Deformation evolution of Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng fold-thrust belt in South China: Insights from analogue modelling

He, Wengang; Zhou, Jianxun; Yuan, Kun

doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2018.01.002

Cited by 29 publications

(11 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…The Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng fold‐thrust belt (ESXFTB) is located in the middle‐upper Yangtze block of South China and comprises four deformation domains, including the Eastern Sichuan, the Western Hunan–Hubei, the Xuefeng, and the Xiangzhong–Lianyuan domains (Figure 2a). It shows a northwestward‐convex curvature in plain view and hence is generally considered to be a product of the northwestward shortening that occurred during middle Mesozoic time (He et al., 2018; Yan et al., 2003; Zhang et al., 2013). Additionally, this northwestward‐convex curvature suggests the existence of southeastward‐directed τ s on its two lateral boundaries during its northwestward propagation (Figure 2a).…”

Section: Geologic Setting Of the Esxftbmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Considering that the thicknesses of the upper and the lower weak décollements in the ESXFTB (Figure 3c) is not well constrained (He et al., 2018), taking 5 km (i.e., 1 cm in the models) for them in Type B models may not exactly reflect the actual conditions. However, because τ d is a function of v , η, and H d (equal to v η/ H d ), rather than only the thickness of décollement, this simplification of décollement thicknesses in the models may not substantially affect the discussion of the relationship between the τ s /τ d ratio and the structural vergence of the ESXFTB.…”

Section: Analogue Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Relationship Between Lateral/Basal Shear Stress Ratio and Structural Vergence of Thrust Wedges: Results From Analogue Modeling and Implications for the Origin of Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng Fold‐Thrust Belt in South China

Zhou

2022

Tectonics

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Thrust wedges are common in nature, but not all of their origins can be properly explained by the classic Coulomb wedge theory, which considers only a 2D perspective. A few analogue models, however, revealed that lateral shear stress (inherent in both analogue models and nature) may strongly affect the development of thrust wedges and the lateral/basal shear stress (τs/τd) ratio might have controlled the structural vergence of thrust wedge, suggesting that origin of thrust wedges needs to be considered from a 3D perspective. The origin of the Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng fold‐thrust belt (ESXFTB), which is characterized by two oppositely vergent thrust systems at different crustal levels and may contain another large purely backward‐vergent thrust wedge on the world, is still problematic. Revealing the relationship between τs/τd ratio and structural vergence may prompt a deep understanding of the origin of thrust wedges as well as the ESXFTB. This relationship, however, is still not very clear due to the lack of systematic experiments. For these reasons, we performed systematic experiments of two types of analogue models under different τs/τd ratios. Our model results revealed, for the first time, that structural vergence of thrust wedges lying on a weak décollement may progressively change from frontward (when τs/τd <0.09) to dual (when τs/τd = 0.09–1.15) and then to backward (when τs/τd >1.15) and the two oppositely vergent thrust systems in the ESXFTB can be produced simultaneously by the single northwestward Mesozoic shortening probably due to their apparently different τs/τd ratios.

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Section: Geologic Setting Of the Esxftbmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Analogue Modelingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Relationship Between Lateral/Basal Shear Stress Ratio and Structural Vergence of Thrust Wedges: Results From Analogue Modeling and Implications for the Origin of Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng Fold‐Thrust Belt in South China

Zhou

2022

Tectonics

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“…Like many previous sandbox modeling studies, (e.g. Weijermars et al, 1993;Cotton and Koyi, 2000;Bahroudi and Koyi, 2003;Nilforoushan et al, 2008;Wu et al, 2014;Sun et al, 2016, Sun et al, 2019Yan et al, 2016;He et al, 2018;Cui et al, 2020;Fan et al, 2020), we use dry quartz sand, glass microbeads and viscous silicone polymer to build rheologically analogous stratum of the Sichuan Basin.…”

Section: Modeling Materialsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Weak rock units like salt or shale, as well as the planes between sediments and base of the basin (potential décollements) stand at the forefront in controlling structural style of a fold-and-thrust belt (Davis et al, 1983;Davis and Engelder, 1985;Dahlen, 1990), and have been extensively explored by analogue and numerical modeling methods, (e.g. Cotton and Koyi, 2000;Koyi et al, 2000;Bonini, 2001;Couzens-Schultz et al, 2003;Bonini, 2007;Storti et al, 2007;Graveleau et al, 2012;Ruh et al, 2012;Feng et al, 2015;He et al, 2018;Zhang et al, 2019). These studies suggest that the resultant deformation patterns are sensitive to the rheology, thickness and strength of décollements.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Structural Significance of the Mid-level Décollement Within the Western Sichuan Fold-And-Thrust Belt (WSFTB), Insights From Sandbox Modeling

Sun

et al. 2021

Front. Earth Sci.

