La chaîne actuelle du Tian Shan (Asie centrale) est considérée comme une conséquence directe de la réactivation d'une ceinture orogénique du Paléozoïque due à la collision Inde-Asie, au Cénozoïque. Un travail détaillé a été réalisé le long du piémont nord de la chaîne en intégrant les observations géologiques de terrain, analyses structurales, profils sismiques, nouvelles mesures des anomalies gravimétriques et des données de forages. Tout d'abord cette étude apporte de nouvelles preuves directes, à différentes échelles, sur l'existence d'un paléo-relief majeur le long du front nord du Tian Shan au cours du Mésozoïque, et plus particulièrement pendant le Jurassique. Deuxièmement, la quantité de raccourcissement calculée à travers cette ceinture de plis et chevauchements nord du Tian Shan est relativement faible et les structures reconnues le long du front de la chaîne présentent une hétérogénéité latérale forte. Ainsi, alors qu’un chevauchement du socle paléozoïque sur les séries sédimentaires mésozoïques et cénozoïques du bassin est remarquablement exposé le long de certaines vallées, d'autres sections montrent que les séries sédimentaires du Trias au Jurassique peuvent être suivies de manière continue, depuis le bassin jusque sur le toit du socle Paléozoïque où ils reposent en discordance relativement haut dans la chaîne. Quatre coupes géologiques ont été construites par l'intégration des données pluridisciplinaires acquises. La restauration de ces coupes montre que les taux de raccourcissement sont inférieurs à 20% et peuvent descendre à un minimum de 6%. Ces observations suggèrent que le piémont nord du Tian Shan est plutôt «jeune» et que la chaîne d’avant pays est encore à un stade primaire de son évolution tectonique. En d'autres termes, le piémont nord du Tian Shan peut être considéré comme un exemple type de front de chaîne immature. / The modern Tian Shan (Central Asia) is considered as a direct consequence of the reactivation of a Paleozoic orogenic belt due to the India – Asia collision, during Cenozoic times. A detailed work has been investigated along the northern piedmont of Tian Shan, integrating the field work, structural analysis, seismic profile data, gravity anomaly measurements and drilled wells. Firstly, this study brings new and direct evidences, at different scales, for the existence of a major paleo-relief along the northern Tian Shan range during Mesozoic, and particularly during Jurassic times. Secondly, the calculated shortening amount in the northern piedmont of Tian Shan is rather small and the structural pattern of its front is heterogeneous along-strike. While, thrusting of the Paleozoic basement on the Mesozoic or Cenozoic sedimentary series of the basin is remarkably exposed along several river valleys, other sections display continuous Triassic to Jurassic sedimentary series from the basin to the range where they unconformably overlie on the Carboniferous basement. Four cross-sections are made by integrating multi-method data, showing that shortening amounts are less than 20% and could be even until to 6%. This suggests that the Tian Shan intracontinental range is rather “young” and still at a primary stage of its tectonic evolution. In other words, its front may be considered as a typical example of an immature range front.

As condições de pressão e temperatura existentes no evento tectônico que atuou na zona de fold-and-thrust da margem oeste do Cráton do São Francisco foram estimadas com base em estudos estruturais, microestruturais, petrográficos e de inclusões fluidas de veios sintectônicos. A presença de veios de diferentes gerações na zona de fold-and-thrust é evidenciada por fluidos atuando em diferentes cenários de paleoestresse ao longo da história deformacional da área. A área é composta por rochas do Grupo Bambuí fracamente deformadas que registram condições de metamorfismo que variam de diagênese a fácies subxisto verde. Dois eventos tectônicos foram identificados através da disposição geométrica dos veios e da superfície dobrada: (i) uma compressão principal NE-SW (D1) com \'sigma\'1 subhorizontal de orientação SW e \'sigma\'3 sub-vertical, relacionado à formação de veios sintectônicos sub-horizontais de orientação NW formados em condições que atingiram pelo menos 140- 160°C e pressões em torno de 200-363 MPa; (ii) uma compressão posterior NW-SE (D2) com \'sigma\'1 sub-horizontal de orientação NW e \'sigma\'3 também sub-horizontal de orientação NE. Estão relacionados à D2 a formação de veios sintectônicos sub-verticais paralelos à clivagem, formados nas mesmas condições mínimas de temperatura de 140-160°C e pressões entre 181- 295 MPa. A indicação de flutuações na pressão durante esses eventos desempenhou um papel crucial, pois os fluidos influenciam significativamente os