天山南麓库车晚新生代褶皱-冲断带

库车褶皱冲断带位于天山南麓,由近东西走向的多条构造带组成。三叠系暗色泥岩、侏罗系煤层、古近系库姆格列木组膏盐层和新近系吉迪克组膏盐层构成库车褶皱冲断带的区域性主滑脱面。褶皱冲断带底面由北向南逐渐抬高。褶皱冲断带主体发育盖层滑脱-冲断构造(薄皮构造),基底卷入型冲断构造(厚皮构造)见于北缘的根带。新生界膏盐层之上构造变形以滑脱褶皱为特色,之下以冲断构造为特色。库车褶皱冲断带是印度-亚洲碰撞远程效应下,(南)天山晚新生代造山过程的产物。褶皱冲断带构造变形的动力来源主要是造山楔向塔里木盆地推进所形成的挤压构造应力。褶皱冲断带构造变形的起始时间为约23Ma,构造变形具有阶段式加速的特点,已经识别出约23Ma、约10Ma、5~2Ma和1~0Ma共4个变形加速期。褶皱冲断带的演化过程为前展式,褶皱冲断带前锋向南推进的同时,后缘持续变形。     

中国中西部前陆冲断带构造演化及变形特征

前陆冲断带可以分为3种基本类型:弧后前陆型、周缘前陆型和再生前陆型冲断带。相对国外典型前陆冲断带,中国中西部前陆冲断带在构造演化和变形方面具有独特性,属于再生前陆型冲断带,普遍经历了两期逆冲构造变形、或者"伸展-挤压-伸展-挤压"多期构造变形的叠加。中国中西部的再生前陆冲断带多具有"分带、分段和分层"的结构特征,表现出以主干断裂为界往往可以划分为若干个冲断变形带,沿走向方向表现为几个在构造变形上具有明显差异的变形区段,在垂向上由于滑脱层的发育表现出不协调的分层收缩、上下叠置的变形特征。     

川东多套滑脱层褶皱构造带形成物理模拟

川东地区发育典型的"侏罗山式"褶皱构造带,以北东走向的齐岳山断裂为界,南东侧为隔槽式褶皱,北西侧为隔挡式褶皱.中生代川东地区经历了自南东向北西的陆内递进变形,受多套滑脱层（基底拆离面、下寒武统页岩、志留系泥页岩和三叠系膏盐）的共同控制.但是,关于川东褶皱带的形成机制及其整体和分段形成时间仍存在较大争议.应用构造物理模拟方法,再现了川东"侏罗山式"褶皱带的形成过程,并分析了先存断裂及其倾角对川东褶皱构造变形的影响.模拟结果表明,川东褶皱带是齐岳山断裂、华蓥山断裂、志留系滑脱层和基底拆离面组成的阶梯状体系在构造挤压下发生断层相关褶皱作用的结果.基底拆离面（深度约16 km）控制隔槽式褶皱的发育,志留系页岩主要控制隔挡式褶皱的形成.中生代（165~75 Ma）川东地区的构造缩短率约为32%.齐岳山断裂是隔槽式褶皱向隔挡式褶皱过渡的重要枢纽,是先存高角度断裂浅部向北西迁移后的产物.华蓥山断裂的倾角控制着隔挡式褶皱的波长,当倾角较陡时（45°）更有利于发育典型的隔挡式褶皱.      

Kinematic evolution of thrusts wedge and erratic line length balancing: insights from deformed sandbox models

Kinematic evolution of fold-thrust structures has been investigated by analogue models that include syntectonic sedimentation. Different decollement dips and basement thicknesses produced different wedge geometries and propagating characteristics. A model with one decollement level was characterized by a closely spaced thrust system during early stages of shortening as compared to the late stages. The frequency of fault nucleation was rapid during the early stages of deformation. Conversely, the frequency of fault nucleation was low and thrust spacing was significantly wider in a model with two decollement levels. Individual faults became locked at steep dips and deformation stepped forward as a new fault nucleated in-sequence in front of the older locked structure. Once the thrust system was established up to 27 % overall shortening, an overlying bed was introduced to simulate syntectonic deformation. Model sand wedge did not grow self similarly but rather its length and height increased episodically with deformation. Restoration of deformed models show that layer parallel shortening accommodated for approximately half of the total model shortening across the multilayers. Calculated error in apparent layer shortening from the restored layers revealed a direct relation with depth of the layers in the models. The experimental results are comparable to a natural example from the Northern Apennines fold-and-thrust belts.     

