he Mesozoic evolution of the NE-German basin is strongly overprinted by salt tectonics which hide the major elements of the structural development.Here we illustrate a method which allows three-dimensional backstripping together with mass preserving redistribution of the salt dependent on the load of the overlying sediments. The salt is considered as a viscous fluid which is always close to hydrostatic equilibrium with regard to the overburden. This assumption is a rough first approximation, which, however, allows to solve the inverse problem uniquely as can be derived from the basic equations. Applying this method yields paleotopographies which are in good agreement with facies patterns. In addition, the short wavelength salt tectonics is filtered out and the temporal evolution of the major tectonic elements becomes visible as will be illustrated by a comparison of backstripping results with and without salt redistribution.

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Lewerenz, B.; Bayer, U.; Scheck, M. (1999): 3D-backstripping with salt-redistribution exemplified by the NE-German basin. European Union of Geosciences (EUG 10) (Strasbourg 1999), 305.