Diagnosing a Strong-Fault Model by Conflict and Consistency

PubMed Central

Zhou, Gan; Feng, Wenquan

2018-01-01

The diagnosis method for a weak-fault model with only normal behaviors of each component has evolved over decades. However, many systems now demand a strong-fault models, the fault modes of which have specific behaviors as well. It is difficult to diagnose a strong-fault model due to its non-monotonicity. Currently, diagnosis methods usually employ conflicts to isolate possible fault and the process can be expedited when some observed output is consistent with the model’s prediction where the consistency indicates probably normal components. This paper solves the problem of efficiently diagnosing a strong-fault model by proposing a novel Logic-based Truth Maintenance System (LTMS) with two search approaches based on conflict and consistency. At the beginning, the original a strong-fault model is encoded by Boolean variables and converted into Conjunctive Normal Form (CNF). Then the proposed LTMS is employed to reason over CNF and find multiple minimal conflicts and maximal consistencies when there exists fault. The search approaches offer the best candidate efficiency based on the reasoning result until the diagnosis results are obtained. The completeness, coverage, correctness and complexity of the proposals are analyzed theoretically to show their strength and weakness. Finally, the proposed approaches are demonstrated by applying them to a real-world domain—the heat control unit of a spacecraft—where the proposed methods are significantly better than best first and conflict directly with A* search methods. PMID:29596302

Normal Faulting at the Western Margin of the Altiplano Plateau, Southern Peru

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schildgen, T. F.; Hodges, K. V.; Whipple, K. X.; Perignon, M.; Smith, T. M.

2004-12-01

Although the western margin of the Altiplano Plateau is commonly used to illustrate the marked differences in the evolution of a mountain range with strong latitudinal and longitudinal precipitation gradients, the nature of tectonism in this semi-arid region is poorly understood and much debated. The western margin of the Altiplano in southern Peru and northern Chile marks an abrupt transition from the forearc region of the Andes to the high topography of the Cordillera Occidental. This transition has been interpreted by most workers as a monocline, with modifications due to thrust faulting, normal faulting, and gravity slides. Based on recent fieldwork and satellite image analysis, we suggest that, at least in the semi-arid climate of southern Peru, this transition has been the locus of significant high-angle normal faulting related to the block uplift of the Cordillera Occidental. We have focused our initial work in the vicinity of 15\\deg S latitude, 71\\deg W longitude, where the range front crosses Colca Canyon, a major antecedent drainage northwest of Arequipa. In that area, Oligocene to Miocene sediments of the Moquegua Formation, which were eroded from uplifted terrain to the northeast, presently dip to the northeast at angles between 2 and 10º. Field observations of a normal fault contact between the Moquegua sedimentary rocks and Jurassic basement rocks, as well as 15-m resolution 3-D images generated from ASTER satellite imagery, show that the Moquegua units are down-dropped to the west across a steeply SW-dipping normal fault of regional significance. Morphology of the range front throughout southern Peru suggests that normal faulting along the range front has characterized the recent tectonic history of the region. We present geochronological data to constrain the timing of movement both directly from the fault zone as well as indirectly from canyon incision that likely responded to fault movement.

Unravelling the Mysteries of Slip Histories, Validating Cosmogenic 36Cl Derived Slip Rates on Normal Faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Goodall, H.; Gregory, L. C.; Wedmore, L.; Roberts, G.; Shanks, R. P.; McCaffrey, K. J. W.; Amey, R.; Hooper, A. J.

2017-12-01

The cosmogenic isotope chlorine-36 (36Cl) is increasingly used as a tool to investigate normal fault slip rates over the last 10-20 thousand years. These slip histories are being used to address complex questions, including investigating slip clustering and understanding local and large scale fault interaction. Measurements are time consuming and expensive, and as a result there has been little work done validating these 36Cl derived slip histories. This study aims to investigate if the results are repeatable and therefore reliable estimates of how normal faults have been moving in the past. Our approach is to test if slip histories derived from 36Cl are the same when measured at different points along the same fault. As normal fault planes are progressively exhumed from the surface they accumulate 36Cl. Modelling these 36Cl concentrations allows estimation of a slip history. In a previous study, samples were collected from four sites on the Magnola fault in the Italian Apennines. Remodelling of the 36Cl data using a Bayesian approach shows that the sites produced disparate slip histories, which we interpret as being due to variable site geomorphology. In this study, multiple sites have been sampled along the Campo Felice fault in the central Italian Apennines. Initial results show strong agreement between the sites we have processed so far and a previous study. This indicates that if sample sites are selected taking the geomorphology into account, then 36Cl derived slip histories will be highly similar when sampled at any point along the fault. Therefore our study suggests that 36Cl derived slip histories are a consistent record of fault activity in the past.

Southeastern extension of the Lake Basin fault zone in south- central Montana: implications for coal and hydrocarbon exploration ( USA).

USGS Publications Warehouse

Robinson, L.N.; Barnum, B.E.

1986-01-01

The Lake Basin fault zone consists mainly of en echelon NE-striking normal faults that have been interpreted to be surface expressions of left-lateral movement along a basement wrench fault. Information gathered from recent field mapping of coal beds and from shallow, closely-spaced drill holes resulted in detailed coal bed correlations, which revealed another linear zone of en echelon faulting directly on the extended trend of the Lake Basin fault zone. This faulted area, referred to as the Sarpy Creek area, is located 48 km E of Hardin, Montana. It is about 16 km long, 13 km wide, and contains 21 en echelon normal faults that have an average strike of N 63oE. We therefore extend the Lake Basin fault zone 32 km farther SE than previously mapped to include the Sarpy Creek area. The Ash Creek oil field, Wyoming, 97 km due S of the Sarpy Creek area, produces from faulted anticlinal structues that have been interpreted to be genetically related to the primary wrench-fault system known as the Nye-Bowler fault zone. The structural similarities between the Sarpy Creek area and the Ash Creek area indicate that the Sarpy Creek area is a possible site for hydrocarbon accumulation.-from Authors

The Kinematics of Central American Fore-Arc Motion in Nicaragua: Geodetic, Geophysical and Geologic Study of Magma-Tectonic Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

La Femina, P. C.; Geirsson, H.; Saballos, A.; Mattioli, G. S.

2017-12-01

A long-standing paradigm in plate tectonics is that oblique convergence results in strain partitioning and the formation of migrating fore-arc terranes accommodated on margin-parallel strike-slip faults within or in close proximity to active volcanic arcs (e.g., the Sumatran fault). Some convergent margins, however, are segmented by margin-normal faults and margin-parallel shear is accommodated by motion on these faults and by vertical axis block rotation. Furthermore, geologic and geophysical observations of active and extinct margins where strain partitioning has occurred, indicate the emplacement of magmas within the shear zones or extensional step-overs. Characterizing the mechanism of accommodation is important for understanding short-term (decadal) seismogenesis, and long-term (millions of years) fore-arc migration, and the formation of continental lithosphere. We investigate the geometry and kinematics of Quaternary faulting and magmatism along the Nicaraguan convergent margin, where historical upper crustal earthquakes have been located on margin-normal, strike-slip faults within the fore arc and arc. Using new GPS time series, other geophysical and geologic data, we: 1) determine the location of the maximum gradient in forearc motion; 2) estimate displacement rates on margin-normal faults; and 3) constrain the geometric moment rate for the fault system. We find that: 1) forearc motion is 11 mm a-1; 2) deformation is accommodated within the active volcanic arc; and 3) that margin-normal faults can have rates of 10 mm a-1 in agreement with geologic estimates from paleoseismology. The minimum geometric moment rate for the margin-normal fault system is 2.62x107 m3 yr-1, whereas the geometric moment rate for historical (1931-2006) earthquakes is 1.01x107 m3/yr. The discrepancy between fore-arc migration and historical seismicity may be due to aseismic accommodation of fore-arc motion by magmatic intrusion along north-trending volcanic alignments within the volcanic arc.

Intrabasement structures as structural templates for rifts: Insights from the Taranaki Basin, offshore New Zealand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collanega, L.; Jackson, C. A. L.; Bell, R. E.; Lenhart, A.; Coleman, A. J.; Breda, A.; Massironi, M.

2017-12-01

Intrabasement structures are often envisaged to have acted as structural templates for normal fault growth in the overlying sedimentary cover during rifting (e.g. East African Rift; NE Brazilian Margin; Norwegian North Sea). However, in some settings, the geometry of rift-related faults is apparently unaffected by pre-existing basement fabric (Måløy Slope and Lofoten Ridge, offshore Norway). Understanding the nucleation and propagation of normal faults in the presence of basement structures may elucidate how and under what conditions basement fabric can exert an influence on rifting. Here, we investigate the 3D geometry of a series of normal faults and intrabasement structures from the Taranaki Basin, offshore New Zealand to understand how normal faults grow in the presence of basement heterogeneities. The Taranaki Basin is an ideal setting because the basement structures, related to the Mesozoic compressional tectonics, are shallow and well-imaged on 3D seismic reflection data, and the relatively thin and stratigraphically simple sedimentary cover is only affected by mild Pliocene extension. Our kinematic analysis highlights two classes of normal faults affecting different vertical intervals of the sedimentary cover. Deep faults, just above the basement, strike NW-SE to NE-SW, reflecting the trend of underlying intrabasement structures. In contrast, shallow faults strike according to the NE-SW to NNE-SSW Pliocene trend and are not generally affected by intrabasement structures at distances >500 m above the basement. Deep and shallow faults are only linked when they strike similarly, and are located above strong intrabasement reflections. We infer that cover deformation is significantly influenced by intrabasement structures within the 500 m interval above the crystalline basement, whereas shallower faults are optimally aligned to the Pliocene regional stress field. Since we do not observe an extensional reactivation of intrabasement structures during Pliocene rifting, we suspect that the key factor controlling cover fault nucleation and growth are local stress perturbations due to intrabasement structures. We conclude that intrabasement structures may provide a structural template for subsequent rift episodes, but only when these structures are proximal to newly forming faults.

The analysis and study of fault systems in the Southernmost Part of Okinawa Trough

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Y.; Tsai, C.; Lee, C.

2004-12-01

Taiwan is located in the boundary between the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates. Due to different subduction, two arc-trench systems in different direction were happened. One is Luzon arc-trench system in N-S direction; the other one is called Ryukyu arc-trench system in E-W direction. The Okinawa Trough is a back-arc basin which was formed by extension of Eurasian plate, and the tectonic setting in this area has a series of normal-faults and igneous bodies. According to previous studies, we know that Southernmost Part of Okinawa Trough (SPOT) have evolved at least two main tensional phases of Okinawa Trough, the first phase probably came up in early Pleistocene and struck in NE-SW direction; and the second phases occurred during late Pleistocene and Holocene changed the direction to E-W. In this study, we have used seismic data collected by R/V Chiu-Lien, Ocean Research I, and R/V L'Atalante to explain the normal-fault systems in the SPOT area. We integrate seismic profiles with corrected bathymetry to relocate these normal faults. Our results show these normal fault systems has two main strikes, respectively N60° E and N80° E. We find that most of N60° E faults are located in the northern slope of SPOT and landward to Taiwan. The N80° E faults are found in the southern slop and center area of SPOT. Compare with the faults and a new topographic map, we find there were a lot of faults around the canyon, such as North-Mienhua Canyon. We suggest that the origin of the canyon is probably due to these tectonic forces. The canyon is a weak area, and is eroded much fast than the surrounding continental shelf. Passing through a series of erosional processes, the canyon becomes what looks like today. We find a lot of graben structure located in the center of SPOT. This area is the extension axis of SPOT right now. We also find many possible igneous rocks in the seismic profiles, some of them are intrusions and the others penetrate the seabed along the weak zone and form the submarine volcanoes. We have found at least 68 volcanoes in the SPOT area. The interactions of submarine volcanoes, canyons, and fault grabens demonstrate an active tectonic episode.

Seismic swarms and diffuse fracturing within Triassic evaporites fed by deep degassing along the low-angle Alto Tiberina normal fault (central Apennines, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piana Agostinetti, Nicola; Giacomuzzi, Genny; Chiarabba, Claudio

2017-01-01

We present high-resolution elastic models and relocated seismicity of a very active segment of the Apennines normal faulting system, computed via transdimensional local earthquake tomography (trans-D LET). Trans-D LET, a fully nonlinear approach to seismic tomography, robustly constrains high-velocity anomalies and inversions of P wave velocity, i.e., decreases of VP with depth, without introducing bias due to, e.g., a starting model, and giving the possibility to investigate the relation between fault structure, seismicity, and fluids. Changes in seismicity rate and recurring seismic swarms are frequent in the Apennines extensional belt. Deep fluids, upwelling from the delaminating continental lithosphere, are thought to be responsible for seismicity clustering in the upper crust and lubrication of normal faults during swarms and large earthquakes. We focus on the tectonic role played by the Alto Tiberina low-angle normal fault (ATF), finding displacements across the fault consistent with long-term accommodation of deformation. Our results show that recent seismic swarms affecting the area occur within a 3 km thick, high VP/VS, densely cracked, and overpressurized evaporitic layer, composed of dolostones and anhydrites. A persistent low VP, low VP/VS volume, present on top of and along the ATF low-angle detachment, traces the location of mantle-derived CO2, the upward flux of which contributes to cracking within the evaporitic layer.

Kinematics and dynamics of salt movement driven by sub-salt normal faulting and supra-salt sediment accumulation - combined analogue experiments and analytical calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warsitzka, Michael; Kukowski, Nina; Kley, Jonas

2017-04-01

In extensional sedimentary basins, the movement of ductile salt is mainly controlled by the vertical displacement of the salt layer, differential loading due to syn-kinematic deposition, and tectonic shearing at the top and the base of the salt layer. During basement normal faulting, salt either tends to flow downward to the basin centre driven by its own weight or it is squeezed upward due to differential loading. In analogue experiments and analytical models, we address the interplay between normal faulting of the sub-salt basement, compaction and density inversion of the supra-salt cover and the kinematic response of the ductile salt layer. The analogue experiments consist of a ductile substratum (silicone putty) beneath a denser cover layer (sand mixture). Both layers are displaced by normal faults mimicked through a downward moving block within the rigid base of the experimental apparatus and the resulting flow patterns in the ductile layer are monitored and analysed. In the computational models using an analytical approximative solution of the Navier-Stokes equation, the steady-state flow velocity in an idealized natural salt layer is calculated in order to evaluate how flow patterns observed in the analogue experiments can be translated to nature. The analytical calculations provide estimations of the prevailing direction and velocity of salt flow above a sub-salt normal fault. The results of both modelling approaches show that under most geological conditions salt moves downwards to the hanging wall side as long as vertical offset and compaction of the cover layer are small. As soon as an effective average density of the cover is exceeded, the direction of the flow velocity reverses and the viscous material is squeezed towards the elevated footwall side. The analytical models reveal that upward flow occurs even if the average density of the overburden does not exceed the density of salt. By testing various scenarios with different layer thicknesses, displacement rate or lithological parameters of the cover, our models suggest that the reversal of material flow usually requires vertical displacements between 700 and 2000 m. The transition from downward to upward flow occurs at smaller fault displacements, if the initial overburden thickness and the overburden density are high and if sedimentation rate keeps pace with the displacement rate of the sub-salt normal fault.

Investigations into the Fish Lake Valley Fault Zone (FLVFZ) and its interactions with normal faulting within Eureka and Deep Springs Valleys

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lawson, M. J.; Rhodes, E.; Yin, A.

2016-12-01

In most textbooks, the San Andreas Fault is stated to be the plate boundary between the North American and the Pacific plates, as plate tectonics assumes that boundaries are essentially discrete. In the Western United States this is not the case, as up to 25% of relative plate motion is accommodated on other structures within the Walker Lane Shear Zone (WLSZ) in a diffuse 100 km margin (Faulds et al., 2005; Oldow et al., 2001). Fish Lake Valley Fault Zone (FLVFZ), situated at the northern border of Death Valley National Park, is the northern continuation of the Furnace Creek Fault Zone (FCFZ), and is an important transfer structure within the Walker Lane Shear Zone. Though the FLVFZ has a long term rate (since 10 Ma) of 5 mm/yr (Reheis and Sawyer, 1997), it has a highly variable slip rate. In the middle Pleistocene, the rate has a maximum of up to 11 mm/yr which would accommodate nearly the entirety of slip within the Walker Lane, and yet this rate decreases significantly ( 2.5 to 3 mm/yr) by the late Pleistocene due to unknown causes (Frankel et al. 2007). This variation in slip rate has been proposed by previous workers to be due to strain transience, an increase in the overall strain rate, or due to other unknown structures (Lee et al., 2009). Currently, we are investigating the cause of this variation, and the possibility of the transfer of slip to faults south of the FLVFZ on oblique normal faults within Eureka and Deep Springs Valleys. Preliminary data will be shown utilizing scarp transects, geomorphic scarp modeling, and Optically Stimulated Luminescence (OSL) dating techniques.

Frictional response of simulated faults to normal stresses perturbations probed with ultrasonic waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shreedharan, S.; Riviere, J.; Marone, C.

2017-12-01

We report on a suite of laboratory friction experiments conducted on saw-cut Westerly Granite surfaces to probe frictional response to step changes in normal stress and loading rate. The experiments are conducted to illuminate the fundamental processes that yield friction rate and state dependence. We quantify the microphysical frictional response of the simulated fault surfaces to normal stress steps, in the range of 1% - 600% step increases and decreases from a nominal baseline normal stress. We measure directly the fault slip rate and account for changes in slip rate with changes in normal stress and complement mechanical data acquisition by continuously probing the faults with ultrasonic pulses. We conduct the experiments at room temperature and humidity conditions in a servo controlled biaxial testing apparatus in the double direct shear configuration. The samples are sheared over a range of velocities, from 0.02 - 100 μm/s. We report observations of a transient shear stress and friction evolution with step increases and decreases in normal stress. Specifically, we show that, at low shear velocities and small increases in normal stress (<5% increase), the shear stress on the fault does not increase instantaneously with the normal stress step while the ultrasonic wave amplitude and normal displacement do. In other words, the shear stress does not follow the load point stiffness curve. At high shear velocities and larger normal stress steps (> 5% increases), the shear stress evolves immediately with normal stress. We show that the excursions in slip rate resulting from the changes in normal stress must be accounted for in order to predict fault strength evolution. Ultrasonic wave amplitudes which first increase immediately in response to normal stress steps, then decrease approximately linearly to a new steady state value, in part due to changes in fault slip rate. Previous descriptions of frictional state evolution during normal stress perturbations have not adequately accounted for the effect of large slip velocity excursions. Here, we attempt to do so by using the measured ultrasonic amplitudes as a proxy for frictional state during transient shear stress evolution. Our work aims to improve understanding of induced and triggered seismicity with focus on simulating static triggering using rate and state friction.

Weak fault detection and health degradation monitoring using customized standard multiwavelets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Jing; Wang, Yu; Peng, Yizhen; Wei, Chenjun

2017-09-01

Due to the nonobvious symptoms contaminated by a large amount of background noise, it is challenging to beforehand detect and predictively monitor the weak faults for machinery security assurance. Multiwavelets can act as adaptive non-stationary signal processing tools, potentially viable for weak fault diagnosis. However, the signal-based multiwavelets suffer from such problems as the imperfect properties missing the crucial orthogonality, the decomposition distortion impossibly reflecting the relationships between the faults and signatures, the single objective optimization and independence for fault prognostic. Thus, customized standard multiwavelets are proposed for weak fault detection and health degradation monitoring, especially the weak fault signature quantitative identification. First, the flexible standard multiwavelets are designed using the construction method derived from scalar wavelets, seizing the desired properties for accurate detection of weak faults and avoiding the distortion issue for feature quantitative identification. Second, the multi-objective optimization combined three dimensionless indicators of the normalized energy entropy, normalized singular entropy and kurtosis index is introduced to the evaluation criterions, and benefits for selecting the potential best basis functions for weak faults without the influence of the variable working condition. Third, an ensemble health indicator fused by the kurtosis index, impulse index and clearance index of the original signal along with the normalized energy entropy and normalized singular entropy by the customized standard multiwavelets is achieved using Mahalanobis distance to continuously monitor the health condition and track the performance degradation. Finally, three experimental case studies are implemented to demonstrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method can quantitatively identify the fault signature of a slight rub on the inner race of a locomotive bearing, effectively detect and locate the potential failure from a complicated epicyclic gear train and successfully reveal the fault development and performance degradation of a test bearing in the lifetime.

STRUCTURAL CONTROLS OF THE EMERSON PASS GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM, NORTHWESTERN NEVADA: CHARACTERIZATION OF A "BLIND" SYSTEM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Anderson, Ryan B; Faulds, James E

The Pyramid Lake area is favorable for geothermal development due to the tectonic setting of the region. The Walker Lane belt, a dextral shear zone that accommodates ~20% relative motion between the Pacific and North American plates, terminates northwestward in northeast California. NW-directed dextral shear is transferred to WNW extension accommodated by N-to -NNE striking normal faults of the Basin and Range. As a consequence, enhanced dilation occurs on favorably oriented faults generating high geothermal potential in the northwestern Great Basin. The NW-striking right-lateral Pyramid Lake fault, a major structure of the northern Walker Lane, terminates at the southern endmore » of Pyramid Lake and transfers strain to the NNE-striking down to the west Lake Range fault, resulting in high geothermal potential. Known geothermal systems in the area have not been developed due to cultural considerations of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe. Therefore, exploration has been focused on discovering blind geothermal systems elsewhere on the reservation by identifying structurally favorable settings and indicators of past geothermal activity. One promising area is the northeast end of Pyramid Lake, where a broad left step between the west-dipping range-bounding faults of the Lake and Fox Ranges has led to the formation of a broad, faulted relay ramp. Furthermore, tufa mounds, mineralized veins, and altered Miocene rocks occur proximal to a thermal anomaly discovered by a 2-m shallow temperature survey at the north end of the step-over in Emerson Pass. Detailed geologic mapping has revealed a system of mainly NNE-striking down to the west normal faults. However, there are three notable exceptions to this generality, including 1) a prominent NW-striking apparent right-lateral fault, 2) a NW-striking down to the south fault which juxtaposes the base of the mid-Miocene Pyramid sequence against younger late Tertiary sedimentary rocks, and 3) a NNE-striking down to the east normal fault, which accommodates motion such that the Mesozoic Nightingale sequence is juxtaposed with late Tertiary sedimentary rocks. The NW dextral fault, the NNE-down to east fault, and several NNE-down to the west faults intersect roughly at the thermal anomaly in Emerson Pass. This suggests that fault intersections locally control upwelling of geothermal fluids within the step-over. Based on this assumption, it is proposed that the area near Buckbrush Springs be investigated further for geothermal potential. At this location, a NNE-down to the west normal fault, with >1 km of offset, intersects a NW-striking down to the south fault at a small left step in the NNE fault. Further studies will include collection of available kinematic indicators near the shallow thermal anomaly in Emerson Pass, geothermometry on Buckbrush Spring, and possibly drilling of temperature gradient wells in Emerson Pass and at Buckbrush Spring.« less

Stress and Strain Rates from Faults Reconstructed by Earthquakes Relocalization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morra, G.; Chiaraluce, L.; Di Stefano, R.; Michele, M.; Cambiotti, G.; Yuen, D. A.; Brunsvik, B.

2017-12-01

Recurrence of main earthquakes on the same fault depends on kinematic setting, hosting lithologies and fault geometry and population. Northern and central Italy transitioned from convergence to post-orogenic extension. This has produced a unique and very complex tectonic setting characterized by superimposed normal faults, crossing different geologic domains, that allows to investigate a variety of seismic manifestations. In the past twenty years three seismic sequences (1997 Colfiorito, 2009 L'Aquila and 2016-17 Amatrice-Norcia-Visso) activated a 150km long normal fault system located between the central and northern apennines and allowing the recordings of thousands of seismic events. Both the 1997 and the 2009 main shocks were preceded by a series of small pre-shocks occurring in proximity to the future largest events. It has been proposed and modelled that the seismicity pattern of the two foreshocks sequences was caused by active dilatancy phenomenon, due to fluid flow in the source area. Seismic activity has continued intensively until three events with 6.0

The buried active faults in southeastern China as revealed by the relocated background seismicity and fault plane solutions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, A.; Wang, P.; Liu, F.

