龙门山褶皱冲断带沿走向差异剥蚀作用 ——砂箱物理模型的启示

褶皱冲断带-前陆盆地系统普遍存在浅表构造剥蚀-沉积作用及其相关耦合机制,从而具有复杂的三维空间构造变形特征与演化过程.本文基于青藏高原东缘龙门山褶皱冲断带-前陆盆地系统,通过沿走向变化的剥蚀-沉积作用砂箱物理模拟实验和野外地质调查等研究,揭示其沿走向变化的剥蚀-沉积作用,导致了褶皱冲断带大规模抬升剥蚀、断层多期活化与无...     

Topography as a major factor in the development of arcuate thrust belts: insights from sandbox experiments

We have used sandbox experiments to investigate and to illustrate the effects of topography upon the development of arcuate thrust belts. In experiments where a sand pack shortened and thickened in front of an advancing rectilinear piston, the geometry of the developing thrust wedge was highly sensitive to variations in surface topography. In the absence of erosion and sedimentation, the surface slope tended to become uniform, as predicted by the theory of critical taper. Under these conditions, the wedge propagated by sequential accretion of new thrust slices. In contrast, where erosion or sedimentation caused the topographic profile to become irregular, thrusts developed out of sequence. For example, erosion throughout a hinterland caused underlying thrusts to remain active and inhibited the development of new thrusts in the foreland. Where initial topography was irregular in plan view, accreting thrusts tended to be arcuate. They were convex towards the foreland, around an initially high area; concave towards the foreland, around an initially low area. Initial plateaux tended to behave rigidly, while arcuate thrust slices accreted to them. Thrust motions were radial with respect to each plateau. Within transfer zones to each side, fault blocks rotated about vertical axes and thrust motions were oblique-slip. At late stages of deformation, the surface slope of the thrust wedge tended towards a uniform value. Initial mountains of conical shape (representing volcanoes) also escaped deformation, except at depth, where they detached. Arcuate thrust slices accreted to front and back. Where a developing thrust wedge was subject to local incision, accreting thrust slices dipped towards surrounding areas of high topography, forming Vs across valleys.Arcuate structural patterns are to be found around the three highest plateaux on Earth (Tibet, Pamirs and Altiplano) and around the Tromen volcanic ridge in the Neuquén Basin of northern Patagonia. We infer that these areas behaved in quasi-rigid fashion, protected as they were by their high topography.     

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

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

对逆冲断层一些普遍观念的质疑──以美国西部科迪勒拉及中国华北的野外研究为例(英文)

在过去的25年里,由于许多原因,作为最常见、分布也最广泛的地质构造形迹之一,逆冲断层成为倍受关注的科学研究主题。文中指出,关于逆冲断层及其几何学特征的许多普遍认识（或观念）,并不像以往文献中所阐述的那样简单。其中之一的"薄皮"冲断构造是受地层控制的,极少有或者没有结晶基底物的卷入。文中主张,"薄皮"一词只有逆冲板片的几何学形态含义,而不应包含地层意义,并列举了一些完全由结晶岩石所构成的薄皮逆冲构造的例子来说明这一主张。近来,逆冲双重构造成为构造文献中的热点。关于逆冲双重构造的成因,引用得最多的是1982年Boyer和Elliot在其重要论文"逆冲断层系统"中所作的解释。他们认为,双重道冲构造是通过在冲断坡底部发生下盘破裂。新生断裂不断向前扩展并进入先存断层下盘的一系列变形过程中逐渐形成的。根据Boyer和Elliot提出的这种变形过程,将形成一个具有平面状顶板断层的边冲双重构造,这个顶板断层只在活动断坡的顶部是主动向前扩展的。依笔者之见,在实际的构造变形当中,是不可能具备形成平顶过冲双重构造的地质条件的。而能对平顶过冲双重构造形成作出最好解释的是反序（out－of－sequence,OOS）边冲断层的发育,即断层向着主冲断层的后方发展,在先存道冲构造的上部?     

