Molasse
In today's article we are going to delve into the topic of Molasse, an issue that has generated debate and controversy in recent times. From its origins to the present, Molasse has been the subject of study by experts in the field, who have dedicated countless hours of research to its understanding. Throughout this article, we will examine different aspects related to Molasse, from its impact on society to the possible solutions and alternatives that have been proposed. It is our objective to provide a holistic and complete vision of Molasse, offering the reader a detailed and rigorous analysis that allows a deep understanding of this topic that is so relevant today.
In geology, "molasse" (/məˈlæs/) are sandstones, shales and conglomerates that form as terrestrial or shallow marine deposits in front of rising mountain chains. The molasse deposits accumulate in a foreland basin, especially on top of flysch-like deposits, for example, those that left from the rising Alps, or erosion in the Himalaya. These deposits are typically the non-marine alluvial and fluvial sediments of lowlands, as compared to deep-water flysch sediments. Sedimentation stops when the orogeny stops, or when the mountains have eroded flat.[1]
The molasse can sometimes completely fill a foreland basin, creating a nearly flat depositional surface, that nonetheless remains a structural syncline. Molasse can be very thick near the mountain front, but usually thins out towards the interior of a craton; such massive, convex accumulations of sediment are known as clastic wedges.[1]
See also
- Geology of the Himalaya – Origins and structure of the mountain range
- Molasse basin – Foreland basin north of the Alps
References
- ^ a b Stanley, Steven M., Earth System History, New York: W.H. Freeman and Company, 1999, p.243 ISBN 0-7167-2882-6
Further reading
- Sinclair, H. D. (1997) "Flysch to molasse transition in peripheral foreland basins: the role of the passive margin versus slab breakoff" Geology 25(12): pp. 1123–1126, doi: 10.1130/0091-7613(1997)025<1123:FTMTIP>2.3.CO;2
- Tenchov, Yanaki G. (1989) "Demarcation of Molasse from Non-molasse sediments" Zeitschrift für geologische Wissenschaften 17(8): pp. 791–796
External links
- http://www.see.leeds.ac.uk/structure/alps/map/molasse.htm Molasse, definitions and examples, simplified geological map of the western Alps. University of Leeds
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