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DYNAMIC STRATIGRAPHY WORKGROUP |
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Tectonic signatures in foreland basins
People: Jennifer Aschoff, Ron Steel
Research question(s): “Tectonic signatures” (sensu Frostick and Steel, 1993), or indicators, have been used in numerous studies to deduce the role of tectonics, paleogeography and precise kinematic development of structures. What are the limitations of these widely-used “tectonic signatures”? How are tectonic signatures spatially distributed, and temporally translated throughout a foreland basin? How should they be applied differently in different depozones?
Summary of work: Tectonic signatures refer to characteristics within synorogenic sedimentary successions that suggest deposition synchronous with tectonism, and supply the best record of uplift and subsidence. Growth strata may be used to interpret detailed structural histories; however, the extent to which these can be used to interpret regional tectonics, and how they relate to stages of basin evolution are concepts that are not well understood.
To determine how “proximal” indicators of tectonics grade into more “distal”, or “cryptic” (sensu Miall et al. 2001) indicators, lateral trends in syntectonic unconformity development were examined. Specifically, I am interested in how incision, paragenesis and facies stacking patterns vary laterally along syntectonic unconformities and their basinward-equivalents. This study used recently-discovered, Upper Cretaceous growth strata exposed in SE Nevada to document such trends.
Publications and presentations: See Dr. Jennifer Aschoff's website for a current list of publications, students and on-going research projects |