Research explores deep continental lithosphere (i.e., the continental lower crust and mantle lithosphere) deformation during continental collision. I found that depending on the composition/rheology of the crust and the amount of radiogenic heat production in the crust, three dominant modes of mantle lithosphere deformation evolve under Neoarchean-like conditions: (1) a pure-shear thickening style; (2) an imbrication style; (3) and a "flat-subduction" style. The imbrication and the flat-subduction styles result in the emplacement of "plate-like" mantle lithosphere at depths between 200 km and 325 km. The imbrication style behavior shifts to the "flat-subduction" style behavior after a crustal inversion event. I investigated mature Phanerozoic-style collision and found that it is sensitive to mantle lithosphere density, mantle lithosphere yield stress, lower-crustal strength and to the presence of phase change-related density changes in the lower crust. The early stages of collision are accommodated by subduction of lower crust and mantle lithosphere along a discrete shear zone beneath the overriding plate. Next, the subducting lower crust and mantle lithosphere retreat from the collision zone, permitting the sub-lithospheric mantle to upwell and intrude the overriding plate. Next, the lower crust and mantle lithosphere of the overriding plate delaminate from the overlying crust. This process produces plateau-like uplift. These modeling results are interpreted in the context of available geological and geophysical observables for the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen. I quantitatively investigated the effects that sediment deposition may have on continental lithosphere deformation during collision. In the absence of sedimentation, the early stages of collision are accommodated by subduction of lower crust and mantle lithosphere beneath the overriding plate. Next, the subducting lower crust and mantle lithosphere retreat from the collision zone. This permits the sub-lithospheric mantle to upwell and come into contact with the thickened upper crust. When sedimentation is imposed subduction-like consumption of the subducting plate remains stable. Using numerical geodynamic models, I studied the influence of the pressure-dependence of viscosity on tectonic deformation during collision. At low activation volumes, high convergence rates, and low to moderate initial Moho temperatures the subduction style of mantle lithosphere deformation is dominant. At low activation volumes, high convergence rates, and high initial Moho temperatures distributed pure-shear style deformation occurs. At low activation volumes, low convergence rate, and moderate to high initial Moho temperatures the mantle lithosphere prefers a convective removal style of deformation. Increasing the activation volume of mantle material in either of these three cases changes the style of mantle lithosphere deformation because its viscosity increases non-linearly.

Research explores deep continental lithosphere (i.e., the continental lower crust and mantle lithosphere) deformation during continental collision. I found that depending on the composition/rheology of the crust and the amount of radiogenic heat production in the crust, three dominant modes of mantle lithosphere deformation evolve under Neoarchean-like conditions: (1) a pure-shear thickening style; (2) an imbrication style; (3) and a "flat-subduction" style. The imbrication and the flat-subduction styles result in the emplacement of "plate-like" mantle lithosphere at depths between 200 km and 325 km. The imbrication style behavior shifts to the "flat-subduction" style behavior after a crustal inversion event. I investigated mature Phanerozoic-style collision and found that it is sensitive to mantle lithosphere density, mantle lithosphere yield stress, lower-crustal strength and to the presence of phase change-related density changes in the lower crust. The early stages of collision are accommodated by subduction of lower crust and mantle lithosphere along a discrete shear zone beneath the overriding plate. Next, the subducting lower crust and mantle lithosphere retreat from the collision zone, permitting the sub-lithospheric mantle to upwell and intrude the overriding plate. Next, the lower crust and mantle lithosphere of the overriding plate delaminate from the overlying crust. This process produces plateau-like uplift. These modeling results are interpreted in the context of available geological and geophysical observables for the Himalayan-Tibetan orogen. I quantitatively investigated the effects that sediment deposition may have on continental lithosphere deformation during collision. In the absence of sedimentation, the early stages of collision are accommodated by subduction of lower crust and mantle lithosphere beneath the overriding plate. Next, the subducting lower crust and mantle lithosphere retreat from the collision zone. This permits the sub-lithospheric mantle to upwell and come into contact with the thickened upper crust. When sedimentation is imposed subduction-like consumption of the subducting plate remains stable. Using numerical geodynamic models, I studied the influence of the pressure-dependence of viscosity on tectonic deformation during collision. At low activation volumes, high convergence rates, and low to moderate initial Moho temperatures the subduction style of mantle lithosphere deformation is dominant. At low activation volumes, high convergence rates, and high initial Moho temperatures distributed pure-shear style deformation occurs. At low activation volumes, low convergence rate, and moderate to high initial Moho temperatures the mantle lithosphere prefers a convective removal style of deformation. Increasing the activation volume of mantle material in either of these three cases changes the style of mantle lithosphere deformation because its viscosity increases non-linearly.

