Evolution of Crustal-Scale Shear-Zones

Dear Colleagues,

It is our pleasure to announce that we have agreed to assemble a Special Issue focussing on the evolution of crustal-scale shear zones (CSSZs). CSSZs often exhibit a complex variety of fault-rocks and related structures that record changes in deformation mechanisms during progressive deformation, and/or deformation during exhumation. CSSZs and the structures associated with them play a crucial role in the development of orogenic belts.

Activity along CSSZs may persist over considerable periods of time and exert significant influence over geodynamic evolution. From the nucleation of CSSZs, within deep-seated crustal systems commonly rooted in the middle to lower crust, up to surficial thin-skinned activity, they are characterised by a range of kinematics and influenced by different rheological behaviours, which, potentially, reflect plate boundary kinematics.

Generally, former deep-seated shear zones, often characterised by crystal–plastic microstructures, are overprinted during exhumation by a switch to a brittle fracturing behaviour. Recent innovative techniques permit quantitative analysis of ancient mylonitic strain-rates, which are largely accommodated by crystal–plastic deformation. In addition, quantitative field investigations, which are integrated with GPS, together with persistent-scatter methods, are useful to bracket the present-day motion of active CSSZs that bound crustal blocks in collisional settings.

In this Special Issue, we would like to encourage the submission of scientific papers focussing on the study of plastic- and/or brittle-related crustal-scale shear-zones, with particular reference to those characterised by a transition from plastic- to frictional-deformation behaviour. Multiscale structural investigation, supported by the analysis of physical conditions during deformation, represents a fundamental tool to unravel the geodynamic evolution of many ancient and currently active plate boundaries where significant amounts of deformation have accumulated.

Prof. Dr. Carmelo Monaco
Dr. Gaetano Ortolano
Prof. Dr. Ian Alsop
Guest Editors

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• Field mapping of tectonic structures
• Quantitative structural analysis
• Strain-rate analysis
• Diffusional time-scale
• Rheological behaviour
• Kinematic indicators
• Active shear zones
• Active deformation monitoring