Setting |
SettingCom |
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root |
root |
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1 MEGA SETTING |
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sedimentary |
Ingersoll and Busby (1995) from Visher |
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convergent |
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backarc basins |
Oceanic basins behind intraoceanic magmatic arcs (inc interarc basins between active and remnant arcs) and cont. basins behind cont. margin magmatic arcs without foreland foldthrust belts |
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fore-arc basins |
Basins within arc-trench gaps. |
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foreland intermontane basins |
(Brokens forelands) Basins formed among basement-cored uplifts in foreland settings. |
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intra-arc basins |
Basins along arc platform, which includes superposed and overlapping volcanoes. |
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peripheral foreland basins |
Foreland basins above rifted continental margins that have been pulled into subduction zones during crustal collisions (primary type of collision-related forelands). |
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piggyback basins |
Basins formed and carried atop moving thrust sheets |
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remnant ocean basins |
Shrinking ocean basins caught between colliding continental margins and/or arc-trench systems, and ultimately subducted or deformed within suture belts. |
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retroarc foreland basins |
Foreland basins on continental sides of continental-margin arc-trench systems (formed by subduction-generated compression and/or collision). |
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trench-slope basins |
Local structural depressions developed on subduction complexes |
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trenches |
Deep troughs formed by subduction of oceanic lithosphere |
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divergent |
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proto-oceanic rift troughs |
Incipient oceanic basins floored by new oceanic crust and flanked by young rifted continental margins |
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terrestrial rift valley |
Rifts within continental crust, commonly associated with bimodal volcanism. |
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hybrid |
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aulacogens |
Former failed rifts at high angles to continental margins, wihch ahve been reactivated during convergent tectonics so that they are at high angles to orogenic belts |
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impactogens |
Rifts formed at high angles to orogenic belts, without pre-orogenic history |
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intracontinental wrench basins |
Diverse basins formed within and on continental crust due to distant collisional processes |
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successor basins |
Basins formed in intermontane settings following cessation of local orogenic or taphrogenic activity |
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intraplate |
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active ocean basins |
Basins floored by oceanic crust formed at divergent plate boundaries unrelated to arc-trench systems (spreading still active) |
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continental embankments |
Progradational sediment wedges constructed off edges of rifted continental margins |
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continental platforms |
Stable cratons covered with thin and laterally extensive sedimentary strata |
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continental rises and terraces |
Mature rifted continental margins in intraplate settings at continental-oceanic interfaces |
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dormant ocean basins |
Basins floored by oceanic crust, which is neither spreading nor subducting (no acitive plate boundaries within or adjoining basin) |
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intracratonic basins |
Broad cratonic basins floored by fossil rifts in axial zones |
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oceanic islands, aseismic ridges and plateaux |
Sedimentary aprons and platforms formed in intraoceanic settings other than magmatic arcs |
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transform and transcurrent-fault-related |
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transpressional basins |
Basins formed by compression along strike-slip systems |
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transrotational basins |
Basins formed by rotation of crustal blocks about vertical axes within strike-slip fault systems |
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transtensional basins |
Basins formed by extension along strike-slip fault systems |
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tectonic |
Definitions paraphrased from Condie: Plate Tectonics
and Crustal Evolution (4th Edition) |
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anorogenic granite |
Subalkalic to peraluminous A-type granite emplaced in an anorogenic tectonic environment, enriched in REE, Zr and Hf, depleted in Sr, P and Ti with incompatable element and oxygen isotope distribution of lower crustal type Condie |
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arc systems |
Volcanic island chains developed on oceanic crust or continental margin volcanic chains developed on continental or transitional crust above active subduction zones idealy consisting of an arc-trench gap, the arc and the arc-rear area (Condie) |
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accretionary prism |
Steeply inclined melanges of sediment and volcanics including slab derived ophiolites as fault-bounded wedges accreted to the arc front above a descending oceanic slab (Condie) |