No description available.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Ohio State University, 2007. / Title from first page of PDF file. Includes bibliographical references (p. 157-166).

Tertiary history of the Pacific Northwest is closely tied to that of the Columbia River Flood Basalt (CRB) events. The region is, geologically, one of the least well understood parts of the continental United States. Throughout the Neogene, the Columbia Basin and surrounding terrains appear to have been shaped not by horizontal tectonic forces, but by deep dynamic forcing, driving apparent “vertical tectonics.” This class of phenomena appears to be at odds with the traditional tenets of plate tectonics, and yet may prove to be ubiquitous geologic processes worldwide. Many of the processes described here are unique to volcanically-active regions, such as those affected by CRB eruptions and deposition. In the following chapters I will discuss several physical mechanisms by which lithosphere can deform in the absence of horizontal tectonic stress. These include analyses of the mechanisms associated with metamorphic densification, rheologic transformation owing to magmatic intrusions, and the dynamics of lithospheric delamination. All code and documentation to reproduce the results presented here can be found in the supplemental files included with this dissertation. Appendices A and B document the purpose, usage, and functionality of each supplementary file. This dissertation includes previously published and unpublished coauthored material.

No description available.

Doctor of Philosphy (Cotutelle) / The secular cooling of the mantle and of the continental lithosphere trigger an increase in the area of emerged land. The corollary increase in weathering and erosion processes has major consequences for the evolution of Earth's external envelopes. We developed a physical model to evaluate the area of emerged land as a function of mantle temperature, continental area, and of the distribution of continental elevations. Our numerical results show that less than 15% of Earth's surface consisted of emerged land by the end of the Archaean. This is consistent with many geological and geochemical observations. To estimate the secular cooling of the continental lithosphere, we combined thermo-mechanical models with fi eld observations. Our results, constrained by geological data, suggest that the Moho temperature has decreased by ~ 200ºC over 2.7 Ga in the Pilbara Craton. To evaluate the eff ect of continental growth on the evolution of the area of emerged land, we developed a model based on published thermal evolution models. Our results suggest that the area of emerged land was less than 5% of Earth's surface in the Archaean, and that it does not depend on crustal growth. This allows to reconcile the evolution of oceanic 87Sr/86Sr with early crustal growth models. Continents are enriched in phosphorus, which is essential to the biosphere. The emergence of the continents would thus have triggered an increase in the production of oxygen by photosynthetic micro-organisms, possibly contributing to the oxidation of the atmosphere 2.4 Ga ago.

Doctor of Philosphy (Cotutelle) / The secular cooling of the mantle and of the continental lithosphere trigger an increase in the area of emerged land. The corollary increase in weathering and erosion processes has major consequences for the evolution of Earth's external envelopes. We developed a physical model to evaluate the area of emerged land as a function of mantle temperature, continental area, and of the distribution of continental elevations. Our numerical results show that less than 15% of Earth's surface consisted of emerged land by the end of the Archaean. This is consistent with many geological and geochemical observations. To estimate the secular cooling of the continental lithosphere, we combined thermo-mechanical models with fi eld observations. Our results, constrained by geological data, suggest that the Moho temperature has decreased by ~ 200ºC over 2.7 Ga in the Pilbara Craton. To evaluate the eff ect of continental growth on the evolution of the area of emerged land, we developed a model based on published thermal evolution models. Our results suggest that the area of emerged land was less than 5% of Earth's surface in the Archaean, and that it does not depend on crustal growth. This allows to reconcile the evolution of oceanic 87Sr/86Sr with early crustal growth models. Continents are enriched in phosphorus, which is essential to the biosphere. The emergence of the continents would thus have triggered an increase in the production of oxygen by photosynthetic micro-organisms, possibly contributing to the oxidation of the atmosphere 2.4 Ga ago.

Thesis (Ph.D.) - Carleton University, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 332-360). Also available in electronic format on the Internet.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 1997. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references.