Investigation of Crustal Contraction Mechanisms in the Brittle/Ductile Transition Zone

在了解逆冲断层在收缩变形环境中发生和扩展的控制因素方面，已经进行了大量的研究工作。这方面的大部分工作都是在地壳上部薄皮逆冲带上完成的。这一建议将这项工作扩展到在脆/韧性过渡附近的中间地壳水平形成的逆冲带。该带位于意大利北部亚平宁山脉的托斯卡纳推覆体内，并通过位于阿普安阿尔卑斯山脉以西的Liquride序列暴露在窗口中。该研究将侧重于适应收缩变形的机制，并将包括环境条件和流体作用的研究。本研究的结果将有助于理解地壳中水平逆冲带是如何开始和传播的，从而更好地解释地壳深部结构。

Considerable research effort has been directed at understanding the controls on initiation and propagation of thrust faults in contractional deformation environments. Much of this work has been done on upper crustal, thin-skinned thrust belts. This proposal will extend this work to a thrust zone that formed at intermediate crustal levels near the brittle/ductile transition. The zone lies within the Tuscan nappe of the Northern Apennines, Italy, and is exposed in a window through the Liquride sequences located west of the Apuane Alps. The study will focused on the mechanism that accommodate the contractional deformation and will include study of environmental conditions and the role of fluids. Results of this research should contribute to understanding of how thrust zones at mid-crustal levels initiate and propagate hand thus allow better interpretation of deep crustal structure.