%0 Journal Article %1 meissner:1996 %A Meissner, R. %D 1996 %J Tectonophysics %K geophysics review seismics %N 1-4 %P 279--293 %R 10.1016/S0040-1951(96)00132-1 %T Faults and folds, fact and fiction %U http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0040-1951(96)00132-1 %V 264 %X After reviewing the microscopic and macroscopic texture of fault zones, the localisation of rupture and creep is described, and the reduced strength of fault zones is investigated. Simple strength and viscosity models for the whole lithosphere play a major role for the geometry of fault zones. Compressional faults (thrusts) show ramp- and flat structures, often soling in a (weak) detachment zone, extensional faults prefer a listric shape, often turning subhorizontal and being invisible in the seismic lamellae of the ductile lower crust which according to the models is also a broad zone of detachment and decoupling. Faults in the lower crust are rare and restricted to strain hardened fault rocks or intrinsically rigid rocks like oceanic mafic-ultramafic rocks of suture zones. Transient faults in the lower crust are created by rupture processes of large earthquakes. Some deep faults, moderately dipping or flat, are again observed in the (rather rigid) uppermost mantle. The observation of folding inside the crust seems to be connected with an intermediate viscosity range and with a broad (vertical) transition zone where rigid reactions and ductile processes are mixed.Various methods of detecting faults by seismic studies are critically reviewed, and some sequence of reliability is suggested. Impedance contrasts, polarity, dip, thickness, and multiple fault strings have to be deciphered by wavefront modelling. Origin and survival of faults are considered to be a consequence of tectonic and thermal evolution under specific stress systems.

@article{meissner:1996, abstract = {After reviewing the microscopic and macroscopic texture of fault zones, the localisation of rupture and creep is described, and the reduced strength of fault zones is investigated. Simple strength and viscosity models for the whole lithosphere play a major role for the geometry of fault zones. Compressional faults (thrusts) show ramp- and flat structures, often soling in a (weak) detachment zone, extensional faults prefer a listric shape, often turning subhorizontal and being invisible in the seismic lamellae of the ductile lower crust which according to the models is also a broad zone of detachment and decoupling. Faults in the lower crust are rare and restricted to strain hardened fault rocks or intrinsically rigid rocks like oceanic mafic-ultramafic rocks of suture zones. Transient faults in the lower crust are created by rupture processes of large earthquakes. Some deep faults, moderately dipping or flat, are again observed in the (rather rigid) uppermost mantle. The observation of folding inside the crust seems to be connected with an intermediate viscosity range and with a broad (vertical) transition zone where rigid reactions and ductile processes are mixed.Various methods of detecting faults by seismic studies are critically reviewed, and some sequence of reliability is suggested. Impedance contrasts, polarity, dip, thickness, and multiple fault strings have to be deciphered by wavefront modelling. Origin and survival of faults are considered to be a consequence of tectonic and thermal evolution under specific stress systems.}, added-at = {2012-09-01T13:08:21.000+0200}, author = {Meissner, R.}, biburl = {https://www.bibsonomy.org/bibtex/2de0817f7bd15ead8fdca2d93c53cc555/nilsma}, day = 30, doi = {10.1016/S0040-1951(96)00132-1}, interhash = {135173b9feee78a943e833f219369109}, intrahash = {de0817f7bd15ead8fdca2d93c53cc555}, issn = {00401951}, journal = {Tectonophysics}, keywords = {geophysics review seismics}, month = oct, number = {1-4}, pages = {279--293}, timestamp = {2021-02-09T13:21:44.000+0100}, title = {Faults and folds, fact and fiction}, url = {http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/S0040-1951(96)00132-1}, volume = 264, year = 1996 }