Comment on “Orocline‐Driven Transtensional Basins: Insights From the Lower Permian Manning Basin (Eastern Australia)” by White et al. (2016)

Abstract

Key Points They oversimplified the structure of the Manning Basin They ignored critical geological elements in the southern New England Orogen in their model

Reply to Comment by Offler et al. (2017) on “Orocline‐Driven Transtensional Basins: Insights From the Lower Permian Manning Basin (Eastern Australia)”

“…Offler et al () suggest that folding and faulting in the Manning Basin is more complicated than indicated by us. They draw attention to several unpublished theses (Brennan, ; Laurie, ; Sharp, ), where N‐S, NW‐SE, and E‐W trending folds have been documented.…”

“…We welcome the discussion and presentation of new data by Offler et al (). In spite of a large number of independent evidence supporting the structure of the Manning Orocline (Cawood et al, ; Fielding et al, ; Glen & Roberts, ; Korsch & Harrington, ; Li & Rosenbaum, ; Mochales et al, ; Rosenbaum, ; Rosenbaum et al, ; White et al, ), Offler et al () argue that this oroclinal structure does not exist. They have expressed a similar opinion in earlier discussion and comment papers (Lennox et al, ; Offler et al, ).…”

“…The new structural mapping data of the southernmost area of the eastern limb of the basin (for location see Figure ) provided by Offler et al () is a welcome addition to the structural framework of the Manning Basin. The high variability of fold and fault orientations in this area (as indicated by the new map) lends strength to our original suggestion that the hinge of the Manning Orocline passes through this locality (Figure ).…”

“…Our structural compilation indeed shows various fold trends, but there is no evidence for overprinting relationships. Therefore, the specific sequence of fold development assumed by Offler et al () is speculative. Furthermore, the recognition that folds proximal to major faults are commonly aligned parallel to the faults (e.g., Jenkins & Offler, ) may suggest that different fold orientations resulted from the variable internal arrangement of faults, particularly in the eastern part of the basin.…”

“…We studied the Manning Basin because we think that it is situated in the hinge of the Manning Orocline, and as such, its tectonosedimentary evolution may shed light on the oroclinal structure and its possible formation mechanisms. Offler et al () mainly focus on specific structural complexities within the Manning Basin and fail to acknowledge the overwhelming volume of independent evidence supporting the proposed tectonic model. Here we address specific comments made by Offler et al () and demonstrate that the new structural mapping data provided by these authors, when examined in a regional context, further support our regional interpretation for the existence and geometry of the Manning Orocline.…”