Fold development in the Jura

The term “folding” encompasses a wide range of processes, most of which are poorly understood. Jura folds, though comparatively simple, have developed by a superposition of different types of instabilities both in space and time. They are never periodic and sinusoidal and are more realistically approximated by kink bands with rounded hinges. Thrusting and kinking instabilities had closely similar thresholds, with kinks usually following and deforming thrusts. An analysis of embryonic folds shows that instabilities in the sedimentary cover were initiated primarily at inherited flaws of the basal décollement layer. They thence spread upward, often following stratigraphically higher incompetent layers in secondary décollement and there nucleating secondary instabilities before reaching the surface (disharmonic folding). Embryonic folds thus are usually narrow, emanating from secondary décollement layers that are connected with the basal décollement zone by thrusts nucleated at inherited obstacles. These are eventually overcome, permitting basal décollement to coalesce with kinking instabilities that grow downward from nuclei in higher décollement intervals. In this way folds centered in the basal décollement layer, and consequently of normal width, may be superposed on the narrow embryonic folds. The sequence and importance of the different elements may vary from place to place to result in a vast catalog of fold shapes.     

Three-dimensional architecture of growth strata associated to fault-bend,fault-propagation,and décollement anticlines in non-erosional environments

The evolution of surficial structures at the toes of orogens arises from the complex interplay between tectonic and surface processes. The internal architecture of syntectonic sediments has been shown to provide useful insights on the kinematic mechanism of folding. Two-dimensional templates of growth strata patterns associated to thrust-related anticlines are available in the literature. In this paper, we show the results of three-dimensional numerical modelling of growth fault-bend folds, fault-propagation folds, fixed limb length décollement folds and fixed limb dip décollement folds. We point out that total thickness contour maps, single syntectonic layer contour maps, and above all, the computation of their directional first-derivative maps, provide useful templates for inferring the kinematic mechanism of folding when compared with similar maps from natural examples. Application of these three-dimensional numerical models includes the comparison and supervised best fit with three-dimensional seismic reflection data sets. Numerical results are contrasted with the growth strata map patterns of the Mediano, Oliana and Pico del Aguila anticlines, in the Spanish Pyrenees.     

Geology of the Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago and the North Kara Terrane in the Russian high Arctic

The Severnaya Zemlya Archipelago is located at 80°N near the continental shelf break, between the Kara and Laptev seas. Sedimentary successions of Neoproterozoic and Palaeozoic age dominate the bedrock geology. Together with Northern Tajmyr, Severnaya Zemlya constitutes the main land areas of the North Kara Terrane (NKT), which is inferred here to have been a part of the Timanide margin of Baltica, i.e. an integral part of Baltica at least since the Vendian. Vendian turbidites derived from the Timanide Orogen are inferred to have been deposited on Neoproterozoic greenschist facies, granite-intruded basement. Shallow-water siliclastic deposition in the Early to Mid-Cambrian was followed by highly organic-rich shales in the Late Cambrian and influx of more turbidites. An episode of folding, the Kan’on River deformation, separates these formations from the overlying Tremadocian conglomerates and sandstones. In the Early Ordovician, rift-related magmatic rocks accompanied the deposition of variegated marls, sandstones, carbonates and evaporites. Dark shales and gypsiferous limestones characterise the Mid-Ordovician. Late Ordovician quartz-sandstones mark a hiatus, followed by carbonate rocks that extend up into and through most of the Silurian. The latter give way upwards into Old Red Sandstones, which are inferred to have been deposited in a Caledonian foreland basin. Deformation, reaching the area in the latest Devonian or earliest Carboniferous and referred to as the Severnaya Zemlya episode, is thought to be Caledonian-related. The dominating E-vergent structure was controlled by décollement zones in Ordovician evaporite-bearing strata; detachment folds and thrusts developed in the west and were apparently impeded by a barrier of Ordovician igneous rocks in the east. Below the décollement zones, the Neoproterozoic to Early Ordovician succession was deformed into open to close folds. The exposed strata in the lower structural level have been juxtaposed with those in the upper structural level along the major N-trending Fiordovoe Lake Fault Zone, which involved several kilometres of dextral strike-slip movement and downthrow to the west. A major Early Carboniferous unconformity separates the folded Mid-Palaeozoic and older rocks from overlying Carboniferous formations, as on Franz Joseph Land and Svalbard. Subsequent latest Palaeozoic to Early Mesozoic orogeny, as on Taimyr, apparently had little influence on the Severnaya Zemlya successions.     

