Triangle zones, generally found in foreland fold-and-thrust belts, serve as favorable objects of petroleum exploration. Taking the Dabashan foreland belt as an example, we studied the formation and development of tria...Triangle zones, generally found in foreland fold-and-thrust belts, serve as favorable objects of petroleum exploration. Taking the Dabashan foreland belt as an example, we studied the formation and development of triangle zones, and investigated the effect of d^collements and the mechanical contrast of lithology by employing the method of physical modeling. Four experimental models were conducted in the work. The results showed that ＇sand wedges＇ grew episodically, recorded by deformational length, height and slope angle. The height versus shortening rate presented an S-shape curve, and uplifting occurred successively in the direction of the foreland belt. During the formation of the triangle zone, layer-parallel shortening took place at the outset; deformation decoupling then occurred between the upper and lower brittle layers, divided by a middle-embedded silicone polymers layer. The upper brittle layers deformed mainly by folding, while the lower sand layers by thrusting. As shortening continued, the geometry of a triangle zone was altered. We consider that the triangle zone in the Dabashan foreland belt was modified from an early one based on available seismic profiles and the experimental results. In addition, dccollements and mechanical contrast impose significant influence on structural development, which can directly give rise to structural discrepancies. More d^collements and obvious mechanical contrast between brittle layers can promote the coupling between the upper and lower brittle layers. Basal d^collement controls the whole deformation and decreases the slope angle of the wedge, while roof d^collement determines whether a triangle zone can be formed.展开更多
The map expression of ＂abrupt＂ changes in lateral stratigraphic level of a thrust fault has been traditionally interpreted to be a result of the presence of （1） a lateral （or oblique） thrust-ramp, or （2） a fro...The map expression of ＂abrupt＂ changes in lateral stratigraphic level of a thrust fault has been traditionally interpreted to be a result of the presence of （1） a lateral （or oblique） thrust-ramp, or （2） a frontal ramp with displacement gradient, and/or （3） a combination of these geometries. These geometries have been used to interpret the structures near transverse zones in fold-thrust belts （FTB）. This contribution outlines an alternative explanation that can result in the same map pattern by lateral variations in stratigraphy along the strike of a low angle thrust fault. We describe the natural example of the Leamington transverse zone, which marks the southern margin of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Oquirrh basin with genetically related lateral stratigraphic variations in the North American Sevier FTB. Thus, the observed map pattern at this zone is closely related to lateral stratigraphic variations along the strike of a horizontal fault. Even though the present-day erosional level shows the map pattern that could be interpreted as a lateral ramp, the observed structures along the Leamington zone most likely share the effects of the presence of a lateral （or oblique） ramp, lateral stratigraphic variations along the fault trace, and the displacement gradient.展开更多
文摘Triangle zones, generally found in foreland fold-and-thrust belts, serve as favorable objects of petroleum exploration. Taking the Dabashan foreland belt as an example, we studied the formation and development of triangle zones, and investigated the effect of d^collements and the mechanical contrast of lithology by employing the method of physical modeling. Four experimental models were conducted in the work. The results showed that ＇sand wedges＇ grew episodically, recorded by deformational length, height and slope angle. The height versus shortening rate presented an S-shape curve, and uplifting occurred successively in the direction of the foreland belt. During the formation of the triangle zone, layer-parallel shortening took place at the outset; deformation decoupling then occurred between the upper and lower brittle layers, divided by a middle-embedded silicone polymers layer. The upper brittle layers deformed mainly by folding, while the lower sand layers by thrusting. As shortening continued, the geometry of a triangle zone was altered. We consider that the triangle zone in the Dabashan foreland belt was modified from an early one based on available seismic profiles and the experimental results. In addition, dccollements and mechanical contrast impose significant influence on structural development, which can directly give rise to structural discrepancies. More d^collements and obvious mechanical contrast between brittle layers can promote the coupling between the upper and lower brittle layers. Basal d^collement controls the whole deformation and decreases the slope angle of the wedge, while roof d^collement determines whether a triangle zone can be formed.
基金supported by MLTM of Korean Government Program 20052004 to S.Kwon
文摘The map expression of ＂abrupt＂ changes in lateral stratigraphic level of a thrust fault has been traditionally interpreted to be a result of the presence of （1） a lateral （or oblique） thrust-ramp, or （2） a frontal ramp with displacement gradient, and/or （3） a combination of these geometries. These geometries have been used to interpret the structures near transverse zones in fold-thrust belts （FTB）. This contribution outlines an alternative explanation that can result in the same map pattern by lateral variations in stratigraphy along the strike of a low angle thrust fault. We describe the natural example of the Leamington transverse zone, which marks the southern margin of the Pennsylvanian-Permian Oquirrh basin with genetically related lateral stratigraphic variations in the North American Sevier FTB. Thus, the observed map pattern at this zone is closely related to lateral stratigraphic variations along the strike of a horizontal fault. Even though the present-day erosional level shows the map pattern that could be interpreted as a lateral ramp, the observed structures along the Leamington zone most likely share the effects of the presence of a lateral （or oblique） ramp, lateral stratigraphic variations along the fault trace, and the displacement gradient.
