Rifts, margins and orogens are all commonly segmented along strike, giving rise to distinct changes in structural architecture and deformation styles. Tectonic inheritance, and the influence of pre-existing structures, is frequently invoked to explain this segmentation, and the resulting complex architectures.

It is generally agreed that the generation and evolution of most geological architectures are primarily controlled by interactions between plate motions, horizontal mechanical stratigraphy and pre-existing structures. Inheritance results from stress concentration and shear localisation, which may be manifested at all scales in the continental lithosphere, but our understanding of the processes leading to reactivation and its influence over the kinematic and dynamic evolution of geological architectures at different scales is still very limited. Knowledge of an area’s previous geohistory, the presence of pre-existing mechanical heterogeneities and anisotropies, and the level in the crust/mantle that these occur are thus important factors to consider. The resulting architectures play host to hydrocarbon and mineral accumulations, control the geometry of potential repositories for carbon and radioactive materials, and are a key component in a range of geological hazards.

This session brings together geophysicists, structural geologists, and modellers in order to develop a more integrated understanding of how tectonic inheritance influences the evolution of geological architectures in crustal deformation zones across a range of scales and tectonic environments. Studies from both surface and sub-surface settings are welcome and the enthusiastic participation of geoscientists from the petroleum industry is encouraged.