Quantitative finite strain and kinematic flow analyses along the Zagros transpression zone, Iran

The Ghouri area in southwest Iran exposes a cross section through the Zagros orogenic belt. The area provides an opportunity to investigate quantitative finite strain (Rs), kinematic vorticity number (W_k), proportions of pure shear and simple shear components, sense of shear indicators, steeply plunging lineations, and other moderate to steeply plunging stretching lineations in a transpressional zone. Based on a classical strain analysis of deformed microfossils with oblate strain ellipsoid shape, the Zagros orogenic belt is classified as a pure-shear dominated zone of transpression, but asymmetry of shear-sense indicators suggests that a significant component of simple shear was involved along the deformation zone boundaries. The long axes of the microfossils and stretched pebbles of a deformed conglomerate were used to indicate the stretching direction in this zone. The stretching lineations have a steep to moderate plunge but a constant strain magnitude. Characteristics of dextral inclined transpressional kinematics in the Zagros continental collision zone were quantified and indicate an estimated k-value < 1, an angle between the maximum horizontal axis of the instantaneous strain ellipsoid and the zone boundary (θ = 32°), asymmetrical dextral shear-sense indicators, and an angle of relative plate motion (α = 25°).     

Testing the model of oblique transpression with oblique extrusion in two natural cases: Steps and consequences

Kinematic models of various types of transpression have been used to explain fabric features and strain in many natural deformation studies. Here, a mathematical model that encompasses all monoclinic and triclinic transpressional deformations including triclinic deformation with inclined simple shear (ϕ) and/or inclined extrusion orientations (υ) can be tested using a step-by-step approach with available field evidence. Two cases are presented. The first case from the Wabigoon–Quetico boundary in the Archean Superior Province utilizes both fabric orientation and quantified strain data. The best fit of the field evidence to the model indicates that deformation likely took place along subvertical shear zones via transpression with subhorizontal simple shear (ϕ = 0–20°) and variable inclined extrusion direction (extrusion can be either east or west and υ typically indicates extrusion orientations between 0 and 50° from vertical). The second case of the South Iberian shear zone has fabric orientation data, but no quantifiable strain possibilities. The best fit of the field evidence to the model indicates that deformation likely took place along a moderately inclined shear zone via transpression with subhorizontal simple shear (ϕ = 0–20°) and variable inclined extrusion direction (υ values between 0° and 80° from the true dip of the shear zone). Using this protocol in other examples of natural deformation will allow further constraints to be applied to kinematic models.     

Structural evidence for superposition of transtension on transpression in the Zagros collision zone: Main Recent Fault,Piranshahr area,NW Iran

The Main Recent Fault of the Zagros Orogen is an active major dextral strike-slip fault along the Zagros collision zone, generated by oblique continent–continent collision of the Arabian plate with Iranian micro-continent. Two different fault styles are observed along the Piranshahr fault segment of the Main Recent Fault in NW Iran. The first style is a SW-dipping oblique reverse fault with dextral strike-slip displacement and the second style consists of cross-cutting NE-dipping, oblique normal fault dipping to the NE with the same dextral strike-slip displacement. A fault propagation anticline is generated SW of the oblique reverse fault. An active pull-apart basin has been produced to the NE of the Piranshahr oblique normal fault and is associated with other sub-parallel NE-dipping normal faults cutting the reverse oblique fault. Another cross-cutting set of NE–SW trending normal faults are also exist in the pull-apart area. We conclude that the NE verging major dextral oblique reverse fault initiated as a SW verging thrust system due to dextral transpression tectonic of the Zagros collision zone and later it has been overprinted by the NE-dipping oblique normal fault producing dextral strike-slip displacement reflecting progressive change of transpression into transtension in the collision zone. The active Piranshahr pull-apart basin has been generated due to a releasing damage zone along the NW segment of the Main Recent Fault in this area at an overlap of Piranshahr oblique normal fault segment of the Main Recent Fault and the Serow fault, the continuation of the Main Recent Fault to the N.     

Transpression,extrusion, partitioning,and lateral escape in the middle crust: Significance of structures,fabrics, and kinematics in the Bronson Hill zone,southern New England,U.S.A.