processos mecânicos, os mecanismos de deformação e as reações químicas que operam em cinturões de fold-andthrust. Os fluidos apresentam composição formada por H2O-NaCl-CaCl2, onde o processo de mistura de diferentes fontes de fluidos (metamórficas e meteóricas) é evidenciado pela tendência evolutiva de temperaturas de homogeneização e salinidades, resultando em alguma variação na salinidade (12 contra 4% em peso equivalente de NaCl para os veios subhorizontais e para os paralelos à clivagem, respectivamente). Este trabalho confirma que a combinação entre a reconstrução do paleoestresse e o estudo de inclusões fluidas podem fornecer informações fundamentais sobre a relação entre o fluxo de fluidos e a tectônica de terrenos orogênicos, contribuindo para o conhecimento científico sobre a evolução deformacional/metamórfica do Grupo Bambuí e, consequentemente, da zona de fold-andthrust da margem ocidental do Cráton do São Francisco. / P-T conditions existing at the tectonic event that acted at the fold-and-thrust zone of the western margin of the São Francisco Craton were estimated on the basis of structural, microstructural, petrographic and fluid inclusion study of syntectonic veins. The presence of veins of different generations in the fold-and-thrust zone is evidenced by fluids operating at different scenarios of paleostress throughout the deformation history. The area are composed of weakly deformed rocks of the Bambuí Group recording a metamorphism with conditions ranging from diagenetic to sub-greenschist facies. Two tectonic events were identified by vein geometric arrangement and folded surface, a major early NE-SW compression (D1 - \'sigma\'1 subhorizontal SW-trending and \'sigma\'3 subvertical), related with subhorizontal NW-trending syntectonic veins formed at conditions that have reached at least 140°C and pressures around 200-363 MPa; and later NW-SE compression (D2 - \'sigma\'1 subhorizontal NW-trending and \'sigma\'3 subhorizontal NE-trending), related with subvertical syntectonic cleavage-parallel veins formed at the same range of temperature and pressures between 181-295 MPa. Indication of fluctuations in pressure during these events played a crucial role as fluids significantly influence the mechanical processes, deformation mechanisms and chemical reactions that operate in fold-thrust belts. Fluids show H2O-NaCl-CaCl2 composition where mixing process of different fluids sources (metamorphic and meteoric) are evidenced by evolutive trending of homogenization temperatures and salinities resulting in some variation in salinity (12 against 4 wt.% NaCl eq. for subhorizontal and cleavage-parallel veins respectively). This research confirms that combine the reconstruction of the paleostress states and fluid inclusion studies can provide fundamental information of relationship between fluid flow and tectonic of orogenic terrains contributing to the scientific knowledge about the deformational/metamorphic evolution of the Bambuí Group and the fold-and-thrust zone of the western margin of the São Francisco Craton.

As condições de pressão e temperatura existentes no evento tectônico que atuou na zona de fold-and-thrust da margem oeste do Cráton do São Francisco foram estimadas com base em estudos estruturais, microestruturais, petrográficos e de inclusões fluidas de veios sintectônicos. A presença de veios de diferentes gerações na zona de fold-and-thrust é evidenciada por fluidos atuando em diferentes cenários de paleoestresse ao longo da história deformacional da área. A área é composta por rochas do Grupo Bambuí fracamente deformadas que registram condições de metamorfismo que variam de diagênese a fácies subxisto verde. Dois eventos tectônicos foram identificados através da disposição geométrica dos veios e da superfície dobrada: (i) uma compressão principal NE-SW (D1) com \'sigma\'1 subhorizontal de orientação SW e \'sigma\'3 sub-vertical, relacionado à formação de veios sintectônicos sub-horizontais de orientação NW formados em condições que atingiram pelo menos 140- 160°C e pressões em torno de 200-363 MPa; (ii) uma compressão posterior NW-SE (D2) com \'sigma\'1 sub-horizontal de orientação NW e \'sigma\'3 também sub-horizontal de orientação NE. Estão relacionados à D2 a formação de veios sintectônicos sub-verticais paralelos à clivagem, formados nas mesmas condições mínimas de temperatura de 140-160°C e pressões entre 181- 295 MPa. A indicação de flutuações na pressão durante esses eventos desempenhou um papel crucial, pois os fluidos influenciam significativamente os processos mecânicos, os mecanismos de deformação e as reações químicas que operam em cinturões de fold-andthrust. Os fluidos apresentam composição formada por H2O-NaCl-CaCl2, onde o processo de mistura de diferentes fontes de fluidos (metamórficas