Basement-controlled deformation of sedimentary sequences,Anadarko Shelf,Oklahoma

Structures rooted in the crystalline basement frequently control the deformation of the host bedrock and the overlying sedimentary sequences. Here, we elucidate the structure of the c. 2-km deep Precambrian granitic basement in the Anadarko Shelf, Oklahoma, and how the propagation of basement faults deformed the sedimentary cover. Although the basin is foreland in origin, the gently dipping shelf sequences experienced transpressional deformation in the Late Palaeozoic. We analyse a 3-D seismic reflection data set and basement penetrating well data in an area of 824 km². We observe: (a) pervasive deformation of the basement by basement-bounded interconnected mafic sills, and a system of subvertical discontinuity planes (interpreted as faults) of which some penetrate the overlying sedimentary cover; (b) three large (>10 km-long) through-going faults, with relatively small (<100 m) vertical separation (Vsep) of the deformed stratigraphic surfaces; (c) upward propagation of the large faults characterized by faulted-blocks near the basement, and faulted-monoclines in the deeper sedimentary units that transition into open monoclinal flexures up-section; (d) cumulative along-fault deformation of the stratigraphy exhibits systematic trends that varies with offset accrual; (e) two styles of Vsep—Depth distribution which include a unidirectional decrease of Vsep from the basement through the cover rocks (Style-1) and a bidirectional decrease of Vsep from a deep sedimentary unit towards the basement and shallower sequences (Style-2). We find that the basement-driven propagation (Style-1) shows greater efficiency of driving the fault deformation to shallower depths compared to the intrasedimentary-driven fault nucleation and propagation (Style-2). Our study demonstrates an evolution of cumulative Vsep trends with offset accrual on the faults, and the partial inheritance of the heterogeneous intra-basement deformation by the sedimentary cover. This contribution provides important insight into the upward propagation of basement-driven faulting associated with structural inheritance in contractional sedimentary basins.     

Geometry and impact of transpressional faulting in polyphasic metamorphic orogenic belts: the Viù Deformation Zone (inner Western Alps)

This article describes the geometry and structural architecture of the Viù Deformation Zone (VDZ), a brittle-ductile to brittle structure affecting the metamorphic units of the inner Western Alps, and its role in modifying the pre-existing syn-metamorphic structural setting. The VDZ reactivates and displaces the contact between two different oceanic units, the Lanzo Ultramafic Complex and the Lower Susa–Lanzo Valleys Unit, characterized by polyphase syn-metamorphic deformation. It shows a strike-slip duplex geometry, constituted by N–S reverse-dextral faults linked by NW–SE antithetical sinistral-reverse faults, and represents a contractional step-over zone along a N–S regional dextral-reverse structure, the Col del Lis-Trana Deformation Zone. Formation of these transpressional structures steepened the Lanzo Ultramafic Complex during the last stages of its exhumation. The 3D geometry of the VDZ was strongly controlled by the reactivation of pre-existing structures, such as the buried western edge of the Ivrea body and metamorphic foliations. Brittle reactivation also induced block rotation along the VDZ, causing anomalous kinematic relations between the VDZ-associated faults. This study, hence, shows that in metamorphic orogens the mechanisms generating strike-slip duplexes may be different from those classically provided by the literature, with brittle reactivation and block rotation strongly prevailing on newly formed faults. In such orogens, moreover, rotations induced by transpressional faulting may sometimes be mistaken for steep syn-metamorphic shear zones. Underestimating the effects of later brittle deformation and associated rotations may cause erroneous interpretations of the tectonic evolution of orogens.     

Structure and tectonics of the Achankovil Shear Zone, southern India

An integrated approach to resolve the kinematics of the controversial Achankovil Shear Zone (AKSZ) has been attempted involving remote sensing data, shaded relief topo-maps, ground details of lithology and mesoscopic structures. An excellent correlation of structural trends exists on all scales of observation. The AKSZ is distinctly defined by NW–SE trending foliation fabrics with steep dips to southwest. The adjacent Madurai block and Trivandrum block show contrasting lithological and structural characteristics as shown in structural cross-sections.The mesoscopic structural studies reveal the presence of sub-horizontal stretching lineations, asymmetric structures like S–C′ fabrics, porphyroclasts, ‘S’ shaped folds and shear bands confirming the strike-slip component of shear along AKSZ. The deformation undergone by the AKSZ could be described in terms of an initial dextral deformation — D₁, reactivated and superimposed by sinistral kinematics — D₂, which is also supported by megascopic structural interpretation of remote sensing data. The megascopic structural interpretation of AKSZ displays en-echelon pattern of lineaments with right overstepping arrangement, which can be interpreted as an evidence of the latest sinistral transpressional deformation.     

