Characteristics of continental rifting in rotational systems: New findings from spatiotemporal high resolution quantified crustal scale analogue models

Schmid, Timothy; Schreurs, Guido; Adam, Jürgen

doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2021.229174

Cited by 21 publications

(28 citation statements)

References 73 publications

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“…We investigate lateral rift propagation by tracking the position of the rift boundary fault tips with respect to the rotation axis over time. For this, we set a threshold of 10% of cumulative surface strain identical to T. C. Schmid, Schreurs, and Adam (2022). Figure 7 shows the mean rift tip position (i.e., the mean position of the two conjugate rift boundary faults) for all 10 experiments.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rotational Extension Promotes Coeval Upper Crustal Brittle Faulting and Deep‐Seated Rift‐Axis Parallel Flow: Dynamic Coupling Processes Inferred From Analog Model Experiments

2022

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During continental rifting, extension in the upper parts of the crust is accommodated by brittle faulting. If stretching is distributed evenly throughout the crust (McKenzie, 1978), faulting in the upper crust is balanced by ductile deformation in the lower crust (e.g., Buck, 1991;Kusznir & Karner, 2007). However, at passive margins, subsidence analyzed from geological cross sections differs from expected values when applying the McKenzie uniform stretching model. Such observations led to the development of depth-dependent stretching models (Wernicke, 1985) that account for higher amounts of extension in lower parts of the crust, which permit larger subsidence values. More recent studies of passive margins have suggested ductile crustal flow as an alternative mechanism for removal of lower crustal material. Consequently, mass is not conserved in 2D plane-strain cross sections, which can explain discrepancies between estimated amounts of extension in the upper-and lower crust (P. D. Clift, 2015).Ductile flow in the lower crust should also occur in intracontinental rift settings. Indeed, lower crustal flow is expected in extensional settings where the crustal thickness exceeds 20 km and the upper mantle is strong (McKenzie et al., 2000 and references therein). This phenomenon has been extensively demonstrated in the Basin and Range Province, where flow of the lower crust toward the rift center compensates lateral crustal thickness

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Rotational Extension Promotes Coeval Upper Crustal Brittle Faulting and Deep‐Seated Rift‐Axis Parallel Flow: Dynamic Coupling Processes Inferred From Analog Model Experiments

2022

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“…The surface displacement field can subsequently be used to extract the amount of strain, and even the type of faulting (Broerse et al, 2021;Krstekanicì et al, 2021). Furthermore, the 3D displacement field provides an alternative method for topography analysis (Schmid et al, 2022). Even though DIC analysis has recently become a standard in the analogue modelling toolbox, it has only been sparsely used for basin inversion models.…”

Section: Digital Image Correlation (Dic)mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…DIC and topography analysis have indeed become standard techniques in the analogue modelling community over the past few years. New developments not only provide detailed insights into displacements and strain (Zwaan et al, 2021(Zwaan et al, , 2022Schmid et al, 2022) but also allow an analysis of the type of faulting (normal, reverse, or strike-slip, Broerse et al, 2021;Krstekanicì et al, 2021;Guillaume et al, 2022). However, DIC methods have so far only seen very limited use in basin inversion models (Wang et al, 2017;Dooley and Hudec, 2020;Guillaume et al, 2020;Richetti et al, 2022).…”

Section: Improved (Applications Of) Model Analysis Techniquesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Analogue modelling of basin inversion: a review and future perspectives

Zwaan

Schreurs²,

Buiter³

et al. 2022

Solid Earth

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Abstract. Basin inversion involves the reversal of subsidence in a basin due to compressional tectonic forces, leading to uplift of the basin's sedimentary infill. Detailed knowledge of basin inversion is of great importance for scientific, societal, and economic reasons, spurring continued research efforts to better understand the processes involved. Analogue tectonic modelling forms a key part of these efforts, and analogue modellers have conducted numerous studies of basin inversion. In this review paper we recap the advances in our knowledge of basin inversion processes acquired through analogue modelling studies, providing an up-to-date summary of the state of analogue modelling of basin inversion. We describe the different definitions of basin inversion that are being applied by researchers, why basin inversion has been historically an important research topic and what the general mechanics involved in basin inversion are. We subsequently treat the wide range of different experimental approaches used for basin inversion modelling, with attention to the various materials, set-ups, and techniques used for model monitoring and analysing the model results. Our new systematic overviews of generalized model results reveal the diversity of these results, which depend greatly on the chosen set-up, model layering and (oblique) kinematics of inversion, and 3D along-strike structural and kinematic variations in the system. We show how analogue modelling results are in good agreement with numerical models, and how these results help researchers to better understand natural examples of basin inversion. In addition to reviewing the past efforts in the field of analogue modelling, we also shed light on future modelling challenges and identify a number of opportunities for follow-up research. These include the testing of force boundary conditions, adding geological processes such as sedimentation, transport, and erosion; applying state-of-the-art modelling and quantification techniques; and establishing best modelling practices. We also suggest expanding the scope of basin inversion modelling beyond the traditional upper crustal “North Sea style” of inversion, which may contribute to the ongoing search for clean energy resources. It follows that basin inversion modelling can bring valuable new insights, providing a great incentive to continue our efforts in this field. We therefore hope that this review paper will form an inspiration for future analogue modelling studies of basin inversion.

