Masters Theses

Date of Award

5-2000

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Geology

Major Professor

William M. Dunne

Committee Members

Robert D. Hatcher Jr., Steven G. Driese

Abstract

The objectives of this study are to: (1) assess the regional contribution of outcrop-scale structures in well exposed rocks of tectonic province; and (2) evaluate how failure to measure this scale of structure affects the assessment of regional deformation. The contribution of outcrop-scale structures to regional deformation has not been quantified because of the requirement of long continuous exposures to characterize and quantify the structures. This study used 18.6 km of semi-continuous roadcut and streambed exposures in well-exposed Devonian clastic rocks to construct 1:200-scale profiles to address this issue. The key results are: (1) outcrop-scale structures contribute about ⅙ to ¼ of the total regional shortening. (2) The submap-scale shortening components from microscale and outcrop-scale structures equal the map-scale shortening that would be interpreted from a regional cross section. Therefore,the submap-scale structures are important to the regional analysis of deformation. (3) The analysis was performed in the roof sequence of a blind thrust belt, where examination of the smaller structures shows that roof-sequence deformation preceded and continued through duplex formation. (4) The kinematic response of the roof sequence would be incorrectly identified as back thrusting of the shortening contribution of the outcrop-scale structures is ignored. (5) Although the measured outcrop-scale shortening does not match that predicted by fractal analysis of other workers, the fractal approach may still be valid.

Download
Files over 3MB may be slow to open. For best results, right-click and select "save as..."

Share

COinS