Strike-slip Faulting and Block Rotations in the Donets Basin

Abstract

Although abnormal tectonic evolution of the Donbas segment within the Pripyat-Dnieper-Donets-Karpinsky (PDDK) palaerift has been long time recognized and studied, the driving mechanisms and mechanics of the basin uplift and inversion remain poorly understood. In 3-D view, the Donbas is a deformed prismatoidal block located on the intersection of the NNW striking Early Proterozoic weak corridor zone within the Sarmatian segment of the East European Craton and the Late Devonian PDDK rift. In our approach we consider the role of strike-slip and rotational deformations in controlling the distribution of releasing-restraining jogs and generating of re-active compression stresses responsible for formation of the Donets Foldbelt pop-up structure. Our constraints are based on the analysis of an extensive database of subsurface and underground geological information in combination with existing geophysical information.