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arc |
Subaerial and submarine volcanic chains erupting tholeiitic and calc-alkaline magmas above a descending oceanic slab (Condie) |
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back-arc basin |
Behind arc over descending oceanic slabs, if active have high heat flow and thin often ophiolitic lithosphere and an ocean ridge enlarging the basin dominant sediments proximal (Condie) |
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forearc basin |
Marine turbitite depositional basins up to 700km long overlying and arc-wards of the accretionary prism and lacking volcanism (Condie) |
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remnant arc |
Extinct arc portions forming submarine aseismic ridges rifted away by opening of back-arc basins (Condie) |
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retroarc foreland basin |
Continental margin arc-rear basin filled with syntectonic clastic terrigenious sediments from the fold thrust belt which becomes involved with the proximal margin + gives inversestratigraphic sampling as unroofing progresses (Condie) |
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trench |
Very deep, narrow, extensive, linear, sediment poor structure formed in the ocean floor parallel to arc systems above where a lithospheric slab begins to decend into the mantle and subject to intense seismic activity (Condie) |
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archaean greenstone |
Volcanic mainly subaqueous basalt + komatiite-dominated successions formed in arcs, submarine plateaux, volcanic islands + oceanic crust, mainly juvenile oceanic terranes. Post Archean gstns hve less komatiite+more volcaniclastics+adesitic+felsitic vlcncs |
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continental rifts |
Simple to complex fault-bounded valleys to 70km wide and 1000s kms long in thin crust under tension with high, low order seismisity and immature terrigenous clastic sediments and bimodal volcanics, active rifts have more volcanics (Condie) |
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cratons and passive margins |
Condie |
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craton |
Precambrian tectonically stable elevated part of a continent composed of rocks that have been Precambrian tectonically stable elevated part of a continent composed of rocks that have been forming part of a shield (Condie) |
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passive margin |
The continental edge of a rift that has developed into an ocean basin with rift assemblages underlying true margin assemblages of mature clastic sediments, where back arc basins also develop arc sediments may interfinger (Condie) |
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mantle plume related |
Items that appear to be mainly due to the rise of mantle plumes to the base of the crust such as continental flood basalts and volcanic islands (Condie) |
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continental flood basalt |
Extensive, thick, rapidly erupted low Mg + Fe dominantly tholeiitic basalt successions formed by entrainment + adiabatic melting of lower mantle material + some conductive* the lithosphere by a plume with a >1000 km diameter head (Condie) |
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giant mafic dyke swarms |
Zones to 500km wide and 3000km long containing thousands of tholeiitic dykes to 200m thickand to 1000km long which are intruded laterally and widen sufacewards. Some radiate from a point (Condie) |
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submarine plateaux and aseismic ridges |
Condie |
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aseismic ridges |
Elongate steep-sided submarine volcanic ridges that mark the track of a mantle plume across the oceanic lithosphere during plate motion (Condie) |
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submarine plateaux |
Large flat areas elevated some 2km above the seafloor comprised of thick rapidly erupted low Mg and Fe dominantly tholeiitic basalt and mafic intrusives covered with a thin layer of deep sea sediments (Condie) |
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volcanic island |
Large volcanoes, developed over mantle plumes of dominantly tholeiitic lava erupted from the the sea floor and called seamounts before becoming subaerial when some alkali basalts are erupted (Condie) |
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ocean ridge |
Wide spread linear rift systems forming accretionary plate boundaries where oceanic lithosphere is produced by extrusion of basaltic magma at the ridge during opening of an ocean basin following supercontinent breakup (Condie) |
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ophiolite |
Tectonically emplaced layered oceanic crust fragment; ideal sequence from the base is ultramafic tectonite, commonly harzburgite; cumulate gabbros+ ultramafics; non-cumulate gabbros diorites + plagiogranites; sheeted diabase dykes; pillow basalts (Condie) |
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orogens |
Events arising from the collision of two or more continents or a continent and an arc (Condie) |
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accretionary orogen |
Collision and suturing of largely juvenile crustal blocks such as ophiolites, island arcs and submarine plateaux with little reworked older crust (Condie) |
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collisional orogen |
Collision of two or more continental units commonly greatly thickening and partially melting the crust with extensive thrusting, folding, metamorphism and mountain formation (Condie) |
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foreland-hinterland deformational zone |
Regions away from the main overthrust belts in the direction of and away from the direction of principle orogenic vergence respectively (Condie) |
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foreland flexure |
Upwarped lithosphere area ahead of by major overthrust belts (Condie) |
