No description available.

No description available.

Thin-skinned models of deformation are currently accepted for the southern Appalachians. The mechanics of this type of deformation are not well understood. The Saltville thrust, a major overthrust in the southern Appalachians, was investigated with respect to deformation mechanics. Thrust termination occurs in the overturned, northwest facing Sinking Creek anticline, at the juncture between the southern and central Appalachians . The primary regional displacement transfer mechanism at the thrust terminus is the transition from faulting to folding. Mesoscopic fabrics show variations in deformation intensity across the anticline, with high strains on the northwest limb, and low strains on the upright southeast limb. Strain accommodation on the overturned limb was by folding, faulting, and cleavage development. Knox Dolomite in the core of the anticline is upward facing and unfolded. Strain patterns and facing data indicate that shear thrusting at depth caused passive regional folding. Subsequent movement caused the thrust to act as a break thrust and cut previously folded strata. Cataclasis is the primary bulk deformation mechanism along the thrust surface. Cataclastic fabrics in dolomites range from protocataclasites to ultracataclasites, and reflect changes in frictional grinding. Foliated cataclasites are described. Fault-rock fabrics indicate that thrust-sheet emplacement occurred through seismic failure, facilitated by transient, abnormally high pore pressures, and aseismic failure accomplished within a layer of cataclastically flowing gouge. Thin fault zones and rapid decreases in deformation intensity away from the fault surface indicate rapid sliding, and a lack of frictional grinding. / M.S.

The geology of Frederick County, Virginia is known mostly from surface mapping. Based on this work are interpretations of the subsurface geology including cross sections which have been constrained by the surface geology and by the method of area balancing based upon palinspastic reconstruction. With the intent to further constrain these cross sections. gravity measurements were made at 422 sites in Frederick County. Then, gravity anomalies were compared with theoretical gravity profiles calculated from two dimensional models of density distribution based upon the cross sections. Using the cross section geometry and densities published for the known and inferred rock units, the theoretical gravity profiles did not compare favorably with corresponding Bouguer gravity profiles. However, by modifying the geometry of the model units and adjusting the model unit densities, a reasonable fit between theoretical and Bouguer gravity profiles was obtained. Although the geometrical modifications adhered to the structural style, no attempt was made to area balance these modifications within the model. / Master of Science