Open AccessSequential growth of deformation bands in a multilayer sequence
Author(s) -
Klimczak Christian,
Soliva Roger,
Schultz Richard A.,
Chéry Jean
Publication year - 2011
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: solid earth
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2011jb008365
Subject(s) - geology , deformation bands , deformation (meteorology) , geometry , slip (aerodynamics) , bedding , context (archaeology) , field (mathematics) , geophysics , materials science , physics , microstructure , paleontology , oceanography , mathematics , biology , horticulture , pure mathematics , metallurgy , thermodynamics
The outstanding exposure of deformation bands in a multilayer sequence of the Orange quarry, Provence, France, motivates a study investigating the development and controls of deformation band geometries by field mapping combined with finite element modeling. Field mapping yields new insights into angular relations between, and evolution of, the deformation bands as well as provides input parameters for the setup and boundary conditions of the numerical simulations using ADELI 2D. In particular, reverse‐sense deformation bands are found to have developed within three of the four exposed layers of the multilayer stack with similar orientations to bedding, indicating layer‐parallel contraction. Numerical simulations, carried out as a parametric study to investigate the influence on deformation band development and geometry, successfully reproduce the sequential development of deformation bands in the three layers as seen in the field as well as recreate the observed angular geometries of ∼39° to the maximum compression. This angular relationship is put into context with observations from other field studies and theoretical values to explore controls of deformation band orientations. Furthermore, band localization is impeded in the model by increased layer cohesive strength, demonstrating the importance of host‐rock property variations on localization of bands within the multilayer sequence. Results from both field investigation and numerical simulations are consistent with regional tectonics, where the strata underwent gentle folding due to thrust faulting at depth, and bring further insight into the development and geometry of deformation bands in both extensional and contractional tectonic regimes.