2008 Joint Meeting of The Geological Society of America, Soil Science Society of America, American Society of Agronomy, Crop Science Society of America, Gulf Coast Association of Geological Societies with the Gulf Coast Section of SEPM

Paper No. 29
Presentation Time: 8:00 AM-4:45 PM

The Studies about Geomechanics and Its Application to Structural Geology Help to Understand and to Explain Better the Geostructures Determined by Alpine Concepts In Modern Geology


KOLNDREU, Dede, 32109 Concord Dr., Bldg. 6, Apt. A, Madison Heights, MI 48071, dkolndreu@hotmail.com

In Mirdita Ophiolite Tectonic Zone of Albania, during last two centuries, there are developed studies based on Alpine Concepts and Plate Tectonics: the studies about two Jurassic ophiolitic belts (Western Ophiolites Belt (Mid-ocean Ridges-MOR-type) and Eastern Ophiolites Belts (Supra-subductions Intraoceanic Magmatic Systems -SSZ- type ) and determined the Nappe Tectonic Structure of Mirdita (Melo, Beccaluva, Shallo, Aliaj, Robertson, Dilek , Bortelotti et al.). Based on Method of Geomechanics, mechanical properties and the deformation effects of rocks of the Ophiolite Complex and the manner of stress (Riedel-planes) observed in field (Kolndreu) compared with the experiments results with X-ray tomography of the strike-slip sandbox (Mandl et al.) it is concluded that the Geomechanical Models of folds and faults in that region indicate about the development of the Tectonic Structures of various Shear and Rotational-shear types (Riedel-shear Zones): the Structures x-Ksi Type (or an-echelon structures); the Structure l-Lambda Type; S- and X-Structures, Chess-board and Wrench and Vortex Structures. In the first stage of the development of Structural System was formed the Structure x-Ksi Type of Ophiolite Mirdita Zone (folds and faults) during J3-Cr1 geological time with compressive-shear planes (including the Structure l-Lambda Type). Later, there were formed the Wrench- and Vortex Structures lower order. That was a preparation stage to the new one, the Obduction Stage. Gradually the geodynamic regime of Mirdita Tectonic Zone was developed in another direction from compressive- shear to tense- shear (the typical Wrench- and Vortex Structures) and there were formed the Thrust Tectonics- and the Nappe Structures as west parts of the e-Epsilon- and h- Ita Structures in Balkan Peninsula, South-east Europe.