Geosynclines

Geosynclines is devoted to the geosynclines concept, which states that the most elevated parts of the earth's crust—the mountains—had risen by a gigantic inversion of relief from the more depressed regions where they had originated. This book re-examines the concept in light of further geological evidence. The book is organized into four parts. Part I presents a detailed account of the birth and development of the geosynclinal concept. It shows that only the European (Alpine) concept of the geosyncline involves a fundamental palaeogeographical differentiation of mountain chains, and that it is from this standpoint that the American concept must be considered if it is to be placed in a more general framework. Part II attempts to define the geosynclinal concept in the Alpine sense of the term: i.e., in the light of current views on the Mediterranean chains of the Alpine cycle, which are the best documented. Part III collates the information acquired on the various aspects of geosynclines as exemplified by the Mediterranean chains of the Alpine cycle. Part IV discusses the degree to which the ""Alpine"" concept of the geosyncline may be extended in time.

List of Figures and Tables

Chapter 1. Introduction

Part I Historical Review: Birth and Development of the Geosynclinal Concept

Chapter 2. The Birth of the Geosynclinal Concept

J. Hall (1859)

J. D. Dana (1866, 1873)

E. Haug(1900)

Conclusions: The American and European Conceptions of the Geosyncline

Chapter 5. The Attempts at Classification of Geosynclines

C. Schuchert (1923)

H. Stille (1913-1940)

M. Kay (1942-1951)

A. V. Peyve and V. M. Sinitzyn (1950)

Conclusions

Part II The Geosynclinal Concept as Illustrated by the Mediterranean Chains of the Alpine Cycle

Chapter 4. The Hellenides

Introduction

Palaeogeographical and Structural Framework

Palaeogeographical Evolution

Conclusions

Chapter 5. The Organizational or Structural Pattern of a Geosyncline

Introduction

The simple (or Elementary) Geosyncline: the Eu-Miogeosyncline Couple

Complex Geosynclines: Divergent (Centrifugal) and Convergent (Centripetal) Symmetry

Furrows, Ridges, Sial and Sima

Chapter 6. The Evolutionary Pattern of a Geosyncline

Introduction

The Evolutionary Pattern at the Level of the Furrow

The Evolutionary Pattern at the Level of the Elementary Geosyncline

The Evolutionary Pattern at the Level of the Complex Geosyncline

Chapter 7. Conclusions

Geosynclinal Organization

Geosynclinal Evolution

Part III Some Characteristics of Geosynclines as Illustrated by the Mediterranean Chains of the Alpine Cycle

Chapter 8. Geosynclinal Sedimentation

Thickness of Geosynclinal Sediments

Geosynclinal Facies

Geosynclinal Subsidence

Chapter 9. Metamorphism and the Geosynclinal Concept

Chapter 10. Igneous Activity and the Geosynclinal Concept

General Considerations

The Ophiolites

Chapter 11. Geosynclinal Tectonics

General Considerations

Intracontinental Chains

Geosynclinal Chains

Clarification of the Term Nappe

Conclusions

Chapter 12. Geosynclinal Orogenesis (and Tectogenesis)

General Considerations

Geosynclinal Orogenesis

Geosynclinal Tectogenesis

The Problem of Embryonic Tectogenesis

Chapter 13. The Siting of Geosynclines

General Considerations

Geosynclinal Migration

The Genesis of Geosynclines

Part IV Extension of the Geosynclinal Concept in the Alpine Sense in Space and Time

Chapter 14. The Geosynclinal Concept and the Present Epoch

General Considerations

The Post-Geosynclinal Period: the Mediterranean

The Late-Geosynclinal Period: the Sunda Islands

The Geosynclinal Period

Chapter 15. The Geosynclinal Concept and the Pre-Alpine Period

The Hercynian (Variscan) Chain in Europe

The Caledonian Chain in Europe: Scandinavia

The Precambrian Chain in Europe: Finland

Part V Synthesis

Chapter 16. General Conclusions

The Geosynclinal Pattern of Organization

The Geosynclinal Pattern of Evolution

Comparison with Older Chains

References

Index