The University of Southampton
University of Southampton Institutional Repository

Crustal fault reactivation facilitating lithospheric folding/buckling in the central Indian Ocean

Crustal fault reactivation facilitating lithospheric folding/buckling in the central Indian Ocean
Crustal fault reactivation facilitating lithospheric folding/buckling in the central Indian Ocean
High-quality, normal-incidence seismic reflection data confirm that tectonic deformation in the central Indian Ocean occurs at two spatial scales: whole lithosphere folding with wavelengths varying between 100 and 300 km, and compressional reactivation of crustal faults with a characteristic spacing of c. 5 km. Faults penetrate through the crust and probably into the upper mantle. Both types of deformation are driven by regional large intraplate stresses originating from the Indo-Eurasian collision. Numerical modelling of the spatial and temporal relationships between these two modes of deformations shows that, in agreement with geophysical observations, crustal faults are reactivated first with stick-slip behaviour. Subsequent lithospheric folding does not start until horizontal loading has significantly reduced the mechanical strength of the lithosphere, as predicted by elasto-plastic buckling theory. Modelling suggests that lithospheric folding does not develop in the absence of fault reactivation. Crustal fault reactivation, therefore, appears to be a key facilitating mechanism for oceanic lithospheric buckling in the central Indian Ocean.
1897799438
99
251-263
The Geological Society of London
Beekman, F.
87139e0a-2e30-4f56-b91e-fea97334e3a9
Bull, Jonathan M.
974037fd-544b-458f-98cc-ce8eca89e3c8
Cloetingh, S.
c51e0b6f-bc85-453e-8d58-3803dce86fa9
Scrutton, R.A.
95eded4e-f5ed-4ecc-8cd7-ecd916dc10a6
Buchanan, P.G.
Nieuwland, D.A.
Beekman, F.
87139e0a-2e30-4f56-b91e-fea97334e3a9
Bull, Jonathan M.
974037fd-544b-458f-98cc-ce8eca89e3c8
Cloetingh, S.
c51e0b6f-bc85-453e-8d58-3803dce86fa9
Scrutton, R.A.
95eded4e-f5ed-4ecc-8cd7-ecd916dc10a6
Buchanan, P.G.
Nieuwland, D.A.

Beekman, F., Bull, Jonathan M., Cloetingh, S. and Scrutton, R.A. (1996) Crustal fault reactivation facilitating lithospheric folding/buckling in the central Indian Ocean. In, Buchanan, P.G. and Nieuwland, D.A. (eds.) Modern Developments in Structural Interpretation, Validation and Modelling. (Special Publication of the Geological Society, 99) London, GB. The Geological Society of London, pp. 251-263.

Record type: Book Section

Abstract

High-quality, normal-incidence seismic reflection data confirm that tectonic deformation in the central Indian Ocean occurs at two spatial scales: whole lithosphere folding with wavelengths varying between 100 and 300 km, and compressional reactivation of crustal faults with a characteristic spacing of c. 5 km. Faults penetrate through the crust and probably into the upper mantle. Both types of deformation are driven by regional large intraplate stresses originating from the Indo-Eurasian collision. Numerical modelling of the spatial and temporal relationships between these two modes of deformations shows that, in agreement with geophysical observations, crustal faults are reactivated first with stick-slip behaviour. Subsequent lithospheric folding does not start until horizontal loading has significantly reduced the mechanical strength of the lithosphere, as predicted by elasto-plastic buckling theory. Modelling suggests that lithospheric folding does not develop in the absence of fault reactivation. Crustal fault reactivation, therefore, appears to be a key facilitating mechanism for oceanic lithospheric buckling in the central Indian Ocean.

Text
Beekman et al., 1996 Folding_in_the_Central_Indian_Ocean.pdf - Author's Original
Download (444kB)

More information

Published date: 1996
Organisations: Geology & Geophysics

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 346546
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/346546
ISBN: 1897799438
PURE UUID: 1f3e32bb-0ed5-4aa8-87f5-f81aa7755b8d
ORCID for Jonathan M. Bull: ORCID iD orcid.org/0000-0003-3373-5807

Catalogue record

Date deposited: 02 Jan 2013 10:51
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 02:44

Export record

Contributors

Author: F. Beekman
Author: S. Cloetingh
Author: R.A. Scrutton
Editor: P.G. Buchanan
Editor: D.A. Nieuwland

Download statistics

Downloads from ePrints over the past year. Other digital versions may also be available to download e.g. from the publisher's website.

View more statistics

Atom RSS 1.0 RSS 2.0

Contact ePrints Soton: eprints@soton.ac.uk

ePrints Soton supports OAI 2.0 with a base URL of http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/cgi/oai2

This repository has been built using EPrints software, developed at the University of Southampton, but available to everyone to use.

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue without changing your settings, we will assume that you are happy to receive cookies on the University of Southampton website.

×