Gravitational Collapse at Continental Margins

Large-scale gravitational collapse is an important but poorly understood mode of deformation and mass transport at continental margins.  Often spectacular seismic data acquired over the past 20 years image extensive deformation systems characterised by zones of thin-skin faulting and folding developed at the outer self and continental slope.  Driven by body forces within the sedimentary prism, basal detachments kinematically link upslope extensional faulting to downslope thrust belts, with many analogies with smaller subaerial slope failures.

Contributions have been invited from academia and industry that use case history and/or modelling-based studies to address the following issues:

• Structural geometry
• Rates and scales of deformation
• Kinematic links between extension and contraction
• Decollement mechanics
• Interplay between faulting, folding and horizontal compaction
• Interactions between deposition and deformation
• Role of gravity sliding vs. gravity spreading
• Implications for geotechnical stability and human hazard

A programme is now available and can be downloaded below.

Registration is now open and you can also download the registration form below.  Please print the form off, fill it in and return it to us as directed.