Abstract
Fission-track analysis, along with other thermochronologic techniques, is now routinely used to infer tectonic ‘uplift’ events, yet the basis for linking crustal thermal histories with such events is rarely made explicit. We evaluate some problems involved in the application of fission-track data to tectonic studies, focussing on a range of geomorphic factors that need to be considered before inferring a tectonic episode from a crustal cooling event recorded by such data. Tectonic uplift involves work against gravity and must therefore be defined in terms of vertical movement with respect to the geoid. Unfortunately, such absolute displacements of the surface (surface uplift) or rocks within the crust (crustal uplift) cannot be directly inferred from fission-track data since these record the cooling history of rocks in the relative frame of reference of movement towards the landsurface; that is, they record denudation. Making inferences about a tectonically-driven uplift event from fission-track data requires a link to be established with the associated denudational (crustal cooling) response. It is generally assumed that pulses of denudation result from tectonically-driven surface uplift events, but such an assumption is problematic for two reasons. First, an increase in surface elevation does not necessarily lead to an increase in denudation rate since erosional energy is controlled by local slope rather than absolute elevation above base level. Secondly, several other factors, such as climate, lithology and patterns of landscape and drainage development can affect spatial and temporal patterns of denudation. Any attempt to relate cooling histories derived from fission-track data to tectonic uplift events requires an adequate understanding and assessment of these geomorphic factors.
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Summerfield, M.A., Brown, R.W. (1998). Geomorphic Factors in the Interpretation of Fission-Track Data. In: van den Haute, P., de Corte, F. (eds) Advances in Fission-Track Geochronology. Solid Earth Sciences Library, vol 10. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-015-9133-1_17
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