Part I: INTRODUCTION
1. Overview
What Are Tectonics and Structural Geology? / Tectonics, Structure, and the Use of Models / The Interior of the Earth and the Terrestrial Planets / Characteristics of the Earth's Crust and Plate Tectonics / Summary and Preview
2. Geophysical Techniques in Tectonics
Introduction / Seismic Studies / Analysis of Gravity Anomalies / Geomagnetic Studies / Heat, Temperature, and the Earth
Part II: PLATE TECTONICS
3. Principal Tectonic Features of the Earth
Introduction / Ocean Basins / Structure of the Continental Crust / Precambrian Shields / Phanerozoic Regions
4. Plate Tectonics
Introduction / Relative Motion of Two Plates on a Sphere / Triple Junctions and the Relative Motions of Plates on a Sphere / Finite Plate Motions / Absolute Plate Motions / Properties of the Mantle / Driving Forces of Plate Tectonics
5. Divergent Margins and Rifting
Introduction / Continental Rift Zones / A Young Ocean Basin: The Red Sea / Mature Rifted Continental Margins: Passive or Atlantic-Style Margins / Oceanic Crust and Ocean Spreading Centers / Model of the Evolution of Rifted Continental Margins / Models of the Seafloor Spreading Mechanism / Miogeoclines: Ancient Atlantic-Style Continental Margins?
6. Transform Faults, Strike-Slip Faults, and Related Fracture Zones
Introduction / Oceanic Transform Faults and Fracture Zones / Models of Transform Fault Processes / Active Continental Transform Faults / Interpretation of Fossil Transform Faults in the Geologic Record
7. Convergent Margins
Introduction / Geography of Consuming Margins: The Circum-Pacific System / Physiography / Geophysical Characteristics of Consuming Plate Margins / Structural Geology / Chaotic Deposits / Models of Subduction Zone Processes
8. Tectonics and Geology of Selected Triple Junctions
Introduction / Representation of Velocity Triangles in Physical Space / Case Studies of Triple Junctions: The Bouvet Triple Junction / The Galapagos Triple Junction / The Mendocino Triple Junction / The Japan Triple Junction / Discussion
9. Collisions
Introduction / Arc-Continent and Arc-Arc Collisions: The Southwest Pacific Region / Continent-Continent Collisions: The Alpine-Himalayan System / Models of Collisional Deformation / The Formation of Mountain Roots / Models of Ophiolite Emplacement / Sutures: Evidence of Ancient Plate Boundaries
Interlude: THE SCIENTIFIC METHOD AND THE PLATE TECTONIC REVOLUTION
The Scientific Method / The Normal Progress of Science and Scientific Revolution / The Development of Plate Tectonics: A Scientific Revolution
Part III: TECTONIC HISTORY
10. Anatomy of Orogenic Belts
Introduction / The Outer Foredeep or Foreland Basin / The Foreland Fold-and-Thrust Belt / The Crystalline Core Zone / The Deep Structure of Core Zones / Rectilinear (High-Angle) Fault Zones / Metamorphism and Tectonics / Minor Structures and Strain in the Interpretation of Orogenic Zones / Models of Orogenic Deformation / The Wilson Cycle and Plate Tectonics / Terrane Analysis
11. Neotectonics
Introduction / Direct Measurements of Tectonic Movements / Dating Methods / Geologic-Geomorphic Features / Neotectonic Behavior of Faults and Folds
12. Case Studies of Orogenic Belts
Introduction / The North American Cordillera / The Andes / The Alpine-Himalayan Orogenic Belt: Alpine-Iranian Sector / The Alpine-Himalayan Orogenic Belt: Afghanistan-Himalayan-Tibetan Sector / The Appalachian-Caledonide System / Plate Tectonics in Geologic History
13. Tectonics of Terrestrial Planets
Introduction / Mercury / Earth's Moon / Mars / Venus / Discussion
Appendix: Map Projections
415 pages, $79.95 list
1-4786-2199-0
978-1-4786-2199-7
© 1995
hardcover
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Tectonics
Deformation of the Earth's crust happens at a multitude of scales, ranging from submicroscopic to planetary. Tectonics explores structures and processes from regional to global, differentiating itself from the material covered in most structural geology textbooks. Moores and Twiss emphasize basic principles and methodologies of tectonics, embracing the time-honored perspective of using present processes to understand the past. Comprehensive in scope and detail, coverage includes the effects of plate motions and reconstructions and the resultant structures associated with active rift, transform, and subduction boundaries as well as triple junctions and collision zones; deformations of both the ocean basins and the continents; and orogenic belts.
Moores and Twiss present tectonics as an open-ended field of study in which assumptions can be challenged and interpretations changed. The authors emphasize the use of models as a means of understanding observations and putting them in context to maintain a distinction between what we know from observing the Earth and what we infer from interpretation.
Moores and Twiss present tectonics as an open-ended field of study in which assumptions can be challenged and interpretations changed. The authors emphasize the use of models as a means of understanding observations and putting them in context to maintain a distinction between what we know from observing the Earth and what we infer from interpretation.