Taphrogeny

taphrogeny

[tə′fräj·ə·nē] (geology) The formation of rift or trench phenomena, characterized by block faulting and associated subsidence. Also known as taphrogenesis.

Taphrogeny

 

(or taphrogenesis), the process of the formation of large grabens when the earth’s crust is stretched. Taphrogeny usually occurs in the concluding, or taphrogenic, phase of the development of folded mountain structures. The term was proposed in 1924 by the German geologist E. Krenkel. It is close in meaning to the term riftogenez (riftogeny), which is more widely used in Russian (seeRIFT).