Characteristics of Nappes and Segmentation of the Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt, Western Sichuan Basin, China

In order to reveal the nature of the segmentation of Longmen Mountains Thrust Belt caused by the three nappes (Jiaoziding, Jiudingshan, and Baoxing Nappe), several methods are applied in this paper, including field investigation, seismic explanation and balanced crossed section, etc. Results of research reveal that nappes in Longmen Mountains vary in geometry, kinematics, and dynamics. Jiaoziding Nappe has generally behaved in a ductile manner, whereas Jiudingshan Nappe has been rigid, and the rheology of Baoxing Nappe has been intermediate between that of the other two nappes. The development of nappes has resulted in tectonic segmentation of Longmen Mountains: the main structural style of the northern segment is thrust faulting, with Jiaoziding Nappe representing a giant syncline. Given its ductility, it absorbed lots of stress, with the least amount of tectonic shortening in the SE part of the nappe. In the middle segment, the deformation is controlled by the rigid Jiudingshan Nappe, whose frontal area records lots of tectonic shortening. Deformation in the southern segment is intermediate in character between that of the other two segments, characterized by horizontal zonation, as demonstrated by fault development, and vertical stratification, which indicates that fault development was controlled by lithology.