The structure of mountain fronts

Vann, I. R.; Graham, Rod; Hayward, A. B.

doi:10.1016/0191-8141(86)90044-1

Cited by 168 publications

(82 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…It has been suggested that shortening in the wedge is associated with sediment bypass of the wedgetop zone because thickening the wedge leads to uplift and the destruction of accommodation (DeCelles, 1994;DeCelles and Giles, 1996;Horton, 1998). In active orogenic belts, the frontal thrusts of the orogen are blind and wedge-top sediments commonly blanket the deforming orogenic wedge (Ben Avraham and Emery, 1973;Vann et al, 1986;Horton and DeCelles;Horton, 1998). These deposits can be kilometers thick and extend from tens to hundreds of kilometers from the orogen (Burbank et al, 1997;Horton, 1998).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

et al. 2018

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The Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous fill of the Western Interior foreland basin is characterized using geochronological data in order to assess the stratigraphic expression of wedge-top geomorphology, as controlled by sediment cover and denudation. In northern Montana, USA, and Alberta, Canada, wedge-top deposits are poorly preserved; however, their former presence may be inferred from the detrital record in the foreland basin. We present new U/Pb detrital zircon data from nine samples collected near Great Falls, Montana, augmented with field data. The stratigraphy at Great Falls is characterized by Late Jurassic marine and nonmarine deposits, which are truncated by a basinwide sub-Cretaceous unconformity. Aptian and lower Albian strata overlying the unconformity are dominated by nonmarine deposits, which transition up-section into a predominantly marine succession related to a major transgression of the Boreal Seaway in the Albian.Detrital zircon grains from Great Falls strata yield age spectra that can be subdivided into three groups using multidimensional scaling. Group 1 is characterized by diverse zircon populations, which are interpreted to record recycling of pre-Cordilleran sedimentary strata transported via foreland basin-axial river systems with headwaters in the southwestern United States. Group 2 is characterized by the dominance of Mesozoic detrital zircon grains, which are interpreted to record sediment dispersal by fluvial systems with headwaters in the Cordillera. Group 3 is intermediate between groups 1 and 2, based on its proportion of Mesozoic zircon grains. This group records a diversification of the provenance from one dominated by Cordilleran igneous rocks to include recycled sedimentary strata.New data are integrated with three other data sets from Montana and Alberta such that stratal thicknesses (a proxy for accommodation development) and provenance evolution can be compared across the basin. The detrital record in each area, which transitions from diverse provenance to predominantly Cordilleran through the entire stratigraphic section, can be linked to the burial of the pre-foreland strata in the wedge-top depozone. This record elucidates a period of evolution of the western margin of North America to a more Andean-type system with primary input to the basin from an active magmatic arc.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

et al. 2018

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“…In this model (Figure 11), initial shortening and eastward emplacement of the tectonic wedge coincides with foredeep development. As shortening continues, the frontal wedge tip and overlying monocline [e.g., Vann et al, 1986] advance systematically eastward, recycling the proximal foredeep [e.g., Covey, 1986]. At $25 Ma, wedge emplacement terminates and slip initiates along a new décollement farther east in the Interandean Zone and possibly the Subandean Zone.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Revised deformation history of the central Andes: Inferences from Cenozoic foredeep and intermontane basins of the Eastern Cordillera, Bolivia

2005

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Investigation of Cenozoic deformation, sediment accumulation, and provenance in the Eastern Cordillera of Bolivia at 17–21°S indicates major shortening (60–140 km) and foredeep development followed by limited internal shortening and intermontane basin development. Contrasting histories of shortening, deposition, sediment dispersal, and detrital composition distinguish a formerly extensive Paleogene foredeep exposed along an eastern belt of synclines from a zone of principally Neogene intermontane basins in the central Eastern Cordillera. New 40Ar/39Ar ages of 25–17 Ma for interbedded tuffs reveal latest Oligocene–early Miocene accumulation in intermontane basins at rates <80 m/Myr, several times lower than Andean foredeeps. Although poorly dated, foredeep evolution probably coincided with middle Eocene–Oligocene deformation and denudation in adjoining regions to the west. A mid‐Cenozoic transition from foredeep to intermontane conditions may be attributable to emplacement of a basement‐involved tectonic wedge beneath the Eastern Cordillera. In this interpretation, wedge emplacement drove flexural foredeep subsidence from roughly 40 to 25 Ma, whereas subsequent accumulation occurred in localized internally drained basins in elevated intermontane areas. Regardless of the regional subsurface structural geometry, 40Ar/39Ar ages define a 25–21 Ma onset of intermontane sedimentation that signifies the termination of major upper crustal shortening over large parts of the Eastern Cordillera and possibly the age of initial shortening in the Interandean and Subandean zones to the east. In contrast to several popular models, the revised tectonic history presented here suggests significant pre‐Neogene shortening in the Eastern Cordillera and underscores the large uncertainties in estimates of long‐term shortening rates in the Andes.

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“…In contrast to the Appalachians and other foreland fold-and-thrust belts worldwide [77,78], there is no evidence for any thinskinned thrusting with the exception of the westernmost parts of the Anti-Atlas along the Atlantic coast [8,65] and some blind thrusting below the Ouarkziz ridge. In our interpretation [19,47], the Ouarkziz ridge, a slightly curved monocline of more than 400 km length, is the surface expression of a triangle structure [97]. We postulate the existence of a blind thrust to end somewhere below the Tindouf Basin and a major NNW-vergent backthrust to re-emerge within a thick series of shales above the Devonian Rich, tightly folded and pushed under the Carboniferous Ouarkziz monocline (Fig.…”

Section: The Anti-atlas Chain -What Kind Of Fold Belt?mentioning

confidence: 99%

Tectonics of the Anti-Atlas of Morocco

Burkhard

Caritg

Helg

et al. 2006

Comptes Rendus. Géoscience

144

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The Anti-Atlas is reviewed and examined in the light of its geodynamic significance as a Palaeozoic basin and fold belt. Shortening is accommodated by polyharmonic buckle folding of the cover in a thick-skinned fashion without the development of any significant thrust/duplex systems. The Anti-Atlas is heavily inverted deep intracratonic basin, rather than a former passive margin of the Palaeo-Tethys Ocean. Inversion took place in Late Carboniferous to Early Permian times. Main shortening directions changed from NW-SE to north-south and maybe NE-SW through time, leading to the development of dome and basin patterns on scales from 100 m to 10 km.

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The structure of mountain fronts

Cited by 168 publications

References 7 publications

A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

A Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous record of orogenic wedge evolution in the Western Interior basin, USA and Canada

Revised deformation history of the central Andes: Inferences from Cenozoic foredeep and intermontane basins of the Eastern Cordillera, Bolivia

Tectonics of the Anti-Atlas of Morocco

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