Folds inside pebbles: when do they form during conglomerate deformation? Numerical modelling and comparison with the Hutuo Group conglomerates, North China Craton

The analysis of folds within pebbles in conglomerates has been used to infer deformation events before deposition of the conglomerate. However, it is not clear whether folds can develop within pebbles during subsequent conglomerate deformation. We use numerical modelling to investigate folding withi...

Descripción completa

Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Ran, Hao, Bons, Paul D., Wang, Genhou, Griera i Artigas, Albert, de Riese, Tamara, Gómez Rivas, Enrique, Llorens, Maria-Gema, Ran, Shuming, Wang, Yan, Wang, Shubiao
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2022
País:España
Institución:Varias* (Consorci de Biblioteques Universitáries de Catalunya, Centre de Serveis Científics i Acadèmics de Catalunya)
Repositorio:Recercat. Dipósit de la Recerca de Catalunya
OAI Identifier:oai:recercat.cat:2445/211141
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/211141
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Geologia estructural
Deformació de les roques
Xina
Structural geology
Rock deformation
China
Descripción
Sumario:The analysis of folds within pebbles in conglomerates has been used to infer deformation events before deposition of the conglomerate. However, it is not clear whether folds can develop within pebbles during subsequent conglomerate deformation. We use numerical modelling to investigate folding within internally layered pebbles in a ductile deformation regime and simple shear deformation. We vary the initial orientation and rheology of the layers within pebbles, as well as the relative rheology of the conglomerate matrix, for single isolated pebbles and multiple interacting pebbles. We use a power-law viscous rheology for both the pebbles and their matrix. Folding within pebbles can indeed occur, but only within a narrow range of initial layer orientations, strength or viscosity ratio between the internal layers and that of the matrix relative to the pebble layers. Results are used to interpret the strongly deformed conglomerates from the Proterozoic Hutuo Group in the Wutai Mountains, North China Craton, that contain a small percentage of pebbles with internal folds. Based on field observations and numerical modelling results, we suggest that these formed during deformation of the conglomerate and do not represent inclusion of previously folded lithologies into the unit.