Fabrics in the mid-crustal Bronson Hill zone of the southern New England Appalachian orogen record a range of apparent finite strains and conflicting kinematics, but structural relationships indicate coeval development. At the smallest scale of this study, shortening was accommodated in granitic orthogneiss, while transcurrent deformation was partitioned into relatively thin zones of metastratified rocks along the margins. The Monson orthogneiss can be broadly characterized by subvertical to steeply dipping S > L tectonites, subvertical to subhorizontal stretching lineations, closed to isoclinal folds, and dextral/reverse kinematics. The east-bounding Conant Brook shear zone and Greenwich syncline are characterized by steeply dipping mylonitic foliations, a range of lineations, and dextral/reverse kinematic indicators. The west-bounding Mt. Dumplin high strain zone is comprised of steeply dipping mylonites, subhorizontal lineations, and sinistral/normal kinematics. These structures reflect coeval partitioned dextral transpression, vertical extrusion, and north-directed lateral escape of the orthogneiss that was facilitated by bounding conjugate shear zones. Comparison of structural subdomains with transpressional modeling indicates vertical pseudo-monoclinic to inclined triclinic coaxial to simple shear influenced transpression. Compatibility between laterally adjacent subdomains was maintained by meso-/microscale partitioning. Absolute and relative timing constraints show that transpression was sustained from 330 Ma to 300 Ma.     

Intracontinental thrusts and inclined transpression along eastern margin of the East Dharwar craton, India

Recent works suggest Proterozoic plate convergence along the southeastern margin of India which led to amalgamation of the high grade Eastern Ghats belt (EGB) and adjoining fold-and-thrust belts to the East Dhrawar craton. Two major thrusts namely the Vellikonda thrust at the western margin of the Nellore Schist belt (NSB) and the Maidukuru thrust at the western margin of the Nallamalai fold belt (NFB) accommodate significant upper crustal shortening, which is indicated by juxtaposition of geological terranes with distinct tectonostratigraphy, varying deformation intensity, structural styles and metamorphic grade. Kinematic analysis of structures and fabric of the fault zone rocks in these intracontinental thrust zones and the hanging wall and footwall rocks suggest spatially heterogeneous partitioning of strain into various combinations of E-W shortening, top-to-west shear on stratum parallel subhorizontal detachments or on easterly dipping thrusts, and a strike slip component. Although relatively less prominent than the other two components of the strain triangle, non-orthogonal slickenfibres associated with flexural slip folds and mylonitic foliation-stretching lineation orientation geometry within the arcuate NSB and NFB indicate left lateral strike slip subparallel to the overall N-S trend. On the whole an inclined transpression is inferred to have controlled the spatially heterogeneous development of thrust related fabric in the terrane between the Eastern Ghats belt south of the Godavari graben and the East Dharwar craton.     

Restoration of transpression/transtension by generating the three-dimensional segmented helical loci of deformed lines across structure contour maps

In transpression/transtension zones the strain is three-dimensional and rotational. This causes material to move through the plane of cross-section, often invalidating balancing and restoration within this plane. Methods are presented which allow the three-dimensional segmented, irregular, helical locus of an originally straight line to be constructed, in any direction, on a structure contour map of a folded and faulted surface. This construction depends on a knowledge of the kinematics of folding and faulting and can be modified to suit local conditions. The ratio of the length of the cylindrical envelope bounding this helical locus, to the sum of the lengths of the helical fragments between faults, gives the true stretch in the direction of the envelope. When the traces of the segmented helices are constructed in different directions on a deformed surface, the sectional finite-strain ellipse can be found for that surface. Knowledge of the dimensions of this ellipse and its orientation with respect to the kinematic axes of the transpression zone allows the tensor components to be constrained. This permits the three-dimensional boundary conditions to be determined and thus restored.The methods are applied to the Ardross Fault zone in central Scotland. The solutions suggest this fault zone underwent a phase of dextral transpression along a NW zone boundary during Hercynian E-W compression in the Scottish Midland Valley. Contemporaneous E-W dyke swarms and N-S regional flexures support these kinematics.     

