Structural model of the two orogens convergence zone: A case study from western Kura foreland fold-and-thrust belt, Georgia
- 1I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, M. Nodia Institute of Geophysics, Tbilisi, Georgia (onise.enukidze@tsu.ge)
- 2I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, A. Janelidze Institute of Geology, Tbilisi, Georgia
- 3“G. d’Annunzio” University of Chieti-Pescara, Department of Engineering and Geology, Chieti, Italy
- 4I. Javakhishvili Tbilisi State University, Faculty of Exact and Natural Sciences, Tbilisi, Georgia
Collision and subsequent convergence of Arabia and Eurasian plates during the late Alpine time caused extensive intracontinental deformation in the Caucasus region. Inversion of back-arc basins, exhumation and crustal thickening took place in the far-field zone, forming two orogens, and leading to a convergence between the Lesser Caucasus (LC) and Greater Caucasus (GC). Continuous convergence between the LC and GC caused incremental deformation of the Rioni and Kura foreland basins. Recent GPS, earthquakes, and paleoseismic data indicate that the Kura foreland fold-and-thrust belt (KFFTB) is tectonically fairly active (e.g., Sokhadze et al., 2018; Tibaldi et al., 2020; Tsereteli et al., 2016; Stahl et al., 2022).
In this study, we have integrated the post-stack depth-migrated 2D seismic profiles, borehole, and outcrop data to explore the structural geometry and kinematic features of the western KFFTB. Here we show the structural style of deformation of the convergence zone between the frontal part of the LC retro-wedge and the GC pro-wedge based on seismic reflection profiles. The seismic reflection profiles reveal the presence of a triangle zone and south-and north-vergent fault-related fold and south-vergent thrusts.
In combination with surface geology and borehole data, we have analyzed along-strike variations of the south-vergent passive-back thrust and transition from the fault-propagation fold to wedge structure by using 2D seismic profiles in the western KFFTB.
Based on the 2D seismic profiles and field data interpretations as well as our sequential kinematic modeling results, we have established the geometry and structural evolution of the LC-GC convergence zone in the western KFFTB since the Late Miocene.
Acknowledgement: This research was supported by Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG) [grant # YS-21-612. Geometry and kinematic evolution of frontal part of the Eastern Achara-Trialeti fold-and-thrust belt]
How to cite: Enukidze, O., Alania, V., Beridze, T., Pace, P., Razmadze, A., Merkviladze, D., and Shikhashvili, T.: Structural model of the two orogens convergence zone: A case study from western Kura foreland fold-and-thrust belt, Georgia, EGU General Assembly 2023, Vienna, Austria, 23–28 Apr 2023, EGU23-5098, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu23-5098, 2023.
