Influence of sedimentary density variations in décollement-related fold-and-thrust belts: insights from centrifuge analogue modelling
We present an innovative centrifuge analogue modelling approach to evaluate the influence of density contrast on structure location and vergence affecting thin-skinned compressional settings. Our natural prototype involves a detached foreland basin characterized by a basal ductile evaporitic décolle...
| Authors: | , , |
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| Format: | article |
| Publication Date: | 2016 |
| Country: | España |
| Institution: | Universidad de Huelva (UHU) |
| Repository: | Arias Montano. Repositorio Institucional de la Universidad de Huelva |
| Language: | English |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:ariasmontano.uhu.es:10272/13618 |
| Online Access: | http://hdl.handle.net/10272/13618 |
| Access Level: | Open access |
| Keyword: | Décollement Gravity spreading Analogue modelling Fold-and-thrust belt Nivel de despegue Tectónica gravitacional Modelización analógica Cinturones de pliegues y cabalgamientos |
| Summary: | We present an innovative centrifuge analogue modelling approach to evaluate the influence of density contrast on structure location and vergence affecting thin-skinned compressional settings. Our natural prototype involves a detached foreland basin characterized by a basal ductile evaporitic décollement overlain by a brittle-like cover comprising a set of rock density variations. The experimental programme included gravity spreading and shortening characterized by density contrast up to 0.5 gr/cm3. Density contrast boundaries were designed perpendicular to the shortening except for one case, where it was parallel. Under no horizontal stress conditions, i.e. the tectonically quiescence context, just the centrifuge force (up to almost 900g), the cover depicts a syncline-anticline structure were the inflexion point was localized along the density contrast boundary. Moreover, wavelength and amplitude increased following the density contrast rise. In compression, density contrast boundaries perpendicular to the shortening direction controlled the vergence of the developed structures |
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