e meteóricas) é evidenciado pela tendência evolutiva de temperaturas de homogeneização e salinidades, resultando em alguma variação na salinidade (12 contra 4% em peso equivalente de NaCl para os veios subhorizontais e para os paralelos à clivagem, respectivamente). Este trabalho confirma que a combinação entre a reconstrução do paleoestresse e o estudo de inclusões fluidas podem fornecer informações fundamentais sobre a relação entre o fluxo de fluidos e a tectônica de terrenos orogênicos, contribuindo para o conhecimento científico sobre a evolução deformacional/metamórfica do Grupo Bambuí e, consequentemente, da zona de fold-andthrust da margem ocidental do Cráton do São Francisco. / P-T conditions existing at the tectonic event that acted at the fold-and-thrust zone of the western margin of the São Francisco Craton were estimated on the basis of structural, microstructural, petrographic and fluid inclusion study of syntectonic veins. The presence of veins of different generations in the fold-and-thrust zone is evidenced by fluids operating at different scenarios of paleostress throughout the deformation history. The area are composed of weakly deformed rocks of the Bambuí Group recording a metamorphism with conditions ranging from diagenetic to sub-greenschist facies. Two tectonic events were identified by vein geometric arrangement and folded surface, a major early NE-SW compression (D1 - \'sigma\'1 subhorizontal SW-trending and \'sigma\'3 subvertical), related with subhorizontal NW-trending syntectonic veins formed at conditions that have reached at least 140°C and pressures around 200-363 MPa; and later NW-SE compression (D2 - \'sigma\'1 subhorizontal NW-trending and \'sigma\'3 subhorizontal NE-trending), related with subvertical syntectonic cleavage-parallel veins formed at the same range of temperature and pressures between 181-295 MPa. Indication of fluctuations in pressure during these events played a crucial role as fluids significantly influence the mechanical processes, deformation mechanisms and chemical reactions that operate in fold-thrust belts. Fluids show H2O-NaCl-CaCl2 composition where mixing process of different fluids sources (metamorphic and meteoric) are evidenced by evolutive trending of homogenization temperatures and salinities resulting in some variation in salinity (12 against 4 wt.% NaCl eq. for subhorizontal and cleavage-parallel veins respectively). This research confirms that combine the reconstruction of the paleostress states and fluid inclusion studies can provide fundamental information of relationship between fluid flow and tectonic of orogenic terrains contributing to the scientific knowledge about the deformational/metamorphic evolution of the Bambuí Group and the fold-and-thrust zone of the western margin of the São Francisco Craton.

This thesis discusses the effects of basal friction and basement configuration on the deformation of the fold-and-thrust belts in convergent zones. A series of analogue models were conducted with adjacent different basal configuration and frictional properties to observe and gain a better understanding of these basal effects and their interactions. The results from these side-by-side systematic models demonstrate that the kinematics and geometry of the deformation wedges are strongly influenced by the mechanical and geometrical basal effects. In these experiments, high accuracy laser scanner and digital camera were used to record the evolution of the surface topography of the deformed sand packs. Comparison between models with different basal friction shows that the basal friction plays a significant role on the propagation and topography of the deformation structures in aspects such as wedge height, taper angle, number of imbricates and deformation front. The models with a basal viscous material, which acts as low friction substrate, illustrates that the propagation of deformation above viscous material is faster and further than above the adjacent mechanically different frictional decollement. In the experiments with a moving plate under the part of the sand pack, the velocity discontinuity was introduced by either rigid, i.e. frontal edge of the metal plate, or deformable like distal end of the viscous materials. The results of these kinds of experiments, applicable to for example basement faults, salt decollements and tectonic underplating simulations, illustrate that the deformation localizes and develops continuously above the velocity discontinuities. Besides, the different rate and distance of the propagation of deformation fronts caused by different substrate distribution between the adjacent zones also lead to the formation of transpressive zones at the boundary of these adjacent domains with different basal friction/configurations.