鲁西地区沿寒武系/太古宇不整合面滑脱构造的主要特征及形成机制

郯庐断裂带以西的鲁西地区,寒武系/太古宇不整合面改造成为构造滑脱面,滑脱面上发育碎裂岩和动力变质岩。滑脱面上盘的寒武系底部产生强烈的构造变形,褶皱和破碎带发育;滑脱面之下的太古宇构造变形以劈理和裂缝为主,岩石破碎。构造滑动使露头区寒武系底部地层有不同程度的缺失,济阳坳陷南缘则出现地层重复现象。从地层缺失到褶皱产生再到地层重复是滑脱构造逐渐演化的结果。40Ar-39Ar、K-Ar、锆石和磷灰石裂变径迹数据分析表明:滑动的主要时期在早白垩世中-晚期(距今130~110Ma)和中始新世(距今43~37Ma)。各种构造指向标志表明滑动的方向以向北、北北西和北北东为主。滑脱构造是低角度的伸展构造,其机制与华北东部晚中生代的构造变革和新生代以来印度—欧亚板块碰撞、太平洋板块俯冲方向和速度的变化密切相关。     

Tectonics of the Middle Triassic intracontinental Xuefengshan Belt, South China: new insights from structural and chronological constraints on the basal décollement zone

In orogenic belts, a basal décollement zone often develops at depth to accommodate the shortening due to folding and thrusting of the sedimentary cover. In the Early Mesozoic intracontinental Xuefengshan Belt of South China, such a décollement zone is exposed in the core of anticlines formed by the emplacement of the late-orogenic granitic plutons. Our detailed, multi-scale structural analysis documents a synmetamorphic ductile deformation. In the basal décollement, the Neoproterozoic pelite and sandstone, and the intruding Early Paleozoic granites were deformed and metamorphosed into mylonites and orthogneiss, respectively. The metamorphic foliation contains a NW–SE stretching lineation associated with top-to-the-NW kinematic indicators. The ductile shearing of these high-strained rocks can be correlated with NW-verging folds and thrusts recognized in the Neoproterozoic to Early Triassic sedimentary cover. Monazite U–Th–Pb_tot chemical dating, and zircon SIMS U–Pb dating provide age constraints of the ductile shearing between 243 and 226?Ma, and late-orogenic granite emplacement around 235–215?Ma. In agreement with recent geochronological data, these new results show that the Xuefengshan Belt is an Early Mesozoic orogen dominated by the NW-directed shearing and thrusting. At the southeastern boundary of the Xuefengshan Belt, the Chenzhou-Linwu fault separates the Early Mesozoic domain to the NW from the Early Paleozoic domain to the SE. The tectonic architecture of this belt was possibly originated from the continental underthrusting to the SE of the South China block in response to northwest-directed subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate.     

Geological evolution and structural style of the Palaeozoic Tafilalt sub‐basin,eastern Anti‐Atlas (Morocco,North Africa)

The Tafilalt is one of a number of generally unexplored sub‐basins in the eastern Anti‐Atlas of Morocco, all of which probably underwent a similar tectono‐stratigraphic evolution during the Palaeozoic Era. Analysis of over 1000 km of 2‐D seismic reflection profiles, with the interpretation of ten regional seismic sections and five isopach and isobath maps, suggests a multi‐phase deformation history for the Palaeozoic‐aged Tafilalt sub‐basins. Extensional phases were probably initiated in the Cambrian, followed by uniform thermal subsidence up to at least the end of the Silurian. Major extension and subsidence did not begin prior to Middle/Upper Devonian times. Extensional movements on the major faults bounding the basin to the north and to the south took place in synchronisation with Upper Devonian sedimentation, which provides the thickest part of the sedimentary sequence in the basin. The onset of the compressional phase in Carboniferous times is indicated by reflectors in the Carboniferous sequence progressively onlapping onto the Upper Devonian sequence. This period of compression developed folds and faults in the Upper Palaeozoic‐aged strata, producing a structural style characteristic of thin‐skinned fold and thrust belts. The Late Palaeozoic units are detached over a regional décollement with a northward tectonic vergence. The folds have been formed by the process of fault‐propagation folding related to the thrust imbricates that ramp up‐section from the décollement. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Geometric analysis of fold development in overthrust terranes

