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.     

盆山关系研究的基本思路、内容和方法

盆地和造山带作为大陆岩石圈表面发育的两个基本构造单元,在空间上相互依存,在物质上相互转换和在地表形态上相互调整、均衡,两者具有密切的耦合关系。不同时期原始盆山结构、山脉变形样式、盆地充填格架及主要构造带、构造地块展布是盆山关系研究的几何学问题;山盆之间的叠加、转换和迁移历史,山脉基底和盖层剥露过程、折返机制,隆升过程,盆地的沉降方式、沉积记录和物源类型,造山带剥蚀物质的去向,山脉剥蚀量,造山带的增生方式等是盆山关系研究的运动学问题;盆山系统反映出的造山过程、区域动力学背景、深部流变学机制和调整过程及盆山演化动力模拟是盆山关系研究的动力学问题和最终目标。盆山关系研究的内容可初步确定为,不同时期的盆山几何配置关系,盆地层序地层序列与多幕构造控制关系,盆地沉积物物源与山脉剥露过程关系,盆地沉降与山脉隆升关系,地表过程与构造作用关系,盆山系统演化动力学。     

Impact of range‐parallel sediment transport on 2D thermo‐mechanical models of mountain belts: Application to the Kyrgyz Tien Shan

Evolving mountain belts dynamics is very sensitive to surface processes. The surface processes affect tectonics by enhancing crust exhumation and thermal weakening, and depositing soft yet cold sediments in surrounding basins. While 2D plane strain models approximate cylindrical tectonic structures well, simple 1D mass transfer cannot capture erosion–sedimentation complexity. The Eastern Kyrgyz Tien Shan, where structures, basins and exhumation rates are well constrained, is used here to illustrate this issue. Thermo‐mechanical models demonstrate that 1D transport cannot adjust both basin geometry and Apatite Fission Track exhumation ages. When out‐of‐plane sediment transfer is considered, the amount of evacuated sediment delays or accelerates the formation of new faults, affecting the relative timing of exhumation. For our case study, lateral drainage must evacuate 80% of the sediments to match the geological constraints, which is consistent with other source to sink analyses. This indicates that lateral drainage should not be neglected in regional 2D models.     

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...     

Mountain building and exhumation processes through time: inferences from nature and models

Orogenic belts involving initially hot lithospheres, as exemplified by accretionary-type orogens, commonly show distributed deformation and retrograde PT paths with a concomitant decrease in pressure and temperature. Paths may track geotherms, indicating thermal equilibrium, consistent with slow strain and exhumation rates, limited strain localization, and consequently limited topographical gradients and distributed erosion. Such patterns are more common in Precambrian times than in younger periods of the Earth history. In contrast, orogens involving initially stiff lithospheres show exhumation PT paths that track isothermal decompression reflecting high strain rates along major shear zones, a feature typical of Phanerozoic collision belts. Field evidence, analogue and numerical models emphasize that strain localization has first-order consequences for the tectonic evolution of orogenic zones including structure, metamorphism, exhumation processes, topography, erosion and sedimentation modes.     

Exhumation and its mechanisms: A review of exhumation studies in the Himalaya

Exhumation has been recognised as a key factor in understanding the dynamics of a mountain belt. Normal faulting, erosion and ductile thinning are the three basic mechanisms to exhume the deeper high grade metamorphic rocks to the surface. Convergent orogenic belts are characterised by over-thickening of the crust due to thrusting and folding. The interplay of uplift due to over-thickening of crust and climatic-erosion is the most plausible mechanism of exhumation as suggested by the numerical models and analogue experiments. The analysis of 534 thermo-chronological dates through 1D-thermal numerical model in the Himalaya suggest that the exhumation is dominantly due to erosion but the pattern of erosion is controlled by local tectonic activities in different sector of the Himalaya since Miocene, indicating that tectonic force as the prime mechanism of exhumation in Himalaya.     

