Paleomagnetic study of Cretaceous rocks of Peru, South America: Evidence for rotation of the Andes

Paleomagnetic data for the Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary rocks in the Andean region of Peru are given. Reliable paleomagnetic field directions were obtained for three Cretaceous (Albian to Cenomanian) formations from calcareous sediments in northern Peru. Stable remanent magnetization directions were also derived from twelve Cretaceous lava flows and dikes in coastal Peru. Paleomagnetic data of the same age from the stable areas of South America such as Brazil demonstrate that the paleomagnetic poles are nearly coincident with the present pole, but Peruvian paleomagnetic directions studied here showed several tens of degrees of counterclockwise declination shifts. This suggests counterclockwise tectonic rotation of an extensive block which includes the whole of Andean Peru.     

Middle Paleozoic paleomagnetism of east Kazakhstan: post-Middle Devonian rotations in a large-scale orocline in the central Ural–Mongol belt

In order to test different hypotheses concerning the Paleozoic evolution of the Ural–Mongol belt (UMB) and the amalgamation of Eurasia, we studied Middle Devonian basalts from two localities (11 sites) and Lower Silurian volcanics, redbeds, and intra-formational conglomerates from three localities (20 sites) in the Chingiz Range of East Kazakhstan. The Devonian rocks prove to be heavily overprinted in the late Paleozoic, and a high-temperature, presumably primary, southerly, and down component is isolated at only four sites from a homoclinal section. Most Silurian redbeds are found to be remagnetized in the late Paleozoic; in contrast, a bipolar near-horizontal remanence, isolated from Silurian volcanics, is most probably primary as indicated by positive tilt and conglomerate tests. Analysis of paleomagnetic data from the Chingiz Range shows that southward-pointing directions in Ordovician, Silurian, and Devonian rocks are of normal polarity and hence indicate large-scale rotations after the Middle Devonian. The Chingiz paleomagnetic directions can be compared with Paleozoic data from the North Tien Shan and with the horseshoe-shaped distribution of subduction-related volcanic complexes in Kazakhstan. Both paleomagnetic and geological data support the idea that today's strongly curved volcanic belts of Kazakhstan are an orocline, deformed mostly before mid-Permian time. Despite the determination of nearly a dozen new Paleozoic paleopoles in this study and other recent publications by our team, significant temporal and spatial gaps remain in our knowledge of the paleomagnetic directions during the middle and late Paleozoic. However, the paleomagnetic results from the Chingiz Range and the North Tien Shan indicate that these areas show generally coherent motions with Siberia and Baltica, respectively.     

Concerning the issue of paleotectonic reconstructions in the Arctic and of the tectonic unity of the New Siberian Islands Terrane: New paleomagnetic and paleontological data

The New Siberian Islands terrane, represented on the Arctic shelf by the archipelagos of the New Siberian Islands and De Long Islands, is one of the key structures of the Arctic. However many questions of its structure, borders and formation history are under intense discussion. During the international expedition in 2011 we solved many problems concerning structural geology, paleontology, petrology and geochronology. A particular attention was given to obtaining paleomagnetic data for the sedimentary and igneous rocks of the archipelago. The primary objects of paleomagnetic studies were the Early Paleozoic sedimentary rocks of the Kotelny (Anzhu) and Bennett (De Long) islands. In this paper we present new paleontological data, including the first one for conodonts of the New Siberian Islands, which help us to specify the age of the Early Paleozoic deposits of the studied sections. In these sections we took a series of paleomagnetic samples. The match of the paleomagnetic directions we determined for Bennett Isl. and Kotelny Isl. indicates the tectonic unity between the territories of the Anzhu and De Long archipelagos. These first paleomagnetic data allow us to affirm that at least from the Early Ordovician the rocks of the Anzhu and De Long archipelagos formed within the same New Siberian Islands terrane, that is to say, on the same basement.     

Simulation of deformation of lattices: point-to-point analysis and applications

When applied to homogeneous rocks, the statistical technique of autocorrelation helps in visualizing the preferential alignment of mineral barycenters. We examine the behaviour of each element within a regular lattice deformed in either simple or pure shear. Preferential directions immediately appear depending upon the relative orientation of the shear or flattening plane with respect to the lattice. Autocorrelation amplifies these directions (either one direction with a high intensity signal or two directions with weak intensity signals). They depend on the geometrical shape of the elementary mesh of the lattice which is changing during the deformation. From the autocorrelated diagram, geometrical parameters of the elementary mesh can be estimated. Resulting from the numerical simulations, graphs are constructed which provide strain estimates in the case of simple shear. Application to natural rocks deformation is given in the case of simple-sheared peridotites.     

