Cited by 1,535Geological and Geochemical AnalysisGeological and Geophysical StudiesGeological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide

Extensional collapse of orogens

Dewey, J. F.·1988·Tectonics

Abstract

Lithospheric extension is sited, preferentially, along orogenic belts because they have a thicker continental crust, contain structural inhomogeneities, and suffer extensional orogenic collapse caused by body forces resulting from isostatically compensated elevation and sharp elevation gradients. Collapse occurs especially where rapid advective thinning of the shortened thermal boundary conduction layer occurs beneath an orogen and causes rapid uplift. Where boundary forces are compressional, extension is balanced by radial thrusting to form oroclinal loops around collapsed extensional basins. Where, as in the disruption of Pangea, boundary forces change rapidly from compressional to tensional, body force collapse is continued by general extension which may lead to continental splitting. Even where overall convergence is continuing, orogenic collapse may be enhanced by subduction rollback into small remnant oceans. The extensional collapse of orogens offers a partial explanation for why oceans cyclically close and reopen in roughly the same places, preservation of very high pressure metamorphic rocks, for the return of orogenic large crustal thicknesses to normal without very much erosional denudation with the widespread preservation of supracrustal sequences, high temperature metamorphic assemblages and the minimum‐melting granite suite.

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Crossref · 10.1029/tc007i006p01123

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Research works printed but not linked: 6

  1. 10.1130/0091-7613(1976)4<661:SRAMOC>2.0.CO;2 · DOI
  2. Buck R., 1988, Flexural rotation of normal faults to produce abandoned horizontal detachments, E. Trans. AGU, 69, 465
  3. Carey S. W., 1955, The orocline concept in geotectonics, Proc. Pap. R. Soc. Tasmania, 89, 255
  4. Dewey J. F., 1980, Episodicity, sequency and style at convergent plate boundaries, The Continental Crust and its Mineral Deposits, edited by D.W. Strangway, Spec. Pap., Geol. Assoc. Can., 20, 553
  5. Williams D. M., 1988, Tectonic denudation of Dalradian rocks, Connemara, Ireland, Tectonics
  6. Zwart H. J., 1967, The duality of orogenic belts, Geol. Mijnbouw, 46, 283

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Authors
Dewey, J. F.
Corresponding author
Dewey, J. F.
Venue
Tectonics
Published
1988-12
Volume
7
Issue
6
Pages
1123-1139
ISSN
  • 0278-7407 (ISSN-L)
  • 1944-9194
OpenAlex
W2144222955
Cited by
1,535
References
60
Citations by year
2026: 30 · 2025: 46 · 2024: 50 · 2023: 53 · 2022: 49 · 2021: 58 · 2020: 57 · 2019: 37 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 37 · 2016: 47 · 2015: 41 · 2014: 31 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 40
FWCI
16.35
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Tectonics (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geology › Geological and Geophysical Studies
  • Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geophysical Studies Worldwide
Keywords
orogenic collapse, lithospheric extension, orogenic belts, isostatic compensation, thermal boundary layer, continental rifting, subduction rollback, high-pressure metamorphism, supracrustal sequences, crustal thickness

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