Evidences of inclined transpression at the contact between Vinjamuru group and Udayagiri group of Nellore Schist Belt,Andhra Pradesh,India

The Nellore Schist Belt (NSB) is a curvilinear Archaean schist belt, approximately 350 km long and 8–50 km wide. The Nellore Schist Belt is considered to be Neoarchean in age and stratigraphically NSB is classified as the western Udayagiri group (dominated by metasediments) and underlying eastern Vinjamuru group (dominated by metabasalts). There is a long controversy regarding the contact relationship between Udayagiri and Vinjamuru groups. Earlier researchers regarded the contact between two groups as tectonic on the basis of metamorphism. A shear zone and a possible thrust contact between the two groups have also been reported. On the basis of present study, an NNW–SSE trending, westerly dipping inclined transpressional zone is found at the contact between Udayagiri and Vinjamuru groups in the central western part of the NSB. Kinematic analysis of both the hanging wall and foot wall of the westerly dipping thrust zone shows presence of strong S1 schistosity, shear bands and S-C fabric in both strike and dip section along with east-verging overturned fold, westerly dipping inverted beds, suggesting partitioning of non-coaxial deformation in strike-slip and dip-slip component along with a pure shear component. Strike-slip is more prominent in the northern part of the contact than the southern part. The presence of steep to moderate northerly plunging non-orthogonal stretching/mineral elongation lineation all along the contact and clockwise shift of plot of the same in stereo net from its orthogonal position and presence of other kinematic indicators in plan suggests a right lateral strike-slip component. As a whole, it is suggested that Udayagiri group is thrusted over Vinjamuru group along a westerly dipping thrust plane with a right lateral strike-slip motion and simultaneous E–W contraction.     

Sustainable transpression: An examination of strain and kinematics in deforming zones with migrating boundaries

Most orogenic belts owe their development to oblique convergence and commonly have many orogen-parallel transpressional high-strain zones. To constrain the tectonic history of orogenic belts by structural and fabric analysis of rocks, it is desirable to understand quantitatively the relationship between the boundary conditions and the resulting strain distribution and kinematics in these zones. Most current models for transpression assume homogeneous deformation confined by boundaries that are fixed to material planes. This creates a strain compatibility problem at the margins of the active deforming zone and also requires that the strain rate normal to the zone boundaries increase to implausibly high values soon after the onset of oblique convergence (transpressional motion). The latter contradicts with the observation that transpressional motion can be sustained throughout an orogeny. The assumption that zone boundaries are fixed to material planes is unrealistic. The outstanding problems of current transpressional models are resolved in this paper by allowing the zone boundaries to migrate through the rock material. The consequence of zone boundary migration for the strain field and kinematics within a transpressional high-strain zone is investigated mathematically. The implications of the modeling for fabric interpretation are discussed. The modeling makes general predictions consistent with observed planar and linear fabric patterns in natural transpressional high-strain zones. It predicts that foliations in transpressional high-strain zones are subparallel to the zone boundaries regardless of variation in the imposed boundary conditions. Lineations cluster along the great circle girdle subparallel to the average foliation. The spread of the lineations may vary from point maxima to complete girdles.     

Wedge-Shaped Pop-Up Structure in the Eslami Peninsula, Lake Urmia, Northwestern Iran

Ancient subduction zones are characterized by metamorphic and orogenic belts. The Zagros Orogenic Belt comprises almost all sections of an ancient subduction zone along which Neo-Tethyan oceanic crust was subducted beneath central Iran. The Eslami Peninsula, as a part of the Zagros Orogenic Belt in Azerbaijan province, northwestern Iran, is situated between the Lake Urmia fore-arc basin and the Sahand Magmatic Arc. This region contains Eocene leucite dikes, trachyte, tephrite, phenolite, basanite and syenite. Volcanic features related to the Sahand are located in the eastern part of the Eslami Peninsula. In view of its relative age and composition, the Eslami Peninsula proposed as an outer arc of the Sahand Magmatic Arc that formed within the post-collisional setting of the central Iranian and Arabian plates. After subduction and contact of the two plates, a symmetric pop-up structure has been created by thrusting in the Zagros belt as a result of the collision processes. The injesction of dikes in the Eslami Peninsula is also a result of the continent_continent collision.     

