Influence on preexisting salt diapirs during thrust wedge evolution and secondary welding: insights from analogue modeling

Salt lithologies are mechanically weaker than other sedimentary rocks. Salt horizons usually act as décollements and precursor salt bodies preferentially deform early during contraction, concentrate deformation, and impact the structural style and kinematics during mountain building. Focusing on sho...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Santolaria, Pablo, Ferrer García, J. Oriol (José Oriol), Rowan, Mark G., Snidero, Marco, Carrera García de Cortázar, Núria, Granado, Pablo, Muñoz, J. A., Roca i Abella, Eduard, Schneider, C.L., Piña, A., Zamora, Gonzalo
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Estado:Versión aceptada para publicación
Fecha de publicación:2021
País:España
Institución:Universidad de Barcelona
Repositorio:Dipòsit Digital de la UB
OAI Identifier:oai:diposit.ub.edu:2445/184085
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/2445/184085
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:Tectònica salina
Falles (Geologia)
Tectonique du sel
Faults (Geology)
Descripción
Sumario:Salt lithologies are mechanically weaker than other sedimentary rocks. Salt horizons usually act as décollements and precursor salt bodies preferentially deform early during contraction, concentrate deformation, and impact the structural style and kinematics during mountain building. Focusing on shortened isolated-diapir provinces, our analog modeling program investigates the influence of two salt walls on folding and thrusting. High resolution topographic scans and particle image analysis show that the presence of precursor diapirs impacts the layer parallel shortening patterns and presumably the stress field at the onset of contraction. Shortening concentrates on diapirs, leading to roof arching, crestal extension and salt extrusion. This sequence of events occurs earlier on thinner salt- sediment sequences including diapirs having well-developed pedestals, particularly when proximal to the deformation front. Folds and thrusts nucleate at salt walls if they feature a well-developed pedestal. Further shortening results in secondary welding as evidenced by the collapse of uplifted roof domes, cessation of indentation and reverse faulting nucleated at the secondary welds. Meanwhile, and depending upon the processes occurring on the diapir closer to the backstop, the deformation of the distal salt wall is discontinuous. Our modeling results are compared with experimental works and natural examples from the Fars (Zagros Mountains).