阿拉善地块新生代构造作用——兼论阿尔金断裂新生代东向延伸问题

阿拉善地块在新生代的变形是青藏高原北部活动的直接结果,各方面的资料显示这种影响仅发生在中新世中晚期,前的活动性已经很低。阿尔金断裂的延伸并不能穿过阿拉善与南蒙古相关断裂相连,我们的研究更偏重认为阿尔金断裂没有进入阿拉善地区,而是经过金塔—花海盆地南缘的宽滩山—黑山地区与合黎山—龙首山南缘断裂相连,中新世中晚期,由于青藏高原北部重要的构造事件,青藏高原由南向北挤压河西走廊地区,造成了金塔—花海盆地内部由近南北向构造转变为近东西向构造。同时形成北山地区控制上第三系沉积(上新统)的东西向断裂。而阿拉善南缘产生右行走滑运动,地块的北部及内部则产生了近南北向的第三纪伸展构造,这些伸展构造以及金塔—花海盆地第三纪断裂控制的沉积与前人认为的强前陆、弱限制性边界的侧向挤出类似。我们认为阿拉善及蒙古地区中新世—上新世期间,由于受到青藏高原近南北向的挤压,产生区域性的"共轭"断裂系统,由于这些地区早期构造的控制,这些新活动的断裂主要迁就于老构造,以脆性活动为主,在蒙古国形成了沿阿尔泰山的北西—南东向断裂和东南部的北东—南西向"共轭"断裂系统,而阿尔金断裂与合黎山—龙首山南缘断裂则形成南侧的"共轭"断裂系统。北山以及金塔—花海地区则是这两组断裂的交汇地区,挤压作用明显,控制了新生代的沉积,并导致了新生代金塔—花海盆地的形成。阿拉善地块作为夹持在这两组断裂之间的地块,发生了一定程度的向东挤出运动,在其东缘贺兰山西侧形成了新生代的挤压构造,而在其东北缘和西南缘则迁就早期的韧性剪切带分别向北东和南西运动,产生相应的变形。该模型能够合理地解释阿拉善周围地区及其内部中新世以来的变形及其与青藏高原北部构造运动之间的关系。     

The Ming-Kush-Kökömeren zone of recent transpression in the Middle Tien Shan

The Ming-Kush-Kökömeren Zone in the Middle Tien Shan is a transpressional structural unit, i.e., a longitudinal recent faultline depression, where manifestations of transverse shortening (intense folding, reverse and thrust faulting) are combined with left-lateral offset along the same faults; the left-lateral offset is commensurable to vertical separation along reverse and thrust faults or it even exceeds the latter. The complicated deformation within this zone has developed most intensely since the late Pliocene and reached a peak in the Pleistocene. However, the origin of this structural unit was at the onset of neotectonic stage, as evidenced from the Oligocene-lower Miocene conglomerate unit, which was formed as a product of the destruction of reactivated Hercynian thrust faults and nappes in the southern wall of the zone. The conglomerate filled a narrow ramp valley that formed in front of thrusts, probably due to the strike-slip offsets along boundary faults. Similar transpressional linear zones-Tessyk-Sary-Bulak, Uzunbulak-Oy-Kain, Kara-Köl, and Chong-Kemin (Kemin-Chilik)-are known in the Middle Tien Shan.     

Neotectonics of East Anatolian Plateau (Turkey) and Lesser Caucasus: implication for transition from thrusting to strike-slip faulting

