Extensional Tectonics and Basin Formation

Our understanding of extensional tectonics have improved substantially within the last three decades based on geological, geophysical, geochemical studies, and analog and computer modeling in the regions extension have taken place. These regions include a) passive margings such as both sides of the Atlantic Ocean; b) narrow rift zones such as East African rift valley, c) large scale continental extension in Basins and Ranges of Western North America, and the Aegean Region of Eastern Europe and Western Asia where extensional tectonics preceded by contractional tectonics. However, there are still many important unexplored questions, which include determining a) evolution of extensional basins; b) the role of strike-slip faulting in extensional processes; c) amount and percentage of cumulative extension in regions experiencing continental extension; d) geometry of extensional features in the middle and lower crust; e) nature of upper mantle and asthenospheric flow; and f) seismic hazards.

Many present and ancient extended terrains such as the Basins and Ranges and the Aegean region experienced collisional tectonics preceeding large-scale extension and metamorphic core complex formation. Extension Tectonics and Basin Formation is an attempt to answer a key question in these regions on how this process works. This type of tectonic and petrologic succession may be "normal" for collisional mountain belts due to gravitational collapse of over thickened crust, or, alternatively, extension may be driven by other forcing factors, such as slab roll-back or continental escape.


Volume highlights include:

- A platform for determining future research areas in extensional tectonics and will help with developing strategies exploring earth resources in extensional basins, such as oil and gas, precious metals and borate minerals
- Renewed interests on the Continental Metamorphic Core complexes with advancement in radiometric age-dating methods
- Geochemistry and sedimentary depositional environments in Borate deposits in continental extensional basins
- Mechanics and geological evolution of continental break-up and development of passive margins
- A complete treatment of extensional tectonics and basin formation from continental breakup to mature passive margins
- Role of large-scale continental extension in continental break, failed rifts, structural development of Aulacagens