2017-12-01

The southeastern China in the mainland corresponds to the south China block, which is characterized by moderate historical seismicity and low stain rate. Most faults are buried under thick Quaternary deposits, so it is difficult to detect and locate them using the routine geological methods. Only a few have been identified to be active in late Quaternary, which leads to relatively high potentially seismic risk to this region due to the unexpected locations of the earthquakes. We performed both hypoDD and tomoDD for the background seismicity from 2000 to 2016 to investigate the buried faults. Some buried active faults are revealed by the relocated seismicity and the velocity structure, no geologically known faults corresponding to them and no surface active evidence ever observed. The geometries of the faults are obtained by analyzing the hypocentral distribution pattern and focal mechanism. The focal mechanism solutions indicate that all the revealed faults are dominated in strike-slip mechanisms, or with some thrust components. While the previous fault investigation and detection results show that most of the Quaternary faults in southeastern China are dominated by normal movement. It suggests that there may exist two fault systems in deep and shallow tectonic regimes. The revealed faults may construct the deep one that act as the seismogenic faults, and the normal faults at shallow cannot generate the destructive earthquakes. The variation in the Curie-point depths agrees well with the structure plane of the revealed active faults, suggesting that the faults may have changed the deep structure.

Contributory fault and level of personal injury to drivers involved in head-on collisions: Application of copula-based bivariate ordinal models.

PubMed

Wali, Behram; Khattak, Asad J; Xu, Jingjing

2018-01-01

The main objective of this study is to simultaneously investigate the degree of injury severity sustained by drivers involved in head-on collisions with respect to fault status designation. This is complicated to answer due to many issues, one of which is the potential presence of correlation between injury outcomes of drivers involved in the same head-on collision. To address this concern, we present seemingly unrelated bivariate ordered response models by analyzing the joint injury severity probability distribution of at-fault and not-at-fault drivers. Moreover, the assumption of bivariate normality of residuals and the linear form of stochastic dependence implied by such models may be unduly restrictive. To test this, Archimedean copula structures and normal mixture marginals are integrated into the joint estimation framework, which can characterize complex forms of stochastic dependencies and non-normality in residual terms. The models are estimated using 2013 Virginia police reported two-vehicle head-on collision data, where exactly one driver is at-fault. The results suggest that both at-fault and not-at-fault drivers sustained serious/fatal injuries in 8% of crashes, whereas, in 4% of the cases, the not-at-fault driver sustained a serious/fatal injury with no injury to the at-fault driver at all. Furthermore, if the at-fault driver is fatigued, apparently asleep, or has been drinking the not-at-fault driver is more likely to sustain a severe/fatal injury, controlling for other factors and potential correlations between the injury outcomes. While not-at-fault vehicle speed affects injury severity of at-fault driver, the effect is smaller than the effect of at-fault vehicle speed on at-fault injury outcome. Contrarily, and importantly, the effect of at-fault vehicle speed on injury severity of not-at-fault driver is almost equal to the effect of not-at-fault vehicle speed on injury outcome of not-at-fault driver. Compared to traditional ordered probability models, the study provides evidence that copula based bivariate models can provide more reliable estimates and richer insights. Practical implications of the results are discussed. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

Quaternary extensional and compressional tectonics revealed from Quaternary landforms along Kosi River valley, outer Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, Uttarakhand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luirei, Khayingshing; Bhakuni, S. S.; Kothyari, Girish Ch.; Tripathi, Kavita; Pant, P. D.

2016-04-01

A portion of the Kosi River in the outer Kumaun Lesser Himalaya is characterized by wide river course situated south of the Ramgarh Thrust, where huge thickness (~200 m) of the landslide deposits and two to three levels of unpaired fan terraces are present. Brittle normal faults, suggesting extensional tectonics, are recognized in the Quaternary deposits and bedrocks as further supported by surface morphology. Trending E-W, these faults measure from 3 to 5 km in length and are traced as discontinuous linear mini-horst and fault scarps (sackungen) exposed due to cutting across by streams. Active normal faults have displaced the coarsely laminated debris fan deposits at two sites located 550 m apart. At one of the sites, the faults look like bookshelf faulting with the maximum displacement of ~2 m and rotation of the Quaternary boulders along the fault plane is observed. At another site, the maximum displacement measures about 0.60 cm. Thick mud units deposited due to blocking of the streams by landslides are observed within and above the fan deposit. Landslide debris fans and terrace landforms are widely developed; the highest level of fan is observed ~1240 m above mean sea level. At some places, the reworking of the debris fans by streams is characterized by thick laminated sand body. Along the South Almora Thrust and Ramgarh Thrust zones, the valleys are narrow and V-shaped where Quaternary deposits are sparse due to relatively rapid uplift across these thrusts. Along the South Almora Thrust zone, three to four levels of fluvial terraces are observed and have been incised by river exposing the bedrocks due to recent movement along the RT and SAT. Abandoned channel, tilted mud deposits, incised meandering, deep-cut V-shaped valleys and strath terraces indicate rapid uplift of the area. Thick mud sequences in the Quaternary columns indicate damming of streams. A ~10-km-long north-south trending transverse Garampani Fault has offset the Ramgarh Thrust producing tectonic landforms.

Detailed ground surface displacement and fault ruptures of the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake revealed by SAR and GNSS data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kobayashi, T.; Yarai, H.; Morishita, Y.; Kawamoto, S.; Fujiwara, S.; Nakano, T.

2016-12-01

We report ground displacement associated with the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake obtained by ALOS-2 SAR and GNSS data. For the SAR analyses, we applied InSAR, MAI, and pixel offset methods, which has successfully provided a 3D displacement field showing the widely- and locally-distributed deformation. The obtained displacement field shows clear displacement boundaries linearly along the Futagawa, the Hinagu, and the Denokuchi faults across which the sign of displacement component turns to be opposite, suggesting that the fault ruptures occurred there. Our fault model for the main shock suggests that the main rupture occurred on the Futagawa fault with a right-lateral motion including a slight normal fault motion. Due to the normal faulting movement, the northern side of the active fault subsides with approximately 2 m. The rupture on the Futagawa fault extends into the Aso caldera with slightly shifting the position northward. Of note, the fault plane oppositely dips toward southeast. It may be a conjugate fault against the main fault. In the western side of the Futagawa fault, the slip on the Hinagu fault, in which the Mj6.5 and Mj6.4 foreshocks occurred with a pure right-lateral motion, is also deeply involved with the main shock. This fault rupture released the amount of approximately 30 percent of the total seismic moment. The hypocenter is determined near the fault and its focal mechanism is consistent with the estimated slip motion of this fault plane, maybe suggesting that the rupture started at this fault and proceeded toward the Futagawa fault eastward. Acknowledgements: ALOS-2 data were provided from the Earthquake Working Group under a cooperative research contract with JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency). The ownership of ALOS-2 data belongs to JAXA.

Shortening accommodated by extension-parallel folding of detachment faults during oblique rifting in the Gulf of California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seiler, Christian; Fletcher, John

2013-04-01

Large-scale fault corrugations or megamullions are a common feature of detachment faults and form either as original fault grooves, displacement-gradient folds or constrictional folds parallel to the extension direction. In highly oblique extensional settings such as the Gulf of California, horizontal shortening perpendicular to the extension direction is an inherent part of the regional stress field and likely forms a key factor during the development of extension-parallel fault corrugations. However, the amount of horizontal shortening absorbed by megamullions is difficult to quantify, and constrictional folding is not normally thought to accommodate significant strike-slip deformation. The Las Cuevitas and Santa Rosa detachments are two low-angle normal fault systems exposed on the Gulf of California rifted margin in northeastern Baja California, Mexico. The two detachments accommodate between ~7-9km of SE-directed extension and represent the next significant set of faults in direction of transport from the rift breakaway fault. Fault kinematics are highly complex, but suggest integrated normal, oblique- and strike-slip faulting, with kinematics controlled by the orientation of faults with respect to the regional transtensional stress field. Both fault systems are strongly corrugated, with megamullion amplitudes of ~4-7km and half wavelenghts of between ~15 to 20km. Differential folding of the syntectonic basin-fill of the supradetachment basins strongly suggest that the observed megamullions formed largely, though not exclusively, due to constrictional folding associated with the transtensional stress regime of the plate boundary. This is consistent with basin-scale facies variations that record differential uplift and subsidence in antiformal and synformal megamullion domains, respectively. Compared to the two detachments, the San Pedro Martir fault - the master fault of the rift system at this latitude - shows more subtle fault corrugations with amplitudes of <3km. Unlike the Las Cuevitas and Santa Rosa detachments, though, there is no evidence for constrictional folding on the San Pedro Martir fault. Instead, the observed corrugations likely represent original grooves of the fault plane, formed as adjacent fault nuclei joined along-strike during fault growth. Comparison between the sinuosity of the San Pedro Martir fault (1.08), attributed entirely to original fault asperities, with the sinuosity of the two detachment systems (Las Cuevitas detachment: 1.17, Santa Rosa detachment: 1.22), suggests that about 10% of shortening occurred on each of the two detachments due to synextensional constrictional folding. This corresponds to a combined total of ~8km of N-S shortening, or ~10km of dextral shear resolved in direction of the relative plate motion, and occurs in addition to ~21km of right-lateral strain accommodated by clockwise vertical-axis block rotations. Thus, strain in this part of the rift system was partitioned between discrete extensional faulting on the two detachment systems, and significant right-lateral shear accommodated by distributed volume deformation.

Numerical modelling of fault reactivation in carbonate rocks under fluid depletion conditions - 2D generic models with a small isolated fault

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yanhua; Clennell, Michael B.; Delle Piane, Claudio; Ahmed, Shakil; Sarout, Joel

2016-12-01

This generic 2D elastic-plastic modelling investigated the reactivation of a small isolated and critically-stressed fault in carbonate rocks at a reservoir depth level for fluid depletion and normal-faulting stress conditions. The model properties and boundary conditions are based on field and laboratory experimental data from a carbonate reservoir. The results show that a pore pressure perturbation of -25 MPa by depletion can lead to the reactivation of the fault and parts of the surrounding damage zones, producing normal-faulting downthrows and strain localization. The mechanism triggering fault reactivation in a carbonate field is the increase of shear stresses with pore-pressure reduction, due to the decrease of the absolute horizontal stress, which leads to an expanded Mohr's circle and mechanical failure, consistent with the predictions of previous poroelastic models. Two scenarios for fault and damage-zone permeability development are explored: (1) large permeability enhancement of a sealing fault upon reactivation, and (2) fault and damage zone permeability development governed by effective mean stress. In the first scenario, the fault becomes highly permeable to across- and along-fault fluid transport, removing local pore pressure highs/lows arising from the presence of the initially sealing fault. In the second scenario, reactivation induces small permeability enhancement in the fault and parts of damage zones, followed by small post-reactivation permeability reduction. Such permeability changes do not appear to change the original flow capacity of the fault or modify the fluid flow velocity fields dramatically.

Development of the Elastic Rebound Strike-slip (ERS) Fault Model for Teaching Earthquake Science to Non-science Students

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glesener, G. B.; Peltzer, G.; Stubailo, I.; Cochran, E. S.; Lawrence, J. F.

2009-12-01

The Modeling and Educational Demonstrations Laboratory (MEDL) at the University of California, Los Angeles has developed a fourth version of the Elastic Rebound Strike-slip (ERS) Fault Model to be used to educate students and the general public about the process and mechanics of earthquakes from strike-slip faults. The ERS Fault Model is an interactive hands-on teaching tool which produces failure on a predefined fault embedded in an elastic medium, with adjustable normal stress. With the addition of an accelerometer sensor, called the Joy Warrior, the user can experience what it is like for a field geophysicist to collect and observe ground shaking data from an earthquake without having to experience a real earthquake. Two knobs on the ERS Fault Model control the normal and shear stress on the fault. Adjusting the normal stress knob will increase or decrease the friction on the fault. The shear stress knob displaces one side of the elastic medium parallel to the strike of the fault, resulting in changing shear stress on the fault surface. When the shear stress exceeds the threshold defined by the static friction of the fault, an earthquake on the model occurs. The accelerometer sensor then sends the data to a computer where the shaking of the model due to the sudden slip on the fault can be displayed and analyzed by the student. The experiment clearly illustrates the relationship between earthquakes and seismic waves. One of the major benefits to using the ERS Fault Model in undergraduate courses is that it helps to connect non-science students with the work of scientists. When students that are not accustomed to scientific thought are able to experience the scientific process first hand, a connection is made between the scientists and students. Connections like this might inspire a student to become a scientist, or promote the advancement of scientific research through public policy.

The Canyonlands Grabens Revisited, with a New Interpretation of Graben Geometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schultz, R. A.; Moore, J. M.

1996-03-01

The relative scale between faults and faulted-layer thickness is critical to the mechanical behavior of faults and fault populations on any planetary body. Due to their fresh, relatively uneroded morphology and simple structural setting, the terrestrial Canyonlands grabens provide a unique opportunity to critically investigate the geometry, growth, interaction, and scaling relationships of normal faults. Symmetrical models have traditionally been used to describe these grabens, but field observations of stratigraphic offsets require asymmetric graben cross-sectional geometry. Topographic profiles reveal differential stratigraphic offsets, graben floor-tilts, and possible roll-over anticlines as well as footwall uplifts. Relationships between the asymmetric graben geometry and brittle-layer thickness are currently being investigated.

Quantifying Coseismic Normal Fault Rupture at the Seafloor: The 2004 Les Saintes Earthquake Along the Roseau Fault (French Antilles)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Olive, J. A. L.; Escartin, J.; Leclerc, F.; Garcia, R.; Gracias, N.; Odemar Science Party, T.

2016-12-01

While >70% of Earth's seismicity is submarine, almost all observations of earthquake-related ruptures and surface deformation are restricted to subaerial environments. Such observations are critical for understanding fault behavior and associated hazards (including tsunamis), but are not routinely conducted at the seafloor due to obvious constraints. During the 2013 ODEMAR cruise we used autonomous and remotely operated vehicles to map the Roseau normal Fault (Lesser Antilles), source of the 2004 Mw6.3 earthquake and associated tsunami (<3.5m run-up). These vehicles acquired acoustic (multibeam bathymetry) and optical data (video and electronic images) spanning from regional (>1 km) to outcrop (<1 m) scales. These high-resolution submarine observations, analogous to those routinely conducted subaerially, rely on advanced image and video processing techniques, such as mosaicking and structure-from-motion (SFM). We identify sub-vertical fault slip planes along the Roseau scarp, displaying coseismic deformation structures undoubtedly due to the 2004 event. First, video mosaicking allows us to identify the freshly exposed fault plane at the base of one of these scarps. A maximum vertical coseismic displacement of 0.9 m can be measured from the video-derived terrain models and the texture-mapped imagery, which have better resolution than any available acoustic systems (<10 cm). Second, seafloor photomosaics allow us to identify and map both additional sub-vertical fault scarps, and cracks and fissures at their base, recording hangingwall damage from the same event. These observations provide critical parameters to understand the seismic cycle and long-term seismic behavior of this submarine fault. Our work demonstrates the feasibility of extensive, high-resolution underwater surveys using underwater vehicles and novel imaging techniques, thereby opening new possibilities to study recent seafloor changes associated with tectonic, volcanic, or hydrothermal activity.

Hanging-wall deformation above a normal fault: sequential limit analyses

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, Xiaoping; Leroy, Yves M.; Maillot, Bertrand

2015-04-01

The deformation in the hanging wall above a segmented normal fault is analysed with the sequential limit analysis (SLA). The method combines some predictions on the dip and position of the active fault and axial surface, with geometrical evolution à la Suppe (Groshong, 1989). Two problems are considered. The first followed the prototype proposed by Patton (2005) with a pre-defined convex, segmented fault. The orientation of the upper segment of the normal fault is an unknown in the second problem. The loading in both problems consists of the retreat of the back wall and the sedimentation. This sedimentation starts from the lowest point of the topography and acts at the rate rs relative to the wall retreat rate. For the first problem, the normal fault either has a zero friction or a friction value set to 25o or 30o to fit the experimental results (Patton, 2005). In the zero friction case, a hanging wall anticline develops much like in the experiments. In the 25o friction case, slip on the upper segment is accompanied by rotation of the axial plane producing a broad shear zone rooted at the fault bend. The same observation is made in the 30o case, but without slip on the upper segment. Experimental outcomes show a behaviour in between these two latter cases. For the second problem, mechanics predicts a concave fault bend with an upper segment dip decreasing during extension. The axial surface rooting at the normal fault bend sees its dips increasing during extension resulting in a curved roll-over. Softening on the normal fault leads to a stepwise rotation responsible for strain partitioning into small blocks in the hanging wall. The rotation is due to the subsidence of the topography above the hanging wall. Sedimentation in the lowest region thus reduces the rotations. Note that these rotations predicted by mechanics are not accounted for in most geometrical approaches (Xiao and Suppe, 1992) and are observed in sand box experiments (Egholm et al., 2007, referring to Dahl, 1987). References: Egholm, D. L., M. Sandiford, O. R. Clausen, and S. B. Nielsen (2007), A new strategy for discrete element numerical models: 2. sandbox applications, Journal of Geophysical Research, 112 (B05204), doi:10.1029/2006JB004558. Groshong, R. H. (1989), Half-graben structures: Balanced models of extensional fault-bend folds, Geological Society of America Bulletin, 101 (1), 96-105. Patton, T. L. (2005), Sandbox models of downward-steepening normal faults, AAPG Bulletin, 89 (6), 781-797. Xiao, H.-B., and J. Suppe (1992), Orgin of rollover, AAPG Bulletin, 76 (4), 509-529.

Marine forearc tectonics in the unbroken segment of the Northern Chile seismic gap

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geersen, J.; Behrmann, J.; Ranero, C. R.; Klaucke, I.; Kopp, H.; Lange, D.; Barckhausen, U.; Reichert, C. J.; Diaz-Naveas, J.

2016-12-01

While clearly occurring within the well-defined Northern Chile seismic gap, the 2014 Mw. 8.1 Iquique Earthquake only ruptured part of this gap, leaving large and possibly highly coupled areas untouched. These non-ruptured areas now may pose an elevated seismic hazard due to the transfer of stresses resulting from the 2014 rupture. Here we use recently collected multibeam bathymetric data, covering 90% of the North Chilean marine forearc, in combination with unpublished seismic reflection images to derive a tectonic map of the marine forearc in the unbroken segment of the seismic gap. In the entire study area we find evidence for widespread normal faulting. Seaward dipping normal faults locally extend close to the deformation front at the deep-sea trench under 8 km of water. Similar normal faults on the lower slope are neither observed further north (2014 Iquique earthquake area) nor further south (2007 Tocopilla earthquake area). On the upper continental slope, some of the normal faults dip towards the continent, defining N-S trending ridges that can be traced over tens of kilometers. The spatial variations in normal faulting do not correlate with obvious changes in the structural and tectonic setting of the subduction zone (e.g. plate convergence rate and direction, trench sediment thickness, subducting plate roughness). Thus, the permanent deformation recorded in the spatial distribution of faults may hold crucial information about the long-term seismic behavior of the Northern Chile seismic gap over multiple earthquake cycles. Although the structural interpretations cannot directly be translated into seismic hazard, the tectonic map serves to better understand deformation in the marine forearc in relation to the seismic cycle, historic seismicity, and the spatial distribution of plate-coupling.

Variability of Slip Behavior in Simulations of Dynamic Rupture Interaction With Stronger Fault Patches Over Long-Term Deformation Histories

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lapusta, N.; Liu, Y.

2007-12-01

Heterogeneity in fault properties can have significant effect on dynamic rupture propagation and aseismic slip. It is often assumed that a fixed heterogeneity would have similar effect on fault slip throughout the slip history. We investigate dynamic rupture interaction with a fault patch of higher normal stress over several earthquake cycles in a three-dimensional model. We find that the influence of the heterogeneity on dynamic events has significant variation and depends on prior slip history. We consider a planar strike-slip fault governed by rate and state friction and driven by slow tectonic loading on deeper extension of the fault. The 30 km by 12 km velocity-weakening region, which is potentially seismogenic, is surrounded by steady-state velocity-strengthening region. The normal stress is constant over the fault, except in a circular patch of 2 km in diameter located in the seismogenic region, where normal stress is higher than on the rest of the fault. Our simulations employ the methodology developed by Lapusta and Liu (AGU, 2006), which is able to resolve both dynamic and quasi-static stages of spontaneous slip accumulation in a single computational procedure. The initial shear stress is constant on the fault, except in a small area where it is higher and where the first large dynamic event initiates. For patches with 20%, 40%, 60% higher normal stress, the first event has significant dynamic interaction with the patch, creating a rupture speed decrease followed by a supershear burst and larger slip around the patch. Hence, in the first event, the patch acts as a seismic asperity. For the case of 100% higher stress, the rupture is not able to break the patch in the first event. In subsequent dynamic events, the behavior depends on the strength of heterogeneity. For the patch with 20% higher normal stress, dynamic rupture in subsequent events propagates through the patch without any noticeable perturbation in rupture speed or slip. In particular, supershear propagation and additional slip accumulation around the patch are never repeated in the simulated history of the fault, and the patch stops manifesting itself as a seismic asperity. This is due to higher shear stress that is established at the patch after the first earthquake cycle. For patches with higher normal stress, shear stress redistribution also occurs, but it is less effective. The patches with 40% and 60% higher normal stress continue to affect rupture speed and fault slip in some of subsequent events, although the effect is much diminished with respect to the first event. For example, there are no supershear bursts. The patch with 100% higher normal stress is first broken in the second large event, and it retains significant influence on rupture speed and slip throughout the fault history, occasionally resulting in supershear bursts. Additional slip complexity emerges for patches with 40% and higher normal stress contrast. Since higher normal stress corresponds to a smaller nucleation size, nucleation of some events moves from the rheological transitions (where nucleation occurs in the cases with no stronger patch and with the patch of 20% higher normal stress) to the patches of higher normal stress. The patches nucleate both large, model-spanning, events, and small events that arrest soon after exiting the patch. Hence not every event that originates at the location of a potential seismic asperity is destined to be large, as its subsequent propagation is significantly influenced by the state of stress outside the patch.

Map of normal faults and extensional folds in the Tendoy Mountains and Beaverhead Range, Southwest Montana and eastern Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Janecke, S.U.; Blankenau, J.J.; VanDenburg, C.J.; VanGosen, B.S.

2001-01-01

Compilation of a 1:100,000-scale map of normal faults and extensional folds in southwest Montana and adjacent Idaho reveals a complex history of normal faulting that spanned at least the last 50 m.y. and involved six or more generations of normal faults. The map is based on both published and unpublished mapping and shows normal faults and extensional folds between the valley of the Red Rock River of southwest Montana and the Lemhi and Birch Creek valleys of eastern Idaho between latitudes 45°05' N. and 44°15' N. in the Tendoy and Beaverhead Mountains. Some of the unpublished mapping has been compiled in Lonn and others (2000). Many traces of the normal faults parallel the generally northwest to north-northwest structural grain of the preexisting Sevier fold and thrust belt and dip west-southwest, but northeastand east-striking normal faults are also prominent. Northeaststriking normal faults are subparallel to the traces of southeast-directed thrusts that shortened the foreland during the Laramide orogeny. It is unlikely that the northeast-striking normal faults reactivated fabrics in the underlying Precambrian basement, as has been documented elsewhere in southwestern Montana (Schmidt and others, 1984), because exposures of basement rocks in the map area exhibit north-northwest- to northwest-striking deformational fabrics (Lowell, 1965; M’Gonigle, 1993, 1994; M’Gonigle and Hait, 1997; M’Gonigle and others, 1991). The largest normal faults in the area are southwest-dipping normal faults that locally reactivate thrust faults (fig. 1). Normal faulting began before middle Eocene Challis volcanism and continues today. The extension direction flipped by about 90° four times.