The east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus are characterised and shaped by three major structures: (1) NW- and NE-trending dextral to sinistral active strike-slip faults, (2) N-S to NNW-trending fissures and /or Plio-Quaternary volcanoes, and (3) a 5-km thick, undeformed Plio-Quaternary continental volcano-sedimentary sequence accumulated in various strike-slip basins. In contrast to the situation in the east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus, the Transcaucasus and the Great Caucasus are characterised by WNW-trending active thrust to reverse faults, folds, and 6-km thick, undeformed (except for the fault-bounded basin margins) continuous Oligocene-Quaternary molassic sequence accumulated in actively developing ramp basins. Hence, the neotectonic regime in the Great Caucasus and the Transcaucasus is compressional–contractional, and Oligocene-Quaternary in age; whereas it is compressional–extensional, and Plio-Quaternary in age in the east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus.Middle and Upper Miocene volcano-sedimentary sequences are folded and thrust-to-reverse-faulted as a result of compressional–contractional tectonic regime accompanied by mostly calc-alkaline volcanic activity, whereas Middle Pliocene-Quaternary sequences, which rest with angular unconformity on the pre-Middle Pliocene rocks, are nearly flat-lying and dominated by strike-slip faulting accompanied by mostly alkali volcanic activity implying an inversion in tectonic regime. The strike-slip faults cut and displace dykes, reverse to thrust faults and fold axes of Late Miocene age up to maximum 7 km: hence these faults are younger than Late Miocene, i.e., these formed after Late Miocene. Therefore, the time period between late Serravalian (∼ 12 Ma) continent–continent collision of Arabian and Eurasian plates and the late Early Pliocene inversion in both the tectonic regime, basin type and deformation pattern (from folding and thrusting to strike-slip faulting) is here termed as the Transitional period.Orientation patterns of various neotectonic structures and focal mechanism solutions of recent earthquakes that occurred in the east Anatolian plateau and the Caucasus fit well with the N–S directed intracontinental convergence between the Arabian plate in the south and the Eurasian plate in the north lasting since Late Miocene or Early Pliocene in places.     

Curved structures and interference fold patterns associated with lateral ramps in the Eastern Cordillera, Central Andes of Argentina

The conspicuous curved structures located at the eastern front of the Eastern Cordillera between 25° and 26° south latitude is coincident with the salient recognized as the El Crestón arc. Major oblique strike-slip faults associated with these strongly curved structures were interpreted as lateral ramps of an eastward displaced thrust sheet. The displacement along these oblique lateral ramps generated the local N–S stress components responsible for the complex hanging wall deformation. Accompanying each lateral ramp, there are two belts of strong oblique fault and folding: the upper Juramento River valley area and El Brete area.On both margins of the Juramento River upper valley, there is extensive map-scale evidence of complex deformation above an oblique ramp. The N–S striking folds originated during Pliocene Andean orogeny were subsequently or simultaneously folded by E–W oriented folds. The lateral ramps delimiting the thrust sheet coincident with the El Crestón arc salient are strike-slip faults emplaced in the abrupt transitions between thick strata forming the salient and thin strata outside of it. El Crestón arc is a salient related to the pre-deformational Cretaceous rift geometry, which developed over a portion of this basin (Metán depocenter) that was initially thicker. The displacement along the northern lateral ramp is sinistral, whereas it is dextral in the southern ramp. The southern end of the Eastern Cordillera of Argentina shows a particular structure reflecting a pronounced along strike variations related to the pre-deformational sedimentary thickness of the Cretaceous basin.     

Neotectonics of East Anatolian Plateau (Turkey) and Lesser Caucasus: implication for transition from thrusting to strike-slip faulting

Abstract

The east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus are characterised and shaped by three major structures: (1) NW- and NE-trending dextral to sinistral active strike-slip faults, (2) N-S to NNW-trending fissures and /or Plio-Quatemary volcanoes, and (3) a 5-km thick, undeformed Plio-Quatemary continental volcanosedimentary sequence accumulated in various strike-slip basins. In contrast to the situation in the east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus, the Transcaucasus and the Great Caucasus are characterised by WNW-trending active thrust to reverse faults, folds, and 6-km thick, undeformed (except for the fault-bounded basin margins) continuous Oligocene-Quaternary molassic sequence accumulated in actively developing ramp basins. Hence, the neotectonic regime in the Great Caucasus and the Transcaucasus is compressional-contractional, and Oligocene-Quaternary in age; whereas it is compressional-extensional, and Plio-Quatemary in age in the east Anatolian plateau and the Lesser Caucasus.

