ON PLATFORM MARGINAL FAULTS

by V. ROSCA

Based on some experimental results taken from the literature and using developments offered by the theory of fracture, mechanics of faulting at a crustal scale is discussed as a special application to platform margins, considering that platform marginal conditions are near to a simple theoretical model.
Quantitative results are considered only as qualitative indications leading to a "more probable" faulting mechanism. In such a way flexure is presented as the most probable normal faulting process and the special conditions required for thrust faulting are also pointed out.