Physical modeling of sedimentation adjacent to diapirs and comparison with late precambrian Oratunga Breccia body in central Flinders Ranges, South Australia

Journal Article · Sun Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 1985 · AAPG Bull. (See CODEN: AAPGB); (United States)

OSTI ID:6406661

Lemon, N M

The interaction of sedimentation with the change in shape of a developing diapir is modeled in a series of simple sandbox experiments. This model replicates the pillow, diapir, and postdiapir stages of salt movement. Modeling produced rim synclines, crestal unconformities, and turtle-structure anticlines-all features known to be associated with diapirs. By changing experimental parameters such as diapir shape, sedimentation was simulated around various diapiric situations. One experiment closely matches the sediment distribution around the Oratunga diapir one of the controversial breccia bodies in the late Precambrian-Cambrian Adelaide geosyncline exposed in the Flinders Ranges of South Australia. Rim synclines, unconformities, and bedding attitude around Oratunga resemble those described around salt domes. In addition, the distribution, size, orientation, and lithology of breccia within the Oratunga diapir resemble breccia associated with active salt diapirs in Iran. These data suggest the breccia was emplaced as a salt diapir.

• Research Organization: Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Adelaide, Adelaide
• OSTI ID: 6406661
• Journal Information: AAPG Bull. (See CODEN: AAPGB); (United States), Vol. 69:9
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

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