Middle and Upper Miocene volcano-sedimentary sequences are folded and thrust-to-reverse-faulted as a result of compressional- contractional tectonic regime accompanied by mostly calc-alkaline volcanic activity, whereas Middle Pliocene-Quaternary sequences, which rest with angular unconformity on the pre-Middle Pliocene rocks, are nearly flat-lying and dominated by strike-slip faulting accompanied by mostly alkali volcanic activity implying an inversion in tectonic regime. The strike-slip faults cut and displace dykes, reverse to thrust faults and fold axes of Late Miocene age up to maximum 7 km: hence these faults are younger than Late Miocene, i.e., these formed after Late Miocene. Therefore, the time period between late Serravalian (~ 12 Ma) continent-continent collision of Arabian and Eurasian plates and the late Early Pliocene inversion in both the tectonic regime, basin type and deformation pattern (from folding and thrusting to strike-slip faulting) is here termed as the Transitional period.

Orientation patterns of various neotectonic structures and focal mechanism solutions of recent earthquakes that occurred in the east Anatolian plateau and the Caucasus fit well with the N-S directed intracontinental convergence between the Arabian plate in the south and the Eurasian plate in the north lasting since Late Miocene or Early Pliocene in places. © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

滇西北周城—清水断裂带晚新生代活动性初步研究

地表地质调查发现,位于滇西北菱形断块中南部的周城—清水断裂在上新世早期已经开始活动,而断裂强烈活动时期在中更新世,晚更新世以来活动性减弱。断裂运动方式以左旋走滑为主,兼有逆冲分量,并发生过从逆冲到正断的转换,全新世活动不明显。根据断裂断错的上新世昔格达组湖相沉积地质及河流地貌进行的初步分析,可以判断该断裂晚第四纪以来的垂直活动速率为0.1 mm/a左右,明显小于周城—清水断裂北侧川滇菱形块体向南东方向的运动速度(13~14 mm/a)。这表明周城—清水断裂对印度板块与欧亚板块碰撞所形成的次生构造———川滇菱形块体的侧向挤出的调节作用很有限。     

A new interpretation of Stephanian deformation in the Decazeville basin (Massif Central, France): consequences on late Variscan tectonism

Five stages of faulting were observed in and around the Stephanian Decazeville basin, in the SW French Massif Central, at the southern edge of the Sillon houiller fault. The older stage ends during middle Stephanian time, and corresponds to a strike-slip regime with N–S shortening and E–W extension. Before the end of the middle Stephanian, three other stages were recorded: two strike-slip regimes with NW–SE, then E–W compression and NE–SW, then N–S extension; and finally a NNE–SSW extensional regime during the main subsidence of the basin from the end of the middle Stephanian to late Stephanian. Based on mining documents, a new interpretation of the N–S striking folds of the Decazeville basin is proposed. Folding may not be associated with E–W compression but with diapirism of coal seams along syn-sedimentary normal faults during the extensional phase. A last strike-slip regime with N–S compression and E–W extension may be related to Cainozoic Pyrenean orogeny. At a regional scale, it is suggested that from the end of the middle Stephanian to the late Stephanian, the main faults in the Decazeville basin may represent a horsetail splay structure at the southern termination of the Sillon houiller fault.     

Extensional tectonics in Mt Parnon (Peloponnesus,Greece)

Peloponnesus in the south-western part of the Aegean is formed by a heterogeneous pile of alpine thrust sheets that was reworked by normal faulting from Upper Miocene to recent times. Upper Miocene–Lower Pliocene extension in Mt Parnon was accommodated by several mappable brittle detachment faults that exhibit a top-to-the-NE-ENE sense of shear. The hanging wall of the detachments comprises a number of highly tilted fault blocks containing abundant evidence of intense internal deformation by normal faulting and layer-parallel shearing contemporaneous with faulting. These fault blocks are remnants of a cohesive extensional block that slipped to the NE-ENE and broke up along high-angle normal faults that sole into or are cut by the detachments. The largest part of this block is located at the eastern edge of the metamorphic core forming the hanging wall of East Parnon high-angle normal fault that excised part of the aforementioned detachments. The lowermost metamorphic Unit of the nappe-pile does not seem to be affected by the previous extensional episode. Upper plate reconstruction shows that various units of the nappe-pile were affected by high-angle normal faults that linked to detachment faults in the weaker layers. Since the Middle-Upper Pliocene further exhumation of the metamorphic rocks has resulted in the formation of high-angle normal faults overprinting Neogene extensional structures and cut the entire nappe-pile. This new fault system tilted the earlier extensional structures and produced a NE-SW coaxial deformation of Mt Parnon.     

