Spiral geotectonics

Abstract

Large fans and sheafs of transcurrent faults, cutting off series of trenches or rifts in echelon fashion, develop in a similar orderly way in both continental and oceanic settings. They graft themselves on to the large bundles and the long faults paths of transcurrent tectogenic zones. In between these'macro,-groves' or 'geocoulisses' lithospheric blocks or plates show a tendency to differential spiral movement and creep. Arcs and orogenic involutions develop along these macro slip zones, caused by the major transcurrent tectogenic zones. The curls and wrap-around phenomena, within the involuted, inwardly curling structures, resemble spirals, whirlpools and vortices.