Eocene paleomagnetism of the Caucasus (southwest Georgia): oroclinal bending in the Arabian syntaxis

The Caucasus is very important for our understanding of tectonic evolution of the Alpine belt, but only a few reliable paleomagnetic results were reported from this region so far. We studied a collection of more than 300 samples of middle Eocene volcanics and volcano-sedimentary rocks from 10 localities in the Adjaro–Trialet tectonic zone (ATZ) in the western part of the Caucasus. Stepwise thermal demagnetization isolates a characteristic remanent magnetization (ChRM) in 19 sites out of 31 studied. ChRM reversed directions prevail, and a few vectors of normal polarity are antipodal to the reversed ones after tilt correction. The fold test is positive too, and we consider the ChRM primary. Analysis of Tertiary declinations and strikes of Alpine folds in the Adjaro–Trialet zone and the Pontides in Northern Turkey shows a large data scatter; Late Cretaceous data from the same region, however, reveal good correlation between paleomagnetic and structural data. Combining Late Cretaceous and Tertiary data indicates oroclinal bending of the Alpine structures which are locally complicated with different deformation. The overall mean Tertiary inclination is slightly shallower than the reference Eurasian inclination recalculated from one apparent polar wander path (APWP), but agrees with other. This finding is in accord with geological evidence on moderate post-Eocene shortening across the Caucasus. We did not find any indication of long-lived paleomagnetic anomalies, such as to Cenozoic anomalously shallow inclinations further to the east in Central Asia.     

Middle Devonian Paleomagnetism of Geological Complexes of Central Tuva

New paleomagnetic data are obtained for Middle Devonian rocks of Central Tuva. The rocks contain one-, two-, or three-component magnetization. The low-temperature (LT) components of magnetization are close to the directions of the present-day or Cenozoic magnetic field in Tuva. Based on the directions of the high-temperature (HT) components of magnetization, which were distinguished in the magnetite spectrum of blocking temperatures of up to 580оС, we revealed a prefolding magnetization of different polarity. The time when Middle Devonian rocks acquired the prefolding HT component of magnetization almost does not differ from the time of rock formation. Middle Devonian sequences were formed at low latitudes (19°–25° N). We calculated the Middle Devonian paleomagnetic pole (Φ =–13°, Λ = 106°, A₉₅ = 7), which can be used to describe the movement of the Caledonian block in Central Asia, and probably Siberia, if these blocks had been tectonically coupled by the Devonian.     

A paleomagnetic and magnetic fabric study of the Illapel Plutonic Complex,Coastal Range,central Chile: Implications for emplacement mechanism and regional tectonic evolution during the mid-Cretaceous

The Illapel Plutonic Complex (IPC), located in the Coastal Range of central Chile (31°–33° S), is composed of different lithologies, ranging from gabbros to trondhjemites, including diorites, tonalites and granodiorites. U/Pb geochronological data shows that the IPC was amalgamated from, at least, four different magmatic pulses between 117 and 90 Ma (Lower to mid-Cretaceous). We present new paleomagnetic results including Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility (AMS) from 62 sites in the plutonic rocks, 10 sites in country rocks and 7 sites in a mafic dyke swarm intruding the plutonic rocks.Remanent magnetizations carried by pyrrhotite in deformed country rock sediments nearby the intrusive rocks indicate that tilting of the sedimentary rocks occurred prior or during the intrusion. The paleomagnetic study shows no evidence for either a measurable tilt of the IPC or a significant rotation of the forearc at this latitude range. Moreover, new ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar ages exclude any medium- to low-temperature post-magmatic recrystallization/deformation event in the studied samples. AMS data show a magnetic foliation that is often sub-vertical. Despite an apparent N–S elongated shape of the IPC, the large variations in the orientation of the AMS foliation suggests that this plutonic complex could be made of several units distributed in a N–S trend rather than N–S elongated bodies.Previous works have suggested for this area a major shift on tectonic evolution from highly extensional during Lower Cretaceous to a period around 100 Ma, associated with exhumation and compressive deformation to conform the present day Coastal Range. The low degree of anisotropy and the lack of evidence for a tectonic fabric in the intrusive rocks indicate that the shift from extensional to compressional should postdate the emplacement of the IPC, i.e. is younger than 90Ma.     