Fault-bend folding, fault-propagation folding, and detachment (or décollement) folding are three distinct scenarios for fold-thrust interaction in overthrust terranes. Simple kink-hinge models are used to determine the geometric associations implicit in each scenario. Bedding maintains constant thickness in the models except in the forelimb of the fold. The forelimb is allowed to thicken or thin without limit. The models address individual folds, and the calculated fold geometries are balanced structures.Each mode of fold-thrust interaction has a distinct set of geometric relationships. Final fold geometry is adequate in itself to discern many fault-bend folds. This is not the case for fault-propagation and detachment folds. These two fold forms have very similar geometric relationships. Some knowledge of the nature of the underlying thrust or décollement zone is usually needed to distinguish between them. The geometry of a fold is altered, in a predictable fashion, by transport through an upper ramp hinge and by fault-parallel shearing of the structure. The shearing results in a tighter fold, whereas transport through the ramp hinge produces a broader fold.The viability of the geometric analysis technique is demonstrated through its application to a pair of detachment folds from the Canadian Cordillera. The geometric analysis is also used to evaluate cross-sections through subsurface structures. In an example from the Turner Valley oil field, the analysis indicates how the interpretation should be altered so as to balance the cross-section. The analysis reveals hidden assumptions and specific inconsistencies in structural interpretations.     

Thrust structures in the eastern Dauphinois Zone (French Alps), north of the Pelvoux Massif

An examination of thrust structures in the eastern part of the Dauphinois Zone of the external French Alps (referred to in the literature as the Ultradauphinois Zone) shows that major basement thrusts climb up section to produce cover-basement synclines. These thrusts also climb laterally and are continuous with thrust in the cover rocks. The external basement massifs are recognized as thrust sheets with variably deformed and thrust cover sequences. The distinction made in the previous literature between the Dauphinois and Ultradauphinois Zones is no longer tenable. Cover thrusting proceeded by both smooth slip and rough slip, the latter producing a duplex of cover thrust slices. Restoration of this duplex indicates that a shortening of 70 km in the cover occured during its formation. Possible errors in this estimate include uncertainties in the original stratigraphic thickness and in the overall shape of the duplex. Another duplex is thought to have formed at a basement ramp created by the presence of an early basement normal fault. Partial footwall collapse of this basement ramp gave rise to a basement horse at the bottom of the duplex. The overall relation between cover and basement thrusting is indicated using a hanging wall sequence diagram. Recent geophysical studies suggest that the basement thrusts developed from a mid-crustal décollement which passes down dip to offset the Moho. Model studies of thin-skinned tectonics may not be appropriate to such thrust geometries.     

Structural evolution of the Rides Prerifaines (Morocco): structural and seismic interpretation and analogue modelling experiments

The Rides Prerifaines (RP) of Morocco constitute the leading edge of the Rif chain. They involve a Triassic–Palaeocene succession deposited on a peneplained Palaeozoic fold belt and accumulated in basins delimited by NE–SW-trending normal fault systems. A significant hiatus separates an overlying Middle Miocene–Upper Miocene foredeep sequence. The reconstruction of the complex structural evolution of the RP during the later compressive phases that affected the Rif chain since Middle Miocene time has been the aim of this paper. We integrated field structural analyses, seismic line interpretation, and analogue modelling in order to evaluate the control exerted by the Late Triassic–Jurassic normal fault systems onto the later compressive tectonics. The maximum compression direction associated with the first compressive phase is roughly NE–SW to ENE–WSW oriented. During this phase the Mesozoic basin fill was scooped-out from the graben and the main décollement level were the Triassic evaporites. Since Pliocene times the maximum compression direction was oriented roughly N–S. During this phase the RP assumed their present structural setting. The earlier normal faults delimiting the Mesozoic graben were reactivated in a strike–slip mode also involving the Palaeozoic basement. The analogue modelling experiments demonstrated that the basement reactivation promoted salt tectonics and favoured fluid circulation.     

