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

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.

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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

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