Interpretation cinematique des deformations plastiques dans le massif de Lherzolite de lanzo (Alpes piemontaises) — comparaison avec d'autres Massifs

A map of internal movements into the Lherzolite Massif of Lanzo (shear planes, movement directions, shear senses, estimation of movements intensity) has been drawn from systematic measurements of plastic deformation elements (foliation planes, enstatite lineations, shear senses and angles, grain size of the rocks) which have been taken both in the field and laboratory. Since the deformation is probably due to the intrusion of the massif, these results contribute to knowledge of the orogenic displacements in this area of the Alpine system.     

中国大陆科学钻探主孔1200米构造柱及变形构造初步解析

在利用成象测井资料准确地恢复岩心空间位置的基础上，建立了位于江苏省东海县毛北村的中国大陆科学钻探主孔岩心1200m精细构造柱。划分了由榴辉岩与超镁铁质岩组成的第一岩性-构造单元及由副片麻岩夹榴辉岩与超镁铁质岩透镜体组成的第二岩性-构造单元，自上而下岩石的面理产状由向东陡倾变为向南东缓倾。第一岩性-构造单元的榴辉岩与超镁铁质岩是毛北榴辉岩杂岩体的组成部分，在榴辉岩中发现以南北向拉伸线理及由北往南的剪切指向为特征的超高压变质岩早期变形举止。位于第二岩性一构造单元下部(770-1130m深度)300多米厚的韧性剪切带是地表出露的毛北韧性剪切带在孔下的延伸，剪切应变及石英组构分析表明，在伴随的退变质角闪岩相一绿帘角闪岩相一绿片岩相的转换过程中，剪切应变由自SE往NW的“逆冲”转为NW向SE的正向滑移。结合钻孔围区地质，重塑了上部由毛北榴辉岩杂岩体与副片麻岩围岩组成的轴面向SE倾斜的同斜倒转褶皱系，以及下部为韧性剪切带的构造模型。钻孔验证了VSP地震反射剖面中850-1200m深度的强反射层与韧性剪切带相吻合。结合苏鲁超高压变质地体的折返构造的研究，提出该构造模型的成因与折返阶段超高压变质地体的斜向上的挤出及后折返阶段的穹隆形成有关。     

阿尔金断裂走滑作用对青藏高原东北缘山脉形成的古地磁证据

通过对青藏高原北部阿尔金断裂东缘早白垩世-第三纪红层与玄武岩38个采点的系统古地磁测定,获得了研究区早白垩世-第三纪高温特征剩磁分量。结果表明,昌马乡早白垩世红层与玄武岩剖面层面坐标下高温特征剩磁平均方向(Ds=32.8°,Is=59.4°,κs=36.2,α95=8.1°)和北大窖早白垩世玄武岩剖面层面坐标下高温特征剩磁平均方向(Ds=335.4°,Is=55.1°,κs=34,α95=9.6°)均通过了褶皱检验,可能代表岩石形成时的原生剩磁。旱峡地区早白垩世地层层面坐标下高温特征剩磁平均方向(Ds=26.1°,Is=49.5°,κs=28.6,α95=7.3°)和红柳峡早第三纪地层层面坐标下高温特征剩磁平均方向(Ds=355.4°,Is=48.3°,κs=135.8,α95=7.9°),这两组高温特征剩磁方向在地理坐标下均远离现代地磁场方向,且具有正、反双极性特征,说明其也可能代表了岩石形成时的原生剩磁方向。结合已有阿尔金断裂及周边早白垩世-第三纪古地磁结果,提出柴达木块体在新生代印度/欧亚大陆碰撞挤压下并没有发生明显的整体顺时针旋转作用,青藏高原东北地区的块体旋转作用是阿尔金断裂左旋走滑作用在青藏高原东北缘转换的重要表现形式。     

New paleomagnetic data of the Middle Jurassic igneous complex in the Bodrak River valley, Mountainous Crimea

