Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central Australia

Abstract Continents have a rich tectonic history that have left lasting crustal impressions. In analyzing Central Australian intraplate orogenesis, complex continental features make it difficult to identify the controls of inherited structure. Here the tectonics of two types of inherited structures...

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Main Authors: Philip J. Heron, Russell N. Pysklywec
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2016-05-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068562
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author Philip J. Heron
Russell N. Pysklywec
author_facet Philip J. Heron
Russell N. Pysklywec
author_sort Philip J. Heron
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Continents have a rich tectonic history that have left lasting crustal impressions. In analyzing Central Australian intraplate orogenesis, complex continental features make it difficult to identify the controls of inherited structure. Here the tectonics of two types of inherited structures (e.g., a thermally enhanced or a rheologically strengthened region) are compared in numerical simulations of continental compression with and without “glacial buzzsaw” erosion. We find that although both inherited structures produce deformation in the upper crust that is confined to areas where material contrasts, patterns of deformation in the deep lithosphere differ significantly. Furthermore, our models infer that glacial buzzsaw erosion has little impact at depth. This tectonic isolation of the mantle lithosphere from glacial processes may further assist in the identification of a controlling inherited structure in intraplate orogenesis. Our models are interpreted in the context of Central Australian tectonics (specifically the Petermann and Alice Springs orogenies).
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spelling doaj-art-bc12f29b62a144098da001adf0b409a12025-08-20T03:49:37ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072016-05-0143104962497010.1002/2016GL068562Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central AustraliaPhilip J. Heron0Russell N. Pysklywec1Department of Earth Sciences University of Toronto Toronto Ontario CanadaDepartment of Earth Sciences University of Toronto Toronto Ontario CanadaAbstract Continents have a rich tectonic history that have left lasting crustal impressions. In analyzing Central Australian intraplate orogenesis, complex continental features make it difficult to identify the controls of inherited structure. Here the tectonics of two types of inherited structures (e.g., a thermally enhanced or a rheologically strengthened region) are compared in numerical simulations of continental compression with and without “glacial buzzsaw” erosion. We find that although both inherited structures produce deformation in the upper crust that is confined to areas where material contrasts, patterns of deformation in the deep lithosphere differ significantly. Furthermore, our models infer that glacial buzzsaw erosion has little impact at depth. This tectonic isolation of the mantle lithosphere from glacial processes may further assist in the identification of a controlling inherited structure in intraplate orogenesis. Our models are interpreted in the context of Central Australian tectonics (specifically the Petermann and Alice Springs orogenies).https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068562inherited structureglacial buzzsawmantle lithosphereintraplate orogenesiscontinental shorteningCentral Australian tectonics
spellingShingle Philip J. Heron
Russell N. Pysklywec
Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central Australia
Geophysical Research Letters
inherited structure
glacial buzzsaw
mantle lithosphere
intraplate orogenesis
continental shortening
Central Australian tectonics
title Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central Australia
title_full Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central Australia
title_fullStr Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central Australia
title_full_unstemmed Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central Australia
title_short Inherited structure and coupled crust‐mantle lithosphere evolution: Numerical models of Central Australia
title_sort inherited structure and coupled crust mantle lithosphere evolution numerical models of central australia
topic inherited structure
glacial buzzsaw
mantle lithosphere
intraplate orogenesis
continental shortening
Central Australian tectonics
url https://doi.org/10.1002/2016GL068562
work_keys_str_mv AT philipjheron inheritedstructureandcoupledcrustmantlelithosphereevolutionnumericalmodelsofcentralaustralia
AT russellnpysklywec inheritedstructureandcoupledcrustmantlelithosphereevolutionnumericalmodelsofcentralaustralia