This study examines the long‐term neotectonic evolution of the Crag Basin of eastern England during the Plio‐Pleistocene (c. 4.0–0.48 Ma) and the influence of neotectonics on coastal and drainage development. The Crag Basin was situated within the western margins of the southern North Sea with palaeogeography influenced by changes in global sea‐level and longer‐term regional‐scale neotectonic uplift and subsidence. This study identifies an additional local‐scale neotectonic control on basin development with localized crustal displacement occurring along normal faults. Plio‐Pleistocene movement along these faults was accommodated by partial dip‐slip (normal) reactivation of an Oligocene‐age (Pyrenean) dextral strike‐slip shear zone, which in turn was inherited from much older Caledonian orogenic crustal structure. Fault displacement was driven by sediment‐loading reflecting enhanced landscape denudation under progressively deteriorating climates and increased rates of erosion/sedimentation. Faulting acted to regulate accommodation space, controlling sedimentation patterns and the courses of major preglacial drainage systems including the Kesgrave Thames and Bytham rivers. The lower reaches of both river systems are considered to have been confluent in the Crag Basin during much of the Early Pleistocene with their lower reaches structurally controlled. Divergence occurred at c. 0.9 Ma with the lower reaches of the Bytham utilizing the former Bytham‐Thames valley and the Kesgrave Thames adopting progressively more southern routes, aligned to the axis of subsidence within the London Basin. The study highlights the significance of tectonic inheritance in driving recent neotectonic crustal deformation and its influence on sedimentation patterns and drainage development within an intraplate setting.

中文翻译：

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英国东部克拉格盆地内的上新世-更新世断层活化：对板内环境下景观发展的结构控制的意义

这项研究考察了上新世（clio- c）期间英格兰东部克拉格盆地的长期新构造演化。。4.0-0.48 Ma）以及新构造对沿海和排水系统发展的影响。克拉格盆地位于北海南部的西部边缘，古地理受全球海平面变化以及长期区域尺度新构造隆升和沉降的影响。这项研究确定了盆地发育的另外一个局部尺度的新构造控制，沿着正常断层发生了局部地壳位移。沿着这些断层的上新世-更新世运动是由渐新世（比利牛斯）右旋走滑剪切带的部分倾滑（正常）再活化所适应的，而该区又继承自更古老的加里东造山地壳结构。断层位移是由沉积物负荷驱动的，这反映了在日益恶化的气候下土壤剥蚀的增强和侵蚀/沉积速率的增加。断层作用是调节居住空间，控制沉积模式和主要的冰川前排水系统（包括凯斯格雷夫·泰晤士河和拜瑟姆河）的走向。在早期更新世的大部分时间里，这两个河流系统的下游都被认为在克拉格盆地汇合，其下游结构受到控制。发散于 在早期更新世的大部分时间里，这两个河流系统的下游都被认为在克拉格盆地汇合，其下游结构受到控制。发散于 在早期更新世的大部分时间里，这两个河流系统的下游都被认为在克拉格盆地汇合，其下游结构受到控制。发散于c。0.9 Ma，而Bytham的下游利用了以前的Bytham-Thames山谷，而Kesgrave Thames则采用了逐渐向南的路线，与伦敦盆地内的沉降轴线对齐。这项研究强调了构造遗传在驱动新近构造地壳变形中的重要性及其在板内环境下对沉积模式和排水发育的影响。