In this paper, the results of paleomagnetic studies for the Middle Jurassic subvolcanic bodies and volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks that are exposed in the Bodrak River valley within the limits of the second range of the Crimean Mountains are presented. Detailed magnetic cleanings showed the applicability of most of the sampled objects for paleomagnetic studies. The natural remanent magnetization of the examined sample is usually the sum of two components; the most stable of them possesses a bipolar distribution, indicating its primary character. The similarity between the paleomagnetic directions of subvolcanic bodies and nearly coeval volcanogenic-sedimentary rocks, which occur at angles of about 60°, suggests the disturbed occurrence of the igneous bodies. These results can be used for further detailed paleomagnetic studies of the Middle Jurassic igneous complexes in Mountainous Crimea for paleomagnetic reconstruction and the solution of local geological and structural geological problems.     

Kinematics of the Central Taurides during Neotethys closure and collision, the nappes in the Sultan Mountains, Turkey

In the Central Taurides, the Sultan Mountains comprise in ascending order the Çimendere unit and the Ak?ehir, Do?anhisar, Çay nappes composed of metasedimentary sequences deposited from Cambrian to Tertiary. The overthrust of the Çay nappe on the Lutetian Celepta? formation representing the uppermost stratigraphic position in the Çimendere unit indicates that the latest nappe emplacement occurred during the Middle Eocene. The Oligocene and Miocene rocks are in post-tectonic facies in the west Central Taurides. The kinematic data from these nappes related to closure of the Neotethys reveal a top-NE shear sense in the northwest part and a top-SE shear sense in the southeast part of the Sultan Mountains. The Sultan Mountains are located in the north part of the Isparta Angle which was tectonically assembled by the Lycian, Hoyran–Bey?ehir–Hadim and Antalya allochthons on the Bey Da?lar? and Anamas–Akseki autochthons from the Latest Cretaceous to the Late Pliocene. The previous paleomagnetic data showed that the west and east subsections of the Isparta Angle were subjected to post-Eocene 30°–40° anticlockwise and clockwise rotations, respectively. In consideration of these paleomagnetic data, the kinematic data measured in the Sultan Mountains might be restored into approximately E–W-trending linear fabric associated with a top-E shear sense. These new kinematic data from the nappes in the Sultan Mountains disagree with the existing tectonic models that suggest N–S nappe translation over the Central Taurides during the latest Cretaceous–Middle Eocene. The alternative tectonic model for the Antalya nappes in the core of the Isparta Angle related to east–west compression suggests westward and eastward nappe emplacements on the surrounding autochthons. However, the new kinematic data presented here point consistently to a top-E shear sense in all tectonostratigraphic units in the Sultan Mountains currently located in the north part of the Anamas–Akseki autochthon.     

Paleomagnetic evidence for large en-bloc rotations in the Eastern Alps during Neogene orogeny

We present new paleomagnetic data from the Northern Calcareous Alps and the Central Alps of Austria. All new data are overprint magnetizations and can be subdivided into two groups: In rocks older than earliest Rupelian, two remagnetizations reflecting both clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation were detected. In rocks of late Rupelian and younger ages, only a counter-clockwise rotated remagnetization was found. Our results together with results from previous paleomagnetic studies from the Eastern and Southern Alps suggest two main phases of vertical axis rotation. The first, clockwise rotation affecting the Northern Calcareous Alps was active between earliest to Late Rupelian. We propose a model where the Northern Calcareous Alps are segmented into individual blocks. Within a dextral shear corridor these blocks rotated clockwise due to the counter-clockwise rotation of the Southern Alps and Central Alps. The second, counter-clockwise rotation occurred in the Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene, affecting Eastern and Southern Alps. In this stage of orogeny, the internal massifs of the Western Alps were already accreted to the upper plate and therefore included in counter-clockwise rotation. This rotation is contemporaneous with counter-clockwise rotation in the Apennines and opening of the Balearic basin, and a genetic relationship is suggested. A second step of counter-clockwise rotation, reconstructed from published data, is observed in the sedimentary basins at the southeastern margin of the Eastern Alps, where counter-clockwise rotated Miocene and Pliocene sedimentary rocks are present. This rotation is seen in connection to a young counter-clockwise rotation of the Adriatic plate.     

