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<p>Deformation affecting the Upper Triassic Dachstein Limestone has been analyzed in the Dachstein thrust sheet, the uppermost thrust unit of the central Northern Calcareous Alps (Eastern Alps). Different scales of deformation are discussed, from kilometer-scale thrusting down to folds in the order of tens of meters to meters. Observations are based on both conventional outcrop observations and on digital fieldwork performed on drone-captured virtual outcrops and on GoogleMaps 3D terrain renderizations. The structures observed were formed at different times and document the following events: 1) Late Triassic syn-depositional instability and slumping; 2) Late Triassic syn-depositional growth of the Hallstatt diapir; 3) Late Triassic syn-depositional, salt-driven, extensional faulting; 4) Jurassic-age re-activation of extensional faults; 5) (presumably) Early Cretaceous shortening in both east-west and north-south directions; and 6) (presumably) Late Cretaceous extensional re-activation of faults. The structures and their origin have a bearing on the interpretation of the tectonic evolution of the Dachstein thrust sheet, highlighting the potential relevance of salt tectonics in controlling its structure.</p>
</abstract>

Deformation affecting the Upper Triassic Dachstein Limestone has been analyzed in the Dachstein thrust sheet, the uppermost thrust unit of the central Northern Calcareous Alps (Eastern Alps). Different scales of deformation are discussed, from kilometer-scale thrusting down to folds in the order of tens of meters to meters. Observations are based on both conventional outcrop observations and on digital fieldwork performed on drone-captured virtual outcrops and on GoogleMaps 3D terrain renderizations. The structures observed were formed at different times and document the following events: 1) Late Triassic syn-depositional instability and slumping; 2) Late Triassic syn-depositional growth of the Hallstatt diapir; 3) Late Triassic syn-depositional, salt-driven, extensional faulting; 4) Jurassic-age re-activation of extensional faults; 5) (presumably) Early Cretaceous shortening in both east-west and north-south directions; and 6) (presumably) Late Cretaceous extensional re-activation of faults. The structures and their origin have a bearing on the interpretation of the tectonic evolution of the Dachstein thrust sheet, highlighting the potential relevance of salt tectonics in controlling its structure.

Deformation of the Dachstein Limestone in the Dachstein thrust sheet (Eastern Alps, Austria)

Austrian Journal of Earth Sciences

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Deformation affecting the Upper Triassic Dachstein Limestone has been analyzed in the Dachstein thrust sheet, the uppermost thrust unit of the central Northern...

Deformation of the Dachstein Limestone in the Dachstein thrust sheet (Eastern Alps, Austria)

Published Online: Dec 12, 2022

Page range: 167 - 190

Received: Mar 24, 2022

Accepted: Sep 10, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17738/ajes.2022.0008

Keywords
Dachstein Limestone, soft-sediment deformation, tectonic deformation, salt tectonics, Eo-Alpine, virtual outcrops

© 2022 Oscar Fernandez et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Deformation of the Dachstein Limestone in the Dachstein thrust sheet (Eastern Alps, Austria)

Published Online: Dec 12, 2022

Page range: 167 - 190

Received: Mar 24, 2022

Accepted: Sep 10, 2022

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17738/ajes.2022.0008

KeywordsDachstein Limestone, soft-sediment deformation, tectonic deformation, salt tectonics, Eo-Alpine, virtual outcrops

© 2022 Oscar Fernandez et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
Dachstein Limestone, soft-sediment deformation, tectonic deformation, salt tectonics, Eo-Alpine, virtual outcrops