苏鲁高压-超高压变质带折返抬升过程中构造界面和应力场的变化

作为地质历史时期深俯冲作用产物的超高压变质岩，尽管有不同的形成演化历史，但其最终的折返作用无不是在逆冲扩展过程中完成的。因此，逆冲扩展作用及其数值模拟的研究对完整认识苏鲁高压-超高压变质带的折返机制和折返过程具有重要意义。逆冲扩展作用最显观的构造效应是不同层次构造界面和应力场的变化，对于地壳尺度的逆冲扩展作用而言，陆表面和Moho是最重要的活动性构造界面，陆表面的变化导致山体抬升和滞后伸展盆地的形成，出现盆-山相间的构造格局。初步的模拟计算表明，山体的抬升量、滞后伸展盆地的坳陷量和Moho的上拱量与逆冲地块的平移速度和逆冲扩展速度成正相关关系，而且随着时间的推移，山体的抬升速度、滞后伸展盆地的坳陷速度和Moho的上拱速度都有逐渐增大趋势。逆冲扩展过程中，构造应力场的变化总的表现为随着平移速度和逆冲扩展速度的增大和逆冲扩展作用的持续进行，逆冲块体内部由挤压应力状态逐渐向拉张应力状态转化。地块的平移速度是构造强度的一个重要标量，当高压-超高压变质带以仰冲块体为运动载体，沿断裂带向陆壳浅部折返时，构造界面的移动规律基本反映了高压-超高压变质带的折返过程，可见，构造作用的强度和性质应该是制约高压-超高压变质带折返的重要因素之一，在岩石密度差相同的条件下，拉张构造应力场更有利于折返作用的进行。苏鲁高压-超高压变质带的折返是通过多期构造作用完成的，根据数值模拟结果可以推测，每期构造作用都伴随有折返速度由慢到快的变化，在整个折返过程中，构造运动性质和强度的差异导致了折返速度的不均一，总体上，折返速度将随着逆冲地块由挤压向拉张状态的转化和拉张强度（构造作用强度）的不断增强而逐渐增大，最终在以拉张为主导的构造应力场中完成了高压-超高压变质带折返的全过程。     

Detecting the stepwise propagation of the Eastern Sicily thrust belt (Italy): insight from thermal and thermochronological constraints

An extensive dataset of vitrinite reflectance, FTIR parameters on organic matter, illite content in mixed layers illite‐smectite, apatite fission tracks and U‐Th/He dating has been used to reconstruct the stepwise propagation of the Eastern Sicily fold‐and‐thrust belt during Late Palaeogene and Neogene times. The results indicate that the fold‐and‐thrust belt is divisible into two levels of thermal maturity. These levels consist of a less evolved level of thermal maturity that records limited sedimentary burial and minor heating, and a more evolved level of thermal maturity that indicates tectonic burial and exhumation at different times. Deformation and exhumation of shallowly buried units are linked to wedge forward propagation by low‐angle thrusts, whereas the evolution of deeply buried units is associated with tectonic imbrications by duplex formation and steep thrusts. The two tectonic styles alternate during evolution of the fold‐and‐thrust belt under low erosion rates.     

楔形构造在山前冲断构造位移量消减中的作用

介于复活的天山造山带与稳定的准噶尔克拉通之间的准噶尔盆地南缘前陆冲断带,是印度板块与欧亚大陆碰撞的远距离效应产物,也是新近纪以来青藏高原隆升并向北推挤的直接结果。前陆冲断带吸收了来自造山带的水平缩短构造位移量后,克拉通一侧构造趋于稳定。准噶尔盆地南缘与世界上多数前陆冲断带构造地质特征相似,通过区域地震剖面的精细构造几何学和运动学解析,发现其中的楔形构造非常典型,是前陆冲断带内部冲断构造位移量消减的主要方式之一,控制着前陆冲断带分布范围和变形方式。准噶尔盆地南缘构造变形主要由南侧的天山造山带向北逆掩冲断,但是大部分冲断构造位移量是通过楔形构造反向传递后消减。紧邻天山北麓的齐古-喀拉扎-昌吉等构造带,山前深部的楔形体沿侏罗系西山窑组煤层向北扩展过程中,部分位移量沿构造楔顶部的反冲断层向南消减,并切割上覆地层形成第一排背斜带,另一部分位移量则继续向北传递,在断坡位置引发褶皱变形,形成霍-玛-吐第二排构造带和安集海-呼图壁第三排背斜带。准噶尔盆地南缘第二、三排构造带中-新生界内部发育多个小型的构造楔型体,这些互相叠置的楔型构造横向延伸不大,加大了构造变形的复杂性和构造圈闭识别的难度。     

Sensitivity of shear zones in orogenic wedges to surface processes and strain softening

