Data for: Cross-folding in the North Singhbhum Mobile Belt by tectonic relaxation: insights from scaled laboratory modelling

Mechanism of formation of  'cross folds' in orogenic belts is still unclear. In this study we focus on cross- folds (Ft) from North Singhbhum Mobile Belt (NSMB), India and try to understand the kinematics of their formation through structural mapping and laboratory modelling. The  outcrop scale Ft folds and associated fabric (St) show a NE-SW trend in the eastern flank of NSMB. Analogue experiments were also conducted to replicate the Proterozoic southward convergence in NSMB. To quantitatively understand the deformation in the laboratory model, we analyzed the strain and model upper surface topography at different stages of the experiment. The data collected in field and during the analysis of experiments are presented in the current data repository along with one video of the experiment.

Methods

For analysing the field structures, orientation of the cross-folds and fabrics was collected using clinometer.
We use a high-resolution camera for collecting the experimental photos at regular intervals. The velocity field of the model was calculated using particle image velocimetry technique in PIVLab software. The velocity data was further processed in grid_strain MATLAB toolbox to get the eigenvalues of the deformation matrix.
The topography of the model upper surface was analyzed using a laser scanner.