Se estudia una porción de la Faja Plegada y Corrida de Malargüe en el sur de los Andes Centrales (Cordillera Principal), Mendoza, Argentina, entre los 34 40 - 35 de latitud sur y 69 - 70 de longitud Oeste. Este área se encuentra regionalmente vinculada en su génesis y evolución al margen continental activo de América del Sur. Se caracteriza por un basamento volcaniclástico-plutónico de edad Permotriásica al que sobreyace una secuencia sedimentaria Triásica a Terciaria diferenciada en los Grupos Cuyo, Lotena, Mendoza, Rayoso, Neuquén, Malargüe y unidades cenozoicas que en conjunto suman un espesor mayor a los 6200 metros. La construcción de este sector del orógeno, asociada a la tectónica andina, involucra al basamento definiéndose a la faja plegada y corrida de Malargüe como epidérmica gruesa. La deformación del basamento y su vinculación con la cubierta sedimentaria permite explicar algunos rasgos notables para las estructuras ándicas de este sector de la Cordillera Principal, como la variación en el rumbo, cambios en la longitud de onda de los pliegues, presencia de múltiples despegues dentro de la cubierta sedimentaria o grandes variaciones de acortamiento entre regiones próximas. El objetivo de esta tesis es desarrollar un modelo cinemático para este sector de la Cordillera Principal argentina, sustentado en un detallado trabajo de superficie y apoyado por los datos disponibles de perforaciones y sísmica. Se interpretan y reconstruyen tres secciones estructurales de 60 km de longitud orientadas en dirección Oeste-Este, subperpendiculares a la dirección relevada para las estructuras tectónicas asociadas a la orogenia andina. Los afloramientos del Grupo Cuyo ocupan la porción occidental de estas secciones, mientras que el Mesozoico medio y alto queda restringido al centro localizándose las unidades terciarias en el borde oriental. Se interpretan dos altos de basamento cuyo rasgo superficial corresponde a importantes sinclinorios, denominados alto del arroyo El Freno y alto del arroyo Blanco, siendo el corrimiento asociado a este último el responsable de la exhumación del Grupo Cuyo desplazándose como falla fuera de secuencia en el último estadio de la evolución del área. La deformación del basamento por fallamiento retrovergente asociado a corrimientos regionales provergentes se revela como una posibilidad altamente confiable para la resolución de problemas tectónicos tanto en este como en otros sectores de la Cordillera Principal. Existe un notable desarrollo espacial de zonaciones estructurales asociadas a la geometría que presenta el basamento para esta porción de la Faja Plegada y Corrida de Malargüe en respuesta al crecimiento y avance del zócalo deformado como resultado de la compresión andina. Se observa una secuencialidad de eventos que permite definir un modelo progresivo en el tiempo, en donde la zonación estructural producida en respuesta a la deformación del zócalo es posteriormente afectada por el desarrollo de una nueva estructura de basamento. Los acortamientos medidos sustentan la imposibilidad de la inversión tectónica como mecanismo de construcción y avance del frente montañoso para esta porción de la Faja Plegada y Corrida de Malargüe, debiendo considerarse aplicar esta posibilidad con mucha cautela en otros sectores de la Cordillera Principal. / This thesis involves the study of the Malargüe Fold and Thrust belt, part of the Central Andes at the southern Cordillera Principal, Mendoza province, Argentina (34 40 35 S and 69 - 70W). The tectonic setting and evolution of the area is controlled by the continental active margin of the South America plate. The Malargüe Fold and Thrust belt is characterized by a volcaniclastic-plutonic Permian-Triassic basement which overlies a sedimentary sequence represented by Cuyo, Lotena, Mendoza, Rayoso, Neuquén and Malargüe Groups and cenozoic units, with more than 6200 meters of thickness. Construction of the mountain front is related to Andean tectonics and involves basement thrust sheets, defining a thick-skinned fold and thrust belt in this particular site of the Central Andes. Relationship between basement and fault and fold sedimentary cover allow us to explain some particular features for Andean structures at the Atuel river valley, such as strike variations, fold wave-length changes, multiple detachments horizons located into the sedimentary cover or different shortening between near localities. The aim of this thesis is to develop a kinematic model for this zone of Cordillera Principal province, supported in a detail field work and well and seismic available data. Three West-East structural sections with 60 km of length are interpreted and reconstructed, subperpendicular to tectonic orientation mapped for Andean structures. Cuyo Group outcrops are located at the western side of the sections, while middle and upper Mesozoic remains restricted to the centre and tertiary deposits are located at the eastern side. According to this, two structural basement highs where interpreted named as arroyo El Freno high and arroyo Blanco high. Regional major thrust involved to the elevation of the arroyo Blanco high is interpreted as responsible of Cuyo Group exhumation, related to an out-of sequence displacement that affects folded Mesozoic sequence in the latest stadium of tectonic evolution of the area. Basement deformation associated to regional master foreland thrusts and the developed of backthrusting appears to be a high confident possibility of resolution of tectonics problems in this area as well in another places of Cordillera Principal Province. There is notable structural zonation related to the basement geometry at this site of Malargüe Fold and Thrust belt in response to the growing and forward movement of deformed crystalline basement as a result of Andean compression. A temporal sequence of events can be observed allowing us to define a progressive model, where the previous structural zonation is affected for a new local basement structure. Shortening measures support impossibility of tectonic inversion of rifting Triassic normal fault system as a viable mechanism of construction y evolvement of mountain front for this part of Malargüe Fold and Thrust belt; a carefully consideration to this option in the study of others sides of Cordillera Principal is suggested.

