低级变质沉积岩区压溶作用在褶皱变形中的意义

拉卡兰褶皱带中,发育于Ballarat-Bandigo冲断带中的低级变质砂、泥岩的宏观构造以间离劈理和人字形褶皱为特征,而且劈理在褶皱中呈扇形发育。劈理和褶皱的几何关系分析显示:劈理和褶皱的形成为压溶作用、压扁作用、弯曲作用和被动旋转共同作用的结果,而褶皱砂、泥岩中变形构造则以与压溶作用和再沉淀过程有关的显微构造为其典型特征。Fry法进行的全岩应变测量显示,褶皱砂岩的内部应变相当低(X/Z=1.40—1.83),褶皱应变格局给出变形机制的信息包括:缩短过程中的压扁作用和压溶作用、褶皱过程中由弯滑导致的层平行剪应变、以及褶皱后期发育阶段内弧区强烈的压溶作用。宏观构造、显散构造以及应变特征多方面信息证明:低级变质的沉积岩在褶皱变形过程中,压溶作用为一重要的变形机制。应变分解显示在30％—50％的总地壳水平缩短量下,弯曲导致的缩短最为14％—36％,压扁导致的缩短量为3％—14％,压溶导致的缩短量为8％—26％,而且压溶作用主要发生在褶皱内弧区。     

Distinguishing syn-cleavage folds from pre-cleavage folds to which cleavage is virtually axial planar: examples from the Cambrian core of the Lower Palaeozoic Anglo-Brabant Deformation Belt (Belgium)

Within the Cambrian Jodoigne Formation in the easternmost part of the Anglo-Brabant Deformation Belt, sub-horizontal to gently plunging folds occur within the limbs of steeply plunging folds. The latter folds are cogenetic with cleavage and are attributed to the Brabantian deformation event. In contrast, although cleavage is also (1) virtually axial planar to the sub-horizontal to gently plunging higher-order folds, shows (2) a well-developed divergent fanning across these folds, (3) an opposing sense of cleavage refraction on opposite fold limbs, and (4) only very small cleavage transection angles, an analysis of the cleavage/bedding intersection lineation suggests that these higher-order folds have a pre-cleavage origin. On the basis of a comparison of structural and sedimentological features these higher-order folds are interpreted as slump folds. The seemingly ‘normal’ cleavage/fold relationship across the slump folds within the limbs of the large steeply plunging folds is due to the very small angle between cleavage and bedding.As such, a ‘normal’ cleavage/fold relationship is no guarantee for a syn-cleavage fold origin. It is not unlikely that also within undeformed, recumbent slump folds, a well-developed compaction fabric, formed parallel to the axial surface of the slump folds, may show fanning and contrasting senses of cleavage refraction on opposite fold limbs.     

Strain patterns and shortening in a folded thrust sheet: An example from the southern appalachians

Total strain patterns estimated across the Pulaski thrust sheet of the southwest Virginia Appalachians show an approximately homogeneous, plane strain deformation associated with folding and distortion above a subsurface décollement. Estimated strains are low (1.2 < < 2.0) with a subvertical extension. Chlorite fibers in pressure fringes on framboidal pyrite indicate that non-rotational deformation produced weak cleavage and pencil structure in mudrock. Variations in shape of pencils and fiber lengths in pressure fringes define highest strains in fold hinges and adjacent to contraction faults. Fabric transitions, delineated by distribution and intensity of cleavage, pencil structure and bedding fissility across the thrust sheet are strain dependent. Balanced cross-sections suggest 35% horizontal shortening due to regional folding and faulting within the Pulaski sheet. Strain integration techniques give 17–35% horizontal shortening associated with cleavage formation. Removal of this strain indicates that cleavage was superposed on open to tight, class-3 folds. Pre-existing thickness variations and anomalous low strains in tight folds require early folding accomodated by intergranular deformation (perhaps controlled grainboundary sliding). Suppression of cleavage formation and penetrative strain was possibly due to higher pore fluid pressure in the early stages of thrust sheet deformation. Observed variations in bedding-cleavage angle and low cleavage fans are compatible with this deformation sequence.     

