FoldApp

FoldApp is a MATLAB-based application that automates Area-Depth-Strain (ADS) analysis of detachment folds, providing quantitative estimates

FoldApp is an interactive MATLAB application developed in App Designer to perform Area-Depth-Strain (ADS) analysis, a mass-balance method commonly used in structural geology to quantify shortening and deformation in fold-and-thrust systems.

The software guides users through the ADS workflow in three modules:

1. Import seismic horizons from structural interpretations.
2. Define pinning lines in adjacent synclines.
3. Compute ADS models by relating folded area to stratigraphic thickness.

Key features include:

• Automatic estimation of shortening, strain, and detachment depth with quantified uncertainties.
• Tools to test the sensitivity of seismic interpretations to noise.
• Correction modules for tectonic compaction and pure shear bed thickening, often neglected in standard restorations.
• Export functionality for reproducible results and reporting.

FoldApp has been tested on detachment folds of the Mexican Ridges Fold Belt (Gulf of Mexico), producing robust estimates of tectonic transport, including the effect of compaction on shortening.

This app provides a reliable and accessible platform for structural geologists, bridging the gap between traditional interpretation workflows and quantitative deformation analysis.

Requirements: MATLAB R2025a or later. (probable also works with 2024b and 2023b)

Installation: Download the .mltbx file and install it via Add-Ons → Install from File or by double-clicking the file. FoldApp will appear in the APPS tab.