Kinematic model for postorogenic Basin and Range extension

Journal Article · Sat Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 1991 · Geology; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1991)019<0555:KMFPBA>2.3.CO;2· OSTI ID:5541737

Malavieille, J; Taboada, A ^[1]

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1. Universite de Montpellier II (France)

The Raft River extensional shear zone is exposed in the Albion-Raft River-Grouse Creek metamorphic core complex. Several studies of ductile deformation have shown that it accommodated crustal stretching in Tertiary time during late orogenic collapse of the thickened Cordilleran crust. Progressive deformation that results from mixed pure and simple shear produces a complex strain pattern along the shear zone. The authors propose a numerical kinematic model that relates strain variations in the shear zone to the different amounts of extension between the brittlely extended upper plate rocks and the undeformed lower plate rocks. A possible hypothesis for postorogenic crustal extension involves diffuse heterogeneous extension and flow in the ductile lower crust and localized extensional shear zones in the middle and upper crust.

• OSTI ID: 5541737
• Journal Information: Geology; (USA), Vol. 19:6; ISSN 0091-7613
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
GEOLOGIC FORMATIONS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
UTAH
CONTINENTAL CRUST
DEFORMATION
METAMORPHIC ROCKS
OROGENESIS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SHEAR
STRAINS
TECTONICS
TERTIARY PERIOD
CENOZOIC ERA
DEVELOPED COUNTRIES
EARTH CRUST
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC AGES
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
NORTH AMERICA
ROCKS
USA
580000* - Geosciences