Paleomagnetic Study of Devonian and Carboniferous Rocks of the Southern Urals: An Independent Test of Collision between the Magnitogorsk Island Arc and the Passive Margin of the Continent of Laurussia

New paleomagnetic data on Devonian and Lower Carboniferous rocks of the Magnitogorsk Zone (Southern Urals) are presented. The paleomagnetic pole calculated for the Lower–Middle Devonian is quite close to the coeval pole of the Baltica Paleocontinent (Laurussia), which indicates that the Magnitogorsk island arc was probably located close to the continent, but not being accreted with it. Paleomagnetic data obtained for Lower Carboniferous rocks may indicate that the Magnitogorsk island arc was turned in the Early Carboniferous and collided with the continent of Laurussia forming a single continent.     

郯庐断裂带东侧华南地块部分逆时针转动——古地磁新证据

本文对郯庐断裂带东西两侧的莱阳、六安、庐枞和怀宁等中新生代盆地内的中三叠世至早白垩世沉积构造变形进行了古地磁研究。采样区大多数特征磁化方向通过了褶皱检验或反极性检验,从上述地区共获得了10个可靠的中三叠世-早白垩世的古地磁极。该结果与华南地块的视极移曲线对比,可以看出,从中侏罗世以来,郯庐断裂带东西两侧不存在大规模地水平相对位移。但是,断裂带东边的华南地块部分存在15°-25°的逆时针转动。这种转动主要应发生在晚侏罗世,主要与华南、华北地块的碰撞以及太平洋板块的挤压有关。      

New Early Permian paleomagnetic results from the Brive basin (French Massif Central) and their implications for Late Variscan tectonics

In order to assess the structural evolution of the Brive basin and the Paleozoic activity of surrounding major faults in the French Massif Central, we carried out a paleomagnetic study on Early Permian rocks from this basin. Positive-fold tests and solely reversed polarities indicate that the characteristic remanent magnetization is likely to be primary. Early Permian tilt-corrected site mean declinations vary from 207°–167° indicating that the Brive basin experienced internal vertical-axis rotations. On the contrary, Late Permian paleomagnetic site means exhibit a circular Fisherian distribution showing no relative rotations. Detailed analyses of Permian paleomagnetic data from five contemporaneous basins of the French Massif Central reveal that these basins share the same equatorial paleolatitude with stable Europe throughout the Permian. However, in Early Permian, three of the five basins experienced differential rotations. The Saint-Affrique basin not only suffered internal deformation during the Early Permian, but the basin as a whole underwent a full-scale counterclockwise vertical-axis block rotation with respect to stable Europe. As a consequence, paleomagnetic data from similar late orogenic basins have to be thus carefully considered for establishment of Apparent Polar Wander paths.     

The 1420 Ma Indiavaí Mafic Intrusion (SW Amazonian Craton): Paleomagnetic results and implications for the Columbia supercontinent

The configuration and the timing of assembly and break-up of Columbia are still matter of debate. In order to improve our knowledge about the Mesoproterozoic evolution of Columbia, a paleomagnetic study was carried out on the 1420 Ma Indiavaí mafic intrusive rocks that crosscut the polycyclic Proterozoic basement of the SW Amazonian Craton, in southwestern Mato Grosso State (Brazil). Alternating field and thermal demagnetization revealed south/southwest ChRM directions with downward inclinations for sixteen analyzed sites. These directions are probably carried by SD/PSD magnetite with high coercivities and high unblocking temperatures as indicated by additional rock magnetic tests, including thermomagnetic data, hysteresis data and the progressive acquisition of isothermal remanent magnetization. Different stable magnetization components isolated in host rocks from the basement 10 km NW away to the Indiavaí intrusion, further support the primary origin of the ChRM. A mean of the site mean directions was calculated at Dm = 209.8°, Im = 50.7° (α₉₅ = 8.0°, K = 22.1), which yielded a paleomagnetic pole located at 249.7°E, 57.0°S (A₉₅ = 8.6°). The similarity of this pole with the recently published 1420 Ma pole from the Nova Guarita dykes in northern Mato Grosso State suggests a similar tectonic framework for these two sites located 600 km apart, implying the bulk rigidity of the Rondonian-San Ignacio crust at that time. Furthermore these data provide new insights on the tectonic significance of the 1100–1000 Ma Nova Brasilândia belt—a major EW feature that cuts across the basement rocks of this province, which can now be interpreted as intracratonic, in contrast to previous interpretation. From a global perspective, a new Mesoproterozoic paleogeography of Columbia has been proposed based on comparison of these 1420 Ma poles and a 1780 Ma pole from Amazonia with other paleomagnetic poles of similar age from Baltica and Laurentia, a reconstruction in agreement with geological correlations.     

