3D Modeling of a foreland fold and thrust basin in the French sub-Alpine chains

Abstract

In this report, one can find a summary of the results and the methods used in a BSc-thesis, with as aim to unravel the structural geological situation of a 54 km2 area in the southern French sub-Alps around the village of Plaisians. This was done by using the Move© software-package, provided by Midland Valley. The work was performed in several stages: 1) Creating and modifying several geological sections, after which they are unfolded for physical viability. This was done by using geological maps, sections and field data. 2) Creating a 3-dimensional model out of these sections. 3) Unfolding this model, to check for physical, and geological viability. The result is a reasonably viable model of the area, although it is not entirely accurate, because of the presence of some gaps and overlaps in the unfolded model. The average shortening value for the sections (43,4%) closely resembles the surface reduction value for the entire model (39,2%). Furthermore, this project implies that a uniform formation thickness in the studied area is a possibility. The model includes two newly created faults to accommodate the observed data, which are the Le Collet reverse-fault, and the La Rocher strike-slip-fault. Finally, the geological history of the area proves that most structures in the area were created in the Iberian plate-collision, after which these structures were deformed by the collision of the Apulian and Eurasian plates.