Progressive evolution of a fault-related fold pair from growth strata geometries, Sant Llorenç de Morunys, SE Pyrenees

New structural-stratigraphical mapping constrains the three-dimensional kinematics and mechanisms of Eocene-Oligocene growth folding at Sant Llorenç de Morunys (NE Ebro basin, Spain). A 1 km wide sub-vertical panel of syntectonic alluvial gravels passes southwards via a highly asymmetrical growth fold-pair to shallowly-dipping strata. The axial surface of the anticline comprises either continuous or en échelon segments while that of the syncline is concave and usually continuous. While converging upwards, the axial surfaces do not define growth triangles. Principal and subsidiary growth unconformities and thickness changes occur across both axial surfaces and the common limb. Dips within the common limb decrease up-stratigraphy and up-dip. Mesostructures indicate that internal deformation was ongoing during folding at all stratigraphical levels, and concentration of cleavage in the syncline indicates that this hinge was essentially fixed. Sequential restoration of three profiles shows that folds amplified principally by limb rotation but incorporated minor passive hinge migration. Particle movement vectors, generated by section restoration, are arcuate about a hinterland pinpoint. A new trishear model of fault propagation folding involving non-rigid limb rotation reproduces the rounded hinge forms, thickening geometries and limb dip variations observed. Simple kink band migration models (fixed axis and constant thickness theories) do not replicate these features. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.This work forms part of a multidisciplinary study into the evolution of growth folds in foreland basins, in collaboration with the European Union JOULE II Geosciences project Integrated Basin Studies. We wish to thank the Swiss Bundesamt fCr Bildung und Wissenschaft for funding (project number 94.0153). JV has been partially supported by DGICYT project PB94-0908 and by the Comissionat per Universitats i Recerca de la Generalitat de Catalunya, Quality Group GRQ94-1048. SH acknowledges the receipt of a Royal Society Postdoctoral Fellowship for which he is very grateful. We thank Martin Casey, Mark Cooper and Rob Butler for discussion regarding folding mechanisms and restoration techniques, Albert Martinez for information on Pyrenean geology and Francesc Sabat for his hospitality in Barcelona. We also thank John Suppe for stimulating discussions in the field on kink band fold models. Himanshu Ghildyal and Pius Bissig are acknowledged for help with fieldwork, and T. R. Zapata, P. G. DeCelles and D. J. Anastasio for their reviews