Tectonic and Structural Controls of Geothermal Activity in the Great Basin Region, Western USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faulds, J. E.; Hinz, N.; Kreemer, C. W.

2012-12-01

We are conducting a thorough inventory of structural settings of geothermal systems (>400 total) in the extensional to transtensional Great Basin region of the western USA. Most of the geothermal systems in this region are not related to upper crustal magmatism and thus regional tectonic and local structural controls are the most critical factors controlling the locations of the geothermal activity. A system of NW-striking dextral faults known as the Walker Lane accommodates ~20% of the North American-Pacific plate motion in the western Great Basin and is intimately linked to N- to NNE-striking normal fault systems throughout the region. Overall, geothermal systems are concentrated in areas with the highest strain rates within or proximal to the eastern and western margins of the Great Basin, with the high temperature systems clustering in transtensional areas of highest strain rate in the northwestern Great Basin. Enhanced extension in the northwestern Great Basin probably results from the northwestward termination of the Walker Lane and the concomitant transfer of dextral shear into west-northwest directed extension, thus producing a broad transtensional region. The capacity of geothermal power plants also correlates with strain rates, with the largest (hundreds of megawatts) along the Walker Lane or San Andreas fault system, where strain rates range from 10-100 nanostrain/yr to 1,000 nanostrain/yr, respectively. Lesser systems (tens of megawatts) reside in the Basin and Range (outside the Walker Lane), where local strain rates are typically < 10 nanostrain/yr. Of the 250+ geothermal fields catalogued, step-overs or relay ramps in normal fault zones serve as the most favorable setting, hosting ~32% of the systems. Such areas have multiple, overlapping fault strands, increased fracture density, and thus enhanced permeability. Other common settings include a) intersections between normal faults and strike-slip or oblique-slip faults (27%), where multiple minor faults connect major structures and fluids can flow readily through highly fractured, dilational quadrants, and b) normal fault terminations or tip-lines (22%), where horse-tailing generates closely-spaced faults and increased permeability. Other settings include accommodation zones (i.e., belts of intermeshing, oppositely dipping normal faults; 8%), major range-front faults (5-6%), and pull-aparts in strike-slip faults (4%). In addition, Quaternary faults lie within or near most systems. The relative scarcity of geothermal systems along displacement-maxima of major normal faults may be due to reduced permeability in thick zones of clay gouge and periodic release of stress in major earthquakes. Step-overs, terminations, intersections, and accommodation zones correspond to long-term, critically stressed areas, where fluid pathways are more likely to remain open in networks of closely-spaced, breccia-dominated fractures. These findings may help guide future exploration efforts, especially for blind geothermal systems, which probably comprise the bulk of the geothermal resources in the Great Basin.

Stress Fields Along Okinawa Trough and Ryukyu Arc Inferred From Regional Broadband Moment Tensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kubo, A.; Fukuyama, E.

2001-12-01

Most shallow earthquakes along Okinawa trough and Ryukyu arc are relatively small (M<5.5). Focal mechanism estimations for such events were difficult due to insufficient dataset. However, this situation is improved by regional broadband network (FREESIA). Lower limit of magnitude of the earthquakes determined becomes 1.5 smaller in M{}w than that of Harvard moment tensors. As a result, we could examine the stress field in more detail than Fournier et al.(2001, JGR, 106, 13751-) did based on surface geology and teleseismic moment tensors. In the NE Okinawa trough, extension axes are oblique to the trough strike, while in SW Okinawa trough, they are perpendicular to the trough. Fault type in SW is normal fault and gradually changes to mixture of normal and strike slip toward NE. In the Ryukyu arc, extension axes are parallel to the arc. Although this feature is not clear in the NW Ryukyu arc, arc parallel extension may be a major property of entire arc. Dominant fault type is normal fault and several strike slips with the same extensional component are included. The volcanic train is located at the edge of arc parallel extension field faced A simple explanation of the arc parallel extension is the response to the opening motion of the Okinawa trough. Another possible mechanism is forearc movement due to oblique subduction which is enhanced in SW. We consider that the Okinawa trough and the Ryukyu arc are independent stress provinces.

The October 6, 2008 Mw 6.3 magnitude Damxung earthquake, Yadong-Gulu rift, Tibet, and implications for present-day crustal deformation within Tibet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Zhong-hai; Ye, Pei-sheng; Barosh, Patrick J.; Wu, Zhen-han

2011-03-01

A Mw 6.3 magnitude earthquake occurred on October 6, 2008 in southern Damxung County within the N-S trending Yangyi graben, which forms the northern section of the Yadong-Gulu rift of south-central Tibet. The earthquake had a maximum intensity of IX at the village of Yangyi (also Yangying) (29°43.3'N; 90°23.6'E) and resulted in 10 deaths and 60 injured in this sparsely populated region. Field observations and focal mechanism solutions show normal fault movement occurred along the NNE-trending western boundary fault of the Yangyi graben, in agreement with the felt epicenter, pattern of the isoseismal contours, and distribution of aftershocks. The earthquake and its tectonic relations were studied in detail to provide data on the seismic hazard to the nearby city of Lhasa. The Damxung earthquake is one of the prominent events along normal and strike-slip faults that occurred widely about Tibet before and after the 2008 Mw 7.9 magnitude Wenchuan earthquake. Analysis of these recent M ⩾ 5.0 earthquake sequences demonstrate a kinematic relation between the normal, strike-slip, and reverse causative fault movements across the region. These earthquakes are found to be linked and the result of eastward extrusion of two large structural blocks of central Tibet. The reverse and oblique-slip surface faulting along the Longmenshan thrust belt at the eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau causing the Wenchuan earthquake, was the result of eastward directed compression and crustal shortening due to the extrusion. Prior to it, east-west extensional deformation indicated by normal and strike-slip faulting events across central Tibet, had led to a build up of the compression to the east. The subsequent renewal of extensional deformational events in central Tibet appears related to some drag effect due to the crustal shortening of the Wenchuan event. Unraveling the kinematical relation between these earthquake swarms is a very helpful approach for understanding the migration of strong earthquakes across Tibet.

Fluid pathways from mantle wedge up to forearc seafloor in the coseismic slip area of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, J. O.; Tsuru, T.; Fujie, G.; Kagoshima, T.; Sano, Y.

2017-12-01

A lot of fluids at subduction zones are exchanged between the solid Earth and ocean, affecting the earthquake and tsunami generation. New multi-channel seismic reflection and sub-bottom profiling data reveal normal and reverse faults as the fluid pathways in the coseismic slip area of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake (M9.0). Based on seismic reflection characteristics and helium isotope anomalies, we recognize variations in fluid pathways (i.e., faults) from the mantle wedge up to forearc seafloor in the Japan Trench margin. Some fluids are migrated from the mantle wedge along plate interface and then normal or reverse faults cutting through the overriding plate. Others from the mantle wedge are migrated directly up to seafloor along normal faults, without passing through the plate interface. Locations of the normal faults are roughly consistent with aftershocks of the 2011 Tohoku earthquake, which show focal mechanism of normal faulting. It is noticeable that landward-dipping normal faults developing down into Unit C (Cretaceous basement) from seafloor are dominant in the middle slope region where basal erosion is inferred to be most active. A high-amplitude, reverse-polarity reflection of the normal faults within Unit C suggests that the fluids are locally trapped along the faults in high pore pressures. The 2011 Tohoku mainshock and subsequent aftershocks could lead the pre-existing normal faults to be reactive and more porous so that the trapped fluids are easily transported up to seafloor through the faults. Elevated fluid pressures can decrease the effective normal stress for the fault plane, allowing easier slip of the landward-dipping normal fault and also enhancing its tsunamigenic potential.

The 2016 Central Italy "reverse" seismic sequence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chiaraluce, Lauro; Di Stefano, Raffaele; Tinti, Elisa; Scognamiglio, Laura; Michele, Maddalena; Cattaneo, Marco; De Gori, Pasquale; Chiarabba, Claudio; Monachesi, Giancarlo; Lombardi, Annamaria; Valoroso, Luisa; Latorre, Diana; Marzorati, Simone

2017-04-01

The 2016 seismic sequence consists so far of a series of moderate to large earthquakes that within three month's time activated a 60 km long segmented normal fault system located in the Central Italy and almost contiguous to the 1997 Colfiorito and 2009 L'Aquila normal fault systems. The first mainshock of the sequence occurred with MW6.0 on the 24th of August at 01:36 UTC close to the Accumoli and Amatrice villages producing evidence for centimetres' surface ruptures along the Mt. Vettore normal fault outcrop. Two months later on the 26th of October at 19:18 UTC another mainshock with MW5.9 occurred 25 km to the north activating another normal fault segment approximately on the along strike continuation of the first structure. Then, four days later on the 30th of October at 06:40 UTC the largest shock of the sequence with MW6.5 close to Norcia, in the middle part of the fault system activated two months before. We reconstruct the first order anatomy of the activated normal faults system, by analysing the spatial and temporal distribution of 25,354 aftershocks with 0.1

Geometric comparison of deep-seated gravitational spereading features on Mars (Coprates Chasma, Valles Marineris) and Earth (Ornak, Tatra Mountains)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kromuszczyńska, O.; Mège, D.

2014-04-01

Uphill-facing normal faults scarps and crestal grabens, which are characteristic of deep-seated gravitational spreading (DSGS) of topographic ridges, are described in Coprates Chasma in Valles Marineris, Mars, and Ornak ridge and compared. The vertical offset of normal faults in the Martian instances varies from 40 to 1000 meters, with an average of 300 meters. The terrestrial faults offset is between few teens of centimeters up to 34 meters with an average of 10 meters. The values of horizontal displacement in Coprates Chasma vary from 10 to 680 meters, and at Ornak are in a range between 1 and 20 meters. Such difference corresponds with the difference of ridges scale and is due to the topographic gradient which is one order of magnitude higher on Mars than on Earth.

Structural Features of the Western Taiwan Foreland Basin in the Eastern Taiwan Strait since Late Miocene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

WANG, J. H.; Liu, C. S.; Chang, J. H.; Yang, E. Y.

2017-12-01

The western Taiwan Foreland Basin lies on the eastern part of Taiwan Strait. The structures in this region are dominated by crustal stretch and a series of flexural normal faults have been developed since Late Miocene owing to the flexural of Eurasia Plate. Through deciphering multi-channel seismic data and drilling data, these flexural features are observed in the offshore Changhua coastal area. The flexure normal faults are important features to realize structural activity in the western Taiwan Foreland Basin. Yang et al. (2016) mention that the reactivated normal faults are found north of the Zhushuixi estuary. It should be a significant issue to decipher whether these faults are still active. In this study, we have analyzed all the available seismic reflections profiles in the central part of the Taiwan Strait, and have observed many pre-Pliocene normal faults that are mainly distributed in the middle of the Taiwan Strait to Changyun Rise, and we tentatively suggest that the formation of these faults may be associated with the formation of the foreland basal unconformity. Furthermore, we will map the distribution of these normal faults and examine whether the reactivated normal faults have extended to south of the Zhushuixi estuary. Finally, we discuss the relation between the reactivated normal faults in the Taiwan Strait and those faults onshore. Key words: Multichannel seismic reflection profile, Taiwan Strait, Foreland basin, normal fault.

Parameterization of 18th January 2011 earthquake in Dalbadin Region, Southwest Pakistan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shafiq-Ur-Rehman; Azeem, Tahir; Abd el-aal, Abd el-aziz Khairy; Nasir, Asma

2013-12-01

An earthquake of magnitude 7.3 Mw occurred on 18th January 2011 in Southwestern Pakistan, Baluchistan province (Dalbadin Region). The area has complex tectonics due to interaction of Indian, Eurasian and Arabian plates. Both thrust and strike slip earthquakes are dominant in this region with minor, localized normal faulting events. This earthquake under consideration (Dalbadin Earthquake) posed constraints in depth and focal parameters due to lack of data for evaluation of parameters from Pakistan, Iran or Afghanistan region. Normal faulting mechanism has been proposed by many researchers for this earthquake. In the present study the earthquake was relocated using the technique of travel time residuals. Relocated coordinates and depth were utilized to calculate the focal mechanism solution with outcome of a dominant strike slip mechanism, which is contrary to normal faulting. Relocated coordinates and resulting mechanism are more reliable than many reporting agencies as evaluation in this study is augmented by data from local seismic monitoring network of Pakistan. The tectonics in the area is governed by active subduction along the Makran Subduction Zone. This particular earthquake has strike slip mechanism due to breaking of subducting oceanic plate. This earthquake is located where oceanic lithosphere is subducting along with relative movements between Lut and Helmand blocks. Magnitude of this event i.e. Mw = 7.3, re evaluated depth and a previous study of mechanism of earthquake in same region (Shafiq et al., 2011) also supports the strike slip movement.

Sandstone-filled normal faults: A case study from central California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Palladino, Giuseppe; Alsop, G. Ian; Grippa, Antonio; Zvirtes, Gustavo; Phillip, Ruy Paulo; Hurst, Andrew

2018-05-01

Despite the potential of sandstone-filled normal faults to significantly influence fluid transmissivity within reservoirs and the shallow crust, they have to date been largely overlooked. Fluidized sand, forcefully intruded along normal fault zones, markedly enhances the transmissivity of faults and, in general, the connectivity between otherwise unconnected reservoirs. Here, we provide a detailed outcrop description and interpretation of sandstone-filled normal faults from different stratigraphic units in central California. Such faults commonly show limited fault throw, cm to dm wide apertures, poorly-developed fault zones and full or partial sand infill. Based on these features and inferences regarding their origin, we propose a general classification that defines two main types of sandstone-filled normal faults. Type 1 form as a consequence of the hydraulic failure of the host strata above a poorly-consolidated sandstone following a significant, rapid increase of pore fluid over-pressure. Type 2 sandstone-filled normal faults form as a result of regional tectonic deformation. These structures may play a significant role in the connectivity of siliciclastic reservoirs, and may therefore be crucial not just for investigation of basin evolution but also in hydrocarbon exploration.

Fluid involvement in normal faulting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sibson, Richard H.

2000-04-01

Evidence of fluid interaction with normal faults comes from their varied role as flow barriers or conduits in hydrocarbon basins and as hosting structures for hydrothermal mineralisation, and from fault-rock assemblages in exhumed footwalls of steep active normal faults and metamorphic core complexes. These last suggest involvement of predominantly aqueous fluids over a broad depth range, with implications for fault shear resistance and the mechanics of normal fault reactivation. A general downwards progression in fault rock assemblages (high-level breccia-gouge (often clay-rich) → cataclasites → phyllonites → mylonite → mylonitic gneiss with the onset of greenschist phyllonites occurring near the base of the seismogenic crust) is inferred for normal fault zones developed in quartzo-feldspathic continental crust. Fluid inclusion studies in hydrothermal veining from some footwall assemblages suggest a transition from hydrostatic to suprahydrostatic fluid pressures over the depth range 3-5 km, with some evidence for near-lithostatic to hydrostatic pressure cycling towards the base of the seismogenic zone in the phyllonitic assemblages. Development of fault-fracture meshes through mixed-mode brittle failure in rock-masses with strong competence layering is promoted by low effective stress in the absence of thoroughgoing cohesionless faults that are favourably oriented for reactivation. Meshes may develop around normal faults in the near-surface under hydrostatic fluid pressures to depths determined by rock tensile strength, and at greater depths in overpressured portions of normal fault zones and at stress heterogeneities, especially dilational jogs. Overpressures localised within developing normal fault zones also determine the extent to which they may reutilise existing discontinuities (for example, low-angle thrust faults). Brittle failure mode plots demonstrate that reactivation of existing low-angle faults under vertical σ1 trajectories is only likely if fluid overpressures are localised within the fault zone and the surrounding rock retains significant tensile strength. Migrating pore fluids interact both statically and dynamically with normal faults. Static effects include consideration of the relative permeability of the faults with respect to the country rock, and juxtaposition effects which determine whether a fault is transmissive to flow or acts as an impermeable barrier. Strong directional permeability is expected in the subhorizontal σ2 direction parallel to intersections between minor faults, extension fractures, and stylolites. Three dynamic mechanisms tied to the seismic stress cycle may contribute to fluid redistribution: (i) cycling of mean stress coupled to shear stress, sometimes leading to postfailure expulsion of fluid from vertical fractures; (ii) suction pump action at dilational fault jogs; and, (iii) fault-valve action when a normal fault transects a seal capping either uniformly overpressured crust or overpressures localised to the immediate vicinity of the fault zone at depth. The combination of σ2 directional permeability with fluid redistribution from mean stress cycling may lead to hydraulic communication along strike, contributing to the protracted earthquake sequences that characterise normal fault systems.

Earthquake scaling laws for rupture geometry and slip heterogeneity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thingbaijam, Kiran K. S.; Mai, P. Martin; Goda, Katsuichiro

2016-04-01

We analyze an extensive compilation of finite-fault rupture models to investigate earthquake scaling of source geometry and slip heterogeneity to derive new relationships for seismic and tsunami hazard assessment. Our dataset comprises 158 earthquakes with a total of 316 rupture models selected from the SRCMOD database (http://equake-rc.info/srcmod). We find that fault-length does not saturate with earthquake magnitude, while fault-width reveals inhibited growth due to the finite seismogenic thickness. For strike-slip earthquakes, fault-length grows more rapidly with increasing magnitude compared to events of other faulting types. Interestingly, our derived relationship falls between the L-model and W-model end-members. In contrast, both reverse and normal dip-slip events are more consistent with self-similar scaling of fault-length. However, fault-width scaling relationships for large strike-slip and normal dip-slip events, occurring on steeply dipping faults (δ~90° for strike-slip faults, and δ~60° for normal faults), deviate from self-similarity. Although reverse dip-slip events in general show self-similar scaling, the restricted growth of down-dip fault extent (with upper limit of ~200 km) can be seen for mega-thrust subduction events (M~9.0). Despite this fact, for a given earthquake magnitude, subduction reverse dip-slip events occupy relatively larger rupture area, compared to shallow crustal events. In addition, we characterize slip heterogeneity in terms of its probability distribution and spatial correlation structure to develop a complete stochastic random-field characterization of earthquake slip. We find that truncated exponential law best describes the probability distribution of slip, with observable scale parameters determined by the average and maximum slip. Applying Box-Cox transformation to slip distributions (to create quasi-normal distributed data) supports cube-root transformation, which also implies distinctive non-Gaussian slip distributions. To further characterize the spatial correlations of slip heterogeneity, we analyze the power spectral decay of slip applying the 2-D von Karman auto-correlation function (parameterized by the Hurst exponent, H, and correlation lengths along strike and down-slip). The Hurst exponent is scale invariant, H = 0.83 (± 0.12), while the correlation lengths scale with source dimensions (seismic moment), thus implying characteristic physical scales of earthquake ruptures. Our self-consistent scaling relationships allow constraining the generation of slip-heterogeneity scenarios for physics-based ground-motion and tsunami simulations.

Estimating Stresses, Fault Friction and Fluid Pressure from Topography and Coseismic Slip Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Styron, R. H.; Hetland, E. A.

2014-12-01

Stress is a first-order control on the deformation state of the earth. However, stress is notoriously hard to measure, and researchers typically only estimate the directions and relative magnitudes of principal stresses, with little quantification of the uncertainties or absolute magnitude. To improve upon this, we have developed methods to constrain the full stress tensor field in a region surrounding a fault, including tectonic, topographic, and lithostatic components, as well as static friction and pore fluid pressure on the fault. Our methods are based on elastic halfspace techniques for estimating topographic stresses from a DEM, and we use a Bayesian approach to estimate accumulated tectonic stress, fluid pressure, and friction from fault geometry and slip rake, assuming Mohr-Coulomb fault mechanics. The nature of the tectonic stress inversion is such that either the stress maximum or minimum is better constrained, depending on the topography and fault deformation style. Our results from the 2008 Wenchuan event yield shear stresses from topography up to 20 MPa (normal-sinistral shear sense) and topographic normal stresses up to 80 MPa on the faults; tectonic stress had to be large enough to overcome topography to produce the observed reverse-dextral slip. Maximum tectonic stress is constrained to be >0.3 * lithostatic stress (depth-increasing), with a most likely value around 0.8, trending 90-110°E. Minimum tectonic stress is about half of maximum. Static fault friction is constrained at 0.1-0.4, and fluid pressure at 0-0.6 * total pressure on the fault. Additionally, the patterns of topographic stress and slip suggest that topographic normal stress may limit fault slip once failure has occurred. Preliminary results from the 2013 Balochistan earthquake are similar, but yield stronger constraints on the upper limits of maximum tectonic stress, as well as tight constraints on the magnitude of minimum tectonic stress and stress orientation. Work in progress on the Wasatch fault suggests that maximum tectonic stress may also be able to be constrained, and that some of the shallow rupture segmentation may be due in part to localized topographic loading. Future directions of this work include regions where high relief influences fault kinematics (such as Tibet).

Structural evolution of the Mount Wall region in the Hamersley province, Western Australia and its control on hydrothermal alteration and formation of high-grade iron deposits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalstra, Hilke J.

2014-10-01

The discovery of two relatively small but high-grade iron ore deposits near Mt Wall, an intensely faulted part of the southwestern Hamersley province provides unique insights into the structural control on ore formation in this region. The deposits have many geological features typical of the high grade microplaty hematite group which also contains the much larger Mt Tom Price, Paraburdoo and Mt Whaleback deposits. The deposits are structurally controlled along early normal faults and contain abundant microplaty hematite and martite, and are largely confined to the Dales Gorge member of the Brockman Iron Formation. In addition to the microplaty hematite-martite ore, there are martite-goethite ores and rare magnetite-goethite or magnetite-hematite ores. Below the modern weathering surface, hydrothermally altered zones in wallrock BIF from the Lower Dales Gorge member contain magnetite, hematite and carbonate/talc bearing mineral assemblages. A staged ore genesis model involving early extension and fluid circulation along normal faults, hypogene silica leaching and carbonate alteration, followed by deep meteoric oxidation with microplaty hematite formation and finally weathering can explain most features of the Mt Wall deposits. The role of deformation was to provide pathways for mineralising fluids and initiate the seed points for the mineralised systems. High grade iron in the Wellthandalthaluna deposit is situated between the NW to NNW trending Boolgeeda Creek fault and a synthetic joining splay, the Northern fault. Both are high angle normal faults and formed during early extension in this part of the province. Faults are characterised by localised small scale deformation and brecciation, deep carbonate alteration and oxidation. Recent weathering has penetrated deeply into the fault zones, converting the carbonate-rich assemblages into goethite. Mineralisation in the Arochar deposit is situated in the overlap or relay zone between two segments of the Mt Wall fault zone, a moderately to steeply southerly dipping normal fault system which at Arochar is intruded by dolerite dykes. At both locations, the ore controlling faults are offset by later NW trending dextral and normal faults. Fault relay zones or fault splay zones were likely zones of increased permeability and fluid flow during fault development or reactivation and may also have been important in initiating mineralisation in larger deposits such as Mt Tom Price and Mt Whaleback. However structural controls on the largest iron ore deposits are often obscured due to the intensity and scale of ore development, whereas they are better preserved in the smaller deposits. Recognition that carbonate bearing protores at Mt Wall survived for nearly two billion years until intense recent weathering converted them to martite-goethite or magnetite-goethite ores may imply that more of the giant hematite-goethite deposits of the Hamersley province had hydrothermal precursors and were not formed by supergene processes alone.

Seismicity and Structure of the Incoming Pacific Plate Subducting into the Japan Trench off Miyagi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Obana, K.; Fujie, G.; Kodaira, S.; Takahashi, T.; Yamamoto, Y.; Sato, T.; Yamashita, M.; Nakamura, Y.; Miura, S.

