Polyphase flanking folds

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An important goal of structural geology is to unravel the kinematics of high strain zones. To attain this goal, geologists use kinematic indicators, which are structures that give information on the geometry and time-dependence of the flow field e.g. shear sense and transpressional/transtension setting. Flanking structures are common kinematic indicators which include shear bands, asymmetric boudins and flanking folds that develop due to local disturbance of the flow field adjacent to material discontinuities. The aim of this project is to study the physics of developing flanking structures through the study of natural examples and numerical and analoque experimental modelling. The results will provide a better understanding of the initiation and growth of these structures to high strain for the correct interpretation of natural examples. The study has a practical field application in assessing the sense of movement and overall kinematics of major fault zones. It also has direct economic applicability, for example in understanding the development of hanging wall antiform above normal and reverse faults, structures that are important traps for hydrocarbons. This project is part of an international cooperation between Earth Science Departments of the Universities of Mainz (Prof. C. Passchier), Vienna-Austria (Dr. B. Grasemann) and ETH-Zurich (Dr. N. Mancktelow) attempting to bring major advance in the understandig of flanking structures.