Smoluchowski's dilemma revisited: a note on the fluid pressure history of the central Appalachian fold-thrust belt

T. Engelder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

2 Scopus citations

Abstract

Cross-fold joints in the Central Appalachian fold-thrust belt propagated during periods of abnormally high fluid pressure prior to tectonic compaction and the development of first-order Alleghanian structures in the valley and ridge. These early joints, found in both the valley and ridge province and the plateau province, are organized in sets forming patterns that correlate across the Allegheny Front. One interpretation is that high fluid pressures were generated by topographically driven flow across the Appalachian Basin as a consequence of uplift of the core of the Appalachians early in the Alleghanian Orogeny. The high fluid pressures accompanying this topographically-driven flow system later facilitated the development of first-order structures in the valley and ridge. Later joint sets that do not correlate across the Allegheny Front are more likely to be a consequence of fluid pressure pulses developed during local tectonic compaction. -from Author

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)140-147
Number of pages8
JournalUnknown Journal
StatePublished - 1990

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Environmental Science
  • General Earth and Planetary Sciences

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