Analogue experiments of propagation of oblique rifts

Mart, Yossi; Dauteuil, Olivier

doi:10.1016/s0040-1951(99)00231-0

Cited by 73 publications

(57 citation statements)

References 36 publications

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“…temporal scales of minutes to days and spatial dimensions of ~0.01 to 1 m [Hubbert, 1937]). One class of analog rift models investigates continental extension within a single brittle layer reminiscent of the brittle upper crust, and such models have provided essential insight into the processes controlling the evolution of fault patterns [Withjack and Jamison, 1986;Tron and Brun, 1991;McClay and White, 1995;Mart and Dauteuil, 2000;Corti et al, 2003;Sokoutis et al, 2007;Philippon et al, 2015]. More recently, developments in lithospheric-scale models have allowed for realistic modeling of processes such as crustal thinning, where a model asthenosphere accounts for full isostatic balancing [Corti, 2008;Agostini et al, 2009;Autin et al, 2010Autin et al, , 2013Cappelletti et al, 2013;Corti et al, 2013a;Nestola et al, , 2015.…”

Section: Modeling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rifts and Rifted Margins: A Review of Geodynamic Processes and Natural Hazards

Brune¹

2017

Preprint

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This review provides an introduction to the geodynamic processes that influence tectonic rift evolution and rifted margin architecture. With a strong focus on numerical modeling, I summarize classical and recent insights on rift evolution with differentiation between 2D and 3D concepts and models. One of the key processes during rift evolution is crust-mantle coupling, which controls not only the width of a rift system but also crustal hyperextension and the degree of final margin asymmetry. Accounting for 3D rift geometries allows investigating along-strike heterogeneities, rift segmentation and rift obliquity. Large amounts of sediments have accumulated at rifted margins, especially at the mouths of large rivers and former glaciers, providing important stratigraphic archives and georesources. Shifting the focus from the geological scale of continental extension to the human time scale, natural hazards are discussed regarding earthquakes and volcanic eruptions during active rifting. Finally, I review natural hazards due to passive margin seismicity as well as slope instabilities at heavily sedimented continental margins that have the potential to generate large landslide tsunamis.

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Section: Modeling Approachesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rifts and Rifted Margins: A Review of Geodynamic Processes and Natural Hazards

Brune¹

2017

Preprint

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“…Fault patterns of oblique rifts have been investigated during the last decades using analogue models on two different levels of complexity: (i) Crustal scale models simplify the rift system to a deforming crust influenced by a basal zone of extension that involves an oblique velocity discontinuity (Withjack and Jamison, 1986;Tron and Brun, 1991;McClay and White, 1995;Clifton et al, 2000;Mart and Dauteuil, 2000;Corti et al, 2001Corti et al, , 2003Corti, 2004;Sokoutis et al, 2007). The advantage of this setup is that crustal strain patterns can be studied independently of mantle deformation, but this also limits the applicability to the first rift stage where isostatic balancing with the mantle and lithospheric necking can be neglected.…”

Section: B) Reconstruction Of the Margins At The Onset Of The Ocean-cmentioning

confidence: 99%

The rift to break-up evolution of the Gulf of Aden: Insights from 3D numerical lithospheric-scale modelling

Brune

Autin

2013

Tectonophysics

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The Gulf of Aden displays an ideal setting to study oblique rifting since numerous structural data are available onshore and offshore. Recent surveys showed that the spatio-temporal evolution of the Gulf of Aden rift system is dominated by three fault orientations: displacement-orthogonal (WSW), rift-parallel (WNW) and a direction that is intermediate between both of them (W). The oldest parts of the rift that are exposed onshore feature displacement-orthogonal and intermediate directions, whereas the subsequently active necking zone involves mainly rift-parallel faults. The final rift phase that is recorded at the distal margin is characterised by displacement-orthogonal and intermediate azimuths. We investigate the Gulf of Aden evolution from rift initiation to breakup by means of 3D numerical experiments on lithospheric scale. We apply the finite element model SLIM3D which includes realistic elasto-visco-plastic rheology and a free surface. Despite recent advances, 3D numerical experiments still require relatively coarse resolution so that individual faults are poorly resolved. We address this issue by proposing a simple post-processing method that uses the surface stress-tensor to evaluate stress regime (extensional, strike-slip, compressional) and preferred fault azimuth. The described method is applicable to any geodynamic model and easy to introduce. Our model reproduces the observed fault pattern of the Gulf of Aden and illustrates how multiple fault directions arise from the interaction of local and far-field tectonic stresses in an evolving rift system. The numerical simulations robustly feature intermediate faults during the initial rift phase, followed by rift-parallel normal faulting at the rift flanks and strike-slip faults in the central part of the rift system. Upon break-up, displacementorthogonal as well as intermediate faults occur. This study corroborates and extends findings from previous analogue experiments of oblique rifting on lithospheric scale and allows new insights in the timing of fault successions of the Gulf of Aden and continental rifts in general.

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“…Recent lithospheric-scale analogue models of continental rifting have focused on different aspects of the rifting process, such as: the different modes of deformation resulting from the extension process (i.e., wide and narrow rifts, core complexes; e.g., Brun, 1999;Michon and Merle, 2003;Corti et al, 2003;Corti, 2005), the dependence of the pattern and evolution of deformation on rift kinematics (e.g., Mart and Dauteuil, 2000;Corti, 2008;Agostini et al, 2009), the role of preexisting lithospheric structure on rift architecture (e.g., Corti and Manetti, 2006;Bonini et al, 2007;Sokoutis et al, 2007;Corti et al, 2007a), the influence of magma injection on extensional deformation (e.g., Corti et al, 2003Corti et al, , 2004Corti et al, , 2007b, or the boundary conditions of displacement (i.e., episodic or steady rifting; Mulugeta and Ghebreab, 2001). Although in some previous studies (e.g., Brun and Beslier, 1996;Brun, 1999;McClay et al, 2002) a progressive narrowing of the tectonic activity was observed during extension, this process and its controlling parameters were not analysed in detail.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Control of the rheological structure of the lithosphere on the inward migration of tectonic activity during continental rifting

et al. 2010

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Analogue models are used to analyse the parameters controlling the evolution of extensional deformation in continental rifts. Models are deformed in a centrifuge and simulate the continental lithosphere floating and extending above a low-viscosity asthenosphere. Model results reproduce the typical evolution of deformation during continental narrow rifting, with early activation of large boundary faults and basin subsidence, followed by their abandonment and localization of tectonic activity in internal faults near the centre of the rift. The experiments document the strong influence exerted by the thickness of both brittle and ductile crustal layers and syn-rift sediment accumulation on the evolution of deformation, namely on the amount of bulk extension preceding inward fault migration. Thin upper and/or lower crust and absent or low syn-rift sedimentation promote a rapid abandonment of boundary faults and a transition to in-rift fault development for low amounts of extension; conversely, thick upper and/or lower crust and high syn-rift sediment accumulation favour prolonged slip on boundary faults and delayed development of internal faulting. The experimental results suggest that the inward migration of faulting during extension of continental lithosphere results from the interplay between the ductile stresses acting at the base of the upper crust and the total resistance of this brittle layer.

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Analogue experiments of propagation of oblique rifts

Cited by 73 publications

References 36 publications

Rifts and Rifted Margins: A Review of Geodynamic Processes and Natural Hazards

Rifts and Rifted Margins: A Review of Geodynamic Processes and Natural Hazards

The rift to break-up evolution of the Gulf of Aden: Insights from 3D numerical lithospheric-scale modelling

Control of the rheological structure of the lithosphere on the inward migration of tectonic activity during continental rifting

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