Structural architecture of the Georgian part of active Kura foreland fold-and-thrust belt

Based on an interpreted seismic profile combined with field geologic and borehole data, here we present a structural model of the Georgian part of active Kura foreland thin-skinned fold-and-thrust belt. The Kura foreland fold-and-thrust belt (KFFTB), which is one of the best examples of collision-driven far-field deformations, is associated with the Arabia-Eurasia convergence. KFFTB developed formerly as a foreland basin (Oligocene-early Miocene) and is located between the Greater Caucasus and Lesser Caucasus orogens. On the basis of growth strata age and detrital apatite fission-track data, the onset of deformation in the KFB started in the Middle-late Miocene (Alania et al., 2017; Gusmeo et al., 2021). 2D Seismic reflection data reveal the presence of south-vergent growth fault-propagation and fault-bend folds and duplexes. The deformations in the KFFTB structures were controlled by the multi-level detachments. The geometry of growth strata in associated footwall synclines and the sedimentary infill of thrust-top basins provide information on the thrusting activity in terms of location, geometry, and age. The growth stratigraphy (middle Miocene-Quaternary) consists of shallow marine and thick continental sediments (Alania et al., 2017). Recent and historical earthquakes indicate that the KFFTB is tectonically active (e.g., Tsereteli et al., 2017). Acknowledgments. The work was supported by the Shota Rustaveli National Science Foundation of Georgia (SRNSFG) [#YS-23-1078].Reference  Alania, V., et al. (2017). Growth structures, piggyback basins and growth strata of Georgian part of Kura foreland fold and thrust belt: implication for Late Alpine kinematic evolution. Geol. Soc. London, Spec. Publ. 428, 171-185.Gusmeo, T., et al. (2021). Structural inversion of back-arc basins-The Neogene Adjara-Trialeti fold-and-thrust belt (SW Georgia) as a far-field effect of the Arabia-Eurasia collision. Tectonophysics, 803, 228702.Tsereteli. N., et al.  (2016). Active tectonics of central-western Caucasus, Georgia. Tectonophysics, 691, 328-344.