Non-axial planar cleavage and Caledonian sinistral transpression in eastern Ireland

Transected F₁ fold structures in eastern Ireland are associated with subhorizontal stretching in the S₁, cleavage whereas axial planar cleavage contains a vertical elongation direction. This suggests that the non-axial planar cleavage was influenced by a distributed strike-slip ductile shear. A major NE-SW trending F₁ syncline is described in which the minor F₁ folds show systematic variations in cleavage transection parameters. On the steep limb of the major syncline the cleavage transects the minor F₁ folds in a consistently clockwise sense, whereas on the normal limb anticlockwise transected folds are seen. Axial planar cleavage occurs at the core of the major syncline. Fold profile analysis indicates that the buckling of the layers began before the initiation of the cleavage. Open, parallel folds at the major synclinal hinge zone are progressively ‘flattened’ on the steep limb towards a major D₁ sinistral transcurrent fault. The angular transection, A, attains a maximum of 15° clockwise which diminishes to <5° at higher strains adjacent to the major fault. Incremental fibre growth in pressure shadows show a two-stage tectonic strain superposition of vertical pure shear followed by sinistral transcurrent simple shear during the development of the clockwise transecting cleavage. Anticlockwise transected folds were influenced by local dextral strike-slip on the southern margins of a rigid terrane. As a regional feature, the clockwise transection is explained by a sinistral transpressive deformation of end-Silurian age.     

On the production of two inclined cleavages during a single folding event; Stirling Range, S.W. Australia

In any one area of the Stirling Range Proterozoic low-grade fold-foreland, the first phase of folding to be associated with cleavage development has generated two inclined tectonic fabrics each of which is closely related in geometry to the folds. The most likely fold history has been determined by comparing predictions of theoretical fold mechanisms against the observed field relations and strain states seen in an arenite and minor mudrock multilayer. In an initial phase of folding dominated by layer-parallel shortening, a well-spaced mica-band cleavage was, initiated, intensified, and able to maintain a near axial plane relationship, until body rotation of limbs took over at a fold dihedral angle of about 140°. The resultant 70° angle between solution cleavage and bedding on the fold limbs was preserved by flexural slip until the fold had tightened to about 100° when, for mechanical reasons, flattening rapidly became important. During this phase, a mica-film cleavage, with grainscale spacing, developed approximately axial planar and the solution cleavage/bedding angle on the limbs was reduced to 55°.     

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.     

The nature of deformation within the outer limits of the central appalachian foreland fold and thrust belt in New York state

Residual strain, a self-equilibrating recoverable strain that remains in rocks even after external forces and moments are removed, is found NNW of the folded Appalachian plateau in the Devonian Onondaga limestone and the Silurian Lockport dolomite and Grimsby sandstone of western New York. This residual strain is manifest upon overcoring by a NNW directed maximum expansion of the limestone and sandstone and a random maximum expansion of the dolomite. Strains, recorded with strain gauge rosettes bonded to outcrops, are as high as 200 με (microstrain). Double overcoring of the sandstone and dolomite relieves smaller strains of the same orientation as the initial overcore. X-ray analysis of the Grimsby sandstone shows that the elastic residual strain locked in quartz grains is characterized by a NE principal extension of 60 με and a 10–30 με NW principal compression oriented 30° counterclockwise from the NNW compression indicated by overcoring. Sonic velocity tests on samples in the lab indicate that Grimsby sandstone is anisotropic with a NNW maximum P-wave velocity of 4.05 km/sec. This anisotropy correlates with the residual strain in Grimsby sandstone. Mechanical twinning of calcite within both the Onondaga limestone and Grimsby sandstone indicates that the rock contains a permanent compressive strain of less than 2% in the NNW direction. The permanent strain becomes progressively smaller in a series of samples from Syracuse to Buffalo, New York. The development of solution cleavage in Onondaga limestone also indicates a NNW compression. No evidence of permanent strain was found in the dolomite. The NNW compression of the limestone and sandstone is normal to the fold axes of the Appalachian foreland fold and thrust belt. This geometric relationship indicates that the residual strain well beyond the outermost Appalachian folds was caused by the same tectonic stresses responsible for folding, the Appalachians during the late Paleozoic. Strain within the Appalachian plateau below the Silurian salt horizon suggests either the presence of a second décollement in, perhaps, Ordovician shales or a general NNW shortening of the crust under the Appalachian plateau.     

Kinematics of fault-related folding in a duplex,lost river range,Idaho, U.S.A.