鄂西弧形构造变形特征及成因机制

对川东-湘鄂西断褶带内鄂西地区的弧形构造,从构造剖面特征、叠加褶皱样式和断裂性质入手进行几何学和运动学分析。结果发现鄂西弧形构造具有多期变形特征:早期普遍为北东东向的直线型褶皱,随着弧形带扩展,在东、西两翼分别发育右行和左行的逆冲-走滑断裂,同时分别形成北北东向和北西西向的弧形褶皱。晚期弧形带中部发育北北东向构造并叠加改造了早期北东东和北西西向褶皱,同时在黄陵背斜以西还发育交切早期构造的北北西向仙女山右行走滑断裂。根据弧形带扩展的几何学-运动学分类原则,并结合前人的古地磁研究结果,推测鄂西弧形构造应属于构造弯曲形成的弯曲弧。区域滑脱层和黄陵隆起阻挡可能是控制弧形样式的主要原因。区域滑脱层控制了拆离滑脱褶皱的构造样式; 黄陵基底隆起的阻挡作用使弧形带东翼进一步弯曲变形,并导致了构造应力场方向发生改变,造成了晚期北北东向与早期北东东向构造的叠加。由此恢复的鄂西弧形构造变形过程对于揭示川东-湘鄂西断褶带构造演化具有重要的指示意义。     

华南及邻区有序变形及其动力学初探

龙门山断裂带以东、江南雪峰隆起带以西的华南地区，在断裂、褶皱变形等构造形迹上存在非常规律的有序性。其构造形迹（断裂、褶皱等）大都沿NE－NNE排列，并且变形强度从SE向NW逐渐减弱。这种有序变形规模巨大，仅川东的隔挡式褶皱－冲断带规模就超过了著名的侏罗山式褶皱。这种变形的有序性是与基底存在多层次的倾向SE的拆离滑脱面密切相关的，它们起始于印支－早燕山期，定型于晚燕山－喜马拉雅期，其形成动力来自于华南板块向NW方向的运动。     

库车前陆褶皱冲断带前缘滑脱层内部变形特征

古近系库姆格列木组和新近系吉迪克组膏盐层构成了库车前陆褶皱冲断带的区域滑脱层。在褶皱冲断带前缘,膏盐层发生塑性流动,其内部形成多种构造样式。根据野外考察、地震剖面解释和钻井资料识别出的膏盐层内部构造变形样式主要包括盐枕、盐墙、盐推覆、鱼尾构造、盐焊接(断层焊接)、盐缩颈、透镜状增厚和盐垛等盐构造。盐构造在形成时间上具有一定的演化序列,库车前陆褶皱冲断带总体表现为由北向南迁移,前缘秋里塔格构造带则是从西往东迁移,盐推覆、盐焊接、盐枕等构造形成时间较早,盐墙形成较晚,东秋地区的盐构造形成时间整体较西段和中段晚,规模也较小。     

库车坳陷克拉苏构造带大北-克深区段差异变形特征及其成因分析

库车坳陷克拉苏构造带发育大量与膏盐相关的收缩构造,其深、浅构造变形不协调具有明显差异性。构造建模表明:克拉苏构造带属于库车坳陷北部强变形带,自西向东具有不同的变形样式。西部大北区段受前缘拜城断裂控制,发育断层规模小的基底卷入冲断叠瓦扇,东部克深区段则受后缘克拉苏断裂控制,发育大位移断层控制的盖层滑脱冲断叠瓦扇。克拉苏构造带基底断裂位移分布具有差异平衡的特点,基底断裂活动对膏盐层厚度及分布具有再调整作用。砂箱物理模拟结果显示,构造变形强度、膏盐层厚度及其分布差异是克拉苏构造带东、西段结构和垂向变形差异的主要控制因素。     

The impact of cover rock rheology on the style of folding in the Zagros fold-thrust belt

The present day morphology of the Zagros fold-thrust belt is dominated by magnificent exposures of NW–SE trending folds. These folds differ in their size and geometry and these differences are related mainly to the rheological profile of the cover rock. The cover rock succession of the Zagros consists of a sequence of competent and incompetent units which vary both along and across the belt. Field based study combined with the use of satellite images reveals that the thickness and facies distribution of the cover rock succession has a significant impact on the style of deformation. During the shortening linked to the current convergence of the Arabian and Iranian plates, the incompetent units act as detachment horizons which localise thrusting and which act as décollement above which detachment folds form. In addition, where these incompetent units are thick (e.g.> 1 km), they allow the deformation above and below them to become completely decoupled enabling disharmonic folding to occur. As a result the folds above and below the incompetent units in the central part of the Zagros Folded Belt, have significantly different geometries and wavelengths. As the Zagros folds host the majority of the hydrocarbon reserves in Iran and Iraq, an understanding of the processes that influence their geometry and spatial organization at different levels in the cover rock is crucial for the future exploration in the region.     