The Cordilleran Orogen affected majority of the western margin of ancient continental North America in the Cretaceous, which is well recorded in the Foreland Belt. The Mackenzie Mountains fold-and-thrust belt is located primarily in the westernmost Northwest Territories and easternmost Yukon Territory in northern Canada. The mountains are often described as the northern extension of the Rocky Mountains to the south which are one of the world’s best examples of a thin-skinned fold-and-thrust belt. Within the Mackenzie Mountains, Neo-Proterozoic through Cretaceous sedimentary rocks record the Laramide aged deformation, with a range of structures that vary in size and complexity. Previous mapping by the Geological Survey of Canada produced a series of reconnaissance maps that are still in use today, many of which are available in only black and white. This study is focused on a part of the 1:250 000 scale NTS 106A Mount Eduni map sheet from Geological Survey of Canada reconnaissance mapping in 1974. The study involved re-mapping a large panel at 1:50 000 scale to better understand the structural geometry, regional shortening and the depth of the underlying detachment level. Through systematic geologic mapping and structural analyses, this study presents a balanced regional cross-section, numerous serial cross-sections and a detailed geologic map of the study area, the Ten Stone Ranges Structural Complex. The serial cross-sections were used to define the geometry of the Cache Lake Fold, a large fault-bend-fold system that involves a folded thrust fault and complicated subsurface geometry. In addition to this, the sections confirmed that the TSRSC is a transfer zone whereby a series of thrust faults and décollement folds are responsible for much of the displacement and shortening in the Mount Eduni map sheet. The balanced regional cross-section was constructed across a number of key structural elements, in particular the Plateau Fault, a regional structure with a > 250 kilometer strike length and the subject of much debate as to its geometry. In addition to this structure, the cross-section transects the Cache Lake Fold and the Shattered Range Anticline, a regional box shaped anticline that was used for a “depth to detachment” calculation. By examining the regional detachment level estimated from the balanced cross-section and calculating the detachment depth using the Shattered Range Anticline the detachment depth was found to be – 11.3 kilometers below the current erosional level. This study is the first structural analyses of the Mount Eduni map sheet, particularly the Ten Stone Ranges Structural Complex, and has resulted in an estimate of the detachment depth for the area, a shortening estimate of > 7 kilometers across the 50 kilometer line of section and a displacement estimate for the Plateau Thrust of > 20 kilometers.

The Cordilleran Orogen affected majority of the western margin of ancient continental North America in the Cretaceous, which is well recorded in the Foreland Belt. The Mackenzie Mountains fold-and-thrust belt is located primarily in the westernmost Northwest Territories and easternmost Yukon Territory in northern Canada. The mountains are often described as the northern extension of the Rocky Mountains to the south which are one of the world’s best examples of a thin-skinned fold-and-thrust belt. Within the Mackenzie Mountains, Neo-Proterozoic through Cretaceous sedimentary rocks record the Laramide aged deformation, with a range of structures that vary in size and complexity. Previous mapping by the Geological Survey of Canada produced a series of reconnaissance maps that are still in use today, many of which are available in only black and white. This study is focused on a part of the 1:250 000 scale NTS 106A Mount Eduni map sheet from Geological Survey of Canada reconnaissance mapping in 1974. The study involved re-mapping a large panel at 1:50 000 scale to better understand the structural geometry, regional shortening and the depth of the underlying detachment level. Through systematic geologic mapping and structural analyses, this study presents a balanced regional cross-section, numerous serial cross-sections and a detailed geologic map of the study area, the Ten Stone Ranges Structural Complex. The serial cross-sections were used to define the geometry of the Cache Lake Fold, a large fault-bend-fold system that involves a folded thrust fault and complicated subsurface geometry. In addition to this, the sections confirmed that the TSRSC is a transfer zone whereby a series of thrust faults and décollement folds are responsible for much of the displacement and shortening in the Mount Eduni map sheet. The balanced regional cross-section was constructed across a number of key structural elements, in particular the Plateau Fault, a regional structure with a > 250 kilometer strike length and the subject of much debate as to its geometry. In addition to this structure, the cross-section transects the Cache Lake Fold and the Shattered Range Anticline, a regional box shaped anticline that was used for a “depth to detachment” calculation. By examining the regional detachment level estimated from the balanced cross-section and calculating the detachment depth using the Shattered Range Anticline the detachment depth was found to be – 11.3 kilometers below the current erosional level. This study is the first structural analyses of the Mount Eduni map sheet, particularly the Ten Stone Ranges Structural Complex, and has resulted in an estimate of the detachment depth for the area, a shortening estimate of > 7 kilometers across the 50 kilometer line of section and a displacement estimate for the Plateau Thrust of > 20 kilometers.

