THRUST SYSTEMS TOOLS (THRUST): SOFTWARE FOR THE KINEMATIC SIMULATION OF DEFORMATION AND SEDIMENTATION IN FOLD AND THRUST BELTS

Understanding the link between the fold-thrust belt and deposition in foreland/deep-water basins is a challenging subject. These tectono-sedimentary systems are subject to numerous feedbacks between the sediment routing system, tectonics, and sea level change. Here, I present a series of programs specially designed to model the deformation of foreland basins, deep-water foldbelts, and syntectonic sedimentation called Thrust Systems Tools (THRUST). THRUST is set of open software tools with many options and functional capabilities. THRUST is able to simulate the development of fault-related folds. It includes tools to model fault-bend folds, fault-propagation folds, sinusoidal detachment folds, and box folds. It can also simulate denudation in uplifted areas, and sedimentation in topographic depressions. THRUST is also capable of simulating density flows in deep water environments. The software relies on a set of equations that obey the conservation of mass principle of continuum mechanics. The superficial mass flow is simulated by means of the transport-diffusion equation in which the flux of sediments is proportional to the slope of the topography and the coefficient of mass transport. Deformation pathlines of test particles embedded into the kinematic velocity deformation field can be computed with the software, which might help in the reconstruction of PT paths of rocks in the core of fault-related folds. THRUST uses the Generic Mapping Tools package software as its underlying graphical engine to create high-resolution vector images in the postscript page description language and portable document format. Image files can be further processed to create accurate computer animations of the development of fold and thrust belts and the timing and progress of sedimentation in the foreland basin system.