扎格罗斯褶皱冲断带构造变形特征

扎格罗斯褶皱冲断带是扎格罗斯碰撞造山带的前陆褶皱冲断带,也是波斯湾周缘前陆盆地的楔顶带,自北东到南西垂直于构造线方向可分为高扎格罗斯冲断带和扎格罗斯简单褶皱带;自北西到南东沿构造线方向可分为洛雷斯坦区(Lorestan)、迪兹富勒湾区(Dezful Embayment)和法尔斯区(Fars)。扎格罗斯褶皱冲断带的形成始于晚白垩世阿拉伯板块的洋壳向北俯冲到欧亚板块之下,褶皱冲断构造从北东部缝合带向南西方向伸展,并在上新世基本定型。本文选取了横切扎格罗斯褶皱冲断带的3条地质剖面和两条局部地震剖面进行构造变形分析。剖面分析显示研究区垂向上由一条大滑脱面将扎格罗斯褶皱冲断带剖面分为上、下两个构造层;褶皱冲断变形从北东到南西向由强变弱。研究区发育走滑、挤压和拉张3种构造变形,挤压构造变形占主导地位。挤压构造变形又包括滑脱褶皱、断展褶皱、断弯褶皱和双重构造等。     

双层滑脱构造的物理模拟：对准噶尔盆地南缘褶皱冲断带的启示

为了研究双层滑脱构造变形的主控因素,设计了3类砂箱模型,对滑脱层材料、滑脱层厚度、滑脱层黏度、上覆砂层厚度、受力边界条件等主控因素进行物理模拟试验研究。试验结果表明：不同滑脱层材料产生的变形样式不同。以微玻璃珠组成的滑脱层主要产生前展型逆冲叠瓦式断裂构造,下部滑脱层起主控滑脱作用,上部滑脱层厚度、滑脱层之上砂层厚度越大越容易形成滑脱断层;挤压方向与受力边界间的夹角较大时,上部滑脱层容易先形成滑脱断层,其推覆体前缘水平位移较快。以不同黏度硅胶组成的滑脱层产生不同的分层滑脱构造变形样式,当下部滑脱层硅胶黏度为500～1 000Pa.s时,形成分层滑脱前展型叠瓦式构造;当硅胶黏度为2 000～2 500Pa.s时,靠近挤压端先形成背冲构造,然后在上部滑脱层形成叠瓦式构造,在下部滑脱层形成对冲三角带构造、冲起背斜构造。地震和钻井资料显示,准噶尔盆地南缘西段霍尔果斯—安集海褶皱冲断带具有双层滑脱变形特征;模拟结果认为,斜向受力边界、侏罗纪煤层以及古近纪泥岩层的分层滑脱作用是控制变形过程的主要因素。     

准噶尔盆地南缘褶皱-逆冲断层带分析

讨论了与准噶尔盆地南缘褶皱-逆冲断层带有关的4个问题。(1)准噶尔盆地南缘褶皱-逆冲断层带具有纵向分带、横向分段和垂向构造分层的特征:纵向上由南至北可分为逆冲推覆构造带、基底卷入褶皱-冲断带和滑脱型褶皱-冲断带三个带;横向上,基底卷入褶皱-冲断带从西至东按横向调节带分为5个段,构造特征表现为反冲断层从不发育到向南反冲的位移逐渐增大、反冲断层所滑脱的层位亦逐渐加深;滑脱型褶皱-冲断带以红车断裂为界划分为西段和东段,西段构造运动弱,构造变形具双层结构;东段构造运动较强,发育大型冲向后陆的反向逆冲断层,构造变形多具有3层结构。(2)逆冲断层-褶皱类型按其形成机制分为基底卷入型冲断-褶皱、滑脱型冲断-褶皱以及基底卷入-滑脱混合型冲断-褶皱3大类,其中,基底卷入型冲断-褶皱的特征是褶皱作用发生在逆冲断裂之前,而滑脱型冲断-褶皱以冲断和褶皱同时或冲断层先于褶皱形成为特征。(3)本区存在横向和纵向传递带。横向调节带一般分布于基底卷入型褶皱-冲断带,主要为左旋走滑断层;纵向传递带分布于滑脱型褶皱-冲断带,以逆冲断层系斜列分布和位移纵向斜列传递为特征。(4)褶皱-冲断带形成的主控因素主要有:近南北向的水平挤压作用,上新世末—早更新世末和晚侏罗世末发生的构造变形以及古近系、下白垩统和下—中侏罗统发育的三套异常高压泥岩层相关的滑脱作用。     