Superimposition of contractional structures is widely observed in different scales in the world. Superimposed structures form due to different processes: change in strain accommodation from one type of structure to another during a single progressive shortening; successive coaxial shortening phases separated by an unconformity; superimposition of different non-coaxial shortening phases. Using results of a series of systematic analogue models and detailed field structural mapping, this thesis focuses on the geometry and kinematics of such superimposed structures that are formed by these three processes. During a single progressive folding, thrusts develop within a fold to accommodate stain variations in different regime of the fold. Limited displacement along these thrusts does not significantly modify the geometry of the fold. However, during multiple shortening phases (coaxial or non-coaxial), early formed structures are modified by the later phase ones. The later thrusts can cut and displace the pre-existing structures. The early folds are tightened or interfered by the later folding phase. Pre-existing thrusts may be reactivated either in dip direction and/or along strike during the later shortening. The pre-existing structures in turn influence development of the later structures, which results in change in structure spacing. An angular unconformity between two shortening phases clearly truncates the early phase structures and separates structures of different levels. Unlike in the post-erosional layers, in the layers below the unconformity, complicated superimposed structures are visible. This thesis shows that geometry and sequence of structures formed during one progressive shortening or multiple shortening phases strongly depend on the mode of the superimposition (coaxial, orthogonal or oblique) and the orientation of pre-existing structures.

The High Arctic has been a complex region of collisional and extensional tectonism through the Mesozoic and Cenozoic. Svalbard, the sub-aerial exposure of the northwestern Barents Shelf, is an excellent natural laboratory investigating for High Arctic tectonism. Using apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He low-temperature thermochronometry combined with geological constraints, we resolve Cretaceous through Paleogene time-temperature histories for four regions of the Southwestern Province. Our results indicate a temperature gradient from south to north of ~185°C to >200°C, respectively, as a consequence of sedimentary burial and elevated geothermal gradient ( 45°C/km) from High Arctic Large Igneous Province activity. Late Cretaceous cooling affected all regions during regional exhumation related to initial rifting in the Eurasian Basin. During Eurekan tectonism: 1) our models indicate a heating event (55-47 Ma) characterized by overthrusting and a lack of erosion of the West Spitsbergen Fold-and-Thrust Belt, with Central Basin sediments derived from northern Greenland, followed by 2) a subsequent cooling event (47-34 Ma) corresponding to a shift in tectonic regime from compression to dextral strike-slip kinematics; exhumation of the WSFTB coincided with strikeslip tectonics.

3D geological modelling is becoming an effective tool for communication and development of geological understanding. This is due to increased computer performance and availability of improved geological modelling software. 3D geological modelling technology has reached the stage where it can be implemented in regionally extensive and geologically complex settings, with the ability to achieve geological insight beyond what could otherwise have been gained through 2D investigations alone. Insight includes better constrained fault and horizon topologies, refined fold geometries, improved understanding of tectonic processes, and characterization of deformational events. By integrating field observations, aeromagnetic maps, and 3D modelling techniques in the northern Labrador Trough, a regionally extensive and structurally complex geological environment, regional faults geometries and topological relationships were refined. Additionally, a new fault, the Ujaralialuk Fault, and two shear zones were interpreted. During modelling, several challenges were identified, including higher computational costs for regionally extensive models, sparse 3D constraints, algorithmic limitations related to complex geometries, and the large investment of time and effort required to produce a single model solution. A benefit of this investigation is that new insight was also gained for a greenfields region which may assist future exploration efforts. Developing 3D models in challenging environments allows for better definition of future workflow requirements, algorithm enhancements, and knowledge integration. These are needed to achieve a geologically reasonable modelling standard and gain insight for poorly constrained geological settings.