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orogenic collapse |
Local basin formed in foreland area when subduction stops or reverses (Condie) |
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plateau |
Area elevated 1 to 5km adjacent to the suture zone in the near hinterland of fold thrust belts (Condie) |
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suture |
A ductile shear zone along converging plate boundaries containing rocks from both plates, often in a serpentine-rich matrix (Condie) |
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thrust belt |
Area of main thrusting and folding in suture foreland of collision orogen (Condie) |
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plain ocean floor |
effectively "non-tectonic", in same sense as craton; added by CPS to Condie classes |
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2 REGIONAL SETTING |
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depth |
Selected by CPS |
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crust |
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deep crust |
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middle crust |
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shallow crust |
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crust-mantle |
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mantle |
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upper mantle |
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surface |
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igneous |
Geological Society of London Handbook |
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extrusive |
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ignimbrite |
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lava plateau |
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shield volcano |
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central |
within 2km of central vent |
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distal |
greater than 15km from central vent |
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proximal |
2 to 15 km from central vent |
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intrusive |
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batholiths |
50-150km width, 500 - 1500km length |
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dyke |
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cone sheets |
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ring dykes |
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pluton |
5 - 50km in breadth, with circular outcrop |
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sill |
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lacolith |
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lopolith |
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stock |
circular, surface area less than 100km sq |
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metamorphic |
Geological Society of London Handbook |
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eclogite |
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glaucophane eclogite |
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high grade |
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jadeite blueschist |
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low grade |
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marginal blueschist |
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medium grade |
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very low grade |
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sedimentary |
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continental |
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eolian |
Wind-driven depositional setting giving rise to ripple/dune/interdune/sheet sand bedforms. Bedforms rarely preserved in ancient eolian deposits |
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eolian dry system- |
The water table and its capillary fringe lie at depth below the depositional surface |
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eolian stabilized system- |
Vegetation, surface cementation or mud drapes play a significant stabilising role and thus influence the behaviour of the accummulating surface |
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eolian wet system- |
The water table or its capillary fringe is at or near the depositional surface |
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fluvial |
River/stream/alluvial fan depositional setting |
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alluvial fan |
Cone-shaped to arcuate deposits (in plan view) w. a well dvpled network of distributory channels that cross the fan. Many have steep depositional slopes |
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alluival fan braided- |
Inner fan: longitudinal gravel bars; Mid-fan: longitudinal gravel bars and transverse bars; Outer fan: transverse bars and dunes |
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alluvial fan debris flow-dominated- |
Inner fan: channelized proximal debris flows; Mid-fan: distal debris flows and sheet flows; Outer Fan: sheet flows and shallow braided stream |
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alluvial fan low-sinuousity/meandering- |
Inner fan: active meander belts; Mid-fan: low-sinuousity/anastomosing river w vegetated levees; Outer fan: low sinuousity/ansotmosing river w little channel confinement |
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river systems |
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braided stream |
Low sinuousity, high gradient streams charactersied by the presence of many channels separated by bars or small islands. Occur in areas of high relief and have ltd. areal extent. |
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meandering stream |
Highly sinuous, low gradient streams with finer sed. load. Tend to be confined within a single major channel, char. by cohesive banks that are difficult to erode |
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channel |