Identification of an underfilled foreland basin system in the Upper Devonian of the Central Pyrenees: implications for the Hercynian orogeny

A foreland basin succession has been identified in the Frasnian of the Central Pyrenees. This succession comprises a carbonate-dominated transgressive system which recorded the cratonward migration of the foreland basin subsidence, and siliciclastic depocenters which recorded the progression of the thrust-fold deformation. The foreland basin system has always been maintained in deep-marine environments, i.e., at an underfilled depositional state. It was associated with a thrust wedge which descended toward a deep-marine hinterland, i.e., with a type of orogenic wedge usually related to subduction zones. The Frasnian foreland basin system differs from the one known in the Carboniferous which evolved to overfilled depositional state and was associated with a thrust wedge rising toward a mountainous hinterland. Consequently, the Hercynian orogeny in the Pyrenees seems to result first, from a Frasnian thrusting controlled by a subduction zone located north of the Pyrenees, and second, from a Carboniferous thrusting controlled by the surrection of a frontal thrust belt in the Pyrenees. The association of underfilled foreland basin systems and hinterland-dipping thrust wedges, as exemplified in the Frasnian of the Pyrenees, can be interpreted as illustrative of the initial stages of thrust-wedge growth in deep-marine settings.     

Macro‐ and meso‐scale structural criteria for identifying pre‐thrusting normal faults within foreland fold‐and‐thrust belts: Insights from the Central‐Northern Apennines (Italy)

Reliable macro‐ and meso‐scale structural criteria for identifying pre‐thrusting normal faults within inversion‐dominated foreland thrust belts are here reappraised by showing field cases from the Central‐Northern Apennines of Italy. Field‐based analyses of relative chronologies among the structures allow determination of the timing of pre‐thrusting normal faulting, the positive inversion of the faults and their post‐thrusting reactivation when absolute chronostratigraphic constraints are lacking. The correct identification of pre‐thrusting normal faults allows recognition of shortcut and reactivation anticlines, and these have important implications for the definition of the thrust‐belt structural style and for the estimation of post‐orogenic extension.     

Benchmarking numerical models of brittle thrust wedges

We report quantitative results from three brittle thrust wedge experiments, comparing numerical results directly with each other and with corresponding analogue results. We first test whether the participating codes reproduce predictions from analytical critical taper theory. Eleven codes pass the stable wedge test, showing negligible internal deformation and maintaining the initial surface slope upon horizontal translation over a frictional interface. Eight codes participated in the unstable wedge test that examines the evolution of a wedge by thrust formation from a subcritical state to the critical taper geometry. The critical taper is recovered, but the models show two deformation modes characterised by either mainly forward dipping thrusts or a series of thrust pop-ups. We speculate that the two modes are caused by differences in effective basal boundary friction related to different algorithms for modelling boundary friction. The third experiment examines stacking of forward thrusts that are translated upward along a backward thrust. The results of the seven codes that run this experiment show variability in deformation style, number of thrusts, thrust dip angles and surface slope. Overall, our experiments show that numerical models run with different numerical techniques can successfully simulate laboratory brittle thrust wedge models at the cm-scale. In more detail, however, we find that it is challenging to reproduce sandbox-type setups numerically, because of frictional boundary conditions and velocity discontinuities. We recommend that future numerical-analogue comparisons use simple boundary conditions and that the numerical Earth Science community defines a plasticity test to resolve the variability in model shear zones.     

Progression of deformation and sedimentation in the southernmost Andes

The chronology of thrust motion in the Fuegian thin-skinned fold-thrust belt was established using data from the Atlantic coast of Tierra del Fuego. A set of original structural–geological maps showing the distribution of structures, unconformities and synorogenic sequences in the last tip of the Andes reveals the cratonward propagation of thrusts and sedimentary depocenters. A succession of syntectonic angular and progressive unconformities occur in the studied zone: (1) an angular unconformity between Danian and Late Paleocene sequences, (2) a series of progressive and syntectonic angular unconformities developed from the Late Early Eocene to the Late Eocene, and (3) a Lower Miocene syntectonic unconformity. Additional evidence for the time–space location of the thrust-front is provided by the presence of seismically triggered sand intrusions in Late Cretaceous, Late Paleocene and Middle Miocene sequences.The integration of data shows that faulting occurred in three main episodes: San Vicente thrusting, ca. 61–55 Ma, Río Bueno thrusting, ca. 49–34, and Punta Gruesa strike-slip event, ca. 24–16 Ma. San Vicente thrusting represents the onset of thrust propagation onto the foreland craton. The thrust-front endured a major cratonward migration through the Río Bueno thrusting, and remained steady afterward. Punta Gruesa constitutes a strike-slip event, associated with the phase of wrench deformation that influences the southernmost Andes since the Oligocene. Although the overall pattern of faulting was progressively younger cratonward, several episodes of out-of-sequence thrusting and folding occurred.Other features in the southernmost Andes can be linked to these three deformation events to broadly characterize the behavior of the Fuegian orogenic wedge in terms of critical taper models. The Fuegian Andes underwent at least three cycles between subcritical, critical and supercritical stages of behavior in terms of deformation, erosion, and sedimentation.     

