TY - JOUR
T1 - Analogue modelling of strain partitioning along a curved strike-slip fault system during backarc-convex orocline formation
T2 - Implications for the Cerna-Timok fault system of the Carpatho-Balkanides
AU - Krstekanić, Nemanja
AU - Willingshofer, Ernst
AU - Broerse, Taco
AU - Matenco, Liviu
AU - Toljić, Marinko
AU - Stojadinovic, Uros
PY - 2021
Y1 - 2021
N2 - Large-scale strike-slip faults are associated with significant strain partitioning in releasing/restraining bends and often display map-view curvatures ending in horse-tail geometries. Such faults are commonly associated with indentation tectonics, where shortening in front of indenters is transferred laterally to transpression, strike-slip and the formation of transtensional/extensional basins. We investigate how these structurally distinct domains are kinematically linked by the means of a crustal-scale analogue modelling approach where a deformable crust is moved against a stable and rigid indenter. The modelling demonstrates that the geometry of the indenter is the major controlling parameter driving strain partitioning and deformation transfer from thrusting and transpression to strike-slip and transtension, whereas the rotation of the mobile plate controls the opening of triangular shaped transtensional basins. Flow of the ductile crust leads to the distribution of deformation over a wider area, facilitating strike-slip splaying into transtension/extension behind the indenter. Our results show a very good correlation with the Moesian indentation in the Carpatho-Balkanides system of South-Eastern Europe, where strain is partitioned around the dextral Cerna and Timok strike-slip faults and transferred to thrusting in the Balkanides part of the Moesian indenter and to transtension/extension in the neighbouring South Carpathians.
AB - Large-scale strike-slip faults are associated with significant strain partitioning in releasing/restraining bends and often display map-view curvatures ending in horse-tail geometries. Such faults are commonly associated with indentation tectonics, where shortening in front of indenters is transferred laterally to transpression, strike-slip and the formation of transtensional/extensional basins. We investigate how these structurally distinct domains are kinematically linked by the means of a crustal-scale analogue modelling approach where a deformable crust is moved against a stable and rigid indenter. The modelling demonstrates that the geometry of the indenter is the major controlling parameter driving strain partitioning and deformation transfer from thrusting and transpression to strike-slip and transtension, whereas the rotation of the mobile plate controls the opening of triangular shaped transtensional basins. Flow of the ductile crust leads to the distribution of deformation over a wider area, facilitating strike-slip splaying into transtension/extension behind the indenter. Our results show a very good correlation with the Moesian indentation in the Carpatho-Balkanides system of South-Eastern Europe, where strain is partitioned around the dextral Cerna and Timok strike-slip faults and transferred to thrusting in the Balkanides part of the Moesian indenter and to transtension/extension in the neighbouring South Carpathians.
KW - Analogue modelling
KW - Strain partitioning
KW - Strike-slip
KW - Indenter geometry
KW - Cerna and Timok faults system
U2 - 10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104386
DO - 10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104386
M3 - Article
SN - 0191-8141
VL - 149
JO - Journal of Structural Geology
JF - Journal of Structural Geology
M1 - 104386
ER -