We investigate the internal deformation of orogenic wedges growing by frontal accretion with a two-dimensional numerical model. Our models are limited to crustal deformation and assume a horizontal detachment as observed for various natural orogens (e.g. Alaska and Costa Rica). The model wedges develop as a result of convergence of a brittle sediment layer in front of a strong backstop. We find that our reference model develops in-sequence forward-thrusts which propagate upward from the basal detachment. For this reference model we investigate the sensitivity of shear zone activity to surface processes and strain softening. Model results show that diffusive or slope dependent erosion enhances material transport across the wedge and slows down forward propagation of the deformation front. Frictional strain softening focuses deformation into narrow shear zones and enhances displacement along them. This has also been postulated for natural thrusts such as the Glarus thrust in the Swiss Alps and the Moine thrust in the Scottish Caledonides. A second series of models investigates the effects of regularly spaced weak inclusions within the sediment layer which simulate remnants of previous deformation phases. These inclusions facilitate and focus internal deformation, influence the thrust dip and thrust vergence and enable thrust reactivation in the internal part of the wedge. Our results show that inactive thrusts in the internal part of the wedges may be reactivated in models with diffusive surface processes, strain softening or weak inclusions. Thrust reactivation occurs as models seek to maintain their critical taper angle. First order characteristics of our numerical models agree well with natural orogenic wedges and results from other numerical and analogue models.     

第32届国际地质大会构造地质研究进展综述

第32届国际地质大会系统地反映了构造地质学近年来研究的最新成果。这些成果概括起来包括下列5个方面的内容。（1）构造变形与沉积作用：重点是不同构造体制,如伸展、挤压（包括斜压）体制下,各构造区域的构造+沉积关系,在利用层序地层等进行定量的构造反演方面,取得了重要进展;（2）挤压作用下的构造样式：这一传统构造地质学的研究内容仍然为构造地质学家所关注,如薄皮构造与厚皮构造在碰撞和非碰撞造山作用方面的表现样式;（3）山链内构造反转过程和构造的继承：描述经历了变形体制转换的区域运动学演化,是构造地质学研究的前缘课题;（4）大陆边缘前陆逆冲+褶皱的形成：特别强调盆地-山脉的藕合关系;（5）高应变带的研究及技术方法：包括制图、模型、实验方法和材料等。     

Foreland and Hinterland basins: what controls their evolution?

Compressional systems are usually characterized by a positive topography above the sea level, which is continuously modified by the conjugate effects of tectonic contraction or post-orogenic collapse, thermo-mechanical processes in the deep lithosphere and asthenosphere, but also by climate and other surface processes influencing erosion rates.Different types of sedimentary basins can develop in close association with orogens, either in the foreland or in the hinterland. Being progressively filled by erosional products of adjacent uplifted domains, these basins provide a continuous sedimentary record of surficial, crustal and lithospheric deformation at and near plate boundaries.Selected integrated basin-scale studies in the Circum-Mediterranean thrust belts and basins, in Pakistan and the Americas, are used here to document the effects of structures inherited from former orogens, rifts and passive margins, active tectonics and mantle dynamics on the development and long term evolution of synorogenic basins.     

大别地块超高压变质省的构造变形研究

构造解析的基本目的是建立构造事件造成的地质体几何学、运动学、动力学和流变学。大陆碰撞造山带内含柯石英及微粒金刚石等矿物组合的超高压（ＵＨＰ） 变质岩的形成和折返,是极为复杂的地球动力学过程。与世界上已知大多数超高压变质带相似,中国大别地块内超高压变质省现今观察到的主体构造形式,主要是在碰撞或超高压变质峰期后伸展体制下形成的。通过对大别超高压变质省内伸展组构及挤压（ 碰撞） 组构的鉴别、分析,结合有关超高压变质带构造学研究领域的简略综述指出,在揭示超高压变质带的形成及折返动力学过程中,构造解析的思维和工作方法是行之有效的     

Lateral variation in structural style of mountain building: controls of rheological and rift inheritance

Many mountain belts exhibit significant along‐strike variation in structural style with changes in the width of the orogen, the geometry and kinematics of the crustal‐scale thrust system, and the degree of partitioning between pro‐ and retro‐wedge deformations. Although the main factors controlling first‐order structural style are understood, the cause of these lateral variations remains to be resolved. Here we focus on the Pyrenees, characterized by significant lateral variation in structural style with a thrust system involving more and thinner thrust sheets in the eastern section than in the western part. Similarly, the prior Mesozoic rifting event was characterized by significant lateral variation in structure. We integrate available geological and geophysical data with forward lithospheric scale numerical models. We show that lateral variation in crustal strength attributed to inherited Variscan crustal composition accentuated during Mesozoic rifting explains the variation in structural style observed during Pyrenean mountain building.     