2015-12-01

Stresses within the oceanic plate in trench axis and outer-rise region have been characterized by shallow extension and deep compression due to the bending of the plate subducting into the trench. The stress state within the incoming/subducting oceanic plate is an important factor not only for the occurrence of shallow intraplate normal-faulting earthquakes in the trench-outer rise region but also the hydration of the oceanic plate through the shallow normal faults cutting the oceanic lithosphere. We investigate seismic velocity structure and stress state within the incoming/subducting Pacific Plate in the Japan Trench based on the OBS aftershock observations for the December 2012 intraplate doublet, which consists of a deep reverse faulting (Mw 7.2) and a shallow normal faulting (Mw 7.2) earthquake, in the Japan Trench off Miyagi. Hypocenter locations and seismic velocity structures were estimated from the arrival time data of about 3000 earthquakes by using double-difference tomography method (Zhang and Thurber, 2003). Also, focal mechanisms were estimated from first motion polarities by using the program HASH by Hardebeck and Shearer (2002). The results show that the earthquakes occurred mainly within the oceanic crust and the uppermost mantle. The deepest event was located at a depth of about 60 km. Focal mechanisms of the earthquakes shallower than a depth of 40 km indicate normal-faulting with T-axis normal to the trench. On the other hand, first motion polarities of the events at depths between 50 and 60 km can be explained a reverse faulting. The results suggest that the neutral plane of the stress between shallow extension and deep compression locates at 40 to 50 km deep. Seismic velocity structures indicate velocity decrease in the oceanic mantle toward the trench. Although the velocity decrease varies with locations, the results suggest the bending-related structure change could extend to at least about 15 km below the oceanic Moho in some locations.

Earthquake Nucleation on Faults With Heterogeneous Frictional Properties, Normal Stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ray, Sohom; Viesca, Robert C.

2017-10-01

We examine the development of an instability of fault slip rate. We consider a slip rate and state dependence of fault frictional strength, in which frictional properties and normal stress are functions of position. We pose the problem for a slip rate distribution that diverges quasi-statically within finite time in a self-similar fashion. Scenarios of property variations are considered and the corresponding self-similar solutions found. We focus on variations of coefficients, a and b, respectively, controlling the magnitude of a direct effect on strength due to instantaneous changes in slip rate and of strength evolution due to changes in a state variable. These results readily extend to variations in fault-normal stress, σ, or the characteristic slip distance for state evolution, Dc. We find that heterogeneous properties lead to a finite number of self-similar solutions, located about critical points of the distributions: maxima, minima, and between them. We examine the stability of these solutions and find that only a subset is asymptotically stable, occurring at just one of the critical point types. Such stability implies that during instability development, slip rate and state evolution can be attracted to develop in the manner of the self-similar solution, which is also confirmed by solutions to initial value problems for slip rate and state. A quasi-static slip rate divergence is ultimately limited by inertia, leading to the nucleation of an outward expanding dynamic rupture: asymptotic stability of self-similar solutions then implies preferential sites for earthquake nucleation, which are determined by distribution of frictional properties.

Surface Morphology of Active Normal Faults in Hard Rock: Implications for the Mechanics of the Asal Rift, Djibouti

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinzuti, P.; Mignan, A.; King, G. C.

2009-12-01

Mechanical stretching models have been previously proposed to explain the process of continental break-up through the example of the Asal Rift, Djibouti, one of the few places where the early stages of seafloor spreading can be observed. In these models, deformation is distributed starting at the base of a shallow seismogenic zone, in which sub-vertical normal faults are responsible for subsidence whereas cracks accommodate extension. Alternative models suggest that extension results from localized magma injection, with normal faults accommodating extension and subsidence above the maximum reach of the magma column. In these magmatic intrusion models, normal faults have dips of 45-55° and root into dikes. Using mechanical and kinematics concepts and vertical profiles of normal fault scarps from an Asal Rift campaign, where normal faults are sub-vertical on surface level, we discuss the creation and evolution of normal faults in massive fractured rocks (basalt). We suggest that the observed fault scarps correspond to sub-vertical en echelon structures and that at greater depth, these scarps combine and give birth to dipping normal faults. Finally, the geometry of faulting between the Fieale volcano and Lake Asal in the Asal Rift can be simply related to the depth of diking, which in turn can be related to magma supply. This new view supports the magmatic intrusion model of early stages of continental breaking.

Surface morphology of active normal faults in hard rock: Implications for the mechanics of the Asal Rift, Djibouti

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinzuti, Paul; Mignan, Arnaud; King, Geoffrey C. P.

2010-10-01

Tectonic-stretching models have been previously proposed to explain the process of continental break-up through the example of the Asal Rift, Djibouti, one of the few places where the early stages of seafloor spreading can be observed. In these models, deformation is distributed starting at the base of a shallow seismogenic zone, in which sub-vertical normal faults are responsible for subsidence whereas cracks accommodate extension. Alternative models suggest that extension results from localised magma intrusion, with normal faults accommodating extension and subsidence only above the maximum reach of the magma column. In these magmatic rifting models, or so-called magmatic intrusion models, normal faults have dips of 45-55° and root into dikes. Vertical profiles of normal fault scarps from levelling campaign in the Asal Rift, where normal faults seem sub-vertical at surface level, have been analysed to discuss the creation and evolution of normal faults in massive fractured rocks (basalt lava flows), using mechanical and kinematics concepts. We show that the studied normal fault planes actually have an average dip ranging between 45° and 65° and are characterised by an irregular stepped form. We suggest that these normal fault scarps correspond to sub-vertical en echelon structures, and that, at greater depth, these scarps combine and give birth to dipping normal faults. The results of our analysis are compatible with the magmatic intrusion models instead of tectonic-stretching models. The geometry of faulting between the Fieale volcano and Lake Asal in the Asal Rift can be simply related to the depth of diking, which in turn can be related to magma supply. This new view supports the magmatic intrusion model of early stages of continental breaking.

A Classification of Geometric Styles for Paleoseismic Trenches across Normal Faults in the North Island, New Zealand: An Interplay between Tectonic and Erosional/Depositional Processes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villamor, P.; Berryman, K.; Langridge, R.; van Dissen, R.; Persaud, M.; Canora, C.; Nicol, A.; Alloway, B.; Litchfield, N.; Cochran, U.; Stirling, M.; Mouslopoulou, V.; Wilson, K.

2006-12-01

Over the last ~15 years we have excavated 73 trenches across active normal faults in the Taupo and Hauraki Rifts, North Island, New Zealand. The stratigraphy in these trenches is quite similar because of the predominance of volcanic and volcanic-derived deposits, sourced from the active Taupo Volcanic Zone. These deposits, whether alluvial (reworked, mainly volcanics) or volcanic (tephra), are all characterized by relative loose, to moderately loose, medium-size gravel and sands, and cohesive (sticky) clays. The homogeneity of the materials and of the sedimentation rates across these paleoseismic trenches has allowed us to assess the influence of different materials on the faulting style. The predominant types of material, their relative thickness, and their stratigraphic order (e.g. whether cohesive materials are overlying or underlying loose materials) in the trench strongly determine the deformation style when subjected to normal faulting. However, the final geometric relation between the sedimentary layers and the faults also depends on the sediment depositional environment (e.g., alluvial vs air fall deposition), the fault dip, and cumulative displacement (i.e., the size of the scarp). For example, the cumulative displacement of the fault conditions the amount of erosion/deposition at/derived from the scarp itself. When we combine observations from the tectonic deformation style and from geometries derived from erosional/depositional processes, we can define at least five "geometric styles" present in paleoseismic trenches in our study area: 1) folding, where the fault does not reach the upper layers, and relative displacement of the fault walls is achieved by folding (dragging of the layer); 2) folding-large cracks, where relative movement of the fault walls is achieved by folding and opening of large fissures; 3) faulting, the most common style where a layer is displaced along the fault plane; 4) faulting- erosion, similar to the previous style but with larger cumulative displacements which cause large amounts of erosion and/or deposition at the fault scarp; and 5) faulting-toppling, when due to gravitational forces the materials on the up-thrown side of the fault topple towards the downthrown side causing rotation of the fault plane itself, which induces a geometry of "false reverse fault". These observations can be used to analyze the criteria to identify individual earthquakes within each "geometric style". We present examples from New Zealand to describe the "geometric styles", their faulting criteria and the uncertainties associated with these criteria.

Deformation associated with continental normal faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Resor, Phillip G.

Deformation associated with normal fault earthquakes and geologic structures provide insights into the seismic cycle as it unfolds over time scales from seconds to millions of years. Improved understanding of normal faulting will lead to more accurate seismic hazard assessments and prediction of associated structures. High-precision aftershock locations for the 1995 Kozani-Grevena earthquake (Mw 6.5), Greece image a segmented master fault and antithetic faults. This three-dimensional fault geometry is typical of normal fault systems mapped from outcrop or interpreted from reflection seismic data and illustrates the importance of incorporating three-dimensional fault geometry in mechanical models. Subsurface fault slip associated with the Kozani-Grevena and 1999 Hector Mine (Mw 7.1) earthquakes is modeled using a new method for slip inversion on three-dimensional fault surfaces. Incorporation of three-dimensional fault geometry improves the fit to the geodetic data while honoring aftershock distributions and surface ruptures. GPS Surveying of deformed bedding surfaces associated with normal faulting in the western Grand Canyon reveals patterns of deformation that are similar to those observed by interferometric satellite radar interferometry (InSAR) for the Kozani Grevena earthquake with a prominent down-warp in the hanging wall and a lesser up-warp in the footwall. However, deformation associated with the Kozani-Grevena earthquake extends ˜20 km from the fault surface trace, while the folds in the western Grand Canyon only extend 500 m into the footwall and 1500 m into the hanging wall. A comparison of mechanical and kinematic models illustrates advantages of mechanical models in exploring normal faulting processes including incorporation of both deformation and causative forces, and the opportunity to incorporate more complex fault geometry and constitutive properties. Elastic models with antithetic or synthetic faults or joints in association with a master normal fault illustrate how these secondary structures influence the deformation in ways that are similar to fault/fold geometry mapped in the western Grand Canyon. Specifically, synthetic faults amplify hanging wall bedding dips, antithetic faults reduce dips, and joints act to localize deformation. The distribution of aftershocks in the hanging wall of the Kozani-Grevena earthquake suggests that secondary structures may accommodate strains associated with slip on a master fault during postseismic deformation.

Thick deltaic sedimentation and detachment faulting delay the onset of continental rupture in the Northern Gulf of California: Analysis of seismic reflection profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín-Barajas, Arturo; González-Escobar, Mario; Fletcher, John M.; Pacheco, Martín.; Oskin, Michael; Dorsey, Rebecca

2013-09-01

transition from distributed continental extension to the rupture of continental lithosphere is imaged in the northern Gulf of California across the obliquely conjugate Tiburón-Upper Delfin basin segment. Structural mapping on a 5-20 km grid of seismic reflection lines of Petroleos Mexicanos demonstrates that ~1000% extension is accommodated on a series of NNE striking listric-normal faults that merge at depth into a detachment fault. The detachment juxtaposes a late-Neogene marine sequence over thinned continental crust and contains an intrabasinal divide due to footwall uplift. Two northwest striking, dextral-oblique faults bound both ends of the detachment and shear the continental crust parallel to the tectonic transport. A regional unconformity in the upper 0.5 s (two-way travel time) and crest erosion of rollover anticlines above the detachment indicates inversion and footwall uplift during the lithospheric rupture in the Upper Delfin and Lower Delfin basins. The maximum length of new crust in both Delfin basins is less than 40 km based on the lack of an acoustic basement and the absence of a lower sedimentary sequence beneath a wedge-shaped upper sequence that reaches >5 km in thickness. A fundamental difference exists between the Tiburón-Delfin segment and the Guaymas segment to the south in terms of presence of low-angle normal faults and amount of new oceanic lithosphere, which we attribute to thermal insulation, diffuse upper-plate extension, and slip on low-angle normal faults engendered by a thick sedimentary lid.

Thick deltaic sedimentation and detachment faulting delay the onset of continental rupture in the Northern Gulf of California: Analysis of seismic reflection profiles

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, A.; González-Escobar, M.; Fletcher, J. M.; Pacheco, M.; Oskin, M. E.; Dorsey, R. J.

2013-12-01

The transition from distributed continental extension to the rupture of continental lithosphere is imaged in the northern Gulf of California across the obliquely conjugate Tiburón-Upper Delfín basin segment. Structural mapping on a 5-20 km grid of seismic reflection lines of Petroleos Mexicanos (PEMEX) demonstrates that ~1000% extension is accommodated on a series of NNE-striking listric-normal faults that merge at depth into a detachment fault. The detachment juxtaposes a late-Neogene marine sequence over thinned continental crust and contains an intrabasinal divide due to footwall uplift. Two northwest striking, dextral-oblique faults bound both ends of the detachment and shear the continental crust parallel to the tectonic transport. A regional unconformity in the upper 0.5 seconds (TWTT) and crest erosion of rollover anticlines above the detachment indicates inversion and footwall uplift during the lithospheric rupture in the Upper Delfin and Lower Delfin basins. The maximum length of new crust in both Delfin basins is less than 40 km based on the lack of an acoustic basement and the absence of a lower sedimentary sequence beneath a wedge shaped upper sequence that reaches >5 km in thickness. A fundamental difference exists between the Tiburón-Delfin segment and the Guaymas segment to the south in terms of presence of low angle normal faults and amount of new oceanic lithosphere, which we attribute to thermal insulation, diffuse upper-plate extension, and slip on low angle normal faults engendered by a thick sedimentary lid.

Effective stress, friction and deep crustal faulting

USGS Publications Warehouse

Beeler, N.M.; Hirth, Greg; Thomas, Amanda M.; Burgmann, Roland

2016-01-01

Studies of crustal faulting and rock friction invariably assume the effective normal stress that determines fault shear resistance during frictional sliding is the applied normal stress minus the pore pressure. Here we propose an expression for the effective stress coefficient αf at temperatures and stresses near the brittle-ductile transition (BDT) that depends on the percentage of solid-solid contact area across the fault. αf varies with depth and is only near 1 when the yield strength of asperity contacts greatly exceeds the applied normal stress. For a vertical strike-slip quartz fault zone at hydrostatic pore pressure and assuming 1 mm and 1 km shear zone widths for friction and ductile shear, respectively, the BDT is at ~13 km. αf near 1 is restricted to depths where the shear zone is narrow. Below the BDT αf = 0 is due to a dramatically decreased strain rate. Under these circumstances friction cannot be reactivated below the BDT by increasing the pore pressure alone and requires localization. If pore pressure increases and the fault localizes back to 1 mm, then brittle behavior can occur to a depth of around 35 km. The interdependencies among effective stress, contact-scale strain rate, and pore pressure allow estimates of the conditions necessary for deep low-frequency seismicity seen on the San Andreas near Parkfield and in some subduction zones. Among the implications are that shear in the region separating shallow earthquakes and deep low-frequency seismicity is distributed and that the deeper zone involves both elevated pore fluid pressure and localization.

Seismic influence in the Quaternary uplift of the Central Chile coastal margin, preliminary results.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valdivia, D.; del Valle, F.; Marquardt, C.; Elgueta, S.

2017-12-01

In order to quantify the influence of NW striking potentially seismogenic normal faults over the longitudinal variation of the Central Chile Coastal margin uplift, we measured Quaternary marine terraces, which represent the tectonic uplift of the coastal margin. Movement in margin oblique normal faults occurs by co-seismic extension of major subduction earthquakes and has occurred in the Pichilemu fault, generating a 7.0 Mw earthquake after the 2010 8.8 Mw Maule earthquake.The coastal area between 32° and 34° S was selected due to the presence of a well-preserved sequence of 2 to 5 Quaternary marine terraces. In particular, the margin oblique normal NW-trending, SW-dipping Laguna Verde fault, south of Valparaiso (33° S) puts in contact contrasting morphologies: to the south, a flat coast with wide marine terraces is carved in both, Jurassic plutonic rocks and Neogene semi-consolidated marine sediments; to the north, a steeper scarp with narrower marine terraces, over 120 m above the corresponding ones in the southern coast, is carved in Jurassic plutonic rocks.We have collected over 6 months microseimic data, providing information on seismic activity and underground geometry of the Laguna Verde fault. We collected ca. 100 systematic measurements of fringes at the base of paleo coastal scarps through field mapping and a 5 m digital elevation model. These fringes mark the maximum sea level during the terrace's carving.The heights of these fringes range between 0 and 250 masl. We estimate a 0.7 mm/yr slip rate for the Laguna Verde fault based on the height difference between corresponding terraces north- and southward, with an average uplift rate of 0.3 mm/yr for the whole area.NW striking normal faults, besides representing a potential seismic threat to the near population on one of the most densely populated areas of Chile, heavily controls the spatial variation of the coastal margin uplift. In Laguna Verde, the uplift rate differs more than three times northward of the fault.

On the physics-based processes behind production-induced seismicity in natural gas fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zbinden, Dominik; Rinaldi, Antonio Pio; Urpi, Luca; Wiemer, Stefan

2017-05-01

Induced seismicity due to natural gas production is observed at different sites worldwide. Common understanding states that the pressure drop caused by gas production leads to compaction, which affects the stress field in the reservoir and the surrounding rock formations and hence reactivates preexisting faults and induces earthquakes. In this study, we show that the multiphase fluid flow involved in natural gas extraction activities should be included. We use a fully coupled fluid flow and geomechanics simulator, which accounts for stress-dependent permeability and linear poroelasticity, to better determine the conditions leading to fault reactivation. In our model setup, gas is produced from a porous reservoir, divided into two compartments that are offset by a normal fault. Results show that fluid flow plays a major role in pore pressure and stress evolution within the fault. Fault strength is significantly reduced due to fluid flow into the fault zone from the neighboring reservoir compartment and other formations. We also analyze scenarios for minimizing seismicity after a period of production, such as (i) well shut-in and (ii) gas reinjection. In the case of well shut-in, a highly stressed fault zone can still be reactivated several decades after production has ceased, although on average the shut-in results in a reduction in seismicity. In the case of gas reinjection, fault reactivation can be avoided if gas is injected directly into the compartment under depletion. However, gas reinjection into a neighboring compartment does not stop the fault from being reactivated.

Elastic stress transfer as a diffusive process due to aseismic fault slip in response to fluid injection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Viesca, R. C.

2015-12-01

Subsurface fluid injection is often followed by observations of an enlarging cloud of microseismicity. The cloud's diffusive growth is thought to be a direct response to the diffusion of elevated pore fluid pressure reaching pre-stressed faults, triggering small instabilities; the observed high rates of this growth are interpreted to reflect a relatively high permeability of a fractured subsurface [e.g., Shapiro, GJI 1997]. We investigate an alternative mechanism for growing a microseismic cloud: the elastic transfer of stress due to slow, aseismic slip on a subset of the pre-existing faults in this damaged subsurface. We show that the growth of the slipping region of the fault may be self-similar in a diffusive manner. While this slip is driven by fluid injection, we show that, for critically stressed faults, the apparent diffusion of this slow slip may quickly exceed the poroelastically driven diffusion of the elevated pore fluid pressure. Under these conditions, microseismicity can be first triggered by the off-fault stress perturbation due to the expanding region of slip on principal faults. This provides an alternative interpretation of diffusive growth rates in terms of the subsurface stress state rather than an enhanced hydraulic diffusivity. That such aseismic slip may occur, outpace fluid diffusion, and in turn trigger microseismic events, is also suggested by on- and near-fault observations in past and recently reported fluid injection experiments [e.g., Cornet et al., PAGEOPH 1997; Guglielmi et al., Science 2015]. The model of injection-induced slip assumes elastic off-fault behavior and a fault strength determined by the product of a constant friction coefficient and the local effective normal stress. The sliding region is enlarged by the pore pressure increase resolved on the fault plane. Remarkably, the rate of self-similar expansion may be determined by a single parameter reflecting both the initial stress state and the magnitude of the pore pressure increase.

Dilational processes accompanying earthquakes in the Long Valley Caldera

USGS Publications Warehouse

Dreger, Douglas S.; Tkalcic, Hrvoje; Johnston, M.

2000-01-01

Regional distance seismic moment tensor determinations and broadband waveforms of moment magnitude 4.6 to 4.9 earthquakes from a November 1997 Long Valley Caldera swarm, during an inflation episode, display evidence of anomalous seismic radiation characterized by non-double couple (NDC) moment tensors with significant volumetric components. Observed coseismic dilation suggests that hydrothermal or magmatic processes are directly triggering some of the seismicity in the region. Similarity in the NDC solutions implies a common source process, and the anomalous events may have been triggered by net fault-normal stress reduction due to high-pressure fluid injection or pressurization of fluid-saturated faults due to magmatic heating.

Pore Pressure Evolution in Shallow Subduction Earthquake Sequences and Effects on Aseismic Slip Transients -- Numerical Modeling With Rate and State Friction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Y.; Rice, J. R.

2005-12-01

In 3D modeling of long tectonic loading and earthquake sequences on a shallow subduction fault [Liu and Rice, 2005], with depth-variable rate and state friction properties, we found that aseismic transient slip episodes emerge spontaneously with only a simplified representation of effects of metamorphic fluid release. That involved assumption of a constant in time but uniformly low effective normal stress in the downdip region. As suggested by observations in several major subduction zones [Obara, 2002; Rogers and Dragert, 2003; Kodaira et al, 2004], the presence of fluids, possibly released from dehydration reactions beneath the seismogenic zone, and their pressurization within the fault zone may play an important role in causing aseismic transients and associated non-volcanic tremors. To investigate the effects of fluids in the subduction zone, particularly on the generation of aseismic transients and their various features, we develop a more complete physical description of the pore pressure evolution (specifically, pore pressure increase due to supply from dehydration reactions and shear heating, decrease due to transport and dilatancy during slip), and incorporate that into the rate and state based 3D modeling. We first incorporated two important factors, dilatancy and shear heating, following Segall and Rice [1995, 2004] and Taylor [1998]. In the 2D simulations (slip varies with depth only), a dilatancy-stabilizing effect is seen which slows down the seismic rupture front and can prevent rapid slip from extending all the way to the trench, similarly to Taylor [1998]. Shear heating increases the pore pressure, and results in faster coseismic rupture propagation and larger final slips. In the 3D simulations, dilatancy also stabilizes the along-strike rupture propagation of both seismic and aseismic slips. That is, aseismic slip transients migrate along the strike faster with a shorter Tp (the characteristic time for pore pressure in the fault core to re-equilibrate with that of its surroundings). This is consistent with our previous simulations, which show that the aseismic transients migrate along the strike at a higher speed under a lower, constant in time, effective normal stress. As a combination of the two factors, we show the pore pressure evolution with drops (due to dilatancy during slip) and then rises (due to shear heating) on the fault over multiple time scales. We next plan to formulate, and merge with the slip-rupture analysis, fuller fluid release models based on phase equilibria and models of transport in which the average fault-parallel permeability is a decreasing function of the effective normal stress. The thrust fault zone, at seismogenic depths and slightly downdip, is represented in a conceptually similar manner to the well-studied major continental faults, assuming the fault core materials have a lower permeability than the neighboring damaged zone. Heat diffusion in the fault core and damaged zone will also be considered in the modeling. The simulation results may help to improve our understanding of the processes of the aseismic transients observed within a transform plate boundary along the SAF near Cholame, California [Nadeau and Dolenc, 2005].

Temporal changes in stress preceding the 2004-2008 eruption of Mount St. Helens, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lehto, H.L.; Roman, D.C.; Moran, S.C.