北祁连南缘右行韧性走滑剪切带的同位素年代学及其地质意义

北祁连南缘右行韧性走滑剪切带位于祁连地块与北祁连俯冲碰撞杂岩带边界 ,长约 80 0km ,走向NWW SEE ,面理向北陡倾 ,中西部宽 5～ 6km ,东部由四条呈帚状撒开的强应变带组成。构造指向及向南东低角度倾伏的拉伸线理揭示出韧性剪切带的右行走滑和转换挤压性质。TIMS法测定的单颗粒锆石U Pb上交点年龄为 96 5～ 95 6Ma ,代表韧性剪切带原岩———基底变质岩的变质时代。糜棱岩中钾长石、黑云母单矿物40 Ar/ 3 9Ar同位素测年结果及与地层和岩浆活动的关系表明韧性剪切带形成于 4 4 0～ 380Ma。北祁连南缘右行韧性走滑剪切带是在祁连加里东造山带形成过程中 ,祁连地块与阿拉善地块间斜向碰撞诱发大规模转换挤压作用的产物。     

Systematic changes in orientation of linear mylonitic fabrics: An example of strain partitioning during transpressional deformation in north Golpaygan,Sanandaj–Sirjan zone,Iran

Kilometer-scale, shallowly dipping, NW-striking top-to-the NE reverse and dextral strike-slip shear zones occur in metamorphic rocks of north Golpaygan. These metamorphic rocks are exposed at the NE margin of the central part of the Sanandaj–Sirjan zone in the hinterland of the Zagros orogen. NW-striking top-to-the NE normal shear zones were also found in a small part of the study area. Structural evidence of three deformation stages were found. Pre-mylonitization metamorphic mineral growth happened during D₁. The main mylonitization event was during the D₂ deformational event, following coaxial refolding, synchronous to retrograde metamorphism of amphibolite to greenschist facies in the Late Cretaceous–Paleocene, and before D₃ folding and related mylonitization. We documented the systematic changes in the orientations of D₂ linear fabrics especially stretching lineations and superimposition relations of structures. It is concluded that the dextral strike-slip and dip-slip shear zones were coeval kinematic domains of partitioned dextral transpression. The shallowly dipping reverse and strike-slip shear zones are compatible with partitioning in a very inclined transpressional model. Fabric relations reflect that the top-to-the NE normal shear zones were not produced during deformation partitioning of inclined dextral transpression. The Late Cretaceous–Paleocene strain partitioning was followed by later N–S shortening and NE-extension in the north Golpaygan area.     

An investigation into the fault patterns in the Chadegan region, west Iran: Evidence for dextral brittle transpressional tectonics in the Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone

The NW-SE trending Sanandaj-Sirjan Zone (SSZ) is the internal part of the Zagros continental collision zone, which mainly consists of metamorphic rocks deformed in a dextral transpressional zone. This dextral transpression is attributed to brittle deformation related to late Cenozoic Arabia-Eurasia oblique continental collision. Major NW-trending faults, including the Dalan, Garmdareh, Yasechah, Sheida, and Ben faults, are reverse faults with a dextral strike-slip component. These faults were displaced by NW-trending synthetic and NE-trending antithetic faults. There are also E-trending thrusts and N-trending normal faults developing in directions that are, respectively, almost normal and parallel to the major shortening direction. The NW-trending Ben, Yasechah, and Sheida faults are NE-dipping faults, and the Dalan and Garmdareh faults are SW-dipping faults. These faults indicate the presence of a transpressive flower structure zone that probably led to the exhumation of Jurassic high-grade metamorphic rocks, such as eclogite, in the central part of the study area.     

Cretaceous deformation history of the middle Tan-Lu fault zone in Shandong Province, eastern China

