Currently Active Projects
- Integrated geological and geophysical analysis of the linkage between transverse zones and inherited basement structures in foreland thrust-and-fold belts: the Taiwan example (TAITRANS)PI: PGC2018-094227-B-I00. From: 01/01/2019 to: 31/12/2022
PI. Dennis Brown and Joaquina Alvarez-Marron
Current Ph.D. Students
Finished students
Finished Projects
- Controls of inherited continental margin architecture on the deformation and kinematics of orogenic wedges in arc-continent collisions (2014 - 2017)
Financed by: MICINN: CGL2013-43877-BTE
PI: Dennis Brown and Joaquina Alvarez-Marron - Processes of arc-continent collision in Taiwan (2010 - 2013)
Financed by: MICINN: CGL2009-11843-BTE
PI: Dennis Brown - Structure and thermochronology of the western Cantabrian Mountains (2008-2011)
Financed by: MICINN:
PI: J. Alvarez-Marron - Seismic profile through Cabo Ortegal: Petrophysics of the lower crust and upper mantle
Financed by: MEC: CGL2007-30745-E/BTE
PI: D. Brown - Structural characterisation of CO2 pilot plant sequestration site
Financed by:CIUDEN
PI: D. Brown and J. Alvarez-Marron
- Petrophysics of the Lower Continental Crust and Upper Mantle. (2007 - 2009)
Financed by: MEC: CGL2006-03364/BTE
PI: D. Brown
- Arc-continent collision (IGCP 524). (2007 - 2009)
Financed by: IGCP
PI: D. Brown and C-Y. Huang
Description(external link) - Arc-continent Collision Processes in Taiwan. (2007 - 2008)
Financed by: MEC: CSIC Proyectos Intramurales 2006 3 01 010
PI: D. Brown
Description -
Extension: Geometry and Structure of the Frontal Fold Belt in Cuba: Reflections Seismic Data and
Balanced Cross Sections. (2006 - 2007)
Financed by: Repsol YPF
PI: Jaume Vergés -
Geometry and Structure of the Frontal Fold Belt in Cuba: Reflections Seismic Data and
Balanced Cross Sections. (2005 - 2006)
Financed by: Repsol YPF
PI: Jaume Vergés
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Correlation Between the Magmatic and Tectonic Evolution in Collisional Orogens: Subproject Tectonics. (2002 - 2006)
Financed by: MCyT, BTE2002-04618-C02-02
PI: D. Brown -
IGCP 453 Urals Conference. (2003 - 2004)
Financed by: MCyT, BTE2002-11021-E
PI: D. Brown -
Tectonics of Arc-Continent Collision. (2002 - 2005)
Financed by: MCyT, BTE2001-00326
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Orogenic Processes in Collisional Orogens. (2002 - 2003)
Financed by: MCyT, BTE2001-5002-E
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Geological and Geophysical Studies in Natural Confining Systems. (2000 - 2003)
Fiananced by: ENRESA
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Hydrocarbon potential of the southern Urals thrust and fold belt (between Kumertau and Aktuybinsk). (2000)
Financed by: Conoco Oil
PI: D. Brown -
The Uralide Orogen: Studying Orogenic Processes. (1998 - 2001)
Financed by: DGCYT, PB97-1141
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Urals Project. (1997)
Financed by: CICYT, AMB-1225/94E
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
The Uralide orogen: A key to understanding collisional orogenesis. (1996 - 2000)
Financed by: EEC Research Network, ERBFMRXCT960009
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
SISMO. (1998 - 2000)
Financed by: ENRESA
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Restauration of the Ratones Mine: Structure and Geophysics. (1997 - 1999)
Financed by: ENRESA
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
The Uralide orogen: a key to understanding collisional orogenesis. (1995 - 1997)
Financed by: INTAS
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Structure of the Uralides and Variscides: Deep Reflection Seismic Profiling. (1995)
Financed by: CICYT, AMB95-0987-E
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Urals Project. (1994)
Financed by: CICYT, AMB94-1225-E
PI: A. Pérez Estaún -
Sulphide textures and petrogenesis of the TAG hydrothermal mound, Mid-Atlantic Ridge. (1994)
Financed by: ODP UK and Royal Holloway, University of London
PI: D. Brown and K.R. McClay -
Deformation and metamorphism of the Vangorda Pb-Zn massive sulphide deposit, Yukon Territory, Canada. (1992)
Financed by: Department of Indian and Northern Affairs y Curragh Inc., Canada
PI: D. Brown and K.R. McClay, G. Jilson y L. Pigage
Projects Description
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Controls of inherited continental margin architecture on the deformation and kinematics of orogenic wedges in arc-continent collisions
The aim of this project is to determine the effect that previous architecture of a continental margin (morphology, structure, rheology) imposes on the early structural evolution of an orogenic wedge. In particular, to determine the variations that these elements of the continental margin (e.g., the change from the platform to the slope, or changes in extensional basins) have on the geodynamics of the orogen and if they predetermine the subsequent structure of the mountain belt. The study area is located in Taiwan, a region that is undergoing active oblique arc-continent colision between the Luzon Arc and the continental margin of Eurasia. In particular, in the south of Taiwan the continental margin is oblique to the trend of the orogen. This disposition provides an exceptional natural example in which to undertake our study since it provides a transect from the platform in the north to the slope in the south. Furthermore, the large amount of seismicity in the region provides a unique data set that allows us to use earthquake hypocenter locations to map faults at depth and provides data for local seismic tomography. Our group has access to the data from some 900 seismic stations in Taiwan. The results obtained by the project will aid in the study of mountain belts worldwide, including Spain, by helping to identify the causes of structural inheritance related to the different parts of a continental margin. Also, it could help in identifying hazardous faults in active orogens. This project will further develop, and enhance on, an earlier project (CGL2009-11843-BTE).
The expected results can be divided into four groups;
1) Determination of the 3D structure and kinematics of the frontal part of the mountain belt in southern Taiwan; a region that includes a basement-involved trust system. The project has a large component of field studies that will focus on detailed structural analyses.
2) Characterise the deep structure of the mountain belt by intergration of the field data with geophysical data including; seismicity, P- and S-wave tomography, gravity, and magnetism. To achieve this, we will model potential field data, and continue to work with our Taiwanese colleauges on seismicity studies and developing new, higher resolution tomographic models.
3) Determination of earthquake fault plane solutions, from which the P, T, and B axes and the horizontal stress will be calculated for the study area. This will provide information on the kinematics of the fault systems and on the state of stress in the deforming slope of the continental margin.
4) Develop models for the geodynamic processes and the tectonic evolution of the area and its application to other orogens worldwide, especially areas in which the Spanish group has previously worked, such as the Iberian Massif, the Dominican Republic and the Uralides. For this proposal, these processes include, but are not restricted to; a) how the continental crust (in particular the thinned, slope area) deforms as it arrives at an oblique collision zone, b) what the importance is of pre-existing faults and the inversion of sedimentary basin on the structural and kinematic evolution of the orogen, and in the distribution of sesimic activity, and c) what effect the change from the platform area of the margin to the slope has on the structural/kinematic development of the thrust wedge.
Participants:
D. Brown, PI, Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
J. Alvarez-Marron,PI, Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
M. Torne, Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
C. Ayala, Instituto de Ciencias de la Tierra, CSIC, Barcelona, Spain
Y.-M. Wu, Dept. Geosciences, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
H. Kuo-Chen, Dept. of Earth Sciences and Institute of Geophysics, National Central University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
H.-T. Chu, Central Geological Survey, Taiwan