Kinematics-Based Mathematical Model for Deforming Thrust Wedges

Given the wealth of data concerning the kinematics of deforming fold-thrust belts (FTBs), first-order generalizations about how the major strain components vary within a deforming thrust wedges are considered. These generally observed strain patterns are used to constrain a general, kinematics-based, FTB-wedge model. We considered five strain components within a deforming thrust sheet: (1) thrust-parallel simple shear, (2) horizontal contractional strain, (3) thrust-normal reaction strain, (4) gravitational strain, and (5) a lateral confining boundary condition. After making assumptions about how these strain components vary within a model FTB-wedge, the incremental deformation matrix can be calculated for any given point within the deforming wedge. Thus, the material path of a given marker can be determined and an initially spherical marker’s strain path can be calculated as it moves through the deforming wedge. Furthermore, by illustrating various kinematic parameters of many initially spherical markers (for example, Flinn’s k-value, incremental octahedral shear strain, transport-perpendicular stretch), we have assembled representations of the kinematic properties of the entire model wedge. By including a flat-ramp-flat fault surface geometry for the model wedge, we are able to examine the kinematic effects of this relatively common structural geometry. Within the fault ramp segment there are greater incremental strain magnitudes, out-of-the-plane motion, and flattening strains. Additionally, data from this model suggests that gravitational strains potentially have a significant effect on the strain distribution within a deforming thrust wedge. M. Mookerjee is formerly Matthew Strine.     

晚新生代以来天山南、北麓冲断作用的定量分析

利用地表地质、二维地震和钻、测井资料建立了两条横穿天山南、北麓库车河地区和金钩河—安集海河地区的构造剖面,从几何学和运动学的角度探讨新生代以来不同序次台阶状逆断层及其相关褶皱的叠加过程、以及叠加过程中断层形态、褶皱形态与位移量之间的定量关系。生长地层和生长不整合分析表明,上新世早期(4.2～5Ma)可能是天山南、北麓新生代冲断褶皱的主要形成期,发育自天山内部的台阶状逆断层在向两侧沉积盆地扩展过程中形成多个滑脱面和断坡,断层位移在断坡位置引发褶皱变形,从而形成南北方向背斜带成排分布的构造格局。在天山南麓库车河剖面中,控制库车地区构造变形的三条台阶状逆断层位移量分别为5.7km、6.3km和18km,它们的活动时代由老到新,而位移量却逐渐增大,反映新生代以来天山南麓的冲断作用可能存在一个加速的过程。按上述数值计算,渐新世(23Ma)以来的缩短速率为1.3mm/a,上新世(5.2±0.2Ma)以来的缩短速率为3.6mm/a。在天山北麓金钩河—安集海河剖面中,山前深部楔形体内的断层位移量为16.9km,但只有6km的位移量沿中上侏罗统西山窑组煤层内的滑脱面向北传递至第二排背斜带,而至第三排背斜带,位移量已递减为0.22～0.29km。以上新世早期(4.2～5Ma)作为构造活动时间,计算出该剖面上、下构造层上新世以来的缩短速率为2.6～3.1mm/a和3.8～4.5mm/a,其中下构造层内的山前深部楔形体、霍尔果斯深层背斜和安集海背斜的缩短速率分别为3.9～4.6mm/a、1.2～1.4mm/a和0.04～0.38mm/a,这说明由于断层位移量在向北传递过程中不断被褶皱作用吸收或沿反冲断层向南消减,各排背斜带的变形强度由南向北依次减弱。     

