Authors / CoAuthors
White, L. | Lister, G. | Kurtz, J. | Totterdell, J. | Stacey, A.
Abstract
Until recently, tectonic reconstructions have been limited by (1) the assumption that tectonic plates do not deform, or (2) the inability of software packages to simulate deformation. The assumption that plates do not deform is based on the earliest ideas about plate tectonics. This assumption has led workers dealing with plate tectonic reconstructions to introduce new micro-plates to explain the inconsistencies observed in different place circuits (e.g. the Somalian plate). However, we now know that the oceanic and continental crust deform. Therefore, tectonic reconstructions must begin to address this point, without the need to invoke more and more micro-plates to resolve inconsistencies in rigid plate circuits. The second point, that software cannot simulate plate deformation is no longer an issue after the development of Pplates. Pplates is an open-source tectonic reconstruction package that allows geologists to build both classical (rigid) plate reconstructions as well as deformable plate reconstructions. To do this, the software uses one or meshes to move data back and forth in time. Each of these meshes is deformable in order to simulate deformation of the crust. This software also allows geologists to import and deform GIS data. Here we report the initial results of a deformable reconstruction of the Australian and Antarctic plates, from the timing of rifting prior to Gondwana break-up, to the present. This reconstruction also shows the timing of major fault development in the sedimentary basins along Australia's southern margin. Future work aims to simulate development of major crustal features on the Australian and Antarctic plates, and to incorporate palaeogeographical interpretations from the sedimentary record. Our ability to simulate extensional deformation associated with continental break-up has implications for both global tectonic reconstructions as well as reconstructions of individual sedimentary basins
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nonGeographicDataset
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70268
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- External PublicationAbstract
- ( Theme )
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- plate tectonics
- Australian and New Zealand Standard Research Classification (ANZSRC)
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- Earth Sciences
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- Published_Internal
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2010-01-01T00:00:00
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