2010-01-01

The 2004-2008 eruption of Mount St. Helens (MSH), Washington, was preceded by a swarm of shallow volcano-tectonic earthquakes (VTs) that began on September 23, 2004. We calculated locations and fault-plane solutions (FPS) for shallow VTs recorded during a background period (January 1999 to July 2004) and during the early vent-clearing phase (September 23 to 29, 2004) of the 2004-2008 eruption. FPS show normal and strike-slip faulting during the background period and on September 23; strike-slip and reverse faulting on September 24; and a mixture of strike-slip, reverse, and normal faulting on September 25-29. The orientation of ??1 beneath MSH, as estimated from stress tensor inversions, was found to be sub-horizontal for all periods and oriented NE-SW during the background period, NW-SE on September 24, and NE-SW on September 25-29. We suggest that the ephemeral ~90?? change in ??1 orientation was due to intrusion and inflation of a NE-SW-oriented dike in the shallow crust prior to the eruption onset. ?? 2010 Elsevier B.V.

Novel Coupled Thermochronometric and Geochemical Investigation of Blind Geothermal Resources in Fault-Controlled Dilational Corners

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Stockli, Daniel

Geothermal plays in extensional and transtensional tectonic environments have long been a major target in the exploration of geothermal resources and the Dixie Valley area has served as a classic natural laboratory for this type of geothermal plays. In recent years, the interactions between normal faults and strike-slip faults, acting either as strain relay zones have attracted significant interest in geothermal exploration as they commonly result in fault-controlled dilational corners with enhanced fracture permeability and thus have the potential to host blind geothermal prospects. Structural ambiguity, complications in fault linkage, etc. often make the selection for geothermal exploration drilling targetsmore » complicated and risky. Though simplistic, the three main ingredients of a viable utility-grade geothermal resource are heat, fluids, and permeability. Our new geological mapping and fault kinematic analysis derived a structural model suggest a two-stage structural evolution with (a) middle Miocene N -S trending normal faults (faults cutting across the modern range), - and tiling Olio-Miocene volcanic and sedimentary sequences (similar in style to East Range and S Stillwater Range). NE-trending range-front normal faulting initiated during the Pliocene and are both truncating N-S trending normal faults and reactivating some former normal faults in a right-lateral fashion. Thus the two main fundamental differences to previous structural models are (1) N-S trending faults are pre-existing middle Miocene normal faults and (2) these faults are reactivated in a right-later fashion (NOT left-lateral) and kinematically linked to the younger NE-trending range-bounding normal faults (Pliocene in age). More importantly, this study provides the first constraints on transient fluid flow through the novel application of apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) and 4He/ 3He thermochronometry in the geothermally active Dixie Valley area in Nevada.« less

Normal block faulting in the Airport Graben, Managua pull-apart rift, Nicaragua: gravity and magnetic constraints

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Campos-Enriquez, J. O.; Zambrana Arias, X.; Keppie, D.; Ramón Márquez, V.

2012-12-01

Regional scale models have been proposed for the Nicaraguan depression: 1) parallel rifting of the depression (and volcanic front) due to roll back of the underlying subducted Cocos plate; 2) right-lateral strike-slip faulting parallel to the depression and locally offset by pull-apart basins; 3) right-lateral strike-slip faulting parallel to the depression and offset by left-lateral transverse or bookshelf faults. At an intermediate scale, Funk et al. (2011) interpret the depression as half graben type structures. The E-W Airport graben lies in the southeastern part of the Managua graben (Nicaragua), across which the active Central American volcanic arc is dextrally offset, possibly the result of a subducted transform fault where the subduction angle changes. The Managua graben lies within the late Quaternary Nicaragua depression produced by backarc rifting during roll back of the Middle American Trench. The Managua graben formed as a pull-apart rift associated with dextral bookshelf faulting during dextral shear between the forearc and arc and is the locus of two historical, large earthquakes that destroyed the city of Managua. In order to asses future earthquake risk, four E-W gravity and magnetic profiles were undertaken to determine its structure across the Airport graben, which is bounded by the Cofradia and Airport fault zones, to the east and west, respectively. These data indicated the presence of a series of normal faults bounding down-thrown and up-thrown fault blocks and a listric normal fault, Sabana Grande Fault. The models imply that this area has been subjected to tectonic extension. These faults appear to be part of the bookshelf suite and will probably be the locus of future earthquakes, which could destroy the airport and surrounding part of Managua. Three regional SW-NE gravity profiles running from the Pacific Ocean up to the Caribbean See indicate a change in crustal structure: from north to south the crust thins. According to these regional crustal models the offset observed in the Volcanic Front around the Nicaragua Lake is associated with a weakness zone related with: 1) this N-S change in crustal structure, 2) to the subduction angle of the Cocos plate, and 3) to the distance to the Middle America Trench (i.e. the location of the mantle wedge). As mentioned above a subducted transform fault might have given rise to this crustal discontinuity.

Long streamer waveform tomography imaging of the Sanak Basin, Alaska subduction zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roche, Pierre-Henri; Delescluse, Matthias; Becel, Anne; Nedimovic, Mladen; Shillington, Donna; Webb, Spahr; Kuehn, Harold

2017-04-01

The Alaska subduction zone is prone to large megathrust earthquakes, including several large tsunamigenic events in the historical record (e.g. the 1964 Mw 9.2 and the 1946 Mw 8.6 earthquakes). Along the Alaska Peninsula trench, seismic coupling varies from fully locked to the east to weakly coupled to the West, with apparent aseismic slip in the Shumagin Gap and Unimak rupture zone. Overlapping the Shumagin gap and the Unimak area, the Sanak basin is a Miocene basin formed by a large-scale normal fault recently imaged by the ALEUT 2011 cruise and clearly rooting in the subduction interface at 30 km depth (Becel et al., submitted). Recent activity on this normal fault is detected at the seafloor of the Sanak Basin by a 5 m scarp in the multibeam bathymetry data. As this normal fault may be associated with faults involved in the 1946 tsunami earthquake, it is particularly important to try to decipher its history in the Sanak basin, where sediments record the fault activity. MCS data processing and interpretation shows evidence for the activity of the fault from Miocene to recent geological times. Very limited knowledge of the sedimentation rates and ages as well as complexities due to submarine landslides and channel depositions make it difficult to quantify the present day fault activity with respect to the Miocene fault activity. In addition, the mechanical behaviour of a normal splay fault system requires low to zero effective friction and probably involves fluids. High-resolution seismic velocity imaging can help with both the interpretation of complex sedimentary deposition and fluid detection. To obtain such a high resolution velocity field, we use two 45-km-long MCS profiles from the ALEUT 2011 cruise acquired with an 8-km-long streamer towed at 12 m depth to enhance low frequencies with shots fired from a large, tuned airgun array (6600 cu.in.). The two profiles extend from the shelf break to mid slope and encompass the normal splay fault emerging at 1 km water depth. At these depths, refracted arrivals are recorded on the second half of the streamer and a traveltime tomography inversion of the first refracted arrivals is possible. To quantify the uncertainties of the inversion results, starting from a smoothed RMS velocity model from the reflection data analysis, we perform a Monte-Carlo analysis using 360 randomly perturbed initial models and perturbed traveltime picks. We use the converging models as input for a Monte-Carlo analysis of acoustic frequency domain waveform tomography. We show that the model resolution is high in the faulted area ( 100m) and the uncertainty is low. We image a complex pattern of low velocities around and away from the fault corresponding to mass transport deposits and possible fluid flow through the fault, in agreement with low reflectivity of the multibeam data and the presence of pockmarks.

Possible strain partitioning structure between the Kumano fore-arc basin and the slope of the Nankai Trough accretionary prism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, Kylara M.; Gulick, Sean P. S.; Bangs, Nathan L. B.; Moore, Gregory F.; Ashi, Juichiro; Park, Jin-Oh; Kuramoto, Shin'ichi; Taira, Asahiko

2010-05-01

A 12 km wide, 56 km long, three-dimensional (3-D) seismic volume acquired over the Nankai Trough offshore the Kii Peninsula, Japan, images the accretionary prism, fore-arc basin, and subducting Philippine Sea Plate. We have analyzed an unusual, trench-parallel depression (a "notch") along the seaward edge of the fore-arc Kumano Basin, just landward of the megasplay fault system. This bathymetric feature varies along strike, from a single, steep-walled, ˜3.5 km wide notch in the northeast to a broader, ˜5 km wide zone with several shallower linear depressions in the southwest. Below the notch we found both vertical faults and faults which dip toward the central axis of the depression. Dipping faults appear to have normal offset, consistent with the extension required to form a bathymetric low. Some of these dipping faults may join the central vertical fault(s) at depth, creating apparent flower structures. Offset on the vertical faults is difficult to determine, but the along-strike geometry of these faults makes predominantly normal or thrust motion unlikely. We conclude, therefore, that the notch feature is the bathymetric expression of a transtensional fault system. By considering only the along-strike variability of the megasplay fault, we could not explain a transform feature at the scale of the notch. Strike-slip faulting at the seaward edge of fore-arc basins is also observed in Sumatra and is there attributed to strain partitioning due to oblique convergence. The wedge and décollement strength variations which control the location of the fore-arc basins may therefore play a role in the position where an along-strike component of strain is localized. While the obliquity of convergence in the Nankai Trough is comparatively small (˜15°), we believe it generated the Kumano Basin Edge Fault Zone, which has implications for interpreting local measured stress orientations and suggests potential locations for strain-partitioning-related deformation in other subduction zones.

Earthquake Clustering on Normal Faults: Insight from Rate-and-State Friction Models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Biemiller, J.; Lavier, L. L.; Wallace, L.

2016-12-01

Temporal variations in slip rate on normal faults have been recognized in Hawaii and the Basin and Range. The recurrence intervals of these slip transients range from 2 years on the flanks of Kilauea, Hawaii to 10 kyr timescale earthquake clustering on the Wasatch Fault in the eastern Basin and Range. In addition to these longer recurrence transients in the Basin and Range, recent GPS results there also suggest elevated deformation rate events with recurrence intervals of 2-4 years. These observations suggest that some active normal fault systems are dominated by slip behaviors that fall between the end-members of steady aseismic creep and periodic, purely elastic, seismic-cycle deformation. Recent studies propose that 200 year to 50 kyr timescale supercycles may control the magnitude, timing, and frequency of seismic-cycle earthquakes in subduction zones, where aseismic slip transients are known to play an important role in total deformation. Seismic cycle deformation of normal faults may be similarly influenced by its timing within long-period supercycles. We present numerical models (based on rate-and-state friction) of normal faults such as the Wasatch Fault showing that realistic rate-and-state parameter distributions along an extensional fault zone can give rise to earthquake clusters separated by 500 yr - 5 kyr periods of aseismic slip transients on some portions of the fault. The recurrence intervals of events within each earthquake cluster range from 200 to 400 years. Our results support the importance of stress and strain history as controls on a normal fault's present and future slip behavior and on the characteristics of its current seismic cycle. These models suggest that long- to medium-term fault slip history may influence the temporal distribution, recurrence interval, and earthquake magnitudes for a given normal fault segment.

Spatiotemporal analysis of Quaternary normal faults in the Northern Rocky Mountains, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davarpanah, A.; Babaie, H. A.; Reed, P.

2010-12-01

The mid-Tertiary Basin-and-Range extensional tectonic event developed most of the normal faults that bound the ranges in the northern Rocky Mountains within Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho. The interaction of the thermally induced stress field of the Yellowstone hot spot with the existing Basin-and-Range fault blocks, during the last 15 my, has produced a new, spatially and temporally variable system of normal faults in these areas. The orientation and spatial distribution of the trace of these hot-spot induced normal faults, relative to earlier Basin-and-Range faults, have significant implications for the effect of the temporally varying and spatially propagating thermal dome on the growth of new hot spot related normal faults and reactivation of existing Basin-and-Range faults. Digitally enhanced LANDSAT 7 Enhanced Thematic Mapper Plus (ETM+) and Landsat 4 and 5 Thematic Mapper (TM) bands, with spatial resolution of 30 m, combined with analytical GIS and geological techniques helped in determining and analyzing the lineaments and traces of the Quaternary, thermally-induced normal faults in the study area. Applying the color composite (CC) image enhancement technique, the combination of bands 3, 2 and 1 of the ETM+ and TM images was chosen as the best statistical choice to create a color composite for lineament identification. The spatiotemporal analysis of the Quaternary normal faults produces significant information on the structural style, timing, spatial variation, spatial density, and frequency of the faults. The seismic Quaternary normal faults, in the whole study area, are divided, based on their age, into four specific sets, which from oldest to youngest include: Quaternary (>1.6 Ma), middle and late Quaternary (>750 ka), latest Quaternary (>15 ka), and the last 150 years. A density map for the Quaternary faults reveals that most active faults are near the current Yellowstone National Park area (YNP), where most seismically active faults, in the past 1.6 my, are located. The GIS based autocorrelation method, applied to the trace orientation, length, frequency, and spatial distribution for each age-defined fault set, revealed spatial homogeneity for each specific set. The results of the method of Moran`sI and Geary`s C show no spatial autocorrelation among the trend of the fault traces and their location. Our results suggest that while lineaments of similar age define a clustered pattern in each domain, the overall distribution pattern of lineaments with different ages seems to be non-uniform (random). The directional distribution analysis reveals a distinct range of variation for fault traces of different ages (i.e., some displaying ellipsis behavior). Among the Quaternary normal fault sets, the youngest lineament set (i.e., last 150 years) defines the greatest ellipticity (eccentricity) and the least lineaments distribution variation. The frequency rose diagram for the entire Quaternary normal faults, shows four major modes (around 360o, 330o, 300o, and 270o), and two minor modes (around 235 and 205).

Simulation Based Earthquake Forecasting with RSQSim

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gilchrist, J. J.; Jordan, T. H.; Dieterich, J. H.; Richards-Dinger, K. B.

2016-12-01

We are developing a physics-based forecasting model for earthquake ruptures in California. We employ the 3D boundary element code RSQSim to generate synthetic catalogs with millions of events that span up to a million years. The simulations incorporate rate-state fault constitutive properties in complex, fully interacting fault systems. The Unified California Earthquake Rupture Forecast Version 3 (UCERF3) model and data sets are used for calibration of the catalogs and specification of fault geometry. Fault slip rates match the UCERF3 geologic slip rates and catalogs are tuned such that earthquake recurrence matches the UCERF3 model. Utilizing the Blue Waters Supercomputer, we produce a suite of million-year catalogs to investigate the epistemic uncertainty in the physical parameters used in the simulations. In particular, values of the rate- and state-friction parameters a and b, the initial shear and normal stress, as well as the earthquake slip speed, are varied over several simulations. In addition to testing multiple models with homogeneous values of the physical parameters, the parameters a, b, and the normal stress are varied with depth as well as in heterogeneous patterns across the faults. Cross validation of UCERF3 and RSQSim is performed within the SCEC Collaboratory for Interseismic Simulation and Modeling (CISM) to determine the affect of the uncertainties in physical parameters observed in the field and measured in the lab, on the uncertainties in probabilistic forecasting. We are particularly interested in the short-term hazards of multi-event sequences due to complex faulting and multi-fault ruptures.

A 3-D view of field-scale fault-zone cementation from geologically ground-truthed electrical resistivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barnes, H.; Spinelli, G. A.; Mozley, P.

2015-12-01

Fault-zones are an important control on fluid flow, affecting groundwater supply, hydrocarbon/contaminant migration, and waste/carbon storage. However, current models of fault seal are inadequate, primarily focusing on juxtaposition and entrainment effects, despite the recognition that fault-zone cementation is common and can dramatically reduce permeability. We map the 3D cementation patterns of the variably cemented Loma Blanca fault from the land surface to ~40 m depth, using electrical resistivity and induced polarization (IP). The carbonate-cemented fault zone is a region of anomalously low normalized chargeability, relative to the surrounding host material. Zones of low-normalized chargeability immediately under the exposed cement provide the first ground-truth that a cemented fault yields an observable IP anomaly. Low-normalized chargeability extends down from the surface exposure, surrounded by zones of high-normalized chargeability, at an orientation consistent with normal faults in the region; this likely indicates cementation of the fault zone at depth, which could be confirmed by drilling and coring. Our observations are consistent with: 1) the expectation that carbonate cement in a sandstone should lower normalized chargeability by reducing pore-surface area and bridging gaps in the pore space, and 2) laboratory experiments confirming that calcite precipitation within a column of glass beads decreases polarization magnitude. The ability to characterize spatial variations in the degree of fault-zone cementation with resistivity and IP has exciting implications for improving predictive models of the hydrogeologic impacts of cementation within faults.

Effects induced by an earthquake on its fault plane:a boundary element study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonafede, Maurizio; Neri, Andrea

2000-04-01

Mechanical effects left by a model earthquake on its fault plane, in the post-seismic phase, are investigated employing the `displacement discontinuity method'. Simple crack models, characterized by the release of a constant, unidirectional shear traction are investigated first. Both slip components-parallel and normal to the traction direction-are found to be non-vanishing and to depend on fault depth, dip, aspect ratio and fault plane geometry. The rake of the slip vector is similarly found to depend on depth and dip. The fault plane is found to suffer some small rotation and bending, which may be responsible for the indentation of a transform tectonic margin, particularly if cumulative effects are considered. Very significant normal stress components are left over the shallow portion of the fault surface after an earthquake: these are tensile for thrust faults, compressive for normal faults and are typically comparable in size to the stress drop. These normal stresses can easily be computed for more realistic seismic source models, in which a variable slip is assigned; normal stresses are induced in these cases too, and positive shear stresses may even be induced on the fault plane in regions of high slip gradient. Several observations can be explained from the present model: low-dip thrust faults and high-dip normal faults are found to be facilitated, according to the Coulomb failure criterion, in repetitive earthquake cycles; the shape of dip-slip faults near the surface is predicted to be upward-concave; and the shallower aftershock activity generally found in the hanging block of a thrust event can be explained by `unclamping' mechanisms.

Miocene extension and extensional folding in an anticlinal segment of the Black Mountains accommodation zone, Colorado River extensional corridor, southwestern United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Varga, R.J.; Faulds, J.E.; Snee, L.W.; Harlan, S.S.; Bettison-Varga, L.

2004-01-01

Recent studies demonstrate that rifts are characterized by linked tilt domains, each containing a consistent polarity of normal faults and stratal tilt directions, and that the transition between domains is typically through formation of accommodation zones and generally not through production of throughgoing transfer faults. The mid-Miocene Black Mountains accommodation zone of southern Nevada and western Arizona is a well-exposed example of an accommodation zone linking two regionally extensive and opposing tilt domains. In the southeastern part of this zone near Kingman, Arizona, east dipping normal faults of the Whipple tilt domain and west dipping normal faults of the Lake Mead domain coalesce across a relatively narrow region characterized by a series of linked, extensional folds. The geometry of these folds in this strike-parallel portion of the accommodation zone is dictated by the geometry of the interdigitating normal faults of opposed polarity. Synclines formed where normal faults of opposite polarity face away from each other whereas anticlines formed where the opposed normal faults face each other. Opposed normal faults with small overlaps produced short folds with axial trends at significant angles to regional strike directions, whereas large fault overlaps produce elongate folds parallel to faults. Analysis of faults shows that the folds are purely extensional and result from east/northeast stretching and fault-related tilting. The structural geometry of this portion of the accommodation zone mirrors that of the Black Mountains accommodation zone more regionally, with both transverse and strike-parallel antithetic segments. Normal faults of both tilt domains lose displacement and terminate within the accommodation zone northwest of Kingman, Arizona. However, isotopic dating of growth sequences and crosscutting relationships show that the initiation of the two fault systems in this area was not entirely synchronous and that west dipping faults of the Lake Mead domain began to form between 1 m.y. to 0.2 m.y. prior to east dipping faults of the Whipple domain. The accommodation zone formed above an active and evolving magmatic center that, prior to rifting, produced intermediate-composition volcanic rocks and that, during rifting, produced voluminous rhyolite and basalt magmas. Copyright 2004 by the American Geophysical Union.

Tectono-stratigraphic evolution of normal fault zones: Thal Fault Zone, Suez Rift, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Leppard, Christopher William

The evolution of linkage of normal fault populations to form continuous, basin bounding normal fault zones is recognised as an important control on the stratigraphic evolution of rift-basins. This project aims to investigate the temporal and spatial evolution of normal fault populations and associated syn-rift deposits from the initiation of early-formed, isolated normal faults (rift-initiation) to the development of a through-going fault zone (rift-climax) by documenting the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of the Sarbut EI Gamal segment of the exceptionally well-exposed Thai fault zone, Suez Rift, Egypt. A number of dated stratal surfaces mapped around the syn-rift depocentre of the Sarbut El Gamal segment allow constraints to be placed on the timing and style of deformation, and the spatial variability of facies along this segment of the fault zone. Data collected indicates that during the first 3.5 My of rifting the structural style was characterised by numerous, closely spaced, short (< 3 km), low displacement (< 200 m) synthetic and antithetic normal faults within 1 - 2 km of the present-day fault segment trace, accommodating surface deformation associated with the development of a fault propagation monocline above the buried, pre-cursor strands of the Sarbut El Gamal fault segment. The progressive localisation of displacement onto the fault segment during rift-climax resulted in the development of a major, surface-breaking fault 3.5 - 5 My after the onset of rifting and is recorded by the death of early-formed synthetic and antithetic faults up-section, and thickening of syn-rift strata towards the fault segment. The influence of intrabasinal highs at the tips of the Sarbut EI Gamal fault segment on the pre-rift sub-crop level, combined with observations from the early-formed structures and coeval deposits suggest that the overall length of the fault segment was fixed from an early stage. The fault segment is interpreted to have grown through rapid lateral propagation and early linkage of the precursor fault strands at depth before the fault segment broke surface, followed by the accumulation of displacement on the linked fault segment with minimal lateral propagation. This style of fault growth contrasts conventional fault growth models by which growth occurs through incremental increases in both displacement and length through time. The evolution of normal fault populations and fault zones exerts a first- order control on basin physiography and sediment supply, and therefore, the architecture and distribution of coeval syn-rift stratigraphy. The early syn-rift continental, Abu Zenima Formation, to shallow marine, Nukhul Formation show a pronounced westward increase in thickness controlled by the series of synthetic and antithetic faults up to 3 km west of present day Thai fault. The orientation of these faults controlled the location of fluvial conglomerates, sandstones and mudstones that shifted to the topographic lows created. The progressive localisation of displacement onto the Sarbut El Gamal fault segment during rift-climax resulted in an overall change in basin geometry. Accelerated subsidence rates led to sedimentation rates being outpaced by subsidence resulting in the development of a marine, sediment-starved, underfilled hangingwall depocentre characterised by slope-to-basinal depositional environments, with a laterally continuous slope apron in the immediate hangingwall, and point-sourced submarine fans. Controls on the spatial distribution, three dimensional architecture, and facies stacking patterns of coeval syn-rift deposits are identified as: I) structural style of the evolution and linkage of normal fault populations, ii) basin physiography, iii) evolution of drainage catchments, iv) bedrock lithology, and v) variations in sea/lake level.

Geometry and kinematics of adhesive wear in brittle strike-slip fault zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Swanson, Mark T.

2005-05-01

Detailed outcrop surface mapping in Late Paleozoic cataclastic strike-slip faults of coastal Maine shows that asymmetric sidewall ripouts, 0.1-200 m in length, are a significant component of many mapped faults and an important wall rock deformation mechanism during faulting. The geometry of these structures ranges from simple lenses to elongate slabs cut out of the sidewalls of strike-slip faults by a lateral jump of the active zone of slip during adhesion along a section of the main fault. The new irregular trace of the active fault after this jump creates an indenting asperity that is forced to plow through the adjoining wall rock during continued adhesion or be cut off by renewed motion along the main section of the fault. Ripout translation during adhesion sets up the structural asymmetry with trailing extensional and leading contractional ends to the ripout block. The inactive section of the main fault trace at the trailing end can develop a 'sag' or 'half-graben' type geometry due to block movement along the scallop-shaped connecting ramp to the flanking ripout fault. Leading contractional ramps can develop 'thrust' type imbrication and forces the 'humpback' geometry to the ripout slab due to distortion of the inactive main fault surface by ripout translation. Similar asymmetric ripout geometries are recognized in many other major crustal scale strike-slip fault zones worldwide. Ripout structures in the 5-500 km length range can be found on the Atacama fault system of northern Chile, the Qujiang and Xiaojiang fault zones in western China, the Yalakom-Hozameen fault zone in British Columbia and the San Andreas fault system in southern California. For active crustal-scale faults the surface expression of ripout translation includes a coupled system of extensional trailing ramps as normal oblique-slip faults with pull-apart basin sedimentation and contractional leading ramps as oblique thrust or high angle reverse faults with associated uplift and erosion. The sidewall ripout model, as a mechanism for adhesive wear during fault zone deformation, can be useful in studies of fault zone geometry, kinematics and evolution from outcrop- to crustal-scales.