Seismic reflection evidence for thick-skinned tectonics in the northern Jura

Newly released seismic reflection data from the northern Jura Mountains and southern Rhine Graben provide the first high‐quality subsurface images from this area. These throw light on the details of the fault patterns in the area, and show that the Ferrette and Le Glaserberg Jura structures are largely the result of thrust faulting. However, the faults differ in their nature from those usually assumed in Jura tectonics: they are not low‐angle thrusts converging on a decollement zone in Triassic evaporites. They appear instead to be high‐angle faults that cross the entire sedimentary section, indicating that thick‐skinned tectonics prevailed in this part of the Jura. Embryonic Jura folds can be seen on the images from the nearby Mulhouse Horst, folds that are not supported by thickened Triassic evaporites. The existence of recent earthquake activity, taken together with the prevalence of thick‐skinned tectonics, suggests that occasional large earthquakes cannot be ruled out in this area.     

Large-scale fluid infiltration, metasomatism and re-equilibration of Archaean basement granulites during Palaeoproterozoic thrust belt construction, Ungava Orogen, Canada

Abstract The metamorphic history of the Archaean Superior Province crystalline basement in the Palaeoproterozoic Ungava Orogen attests to the importance of structural and geohydrological controls on a retrograde amphibolite-granulite transition. Two distinct metamorphic suites, separated in age by nearly one billion years, are recognized in extensively exposed tonalitic to dioritic metaplutonic gneisses. The older suite comprises c. 2.7-Ga granulite facies assemblages (orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene-hornblende-plagioclase-ilmenite ± biotite ± quartz) that record moderate pressures (±5 kbar) and high temperatures (±800° C). A younger, c. 1.8-Ga suite resulted from amphibolitization of the granulites and is characterized by regionally extensive amphibolite facies mineral zones that broadly parallel the basal décollement of the overlying Proterozoic Cape Smith Thrust Belt. Deformation/mineral growth relationships in the amphibolitized basement indicate that extensive hydration and re-equilibration of the Archaean granulites occurred during thrust belt deformation. The transition from granulite facies to amphibolite facies assemblages is characterized by the growth of garnet-hornblende-quartz ° Cummingtonite coronas between plagioclase and orthopyroxene-clinopyroxene, as well as titanite coronas on ilmenite. Multi-equilibrium thermobarometry on the coronitic assemblages documents re-equilibration of the granulitic gneiss to 7.7 kbar at 644° C in the south and 9.8 kbar at 700° C in the north. The variably deformed, amphibolite facies domain sandwiched between the coronitic garnet zone and the basal décollement is marked by significant metasomatic changes in major element concentrations within tonalite. These changes are compatible with equilibrium flow of an aqueous-chloride fluid down a temperature gradient. The source of fluids for basement hydration/metasomatism is interpreted to be dehydrating clastic rocks in the overlying thrust belt, with fluid flow probably focused along the basal décollement.     

Coseismic elastic models of folds above blind thrusts in the Betic Cordilleras (Spain) and evaluation of seismic hazard

Although it is generally considered that near-surface earthquakes result from movements along faults that cut through the surface, several recent large earthquakes have been partly attributed to blind thrusts. Movements along blind thrusts lead to the formation of surface folds, which are highly dependent upon fault geometry at depth and often not considered in seismic hazard evaluation. Several authors have studied the relationship between surface folding and thrusting for geological situations in which fault geometries are quite simple. However, active fault geometries can be quite complex e.g., segmented thrust faults associated with strike-slip faults. The aim of this contribution is to reconstruct the fault kinematics at depth for a relatively complex geological structure located in the Eastern Betic Cordilleras (Orihuela-Guardamar-Torrevieja region) using the patterns of kilometre-scale folds observed in the field. In order to model surface deformation, the assumption is made that surface km-scale folds have been created by coseismic deformation associated with movement along blind thrusts. By means of a coseismic deformation model, movements at depth have been calculated for three possible hypotheses. Hypothesis 1 assumes that each superficial fold is created by an independent fault. Hypotheses 2 and 3 assume that a sequence of two superficial folds can be created by movement along a single fault displaying a flat and ramp geometry. In Hypothesis 2, the flat is a superficial décollement level between the sedimentary cover and the Betic basement; in Hypothesis 3, it is a deeper décollement level within the Betic basement.