Physical analog (centrifuge) model investigation of contrasting structural styles in the Salt Range and Potwar Plateau,northern Pakistan

We use scaled physical analog (centrifuge) modeling to investigate along- and across-strike structural variations in the Salt Range and Potwar Plateau of the Himalayan foreland fold-thrust belt of Pakistan. The models, composed of interlayered plasticine and silicone putty laminae, comprise four mechanical units representing the Neoproterozoic Salt Range Formation (basal detachment), Cambrian–Eocene carapace sequence, and Rawalpindi and Siwalik Groups (Neogene molasse), on a rigid base representing the Indian craton. Pre-cut ramps simulate basement faults with various structural geometries.A pre-existing north-dipping basement normal fault under the model foreland induces a frontal ramp and a prominent fault-bend-fold culmination, simulating the Salt Range. The ramp localizes displacement on a frontal thrust that occurs out-of-sequence with respect to other foreland folds and thrusts. With a frontal basement fault terminating to the east against a right-stepping, east-dipping lateral ramp, deformation propagates further south in the east; strata to the east of the lateral ramp are telescoped in ENE-trending detachment folds, fault-propagation folds and pop-up structures above a thick basal detachment (Salt Range Formation), in contrast to translated but less-deformed strata with E–W-trending Salt-Range structures to the west. The models are consistent with Salt Range–Potwar Plateau structural style contrasts being due to basement fault geometry and variation in detachment thickness.     

龙门山前缘关口断裂典型构造剖面的物理模拟实验及其变形主控因素研究

关口断裂位于龙门山褶皱-冲断带前缘,根据构造线走向和典型地震剖面构造变形样式可划分出北、中、南三段。北段走向为北东50°,构造变形模式总体为不整合面所限制的基底卷入式前展型逆冲叠瓦式构造组合;中段走向为北东30°,构造变形模式为双滑脱层所控制的分层滑脱断层垂向叠加组合;南段走向为北东30°,变形模式为二叠系内滑脱层所控制的箱状背冲式构造组合。构造变形过程主要经历了印支晚期、燕山期、喜马拉雅期三个阶段。物理模拟实验证实北段变形的主控因素为斜向挤压(NW300°)和须家河组四段底部发育的高黏度滑脱层;中段变形的主控因素为正向挤压和双滑脱层的垂向叠置;南段变形的主控因素为正向挤压和二叠系内部低黏度厚层滑脱层的均匀分布。利用剖面模拟实验结果估算出的关口断裂不同构造段不同时期挤压构造变形强度(缩短率)不同,总缩短率表现为中段最大(39.63%),南段次之(34.93%),北段最小(32.72%)。印支期缩短率与总缩短率特征相似,中段为28.79%,南段为19.88%,北段为14.68%,而燕山期缩短率却表现为北段最大(18.04%),南段次之(15.05%),中段最小(10.84%)。     

The persistence and role of basin structures on the 3D architecture of the Marañón Fold-Thrust Belt,Peru

The 3D architecture of fold-thrust belts commonly involves thin-skinned and thick-skinned deformation. Both thick- and thin-skinned deformation styles have been suggested to occur in the Marañón Fold-Thrust Belt (MFTB) in Peru, but the relative timing and strain partitioning associated with them are not well understood. We demonstrate that inherited basement structures along the Peruvian convergent margin reactivated during the evolution of the MFTB. We present results from field mapping, interpretation of remote sensing imagery, and cross section construction and restoration. The results show that the Chonta Fault, a median pre-folding basin normal fault, was inverted and acted as a mechanical buttress during initial east-vergent contraction of the fold-thrust belt. This fault separates the belt into two domains of distinctly different structural styles. During the Eocene, units to the west of the Chonta Fault deformed by folding, using the fault as a buttress, and subsequently propagated eastward by thin-skinned thrusting. This was followed in the Miocene by west-vergent, basement-involved deformation, which overprinted the earlier east-vergent, thin-skinned structures. The proposed tectonic model of the MFTB highlights the role of basement-fault reactivation during orogenesis and the involvement of deep structures in partitioning deformation styles.     

