Continental Collision
Table of Contents

I Introduction

II Collisonal Tectonics

II. 1 Collisional Driving Forces

II. 1.1 Mantle Convection
II. 1.2 Side Push (Ridge Push)
II. 1.3 Basal Traction (Slab Pull)

II. 2 Collisional Scenarios
II. 2.1 Arc-Continent
II. 2.2 Continent-Continent
II. 2.3 Continental Subduction


III Mechanism Accommodating Convergence

III.1 Pure Shear Thickening Models
III. 1.1 Homogeneous
III. 1.2 Heterogeneous
III.2 Simple Shear Thickening Models
III. 2.1 Single Thrust
III. 2.2 Under-Thrusting
III. 2.3 Over-Thrusting
III.3 Lateral Extrusion: Concept of Escape Tectonics
III.4 Lithospheric Folding

IV The Role of Gravity in Collisional Zones

IV.1 Balance of Forces
IV.2 The Gravitational Potential Energy
IV.3 The Gravitational Force
IV.4 When Gravitational Force Drives Convergence
IV.5 When Gravitational Force Opposes Convergence

V Structural Geology of Continent-Continent & Arc-Continent Collision Zones

V.1 The Architecture of Collisional Mountain Belts
V.2 The Foredeep
V.3 The Foreland and Thrust Belt
V.4 The Hinterland
V.4.1 Suture Zone (Tectonic melange, ophiolite, and volcanic arc)
V.4.2 Metamorphic Core (Gabritic batholiths, gneissic terranes, nappes, metamorphic core complexes)

VII Questions

VIII Glossary

Reference List

 


 


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