How did the Alxa Block respond to the Indo-Eurasian collision?

The Cenozoic deformation of the Alxa Block resulted directly from the evolution of the northern Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. However, many data show that the deformation occurred only in the Middle-Late Miocene. Our studies show that the Altyn Tagh fault did not pass through the Alxa Block; on the contrary it went along the southern boundary of the Jintai-Huahai Basin, linking with the Helishan—southern Longshoushan fault. Due to important tectonic events in the northern Qinghai-Tibetan plateau during the Middle-Late Miocene time, the northern plateau underwent rapid uplift and the plateau compressed the Hexi Corridor Region, resulting in a change from NS-trending to EW-trending structures in the Jinta-Huahai basin, and in the development of compressive structures in the Beishan. The southern Alxa fault underwent right lateral movement, and in the northern and central parts of the block, NS-trending Tertiary extensional structures formed. These basins controlled by Tertiary faults are similar to basins developed by lateral extrusion with a strong foreland and weak limited boundaries. The authors suggest that a regional “conjugate” fault system resulted from nearly NS-trending compression from the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau during the Miocene and Pliocene in the Alxa Block and southern Mongolia. And due to the control of early structures in these regions, most brittle faults reactivated earlier ductile faults; NW–SE faults along the Altai Mountain and NE–SW faults to the southeast in Mongolia consist of a “conjugate” fault system to the north. The Altyn Tagh fault and southern Helishan-Longshoushan fault comprise a “conjugate” fault system to the south. The Beishan and Jinta-Huahai Basin occupied the convergent area between these two sets of faults; the compression controlled the Tertiary deposition and led to the development of the Cenozoic Jinta-Huahai Basin. The Alxa Block bounded by these two sets of faults moved eastwards, which resulted in the development of Cenozoic compressive structures to the west of Helan Shan, and superimposed early ductile shear zones along the northeastern and southwestern boundaries of the Alxa Block respectively. This model could explain the Cenozoic deformation occurring in and around the Alxa region.     

Control of regional structural styles and faulting on Northeast Mexico spring distribution

Groundwater-dependent, spring-fed ecosystems of the Cuatrociénegas Basin, Coahuila, Mexico, host >70 endemic species. These desert springs occur primarily aligned along the base of an anticline that bisects the Cuatrociénegas Basin, but the hydrogeologic controls of the springs are poorly understood. The hypothesis that spring locations are controlled by subsurface geology, such as buried anticlines or faulting, versus stratigraphic controls is tested by evaluating: (1) regional structural styles; (2) fracture models of analogous structures; (3) hydrogeologic data; and (4) geophysical surveys. Jurassic and Cretaceous siliciclastic and carbonate rocks deposited on the Coahuila Block west of the Cuatrociénegas Basin have dips <10° and lack faults because of a structurally rigid granodiorite basement. To the east of the Coahuila Block and around the Cuatrociénegas Basin, the Coahuila Folded Belt has anticlines associated with basement-involved faults, 10–25° backlimb dips, and forelimb dips up to vertical or slightly overturned. Springs in the western sub-basin that represent 85% of total basin discharge are located on zones of highest anticipated fracture density predicted by fracture models of analogous anticlines. Spring waters reveal elevated temperature (32–35°C) and low tritium (<1 tritium unit). Gravimetry and time-domain electromagnetic surveys correspond with a best-fit Cuatrociénegas Basin hydrogeologic model of fractures associated with reverse faulting controlling spring locations in the western Cuatrociénegas Basin. Springs in the eastern sub-basin are located where ephemeral streams have eroded through confining beds along the base of alluvial fans and lack faulting. Regional variations in structural style are an important control on the location of springs in the Cuatrociénegas Basin.     