The Doublespring duplex, located in the Lost River Range of Idaho, is a Sevier age fault-related fold complex in massive limestones of the Upper Mississippian Scott Peak Formation. Folds within the duplex closely resemble fault-bend fold geometrics, with open interlimb angles and low-angle bed cut-offs. Narrow, widely spaced, bedding-parallel shear zones with well-developed pressure solution cleavage alternate with massive, relatively undeformed layers on fold limbs. Shear zones are developed only on the limbs of anticlines, and have similar but unique morphologies in each of three different folds. Incremental strain histories reconstructed from antitaxial fibrous overgrowths and veins within the shear zones constrain the kinematics of folding. Shear zones experienced distributed bedding-parallel simple shear (flexural flow) towards pins near axial surfaces, while adjacent massive layers experienced rotation through an externally fixed extension direction. The absence of footwall synclines and morphological differences in shear zones from adjacent folds suggest that faulting preceded folding. Kinematic histories of folds that have experienced different translational histories are identical, and are not compatible with strain histories predicted from previous kinematic models of fault-bend folding. Shear zone development and fiber growth is instead interpreted to have occurred during low amplitude fixed-hinge buckling in response to initial resistance to translation of the thrust sheet. Fault-bend folding with mobile axial surfaces occurred with translation of the thrust sheets once the initial resistance to translation was overcome and resulted in no penetrative strain.     

The geometry and kinematics of flow perturbation folds

Minor folds formed synchronous with ductile deformation in high strain zones can preserve a record of the scale and kinematics of heterogeneous flow. Using structures associated with WNW-directed Caledonian thrusting in N Scotland, we show that localised perturbations in flow resulted in the generation of predominantly cylindrical minor folds with hinges lying at low angles to the transport direction. These define a series of larger-scale fold culminations (reflecting ‘surging flow’) or depressions (reflecting ‘slackening flow’) that are bisected by transport-parallel culmination and depression surfaces. The fold patterns suggest a dominance of layer-normal differential shearing due to gradients in shear strain normal to transport. Culmination surfaces are marked by along-strike reversals in the polarity of structural facing and vergence of minor folds which, contrary to classic fold patterns, define reverse asymmetric relationships. Culmination surfaces separate folding in to clockwise (Z folds) and anticlockwise (S folds) domains relative to the transport lineation. The dip of fold axial planes systematically increases as their strike becomes sub-parallel to transport resulting in a 3D statistical fanning arrangement centred about the transport direction. Thus, mean S- and Z-fold axial planes intersect precisely parallel to the transport lineation and potentially provide a means of determining transport directions in cases where lineations are poorly preserved. Culminations display convergent fold patterns with fold hinges becoming sub-parallel to transport towards the culmination surface and underlying detachment, whilst axial planes define overall concave up listric geometries which are bisected by the culmination surface. Thus, around culminations and depressions there are ordered, scale-independent relationships between transport direction, shear sense, fold facing, vergence and hinge/axial plane orientations. The techniques described here can be applied and used predictively within any kinematically coherent system of ductile flow.     

Ri-μi/μm-Ci dependent oblateness of deformed pebbles in the Baraitha conglomerate,Central India and tectonic implications

Strain analysis of the Baraitha conglomerate is attempted by direct measurements on extracted pebbles and by micrometric analysis. The overall deformation is of flattening type, with thek value lower by more than half in the matrix than in the pebbles. The viscosity contrast between pebbles and matrix (μ _i/μ_m) is in the ratio of 2:1 and the bulk deformation appears to be strongly controlled by C_i (concentration of pebbles expressed as percentage). The total shortening (≃35%) in the Baraitha conglomerate is comparable with the shortening accomplished in the folding of the overlying Bijawar Group volcanosedimentary sequence. The bulk strain axesX _t, Y_t andZ _t, as determined from the analysis of the deformed conglomerate, are unsymmetrically oriented with reference to folds formed by oblique flexural-slip with neitherX _t norY _tcoincident with the fold hinges. The lack of transection of folds by cleavage again suggests flattening deformation. The extension in theY _tdirection is greater in the matrix than in the pebbles.     

