Tectonic inheritance, structure reactivation and lithospheric strength: the relevance of geological history

Abstract

Tectonic inheritance and structure reactivation have been of interest to geologists since it was noticed in the mid-nineteenth century that younger structures in an area tend to follow the direction of older structures. Three kinds of relationship may exist between these older and younger structures: younger structures may follow the older ones and repeat their function; younger structures may follow older ones, but function in the opposite sense to the older ones; and younger structures bear no relation to the older ones. These are named, respectively, resurrected, replacement and revolutionary structures. We present three examples, on three different scales, of tectonic inheritance and structure reactivation: Mesozoic and Cenozoic Europe on a continental scale; the US Rockies on a regional scale; and the Albula Pass in the Swiss Alps on an outcrop scale. We conclude that structure reactivation on a crustal scale occurs when the protective armour of the mantle lithosphere is removed and that, in such cases, resurrected and replacement structures form. In cratons with thick lithospheric roots, structure reactivation hardly ever occurs and when, in rare cases, it does occur, it commonly generates revolutionary structures. There can be no unique model for lithospheric strength.

Plio‐Pleistocene fault reactivation within the Crag Basin, eastern UK: implications for structural controls of landscape development within an intraplate setting

“…Şengör et al . 2019). The simplest interpretation and the one adopted here, is that the Crag Basin initially developed as a dextral (right‐lateral) strike‐slip shear zone during strong northwards‐directed (σ1) crustal compression (Fig.…”

“…‘Tectonic inheritance’ is the phenomenon where several phases of crustal deformation may affect an area either through the utilization of pre‐existing geological structure (with similar or different senses of displacement) or the development of younger structures that exhibit no direct relationship to older structures (Şengör et al . 2019). Within the southern UK, inheritance of Caledonian or Variscan age faults by Alpine stresses has been observed previously (e.g.…”

“…Şengör et al . 2019) from beneath the central part of the Anglo‐Brabant Massif progressively weakened the overlying crust.…”

Fifty years of the Wilson Cycle concept in plate tectonics: an overview

“…new) structures. Sȩngör et al (2018) illustrate these distinct structural types using case studies from Europe and the USA.…”

Structural inheritance in the North Atlantic

“…Continents contain broad zones of active deformation that extend deep into their interiors (Gordon 1998;Nielsen et al 2007Nielsen et al , 2014Şengör et al 2018). Such non-rigid behaviour departs significantly from the original paradigm of rigid plate tectonics.…”