Abstract In 1967, the publication of John Ramsay's book, Folding and Fracturing of Rocks , was a landmark event that affected both of us, inspiring us into careers in structural geology. At that time, one of us was a postgraduate student at Imperial College, London, the other a second-year undergraduate at Manchester University. It is hard to convey, 50 years on, how precious this book was then. The true and lasting value is how this book has changed individuals, and influenced the teaching and research in structural geology, in Britain and around the world. In our view, Folding and Fracturing of Rocks marks the birth of modern structural geology.

Abstract Cleavage refraction angles are used to estimate effective viscosity contrasts between interlayered quartzites and phyllites within the Baraboo Syncline, Wisconsin, USA. Both types of layers contain two major phases, quartz and pyrophyllite, with minor amounts of hematite. Quartz (with minor hematite) behaves as the strong phase and pyrophyllite acts as the weak phase. Cleavage refraction directly relates to mineralogy with a linear relationship between bedding/cleavage angle and strong-phase concentration. Mineralogy exerts first-order control over effective viscosity contrasts, which are generally small, in most cases <10. Effective viscosity contrasts are consistent across the fold, so are likely not to be highly strain dependent and indicate approximate linear viscous rheology. Microstructures suggest deformation was dominated by dislocation creep in layers with high quartz concentrations and diffusive mass transfer in layers with lower quartz concentrations, and that the transition of the deformation mechanism is gradual. Thus, the rheological flow laws at the small scale may not reflect the bulk flow law at the large scale over the span of the deformation. Effective viscosity contrasts allow an evaluation of samples compared to theoretical two-phase mixtures. The analysed samples most closely resemble the Reuss bound of two-phase mixtures, regardless of the mineralogy.

Abstract The continental interior of Mexico is characterized by a Late Cretaceous prominent fold-thrust belt that shows characteristics of an eastward-tapering orogenic wedge. According to structural data and geothermometry of the deformation, this wedge is the result of horizontal stresses directed from the west (Pacific domain). The orogenic wedge is bounded to the west by the Guerrero Terrane, which is the second largest juvenile terrane accreted to the North American Cordillera. The possible linkage between the accretion of the Guerrero Terrane and the regional shortening in the Mexican interior is examined in detail in the region comprised between the Sierra de Guanajuato and the Peña de Bernal—Tamazunchale areas. In order to test the accretion hypothesis, we present key stratigraphic, structural, and geochronologic data from the Mexican Cordillera in central Mexico, and discuss the problems that exist in connecting the accretion of the Guerrero Terrane to the orogenic deformation of the Mexican continental interior.

ABSTRACT The geometric, kinematic, and deformational features along the subprovince boundaries of the Archean Superior Province are keys to understanding the tectonic amalgamation of the province. This field trip investigates the structural geology along two of the subprovince boundaries—the Wabigoon-Quetico and Quetico-Vermilion—of the Superior Craton. These boundaries separate the relatively high-grade gneisses of the Quetico Belt from typical low-grade granite-greenstone terranes to its north (Wabigoon) and south (Wawa). Both boundaries are characterized by different styles of transpressional deformation and strike-slip tectonism. Along the Wabigoon-Quetico boundary, deformation is recorded by a variety of structures controlled by competence contrast of heterogeneous lithologies at a variety of scales: from weak greenstones surrounding more competent gneiss domes to deformed polymictic conglomerates. Along the Quetico-Vermilion boundary, we will emphasize the role of plutonism and pluton geometry on subsequent deformation. Lastly, we characterize multiple deformation episodes in the Vermilion district in Minnesota.