Rifting phase
Spreading phase
Continental lithospheric
plate
Asthenosphere
Continental volcanic zone
Continental shelf
Oceanic lithospheric plate
Volcanic
Island arc
Island arc core with
gabbro and diurite
Passive spreading ridge
Deep-sea trench
Accretionary wedge
Folding and thrusting
Mountain chain on a new continent
Marginal zone
Marginal zone
New lithospheric plate
Collision phase
Closing phase
Accretionary
wedge
Island arc mountain chain
Foreland
Epicontinental ocean
Island arc phase
Ocean
Active spreading ridge
Rift valley
Heat flow from
the mantle
Thrusting
direction for
nappes and small
thrust sheets
Anc ient cont inen t
Anc ient cont inen t
Fig. 12.3 The major stages in the Wilson Cycle (from Nystuen in Ramberg et al. 2008). Reprinted with permission from the
Norwegian Geological Society and the author
12 The Structure and Hydrocarbon Traps of Sedimentary Basins
325