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“…To quantify and visualize the surface deformation evolution of the experiments, we applied a detailed analysis of the time-lapse photographs through DIC technique (e.g. Adam et al, 2005;Boutelier et al, 2019;Marshak et al, 2019;Zwaan et al, 2021;Schmid et al, 2022). The DIC analysis was performed by comparing top view images of subsequent time steps using LaVision's DaVis software (version 10.2).…”

Section: Scaling 160mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…One central camera (Nikon D810, 36 MPx) provided map view pictures, while two obliquely oriented cameras (D810 36 MPx) were positioned on both sides of the 190 central one to provide stereoscopic imagery. The central camera was controlled using the Nikon Camera Control Pro software and cameras for stereoscopic imagery were remotely triggered by passing on the signal from the central camera via an ESPER Triggerbox(Schmid et al, 2022).…”

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confidence: 99%

Analogue modelling of basin inversion: the role of oblique kinematics and implications for the Araripe Basin (Brazil)

Richetti

Zwaan

Schreurs

et al. 2022

Preprint

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Abstract. Basin inversion is a process that takes place when a sedimentary basin is subjected to compressional stresses and may result in the reactivation of pre-existing faults and/or the localization of deformation along new reverse faults. The Araripe Basin (NE Brazil) is an example of a Cretaceous intracontinental aborted rift with its sedimentary infill found at ca. 1000 m altitude in the present day. Post-rift basin inversion is proposed as the cause of this topographic high, however how inversion mechanisms affected this basin is a matter of debate with two end member scenarios: reactivation of pre-existing normal faults leading to local uplift, or regional tectonic uplift. In this study, we conducted analogue models of basin inversion to test these scenarios. We present two series of crustal-scale brittle-viscous experiments: i) extension followed by compression without sedimentation, with a variation of rifting and inversion directions (orthogonal or 45° oblique) and ii) extension and compression with syn-rift sedimentation, with the same variation in rifting and inversion directions. We used a seed representing a structural weakness that was applied at the base of the brittle layer to localize deformation along the model axis. We found that orthogonal rifting without sedimentation forms through-going border faults, whereas oblique rifting creates initial en-echelon faults that eventually link up creating large border faults. Rift basins with syn-rift sedimentation evolved in a similar fashion, however sedimentary loading increased subsidence. During inversion, most deformation is accommodated along new low angle reverse faults. Within that framework, significant intra-graben fault reactivation occurred in models without sedimentation. By contrast, syn-rift sedimentation caused only minor reactivation of rift faults in oblique inversion since the sediments acted as a buffer during compression; no rift fault reactivation occurred in orthogonal compression situations. Comparing the existing scenarios for inversion in the Araripe Basin with our model results and field data show that these scenarios do not fully explain the natural example. Therefore, we propose an alternative scenario based on our models, involving oblique compression and the development of low angle reverse faults, which better explains inversion in the Araripe Basin.

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Characteristics of continental rifting in rotational systems: New findings from spatiotemporal high resolution quantified crustal scale analogue models

Cited by 21 publications

References 73 publications

Rotational Extension Promotes Coeval Upper Crustal Brittle Faulting and Deep‐Seated Rift‐Axis Parallel Flow: Dynamic Coupling Processes Inferred From Analog Model Experiments

Rotational Extension Promotes Coeval Upper Crustal Brittle Faulting and Deep‐Seated Rift‐Axis Parallel Flow: Dynamic Coupling Processes Inferred From Analog Model Experiments

Analogue modelling of basin inversion: a review and future perspectives

Analogue modelling of basin inversion: the role of oblique kinematics and implications for the Araripe Basin (Brazil)

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