Hi Yvette,
If we assume that late or post orogenic lithospheric thinning is driven by high gravitational potential energy, then we need to see how GPE evolves during the thinning. I did some simple calculations of a how GPE and crustal/lithospheric thickness evolved in a number of orogens, and also looked at the geological constraints on the rates and amounts of strain. This was published in a paper a few years ago:
Journal of the Geological Society, London , v.164 , 2007, pp. 297-311.
It would be good to get some more examples, and more recent data.
Best regards,
John Platt.
Sent from my iPad
On 8 Dec 2011, at 19:39, Yvette Kuiper <[log in to unmask]> wrote
> Dear experts and creative thinkers,
>
> In my Thursday evening ponderings I am wondering how long orogenic collapse can continue after convergence ends. 10 Ma? 50 Ma? What makes orogenic collapse continue for a longer time (e.g., size of orogen, certain tectonic settings)? Do we know? Any good examples? Ideas? I'd love to hear.
> (not talking about crustal extension that follows orogeny in some places, but solely collapse as a result of the crustal thickening)
>
> I'm hoping for a fruitful discussion!
> Cheers, Yvette
>
> --
> Yvette D. Kuiper
> Assistant Professor, Structural Geology
> Department of Geology and Geological Engineering
> Colorado School of Mines
> 1516 Illinois Street
> Golden CO 80401
> Tel. 303-273-3105
> Fax 303-273-3859
> http://geology.mines.edu/econgeol/ykuiper.html
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