Salt décollement and rift inheritance controls on crustal deformation in orogens

We investigate the factors that control the shortening distribution and its evolution through time in orogenic belts using numerical models. We present self‐consistent high‐resolution numerical models that simulate the inversion of a rift to generate an upper crustal antiformal stack, a wide outer pro‐wedge fold‐and‐thrust belt, characterised by a two‐phase evolution with early symmetric inversion followed by formation of an asymmetric doubly‐vergent orogen. We show that a weak viscous salt décollement promotes gravitational collapse of the cover. When combined with efficient erosion of the orogenic core and sedimentation in adjacent forelands, it ensures the thick‐skinned pro‐wedge taper remains subcritical, promoting formation of an upper crustal antiformal stack. Rift inheritance promotes a two‐phase shortening distribution evolution regardless of the shallow structure and other factors. Comparison to the Pyrenees strongly suggests that this combination of factors led to a very similar evolution and structural style.     

Thermal structure and tectonic evolution of the Scandian orogenic wedge,Scottish Caledonides: integrating geothermometry,deformation temperatures and conceptual kinematic‐thermal models

In the Caledonides of northwest Scotland, two independent geothermometers (Fe‐Mg exchange and quartz c‐axis fabric opening angle) are used to characterize the thermal structure of the lower part of the Scandian (435–420 Ma) orogenic wedge within the Moine, Ben Hope and Naver‐Sgurr Beag thrust sheets. Traced from west (foreland) to east (hinterland), Fe‐Mg exchange thermometry yields peak or near‐peak temperatures ranging from 484 ± 50 °C to 524 ± 50 °C in the immediate hangingwall of the Moine thrust to 601 ± 50 °C in the immediate hangingwall of the Ben Hope thrust, to 630 ± 50 °C in the Naver thrust sheet. Preserved metamorphic facies and textural relationships are consistent with thermometric estimates. Deformation temperatures calculated from quartz c‐axis fabric opening angles across two similar orogen‐perpendicular transects also yield systematic increases (Glen Golly – Ben Klibreck, 520–630 °C; Ullapool‐Contin, 465–632 °C) traced towards the Naver and Sgurr Beag thrusts. In addition, deformation temperatures show a pronounced increase along the leading edge of the Moine thrust sheet moving south towards the Assynt window, which is interpreted to reflect deeper exhumation of the thrust plane above the Assynt footwall imbricate stack. Because temperatures calculated from metamorphic assemblages are within error of the quartz fabric‐derived deformation temperatures that are of demonstrably Scandian age, the metamorphic sequence between the Moine and Naver‐Sgurr Beag thrusts is interpreted to have developed during the Scandian orogeny. Integration of our results with previous 2D thermal‐mechanical studies allows development of new conceptual thermal‐kinematic models of Scandian orogenesis that may be broadly applicable to other collisional systems. Furthermore, it highlights the critical nature of coupling between orogen kinematic and thermal evolution.     

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

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

An evaluation of models for the kinematic evolution of thrust and fold belts: structural analysis of a transverse fault zone in the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies north of Banff,Alberta

The prevailing ‘piggyback’ conceptual model for the kinematics of ‘thin-skinned’ thrust and fold belts maintains that the main faults develop sequentially from the hinterland to the foreland, and from the top to the bottom of the accretionary wedge. Moreover, it presumes that when younger thrust faults originate, overlying older thrust faults become inactive and are carried forward passively. This appears to contradict the prevailing mechanical model for the evolution of ‘thin-skinned’ thrust and fold belts, the critical Coulomb wedge model, which requires that lateral growth of the wedge must be accompanied by vertical thickening of the wedge. Crosscutting relationships along a transverse fault zone in the Front Ranges of the Canadian Rockies north of Banff, Alberta, and patterns of overprinting of thrust-related folding on pre-existing thrust sheets, demonstrate substantial overlap in the times of displacement on four major thrust faults in this part of the Front Ranges. The presumption that displacement on one major thrust fault ends when displacement on a younger underlying thrust begins is a fallacy. There is no contradiction between the ‘piggyback’ conceptual kinematic model and the critical Coulomb wedge mechanical model for the evolution of ‘thin-skinned’ foreland thrust and fold belts. The main faults do originate sequentially from the hinterland to the foreland, and from the top to the bottom of the evolving wedge; but displacement occurs simultaneously on several major faults.     