Knowing the approximate age of surface deformation, rough estimates of fault slip-rates and recurrence periods for two possible earthquake magnitudes (7 Ms and 6.7 Ms) have been made, from calculated dislocations at depth. Slip-rates and recurrence periods for flat and ramp fault geometries are in the range of 0.75–1 mm/yr and 1000–2000 yr, respectively. These values are close to those calculated by direct methods in similar seismotectonic contexts.     

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。     

陕甘川邻接区基于MAPGIS的金成矿远景区预测

陕甘川邻接区金矿床的展布与滑脱挤出构造、特别是不均匀滑脱关系非常密切。为了定量分析不均匀滑脱与金矿的关系 ,专门研制了自动追踪断裂求取弧形滑脱断裂曲率的计算机软件。经MAPGIS空间分析和多次实验证实 ,区内大中型以上金矿与曲率大于 4的点的密度区关系密切。用Grsip软件 ,对研究区进行断裂密度统计 ,再与金矿床进行MAPGIS空间分析 ,发现断裂密度在 10 0 2 40时 ,对金矿最有利。将研究区的印支—燕山期岩体依出露面积大小划分了大、中、小岩体和岩脉 4种规模的侵入岩。对侵入岩与金矿床MAPGIS空间分析 ,得出了中、小型岩体和岩脉的成矿有利区间分别为岩体边界向外扩展 70 ,6 0和 40个MAPGIS单位的环带。在进行MAPGIS空间分析过程中 ,还分析出研究区的金矿与该区应力异常区也有密切关系 ,但金矿与地层的关系不密切。最后 ,利用MAPGIS空间分析工具对陕甘川邻接区以上金成矿有利因素进行相交分析 ,圈定出 14个一级金矿远景区 ,19个二级金矿远景区和 11个三级金矿远景区。     

板内扭压造山机制

据中国大陆板块内部构造特征提出两种扭压造山机制：（１） 扭压滑脱褶皱造山作用;（２） 扭压斜滑断裂岩浆造山作用。前者以扬子板块内的武陵山台褶带为例,后者以华北板块内的太行山断裂岩浆带为例。扭压滑脱褶皱造山作用表现为沉积盖层呈隔档式及隔槽式褶皱;结晶基底呈大型隆起和拗折,莫霍面下降,从而使地壳增厚,构成造山带。值得注意的是,这类滑脱褶皱带的整体形状呈Ｓ状展布,其中的次级褶皱呈雁行状斜列,表明这类造山带的形成除受水平挤压作用外,还伴有左行剪切作用。扭压斜滑断裂岩浆造山作用表现为沿断裂带有一系列花岗质深成岩体展布。这些断裂不仅深切地幔,而且导致下地壳局部融熔形成花岗岩浆,驱动岩浆斜向上升,并控制岩体侵位。与此同时地壳在平面上缩短,垂向上增厚,构成造山带。上述两种造山作用一致表明,东亚大陆在中生代时曾相对太平洋板块向南滑移     

下扬子地区中-新生代的挤压变形与伸展改造及其油气勘探意义

以地表变形特征、地层厚度变化和地震剖面为约束,构建了贯穿下扬子地区主要构造单元的三条地质大剖面。剖面展示了研究区早期褶皱逆冲、晚期伸展断陷的构造格局,并揭示了变形的空间差异。通过对褶皱卷入的层位、断层与地层的切割关系及不整合类型和发育特征的梳理,得出研究区北侧的褶皱逆冲主要形成于中-晚三叠世,南侧的褶皱逆冲主要形成 于中-晚侏罗世。两侧的挤压构造在晚白垩世开始都经历了强烈的拉张作用,北侧的断陷一直持续到古近纪,新近纪以拗陷为主,而南侧古近纪断陷规模较小,新近纪拗陷不发育。苏州-无锡地区的下古生界受后期改造作用较弱,是油气勘探的有利地区。     

Paleomagnetic and inner diapiric structural constraints on the kinematic evolution of a salt-wall: The Bicorb-Quesa and northern Navarrés salt-wall segments case (Prebetic Zone,SE Iberia)