Based on field analysis of fault-slip data from different rock units of the Cretaceous basins along the middle part of the Tan-Lu fault zone (Shandong Province, eastern China), we document polyphase tectonic stress fields and address the changes in sense of motion of the Tan-Lu fault zone during the Cretaceous. The Cretaceous deformation history of the Tan-Lu fault zone can be divided into four main stages. The first stage, during the earliest Cretaceous, was dominated by N-S extension responsible for the formation of the Jiaolai basin. We interpret this extension to be related to dextral strike-slip pull-apart opening guided by the Tan-Lu fault zone. The second stage, during the middle Early Cretaceous, was overwhelmingly rift-dominated and characterized by widespread silicic to intermediate volcanism, normal faulting and basin subsidence. It was at this stage that the Tan-Lu-parallel Yi-Shu Rift was initiated by E-W to WNW-ESE extension. The tectonic regime then changed during the late Early Cretaceous to NW-SE-oriented transpression, causing inversion of the Early Cretaceous rift basin and sinistral slip along the Tan-Lu fault zone. During the Late Cretaceous, dextral activation of the Tan-Lu fault zone resulted in pull-apart opening of the Zhucheng basin, which was subsequently deformed by NE-SW compression. This deformation chronology of the Tan-Lu fault zone and the associated Cretaceous basins allow us to constrain the regional kinematic models as related to subduction along the eastern margin of Asia, or related to collision in the Tibet region.     

Stretching lineation and transport direction in the Ibero-Armorican arc during the siluro-devonian collision

Abstract

Large structures, lineations, foliations and sense of shear criteria are examined on the scale of the whole Ibero-Armorican Arc. Four sections (Galicia, Brittany-Vendée, Limousin and Eastern Massif Central) exemplify the major thrust sheets observed around the Arc. Stretching lineations are contemporaneous with the siluro-devonian metamorphism and are either transverse, oblique or parallel to the collision zone. A kinematic analysis shows that these lineations have resulted from a dominanüy transverse shear deformation which was followed by, or combined with, a longitudinal shear direction. On the scale of the entire Arc, this variation in the shear direction is interpreted as resulting from an early head on thrusting relative movement evolving to large scale movements parallel to the plate boundaries. Experiments with sand-silicone models support a model which generates the Arc by interaction between a transform sinistral direction, and a converning zone at a high angle to the transform direction.     

大别造山带南界襄樊—广济断裂带的演化规律与构造意义

自中三叠世扬子与华北板块发生碰撞—深俯冲作用以来,大别造山带南界上的襄樊—广济断裂带主要经历过两次变形事件: 1)早期变形事件发生在中三叠世末—晚三叠世初的造山带折返阶段,表现为造山带南边界上的韧性剪切带。这期北西—南东走向的剪切带向南西陡倾,发育北西—南东向的矿物拉伸线理,主要为右行走滑的运动性质,属于造山带斜向折返的侧边界走滑剪切带。造山带折返过程中将前陆褶断带北缘原先东西向褶皱改造为北西—南东走向。2)晚期变形事件发生在晚侏罗世,表现为脆性逆冲断层,使得前陆褶断带向北东逆冲在造山带南缘之上,同时在前陆上形成了一系列的逆冲断层。该断裂带的晚期逆冲活动与郯庐断裂带左行平移同时发生,代表了滨太平洋构造活动的开始。     

Structural and Chronological Evidence for the India-Eurasia Collision of the Early Paleocene in the Eastern Himalayan Syntaxis, Namjagbarwa

The eastern Himalayan syntaxis in Namjagbarwa is a high-grade metamorphic terrain formed by the India-Eurasia collision and northward indentation of the Indian continent into Asia. Right- and left-lateral slip zones were formed by the indentation on the eastern and western boundaries of the syntaxis respectively. The Dongjug-Mainling fault zone is the main shear zone on the western boundary. This fault zone is a left-lateral slip belt with a large component of thrusting. The kinematics of the fault is consistent with the shortening within the syntaxis, and the slipping history along it represents the indenting process of the syntaxis. The Ar-Ar chronological study shows that the age of the early deformation in the Dongjug-Mainling fault zone ranges from 62 to 59 Ma. This evidences that the India-Eurasia collision occurred in the early Paleocene in the eastern Himalayan syntaxis.     

