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Unconformities in foreland basins may be generated by tectonic processes that operate in the basin, the adjacent fold–thrust belt or the broader convergent margin. Foreland basin unconformities represent shifts from high accommodation to non-depositional or erosional conditions in which the interruption of subsidence precludes the net accumulation of sediment. This study explores the genesis of long-duration unconformities (>1–20 myr) and condensed stratigraphic sections by considering modern and ancient examples from the Andes of western South America. These case studies highlight the potential geodynamic mechanisms of accommodation reduction and hiatus development in Andean-type retroarc foreland settings, including: (1) shortening-induced uplift in the frontal thrust belt and proximal foreland; (2) the growth and advance of a broad, low-relief flexural forebulge; (3) the uplift of intraforeland basement blocks; (4) tectonic quiescence with regional isostatic rebound; (5) the end of thrust loading and flexural subsidence during oblique convergence; (6) diminished accommodation or sediment supply due to changes in sea-level, climate, erosion or transport; (7) basinwide uplift during flat-slab subduction; and (8) dynamic uplift associated with slab window formation, slab break-off, elevated intraplate (in-plane) stress, or related mantle process. These contrasting mechanisms can be distinguished on the basis of the spatial distribution, structural context, stratigraphic position, palaeoenvironmental conditions, and duration of unconformities and condensed sections. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Fold-and-thrust belts collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/cc/fold-and-thrust-belts
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Fold-and-thrust belts and associated basins: a perspective on their structure, sedimentation, and dynamics
Fold-and-thrust belts are structural features that accommodate upper-crustal shortening by the growth of a series of thrust faults and folds. Recent studies show that a better understanding of the structure and sedimentation styles of fold-and-thrust belts and their associated basins can provide crucial insights for improved interpretations of the evolution of ancient and modern convergent margins and the mechanisms of intracontinental deformation. To achieve a more comprehensive understanding of the development of contractional orogenic belts, this thematic collection gathers contributions that explore different types of fold-and-thrust belts at various scales around the world, via different approaches including theory development, structural and stratigraphic observations from the field, geophysical analyses, and numerical modelling. Case studies include the northern margin of the Tibetan plateau and Pamir region, the Timanian and Caledonian orogenies in northern Norway, orogenic belts in western Laurentia, and the Andes of western South America. These studies reemphasize the importance of integrating broad datasets when documenting the distribution, geometry, and kinematics of structures in fold-and-thrust belts and their associated basins, including field-based structural observations, provenance, low-temperature thermochronologic, geomorphologic, and subsurface data, and analog and numerical models. This thematic collection aims to encourage further efforts for comparative studies of the fold-and-thrust belts around the world and proposes interdisciplinary research to address outstanding questions in the study of contractional orogens. Thematic collection: This article is part of the Fold-and-thrust belts collection available at: https://www.lyellcollection.org/topic/collections/fold-and-thrust-belts-and-associated-basins
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- Award ID(s):
- 1914501
- PAR ID:
- 10417642
- Date Published:
- Journal Name:
- Journal of the Geological Society
- Volume:
- 180
- Issue:
- 2
- ISSN:
- 0016-7649
- Format(s):
- Medium: X
- Sponsoring Org:
- National Science Foundation
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Accepted Manuscript1.0
- Journal Article:
- https://doi.org/10.1144/jgs2022-125
