Glossary

allochthon: A mass of rock that has been transported a long distance from its origin, commonly by tectonic processes such as overthrusting or gravity sliding.

 

autochthon: A mass of rock that remains at its site of origin. Rocks of an autochthon may be moderately to considerably deformed.

 

flysch: A marine sedimentary facies commonly associated with deposition in a foreland basin created by an orogeny.

 

klippen: Plural of klippe.

 

listric fault: a fault whose dip decreases with depth.

 

migmatite: A rock composed of igneous or metamorphic materials which are visible to the naked eye.

 

molasse: A deltaic sedimentary facies produced by the erosion of an orogeny. Molasse deposits are typically more clastic and less rhythmic than flysch deposits.

nappe: A large allochthonous thrust sheet that has been moved by tectonic mechanisms such as thrust faulting, recumbent folding, or gravity sliding.

 

ophiolite: Remnant of oceanic crust that has been sutured to two colliding plates.

 

pluton: An igneous intrusion.

terrane: An island arc, microcontinent, or some other large body of rock.

 

transpression: Strike-slip motion combined with compression.

 

transtension: Strike-slip motion combined with extension.

 

These definitions, except for "listric fault", all come from Arlo's dictionary: Bates, R.L. and Jackson, J.A. (eds), 1984, Dictionary of Geological Terms, 3rd ed., New York: Doubleday.