Testing some models of foreland deformation at the Thermopolis anticline, southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1989 · Mountain Geologist; (USA)

OSTI ID:7104160

Paylor, E D; Lang, H R; Conel, J E; Adams, S L ^[1]; Muncy, H L ^[2]

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1. California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA)
2. Tenneco Oil Exploration and Production, Englewood, CO (USA)

The Thermopolis anticline is a typical structure in the Rocky Mountain foreland, southern Bighorn Basin, Wyoming. Photogeologic interpretation of Landsat Thematic Mapper data, in combination with the evaluation of topographic, bore hole, seismic reflection, and field data were used to analyze structure and constrain tectonic models. The anticline is near-concentric, asymmetric with a southwest sense of vergence, and plunges to the northwest. The steeply dipping to overturned southwest limb of the fold is cut at the surface by several thrust faults dipping northeast. Approximately 25% of the stratigraphic section on the southwest limb is missing due to faulting. Two east to northeast-striking, basement-controlled compartmental faults segment the anticline into three blocks that apparently deformed simultaneously but probably independently from one another. Slickensides indicate a dominant southwest tectonic transport direction. Additionally, subtle northeast-trending folds are superposed on the dominant northwest structural trend. Structural patterns at Thermopolis anticline can be explained using models that propose a single phase of northeast Laramide compression, combined with shear-zone deformation.

• OSTI ID: 7104160
• Journal Information: Mountain Geologist; (USA), Vol. 26:1; ISSN 0027-254X
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

58 GEOSCIENCES
GEOLOGIC DEPOSITS
GEOLOGIC MODELS
TECTONICS
WYOMING
ANTICLINES
COMPRESSION
DEFORMATION
DRILL CORES
GEOLOGIC FAULTS
GEOLOGIC STRUCTURES
LANDSAT SATELLITES
ROCKY MOUNTAINS
SEDIMENTARY BASINS
SEISMIC SURVEYS
SHEAR
STRATIGRAPHY
FEDERAL REGION VIII
GEOLOGIC FRACTURES
GEOLOGY
GEOPHYSICAL SURVEYS
MOUNTAINS
NORTH AMERICA
SATELLITES
SURVEYS
USA
580000* - Geosciences