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==Definition==
==Definition==
Balanced cross sections honor all available data and are constructed and analyzed to ensure they are geometrically possible and geologically admissible, given reasonable [[assumptions]] about the predeformation setting of rocks and how rocks behave during deformation in a particular tectonic environment. “Balanced” refers to the basic assumption made in constructing these sections—that rock area (rock volume) does not change substantially as a result of deformation. Balanced cross sections are restorable. This means that, while maintaining constant area, the deformation displayed in a balanced cross section can be incrementally removed to yield a geologically plausible predeformation configuration.
Balanced cross sections honor all available data and are constructed and analyzed to ensure they are geometrically possible and geologically admissible, given reasonable [[assumptions]] about the predeformation setting of rocks and how rocks behave during [[deformation]] in a particular tectonic environment. “Balanced” refers to the basic assumption made in constructing these sections—that rock area (rock volume) does not change substantially as a result of deformation. Balanced cross sections are restorable. This means that, while maintaining constant area, the deformation displayed in a balanced cross section can be incrementally removed to yield a geologically plausible predeformation configuration.
The constant area (constant volume) assumption is generally valid for deformation that has occurred in upper crustal, nonmetamorphic settings, but there are important exceptions. For example, in some settings syntectonic deposition and compaction can result in substantial rock volume changes throughout the course of deformation. In these cases, approximations of the volume changes must be incorporated in the balancing process.
The constant area (constant volume) assumption is generally valid for deformation that has occurred in upper crustal, nonmetamorphic settings, but there are important exceptions. For example, in some settings syntectonic deposition and compaction can result in substantial rock volume changes throughout the course of deformation. In these cases, approximations of the volume changes must be incorporated in the balancing process.