Evolution of the Murphy synclinorium, southern Appalachian Blue Ridge, USA

► Murphy synclinorium: major structural feature of Appalachian Blue Ridge allochthon. ► Formed during Visian Neo-Acadian orogeny synchronous with regional metamorphism. ► NW crustal shortening (32%) and SW fold axes parallel sub-horizontal flow (35-45%). ► Differences in metamorphic grade and paleodepth had no effect on strain magnitudes. ► Retrodeformation of embedded unconformity reveals origin via tectonic inheritance.