10.6084/m9.figshare.3454031.v1
Maud J. M. Meijers
Maud J. M.
Meijers
Brigitte Smith
Brigitte
Smith
Daniel Pastor-Galán
Daniel
Pastor-Galán
Renzo Degenaar
Renzo
Degenaar
Nino Sadradze
Nino
Sadradze
Shota Adamia
Shota
Adamia
Lilit Sahakyan
Lilit
Sahakyan
Ara Avagyan
Ara
Avagyan
Marc Sosson
Marc
Sosson
Yann Rolland
Yann
Rolland
Cor G. Langereis
Cor
G. Langereis
Carla Müller
Carla
Müller
Progressive orocline formation in the Eastern Pontides–Lesser Caucasus
Geological Society of London
2016
Eastern
Progressive orocline formation
Lesser Caucasus
Pontide
curvature
Geology
2016-06-21 11:51:06
Dataset
https://geolsoc.figshare.com/articles/dataset/Progressive_orocline_formation_in_the_Eastern_Pontides_Lesser_Caucasus/3454031
<p>The Eastern Pontides–Lesser Caucasus fold–thrust belt displays a peculiar northwards arc-shaped geometry that was defined
as an orocline in earlier studies. The Lesser Caucasus was affected by two main tectonic events that could have caused orocline
formation: (1) Paleocene–Eocene collision of the South Armenian Block with Eurasia; and (2) Oligocene–Miocene Arabia–Eurasia
collision. We tested the hypothesis that the Lesser Caucasus is an orocline and aimed to time the formation of this orocline.
To determine the vertical axis rotations, 37 sites were sampled for palaeomagnetism in rocks of Upper Cretaceous–Miocene age
in Georgia and Armenia. In addition, we compiled a review of <em>c.</em> 100 available datasets. A strike test was applied to the remaining datasets, which were divided into four chronological sub-sets,
leading us to conclude that the Eastern Pontides–Lesser Caucasus fold–thrust belt forms a progressive orocline. We concluded
that: (1) some pre-existing curvature must have been present before the Late Cretaceous; (2) the orocline acquired part of
its curvature after the Paleocene and before the Middle Eocene as a result of South Armenian Block–Eurasia collision; and
(3) about 50% of the curvature formed after the Eocene and probably before the Late Miocene, probably as a result of Arabia–Eurasia
collision.
</p>