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Alternative Geodynamic Models for the Damara Orogeny. A Critical Discussion

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Intracontinental Fold Belts

Abstract

During the last five years a number of geodynamic models have been proposed for the intracontinental branch of the Pan-African Damara Orogen. All the models assume subduction processes of some kind. Two categories of subduction have been proposed: Continental subduction (Ampferer subdiction) and ocean floor subduction (Benioff subduction). The former is represented by an “aulacogen” model and a “delamination” model. The second category comprises two models assuming subduction of a wide ocean, one model proposing subduction of a narrow ocean arm, and one advocating processes of strike-slip faulting coupled with oblique subduction of small oceanic pullapart basins.

The essential features and arguments of the different models are briefly outlined, and the models critically discussed. None of the models integrates, in its hitherto presented form, all the known facts satisfactorily.

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  1. Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut, Goldschmidtstraße 3, 3400, Göttingen, Germany

    H. Martin

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  1. Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut, Georg-August-Universität, Goldschmidtstr. 3, 3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Henno Martin

  2. Geologisch-Paläontologisches Institut, Goldschmidtstr. 3, 3400, Göttingen, Germany

    Franz Wolfgang Eder

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Martin, H. (1983). Alternative Geodynamic Models for the Damara Orogeny. A Critical Discussion. In: Martin, H., Eder, F.W. (eds) Intracontinental Fold Belts. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-69124-9_41

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