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What is the important geologic information recorded in Thrust Belts and Foreland Basins (TBFB) on the evolution of orogens? How do they transcript the coupled influence of deep and surficial geological processes? Is it still worth looking for hydrocarbons in foothills areas? These and other questions are addressed in the volume edited by Lacombe, Lavé, Roure and Vergés, which constitutes the Proceedings of the first meeting of the new ILP task force on "Sedimentary Basins", held in December 2005 at the Institut Français du Pétrole, on behalf of the Société Géologique de France and the Sociedad Geologica de España. This volumes spans a timely bridge between recent advances in the understanding of surface processes, field investigations, high resolution imagery, analogue-numerical modelling, and hydrocarbon exploration in TBFB. With 25 thematic papers including well-documented regional case studies, it provides a milestone publication as a new in-depth examination of TBFB.

Nappes and overthrusts are the mosl representative geological structures in mountain chains. The issue of their emplacement mechanisms and of the driving force of these displacements is a major problem in tectonics which interests, for near to a century now and not without harsh controversies, a significant proportion of structural geologists and geoscientists who work in the field of rock mechanics. This book attempts to give a clear and didactic synthesis of the current knowledge of the concept of thrusting, principally by tackling two approaches, mechanics and kinematics, which have proposed some solutions to this problem. At first (Chapter I), the notions of thrusting are defined, with the most recent terminology and the most important geometric aspects. This introduction to the geometry of thrusts is logically followed by the presentation of their problem; the issue of the emplacement mechanisms (Chapter 2). Let us note in passing that the formulation of the concept and the presentation of its problem are associated historically, which justifies presenting them in the historical framework of this discovery before tackling the different solutions and mechanical hypotheses. These are detailed in Chapter 3 by following a chronological progression, and emphasising the divergences and oppositions between different models so as to cover them fully. The chapter on the kinematics (Chapter 4) then returns to the type of data which can be collected in the field, by clarifying the relationships between displacement and internal strain.

The outer parts of collision mountain belts are commonly represented by fold and thrust belts. Major advances in understanding these tectonic settings have arisen from regional studies that integrate diverse geological information in quests to find and produce hydrocarbons. Drilling has provided tests of subsurface forecasts, challenging interpretation strategies and structural models. This volume contains 19 papers that illustrate a diversity of methods and approaches together with case studies from Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. Collectively they show that appreciating diversity is key for developing better interpretations of complex geological structures in the subsurface – endeavours that span applications beyond the development of hydrocarbons.

Thrust sheets that underlie the Greenville quadrangle in northeastern Georgia and in northwestern South Carolina have been selectively metamorphosed and deformed during several Paleozoic prograde metamorphic events.

The SAFEST Computer Program and the EASIEST Computer Program were used to predict improved escape performance capabilities resulting from a vectored thrust control system. A parametric study is identified and the results described to quantitatively establish enhanced performance envelope growth of the state-of-the-art ejection seat with an advanced controllable vectored thrust propulsion capability.