Thank you for your excellent consise presentation of the formation of the Alps. You certainly provide a clearer understanding of these spectacular mountains which I have had the pleasure of skiing back in my younger days when I had no idea of geology. Have you ever thought of doing a similar presentation of the formation of the Deccan Traps or the Siberian Traps. That would be wonderful. Once again thank you. Your work and effort is much appreciated.
thanks - glad you enjoyed the film. No plans at the moment to do either of those places - fascinating though they are. I like to do at least part of the filming on location....
A very informative video of respected Prof. Rob Butler. I always wonder about why valleys and streams in mountain belts or fold-thrust belts are located in a particular area, despite having similar lithology and structure in surrounding area as well. In some cases there is marked difference in lithofacies and structural pattern across the valley or stream walls. Can we infer that such valleys or streams are developed due to erosion of pre-existing faults or weak zones? Those pre-existing faults might have significant control on depositional environments?
Good questions. In many cases the drainage in inherited from earlier in the orogen's history and simply carves into the structures as they form, but in others the drainage can be re-directed by folds. Check out the video on the NW Himalayan thrust front: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-9KZ8aJ53fsw.html