High-resolution seismic profiling reveals faulting associated with the 1934 Ms 6.6 Hansel Valley earthquake (Utah, USA)

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bruno, Pier Paolo G.; Duross, Christopher; Kokkalas, Sotirios

2017-01-01

The 1934 Ms 6.6 Hansel Valley, Utah, earthquake produced an 8-km-long by 3-km-wide zone of north-south−trending surface deformation in an extensional basin within the easternmost Basin and Range Province. Less than 0.5 m of purely vertical displacement was measured at the surface, although seismologic data suggest mostly strike-slip faulting at depth. Characterization of the origin and kinematics of faulting in the Hansel Valley earthquake is important to understand how complex fault ruptures accommodate regions of continental extension and transtension. Here, we address three questions: (1) How does the 1934 surface rupture compare with faults in the subsurface? (2) Are the 1934 fault scarps tectonic or secondary features? (3) Did the 1934 earthquake have components of both strike-slip and dip-slip motion? To address these questions, we acquired a 6.6-km-long, high-resolution seismic profile across Hansel Valley, including the 1934 ruptures. We observed numerous east- and west-dipping normal faults that dip 40°−70° and offset late Quaternary strata from within a few tens of meters of the surface down to a depth of ∼1 km. Spatial correspondence between the 1934 surface ruptures and subsurface faults suggests that ruptures associated with the earthquake are of tectonic origin. Our data clearly show complex basin faulting that is most consistent with transtensional tectonics. Although the kinematics of the 1934 earthquake remain underconstrained, we interpret the disagreement between surface (normal) and subsurface (strike-slip) kinematics as due to slip partitioning during fault propagation and to the effect of preexisting structural complexities. We infer that the 1934 earthquake occurred along an ∼3-km wide, off-fault damage zone characterized by distributed deformation along small-displacement faults that may be alternatively activated during different earthquake episodes.

Frictional melting of clayey gouge during seismic fault slip: Experimental observation and implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Raehee; Hirose, Takehiro; Jeong, Gi Young; Ando, Jun-ichi; Mukoyoshi, Hideki

2014-08-01

Clayey gouges are common in fault slip zones at shallow depths. Thus, the fault zone processes and frictional behaviors of the gouges are critical to understanding seismic slip at these depths. We conducted rotary shear tests on clayey gouge (~41 wt % clay minerals) at a seismic slip rate of 1.3 m/s. Here we report that the gouge was melted at 5 MPa of normal stress and room humidity conditions. The initial local melting was followed by melt layer formation. Clay minerals (e.g., smectite and illite) and plagioclase were melted and quenched to glass with numerous vesicles. Both flash heating and bulk temperature increases appear to be responsible for the melting. This observation of clayey gouge melting is comparable to that of natural faults (e.g., Chelungpu fault, Taiwan). Due to heterogeneous fault zone properties (e.g., permeability), frictional melting may be one of the important processes in clayey slip zones at shallow depths.

Long Valley caldera and the UCERF depiction of Sierra Nevada range-front faults

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hill, David P.; Montgomery-Brown, Emily K.

2015-01-01

Long Valley caldera lies within a left-stepping offset in the north-northwest-striking Sierra Nevada range-front normal faults with the Hilton Creek fault to the south and Hartley Springs fault to the north. Both Uniform California Earthquake Rupture Forecast (UCERF) 2 and its update, UCERF3, depict slip on these major range-front normal faults as extending well into the caldera, with significant normal slip on overlapping, subparallel segments separated by ∼10  km. This depiction is countered by (1) geologic evidence that normal faulting within the caldera consists of a series of graben structures associated with postcaldera magmatism (intrusion and tumescence) and not systematic down-to-the-east displacements consistent with distributed range-front faulting and (2) the lack of kinematic evidence for an evolving, postcaldera relay ramp structure between overlapping strands of the two range-front normal faults. The modifications to the UCERF depiction described here reduce the predicted shaking intensity within the caldera, and they are in accord with the tectonic influence that underlapped offset range-front faults have on seismicity patterns within the caldera associated with ongoing volcanic unrest.

Laboratory observations of fault strength in response to changes in normal stress

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kilgore, Brian D.; Lozos, Julian; Beeler, Nicholas M.; Oglesby, David

2012-01-01

Changes in fault normal stress can either inhibit or promote rupture propagation, depending on the fault geometry and on how fault shear strength varies in response to the normal stress change. A better understanding of this dependence will lead to improved earthquake simulation techniques, and ultimately, improved earthquake hazard mitigation efforts. We present the results of new laboratory experiments investigating the effects of step changes in fault normal stress on the fault shear strength during sliding, using bare Westerly granite samples, with roughened sliding surfaces, in a double direct shear apparatus. Previous experimental studies examining the shear strength following a step change in the normal stress produce contradictory results: a set of double direct shear experiments indicates that the shear strength of a fault responds immediately, and then is followed by a prolonged slip-dependent response, while a set of shock loading experiments indicates that there is no immediate component, and the response is purely gradual and slip-dependent. In our new, high-resolution experiments, we observe that the acoustic transmissivity and dilatancy of simulated faults in our tests respond immediately to changes in the normal stress, consistent with the interpretations of previous investigations, and verify an immediate increase in the area of contact between the roughened sliding surfaces as normal stress increases. However, the shear strength of the fault does not immediately increase, indicating that the new area of contact between the rough fault surfaces does not appear preloaded with any shear resistance or strength. Additional slip is required for the fault to achieve a new shear strength appropriate for its new loading conditions, consistent with previous observations made during shock loading.

Structural Controls of the Friction Constitutive Properties of Carbonate-bearing Faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, B. M.; Collettini, C.; Scuderi, M.; Marone, C.

2012-12-01

The identification of hetereogenous and complex post-seismic slip for the 2009, Mw = 6.3, L'Aquila earthquake highlights the importance of fault zone structure and frictional behavior. Many of the Mw 6 to 7 earthquakes that occur on normal faults in the active Apennines, such as L'Aquila, nucleate at depths where the lithology is dominated by carbonate rocks. Due to the complex structure observed in exhumed faults (i.e. the presence of highly polished principal slip surfaces, cemented cataclasites, and phyllosilicate-bearing, foliated fault gouge) as well as the large spectrum of fault slip behaviors identified world wide, we designed a suite of experiments using intact and powdered samples to better constrain the possible slip behaviors of these carbonate bearing faults. We collected samples from the exposed Rocchetta Fault, a ~10km long, normal fault with approximately 600m of total offset. The exposed principal slip surface cuts through the Calcare Massiccio formation, which is present throughout central Italy at depths of earthquake nucleation. We collected intact specimens of the natural slip surface and cemented cataclasite, as well as fragments of both which were later pulverized. Furthermore, we collected an intact sample of the hanging wall cataclasite and footwall limestone that contained the principal slip surface. We performed friction experiments in a variety of different configurations (slip surface on slip surface, slip surface on powdered cataclasite, etc.) in order to investigate heterogeneity in frictional behavior as controlled by fault structure. We sheared saturated samples at a constant normal stress of 10 MPa at room temperature. Velocity-stepping tests were performed from 1 to 300 μm/s to identify the friction constitutive parameters of this fault material. Furthermore, a series slide-hold-slide tests were performed (holds of 3 to 1000 seconds) to measure the amount of frictional healing and determine the frictional healing rate. Results from experiments designed to reactivate slip between the principal slip surface and cemented cataclasite show a peak friction value of ~0.95 followed by a ~3 MPa stress drop as the fault surface fails. Our other results suggest that earthquakes will easily nucleate in areas of the fault where two slip surfaces are in contact and are likely to propagate in areas where pulverized fault gouge is in contact with the slip surface. Our data show that samples collected from a single fault can exhibit a large range of slip behaviors. Heterogeneous frictional behavior documented in the lab must be combined with field observations of complex fault structure and seismological observations of the different modes of fault slip to further our understanding of fault slip. Future work will consist of thin section and XRD analysis of all experimental material.

Development of Fault Models for Hybrid Fault Detection and Diagnostics Algorithm: October 1, 2014 -- May 5, 2015

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheung, Howard; Braun, James E.

This report describes models of building faults created for OpenStudio to support the ongoing development of fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) algorithms at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Building faults are operating abnormalities that degrade building performance, such as using more energy than normal operation, failing to maintain building temperatures according to the thermostat set points, etc. Models of building faults in OpenStudio can be used to estimate fault impacts on building performance and to develop and evaluate FDD algorithms. The aim of the project is to develop fault models of typical heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment inmore » the United States, and the fault models in this report are grouped as control faults, sensor faults, packaged and split air conditioner faults, water-cooled chiller faults, and other uncategorized faults. The control fault models simulate impacts of inappropriate thermostat control schemes such as an incorrect thermostat set point in unoccupied hours and manual changes of thermostat set point due to extreme outside temperature. Sensor fault models focus on the modeling of sensor biases including economizer relative humidity sensor bias, supply air temperature sensor bias, and water circuit temperature sensor bias. Packaged and split air conditioner fault models simulate refrigerant undercharging, condenser fouling, condenser fan motor efficiency degradation, non-condensable entrainment in refrigerant, and liquid line restriction. Other fault models that are uncategorized include duct fouling, excessive infiltration into the building, and blower and pump motor degradation.« less

Development of Fault Models for Hybrid Fault Detection and Diagnostics Algorithm: October 1, 2014 -- May 5, 2015

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Cheung, Howard; Braun, James E.

2015-12-31

This report describes models of building faults created for OpenStudio to support the ongoing development of fault detection and diagnostic (FDD) algorithms at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. Building faults are operating abnormalities that degrade building performance, such as using more energy than normal operation, failing to maintain building temperatures according to the thermostat set points, etc. Models of building faults in OpenStudio can be used to estimate fault impacts on building performance and to develop and evaluate FDD algorithms. The aim of the project is to develop fault models of typical heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment inmore » the United States, and the fault models in this report are grouped as control faults, sensor faults, packaged and split air conditioner faults, water-cooled chiller faults, and other uncategorized faults. The control fault models simulate impacts of inappropriate thermostat control schemes such as an incorrect thermostat set point in unoccupied hours and manual changes of thermostat set point due to extreme outside temperature. Sensor fault models focus on the modeling of sensor biases including economizer relative humidity sensor bias, supply air temperature sensor bias, and water circuit temperature sensor bias. Packaged and split air conditioner fault models simulate refrigerant undercharging, condenser fouling, condenser fan motor efficiency degradation, non-condensable entrainment in refrigerant, and liquid line restriction. Other fault models that are uncategorized include duct fouling, excessive infiltration into the building, and blower and pump motor degradation.« less

From Extension to Transcurrence: Regime Transition as a new key to Interpret Seismogenesis in the Southern Apennines (Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fracassi, U.; Vannoli, P.; Burrato, P.; Basili, R.; Tiberti, M. M.; di Bucci, D.; Valensise, G.

2006-12-01

The backbone of the Southern Apennines is perhaps the largest seismic moment release area in Italy. The region is dominated by an extensional regime dating back to the Middle Pleistocene, with maximum extension striking SW-NE (i.e. orthogonal to the mountain belt). The full length (~ 200 km) of the mountain range has been the locus of several destructive earthquakes occurring in the uppermost 10-12 km of the crust. This seismicity is due to a well documented normal faulting mechanism. Instrumental earthquakes (e.g. 5 May 1990, 31 Oct 2002, 1 Nov 2002; all M 5.8) that have occurred in the foreland, east of the Southern Apennines, have posed new questions concerning seismogenic processes in southern Italy. Although of moderate magnitude, these events unveiled the presence of E-W striking, deeper (13-25 km) strike-slip faults. Recent studies suggest that these less known faults belong to inherited shear zones with a multi-phase tectonic history, the most recent phase being a right-lateral reactivation. The direction of the maximum horizontal extension of these faults (in a transcurrent regime) coincides with the maximum horizontal extension in the core of the Southern Apennines (in an extensional regime) and both are compatible with the general framework provided by the Africa-Europe convergence. However, the regional extent along strike of the E-W shear zones poses the issue of their continuity from the foreland towards the thrust-belt. The 1456 (M 6.9) and 1930 (M 6.7) earthquakes, that occurred just east of the main extensional axis, were caused by faults having a strike intermediate between the E-W, deeper strike-slip faults in the foreland and the NW-SE-trending, shallower normal faults in the extensional belt. Hence, the location and geometry of these seismogenic sources suggests that there could be a transition zone between the crustal volumes affected by the extensional and transcurrent regimes. To image such transition, we built a 3D model that incorporates data available from surface and subsurface geology (published and unpublished), seismogenic faults, seismicity, focal mechanisms, and gravity anomalies. We explored the mechanisms of fault interaction in the Southern Apennines between the extensional upper portion and the transcurrent deeper portion of the seismogenic layer. In particular, we studied (a) how the reactivation of regional shear zones interacts with an adjacent, although structurally independent, extensional belt; (b) at what depth range the interaction occurs; and (c1) whether oblique slip in earthquakes like the 1930 event is merely due to the geometry of the causative fault, or (c2) such geometry and kinematics are the result of oblique slip due to fault interaction. We propose that (a) the 1456 and 1930 earthquakes are the expression of the transition between the two tectonic regimes, and that (b) these events can be seen as templates of the seismogenic oblique-slip faulting that occurs at intermediate depths between the shallower extensional faults and the deeper strike-slip faults. These findings suggest that a transtensional faulting mechanism governs the release of major earthquakes in the transition zone between extensional and transcurrent domains.

Forward modeling of gravity data using geostatistically generated subsurface density variations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Phelps, Geoffrey

2016-01-01

Using geostatistical models of density variations in the subsurface, constrained by geologic data, forward models of gravity anomalies can be generated by discretizing the subsurface and calculating the cumulative effect of each cell (pixel). The results of such stochastically generated forward gravity anomalies can be compared with the observed gravity anomalies to find density models that match the observed data. These models have an advantage over forward gravity anomalies generated using polygonal bodies of homogeneous density because generating numerous realizations explores a larger region of the solution space. The stochastic modeling can be thought of as dividing the forward model into two components: that due to the shape of each geologic unit and that due to the heterogeneous distribution of density within each geologic unit. The modeling demonstrates that the internally heterogeneous distribution of density within each geologic unit can contribute significantly to the resulting calculated forward gravity anomaly. Furthermore, the stochastic models match observed statistical properties of geologic units, the solution space is more broadly explored by producing a suite of successful models, and the likelihood of a particular conceptual geologic model can be compared. The Vaca Fault near Travis Air Force Base, California, can be successfully modeled as a normal or strike-slip fault, with the normal fault model being slightly more probable. It can also be modeled as a reverse fault, although this structural geologic configuration is highly unlikely given the realizations we explored.

Source mechanisms of persistent shallow earthquakes during eruptive and non-eruptive periods between 1981 and 2011 at Mount St. Helens, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lehto, Heather L.; Roman, Diana C.; Moran, Seth C.

2013-01-01

Shallow seismicity between 0 and 3-km depth has persisted at Mount St. Helens, Washington (MSH) during both eruptive and non-eruptive periods for at least the past thirty years. In this study we investigate the source mechanisms of shallow volcano-tectonic (VT) earthquakes at MSH by calculating high-quality hypocenter locations and fault plane solutions (FPS) for all VT events recorded during two eruptive periods (1981–1986 and 2004–2008) and two non-eruptive periods (1987–2004 and 2008–2011). FPS show a mixture of normal, reverse, and strike-slip faulting during all periods, with a sharp increase in strike-slip faulting observed in 1987–1997 and an increase in normal faulting in 1998–2004. FPS P-axis orientations show a ~ 90° rotation with respect to regional σ1 (N23°E) during 1981–1986 and 2004–2008, bimodal orientations (~ N-S and ~ E-W) during 1987–2004, and bimodal orientations at ~ N-E and ~ S-W from 2008–2011. We interpret these orientations to likely be due to pressurization accompanying the shallow intrusion and subsequent eruption of magma as domes during 1981–1986 and 2004–2008 and the buildup of pore pressure beneath a seismogenic volume (located at 0–1 km) with a smaller component due to the buildup of tectonic forces during 1987–2004 and 2008–2011.

Growth and linkage of the quaternary Ubrique Normal Fault Zone, Western Gibraltar Arc: role on the along-strike relief segmentation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiménez-Bonilla, Alejandro; Balanya, Juan Carlos; Exposito, Inmaculada; Diaz-Azpiroz, Manuel; Barcos, Leticia

2015-04-01

Strain partitioning modes within migrating orogenic arcs may result in arc-parallel stretching that produces along-strike structural and topographic discontinuities. In the Western Gibraltar Arc, arc-parallel stretching has operated from the Lower Miocene up to recent times. In this study, we have reviewed the Colmenar Fault, located at the SW end of the Subbetic ranges, previously interpreted as a Middle Miocene low-angle normal fault. Our results allow to identify younger normal fault segments, to analyse their kinematics, growth and segment linkage, and to discuss its role on the structural and relief drop at regional scale. The Colmenar Fault is folded by post-Serravallian NE-SW buckle folds. Both the SW-dipping fault surfaces and the SW-plunging fold axes contribute to the structural relief drop toward the SW. Nevertheless, at the NW tip of the Colmenar Fault, we have identified unfolded normal faults cutting quaternary soils. They are grouped into a N110˚E striking brittle deformation band 15km long and until 3km wide (hereafter Ubrique Normal Fault Zone; UNFZ). The UNFZ is divided into three sectors: (a) The western tip zone is formed by normal faults which usually dip to the SW and whose slip directions vary between N205˚E and N225˚E. These segments are linked to each other by left-lateral oblique faults interpreted as transfer faults. (b) The central part of the UNFZ is composed of a single N115˚E striking fault segment 2,4km long. Slip directions are around N190˚E and the estimated throw is 1,25km. The fault scarp is well-conserved reaching up to 400m in its central part and diminishing to 200m at both segment terminations. This fault segment is linked to the western tip by an overlap zone characterized by tilted blocks limited by high-angle NNE-SSW and WNW-ESE striking faults interpreted as "box faults" [1]. (c) The eastern tip zone is formed by fault segments with oblique slip which also contribute to the downthrown of the SW block. This kinematic pattern seems to be related to other strike-slip fault systems developed to the E of the UNFZ. The structural revision together with updated kinematic data suggest that the Colmenar Fault is cut and downthrown by a younger normal fault zone, the UNFZ, which would have contributed to accommodate arc-parallel stretching until the Quaternary. This stretching provokes along-strike relief segmentation, being the UNFZ the main fault zone causing the final drop of the Subbetic ranges towards the SW within the Western Gibraltar Arc. Our results show displacement variations in each fault segment of the UNFZ, diminishing to their tips. This suggests fault segment linkage finally evolved to build the nearly continuous current fault zone. The development of current large through-going faults linked inside the UNFZ is similar to those ones simulated in some numerical modelling of rift systems [2]. Acknowledgements: RNM-415 and CGL-2013-46368-P [1]Peacock, D.C.P., Knipe, R.J., Sanderson, D.J., 2000. Glossary of normal faults. Journal Structural Geology, 22, 291-305. [2]Cowie, P.A., Gupta, S., Dawers, N.H., 2000. Implications of fault array evolution for synrift depocentre development: insights from a numerical fault growth model. Basin Research, 12, 241-261.

The roles of time and displacement in velocity-dependent volumetric strain of fault zones

USGS Publications Warehouse

Beeler, N.M.; Tullis, T.E.

1997-01-01

The relationship between measured friction??A and volumetric strain during frictional sliding was determined using a rate and state variable dependent friction constitutive equation, a common work balance relating friction and volume change, and two types of experimental faults: initially bare surfaces of Westerly granite and rock surfaces separated by a 1 mm layer of < 90 ??m Westerly granite gouge. The constitutive equation is the sum of a constant term representing the nominal resistance to sliding and two smaller terms: a rate dependent term representing the shear viscosity of the fault surface (direct effect), and a term which represents variations in the area of contact (evolution effect). The work balance relationship requires that ??A differs from the frictional resistance that leads to shear heating by the derivative of fault normal displacement with respect shear displacement, d??n ld??s. An implication of this relationship is that the rate dependence of d??n ld??s contributes to the rate dependence of ??A. Experiments show changes in sliding velocity lead to changes in both fault strength and volume. Analysis of data with the rate and state equations combined with the work balance relationship preclude the conventional interpretation of the direct effect in the rate and state variable constitutive equations. Consideration of a model bare surface fault consisting of an undeformable indentor sliding on a deformable surface reveals a serious flaw in the work balance relationship if volume change is time-dependent. For the model, at zero slip rate indentation creep under the normal load leads to time-dependent strengthening of the fault surface but, according to the work balance relationship, no work is done because compaction or dilatancy can only be induced by shearing. Additional tests on initially bare surfaces and gouges show that fault normal strain in experiments is time-dependent, consistent with the model. This time-dependent fault normal strain, which is not accounted for in the work balance relationship, explains the inconsistency between the constitutive equations and the work balance. For initially bare surface faults, all rate dependence of volume change is due to time dependence. Similar results are found for gouge. We conclude that ??A reflects the frictional resistance that results in shear heating, and no correction needs to be made for the volume changes. The result that time-dependent volume changes do not contribute to ??A is a general result and extends beyond these experiments, the simple indentor model and particular constitutive equations used to illustrate the principle.

Outer Rise Faulting And Mantle Serpentinization

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ranero, C. R.; Phipps Morgan, J.; McIntosh, K.; Reichert, C.

Dehydration of serpentinized mantle of the downgoing slab has been proposed to cause both intermediate depth earthquakes (50-300 km) and arc volcanism at sub- duction zones. It has been suggested that most of this serpentinization occurs beneath the outer rise; where normal faulting earthquakes due to bending cut > 20 km deep into the lithosphere, allowing seawater to reach and react with underlying mantle. However, little is known about flexural faulting at convergent margins; about how many normal faults cut across the crust and how deeply they penetrate into the man- tle; about the true potential of faults as conduits for fluid flow and how much water can be added through this process. We present evidence that pervasive flexural faulting may cut deep into the mantle and that the amount of faulting vary dramatically along strike at subduction zones. Flexural faulting increases towards the trench axis indicat- ing that active extension occurs in a broad area. Multibeam bathymetry of the Pacific margin of Costa Rica and Nicaragua shows a remarkable variation in the amount of flexural faulting along the incoming ocean plate. Several parameters seem to control lateral variability. Off south Costa Rica thick crust of the Cocos Ridge flexes little, and little to no faulting develops near the trench. Off central Costa Rica, normal thick- ness crust with magnetic anomalies striking oblique to the trench displays small offset faults (~200 m) striking similar to the original seafloor fabric. Off northern Costa Rica, magnetic anomalies strike perpendicular to the trench axis, and a few ~100m-offset faults develop parallel to the trench. Further north, across the Nicaraguan margin, magnetic anomalies strike parallel to the trench and the most widespread faulting de- velops entering the trench. Multichannel seismic reflection images in this area show a pervasive set of trenchward dipping reflections that cross the ~6 km thick crust and extend into the mantle to depths of at least 20 km. Some reflections project updip to offsets in top basement and seafloor, indicating that they are fault plane reflections. Such a deeply penetrating tectonic fabric could have not developed during crustal cre- ation at the paleo-spreading center where the brittle layer is few km thick. Thus, they must be created during flexure of the plate entering the trench. This data imply that deep and widespread serpentinization of the incoming lithosphere can occur when the lithosphere is strongly faulted; that the extent of lithospheric faulting is closely re- lated to the crustal structure of the incoming plate; and that the amount of lithosphere faulting can change dramatically within a hundred km distance along a trench axis.

