Abstract:

The detailed analysis of geometry of growth strata is recognized to be a useful tool to understand the kinematics of folding and the deformation history. Geometry analysis together with chronostratigraphic control can be an invaluable tool to understand the interplay between sedimentation and tectonic activity, determine shortterm variability in sedimentation, fold uplift rates, and unravel the episodic fold growth. The changes of fold uplift and sedimentation rates lead to onlap, overlap and offlap relationship in the growth strata. The deformation of folding can be divided into hinge migration and limb rotation. The fold developed by hinge migration has the same uplift rates in its crest and limb, which cause the formation of a parallel growth strata. Whereas, the fold developed by limb rotation has the different uplift rates in its crest and limb, and the uplift rates change linearly along the limb according to our study, which cause the formation of a wedgelike geometry in the growth strata.

Key words: growth stratum, hinge migration, limb rotation, tectonic uplift rate, sedimentation rate