Shortening styles in salt-influenced basins can vary markedly, with the volume and distribution of salt prior to shortening being a key control. Here, we use a suite of physical models to examine styles of thin-skinned regional shortening in settings where the preshortening structure comprised minibasins surrounded by salt (‘isolated-minibasin’ provinces). Our models show that the high volume of mechanically weak salt localizes lateral regional shortening, with shortening inducing salt flow towards the foreland that subsequently contributes to three key processes – translation, tilting and rotation of minibasins. First, we demonstrate that the flowing salt pushes against minibasins, propelling them in the regional shortening direction. Minibasin translation is enhanced by fast-flowing salt streams and impeded by basal friction due to welding and base-salt buttresses. Second, we show how minibasin tilt directions and magnitudes vary spatially and temporally during regional shortening. Minibasins tilt away from zones of pressurized salt, the locations of which may shift due to changes in salt flow regimes. Tilt directions may also change as minibasins pivot on primary welds, or due to forces associated with minibasin collision. Third, minibasins can rotate around sub-vertical axes during regional shortening. We speculate that this rotation is caused by a combination of: (a) traction imparted on the minibasin boundary by differential horizontal flow of adjacent salt; and (b) pivoting on primary and secondary welds. We synthesize our results in a series of 3-D conceptual models, before we compare and contrast regional shortening styles and processes in salt-influenced basins with different preshortening salt configurations. Our findings contribute to the understanding of the geometry and kinematics of shortened salt basins, as well as a deeper understanding of the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of minibasins.

中文翻译：

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包含孤立小盆地的盐池中缩短的原理

受盐影响的盆地中的起酥油样式可以明显不同，起酥油之前盐的体积和分布是关键控制措施。在这里，我们使用一套物理模型来检查在预缩短结构包括被盐包围的小流域（“孤立的小流域”省）的环境中的薄皮区域起酥器的样式。我们的模型表明，大量的机械弱盐会导致侧向区域缩短，缩短会导致盐流向前陆，这随后导致了三个关键过程-小流域的平移，倾斜和旋转。首先，我们证明流动的盐分会推挤小盆地，推动它们向区域缩短的方向发展。快速流动的盐流增强了小流域的平移，并且由于焊接和碱盐支撑而引起的基础摩擦力阻碍了小流域的平移。其次，我们显示了在区域缩短过程中，小流域倾斜方向和幅度如何在空间和时间上变化。小型流域倾斜远离加压盐区域，该区域的位置可能会由于盐流方式的变化而发生变化。倾斜方向也可能会随着微型台盆在主焊缝上枢转或由于与微型台盆碰撞相关的力而改变。第三，小盆地可以在区域缩短过程中绕亚垂直轴旋转。我们推测这种旋转是由以下因素共同引起的：（a）相邻盐分的水平差流在小盆地边界上产生的牵引力；（b）在初级和次级焊缝上枢转。我们通过一系列3-D概念模型来综合我们的结果，在比较和对比具有不同预缩短盐构造的盐影响盆地的区域缩短样式和过程之前，我们先进行比较和对比。我们的发现有助于理解短盐盆地的几何学和运动学，以及对微型盆地的构造地层演化的深入理解。