Non-axial planar S1 cleavage in the Hawick Rocks of the Galloway area,Southern Uplands,Scotland

S₁ cleavage in the Hawick Rocks of the Galloway area is non-axial planar, cutting obliquely across the F₁ folds in a predominantly clockwise sense. Individual S₁ cleavage planes within cleavage-fans in F₁ folds strike clockwise, locally anti-clockwise, of axial surfaces, and the mean plane to the S₁ cleavage-fans dips predominantly more steeply than the axial surface. F₁ folds investigated at scattered localities in Silurian and Ordovician rocks north of the Hawick Rocks are also transected by the S₁ cleavage, indicating that non-axial planar S₁ cleavage is widespread in the Southern Uplands. The S₁ cleavage is a composite fabric. Objects deformed within sandstones and tuffs indicate oblate strain. F₁ fold plunge varies from NE to SW and fold hinges locally are markedly curvilinear. Steeply plunging and locally downward-facing F₁ folds are present along the southeast margin of the Hawick Rocks. The non-axial planar S₁ cleavage relationships persist in the steeply plunging F₁ folds. Synchronous development of the non-axial planar S₁ cleavage and the variably plunging F₁ folds is proposed.     

Influence of structural position on fracture networks in the Torridon Group,Achnashellach fold and thrust belt,NW Scotland

In fold-and-thrust belts rocks undergo deformation as fold geometries evolve. Deformation may be accommodated by brittle fracturing, which can vary depending on structural position. We use 2D forward modelling and 3D restorations to determine strain distributions throughout folds of the Achnashellach Culmination, Moine Thrust Belt, NW Scotland. Fracture data is taken from the Torridon Group; a thick, coarse grained fluviatile sandstone deposited during the Proterozoic. Modelling infers a correlation between strain and simple curvature; we use simple curvature to infer how structural position and strain control fracture attribute variations in a fold and thrust belt.In high curvature regions, such as forelimbs, fracture intensities are high and fractures are short and oriented parallel to fold hinges. In low curvature regions fractures have variable intensities and are longer. Fracture orientations in these regions are scattered and vary over short distances. These variations do not relate to strain; data suggests lithology may influence fracturing. The strain history of fold structures also influences fracturing; structures with longer deformation histories exhibit consistent fracture attributes due to moderate-high strain during folding, despite present day low curvature. This is in contrast to younger folds with similar curvatures but shorter deformation histories. We suggest in high strain regions fracturing is influenced by structural controls, whereas in low strain regions lithology becomes more important in influencing fracturing.     

Superposed folding in the Rockley district,Lachlan Fold Belt,New South Wales

Low grade metasediments and metavolcanics of the Hill End Synclinorial Zone within the Rockley district, NSW have experienced two phases of macroscopic folding (D1 and D2), both of which are post‐latest Silurian in age. No hiatus is evident between D1 and D2. D1 produced large Fi folds (λ/2 usually > 2 km) lacking mesoscopic elements and having variable axial trends. D2 was associated with the development of regional slaty cleavage (S2) and mesoscopic folds which are parasitic on plunging macroscopic F2 folds (λ/2=0.4–2 km). D2 strain is variable, being most intense in the north of the district where slaty cleavage and tight mesoscopic F2 folds are well developed, and weakest in the south where mesoscopic folds are absent or usually gentle and cleavage is often feebly developed even in mica‐rich rocks, which are stratigraphic equivalents to slates and schists in the north. The F1 fold mechanism may involve multiple folding, simultaneous folding in more than one direction, or complex buckling of layers of variable thickness. D1 and D2 are tentatively correlated with folding events elsewhere in the Hill End Synclinorial Zone.     

Kinematics of large scale asymmetric folds and associated smaller scale brittle — Ductile structures in the proterozoic somnur formation, pranhita — Godavari Valley, South India

The development of structural elements and finite strain data are analysed to constrain kinematics of folds and faults at various scales within a Proterozoic fold-and-thrust belt in Pranhita-Godavari basin, south India. The first order structures in this belt are interpreted as large scale buckle folds above a subsurface decollement emphasizing the importance of detachment folding in thin skinned deformation of a sedimentary prism lying above a gneissic basement. That the folds have developed through fixed-hinge buckling is constrained by the nature of variation of mesoscopic fabric over large folds and finite strain data. Relatively low, irrotational flattening strain (X:Z-3.1-4.8, k<1) are associated with zones of near upright early mesoscopic folds and cleavage, whereas large flattening strain (X:Z-3.9-7.3, k<1) involving noncoaxiality are linked to domains of asymmetric, later inclined folds, faults and intense cleavage on the hanging wall of thrusts on the flanks of large folds. In the latter case, the bulk strain can be factorized to components of pure shear and simple shear with a maximum shearing strain of 3. The present work reiterates the importance of analysis of minor structures in conjunction with strain data to unravel the kinematic history of fold-and-thrust belts developed at shallow crustal level.     