Modelling the geometry of Coulomb thrust wedges

Internal geometry and detachment of Coulomb thrust wedges is examined in a combined gravity and pressure force field under various boundary conditions and Coulomb parameters. Frontally buttressed sand wedges accreted with narrow tapers above soles with negligible friction. In these models, serial imbricates stepped-up in conjugate sets which operated synchronously or serially. With increases in sole friction, model Coulomb wedges accreted in piggyback style with enhanced taper but narrower spacing of imbricates. In this mode, flat-topped box-fold anticlines nucleated at the frontal tip of a sole thrust prior to the fore-limb failing as a ramp. The initial ramp-thrusts subsequently rotated and steepened to acquire concave-upwards listric geometry. When cohesion was a significant component of strength, and the sand grains interlocked thoroughly, ramp climb during piggyback thrusting occurred through the generation of a stack of backthrusts. The taper of cohesionless sand wedges, which lack any length scale, was consistent with the critical cohesionless Coulomb wedge taper. In contrast, the taper of experimental cohesive sand wedges, which are scale-dependent, was consistent with the theoretical cohesive Coulomb narrow taper, only when the cohesive length scale was l_r ∼ S_r/ϱ_ra_r ≤ 10⁻⁶. This was constrained by comparing geometry of cohesive sand wedges shortened at different body force per unit mass.     

Latest Triassic to Early Jurassic Thrusting and Exhumation in the Southern Ordos Basin,North China: Evidence from LA‐ICP‐MS‐based Apatite Fission Track Thermochronology

The contractional structures in the southern Ordos Basin recorded critical evidence for the interaction between Ordos Basin and Qinling Orogenic Collage. In this study, we performed apatite fission track(AFT) thermochronology to unravel the timing of thrusting and exhumation for the Laolongshan-Shengrenqiao Fault(LSF) in the southern Ordos Basin. The AFT ages from opposite sides of the LSF reveal a significant latest Triassic to Early Jurassic time-temperature discontinuity across this structure. Thermal modeling reveals at the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic, a ~50°C difference in temperature between opposite sides of the LSF currently exposed at the surface. This discontinuity is best interpreted by an episode of thrusting and exhumation of the LSF with ~1.7 km of net vertical displacement during the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic. These results, when combined with earlier thermochronological studies, stratigraphic contact relationship and tectono-sedimentary evolution, suggest that the southern Ordos Basin experienced coeval intense tectonic contraction and developed a north-vergent fold-and-thrust belt. Moreover, the southern Ordos Basin experienced a multi-stage differential exhumation during Mesozoic, including the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic and Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous thrust-driven exhumation as well as the Late Cretaceous overall exhumation. Specifically, the two thrust-driven exhumation events were related to tectonic stress propagation derived from the latest Triassic to Early Jurassic continued compression from Qinling Orogenic Collage and the Late Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous intracontinental orogeny of Qinling Orogenic Collage, respectively. By contrast, the Late Cretaceous overall exhumation event was related to the collision of an exotic terrain with the eastern margin of continental China at ~100 Ma.     

