In geology, a nappe or thrust sheet is a large sheetlike body of rock that has been moved more than 2 km (1.2 mi)[1] or 5 km (3.1 mi)[2][3] above a thrust fault from its original position. Nappes form in compressional tectonic settings like continental collision zones or on the overriding plate in active subduction zones. Nappes form when a mass of rock is forced (or "thrust") over another rock mass, typically on a low angle fault plane. The resulting structure may include large-scale recumbent folds, shearing along the fault plane,[4] imbricate thrust stacks, fensters and klippes.
The term stems from the French word for tablecloth in allusion to a rumpled tablecloth being pushed across a table.[4]
- ^ Howell, J.V. (Editor) 1960: Glossary of geology and related sciences. American Geological Institute, Washington D.C., 325 p.
- ^ Marko, F., Jacko, S., 1999: Structural geology (General and systematic). Archived 2011-07-19 at the Wayback Machine ISBN 80-88896-36-3 Vydavateľstvo Harlequin, Košice, p. 81 - 93 (in Slovak)
- ^ Dennis, J. G., 1967, International tectonic dictionary. AAPG, Tulsa, p. 112
- ^ a b Twiss, Robert J. and Eldridge M. Moores, Structural Geology, W. H. Freeman, 1992, p. 236 ISBN 978-0716722526