Horizontal structures in granulite terrains: A record of mountain building or mountain collapse?

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 1989 Horizontal structures in granulite terrains: A record of mountain building or mountain collapse? Michael Sandiford Michael Sandiford 1Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Adelaide, GPO 498, Adelaide 5001, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1989) 17 (5): 449–452. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0449:HSIGTA>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Michael Sandiford; Horizontal structures in granulite terrains: A record of mountain building or mountain collapse?. Geology 1989;; 17 (5): 449–452. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1989)017<0449:HSIGTA>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract In many high-temperature (>800 °C) granulite terrains, the development of characteristic horizontal structures occurred during the metamorphic culmination and was followed by isobaric cooling. The absolute magnitude of isobaric cooling (commonly >300 °C) implies cooling intervals of the order of the thermal time constant of the continental lithosphere (∼100 m.y.). Such prolonged isobaric cooling implies that no significant erosional denudation followed the development of the horizontal structures and thus precludes the prograde deformation being responsible for significant crustal thickening. Rather, the prograde deformation more probably records bulk crustal thinning during extensional collapse of a previously thickened crust possibly triggered by detachment of a thickened thermal boundary layer at the base of the lithosphere. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.