified, each with a different stratigraphy. The Sarn Formation comprises the basal ‘flaggy’ sandstone unit in all three areas but is diachronous: in the south it underlies a Moridunian fauna whilst north of the Bryncroes fault it comprises the majority of the Arenig succession and is probably Fennian in age. The Aberdaron Formation is restricted to the south and is dominated by laminated siltstone. The Wǐg Member, a mudstone unit at the base with a Mordunian fauna is found only to the east of the Wǐg–Nefyn fault, whilst the breccio-conglomerate Porth Meudway Member, at the top of the formation, is restricted to the west of the fault and is probably Fennian in age. The Arenig–Llanvirn boundary is approximately marked throughout the area by a tufaceous unit termed the Carw Formation. The new correlations require the repetition of the succession by a previously unrecognized NNE–SSW trending fault. The junction with the Mona Complex west of Aberdaron is considered to be predominantly faulted. The two subareas south of Bryncroes are sufficiently similar to suggest both belonged to the same deepening basin, probably initiated in the Moridunian. The absence of the Aberdaron Formation and the development of contemporary shallower water facies to the north is taken to indicate this area lay on the footwall of a normal fault bounding the basin to the northwest.     

Deformation and metamorphism of the Aileu Formation,north coast,East Timor and its tectonic significance

The large block of metamorphic rocks along the north coast of East Timor is of special interest as it occurs at the boundary between continental and oceanic crust in an island arc-continent collision zone. A detailed study of the structure and metamorphic history of 400 km² of this formation showed it has a complex history of penetrative deformation but the structure is coherent.Pelites, psammites and limestones interlayered with dolerites and amphibolites have been metamorphosed in a medium pressure environment. They now form a metamorphic province zoned from low greenschist facies in the southwest to upper amphibolite facies in the east. The earliest recognised deformation phase predated the metamorphism and produced a widespread layer—parallel schistosity but no recognisable folds. The second deformation phase post-dated the metamorphic maximum and micropetrological evidence indicates a gradual cooling during this event. This deformation produced tight folds with an axial plane schistosity and transposed the earlier structures. The progressively weaker third and fourth phases developed crenulation cleavages and related folds, under greenschist facies conditions. Open, fifth phase, macroscopic folds were probably synchronous with strike slip faulting parallel to the north coast. Later dip slip faulting juxtaposed the Aileu Formation with Permian and Mesozoic sediments of very low metamorphic grade.Reconnaissance K/Ar radiometric dating using hornblende and biotite showed the prograde metamorphic maximum occurred before 11 Ma ago and implies that the second, and strongest, deformation phase occurred in the late Miocene. This young age establishes the relationship of the deformation events to the collision between Australia and the Inner Banda Arc.The proposed models for the structure of Timor must be modified to fit the deformation history of the Aileu Formation. If Timor is essentially autochthonous, the Aileu Formation was probably deposited in a Palaeozoic graben and the metamorphic maximum may have occurred in the Jurassic. The overthrusting models must be modified in the light of the close correlation in time between penetrative deformation and emplacement of the proposed thrust sheets. The analogy proposed between Timor and ‘normal’ convergent margins is not supported but it may be possible to draw analogies with the Molucca Sea.     

Himalayan structure and metamorphism south of the Main Mantle Thrust, Lower Swat, Pakistan

Abstract During the Eocene-Oligocene, the Indian plate collided with the Kohistan arc along the Main Mantle Thrust (MMT) zone. The structure of the Lower Swat rock sequence, on the Indian plate directly south of the MMT, is a dome with a basement of granitic gneiss and quartz-rich schist unconformably overlain by amphibolitic and calcareous schist. The earliest superposed small-scale folds (F1 & F2) represent a progressive F1/F2 deformation that is associated with a single set of WSW-vergent large-scale folds (termed F2). These folds are inferred to have developed during oblique, WSW-directed overthrusting of the MMT suture complex onto the Lower Swat rock sequence. Metamorphism began during F1/F2 as indicated by an S1 foliation that developed during biotite-grade metamorphism. S1 is preserved as a relict texture in porphyroblasts that grew during a subsequent interkinematic phase during garnet- and higher grade metamorphism. The dominant, regional foliation (S2) developed following the interkinematic phase. S2 is associated with transposition of S1 and rotation or dismemberment of porphyroblasts. Annealing recrystallization followed S2 and continued during F3 thereby destroying or masking possible pre-existing stretching fabrics. Superposed F3 folds are upright and open with N-S axial trends. They may correlate with early doming of the Lower Swat rock sequence and with strike-slip displacement in the northern part of the MMT zone, north of the Lower Swat area. F3 was followed by retrograde metamorphism and development of E-W-trending, S-vergent F4 folds. F4 may be associated with a final phase of southward directed thrusting and inactivity in the MMT zone. Correlation of published ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages with the metamorphic fabrics suggests that F1/F2 and F3 occurred in the Eocene, and that F4 developed in the Oligocene. F4 is the earliest indication of southward verging structures on this part of the Indian plate.