Stress field evolution in a plate interior

板内构造是岩石圈板块内部的微弱变形，通常反映了影响板块边缘的过程，通常记录了地质时期一系列不同的应力场。板块内部应该比板块边缘更好地记录区域长期应力场，因为它们不会遭受强烈变形、局部垂直轴旋转或应变分割。此外，高地形引起的局部应力在那里也不起作用。另一方面，它们的地层层序往往是不完整的，通常反映出缓慢的下沉和低强度的隆起。角度不整合面或同运动地层往往不能用来约束变形事件的时间。即使在可以建立事件的相对年表的地方，年龄分配通常也是基于间接证据，而且可能是循环的。中欧是研究板内变形及其与板块边界关系的理想场所。它的一侧是中大西洋海脊，另一侧是地中海碰撞带。不同构造体制和应力场的历史清楚地确立了，它构成了世界上最壮观的板内缩短的例子之一。即便如此，对于运动学序列、不同构造体制的准确时间和面积范围，或者它们所反映的板块边缘事件，仍没有达成共识。我们建议在300×150公里的邻接区内研究中欧中新生代构造演化，以获得最好的空间覆盖。对裂缝群的详细滑动分析将与它们所在的地图尺度结构的分析相结合。这将使我们能够确定倾斜前到倾斜后的相对年表，并估计与个别应力状态相关的应变大小。为了产生独立的、非循环的年龄估计，我们将结合结晶岩石的断层滑动分析和断层泥的K-Ar测年。通过LA-ICPMS对U和Pb含量的地球化学分析，将检验来自滑长纤维和矿脉的方解石U-Pb定年的可行性。如果遇到铀含量足够高的合适的、干净的方解石，将尝试测年。得到的板内构造历史将被用来重新评估其与北大西洋开放和地中海演化的联系，包括早期的研究。

Intraplate tectonics, the weak deformation of lithospheric plate interiors, is often a reflection of processes affecting the plate margins and usually documents a sequence of different stress fields over geological time. Plate interiors should be better recorders of regional long-term stress fields than plate margins, because they do not suffer strong deformation, localized vertical-axis rotations or strain partitioning. Also, local stresses arising from high topography play no role there. On the other hand, their stratigraphic sequences are frequently incomplete, typically reflecting slow subsidence punctuated by low-magnitude uplift. Angular unconformities or syn-kinematic strata are often not available to constrain the timing of deformation events. Even where a relative chronology of events can be established, the age assignments are commonly based on circumstantial evidence and potentially circular. Central Europe is an ideal place to study intraplate deformation and its relation to plate boundaries. It is bounded by the Mid-Atlantic ridge on one side and the Mediterranean collision zone on the other. A history of different tectonic regimes and stress fields is clearly established, and it comprises one of the most spectacular examples of intraplate shortening worldwide. Even so, there is no consensus on the kinematic sequence, the precise timing and areal extent of the different tectonic regimes, or the plate margin events they reflect. We propose to study the Meso-Cenozoic tectonic evolution of Central Europe in a contiguous region of 300 x 150 km size, aiming at the best spatial coverage obtainable. Detailed slip analysis of fracture populations will be combined with analysis of the map-scale structures in which they occur. This will allow us to identify pre- to post-tilt relative chronologies, and to estimate the strain magnitudes associated with the individual stress states. In order to produce independent, non-circular age estimates, we will combine fault-slip analyses of crystalline rocks with K-Ar dating of fault gouge. The viability of U-Pb dating of calcite from slickenfibers and veins will be tested through LA-ICPMS geochemical analyses of U and Pb contents. Dating will be attempted if suitable, clean calcites of sufficiently high U content are encountered. The intraplate tectonic history derived will be used to re-evaluate its links with opening of the North Atlantic and the evolution of the Mediterranean, including earlier studies.