祁连山西段及酒西盆地区第四纪构造运动的阶段划分

通过沉积地层、地貌、构造形变等的综合研究，对祁连山西段及酒西盆地区第四纪构造运动的期次和阶段进行了划分。上新世晚期以来，这一地区至少经历过６次显著的构造变动或构造事件，其中以玉门、酒泉和白杨河运动最为强烈。针对上述构造事件进行了古地磁、孢粉、红外释光和热释光等方法的综合研究和年龄测定，论述了各阶段构造运动的方式、性质和其它有关特征。     

新疆开都河大山口水电站场区基岩中断层活动研究

新疆开都河大山口水电站位于南天山现代地壳构造运动仍十分活跃的地区，野外地质研究表明，通过工程区的洪水沟大断层新活动延续到晚更新世末期；工程区的小断层F9最后活动在晚更新世以前。通过对采自这两条断层的断层物质样品的变形显微构造、石英颗粒形貌和类型、TL年龄的分析测定，揭示出洪水沟大断层在工程区段的主活动期为上新世晚期至早更新世，中更新世以后己无明显活动；F9断层最后一次较强烈活动的上限时间为距今9万年左右。结果表明，电站坝区是地壳活动相对较稳定的、较好的场点。     

西昆仑山前冲断带断裂特征及构造单元划分

受新生代帕米尔构造结大幅度向北推移、旋转的影响,形成了弧形的西昆仑山前冲断带.本文主要通过野外地质调查、地震反射剖面的精细解释,对西昆仑山前冲断带最基本的组成部分-断裂进行系统研究.西昆仑山前冲断带内以发育与其弧形形态一致的逆冲断裂为主,但弧形冲断带中段的断裂具有挤压逆冲的同时兼有右行走滑性质.冲断带内还发育了NE 向和近EW向的走滑断裂,它们的发育时间和成因不尽相同,它们控制了冲断带内的变形,调节和改造了早期形成的构造.在对断裂系统研究的基础上,结合冲断带各个部位的结构特征和变形时间,将冲断带划分为9个次级构造单元.西昆仑山前冲断带开始发育于中新世中晚期,此后经历了上新世早期、上新世中晚期、早更新世早中期以及早更新世晚期四个演化阶段.     

Faulting history at the eastern termination of the High Atlas Fault (Western High Atlas,Morocco)

At its eastern termination, the High Atlas Fault in the Western High Atlas in Morocco, consists of a splay of three faults. In the interjacent fault blocks, Neo- and Paleoproterozoic basement, forming the northernmost extremity of the NW-African Craton, is cropping out. The Precambrian basement witnesses a long history of brittle deformation starting at the end of the Pan-African Orogeny. A subsequent episode of normal faulting can be related to the development of a Hercynian basin along the northern passive margin of the cratonic promontory. With regard to the main tectonic activity in the Western High Atlas, basically two models exist: one emphasising block tectonics reflecting Mesozoic rifting followed by Alpine uplift and inversion, the other emphasising Late Paleozoic dextral wrench tectonics. The analysis of the fault activity along the splay faults reveals a predominantly Alpine history, consisting of the Triassic development of the Atlas Rift along the axial zone of the orogen, followed by uplift and inversion. The Late Jurassic to Cenozoic fault activity took place in a sinistral transpressive regime and was partitioned over the three splay faults. Dextral strike-slip fault activity could not be demonstrated in the fault blocks nor along the splay faults. Therefore the faults were probably not involved in Late Paleozoic dextral wrench tectonics.     