Paleomagnetism together with an analysis of the internal structure of the Bicorb-Quesa and northern Navarrés salt-wall segments (Prebetic Zone in SE Iberia) were used to constrain their kinematics and driving mechanisms. Paleomagnetic data from Upper Triassic red beds of the selected salt-related structures and from the Miocene rocks belonging to adjacent syn-diapiric half-grabens reveal 15–30° counter-clockwise vertical-axis rotations of the salt-wall rocks and a 20° clockwise rotation of the Jurassic-Miocene cover block located south of the salt-wall. This, together with the salt-wall structure, indicates that the origin of the salt-wall was linked to the motion of a late Miocene thin-skinned extensional fault system, which detached on the Upper Triassic evaporites. Specifically, the salt-wall formed by the south-southwest displacement with a 20° clockwise rotation component of a cover block bounded northwards by the detachment disruptions generated by the motion of pre-existent basement faults. The Upper Triassic detachment level was first affected by a counter-clockwise vertical axis rotation and, during the Paleogene-earliest Miocene building of the Iberian Chain, by tight WNW-trending folds and SSE-directed minor thrusts. This study also shows that Paleomagnetism together with the analysis of the internal structure can successfully depict the geometry and kinematic evolution of complex salt-wall structures.     

Polyphase late Palaeozoic deformation in the southeastern foreland and northwestern Piedmont of the Alabama Appalachians

Late Palaeozoic deformation in the southern Appalachians is believed to be related to the collisional events that formed Pangaea. The Appalachian foreland fold and thrust belt in Alabama is a region of thin-skinned deformed Palaeozoic sedimentary rocks ranging in age from Early Cambrian to Late Carboniferous, bounded to the northwest by relatively undeformed rocks of the Appalachian Plateau and to the southeast by crystalline thrust sheets containing metasedimentary and metaigneous rocks ranging in age from late Precambrian to Early Devonian. A late Palaeozoic kinematic sequence derived for a part of this region indicates complex spatial and temporal relationships between folding, thrusting, and tectonic level of décollement. Earliest recognized (Carboniferous(?) or younger) compressional deformation in the foreland, observable within the southernmost thrust sheets in the foreland, is a set of large-scale, tight to isoclinal upright folds which preceded thrafing, and may represent the initial wave of compression in the foreland. Stage 2 involved emplacement of low-angle far-traveled thrust sheets which cut Lower Carboniferous rocks and cut progressively to lower tectonic levels to the southwest, terminating with arrival onto the foreland rocks of a low-grade crystalline nappe. Stage 3 involved redeformation of the stage 2 nappe pile by large-scale upright folds oriented approximately parallel to the former thrusts and believed to be related to ramping or imbrication from a deeper décollement in the foreland rocks below. Stage 4 involved renewed low-angle thrusting within the Piedmont rocks, emplacement of a high-grade metamorphic thrust sheet, and decapitation of stage 3 folds. Stage 5 is represented by large-scale cross-folding at a high angle to previous thrust boundaries and fold phases, and may be related to ramping or imbrication on deep décollements within the now mostly buried Ouachita orogen thrust belt to the southwest. Superposed upon these folds are stage 6 high-angle thrust faults with Appalachian trends representing the youngest (Late Carboniferous or younger, structures in the kinematic sequence.     

Transverse fold evolution in the External Sierra,southern Pyrenees,Spain

Fault-slip data are used to reconstruct varying tectonic regimes associated with transverse fold development along the eastern and southern margins of the Jaca basin, southern Pyrenees, Spain. The Spanish Pyrenean foreland consists of thrust sheets and leading-edge décollement folds which developed within piggyback basins. Guara Formation limestones on the margins of the Jaca basin were deposited synchronously with deformation and are exposed in the External Sierra. Within the transverse folds, principal shortening axes determined from P and T dihedra plots of fault-slip data show a shift from steep shortening in stratigraphically older beds to NNE–SSW horizontal shortening in younger beds. Older strata are characterized by extensional faults interpreted to result from halotectonic (salt tectonics) deformation, whereas younger strata are characterized by contraction and strike-slip faults interpreted to result from thrust sheet emplacement. The interpretation of the timing for the shortening axes in the younger strata is supported by the observation that these axes are parallel to shortening axes determined from finite strain analysis, calcite twins, and regional thrusting directions determined from fault-related folds and slickenlines. This study shows that fault population analysis in syntectonic strata provides an opportunity to constrain kinematic evolution during orogeny.