褶皱冲断带构造砂箱物理模型研究进展

地壳浅层次褶皱冲断带普遍受控于具耦合互馈特性的多种机制或边界条件,从而具有长期的构造演化过程和复杂的构造特征。自19世纪初以来,基于地质构造过程自相似性和"无理有效性"的砂箱物理模型,为解译褶皱冲断带的演化过程及其动力学机制等提供了独立有效的手段。本文主要基于国内外地壳浅表褶皱冲断带构造变形过程为研究对象的构造砂箱物理模型研究结果与进展进行综述性报道,以期为同行提供参考与借鉴。基于与地壳浅表地层具相似流变学特性的砂箱物理模拟研究,揭示出地壳浅层次构造变形过程普遍自相似性生长过程,符合库伦临界楔理论。褶皱冲断带挤压变形过程中,基底特性(基底几何学、有效摩擦角、基底耦合性和流体超压)、变形物质特性(空间几何学、能干层、流变学和非均一性)、动力学机制(砂箱几何边界、汇聚速率和汇聚方向)、浅表作用(剥蚀和沉降)等对于地壳浅表构造变形过程具有明显的控制作用。构造砂箱物理模型在解译不同构造变形过程与机制的研究中发挥着越来越突出的作用。     

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.     

Lateral variations in tectonic style across cross-strike discontinuities: an example from the Central Apennines belt (Italy)

In foreland thrust belts, abrupt lateral changes in tectonic style, structural–stratigraphic features, and topography usually occur across cross-strike faults. The Central Apennines of Italy offer an exceptional scenario of lateral variations in tectonic setting. Here, the Sangro Volturno oblique thrust ramp (SVOTR) represents the outer thrust front of the Pliocene–Quaternary foreland thrust system, confining southward the axial culmination of the orogen that occurs in the Central Apennines. We present an interpretation of the Pliocene–Quaternary evolution of this cross-strike fault through an integrated dataset including structural-geological mapping and subsurface onshore seismic reflection profiles. The interpretation of the structural framework is augmented by the analysis of low-temperature thermochronometers from 32 new sites extending across the subsurface transverse structure. As evidenced by seismic line interpretation, the localization and development of the SVOTR have been influenced by inherited extensional faults within a positive inversion tectonics context. The regional distribution of the maximum paleotemperature values across the SVOTR constrains the original extent of the allochthonous thrust sheet over all its hanging-wall and footwall blocks. The Pliocene–Quaternary thrusting and inversion of SVOTR caused the strong hanging-wall uplift, which brought to the complete erosion of the allochthonous units and the exhumation of the Adria units. The integrated analysis of low-temperature thermochronometers and structural evidence as applied in the study case can define the role of major cross-strike discontinuities in foreland thrust belts, by constraining and verifying their tectonics inversion significance and the amount of related exhumation.     

Main differences between thrust belts

It is useful to differentiate between thrust belts that are related to east(E)-dipping or west(W)-dipping subduction. More precisely, these either follow or resist the overall ‘eastward’ mantle flow detected by the hot-spot reference frame. Because of the overall ‘westward’ drift of the lithosphere we find in E-dipping subduction that the basal decollement underlying the eastern plate reaches the surface and involves deep crustal rocks. With W-dipping subduction, however, we find that the basal decollement of the eastern plate is warped as well as subducted. Consequently thrust belts related to E- (or NE-) dipping subduction show conspicuous structural and morphologic relief, involve deep crustal rocks, and are associated with shallow foredeeps. On the other hand, thrust belts related to W- (or SW-) dipping subduction show relatively low structural and morphological relief, involve only shallow upper crustal rocks and are associated with deep foredeeps as well as back-arc extension. The accretionary wedge-foredeep-back-arc basin association is visualized as an overall eastward propagating tectonic wave. The accretionary wedge forms in the frontal parts and generally below sea-level. This is followed by forward migrating extension that cuts the earlier accretionary wedge. Typically such a system occurs in the context of overall W-dipping subduction and is characterized by an arcuate shape (e.g. Carpathians, Apennines, Barbados, etc.). Along the branches of the arc external transpression and internal transtension co-exist but with different sense (i.e. sinistral transpression contrasting with dextral transtension). We also observe that with W-dipping subduction the tangent to a pre- deformation marker is descending into the foredeep at an angle in the range of 1–10° while with E-(or NE-)dipping subduction the same marker would rise towards the hinterland with typical angles of about 5–10°. Foredeep subsidence is mainly controlled by the load of the thrust sheets in thrust belts due to E-(or NE-)dipping subduction and by the roll-back of the subduction hinge in accretionary wedges due to W-dipping subduction. Subsidence or uplift rates in the foredeeps and accretionary wedges related to the two different types of subduction are very different, providing different P-T-t paths in the two geodynamic realms. The present shape and structure of the thrust belts belonging to one of these two general types may help us in reconstructing the location of thinned lithosphere and basin evolution in the past.