Fold and thrust belts: structural style, evolution and exploration – an introduction

James A Hammerstein,Michael A Cottam,Raffaele Di Cuia,Gonzalo Zamora,Robert W H Butler

doi:10.1144/sp490-2020-81

Abstract

AbstractThe outer parts of collision mountain belts are commonly represented by fold and thrust belts. Many of the key concepts in the structural geology of fold and thrust belts have origins in ancient orogens such as the Appalachians and Caledonian chains of Europe, together with the Alps. Impetus in thrust belt research then came from the desire to exploit geological resources that reside in the subsurface, especially arising from hydrocarbon exploration in the foothills of the Canadian Cordillera in the 1960s and 1970s. Notwithstanding decades of exploitation, continental fold and thrust belts are still estimated to hold reserves of 700 billion barrels of oil equivalent. But exploration will focus increasingly on small, hard-to-resolve structures. Basic geological understanding remains as important today as it did for the pioneering explorers in the Canadian foothills. It is a theme that runs throughout this Special Publication.

Highlights

The key advances in understanding thrust systems arise from hydrocarbon exploration in the foothills of the Canadian Cordillera, as exemplified by landmark papers by petroleum geologists (e.g. Bally et al 1966; Dahlstrom 1969, 1970)
Many of the key concepts in the structural geology of fold and thrust belts have earlier origins in other orogens, the impetus has come from the desire to exploit geological resources that reside in the subsurface
The simple styles of thin-skinned tectonics deduced for the foothills of the Canadian Cordillera are just part of a spectrum of deformation styles by which the continental crust can deform during contractional tectonics

Summary

Introduction

The key advances in understanding thrust systems arise from hydrocarbon exploration in the foothills of the Canadian Cordillera, as exemplified by landmark papers by petroleum geologists (e.g. Bally et al 1966; Dahlstrom 1969, 1970). Fold and Thrust Belts: Structural Style, Evolution and Exploration. It is evident from the papers in this Special Publication that fold and thrust belts are far from simple structures displayed in idealized models, with a number of controls that need to be considered in order to fully understand them.

Results

Conclusion