江南造山带北部早中生代岳阳—赤壁断褶带构造特征及变形机制研究

早中生代(晚印支-早燕山期)岳阳-赤壁断褶带位于江南造山带与中扬子前陆盆地交界地带.作者对该构造带进行了地表地质调查,以此为基础探讨了构造剖面结构及构造变形动力机制.岳阳-赤壁断褶带自南而北可分为岳阳-临湘基底滑脱-逆冲带,桃花泉-肖家湾盖层滑脱褶皱带,以及赤壁-嘉鱼前陆盆地断-褶-盆构造带.岳阳-临湘基底滑脱-逆冲带自南而北依次有郭镇向斜、官山背斜、临湘倒转向斜和聂市背斜,组成隔槽式褶皱组合.褶皱轴面多向南倾,褶皱变形面为南华系盖层与冷家溪群褶皱基底间的角度不整合面和顺界面的滑脱断裂面.桃花泉-肖家湾盖层滑脱褶皱带主要发育轴面南倾倒转褶皱,褶皱波长较小,卷入地层为南华系-志留系以及上石炭统-中三叠统沉积盖层.赤壁-嘉鱼前陆盆地断-褶-盆构造带以南倾蒲圻断裂(江南断裂)为南部边界,发育T3-J2前陆盆地沉积,带内褶皱与断裂卷入地层包括沉积盖层以及T3-J2地层:南部断裂与褶皱轴面南倾.北部轴面近直立.自南西至北东,研究区内构造线走向由EW向渐变为NEE-NE向.上述构造分带及变形特征反映出自南向北的运动指向,表明岳阳-赤壁断褶带具前陆冲断带构造性质.从断裂相关褶皱理论出发,以地表构造特征为依据,厘定了岳阳-赤壁地质剖面结构并进行了变形动力机制分析,认识如下:①自南而北、自下而上的多个滑脱层及其间的南倾逆断裂或断坡(主要为江南断裂)组成近似台阶状的逆冲断裂系统,从总体上控制了构造块体的滑移、逆冲以及相应的构造格架或变形分区.②郭镇向斜为基底滑脱褶皱,官山背斜具滑脱褶皱和断裂传播褶皱双重成因,聂市背斜为断裂转折褶皱;临湘向斜为受两侧背斜控制的被动向斜,由于弯滑褶皱作用在其两翼沿不整合界面形成滑脱断裂.③岳阳-临湘基底滑脱-逆冲带隔槽式褶皱的形成主要受控于褶皱基底的滑脱和基底整体的水平压缩,其形成机制类似于肿缩式褶皱.最后讨论认为湘东北-鄂东南地区不存在大规模、长距离的逆冲推覆构造.     

塔里木盆地北缘库车前陆褶皱──冲断构造分析

库车前陆褶皱－冲断带是以断坪－断坡式的台阶状逆断层作为滑动机制的盖层薄皮推覆构造，它们在剖面上形成一个向南变薄尖灭的推覆构造楔，底部沿脱面在北侧深南侧浅，推覆变形也是自北向南传递。依据其构造形态和变形特点可分为五个构造亚带：（1）南天山前缘楔状构造带；（2）库姆格列木－依奇克里克断层扩展褶皱构造带：（3）吐格尔明－吉迪克断层弯曲褶皱构造带：（4）秋里塔格断层扩展褶皱与断层弯曲褶皱叠加构造带；（5）库车－亚肯生长断层弯曲褶皱构造带。     

Structural style of the Malargüe fold-and-thrust belt at the Diamante River area (34°30′–34°50′S) and its linkage with the Cordillera Frontal,Andes of central Argentina