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The WSFTB is located outboard of the eastern Tibetan Plateau, western China. It has received great attention due to high earthquake risks and rich resources of oil and gas. For both issues, the detailed structural configuration and deformation mechanism behind it are of great importance, but remain unclear due to the complexity created by the presence of multiple décollements. The effect of regionally distributed shallow Triassic salt décollement (SD) and the basal one (BD) has been well understood. In this paper, we focus on the third décollement situated between them. We conducted three sandbox experiments by varying this mid-level décollement (MD) from absence to presence, and from frictional to viscous, to test the effect on diversity of regional structural configuration. Our experimental results illustrated that 1) Absence of MD facilitated decoupling on SD, forming the greatest contrast between subsurface deformation front and the blind one beneath SD; 2) Frictional MD itself showed little decoupling, while its weakness reduced the bulk strength of deep structural level, lowering decoupling effect on SD and leading to approximating deformation fronts in the shallow and deep; 3) The viscous MD, along with SD relieved the resistance on their interbed layer. Consequently, the fastest deformation propagation rate and farthest deformation front (in all the experiments) occurred in the middle structural level. The modeled fold and thrust structures are comparable with the southern, central and northern WSFTB respectively, suggesting that varied MD may control the along-strike structural variations presented. The results also indicate that MD can alter the deformation partition in depth of any other multiple décollement system.

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“…The use of analogue models to validate interpretations of subsurface structure in the deterministic manner proposed by Link is increasing. Recent examples include the Dabashan and the eastern Sichuan-Xuefeng fold-thrust belts in South China (Wang et al 2013;He et al 2018) within the South China Block (Yan et al 2016) and the Wupoer fold belt in the NE Pamirs (Wang et al 2016). These generally impose a structural or stratigraphic template derived from the specific geological case study.…”

Section: Validation Confirmation and Structural Interpretationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Henry Cadell's ‘Experimental researches in mountain building’: their lessons for interpreting thrust systems and fold–thrust structures

Butler¹,

Bond²,

Cooper³

2020

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In 1888, inspired by fieldwork in what has become known as the Moine Thrust Belt, NW Scotland, Henry Cadell conducted a pioneering series of analogue deformation experiments to investigate the structural evolution of fold-thrust belts. Some experiments showed that imbricate thrusts build up thrust wedges of variable form, without requiring precursor folding. Others demonstrated a variety of fold-thrust structures and how heterogeneities in basement can localize thrust structures. These experiments are described here and used to draw lessons on how analogue deformation experiments are used to inform the interpretation of fold-thrust structures. Early adopters used Cadell's results as guides to structural styles when constructing cross-sections in thrust belts. His models and the host of others created since serve to illustrate part of the range of structural geometries in thrust belts. However, as with much subsequent work, Cadell's use of a deformation apparatus, with a fixed basal slip surface, biases perceptions of fold-thrust belts to be necessarily 'thin-skinned' (experimental design bias) and can simply reinforce established interpretations of natural systems (confirmation bias). So analogue deformation experiments may be unreliable guides to the deterministic interpretations of specific fold-thrust structures in the sub surface of the real world.From: HAMMERSTEIN, J. A., DI CUIA, R., COTTAM, M. A.,

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Deformation evolution of Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng fold-thrust belt in South China: Insights from analogue modelling

Cited by 29 publications

References 40 publications

Relationship Between Lateral/Basal Shear Stress Ratio and Structural Vergence of Thrust Wedges: Results From Analogue Modeling and Implications for the Origin of Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng Fold‐Thrust Belt in South China

Relationship Between Lateral/Basal Shear Stress Ratio and Structural Vergence of Thrust Wedges: Results From Analogue Modeling and Implications for the Origin of Eastern Sichuan–Xuefeng Fold‐Thrust Belt in South China

Structural Significance of the Mid-level Décollement Within the Western Sichuan Fold-And-Thrust Belt (WSFTB), Insights From Sandbox Modeling

Henry Cadell's ‘Experimental researches in mountain building’: their lessons for interpreting thrust systems and fold–thrust structures

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