Structural Geology and Geodynamics of Mountain Belts

The primary objective is to understand and quantify the geodynamic processes responsible for mountain building. These include:

The formation of tectonic nappes
Coupling of rock deformation with fluid flow and metamorphic reactions
The formation and exhumation of (U)HP rock
Coupling of tectonic and surface processes
The control of current and pre-orogenic structures on mountain building

The applied multi-disciplinary approach includes process-oriented detailed geological mapping, geophysical imaging and data analysis, mathematical modelling, high-performance scientific computing, and laboratory microanalysis.

Permanent team

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Professors

Prof. Jean-Luc Epard

Jean-Luc Epard is specialized in structural and alpine geology. His research focuses on the geometry and kinematics of the tectonic nappes formed in collision-type mountain ranges such as the Alps and the Himalayas, folding by detachment (kinematics and balancing) and the quantification of deformations at all scales.

Lines of research:

Field and structural geology
Formation of mountain ranges, such as the Alps and the Himalayas
Geological modeling and deformation quantification

More information

Contact
021 692 43 66 jean-luc.epard@unil.ch Personal website

Prof. Stefan Schmalholz

Stefan and his team are interested in the deformation of rocks at all scales and the structures resulting from this deformation. They aim to better understand the thermo-mechanics of tectonic processes with the concepts of continuum mechanics.

Lines of research:

Plate tectonics
Structural geology and geodynamics
Numerical modeling of rock deformation and resulting structures
Thermo-mechanical processes responsible for the deformation of the lithosphere
Nappes and folds formation

Research group: Tectonics and Geodynamics

Contact
021 692 43 02 stefan.schmalholz@unil.ch Personal website

Prof. György Hetényi

György is interested in the geodynamics of the continental lithosphere: structure, deformation and associated physical processes. His principal tools of investigation are geophysical imaging (seismology, gravimetry) and numerical modelling (themo-mechanical, petrological).

Lines of research: