Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Reactivation of basement faults and crustal shortening in orogenic belts

Abstract

During the early evolution of some fold mountain belts old listric normal faults in a stretched and thinned basement beneath the sedimentary column may become reactivated as thrust faults. The reversal of motion on these faults allows considerable shortening to occur without subduction or excessive thickening of continental crust. This reactivation hypothesis is supported by the present-day seismicity of the Zagros collision zone and the structure of sedimentary basins.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. McKenzie, D. P. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 30, 109–185 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Tapponnier, P. & Molnar, P. J. geophys. Res. 82, 2905–2930 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. Molnar, P. & Tapponnier, P. Science 189, 419–426 (1975).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Tapponnier, P. & Molnar, P. Nature 264, 319–324 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Tapponnier, P. & Molnar, P. J. geophys. Res. 84, 3425–2459 (1979).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Bally, A. in Proc. Thrust and Nappe Conf. (Geological Society, London, in the press).

  7. Molnar, P. & Gray, D. Geology 7, 58–62 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. McKenzie, D. P. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 18, 1–32 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Helwig, J. Nature 290, 768–770 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. McKenzie, D. P. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 40, 25–32 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Parsons, B. & Sclater, J. G. J. geophys. Res. 82, 803–807 (1977).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Christie, P. & Sclater, J. G. Nature (in the press).

  13. Sclater, J. G. et al. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. (submitted).

  14. Royden, L., Sclater, J. G. & von Herzen, R. P. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. (in the press).

  15. Ziegler, P. Geol. J. 1, 17–32 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  16. Christie, P. thesis, Univ. Cambridge (1979).

  17. Jongsma, D. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 37, 337–346 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Makris, J. & Vees, R. J. Geophys. 42, 329–341 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  19. Makris, J. J. Geophys. 41, 441–443 (1975).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. McKenzie, D. P. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 55, 217–274 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Proffett, J. M. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 88, 247–266 (1977).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Falcon, N. L. in Time and Place in Orogeny (Geological Society, London, 1969).

    Google Scholar 

  23. Stocklin, J. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 52, 1229–1258 (1968).

    Google Scholar 

  24. Stocklin, J. in The Geology of Continental Margins (eds Burk, C. A. & Drake, C. L.) (Springer, Berlin, 1974).

    Google Scholar 

  25. McKenzie, D. P. & Jackson, J. A. Active Tectonics of Iran and East Turkey (in preparation).

  26. Tchalenko, J. & Braud, J. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 277, 1–25 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Berberian, M. Geol. Surv. Iran Rep. Nos 39 & 40 (1976, 1977).

  28. Jackson, J. A. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. (in the press).

  29. Jackson, J. A., McKenzie, D. P. & Fitch, T. J. in Proc. the Thrust and Nappe Conf. (Geological Society, London, in the press).

  30. Savage, W. U., Alt, J. N. & Mohajer-Ashaji, A. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. 9, 496 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  31. Von Dollen, F. J., Alt, J. N., Tocher, D. & Nowroozi, A. Geol. Soc. Am. Abstr. 9, 521 (1977).

    Google Scholar 

  32. Bull. Seismographic Network, Bushehr region (Atomic Energy Authority of Iran, 1978).

  33. Berberian, M. & Papastamatiou, D. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 68, 411–428 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  34. Jackson, J. A. & Fitch, T. J. Geophys. J. R. astr. Soc. 57, 209–229 (1979).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Dewey, J. W. & Grantz, A. Bull. seism. Soc. Am. 63, 2071–2090 (1973).

    Google Scholar 

  36. Jackson, J. A. & Fitch, T. J. The Focal Depths of the Larger Zagros Earthquakes (in preparation).

  37. Morris, P. Basement Structure as Suggested by Aeromagnetic Surveys in SWIran (Oil Service Co., Iran, 1977).

    Google Scholar 

  38. James, G. A. & Wynd, J. G. Bull. Am. Ass. Petrol. Geol. 49, 2182–2245 (1965).

    Google Scholar 

  39. Comby, O. & Coajon, A. 2nd Symp. Geology of Iran, Teheran (1977).

  40. Haynes, S. J. & McQuillan, H. Bull. Geol. Soc. Am. 85, 739–744 (1974).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  41. Stoneley, R. Tectonophysics 25, 303–322 (1976).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Sykes, L. Rev. Geophys. Space. Phys. 16, 621–688 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. Winslow, M. in Proc. Thrust and Nappe Conf. (Geological Society, London, in the press).

  44. Setudehnia, A. J. Petrol. Geol. 1, 3–42 (1978).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  45. Szabo, F. & Keradpir, A. J. Petrol. Geol. 2, 58–82 (1978).

    Google Scholar 

  46. Bally, A. W., Gordy, P. L. & Stewart, G. A. Bull. Can. Petrol. Geol. 14, 337–381 (1966).

    Google Scholar 

  47. Royse, F., Warner, M. A. & Reese, D. L. in Deep Drilling Frontiers of the Central Rocky Mountains (ed. Bolyard, D. W.) (Rocky Mountain Association of Geology, 1975).

    Google Scholar 

  48. Price, R. A. & Mountjoy, E. W. Geol. Ass. Can. Spec. Pap. 6, 7–25 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  49. Laubscher, H. P. Am. J. Sci. 271, 193–226 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jackson, J. Reactivation of basement faults and crustal shortening in orogenic belts. Nature 283, 343–346 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/283343a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/283343a0

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing