Pastor-Galán, D., Gutiérrez-Alonso, G., Weil, A., Fernández-Suárez, J., Johnston, S. and Murphy, J. 2012.   A virtual tour of the Ibero-Armorican orocline. In: (Ed.) Stephen Johnston, and Gideon Rosenbaum, Oroclines, Journal of the Virtual Explorer, Electronic Edition, ISSN 1441-8142, volume 43, paper 2, doi:10.3809/jvirtex.2011.00292

A virtual tour of the Ibero-Armorican orocline

Daniel Pastor-Galán

Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de los Caídos s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain. <dpastorgalan@usal.es>

G. Gutiérrez-Alonso

Departamento de Geología, Universidad de Salamanca, Plaza de los Caídos s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain.

A.B. Weil

Department of Geology, Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, U.S.A.

J. Fernández-Suárez

Departamento de Petrología y Geoquímica, Universidad Complutense and IGEO-CSIC, 28040 Madrid, Spain.

S.T. Johnston

School of Earth & Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria, PO Box 3065 STN CSC, Victoria BC Canada V8P 4B2

J.B. Murphy

Department of Earth Sciences, St. Francis Xavier University, Chapel Square, Antigonish, Nova Scotia, Canada, B2G 2W5

Abstract

Dynamic content features, such as animations, videos or 3D representations are useful tools to explain dynamic geological processes. Modern technologies permit development of animations that are more illustrative and instructive than the classic static figures traditionally used in scientific papers. In addition, the use of supplemental files in traditional journals, and especially within new electronic journals, permit inclusion of interactive content as an analogue to the dynamic nature of geological processes. We present a collection of dynamic animations based on previous data. These animations are used to deliver ideas about the kinematic and mechanical development of the Ibero-Armorican orocline and to illustrate the complex evolution and timing of orocline formation, its tectonic setting on a regional and global-scale, and its implications for the modification of the lithosphere during orogeny.

Keywords: orocline, Ibero-Amorican, lithosphere, animation