Coupled role of deformation and metamorphism in the construction of inverted metamorphic sequences: an example from far‐northwest Nepal

In the Greater Himalayan sequence of far northwestern Nepal, detailed mapping, thermobarometry, and microstructure analysis are used to test competing models of the construction of Himalayan inverted metamorphism. The inverted Greater Himalayan sequence, which is characterized by an increase in peak metamorphic temperatures up structural section from 580 to 720 °C, is divided into two tectonometamorphic domains. The lower domain contains garnet‐ to kyanite‐zone rocks whose peak metamorphic assemblages suggest a metamorphic field pressure gradient that increases up structural section from 8 to 11 kbar, and which developed during top‐to‐the‐south directed shearing. The upper portion of the Greater Himalayan sequence is composed of kyanite‐ and sillimanite‐zone migmatitic gneisses that contain a metamorphic pressure gradient that decreases up structural section from 10 to 5 kbar. The lower and upper portions of the Greater Himalayan sequence are separated by a metamorphic discontinuity that spatially coincides with the base of the lowest migmatite unit. Temperatures inferred from quartz recrystallization mechanisms and the opening angles of quartz c‐axis fabrics increase up section through the Greater Himalayan sequence from ～530 to >700 °C and yield similar results to peak metamorphic temperatures determined by thermometry. The observations from the Greater Himalayan sequence in far northwestern Nepal are consistent with numerical predictions of channel‐flow tectonic models, whereby the upper hinterland part evolved as a ductile southward tunnelling mid‐crustal channel and the lower foreland part ductily accreted in a critical‐taper system at the leading edge of the extruding channel. The boundary between the upper and lower portions of the Greater Himalayan sequence is shown to represent a foreland–hinterland transition zone that is used to reconcile the different proposed tectonic styles documented in western Nepal.     

Tectono–sedimentary Evolution of the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation in the Sichuan Basin

The early stage of Sichuan Basin formation was controlled by the convergence of three major Chinese continental blocks during the Indosinian orogeny that include South China,North China,and Qiangtang blocks.Although the Late Triassic Xujiahe Formation is assumed to represent the commencement of continental deposition in the Sichuan Basin,little research is available on the details of this particular stratum.Sequence stratigraphic analysis reveals that the Xujiahe Formation comprises four third-order depositional sequences.Moreover,two tectono-sedimentary evolution stages,deposition and denudation,have been identified.Typical wedge-shaped geometry revealed in a cross section of the southern Sichuan Basin normal to the Longmen Shan fold-thrust belt is displayed for the entire Xujiahe Formation.The depositional extent did not cover the Luzhou paleohigh during the LST1 to LST2 （LST,TST and HST mean Iowstand,transgressive and highstand systems tracts,1,2,3 and 4 represent depositional sequence 1,2,3 and 4）,deltaic and fluvial systems fed sediments from the Longmen Shan belt,Luzhou paleohigh,Hannan dome,and Daba Shan paleohigh into a foreland basin with a centrally located lake.The forebulge of the western Sichuan foreland basin was located southeast of the Luzhou paleohigh after LST2.According to the principle of nonmarine sequence stratigraphy and the lithology of the Xujiahe Formation,four thrusting events in the Longmen Shan fold-thrust belt were distinguished,corresponding to the basal boundaries of sequences 1,2,3,and 4.The northern Sichuan Basin was tilted after the deposition of sequence 3,inducing intensive erosion of sequences 3 and 4,and formation of wedge-shaped deposition geometry in sequence 4 from south to north.The tilting probably resulted from small-scale subduction and exhumation of the western South China block during the South and North China block collision.     

Interaction of surface erosion and sequential thrust progression: Implications on exhumation processes

This paper investigates the evolution of thrust wedges with concomitant surface erosion, and its bearing on the exhumation processes in orogenic belts. We performed sandbox experiments, simulating syn-orogenic erosion on forelandward sloping surfaces (∼4°). Experiments show that the erosion process has a significant control on the progression of frontal thrusts. In case of no-erosion condition, wedges with high basal friction develop frontal thrusts with strongly increasing spacing. In contrast, for the same basal friction the thrusts show uniform spacing as the wedge development involves concomitant surface erosion. On the other hand, the erosion promotes reactivation of hinterland thrusts in wedges with low basal friction. We show that erosion-assisted thrust reactivation is the principal mechanism for exhumation of deeper level materials in orogens. Efficiency of this mechanism is largely controlled by basal friction. The exhumation of deeper level materials is limited, and occurs within a narrow, sub-vertical zone in the extreme hinterland when the basal friction is high (μ_b = 0.46). In contrast, the process is quite effective in wedges with low basal friction (μ_b =0.36), resulting in exhumation along gently dipping foreland-vergent thrusts as well as along thrusts, subsequently rotated into steep attitude. The zone of exhumation also shifts in the foreland direction in the course of horizontal movement. Consequently, deeper level materials cover a large area of the elevated part of the wedge.     

