--> Abstract: Differences in Structural Characteristics and Historical Development of the Rome Trough, by J. B. Dominic, K. A. Donaldson, T. H. Wilson, and R. C. Shumaker; #90950 (1996).

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Abstract: Differences in Structural Characteristics and Historical Development of the Rome Trough

J. B. Dominic, K. A. Donaldson, T. H. Wilson, R. C. Shumaker

Regional seismic analysis of the Rome trough in West Virginia indicates an overall change in deformation of the trough from north to south. Basic geometry of the southern trough is marked by faulted west and east margins. In contrast, the northern part of the trough has a faulted eastern margin whereas subsidence across the western margin takes place primarily through rotation. The trough interior of southern West Virginia is divided by four smaller faults, each with an average offset of 200 meters, while in the north, the trough is offset by two interior faults that have displacements of 1 km and 0.8 km respectively. In both areas interior faults step down to the west.

Reactivation history diagrams for the two areas are similar during the Cambrian Period (>510 Ma), however during the remainder of the Paleozoic significant differences are observed. In the north, inversion is a common occurrence after 450 Ma, while inversion is not observed in the seismic lines close to the southern border of West Virginia. Cumulative displacement across the west margin fault in the south is less than 1 km compared to cumulative rotation of 2.2 km experienced on the western margin in the northern trough. In the northern part of the trough the East-Margin fault has an average displacement of 1.6 km and experienced 0.1 km of inversion, however in the southern part of the trough the East-Margin fault has a cumulative displacement of 700 meters with no significant inve sion. Along with the differences in displacement history, extension in the southern part of the trough is dominated by faulting whereas to the north extension is accommodated by a combination of rotational collapse and fault displacement.

AAPG Search and Discovery Article #90950©1996 AAPG GCAGS 46th Annual Meeting, San Antonio, Texas