Search results for "Tectonic"

Modeling evolution of the San Andreas Fault system in northern and central California

2012

[1] We present a three-dimensional finite element thermomechanical model idealizing the complex deformation processes associated with evolution of the San Andreas Fault system (SAFS) in northern and central California over the past 20 Myr. More specifically, we investigate the mechanisms responsible for the eastward (landward) migrationof the San Andreas plate boundary over time, a process thathas largely determined the evolution and present structure of SAFS. Two possible mechanisms had been previously suggested. One mechanism suggests that the Pacific plate first cools and captures uprising mantle in the slab window, subsequently causing accretion of the continental crustal blocks. An alt…

When did plate tectonics begin? Evidence from the geologic record

2008

Formation of arcuate orogenic belts in the western Mediterranean region

2004

The Alpine orogen in the western Mediterranean region, consisting of the Rif-Betic belt and the Apennine-Calabrian-Maghrebide belt, is a classic example of an arcuate orogen. It contains fragments of Cretaceous to Oligocene high-pressure/low-temperature (HP/LT) rocks, which were exhumed and dispersed during post-Oligocene extensional deformation and are presently exposed in the soles of metamorphic core complexes. In this paper, we illustrate that the arcuate shape of the orogenic belt was attained during extensional destruction of the earlier HP/LT belt, driven by subduction rollback in a direction oblique or orthogonal to the direction of convergence. Since the Oligocene, sub-duction of M…

Tectonic evolution in the Archaean and Proterozoic

1991

Kre high heat flow probably favoured global hotspot activity with crustal growth of Iceland type through vertical magmatic accretion. The tectonic environment for the generation of about 3.9-2.5 Ga granite-gneiss-greenstone terrains with volurnlnous production of tonalite-trondhjemite-granodlorite magmas is still uncertain, and both piate ma@ and intrapiate scenarios arc possible. Deformanon atylea in greenstones and adjacent high-grade orthognersses with intercalated shallow-water supracrustal assemblages suggest extensive horizontal shortening and crustal interstacking. This probably resulted from collisional and/or rotational motion and produced significant intracrustal melting as early …

Precambrian plate tectonics: Criteria and evidence

2006

Tomography Application to Complex Seismic Data of the Tjornes Fracture Zone (Iceland)

2014

The Tjornes Fracture Zone (TFZ) is an active seismic zone in Northeast Iceland. It plays a key role to understand the geodynamic movement and location of tectonic plates. However the seismic experiment can not be performed close to earthquake sources, because sources are mainly located in the Greenland Sea. The unusual geological structure of TFZ and the limited conditions of an experiment lead to significant deviations between real observations and the values that are calculated in accordance with theoretical models. Consequently, there is a loss of adequacy and stability of tomography systems. Outcomes of the method, which takes into account this problem, are analyzed in the present chapt…

Lower pleistocene deposits in east part of the Favignana island, Sicily, Italy

2011

An outline of shear-sense analysis in high-grade rocks

2006

Ductile shear zones are important in tectonic reconstructions as a source of information on the relative motion of large crustal blocks or plates in the geological past. Methods to interpret fabric in ductile shear zones were mostly developed for low grade rocks where overprinting relations are usually well preserved. However, high grade shear zones are common and dominate in many Precambrian terrains. High grade shear zones should be analysed in a different way from low grade zones. The plane on which shear sense markers should be observed, the vorticity profile plane, is more difficult to find than in low grade shear zones. The most reliable shear sense markers in high grade shear zones a…

Diffuse degassing of carbon dioxide at Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex (Southern Italy) and its relation with regional tectonics

2004

Abstract A systematic survey of soil CO 2 concentrations was carried out on the flanks of Somma–Vesuvius volcano in order to constrain possible pathways responsible of carbon dioxide diffuse degassing taking place during the present state of quiescence. Measurements were performed at 1162 sites in late winter–spring 2000, highlighting that soil CO 2 concentrations range from 50 to 10500 ppmV. A statistical analysis was developed in order to define the threshold value of anomaly and separate the biogenic CO 2 component, produced by soil respiration, from the inorganic component of deep provenance. A computer routine was also elaborated to interpret the grid of CO 2 anomalous concentration va…

DETECTION OF PLIO-QUATERNARY FAULTS IN MADONIE MOUNTAINS (SICILY) BY USING QUANTITATIVE GEOMORPHIC AND STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY ANALYSES

2011

The Northern Madonie Mountains (Northern-Central Sicily), sector of the Sicilian Maghrebian chain, consist of a tectonic thrust system developed through two subsequent main contractional events: 1) a shallow-seated compressional event developed during the Middle-Upper Miocene; 2) a deep-seated transpressional event occuring since the Late Miocene. Lower Pliocene (Trubi) to Quaternary clastic deposits unconformably lie on the tectonic units and are partially involved by deformation. In the selected area, syntectonic sedimentary basins characters are able to define the timing of deformation only until the Lower Pliocene; to resolve this gap of information application of quantitative geomorphi…