Transfer structures in the Northern Tarim Basin, Northwest China
- Geophysics Inst., Beijing (China)
The fold-thrust tectonics of the Northern Tarim Basin, oriented roughly parallel to the South Tianshan orogenic belt, consists of two large-scale tectonic regimes: (1) the foreland-basin, thin-skinned deformation belt; and (2) the foreland-craton, thick-skinned-dominated (i.e., basement-involved) deformation belt. Variations in the degree of deformation in these tectonic belts and style along the regional tectonic strike can be accounted for by longitudinal (progressive transfer or transverse (abrupt) transfer). Longitudinal transfer maintains the overall displacement or shortening within the fold-thrust belts as uniform or with gradual change along the tectonic strike. This includes the tectonic transfer between en echelon master thrusts and from the individual master thrust to terminal fold(s) or distributive thrusts. Transverse transfer resulted from an abrupt change in overall displacement or shortening along the tectonic strike. Within the transverse transfer zone, various tectonics-such as strike-slip faults, strike-slip thrusts, transverse anticlines, and en echelon folds-are developed. The development of longitudinal transfer zones can be attributed to the gradual variation of intrinsic and extrinsic and extrinsic deformational conditions along the tectonic strike. The initiation of transverse transfer may be related to variations in the thickness of sedimentary layers, detachment-layer distribution limits, and variation along strike of the degree and mode of the South Tianshan orogenic belt`s effect on the basin, as well as the variation of the boundary conditions of the deformation, such as in the geometry of plate margins. 15 refs., 8 figs.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- OSTI ID:
- 443498
- Journal Information:
- International Geology Review, Vol. 38, Issue 3; Other Information: PBD: Mar 1996
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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