Mechanical Influence of Inherited Folds in Thrust Development: A Case Study from the Variscan Fold-and-Thrust Belt in SW Sardinia (Italy)

Fold-and-thrust belts have a high variability of structural styles, whose investigation provides continuous updates the predictive models that try to better approximate geometries recognized in field. The majority studies are focused on geometry and development folds thrust surfaces amount displacement, taking into account role played by involved stratigraphic succession assumed as layer cake. We present case study from external zone Variscan fold-and-thrust belt SW Sardinia, where it was possible investigate lateral vertical variations mechanical properties succession, how they related previous folding, control geometry, kinematics. In this case, superposition two fold systems acted buttress induced extensive back-thrusting. found there is close connection between attitude bedding back surfaces, shear strength during propagation, variation shortening amount, depending which part were cut across. folding-related anisotropy also seems ductile deformation footwall back-thrusts. Although considers back-thrust, relations not-layer cake could be applied fore-thrust development.