Lag deposits composed of coarse material the river can move only at max. stream velocity during flood stage. Bedding indistinct but imbrication common |
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crevasse-splay deposits |
Occur on floodplains where rising floodwaters breach natural levees |
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floodbasin (floodplain) deposits |
Fine-grained sediments that settle out of suspension from floodwaters carried into the floodbasin. Broad, low-relief plain/swamp |
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natural-levee deposits |
Form on the concave or steep-bank side of meander loops immediately adjacent to the channel due to sudden loss of stream competence as they overtop their banks |
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oxbow-lake deposits |
Fine silt and mud introduced into the lakes from the main stream during overbank flooding |
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glacial |
Areas where more or less permanent accumulations of snow exist; composite depositional setting |
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glacier continental (ice sheet) |
Huge sheets or ice that spread over large continental areas or plateaus |
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glacier piedmont |
Large masses or sheets of ice formed at the base of a mountain |
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glacier valley |
Relatively small ice masses confined to within valley walls of a mountain |
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lacustrine |
Lake depositional setting |
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closed lake |
Lakes do not have a major outflow, have fluctuating shorelines and occur in regions of interior drainage ; inflow is commonly exceeded by evaporation and infiltration leading to chemical sedimentation |
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basin ephemeral salt-pan |
Fed by ephemeral (intermittent) runoff, springs and groundwater and are generally dry through each part of the year; bedded salt deposits are dominant |
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basin perennial |
Mostly saline lakes which receive inflow from at least one perennial stream and commonly do not dry up completely from year to year, |
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open lake |
Lakes have an outflow of water and a relatively stable (fixed) shoreline and in which inflow=precipitation. Siliciclastic sediment commonly predominates |
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marginal-marine |
Narrow zone dominated by river, wave and tidal processes lying along the boundary between the continental and marine depositional realms |
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beach/barrier island |
Long, narrow accumulations of sand aligned parallel to the shoreline and attached to land. High energy environment |
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coastal lagoon |
Shallow stretch of seawater (sound, channel, bay) partly/completely separated from the sea by a low, narrow strip of land commonly extending parallel to the coast. No significant fresh water runoff. |
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deltaic |
Discrete shoreline protuberances formed where rivers enter oceans, semi-enclosed seas, lakes or lagoons and supply sediment more rapidly than it can be redistributed by basinal processes |
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delta alluvial-fan- |
Formed where alluvial fans prograde into standing water |
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delta braidplain- |
Formed from the deposits of a braided stream system |
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delta river- |
Formed from the deposits of a single river |
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delta scree-apron- |
Formed where scree deposits extend into water |
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estuarine |
Lower courses of rivers open to the sea which receive sediment from both fluvial and marine sources |
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estuary tide-dominated- |
Occur mainly on macrotidal coasts where tidal-current energy exceeds wave energy at the mouth of the estuary |
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estuary wave-dominated- |
Tidal influence is small, and the mouth of the estuary experiences high wave energy, seds. move alongshore and onshore in the mouth of estuary |
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glacial-marine |
Sediments deposited where glaciers extend beyond the mouths of river valleys to enter the sea |
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sabkha |
Coastal supratidal mudflats. Algal mats (stromatolites) commonly form in associated intertidal to supratidal sediments |
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salina |
Marine-fed coastal lagoons and salt pans which occur in depressions on sabkhas, between coastal dunes, on deltas, or in tectonic downwarps behind coastal barriers |
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tidal flat |
Marshy and muddy to sandy featureless plains dissected by a network of tidal channels and creeks that are largely exposed during low tide |
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marine |
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basin-central evaporites |
Evaporites accumulated from shallow bodies of brine or within saline mudfalts |
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continental shelf |
Encompasses the shallow-water areas of the ocean lying shoreward of the shelf break |
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basin-margin evaporite shelf |
Evaporites formed in vast expanses of evaporitic lagoons and mudflats,over which brine depths are only a few metres |
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carbonate shelf |
Shelf char. by topographic buildup at the shelf margin of the outer shelf creating a barrier to incoming waves |
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carbonates outer shelf- |