Slicken 1.0: Program for calculating the orientation of shear on reactivated faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hong; Xu, Shunshan; Nieto-Samaniego, Ángel F.; Alaniz-Álvarez, Susana A.

2017-07-01

The slip vector on a fault is an important parameter in the study of the movement history of a fault and its faulting mechanism. Although there exist many graphical programs to represent the shear stress (or slickenline) orientations on faults, programs to quantitatively calculate the orientation of fault slip based on a given stress field are scarce. In consequence, we develop Slicken 1.0, a software to rapidly calculate the orientation of maximum shear stress on any fault plane. For this direct method of calculating the resolved shear stress on a planar surface, the input data are the unit vector normal to the involved plane, the unit vectors of the three principal stress axes, and the stress ratio. The advantage of this program is that the vertical or horizontal principal stresses are not necessarily required. Due to its nimble design using Java SE 8.0, it runs on most operating systems with the corresponding Java VM. The software program will be practical for geoscience students, geologists and engineers and will help resolve a deficiency in field geology, and structural and engineering geology.

Spatial arrangement and size distribution of normal faults, Buckskin detachment upper plate, Western Arizona

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Laubach, S. E.; Hundley, T. H.; Hooker, J. N.; Marrett, R. A.

2018-03-01

Fault arrays typically include a wide range of fault sizes and those faults may be randomly located, clustered together, or regularly or periodically located in a rock volume. Here, we investigate size distribution and spatial arrangement of normal faults using rigorous size-scaling methods and normalized correlation count (NCC). Outcrop data from Miocene sedimentary rocks in the immediate upper plate of the regional Buckskin detachment-low angle normal-fault, have differing patterns of spatial arrangement as a function of displacement (offset). Using lower size-thresholds of 1, 0.1, 0.01, and 0.001 m, displacements range over 5 orders of magnitude and have power-law frequency distributions spanning ∼ four orders of magnitude from less than 0.001 m to more than 100 m, with exponents of -0.6 and -0.9. The largest faults with >1 m displacement have a shallower size-distribution slope and regular spacing of about 20 m. In contrast, smaller faults have steep size-distribution slopes and irregular spacing, with NCC plateau patterns indicating imposed clustering. Cluster widths are 15 m for the 0.1-m threshold, 14 m for 0.01-m, and 1 m for 0.001-m displacement threshold faults. Results demonstrate normalized correlation count effectively characterizes the spatial arrangement patterns of these faults. Our example from a high-strain fault pattern above a detachment is compatible with size and spatial organization that was influenced primarily by boundary conditions such as fault shape, mechanical unit thickness and internal stratigraphy on a range of scales rather than purely by interaction among faults during their propagation.

Fault kinematics and localised inversion within the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex, SW Barents Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zervas, I.; Omosanya, K. O.; Lippard, S. J.; Johansen, S. E.

2018-04-01

The areas bounding the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex are affected by complex tectonic evolution. In this work, the history of fault growth, reactivation, and inversion of major faults in the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex and the Ringvassøy Loppa Fault Complex is interpreted from three-dimensional seismic data, structural maps and fault displacement plots. Our results reveal eight normal faults bounding rotated fault blocks in the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex. Both the throw-depth and displacement-distance plots show that the faults exhibit complex configurations of lateral and vertical segmentation with varied profiles. Some of the faults were reactivated by dip-linkages during the Late Jurassic and exhibit polycyclic fault growth, including radial, syn-sedimentary, and hybrid propagation. Localised positive inversion is the main mechanism of fault reactivation occurring at the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex. The observed structural styles include folds associated with extensional faults, folded growth wedges and inverted depocentres. Localised inversion was intermittent with rifting during the Middle Jurassic-Early Cretaceous at the boundaries of the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex to the Finnmark Platform. Additionally, tectonic inversion was more intense at the boundaries of the two fault complexes, affecting Middle Triassic to Early Cretaceous strata. Our study shows that localised folding is either a product of compressional forces or of lateral movements in the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex. Regional stresses due to the uplift in the Loppa High and halokinesis in the Tromsø Basin are likely additional causes of inversion in the Troms-Finnmark Fault Complex.

Frictional and hydrologic behavior of the San Andreas Fault: Insights from laboratory experiments on SAFOD cuttings and core

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, B. M.; Marone, C.; Saffer, D. M.

2010-12-01

The debate concerning the apparent low strength of tectonic faults, including the San Andreas Fault (SAF), continues to focus on: 1) low intrinsic friction resulting from mineralogy and/or fabric, and 2) decreased effective normal stress due to elevated pore pressure. Here we inform this debate with laboratory measurements of the frictional behavior and permeability of cuttings and core returned from the SAF at a vertical depth of 2.7 km. We conducted experiments on cuttings and core recovered during SAFOD Phase III drilling. All samples in this study are adjacent to and within the active fault zone penetrated at 10814.5 ft (3296m) measured depth in the SAFOD borehole. We sheared gouge samples composed of drilling cuttings in a double-direct shear configuration subject to true-triaxial loading under constant effective normal stress, confining pressure, and pore pressure. Intact wafers of material were sheared in a single-direct shear configuration under similar conditions of effective stress, confining pressure, and pore pressure. We also report on permeability measurements on intact wafers of wall rock and fault gouge prior to shearing. Initial results from experiments on cuttings show: 1) a weak fault (µ=~0.21) compared to the surrounding wall rock (µ=~0.35), 2) velocity strengthening behavior, (a-b > 0), consistent with aseismic slip, and 3) near zero healing rates in material from the active fault. XRD analysis on cuttings indicates the main mineralogical difference between fault rock and wall rock, is the presence of significant amounts of smectite within the fault rock. Taken together, the measured frictional behavior and clay mineral content suggest that the clay composition exhibits a basic control on fault behavior. Our results document the first direct evidence of weak material from an active fault at seismogenic depths. In addition, our results could explain why the SAF in central California fails aseismically and hosts only small earthquakes.

A 'Propagating' Active Across-Arc Normal Fault Shows Rupture Process of the Basement: the Case of the Southwestern Ryukyu Arc

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsumoto, T.; Shinjo, R.; Nakamura, M.; Kubo, A.; Doi, A.; Tamanaha, S.

2011-12-01

Ryukyu Arc is located on the southwestern extension of Japanese Island-arc towards the east of Taiwan Island along the margin of the Asian continent off China. The island-arc forms an arcuate trench-arc-backarc system. A NW-ward subduction of the Philippine Sea Plate (PSP)at a rate of 6-8 cm/y relative to the Eurasian Plate (EP) causes frequent earthquakes. The PSP is subducting almost normally in the north-central area and more obliquely around the southwestern area. Behind the arc-trench system, the Okinawa Trough (OT) was formed by back-arc rifting, where active hydrothermal vent systems have been discovered. Several across-arc submarine faults are located in the central and southern Ryukyu Arc. The East Ishigaki Fault (EIF) is one of the across-arc normal faults located in the southwestern Ryukyu Arc, ranging by 44km and extending from SE to NW. This fault was surveyed by SEABAT8160 multibeam echo sounder and by ROV Hyper-Dolphin in 2005 and 2008. The result shows that the main fault consists of five fault segments. A branched segment from the main fault was also observed. The southernmost segment is most mature (oldest but still active) and the northernmost one is most nascent. This suggests the north-westward propagation of the fault rupture corresponding to the rifting of the southwestern OT and the southward retreat of the arc-trench system. Considering that the fault is segmented and in some part branched, propagation might take place episodically rather than continuously from SE to NW. The ROV survey also revealed the rupture process of the limestone basement along this fault from the nascent stage to the mature stage. Most of the rock samples collected from the basement outcrop were limestone blocks (or calcareous sedimentary rocks). Limestone basement was observed to the west on the hanging wall far away from the main fault scarp. Then fine-grained sand with ripple marks was observed towards the main scarp. Limestone basement was observed on the main scarp and on the footwall. These suggest that basically the both sides are composed of the same material, that the whole study area is characterised by Ryukyu limestone exposure and that the basement was split by the across-arc normal fault. Coarse-grained sand and gravels/rubbles were observed towards and on the trough of the fault. On the main scarp an outcrop of limestone basement was exposed and in some part it was broken into rubbles. These facts suggest that crash of the basement due to rupturing is taking place repeatedly on the scarp and the trough. The observed fine-grained sand on the hanging wall might be the final product by the process of the crash of the limestone basement.

Oblique transfer of extensional strain between basins of the middle Rio Grande rift, New Mexico: Fault kinematic and paleostress constraints

USGS Publications Warehouse

Minor, Scott A.; Hudson, Mark R.; Caine, Jonathan S.; Thompson, Ren A.

2013-01-01

The structural geometry of transfer and accommodation zones that relay strain between extensional domains in rifted crust has been addressed in many studies over the past 30 years. However, details of the kinematics of deformation and related stress changes within these zones have received relatively little attention. In this study we conduct the first-ever systematic, multi-basin fault-slip measurement campaign within the late Cenozoic Rio Grande rift of northern New Mexico to address the mechanisms and causes of extensional strain transfer associated with a broad accommodation zone. Numerous (562) kinematic measurements were collected at fault exposures within and adjacent to the NE-trending Santo Domingo Basin accommodation zone, or relay, which structurally links the N-trending, right-stepping en echelon Albuquerque and Española rift basins. The following observations are made based on these fault measurements and paleostresses computed from them. (1) Compared to the typical northerly striking normal to normal-oblique faults in the rift basins to the north and south, normal-oblique faults are broadly distributed within two merging, NE-trending zones on the northwest and southeast sides of the Santo Domingo Basin. (2) Faults in these zones have greater dispersion of rake values and fault strikes, greater dextral strike-slip components over a wide northerly strike range, and small to moderate clockwise deflections of their tips. (3) Relative-age relations among fault surfaces and slickenlines used to compute reduced stress tensors suggest that far-field, ~E-W–trending σ3 stress trajectories were perturbed 45° to 90° clockwise into NW to N trends within the Santo Domingo zones. (4) Fault-stratigraphic age relations constrain the stress perturbations to the later stages of rifting, possibly as late as 2.7–1.1 Ma. Our fault observations and previous paleomagnetic evidence of post–2.7 Ma counterclockwise vertical-axis rotations are consistent with increased bulk sinistral-normal oblique shear along the Santo Domingo rift segment in Pliocene and later time. Regional geologic evidence suggests that the width of active rift faulting became increasingly confined to the Santo Domingo Basin and axial parts of the adjoining basins beginning in the late Miocene. We infer that the Santo Domingo clockwise stress perturbations developed coevally with the oblique rift segment mainly due to mechanical interactions of large faults propagating toward each other from the adjoining basins as the rift narrowed. Our results suggest that negligible bulk strike-slip displacement has been accommodated along the north-trending rift during much of its development, but uncertainties in the maximum ages of fault slip do not allow us to fully evaluate and discriminate between earlier models that invoked northward or southward rotation and translation of the Colorado Plateau during early (Miocene) rifting.

Imaging b-value depth variations within the Cocos and Rivera plates at the Mexican subduction zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rodríguez-Pérez, Quetzalcoatl; Zuñiga, F. Ramón

2018-06-01

By a systematic mapping of the b-value along profiles perpendicular to the Mexican Wadati-Benioff zone, we obtained important characteristics pertaining the stress state and faulting style related to the subduction process. To this purpose, we used data from the earthquake catalog reported by the Servicio Sismologico Nacional (1988-2016). We investigate depth variations of the b-value for the Cocos and Rivera under North American plates interface, by a detailed analysis of 15 cross-sections. The obtained b-value profiles vary from 0.50 to 2.50, which nevertheless appear related to the faulting style and stress state. By comparing the locations and focal mechanism of the largest events with the b-values of the surrounding regions, our analysis corroborates the dependence of the b-value on the faulting style. Thrust events occur in regions of low and high b-value at depths <50 km. Normal-faulting events occur mainly in high b-value regions at all shallow (Z < 30 km) and intermediate depths (Z > 30 km), in agreement with global studies. These results support the hypothesis that differential stress processes may be behind the occurrence of the different faulting style. On the contrary, by analyzing the mean b-values for both types of faulting mechanism at each of the cross-sections, we found a significantly lower mean b-value related to normal faulting for those regions where the 8 (Mw 8.2) and 19 (Mw 7.1) September 2017 earthquakes occur. These results lead us to conclude that those regions experienced an increased stress state prone to the occurrence of normal-intraplate events. We also compare the b-value distribution with Vp and Q tomography studies obtaining a good correlation between them. We found evidence to relate b-value variations with subduction processes such as stress state due to tectonic and flexural conditions, and to a lesser extent to material heterogeneity and fluid dehydration.

Geodetic measurement of deformation east of the San Andreas Fault in Central California

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sauber, Jeanne; Solomon, Sean C.; Lisowski, Michael

1988-01-01

The shear strain rates in the Diablo Range of California have been calculated, and the slip rate along the Calaveras and Paicines faults in Central California have been estimated, on the basis of triangulation and trilateration data from two geodetic networks located between the western edge of the Great Valley and the San Andreas Fault. The orientation of the principal compressive strain predicted from the azimuth of the major structures in the region is N 25 deg E, leading to an average shear strain value that corresponds to a relative shortening rate of 4.5 + or - 2.4 mm/yr. It is inferred that the measured strain is due to compression across the fold of this area. The hypothesized uniform, fault-normal compression within the Coast Ranges is not supported by these results.

The 2015 M w 6.0 Mt. Kinabalu earthquake: an infrequent fault rupture within the Crocker fault system of East Malaysia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yu; Wei, Shengji; Wang, Xin; Lindsey, Eric O.; Tongkul, Felix; Tapponnier, Paul; Bradley, Kyle; Chan, Chung-Han; Hill, Emma M.; Sieh, Kerry

2017-12-01

The M w 6.0 Mt. Kinabalu earthquake of 2015 was a complete (and deadly) surprise, because it occurred well away from the nearest plate boundary in a region of very low historical seismicity. Our seismological, space geodetic, geomorphological, and field investigations show that the earthquake resulted from rupture of a northwest-dipping normal fault that did not reach the surface. Its unilateral rupture was almost directly beneath 4000-m-high Mt. Kinabalu and triggered widespread slope failures on steep mountainous slopes, which included rockfalls that killed 18 hikers. Our seismological and morphotectonic analyses suggest that the rupture occurred on a normal fault that splays upwards off of the previously identified normal Marakau fault. Our mapping of tectonic landforms reveals that these faults are part of a 200-km-long system of normal faults that traverse the eastern side of the Crocker Range, parallel to Sabah's northwestern coastline. Although the tectonic reason for this active normal fault system remains unclear, the lengths of the longest fault segments suggest that they are capable of generating magnitude 7 earthquakes. Such large earthquakes must occur very rarely, though, given the hitherto undetectable geodetic rates of active tectonic deformation across the region.

3D geometries of normal faults in a brittle-ductile sedimentary cover: Analogue modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vasquez, Lina; Nalpas, Thierry; Ballard, Jean-François; Le Carlier De Veslud, Christian; Simon, Brendan; Dauteuil, Olivier; Bernard, Xavier Du

2018-07-01

It is well known that ductile layers play a major role in the style and location of deformation. However, at the scale of a single normal fault, the impact of rheological layering is poorly constrained and badly understood, and there is a lack of information regarding the influence of several décollement levels within a sedimentary cover on the single fault geometry under purely extensive deformation. We present small-scale experiments that were built with interbedded layers of brittle and ductile materials and with minimum initial constraints (only a velocity discontinuity at the base of the experiment) on the normal fault geometry in order to investigate the influence of controlled parameters such as extension velocity, rate of extension, ductile thickness and varying stratigraphy on the 3D fault geometry. These experiments showed a broad-spectrum of tectonic features such as grabens, ramp-flat-ramp normal faults and reverse faults. Forced folds are associated with fault flats that develop in the décollement levels (refraction of the fault angle). One of the key points is that the normal fault geometry displays large variations in both direction and dip, despite the imposed homogeneous extension. This result is exclusively related to the presence of décollement levels, and is not associated with any global/regional variation in extension direction and/or inversion.

The Role of Coseismic Coulomb Stress Changes in Shaping the Hard Link Between Normal Fault Segments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hodge, M.; Fagereng, Å.; Biggs, J.

2018-01-01

The mechanism and evolution of fault linkage is important in the growth and development of large faults. Here we investigate the role of coseismic stress changes in shaping the hard links between parallel normal fault segments (or faults), by comparing numerical models of the Coulomb stress change from simulated earthquakes on two en echelon fault segments to natural observations of hard-linked fault geometry. We consider three simplified linking fault geometries: (1) fault bend, (2) breached relay ramp, and (3) strike-slip transform fault. We consider scenarios where either one or both segments rupture and vary the distance between segment tips. Fault bends and breached relay ramps are favored where segments underlap or when the strike-perpendicular distance between overlapping segments is less than 20% of their total length, matching all 14 documented examples. Transform fault linkage geometries are preferred when overlapping segments are laterally offset at larger distances. Few transform faults exist in continental extensional settings, and our model suggests that propagating faults or fault segments may first link through fault bends or breached ramps before reaching sufficient overlap for a transform fault to develop. Our results suggest that Coulomb stresses arising from multisegment ruptures or repeated earthquakes are consistent with natural observations of the geometry of hard links between parallel normal fault segments.

Salt flow direction and velocity during subsalt normal faulting and syn-kinematic sedimentation—implications from analytical calculations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Warsitzka, M.; Kukowski, N.; Kley, J.

2018-04-01

Salt flow induced by subsalt normal faulting is mainly controlled by tilting of the salt layer, the amount of differential loading due to syn-kinematic deposition, and tectonic shearing at the top or the base of the salt layer. Our study addresses the first two mechanisms and aims to examine salt flow patterns above a continuously moving subsalt normal fault and beneath a syn-kinematic minibasin. In such a setting, salt either tends to flow down towards the basin centre driven by its own weight or is squeezed up towards the footwall side owing to loading differences between the minibasin and the region above the footwall block. Applying isostatic balancing in analytical models, we calculated the steady-state flow velocity in a salt layer. This procedure gives insights into (1) the minimum vertical offset required for upward flow to occur, (2) the magnitude of the flow velocity, and (3) the average density of the supra-salt cover layer at the point at which upward flow starts. In a sensitivity study, we examined how the point of flow reversal and the velocity patterns are influenced by changes of the salt and cover layer thickness, the geometry of the cover flexure, the dip of the subsalt fault, compaction parameters of the supra-salt cover, the salt viscosity and the salt density. Our model results reveal that in most geological scenarios, salt flow above a continuously displacing subsalt normal fault goes through an early phase of downward flow. At sufficiently high fault offset in the range of 700-2600 m, salt is later squeezed upward towards the footwall side. This flow reversal occurs at smaller vertical fault displacement, if the thickness of the pre-kinematic layer is larger, the sedimentation rate of the syn-kinematic cover is higher, the compaction coefficient of cover sediments (i.e. the density increase with depth) is larger or the average density of the salt is lower. Other geometrical parameters such as the width of the cover monocline, the dip of the basement fault or the thickness of the salt layer have no significant influence on the point of reversal, but modify the velocity of the salt flow.

On the physics-based processes behind production-induced seismicity in natural gas fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zbinden, Dominik; Rinaldi, Antonio Pio; Urpi, Luca; Wiemer, Stefan

2017-04-01

Induced seismicity due to natural gas production is observed at different sites around the world. Common understanding is that the pressure drop caused by gas production leads to compaction, which affects the stress field in the reservoir and the surrounding rock formations, hence reactivating pre-existing faults and inducing earthquakes. Previous studies have often assumed that pressure changes in the reservoir compartments and intersecting fault zones are equal, while neglecting multi-phase fluid flow. In this study, we show that disregarding fluid flow involved in natural gas extraction activities is often inappropriate. We use a fully coupled multiphase fluid flow and geomechanics simulator, which accounts for stress-dependent permeability and linear poroelasticity, to better determine the conditions leading to fault reactivation. In our model setup, gas is produced from a porous reservoir, cut in two compartments that are offset by a normal fault, and overlain by impermeable caprock. Results show that fluid flow plays a major role pertaining to pore pressure and stress evolution within the fault. Hydro-mechanical processes include rotation of the principal stresses due to reservoir compaction, as well as poroelastic effects caused by the pressure drop in the adjacent reservoir. Fault strength is significantly reduced due to fluid flow into the fault zone from the neighbouring reservoir compartment and other formations. We also analyze the case of production in both compartments, and results show that simultaneous production does not prevent the fault to be reactivated, but the magnitude of the induced event is smaller. Finally, we analyze scenarios for minimizing seismicity after a period of production, such as (i) well shut-in and (ii) gas re-injection. Results show that, in the case of well shut-in, a highly stressed fault zone can still be reactivated several decades after production stop, although in average the shut-in results in reduction of seismicity. In the case of gas re-injection, fault reactivation can be avoided if gas is injected directly into the compartment under depletion. However, accounting for continuous production at a given reservoir and gas re-injection at a neighbouring compartment does not stop the fault from being reactivated.

Immunity-Based Aircraft Fault Detection System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dasgupta, D.; KrishnaKumar, K.; Wong, D.; Berry, M.

2004-01-01

In the study reported in this paper, we have developed and applied an Artificial Immune System (AIS) algorithm for aircraft fault detection, as an extension to a previous work on intelligent flight control (IFC). Though the prior studies had established the benefits of IFC, one area of weakness that needed to be strengthened was the control dead band induced by commanding a failed surface. Since the IFC approach uses fault accommodation with no detection, the dead band, although it reduces over time due to learning, is present and causes degradation in handling qualities. If the failure can be identified, this dead band can be further A ed to ensure rapid fault accommodation and better handling qualities. The paper describes the application of an immunity-based approach that can detect a broad spectrum of known and unforeseen failures. The approach incorporates the knowledge of the normal operational behavior of the aircraft from sensory data, and probabilistically generates a set of pattern detectors that can detect any abnormalities (including faults) in the behavior pattern indicating unsafe in-flight operation. We developed a tool called MILD (Multi-level Immune Learning Detection) based on a real-valued negative selection algorithm that can generate a small number of specialized detectors (as signatures of known failure conditions) and a larger set of generalized detectors for unknown (or possible) fault conditions. Once the fault is detected and identified, an adaptive control system would use this detection information to stabilize the aircraft by utilizing available resources (control surfaces). We experimented with data sets collected under normal and various simulated failure conditions using a piloted motion-base simulation facility. The reported results are from a collection of test cases that reflect the performance of the proposed immunity-based fault detection algorithm.

Study on the Evaluation Method for Fault Displacement: Probabilistic Approach Based on Japanese Earthquake Rupture Data - Principal fault displacements -

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kitada, N.; Inoue, N.; Tonagi, M.

2016-12-01

The purpose of Probabilistic Fault Displacement Hazard Analysis (PFDHA) is estimate fault displacement values and its extent of the impact. There are two types of fault displacement related to the earthquake fault: principal fault displacement and distributed fault displacement. Distributed fault displacement should be evaluated in important facilities, such as Nuclear Installations. PFDHA estimates principal fault and distributed fault displacement. For estimation, PFDHA uses distance-displacement functions, which are constructed from field measurement data. We constructed slip distance relation of principal fault displacement based on Japanese strike and reverse slip earthquakes in order to apply to Japan area that of subduction field. However, observed displacement data are sparse, especially reverse faults. Takao et al. (2013) tried to estimate the relation using all type fault systems (reverse fault and strike slip fault). After Takao et al. (2013), several inland earthquakes were occurred in Japan, so in this time, we try to estimate distance-displacement functions each strike slip fault type and reverse fault type especially add new fault displacement data set. To normalized slip function data, several criteria were provided by several researchers. We normalized principal fault displacement data based on several methods and compared slip-distance functions. The normalized by total length of Japanese reverse fault data did not show particular trend slip distance relation. In the case of segmented data, the slip-distance relationship indicated similar trend as strike slip faults. We will also discuss the relation between principal fault displacement distributions with source fault character. According to slip distribution function (Petersen et al., 2011), strike slip fault type shows the ratio of normalized displacement are decreased toward to the edge of fault. However, the data set of Japanese strike slip fault data not so decrease in the end of the fault. This result indicates that the fault displacement is difficult to appear at the edge of the fault displacement in Japan. This research was part of the 2014-2015 research project `Development of evaluating method for fault displacement` by the Secretariat of Nuclear Regulation Authority (NRA), Japan.

