The concept of ‘paired’ metamorphic belts could also be generalized and extended more widely than in the original proposition to subduction-to-collision orogenic programs along with accretionary orogenic systems. Eclogite-high-stress granulite (E-HPG) metamorphism is predominantly a Proterozoic-Paleozoic phenomenon-complementary to but sparser than UHT metamorphism to begin with, but extending additional into the Paleozoic than does UHT metamorphism-that is inferred to record subduction-to-collision orogenesis. The broadly contemporaneous occurrence of granulite and ultrahigh-temperature metamorphism with eclogite-excessive-pressure granulite metamorphism in the geological report for the reason that Neoarchean Era is evidence of twin thermal environments and signifies that subduction has operated on Earth since that time. I argue that a duality of metamorphic belts-reflecting a duality of thermal environments-is the characteristic metamorphic imprint of plate tectonics within the rock report, and it seems solely for the reason that Neoarchean Era. If backarcs have been the overall setting for UHT metamorphism, then on a hotter Earth the cyclic formation of supercratons (within the Neoarchean Era) and supercontinents (within the Proterozoic Eon) required the destruction of oceans floored by thinner lithosphere that will have generated hotter backarcs than those related to the current destruction of the Pacific Ocean on the trendy Earth.


Detailed examine of one explicit channel-levee system on the Niger Delta slope exhibits a period of incision followed by three distinct phases of channel growth throughout its aggradational historical past. Most of the channel-levee programs examined on this study are characterized by a basal erosional fairway that is bordered by outer levees of varying thickness. They embrace inside levees, outer levees, erosional fairways, channel-axis deposits, rotational slumps blocks, and mass transport deposits. Channel-belts evolve throughout the confines of the scalloped erosional fairway walls (flanked by outer levee), and are similar in morphology to meander-belts in fluvial techniques, but commonly have a larger part of vertical aggradation. In some cases, multiple phases of inner levee progress are observed, each intimately linked to the channel migration and aggradation historical past. Channel sinuosity evolves dynamically, with some meander loops undergoing periods of accelerated meander growth at the identical time that others show little lateral migration. Vertical, sub-vertical, and lateral stacking patterns of sinuous and/or meandering channels create seismic facies that vary from narrow to extensive zones of high amplitude reflections (HARs) with chaotic to continuous and shingled to horizontal reflections. MITCHELL, A. Metallogenic Belts and Angle of Dip of Benioff Zones.