High energy tidal environ. with lag deposits composed of skeletal fragments of shallow-water organisms such as corals, calcareous algae, and bryozoa and/or ooids and peloids |
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carbonates peritidal |
Low energy, tidal flat environ. in which predominantly fine-grnd seds. accumulate. Generally consist of pelleted mudstones Syn; inner tidal |
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epiric platform |
Shallow (often broad) seas occupying areas within continents, associated with widespread deposition of carbonate sediments |
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isolated carbonte platform |
Deposits formed within interiors of isolated carbonate platforms under moderately low-energy, open to restricted subtidal conditions |
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organic reefs |
Biological buildup of carbonate sediment which affects deposition in adjacent areas and stands topographically higher than surrounding sediments during deposition |
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barrier reef |
Linear reefs located along platform margins; reefs are more or less laterally continuous and may extend for hundreds of kms |
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fringing reef |
Narrow, linear reef located hard up against the shoreline, with no intervening lagoon |
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ramp (progressive) |
Sed. succession; outer-ramp carbonate muds give way in shoreward direction to bioclastic sand bodies give way to ooid sand bodies in near shore area |
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deep ocean floor |
Encompasses abysall plain/lower continental slope/lower reaches of submarine canyons |
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pelagic rain |
Fine grained sediment deposited far from land influence by slow settling of particles suspended in the water column |
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turbidity currents |
Catastrophic or surge-type, high-velocity turbidity currents generated on the shelf or upper slope transporting sands and gravels to deeper water through submarine channels |
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canyon axis |
Submarine canyons discharge turbidites into fore-arc basins on the slope or into deep-sea trenches where they may spread out along the canyon axis |
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submarine fan |
Deposits of flows spread out from the mouths of canyons onto the deep seafloor to form deep-sea fans. Typical of passive margin and back-arc basin setting |
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structural |
Hobbs, Means and Williams (1976) |
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areas of gently dipping schistosity |
Regions in which prominent schistosity has a gentle dip over 1000s of sq km (eg: Otago Schist terrain, NZ) |
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block-faulted and rifted regions |
Systems of approx parallel faults with dip-slip displacements of 100s or 1000s of metres (eg: Basin & Range Prov) |
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depressed |
added by CPS (downthrown or downwarped) |
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dome and basin structure |
Areas of doubly plunging anticlines and synclines (eg: Kettleman Hills, California) |
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elevated |
added by CPS (uplifted or upwarped) |
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flat-lying sediments |
Extensive deposits of flat-lying or gently tilted or warped seds (eg: Colorado Plateau) |
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gneissic regions |
Upper amph and granulite facies rocks of similar geometry to mult def rocks of lower met grade, but with particular problems in understanding because of destroyed structure |
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horst and graben |
added by CPS |
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jog zones |
added by CPS |
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mantled gneiss domes |
Core of granitic migmatites/gneisses overlain by a layered metasedimantary & metavolc cover (Eskola 1949: Caledonides of Finland) |
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multiply deformed belts of low and medium metamorphism |
As present as parts of virtually all the world's fold-mountain belts. |
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mylonite zones |
Narrow planar regions in which deformation is intense relative to the adjacent rocks |
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nappe structures |
Allochthonous regions of large-scale thrusting with or without recumbant folding of rocks of essentially horizontal undisturbed material. |
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salt domes |
Regions of diapiric uprise of thick columnar plug-like bodies of halite (eg: Gulf Coast, USA) |
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shallow fold and thrust belts |
Shallow-deformed rocks above a decollement zone, oft referred to as suprastructure of mtn belts (cf: infrastructure) eg: Canadian Rocky Mtns |
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simple fold systems with steeply dipping axial surfaces |
Areas of regular trains of gently plunging folds of similar size orientation and steeply dipping axial surfaces (eg: Appalachain Fold Belt) |
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slate belts |
Typically narrow zones of slate parallel to orogenic belts (exception: equidimensional slate belt in N Wales) |
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tectonic melanges |
Environment of juxtaposition of large-scale exotic rock blocks on blocks & matrix of different age or lithology. (eg: Ankara melange: Turkey) |
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tripple junction |
added by CPS |
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wrench-faulted regions |
Major transcurrent faults in continental rocks, typically 100s of km long (eg: Alpine Fault in New Zealand) |