Recent and active tectonics of the external zone of the Northern Apennines (Italy)

We present a comprehensive study of the recent and active tectonics of the external part of the Northern Apennines (Italy) by using morphotectonic, geological–structural, and stratigraphic analysis, compared with the current seismicity of the region. This analysis suggests that the external part of the Northern Apennines is characterised by presence of three major systems of Quaternary compressive structures corresponding to (1) the Apenninic watershed, (2) the Apennines–Po Plain margin (pede-Apenninic thrust front), and (3) the Emilia, Ferrara, and Adriatic Fold systems buried below the Po Plain. Geological data and interpreted seismic sections indicate a roughly N–S Quaternary deformation direction, with rates <2.5 mm/year. The shortening decreased since the Pliocene, when our data indicate compression in a NNW–SSE direction and rates up to 7 mm/year. The trend and kinematics of the structures affecting the Apennines–Po Plain margin and the Po Plain subsoil fit well the pattern of the current seismicity of the area, as well as recent GPS and geodetic levelling data, pointing to a current activity of these thrust systems controlled by an overall compressive stress field. Close to the Apenninic watershed, earthquake focal mechanisms indicate that shallow extension is associated to deep compression. The extensional events may be related to a secondary extensional stress field developing on the hangingwall of the thrust system affecting the Apenninic watershed; alternatively, this thrust system may have been recently deactivated and overprinted by active normal faulting. Deeper compressive events are related to the activity of both a major basement thrust that connects at surface with the pede-Apenninic thrust front and a major Moho structure.     

Combining satellite and seismic images to analyse the shallow structure of the Dead Sea Transform near the DESERT transect

The left-lateral Dead Sea Transform (DST) in the Middle East is one of the largest continental strike-slip faults of the world. The southern segment of the DST in the Arava/Araba Valley between the Dead Sea and the Red Sea, called Arava/Araba Fault (AF), has been studied in detail in the multidisciplinary DESERT (DEad SEa Rift Transect) project. Based on these results, here, the interpretations of multi-spectral (ASTER) satellite images and seismic reflection studies have been combined to analyse geologic structures. Whereas satellite images reveal neotectonic activity in shallow young sediments, reflection seismic image deep faults that are possibly inactive at present. The combination of the two methods allows putting some age constraint on the activity of individual fault strands. Although the AF is clearly the main active fault segment of the southern DST, we propose that it has accommodated only a limited (up to 60 km) part of the overall 105 km of sinistral plate motion since Miocene times. There is evidence for sinistral displacement along other faults, based on geological studies, including satellite image interpretation. Furthermore, a subsurface fault is revealed ≈4 km west of the AF on two ≈E–W running seismic reflection profiles. Whereas these seismic data show a flower structure typical for strike-slip faults, on the satellite image this fault is not expressed in the post-Miocene sediments, implying that it has been inactive for the last few million years. About 1 km to the east of the AF another, now buried fault, was detected in seismic, magnetotelluric and gravity studies of DESERT. Taking together various evidences, we suggest that at the beginning of transform motion deformation occurred in a rather wide belt, possibly with the reactivation of older ≈N–S striking structures. Later, deformation became concentrated in the region of today’s Arava Valley. Till ≈5 Ma ago there might have been other, now inactive fault traces in the vicinity of the present day AF that took up lateral motion. Together with a rearrangement of plates ≈5 Ma ago, the main fault trace shifted then to the position of today’s AF.     

滇西地区夷平面变形及其反映的第四纪构造运动

滇西地区广泛发育一级上新世夷平面。夷平面普遍受到两种变形,一种是大面积的掀斜变形,夷平面高度由西北向东南方向递减;另一种为断裂变形,夷平面呈地堑式下降或地垒式上升。 如果以夷平面为第四纪构造运动标志,那么,自上新世末朗以来,滇西地区垂直上升幅度为3500～400m;滇西几条活断层的垂直位移幅度分别是,剑川断裂1650～500m,怒江断裂1850m,腾冲 梁河盆地南北向、北东向断裂分别为850m和1300m。     