Application of kinematic vorticity and gold mineralization for the wall rock alterations of shear zone at Dungash gold mining,Central Eastern Desert,Egypt

The use of porphyroclasts rotating in a flowing matrix to estimate mean kinematic vorticity number (Wm) is important for quantifying the relative contributions of pure and simple shear in wall rocks alterations of shear zone at Dungash gold mine. Furthermore, it shows the relationship between the gold mineralization and deformation and also detects the orientation of rigid objects during progressive deformation. The Dungash gold mine area is situated in an EW-trending quartz vein along a shear zone in metavolcanic and metasedimentary host rocks in the Eastern Desert of Egypt. These rocks are associated with the major geologic structures which are attributed to various deformational stages of the Neoproterozoic basement rocks. We conclude that finite strain in the deformed rocks is of the same order of magnitude for all units of metavolcano-sedimentary rocks. The kinematic vorticity number for the metavolcanic and metasedimentary samples in the Dungash area range from 0.80 to 0.92, and together with the strain data suggest deviations from simple shear. It is concluded that nappe stacking occurred early during the underthrusting event probably by brittle imbrication and that ductile strain was superimposed on the nappe structure during thrusting. Furthermore, we conclude that disseminated mineralization, chloritization, carbonatization and silicification of the wall rocks are associated with fluids migrating along shearing, fracturing and foliation of the metamorphosed wall rocks.     

Differences in paleomagnetic interpretations due to the choice of statistical, demagnetization and correction techniques: Kapuskasing Structural Zone, northern Ontario, Canada

The Kapuskasing Structural Zone (KSZ) reveals a section through the Archean lower crustal granoblastic gneisses. Our new paleomagnetic data largely agree with previous work but we show that interpretations vary according to the choices of statistical, demagnetization and field-correction techniques. First, where the orientation distribution of characteristic remanence directions on the sphere is not symmetrically circular, the commonly used statistical model is invalid [Fisher, R.A., Proc. R. Soc. A217 (1953) 295]. Any tendency to form an elliptical distribution indicates that the sample is drawn from a Bingham-type population [Bingham, C., 1964. Distributions on the sphere and on the projective plane. PhD thesis, Yale University]. Fisher and Bingham statistics produce different confidence estimates from the same data and the traditionally defined mean vector may differ from the maximum eigenvector of an orthorhombic Bingham distribution. It seems prudent to apply both models wherever a non-Fisher population is suspected and that may be appropriate in any tectonized rocks. Non-Fisher populations require larger sample sizes so that focussing on individual sites may not be the most effective policy in tectonized rocks. More dispersed sampling across tectonic structures may be more productive. Second, from the same specimens, mean vectors isolated by thermal and alternating field (AF) demagnetization differ. Which treatment gives more meaningful results is difficult to decipher, especially in metamorphic rocks where the history of the magnetic minerals is not easily related to the ages of tectonic and petrological events. In this study, thermal demagnetization gave lower inclinations for paleomagnetic vectors and thus more distant paleopoles. Third, of more parochial significance, tilt corrections may be unnecessary in the KSZ because magnetic fabrics and thrust ramp are constant in orientation to the depth at which they level off, at approximately 15-km depth. With Archean geothermal gradients, primary remanences were blocked after the foliation was tilted to rise on the thrust ramp. Therefore, the rocks were probably magnetized in their present orientation; tilting largely or entirely predates magnetization.     

Application of DDA to simulate characteristics of the Tsaoling landslide

This study simulates the kinematic behavior of sliding blocks of rock in the earthquake-induced Tsaoling landslide using seismic discontinuous deformation analysis (DDA). We assume sliding rocks are elastic blocks. Detailed joint shear strength parameters are set in DDA in a manner compatible with what is known about the Tsaoling landslide mechanisms. Landslide run-out distance, information from survivors, and the post-failure topography are used to constrain the computational results. Calculations demonstrate that sliding rocks from the ground surface decoupled from those near the basal shear surface during the landslide. Local residents survived because surficial rocks were never deeply buried during the landslide. Additionally, shear strength parameters of material in the deposition area strongly govern final deposit topography. Computational results correlate well with actual post-failure topography.