Formation and growth of normal faults in carbonates within a compressive environment

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2003 Formation and growth of normal faults in carbonates within a compressive environment Brita Graham; Brita Graham 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Marco Antonellini; Marco Antonellini 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Atilla Aydin Atilla Aydin 1Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-2115, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2003) 31 (1): 11–14. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0011:FAGONF>2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 25 Mar 2002 rev-recd: 30 Aug 2002 accepted: 09 Sep 2002 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 Brita Graham, Marco Antonellini, Atilla Aydin; Formation and growth of normal faults in carbonates within a compressive environment. Geology 2003;; 31 (1): 11–14. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2003)031<0011:FAGONF>2.0.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 Normal faults were initiated and grew through hierarchical formation of pressure-solution structures and their subsequent shearing in Cretaceous carbonates in the leading thrust front of Maiella Mountain, Italy. Through mapping in the field, we have documented the detailed architecture of faults with increasing slip values from a few millimeters to ∼50 m and have identified pretilting structural elements and four stages of fault development, each stage representing addition of a new structural element. The result is a conceptual model that begins with pretilting structures (bed-parallel and bed-perpendicular solution surfaces) that were reactivated in shear upon tilting of the beds at the frontal limb of the Maiella anticline. Slip on mechanical-layer boundaries and on bed-perpendicular solution surfaces resulted in oblique solution surfaces, linkage of solution surfaces, and fragmentation of rock. Oblique zones of fragmented rock in adjacent mechanical layers linked to form a continuous breccia and facilitated fault growth. These normal faults formed through mechanical processes strictly in a compressional regime. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.