Thin-skinned terranes are generally low grade fold and thrust belts, which may contain significant thick-skinned elements. Brittle faults control the architecture but semi-brittle to ductile fault-bend folds provide the main structural complexity. Key concepts are: regional plane-strain; the interplay of fault geometry, fault-bend folds, contractional folds and detachment surfaces; and strain incompatibilty in brittle environments. Key tools are: recognition and interpretation of dip domains; fault-bend cross-section techniques; section balancing; depth-to-detachment calculation; and fault kinematic analysis of bulk strain patterns. Developing a robust stratigraphic template is a key to success in such terranes.
Thin-skinned modules
- Fold-thrust belt architecture
- Time-space considerations
- Thrust and fault bend fold geometry
- Section balancing
- Accommodation structures in fold-thrust belts
- Linked fault complexes