青藏高原东西向伸展及其地质意义

东西和南北向伸展是青藏高原最显著的地质特征之一。南北向伸展形成的东西走向伸展构造,主要包括藏南拆离系(STDS),和沿喀喇昆仑—嘉黎断裂带(KJFZ)发育的正断层体系。东西向伸展形成数目众多的南北走向伸展构造,它们切割青藏高原几乎所有的东西走向构造单元,包括羌塘地块、KJFZ和STDS等,说明东西向伸展以整体形式发生并同时波及整个青藏高原,而不是由以KJFZ和STDS为边界的不同地块的不均匀挤出所致。南北走向伸展构造在地表呈之字形,为南北向挤压形成的追踪张断裂;剖面上表现为被后期高角度正断层叠加的拆离断层,拆离断层形成于中-晚中新世而高角度正断层形成于上新世及以后。导致拆离断层的东西向伸展可能是南北向挤压的变形分解,后期高角度正断层作用可能是高原隆升后的垮塌所致。东西向伸展是控制青藏高原新生代浅色花岗岩和盆地形成的主要因素。     

Shearing of partially consolidated sediments in a lower trench slope setting,Shimanto Belt,SW Japan

Detailed mapping of a coastal platform in Shikoku, SW Japan, provides evidence for progressive deformation in partially lithified sediments. The Eocene sediments involved are interpreted as lower slope basin deposits. An assemblage of listric normal faults, sheath folds, broken formations and late-stage faulting has developed during the sediments' burial and uplift history. These structures are typical of many other areas in the Shimanto Belt of Shikoku. Despite the ‘soft’ sediment style of deformation, the consistency of the fold orientations relative to the regional foliation suggests that they are valid kinematic indicators. A sequence of extensional faulting overprinted by synchronous folding and shearing is recognized. This is interpreted as the response of the sediments to shape changes in the accretionary basement induced by shortening. A general model has been constructed for the evolution of the structures: it is proposed that early listric normal faults are subsequently deformed either by shearing along planar surfaces or by motion over frontal and lateral ramps. Back-rotation of sediments during progressive shortening near the front of the prism tightens the fold hinges and rotates the fold axes towards the local shear direction. Alternative sequences which could account for the observed geometries are also discussed.     

Tectono-sedimentary events and geodynamic evolution of the Mesozoic and Cenozoic basins of the Alpine Margin,Gulf of Tunis,north-eastern Tunisia offshore

The structural pattern, tectono-sedimentary framework and geodynamic evolution for Mesozoic and Cenozoic deep structures of the Gulf of Tunis (north-eastern Tunisia) are proposed using petroleum well data and a 2-D seismic interpretation. The structural system of the study area is marked by two sets of faults that control the Mesozoic subsidence and inversions during the Paleogene and Neogene times: (i) a NE-SW striking set associated with folds and faults, which have a reverse component; and (ii) a NW–SE striking set active during the Tertiary extension episodes and delineating grabens and subsiding synclines. In order to better characterize the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the Gulf of Tunis structures, seismic data interpretations are compared to stratigraphic and structural data from wells and neighbouring outcrops. The Atlas and external Tell belonged to the southernmost Tethyan margin record a geodynamic evolution including: (i) rifting periods of subsidence and Tethyan oceanic accretions from Triassic until Early Cretaceous: we recognized high subsiding zones (Raja and Carthage domains), less subsiding zones (Gamart domain) and a completely emerged area (Raouad domain); (ii) compressive events during the Cenozoic with relaxation periods of the Oligocene-Aquitanian and Messinian-Early Pliocene. The NW–SE Late Eocene and Tortonian compressive events caused local inversions with sealed and eroded folded structures. During Middle to Late Miocene and Early Pliocene, we have identified depocentre structures corresponding to half-grabens and synclines in the Carthage and Karkouane domains. The north–south contractional events at the end of Early Pliocene and Late Pliocene periods are associated with significant inversion of subsidence and synsedimentary folded structures. Structuring and major tectonic events, recognized in the Gulf of Tunis, are linked to the common geodynamic evolution of the north African and western Mediterranean basins.