Balanced cross-sections and their implications for the deep structure of the northwest Alps

The Mont Blanc massif is one of a chain of basement culminations which crop out along the external French Alps. Its southwestern margin is interpreted as being a major thrust belt which propagated in a piggy-back sequence towards the foreland. These imbricates have developed in the footwall of the high-level Valais thrust. The depth to the floor thrust and shortening within imbricates above this thrust are estimated by a series of partially balanced cross-sections drawn between the ‘synclinal median’ and the Valais thrust. These sections restore to a pre-thrust length of at least 50 km, probably exceeding 100 km, above a floor thrust never deeper than 1 km below the sub-Triassic unconformity. All this thrust displacement is transferred via a series of lateral branch lines onto the Mont Blanc thrust in the Chamonix area. A corollary of this is that the Aiguilles Rouges and the main part of the Mont Blanc massif were separated by probably as much as 100 km prior to Alpine thrusting. Such large shortening estimates imply a hitherto unsuspected Dauphinois stratigraphic consistency in both thickness and lithology.To achieve a balance a restored crustal cross-section must show an equal length of both lower and upper crust. Thus a high-level basal detachment which floors large thrust displacements must overlie a long, undeformed lower crustal wedge. A restored section 100 km long requires such a lower crustal wedge to exist beneath the entire Alpine internal zones. Perrier & Vialon's crustal velocity profile through the western Alps is reinterpreted in these terms. The Ivrea body is considered to be a portion of an external lower crustal wedge which has been uplifted by thrusts after most of the displacement on the external thrust belt.     

Active tectonics of Himalayan Frontal Fault system

In the Sub-Himalayan zone, the frontal Siwalik range abuts against the alluvial plain with an abrupt physiographic break along the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT), defining the present-day tectonic boundary between the Indian plate and the Himalayan orogenic prism. The frontal Siwalik range is characterized by large active anticline structures, which were developed as fault propagation and fault-bend folds in the hanging wall of the HFT. Fault scarps showing surface ruptures and offsets observed in excavated trenches indicate that the HFT is active. South of the HFT, the piedmont zone shows incipient growth of structures, drainage modification, and 2–3 geomorphic depositional surfaces. In the hinterland between the HFT and the MBT, reactivation and out-of-sequence faulting displace Late Quaternary–Holocene sediments. Geodetic measurements across the Himalaya indicate a ~100-km-wide zone, underlain by the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), between the HFT and the main microseismicity belt to north is locked. The bulk of shortening, 15–20 mm/year, is consumed aseismically at mid-crustal depth through ductile by creep. Assuming the wedge model, reactivation of the hinterland faults may represent deformation prior to wedge attaining critical taper. The earthquake surface ruptures, ≥240 km in length, interpreted on the Himalayan mountain front through paleoseismology imply reactivation of the HFT and may suggest foreland propagation of the thrust belt.     

Upper crustal shortening and forward modeling of the Himalayan thrust belt along the Budhi-Gandaki River, central Nepal

A balanced cross-section along the Budhi-Gandaki River in central Nepal between the Main Central thrust, including displacement on that fault, and the Main Frontal thrust reveals a minimum total shortening of 400 km. Minimum displacement on major orogen-scale structures include 116 km on the Main Central thrust, 110 km on the Ramgarh thrust, 95 km on the Trishuli thrust, and 56 km in the Lesser Himalayan duplex. The balanced cross-section was also incrementally forward modeled assuming a generally forward-breaking sequence of thrusting, where early faults and hanging-wall structures are passively carried from the hinterland toward the foreland. The approximate correspondence of the forward modeled result to observe present day geometries suggest that the section interpretation is viable and admissible. In the balanced cross-section, the Trishuli thrust is the roof thrust for the Lesser Himalayan duplex. The forward model and reconstruction emphasize that the Lesser Himalayan duplex grew by incorporating rock from the footwall and transferring it to the hanging wall along the Main Himalayan thrust. As the duplex developed, the Lesser Himalayan ramp migrated southward. The movement of Lesser Himalayan thrust sheets over the ramp pushed the Lesser Himalayan rock and the overburdens of the Greater and Tibetan Himalayan rock toward the erosional surface. This vertical structural movement caused by footwall collapse and duplexing, in combination with erosion, exhumed the Lesser Himalaya.