The Malargüe fold-and-thrust belt is a thick-skinned belt developed in Miocene-Pliocene times during the Andean orogeny, which together with the Cordillera Frontal constitutes the Andes of central Argentina in the Diamante River area. Detailed field mapping and construction of three regional balanced cross-sections, supported by seismic and well information, constrains the structural style of this Andean region as two basement uplifts in the western and eastern sectors surrounding a central region of thin-skinned deformation. In the west, large basement wedges related to thrust faults developed during Andean compression propagated along favourable horizons (commonly gypsum) into the sedimentary cover. These wedges transferred shortening to the cover rocks producing the thin-skinned structures. There is therefore a close spatial and temporal relationship between basement and cover deformation. In the thin-skinned region, the abundance of shales and salt horizons in the west facilitated the formation of fault-related folds while the more competent units in the east were deformed into duplex and imbricated thrusts. The basement uplift in the eastern sector represents the southern end of the Cordillera Frontal, where the Carrizalito fault placed pre-Jurassic rocks over tertiary synorogenic sediments in the northern area while in the southern region it remained as a blind thrust. A common feature is the development of backthrust systems related to the major east-vergent basement structures. The backthrusts therefore serve to locate basement uplifts where outcrops are absent. Three-dimensional integration of the cross-sections and a structural map at the top of the pre-Jurassic basement show that although the main structures change considerably along strike, the total shortening of each section shows little variation.     

Basin infilling in the southern-central part of the Sergipano Belt (NE Brazil) and implications for the evolution of Pan-African/Brasiliano cratons and Neoproterozoic sedimentary cover

The Neoproterozoic sedimentary cover deposited across the interface of several Pan-African/Brasiliano fold-thrust belts with their respective cratons is strongly similar and has been widely correlated throughout Gondwana. In particular, the upper part of the cratonic cover of the São Francisco Craton has been interpreted as a ring of foreland basin sediments. However, detailed studies carried out around the southern-central part of the Sergipano Belt (NE Brazil) and its interface with the northern margin of the São Francisco Craton demonstrate that: (1) sedimentation records the evolution of a passive continental margin and is divided into two cycles (I and II), each one comprising a basal siliciclastic megasequence overlain by a carbonate megasequence; (2) the cratonic cover comprises cycle I and part of the basal megasequence of cycle II; (3) all of these rocks spread continuously across the craton margin into the Sergipano Belt, where they occur around basement domes and are overlain by a metadiamictite formation and a metacarbonate formation that complete cycle II; and (4) basement and cover underwent the same Brasiliano (670–600 Ma) compressive deformation under sub-greenschist metamorphic conditions. These data deny the foreland basin model for the cratonic sediments to the south of the Sergipano Belt and, coupled with recent data on the evolution of other margins of the craton, indicate that the Neoproterozoic sedimentary cover derives from highs existing close to the centre of the ancient São Francisco Plate. This sedimentary cover was also influenced by highs of an Andean-type margin that evolved ca 900–640 Ma along the western side of the plate. Such evolution also applies to the Neoproterozoic cover of other cratons of the Pan-African/Brasiliano orogeny.     

Modelling cover deformation and decoupling during inversion,using the Mid-Polish Trough as a case study

Seismic sections across the NW part of the Polish Basin show that thrust faults developed in the sedimentary units above the Zechstein evaporite layer during basin inversion. These cover thrust faults have formed above the basement footwall. Based on the evolution of the basin, a series of scaled analogue models was carried out to study interaction between a basement fault and cover sediments during basin extension and inversion. During model extension, a set of normal faults originated in the sand cover above the basement fault area. The distribution and geometry of these faults were dependent on the thickness of a ductile layer and pre-extension sand layer, synkinematic deposition, the amount of model extension, as well as on the presence of a ductile layer between the cover and basement. Footwall cover was faulted away from the basement only in cases where a large amount of model extension and hanging-wall subsidence were not balanced by synkinematic deposition. Model inversion reactivated major cover faults located above the basement fault tip as reverse faults, whereas other extensional faults were either rotated or activated only in their upper segments, evolving into sub-horizontal thrusts. New normal or reverse faults originated in the footwall cover in models which contained a very thin pre-extension sand layer above the ductile layer. This was also the case in the highly extended and shortened model in which synkinematic hanging-wall subsidence was not balanced by sand deposition during model extension. Model results show that inversion along the basement fault results in shortening of the cover units and formation of thrust faults. This scenario happens only when the cover units are decoupled from the basement by a ductile layer. Given this, we argue that the thrusts in the sedimentary infill of the Polish Basin, which are decoupled from the basement tectonics by Zechstein evaporites, developed due to the inversion of the basement faults during the Late Cretaceous-Early Tertiary.