Tectonostratigraphy and major structures of the Georgian Greater Caucasus: Implications for structural architecture, along-strike continuity, and orogen evolution

Abstract Although the Greater Caucasus Mountains have played a central role in absorbing late Cenozoic convergence between Arabian and Eurasian plates, orogenic architecture ways which it accommodates modern shortening remain debated. Here, we addressed this problem using geologic mapping along two transects across southern half of western to reveal suite regionally coherent stratigraphic packages that are juxtaposed series thrust faults, call North Georgia fault system. From south north within system, stratigraphically repeated ~5–10-km-thick sheets show systematically increasing bedding dip angles (<30° subvertical core range). Likewise, exhumation depth increases toward range, based on low-temperature thermochronologic data metamorphic grade exposed rocks. In contrast, active system is accommodated, at least part, by faults margin orogen. Facilitated broadly behave as an in-sequence, southward-propagating imbricate fan, with older range progressively abandoned new structures forming accommodate propagates southward. We suggest single-fault-centric “Main thrust” paradigm no longer appropriate, dominates Mountains.