Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

1337

Date

2015

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Science

Major

Earth Sciences

Concentration

Geology

Committee Chair

Mervin Jerome Bartholomew

Committee Member

Eunseo Choi

Committee Member

Robert Smalley

Committee Member

Andrew Michael Mickelson

Abstract

I used two-dimensional finite element models to explore different configurations of weak layers in undeformed sedimentary sequences to investigate the occurence of three characteristic types of thrust configurations: ramp-flat; imbricate; and duplex. Two low-friction weak layers in the models were initially horizontal, were separated vertically by 1 km, and were arranged in three different relative positions to each other. When the models were deformed and these weak layers interacted to produce one of the three types of thrust faults as a function of their initial configurations. When the tips of weak layers were separated by a large gap, the models produced imbricate thrusts. When the two weak layers overlapped for a large distance, duplexes formed in the overlapped zone. When the gap or overlap was small, the two weak layers linked up to form a ramp-flat geometry. These results suggest that thrust geometry is highly sensitive to the initial arrangement ofdecollements.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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