Cleavage/fold relationships in the Silurian metapelites,southeastern Anglo-Brabant fold belt (Ronquières,Belgium)

The presence of convergent cleavage fans in folded Silurian pelitic deposits along the southern extremity of the Brabant Massif has commonly been considered as an indication for a polyphase deformation history. Recent field work on the classic section at Ronquières shows, however, that all the structural elements can be explained by a single progressive deformation, taking place at gradually higher structural levels. This deformation is considered to have occurred at the time of the Acadian orogeny. The section under study contains a fold train of five gentle to open first-order folds, unconformably overlain by gently S-dipping Givetian rocks. Although the Silurian turbidite deposits are predominantly pelitic, the folds are characterized by convergent cleavage fans. The trend of the cleavage fan axes remains constant in the various folds throughout the section. In contrast, the trend of the folds hinge lines gradually changes along the section from a clockwise relation with the cleavage fan axis in the northern part (anticlockwise cleavage transection) towards an anticlockwise relation in the southern part (clockwise cleavage transection). Individual fault/fault intersections have a constant trend throughout the section, parallel to the cleavage fan axes and the mean fold hinge line. Small kink bands and small transverse joints reflect the same structural trend. The coaxial disposition of the structural elements seems at first sight incompatible with the presence of both clockwise and anticlockwise cleavage-transected folds. This disposition may, however, be explained by an en-echelon periclinal nature of the fold train, possibly formed in a slightly constrictional deformation environment.     

The development of folds in bedded chert and related rocks in the Malaguide Complex, southern Spain

Folds and folding mechanism in a chert sequence and related rocks of the Maláguide Complex (the uppermost tectonic unit of the Betic Zone) have been investigated. The geometric study shows that folds that developed in the chert sequence are usually angular in shape and asymmetric. Chevron and conjugate folds are common.Folding in bedded chert is explained in terms of a suggested model:

1. (1) Development of folds by kink and conjugate kinking.

2. (2) As the shortening increases, the interlimb angles decrease; in the kink folds this is caused by a reduction of the angle between the layers within the kink and the kink boundaries. There seems to be a relationship between this angle and the asymmetrical thinning-out in the limbs of many folds: the smaller is the angle between the kink boundary and the layers within the kink band, the larger is the reduction of the thickness in these layers.

Single limestone layers embedded in slate deform very probably by a buckling mechanism, implying tangential longitudinal strain and an additional flattening.     

Development of bedding-normal boudins in the Pilot Mountains, Nevada

Boudins with long axes (BA) oriented subnormal to bedding and to associated fold axes are observed in folded rocks in a thrust sheet exposed near the base of a regionally extensive allochthon in west-central Nevada, USA. Formation of the boudins is related to development of a regional fold-set coeval with major thrusting. The axes of boudins lie at a high angle to bedding, and in some instances, boudins define tight to isoclinal folds which are geometrically associated with the regional deformation. Quartz c-axis fabrics from oriented thin-sections of the boudins indicate extension parallel to the boudin axes (BA).

These relations and other mesoscopic structural data indicate a complex deformational history for boudin development. The history involves thin layers (to become boudins) deformed in folds disharmonic to major structures within the thrust sheet followed by flattening and associated extension parallel to fold axes. During flattening, arcuation occurred within the deforming mass resulting in rotation of fold axes and boudin axes (BA) toward the axis of finite extension (X). Extension parallel to BA recorded in the petrofabrics of boudins records incremental strain axes oriented at a high angle (50°) to the finite X and is probably related to an early plane-strain state associated with disharmonic folding. The finite extension (X) is down-dip in axial planes of major folds formed during thrusting and indicates a northwest to southeast transport for the thrusts.     

A new isogon-cleavage classification and its application to natural and model fold studies

Traditional methods of studying natural folds are reviewed. A new method of describing cleavage attitude in folds is presented; the β plot. The combined graph of dip isogon angle ϕ (Hudleston 1973) and cleavage angle β is proposed as a linked classification of fold and cleavage geometry. Plots of β and βϕ are given for three natural fold examples. The classification is extended to the geometry and strain attitude (βϕ₅) of two finite-element models and the classical folding models. Results are compared and some tentative conclusions drawn on the relationship of cleavage, the XY plane of strain and dip isogons.