A metamorphic perspective on foreland flexure during intraplate orogeny: evidence for the involvement of weak lithosphere. (30th June 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Walsh, Alec K.; Hand, Martin; Kelsey, David E.
• Is Part Of: Terra nova. Volume 27:Number 5(2015:Oct.)
• Page Start: 329
• Page End: 337
• Publication Date: 2015-06-30
• Subjects: Earth sciences -- Periodicals; Geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1111/ter.12164
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0954-4879

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="ter12164-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>Constraining depth–temperature conditions of syn‐orogenic burial metamorphism of syn‐orogenic sediments in a foreland basin provides an innovative way to investigate the thermomechanical state of the lithosphere. In central Australia, major intraplate deformation resulted in 10 km of syn‐orogenic sedimentation in a basin approximately 70 km wide. The deep level of burial in the foreland of the intraplate orogen requires the involvement of weak lithosphere with an elastic thickness of ≤20 km. The profound flexural response of the foreland region indicates that major intraplate deformation in central Australia was localised into a region of dramatically weakened lithosphere.</p> </abstract>