塔里木盆地晚第三纪-第四纪沉积特征、构造变形与石油地质意义

通过对塔里木盆地晚第三纪-第四纪沉积环境、沉积中心分布特征、构造变形特征及其动力学成因的分析,认为塔里木盆地晚第三纪-第四纪的沉积和构造变形过程明显受控于阿合奇-西昆仑-阿尔金左行剪切挤压构造。它加速了生油岩的成熟过程,形成新的背斜和断层圈闭构造,而且还控制了新生代油气的运移和聚集。非构造圈闭和断层遮挡圈闭所形成的次生油气藏是巴楚断隆的有利勘探目标。     

准噶尔盆地车排子-莫索湾古隆起的形成演化与成因机制

准噶尔地块是在前寒武纪"微"地块与环绕它的早古生代陆缘增生褶皱带的基础上经历石炭—二叠纪过渡阶段的构造演化之后固结形成的新克拉通地块。准噶尔盆地是在这一"新克拉通"之上发展起来的克拉通内坳陷盆地(T—E)与前陆盆地(N—Q)相叠加而成的叠合沉积盆地。周缘边界断裂带的多期活动与基底的非均一性使该"新克拉通地块"在后期活动强烈,集中表现在准噶尔盆地腹部于中—晚侏罗世形成了一个大型的SWW-NEE向的车排子-莫索湾隆起。该隆起经历了燕山早期(J1s)初始发育、燕山中期(J2x,J2t)强烈发育并定型、燕山晚期埋藏隐伏和喜马拉雅期掀斜消亡的完整过程。它是在中—晚侏罗世区域压扭背景之下,受周缘边界断裂带活动的控制,侏罗—白垩系构造层和石炭—三叠系构造层上下拆耦,发生镜像旋转而形成的压扭性构造带,为一形态不规则的复合性质隆起。车排子-莫索湾隆起对沉积与油气成藏有明显的制约作用,其两翼发育了一系列岩性、地层圈闭,目前发现了石南21、石南31、莫北、莫西庄和永丰等多个大中型油气田。车排子-莫索湾隆起将是准噶尔盆地腹部下一步岩性、地层油气藏勘探的重要领域。     

西秦岭地区东昆仑-秦岭断裂系晚新生代左旋走滑历史及其向东扩展

要通过在TM遥感图像解译和野外观测的基础上,描述了东昆仑断裂带东段活动形迹的组成和活动断层地貌特征,阐述了甘南高原西秦岭地区新近纪拉分盆地的沉积-构造特征,提出了该区东昆仑-秦岭断裂系晚新生代左旋走滑伸展-走滑挤压-走滑伸展的3个阶段的构造变形模式。指出,中新世晚期至上新世早期,东昆仑-秦岭断裂系以左旋走滑伸展活动为主,伴随着西秦岭地区拉分盆地的形成和超基性火山岩群的发育。这期左旋走滑伸展活动向东扩展导致了渭河盆地新近纪引张应力方向由早期的NE-SW向转变为晚期的NW—SE向。上新世晚期以来(约3．4Ma以前),东昆仑-秦岭断裂系以左旋走滑挤压活动为主,导致早期拉分盆地的轻微褶皱变形,走滑挤压活动主要集中在东昆仑东段玛沁-玛曲主断裂带上。该期构造变动持续到早更新世,它的向东扩展产生了广泛的地壳形变效应,包括青藏东缘岷山隆起带的快速崛起、华北地区汾-渭地堑系的形成和发展以及郯庐断裂带右旋走滑活动等。中、晚更新世时期,断裂系以走滑伸展变形为主,主要集中在东昆仑断裂带东段3个分支上,地块向东挤出伴随着顺时针旋转。