Mb. Gray et G. Mitra, Ramifications of four-dimensional progressive deformation in contractionalmountain belts, J STRUC GEO, 21(8-9), 1999, pp. 1151-1160
Studies of progressive deformation aim to identify and establish temporal s
equences of structural stages, each characterized by a suite of structures
which form under specific rock and environmental conditions. Because of the
natural spatial variation in rock type and environmental parameters in an
orogen, several structural stages may operate concurrently in different par
ts of an orogenic wedge. At any given instant in time, rocks experiencing d
ifferent stages of deformation are bounded by deformation fronts. As intrin
sic and extrinsic conditions of deformation vary through time, spatial migr
ation of deformation fronts causes rocks to record temporal overprinting of
structural stages. In convergent orogens, deformation fronts, as mapped in
their finite state, are typically forelandward-dipping due to the regional
orogenic wedge geometry and thermal structure. Depending on the competing
deformation processes, deformation rate changes on either side of the front
may cause deformation fronts to change orientation, relief and surface are
a with time. Differences in migration rates of different deformation fronts
could cause rearrangement of the sequence of structural stages with depth
and laterally across the same mountain belt. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd.
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