Pinch and swell structures: evidence for strain localisation by brittle–viscous behaviour in the middle crust

Gardner, R. L.; Piazolo, S.; Daczko, N. R.

doi:https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1045-2015

Articles | Volume 6, issue 3

https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1045-2015

© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Special issue:

Deformation mechanisms and ductile strain localization in...

https://doi.org/10.5194/se-6-1045-2015

© Author(s) 2015. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 License.

Articles | Volume 6, issue 3

Research article

|

02 Sep 2015

Research article |

| 02 Sep 2015

Pinch and swell structures: evidence for strain localisation by brittle–viscous behaviour in the middle crust

R. L. Gardner, S. Piazolo, and N. R. Daczko

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Final revised paper (published on 02 Sep 2015)
Supplement to the final revised paper
Preprint (discussion started on 24 Apr 2015)
Supplement to the preprint

Interactive discussion

Status: closed

AC: Author comment | RC: Referee comment | SC: Short comment | EC: Editor comment

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RC C597: 'Review Gardner et al.: Pinch and swell structures: evidence for brittle-viscous behaviour in the middle crust', Anonymous Referee #1, 07 May 2015
RC C736: 'Comments on Pinch and swell structures: evidence for brittle-viscous behaviour in the middle Crust.', Bruce Hobbs, 12 Jun 2015
AC C923: 'Authors' reply to referee comments', Robyn Gardner, 31 Jul 2015

Short summary

We find pinch and swell structures from a mid-crustal zone in Fiordland, NZ are initiated by brittle failure of the strongest layer. Modelling this strain localisation and viscous flow shows material softening is important and structures develop in both Newtonian and non-Newtonian flow, with strain localisation impacting both bedding rotation and structure formation. We also find strain localising behaviour combined with viscous flow is a viable alternative representation of the middle crust.