Window (Geology)

Short description: Eroded area in which a lower geologic unit crops out in the middle of higher units

thumb|right|350px|Schematic overview of a thrust system. The [[fault (geology)|hanging wall block is (when it has reasonable proportions) called a nappe. If an erosional hole is created in the nappe that is called a window. A klippe is a solitary outcrop of the nappe in the middle of autochthonous material.]] A tectonic window, or fenster (lit. "window" in German), is a geologic structure formed by erosion or normal faulting on a thrust system. In such a system the rock mass (hanging wall block) that has been transported by movement along the thrust is called a nappe. When erosion or normal faulting produces a hole in the nappe where the underlying autochthonous (i.e. un-transported) rocks crop out this is called a window. Klippen are also a feature near windows.

The klippe is the remnant portion of a nappe after erosion has removed connecting portions of the nappe. This process results in an outlier of exotic, often nearly horizontally translated strata overlying autochthonous strata.

Windows can be almost any size, from a couple of metres to hundreds of kilometres. Well known examples of tectonic windows are Hohe Tauern window in Eastern Alps^[1] or Hrzdavá dolina tectonic window in Western Carpathians.^[2]

References

↑ Schmid, S.M., Scharf, A., Handy, M.R., Rosenberg, C.L., 2013, The Tauern Window (Eastern Alps, Austria): a new tectonic map, with cross-sections and a tectonometamorphic synthesis. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 106, 1–32, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-013-0123-y
↑ Vojtko, R., Králiková, S., Jeřábek, P., Schuster, P., Danišík, M., Fügenschuh, B., Minár, J., Madarás, J., 2016, Geochronological evidence for the Alpine tectono-thermal evolution of the Veporic Unit (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). Tectonophysics, 666, 48-65, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2015.10.014.

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[1] Schmid, S.M., Scharf, A., Handy, M.R., Rosenberg, C.L., 2013, The Tauern Window (Eastern Alps, Austria): a new tectonic map, with cross-sections and a tectonometamorphic synthesis. Swiss Journal of Geosciences, 106, 1–32, https://doi.org/10.1007/s00015-013-0123-y

[2] Vojtko, R., Králiková, S., Jeřábek, P., Schuster, P., Danišík, M., Fügenschuh, B., Minár, J., Madarás, J., 2016, Geochronological evidence for the Alpine tectono-thermal evolution of the Veporic Unit (Western Carpathians, Slovakia). Tectonophysics, 666, 48-65, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2015.10.014.

v t e Structural geology
Underlying theory	Strain Stress Stress field Mohr–Coulomb theory Mohr's circle Lamé's stress ellipsoid Strain partitioning Tension Overburden pressure Deformation mechanism Rock mechanics
Measurement conventions	Strike and dip Rake Inclinometer Brunton compass Stereographic projection Orthographic projection
Large-Scale Tectonics	Plate tectonics Orogeny Structural basin Rift Extensional tectonics Graben Half-graben Décollement Obduction List of tectonic plate interactions Nappe Continental collision Convergent boundary Fenster Klippe Fold and thrust belt Foreland basin Accretionary wedge Terrane Mountain formation Fold mountains Fault block Horst Rift valley Mélange Thick-skinned deformation Thin-skinned deformation Thrust tectonics Passive margin Extensional tectonics Divergent boundary Back-arc basin Intra-arc basin Strike-slip tectonics Syneclise Suture Saddle Inversion Horst and graben Horse Pull-apart basin Autochthon Allochthon
Fracturing	Joint Exfoliation joint Vein Dike Columnar jointing
Faulting	Thrust fault Detachment fault Disturbance Fault mechanics Fault trace Fault scarp Transform fault Transfer zone Cataclastic rock Cataclasite
Foliation and Lineation	Rock microstructure Crenulation Cleavage Slickenside Pressure solution Stylolite Compaction Fissility Oblique foliation Tectonic phase Tectonite
Folding	Vergence Anticline Syncline Dome Monocline Chevron Homocline Detachment fold
Boudinage	Competence
Kinematic Analysis	3D fold evolution Section restoration Paleostress Paleostress inversion
Shear zone	Shear Pure shear Mylonite