Balanced cross-sections are a powerful tool for under- standing the development of a fold-and-thrust belt, and have commonly been applied to external thrusts where internal strain is small. However, the drawing of viable and admissible cross- sections for internal thrust sheets requires additional informa- tion on strain within the thrust sheet, how the strain was dis- tributed and when during the deformation the strain accumulated. By using strain history studies to separate successive finite increments of deformation, appropriate strain increments can be removed at proper times in the restoration sequence. However, a practical method for obtaining the required strain data has not been perfected or tested. This project will collect strain data from widespread markers in the well-known Meade thrust sheet of the Idaho-Wyoming-Utah thrust belt. The methods developed in this project are expected to help extend the technique of cross- section balancing to hinterland terrains.