滇西澜沧江构造带及邻区几何学、运动学和构造年代学分析

滇西澜沧江构造带自北向南沿碧螺雪山和崇山连续延伸; 按照构造几何学特点和运动学特征我们把该构造带分为3段：北段、中段和南段; 本文对各段的构造、组构、运动学及构造年代学进行了翔实研究,得到以下认识：构造带呈双变质岩带,核部为强变形高级变质岩带,两侧为强变形低级变质岩带,部分剖面几何形态似“花状”构造; 宏观和微观组构特征均指示构造带北段和中?南段存在明显的运动学差异,北段为右旋走滑剪切,中、南段为左旋走滑剪切; 同构造浅色花岗质糜棱岩中分选出白云母(北段)和黑云母(中段),进行单颗粒矿物的激光熔化40Ar?39Ar定年,结果显示,糜棱岩化造成了花岗质岩石同位素时钟的重置和部分重置; 表面年龄指示了该构造带中新世的构造变形事件; 其中,北段右旋韧性剪切作用年龄为17.8～13.4 Ma或更早,至少持续到13.4 Ma,构造带中段记录了17.9～13.1 Ma的左行韧性剪切事件; 构造变形时代表现出同时代和同期次特点。综合分析认为,位于印度与欧亚大陆斜向汇聚带东缘的澜沧江构造带,是调节印支块体陆内变形的重要变形区域,为典型的新生代剪压应变区; 与区内哀牢山-红河构造带新生代左旋走滑相对应; 剪压应变和应变分解过程中,构造带东-西向减薄作用通过韧性物质垂向挤出和沿剪切方向的挤出平衡,垂向挤出导致地壳增厚和高应变体的抬升,形成现今的地貌高位,统一的陡立面理和亚水平拉伸线理是韧性物质沿剪切方向挤出的流变学响应; 构造带南段和北段运动学差异是澜沧江构造带新生代左旋剪压应变分解的必然产物和运动学要求。     

Archean regional transpression and paleomagnetism in northwestern Ontario, Canada

The Archean metamorphic rocks of the Superior province of the Canadian Shield occur in lithologically defined belts or subprovinces. The tectonically more stable interiors of belts possess consistent primary components of magnetic remanence. In the case of the Quetico belt, these stable directions are tightly grouped about 005°/55° with some minor dispersion and most were acquired during the cooling that followed syntectonic recrystallisation.

This study examines the directions of primary remanence components for rocks along the margins of the Quetico belt, within 4 km of the strongly deformed vertical, ENE-trending boundaries. The boundaries are known to have experienced dextral transpression involving penetrative single-phase deformation which out-lasted metamorphism. Within a few kilometres of the belt boundaries, the primary remanence components are re-distributed along a vertical ENE-trending, great-circle girdle which is nearly parallel to the plane of transpressive shear and regional schistosity. It is suggested that the effects of transpression have mechanically deflected the components of primary remanence toward this plane.     

甘肃华家岭-葫芦河一带韧性剪切带的发现及其地质意义

华家岭—葫芦河韧性剪切带呈NWW走向，属北祁连造山带与中祁连地块分界断裂，通过对其几何学、运动学、动力学等分析研究，认为峰期变形系加里东末期南北两大板块汇聚碰撞，拼合于华北板块南缘的软质陆壳(北祁连)向南侧刚性的中祁连地块斜向逆冲叠覆，从而产生自NEE向SWW兼右行走滑的逆冲式韧性剪切活动。     

Progressive deformation of a zone of magma transfer in a transpressional regime: The Variscan Mérens shear zone (Pyrenees, France)

The EW-striking Variscan Mérens shear zone (MSZ), located on the southern border of the Aston dome (Pyrenees), corresponds to variously mylonitized gneisses and plutonic rocks that are studied using the Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) technique. The plutonic rocks form EW-striking bands with, from south to north, gabbro-diorites, quartz diorites and granodiorites. The MSZ underwent a mylonitic deformation with an intensity progressively increasing from the mafic to the more differentiated rocks. The foliations are EW to NW–SE striking and subvertical. A first set of lineations shows a moderate WNW plunge, with a dextral reverse kinematics. More recent subvertical lineations correspond to an uplift of the northern compartment. To the east, the MSZ was cut by a N120°E-striking late shear band, separating the MSZ from the Quérigut pluton. The different stages of mylonitization relate to Late Variscan dextral transpression. This regime allowed the ascent of magmas along tension gashes in the middle crust. We interpret the MSZ as a zone of magma transfer, which fed a pluton now eroded that was similar to the Quérigut and Millas plutons located to the east. We propose a model of emplacement of these plutons by successive pulses of magmas along en-échelon transfer zones similar to the MSZ.