Inversion of a symmetric basin: insights from a comparison between analogue and numerical experiments

Abstract

Abstract We use both analogue and numerical experiments to study the inversion by shortening of a symmetric sedimentary basin. The combination of the two modelling techniques uses the strengths of each method to provide insight into basin-inversion processes. The experiments start with a pre-existing basin filled, in part, with weak layers simulating weak sedimentary rocks. Both footwall and hanging wall can deform freely. The physical properties of the materials used in the analogue experiments (sand and microbeads) and the numerical experiments are appropriately scaled to represent upper crustal rocks. We present a systematic study of the effects of basin infill, basin width and basin location and a sensitivity analysis to understand the effects of the boundary conditions. The results of both methods show that the graben fill accommodates most shortening. Weak layers play an important role in localising shortening with limited reactivation of pre-existing (but weakened) faults. In general, forward thrusts and back thrusts nucleate at the lateral contrast of strong and weak materials and cut across the graben-bounding faults. Weak basal detachments are required to transfer shortening to the basin region. The overall evolution of the analogue and numerical models is encouragingly similar.