Strength of Wet and Dry Montmorillonite

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morrow, C. A.; Lockner, D. A.; Moore, D. E.

2015-12-01

Montmorillonite, an expandable smectite clay, is a common mineral in fault zones to a depth of around 3 km. Its low strength relative to other common fault gouge minerals is important in many models of fault rheology. However, the coefficient of friction is not well constrained in the literature due to the difficulty of establishing fully drained or fully dried states in the laboratory. For instance, in some reported studies, samples were either partially saturated or possibly over pressured, leading to wide variability in reported shear strength. In this study, the coefficient of friction, μ, of both saturated and oven-dried (at 150°C) Na-montmorillonite was measured at normal stresses up to 680 MPa at room temperature and shortening rates from 1.0 to 0.01 μm/s. Care was taken to shear saturated samples slowly enough to avoid pore fluid overpressure in the clay layers. Coefficients of friction are reported after 8 mm of axial displacement in a triaxial apparatus on saw-cut samples containing a layer of montmorillonite gouge, with either granite or sandstone driving blocks. For saturated samples, μ increased from around 0.1 at low pressure to 0.25 at the highest test pressures. In contrast, values for oven-dried samples decreased asymptotically from approximately 0.78 at 10 MPa normal stress to around 0.45 at 400-680 MPa. While wet and dry strengths approached each other with increasing effective normal stress, wet strength remained only about half of the dry strength at 600 MPa effective normal stress. The increased coefficient of friction can be correlated with a reduction in the number of loosely bound lubricating surface water layers on the clay platelets due to applied normal stress under saturated conditions. The steady-state rate dependence of friction, a-b, was positive and dependent on normal stress. For saturated samples, a-b increased linearly with applied normal stress from ~0 to 0.004, while for dry samples a-b decreased with increasing normal stress from 0.008 to 0.002. All values were either neutral or rate strengthening, indicating a tendency for stable sliding.

Temporal evolution of surface rupture deduced from coseismic multi-mode secondary fractures: Insights from the October 8, 2005 (Mw 7.6) Kashmir earthquake, NW Himalaya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sayab, Mohammad; Khan, Muhammad Asif

2010-10-01

Detailed rupture-fracture analyses of some of the well-studied earthquakes have revealed that the geometrical arrangement of secondary faults and fractures can be used as a geological tool to understand the temporal evolution of slip produced during the mainshock. The October 8, 2005 Mw 7.6 Kashmir earthquake, NW Himalaya, surface rupture provides an opportunity to study a complex network of secondary fractures developed on the hanging wall of the fault scarp. The main fault scarp is clearly thrust-type, rupture length is ~ 75 ± 5 km and the overall trend of the rupture is NW-SE. We present the results of our detailed structural mapping of secondary faults and fractures at 1:100 scale, on the hanging wall of the southern end of the rupture in the vicinity of the Sar Pain. Secondary ruptures can be broadly classified as two main types, 1) normal faults and, (2) right-lateral strike-slip 'Riedel' fractures. The secondary normal faults are NW-SE striking, with a maximum 3.3 meter vertical displacement and 2.5 meter horizontal displacement. Estimated total horizontal extension across the secondary normal faults is 3.1-3.5%. We propose that the bending-moment and coseismic stress relaxation can explain the formation of secondary normal faults on the hanging wall of the thrust fault. The strike-slip 'Riedel' fractures form distinct sets of tension (T) and shear fractures (R', R, Y) with right-lateral displacement. Field observations revealed that the 'Riedel' fractures (T) cut the secondary normal faults. In addition, there is kinematic incompatibility and magnitude mismatch between the secondary normal faults and strike-slip 'Riedel' fractures. The cross-cutting relationship, geometric and magnitude incoherence implies a temporal evolution of slip from dip- to strike-slip during the mainshock faulting. The interpretation is consistent with the thrust fault plane solution with minor right-lateral strike-slip component.

Frictional Properties of Opalinus Clay: Implications for Nuclear Waste Storage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Orellana, L. F.; Scuderi, M. M.; Collettini, C.; Violay, M.

2018-01-01

The kaolinite-bearing Opalinus Clay (OPA) is the host rock proposed in Switzerland for disposal of radioactive waste. However, the presence of tectonic faults intersecting the OPA formation put the long-term safety performance of the underground repository into question due to the possibility of earthquakes triggered by fault instability. In this paper, we study the frictional properties of the OPA shale. To do that, we have carried out biaxial direct shear experiments under conditions typical of nuclear waste storage. We have performed velocity steps (1-300 μm/s) and slide-hold-slide tests (1-3,000 s) on simulated fault gouge at different normal stresses (4-30 MPa). To establish the deformation mechanisms, we have analyzed the microstructures of the sheared samples through scanning electron microscopy. Our results show that peak (μpeak) and steady state friction (μss) range from 0.21 to 0.52 and 0.14 to 0.39, respectively, thus suggesting that OPA fault gouges are weak. The velocity dependence of friction indicates a velocity strengthening regime, with the friction rate parameter (a - b) that decreases with normal stress. Finally, the zero healing values imply a lack of restrengthening during interseismic periods. Taken together, if OPA fault reactivates, our experimental evidence favors an aseismic slip behavior, making the nucleation of earthquakes difficult, and long-term weakness, resulting in stable fault creeping over geological times. Based on the results, our study confirms the seismic safety of the OPA formation for a nuclear waste repository.

Inherited discontinuities and fault kinematics of a multiphase, non-colinear extensional setting: Subsurface observations from the South Flank of the Golfo San Jorge basin, Patagonia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paredes, José Matildo; Aguiar, Mariana; Ansa, Andrés; Giordano, Sergio; Ledesma, Mario; Tejada, Silvia

2018-01-01

We use three-dimensional (3D) seismic reflection data to analyze the structural style, fault kinematics and growth fault mechanisms of non-colinear normal fault systems in the South Flank of the Golfo San Jorge basin, central Patagonia. Pre-existing structural fabrics in the basement of the South Flank show NW-SE and NE-SW oriented faults. They control the location and geometry of wedge-shaped half grabens from the "main synrift phase" infilled with Middle Jurassic volcanic-volcaniclastic rocks and lacustrine units of Late Jurassic to Early Cretaceous age. The NE-striking, basement-involved normal faults resulted in the rapid establishment of fault lenght, followed by gradual increasing in displacement, and minor reactivation during subsequent extensional phases; NW-striking normal faults are characterized by fault segments that propagated laterally during the "main rifting phase", being subsequently reactivated during succesive extensional phases. The Aptian-Campanian Chubut Group is a continental succession up to 4 km thick associated to the "second rifting stage", characterized by propagation and linkage of W-E to WNW-ESE fault segments that increase their lenght and displacement in several extensional phases, recognized by detailed measurement of current throw distribution of selected seismic horizons along fault surfaces. Strain is distributed in an array of sub-parallel normal faults oriented normal to the extension direction. A Late Cretaceous-Paleogene (pre-late Eocene) extensional event is characterized by high-angle, NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW grabens coeval with intraplate alkali basaltic volcanism, evidencing clockwise rotation of the stress field following a ∼W-E extension direction. We demonstrate differences in growth fault mechanisms of non-colinear fault populations, and highlight the importance of follow a systematic approach to the analysis of fault geometry and throw distribution in a fault network, in order to understand temporal-spatial variations in the coeval topography, potential structural traps, and distribution of oil-bearing sandstone reservoirs.

Progressive deformation of the Chugach accretionary complex, Alaska, during a paleogene ridge-trench encounter

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kusky, Timothy M.

1997-01-01

The Mesozoic accretionary wedge of south-central Alaska is cut by an array of faults including dextral and sinistral strike-slip faults, synthetic and antithetic thrust faults, and synthetic and antithetic normal faults. The three fault sets are characterized by quartz ± calcite ± chlorite ± prehnite slickensides, and are all relatively late, i.e. all truncate ductile fabrics of the host rocks. Cross-cutting relationships suggest that the thrust fault sets predate the late normal and strike-slip fault sets. Together, the normal and strike-slip fault system exhibits orthorhombic symmetry. Thrust faulting shortened the wedge subhorizontally perpendicular to strike, and then normal and strike-slip faulting extended the wedge oblique to orogenic strike. Strongly curved slickenlines on some faults of each set reveal that displacement directions changed over time. On dip-slip faults (thrust and normal), slickenlines tend to become steeper with younger increments of slip, whereas on strike-slip faults, slickenlines become shallower with younger strain increments. These patterns may result from progressive exhumation of the accretionary wedge while the faults were active, with the curvature of the slickenlines tracking the change from a non-Andersonian stress field at depth to a more Andersonian system (σ1 or σ2 nearly vertical) at shallower crustal levels.We interpret this complex fault array as a progressive deformation that is one response to Paleocene-Eocene subduction of the Kula-Farallon spreading center beneath the accretionary complex because: (1) on the Kenai Peninsula, ENE-striking dextral faults of this array exhibit mutually cross-cutting relationships with Paleocene-Eocene dikes related to ridge subduction; and (2) mineralized strike-slip and normal faults of the orthorhombic system have yielded 40Ar/39Ar ages identical to near-trench intrusives related to ridge subduction. Both features are diachronous along-strike, having formed at circa 65 Ma in the west and 50 Ma in the east. Exhumation of deeper levels of the southern Alaska accretionary wedge and formation of this late fault array is interpreted as a critical taper adjustment to subduction of progressively younger oceanic lithosphere yielding a shallower basal de´collement dip as the Kula-Farallon ridge approached the accretionary prism. The late structures also record different kinematic regimes associated with subduction of different oceanic plates, before and after ridge subduction. Prior to triple junction passage, subduction of the Farallon plate occurred at nearly right angles to the trench axis, whereas after triple junction migration, subduction of the Kula plate involved a significant component of dextral transpression and northward translation of the Chugach terrane. The changes in kinematics are apparent in the sequence of late structures from: (1) thrusting; (2) near-trench plutonism associated with normal + strike-slip faulting; (3) very late gouge-filled dextral faults.

Possible Strain Partitioning Between the Kumano Forearc Basin and the Slope of the Nankai Trough Accretionary Prism

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martin, K. M.; Gulick, S. P.; Bangs, N. L.; Ashi, J.; Moore, G. F.; Nakamura, Y.; Tobin, H. J.

2008-12-01

A 12 km wide, 56 km long, three-dimensional (3-D) seismic volume acquired over the Nankai Trough offshore the Kii Peninsula, Japan images the Nankai accretionary prism, forearc basin and the subducting Philippine Sea Plate. We have analyzed an unusual, trench-parallel ~1200 m deep depression (a "notch") along the seaward edge of the Kumano forearc basin, just landward of the shallowest branch of the previously- mapped splay-fault system. The shape of this feature varies along strike, from a single, steep-walled, ~3.5 km wide notch in the northeast, to a broader, ~6 km wide zone with several shallower linear bathymetric lows in the southwest. We have mapped the area below the notch and found both vertical faults and faults which dip toward the central axis of the depression. Some dipping faults appear to have normal offset, consistent with the formation of a bathymetric low. Some of these dipping faults may join the central vertical fault(s) at depth, creating apparent flower structures. Offset on the vertical faults is more difficult to determine, but the dip and along-strike geometry of these faults makes predominantly normal or thrust motion unlikely. We conclude, therefore, that the notch feature is the bathymetric expression of a transtensional fault system. Possible causes for such a system in the forearc include variations in splay fault geometry and strain partitioning. By considering only the along-strike variability of the mapped splay fault, we were unable to explain a transform feature at the scale of the notch. Strike-slip faulting at the seaward edge of forearc basins is also observed in Sumatra and is there attributed to strain partitioning due to oblique convergence. The wedge and décollment strength variations which control the location of the forearc basins may therefore play a role in the position where the along-strike component of deformation is localized. While the obliquity of convergence in the Nankai trough is comparatively small (13-30 degrees), we believe it is still significant enough to account for the formation of the observed notch.

Millennial strain partitioning and fault interaction revealed by 36Cl cosmogenic nuclide datasets from Abruzzo, Central Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gregory, L. C.; Phillips, R. J.; Roberts, G.; Cowie, P. A.; Shanks, R. P.; McCaffrey, K. J. W.; Wedmore, L. N. J.; Zijerveld, L.

2015-12-01

In zones of distributed continental faulting, it is critical to understand how slip is partitioned onto brittle structures over both long-term millennial time scales and shorter-term individual earthquake cycles. The comparison of slip distributions on different timescales is challenging due to earthquake repeat-times being longer or similar to historical earthquake records, and a paucity of data on fault activity covering millennial to Quaternary scales in detail. Cosmogenic isotope analyses from bedrock fault scarps have the potential to bridge the gap, as these datasets track the exposure of fault planes due to earthquakes with better-than-millennial resolution. In this presentation, we will use an extensive 36Cl dataset to characterise late Holocene activity across a complicated network of normal faults in Abruzzo, Italy, comparing the most recent fault behaviour with the historical earthquake record in the region. Extensional faulting in Abruzzo has produced scarps of exposed bedrock limestone fault planes that have been preserved since the last glacial maximum (LGM). 36Cl accumulates in bedrock fault scarps as the plane is progressively exhumed by earthquakes and thus the concentration of 36Cl measured up the fault plane reflects the rate and patterns of slip. In this presentation, we will focus on the most recent record, revealed at the base of the fault. Utilising new Bayesian modelling techniques on new and previously collected data, we compare evidence for this most recent period of slip (over the last several thousands of years) across 5-6 fault zones located across strike from each other. Each sampling site is carefully characterised using LiDAR and GPR. We demonstrate that the rate of slip on individual fault strands varies significantly, between having periods of accelerated slip to relative quiescence. Where data is compared between across-strike fault zones and with the historical catalogue, it appears that slip is partitioned such that one fault zone takes up a significant portion of strain across the region for hundreds to thousands of years.

Anatomy of an Active Seismic Source: the Interplay between Present-Day Seismic Activity and Inherited Fault Zone Architecture (Central Apennines, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fondriest, M.; Demurtas, M.; Bistacchi, A.; Fabrizio, B.; Storti, F.; Valoroso, L.; Di Toro, G.

2017-12-01

The mechanics and seismogenic behaviour of fault zones are strongly influenced by their internal structure, in terms of both fault geometry and fault rock constitutive properties. In recent years high-resolution seismological techniques yielded new constraints on the geometry and velocity structure of seismogenic faults down to 10s meters length scales. This reduced the gap between geophysical imaging of active seismic sources and field observations of exhumed fault zones. Nevertheless fundamental questions such as the origin of geometrical and kinematic complexities associated to seismic faulting remain open. We addressed these topics by characterizing the internal structure of the Vado di Corno Fault Zone, an active seismogenic normal fault cutting carbonates in the Central Apennines of Italy and comparing it with the present-day seismicity of the area. The fault footwall block, which was exhumed from < 2 km depth, was mapped with high detail (< 1 m spatial resolution) for 2 km of exposure along strike, combining field structural data and photogrammetric surveys in a three dimensional structural model. Three main structural units separated by principal fault strands were recognized: (i) cataclastic unit (20-100 m thick), (ii) damage zone (≤ 300 m thick), (iii) breccia unit ( 20 thick). The cataclastic unit lines the master fault and represents the core of the normal fault zone. In-situ shattering together with evidence of extreme (possibly coseismic) shear strain localization (e.g., mirror-like faults with truncated clasts, ultrafine-grained sheared veins) was recognized. The breccia unit is an inherited thrust zone affected by pervasive veining and secondary dolomitization. It strikes subparallel to the active normal fault and is characterized by a non-cylindrical geometry with 10-100 m long frontal and lateral ramps. The cataclastic unit cuts through thrust flats within the breccia unit, whereas normal to oblique inversion occur on frontal and lateral ramps. A comparable structural setting was imaged South-West of the study area, during the 2009 L'Aquila seismic sequence. Here at 2 km depth, the master normal fault cross-cuts a 10 km long flat structure and clear lateral ramps are illuminated, suggesting the superposition of normal seismic faulting on inherited compressional structures.

Porosity variations in and around normal fault zones: implications for fault seal and geomechanics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Healy, David; Neilson, Joyce; Farrell, Natalie; Timms, Nick; Wilson, Moyra

2015-04-01

Porosity forms the building blocks for permeability, exerts a significant influence on the acoustic response of rocks to elastic waves, and fundamentally influences rock strength. And yet, published studies of porosity around fault zones or in faulted rock are relatively rare, and are hugely dominated by those of fault zone permeability. We present new data from detailed studies of porosity variations around normal faults in sandstone and limestone. We have developed an integrated approach to porosity characterisation in faulted rock exploiting different techniques to understand variations in the data. From systematic samples taken across exposed normal faults in limestone (Malta) and sandstone (Scotland), we combine digital image analysis on thin sections (optical and electron microscopy), core plug analysis (He porosimetry) and mercury injection capillary pressures (MICP). Our sampling includes representative material from undeformed protoliths and fault rocks from the footwall and hanging wall. Fault-related porosity can produce anisotropic permeability with a 'fast' direction parallel to the slip vector in a sandstone-hosted normal fault. Undeformed sandstones in the same unit exhibit maximum permeability in a sub-horizontal direction parallel to lamination in dune-bedded sandstones. Fault-related deformation produces anisotropic pores and pore networks with long axes aligned sub-vertically and this controls the permeability anisotropy, even under confining pressures up to 100 MPa. Fault-related porosity also has interesting consequences for the elastic properties and velocity structure of normal fault zones. Relationships between texture, pore type and acoustic velocity have been well documented in undeformed limestone. We have extended this work to include the effects of faulting on carbonate textures, pore types and P- and S-wave velocities (Vp, Vs) using a suite of normal fault zones in Malta, with displacements ranging from 0.5 to 90 m. Our results show a clear lithofacies control on the Vp-porosity and the Vs-Vp relationships for faulted limestones. Using porosity patterns quantified in naturally deformed rocks we have modelled their effect on the mechanical stability of fluid-saturated fault zones in the subsurface. Poroelasticity theory predicts that variations in fluid pressure could influence fault stability. Anisotropic patterns of porosity in and around fault zones can - depending on their orientation and intensity - lead to an increase in fault stability in response to a rise in fluid pressure, and a decrease in fault stability for a drop in fluid pressure. These predictions are the exact opposite of the accepted role of effective stress in fault stability. Our work has provided new data on the spatial and statistical variation of porosity in fault zones. Traditionally considered as an isotropic and scalar value, porosity and pore networks are better considered as anisotropic and as scale-dependent statistical distributions. The geological processes controlling the evolution of porosity are complex. Quantifying patterns of porosity variation is an essential first step in a wider quest to better understand deformation processes in and around normal fault zones. Understanding porosity patterns will help us to make more useful predictive tools for all agencies involved in the study and management of fluids in the subsurface.

Seasonal Modulation of Earthquake Swarm Activity Near Maupin, Oregon

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braunmiller, J.; Nabelek, J.; Trehu, A. M.

2012-12-01

Between December 2006 and November 2011, the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network (PNSN) reported 464 earthquakes in a swarm about 60 km east-southeast of Mt. Hood near the town of Maupin, Oregon. Relocation of forty-five MD≥2.5 earthquakes and regional moment tensor analysis of nine 3.3≤Mw≤3.9 earthquakes reveals a north-northwest trending, less than 1 km2 sized active fault patch on a 70° west dipping fault. At about 17 km depth, the swarm occurred at or close to the bottom of the seismogenic crust. The swarm's cumulative seismic moment release, equivalent to an Mw=4.4 earthquake, is not dominated by a single shock; it is rather mainly due to 20 MD≥3.0 events, which occurred throughout the swarm. The swarm started at the southern end and, during the first 18 months of activity, migrated to the northwest at a rate of about 1-2 m/d until reaching its northern terminus. A 10° fault bend, inferred from locations and fault plane solutions, acted as geometrical barrier that temporarily halted event migration in mid-2007 before continuing north in early 2008. The slow event migration points to a pore pressure diffusion process suggesting the swarm onset was triggered by fluid inflow into the fault zone. At 17 km depth, triggering by meteoritic water seems unlikely for a normal crustal permeability. The double couple source mechanisms preclude a magmatic intrusion at the depth of the earthquakes. However, fluids (or gases) associated with a deeper, though undocumented, magma injection beneath the Cascade Mountains, could trigger seismicity in a pre-stressed region when they have migrated upward and reached the seismogenic crust. Superimposed on overall swarm evolution, we found a statistically significant annual seismicity variation, which is likely surface driven. The annual seismicity peak during spring (March-May) coincides with the maximum snow load on the near-by Cascades. The load corresponds to a surface pressure variation of about 6 kPa, which likely causes an annual peak-to-peak vertical displacement of about 1 cm at GPS sites in the Cascades and GPS signals that decay with increasing distance from the Cascades. Stress changes due to loading and unloading of snow pack in the Cascades can act in two ways to instantaneously enhance seismicity. For a strike-slip fault roughly parallel to the trend of the load and 10s of km away from it, normal stress decreases slightly leading to slight fault unclamping. The load also leads to simultaneous compression of fluid conduits at greater depth driving fluids rapidly upward into the swarm source region. The small, temporally variable stress changes on the order of a few kPa or less seem to be adequate to modulate seismicity by varying fault normal stresses and controlling fluid injection into a critically stressed fault zone. The swarm region has been quiet since February 2012 suggesting stresses on the fault have been nearly completely released.

Method of gear fault diagnosis based on EEMD and improved Elman neural network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Qi; Zhao, Wei; Xiao, Shungen; Song, Mengmeng

2017-05-01

Aiming at crack and wear and so on of gears Fault information is difficult to diagnose usually due to its weak, a gear fault diagnosis method that is based on EEMD and improved Elman neural network fusion is proposed. A number of IMF components are obtained by decomposing denoised all kinds of fault signals with EEMD, and the pseudo IMF components is eliminated by using the correlation coefficient method to obtain the effective IMF component. The energy characteristic value of each effective component is calculated as the input feature quantity of Elman neural network, and the improved Elman neural network is based on standard network by adding a feedback factor. The fault data of normal gear, broken teeth, cracked gear and attrited gear were collected by field collecting. The results were analyzed by the diagnostic method proposed in this paper. The results show that compared with the standard Elman neural network, Improved Elman neural network has the advantages of high diagnostic efficiency.

Late Quaternary Normal Faulting and Hanging Wall Basin Evolution of the Southwestern Rift Margin from Gravity and Geology, B.C.S., MX and Exploring the Influence of Text-Figure Format on Introductory Geology Learning

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Busch, Melanie M. D.

2011-01-01

An array of north-striking, left-stepping, active normal faults is situated along the southwestern margin of the Gulf of California. This normal fault system is the marginal fault system of the oblique-divergent plate boundary within the Gulf of California. To better understand the role of upper-crustal processes during development of an obliquely…

Tectonic implications of the 2017 Ayvacık (Çanakkale) earthquakes, Biga Peninsula, NW Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Özden, Süha; Över, Semir; Poyraz, Selda Altuncu; Güneş, Yavuz; Pınar, Ali

2018-04-01

The west to southwestward motion of the Anatolian block results from the relative motions between the Eurasian, Arabian and African plates along the right-lateral North Anatolian Fault Zone in the north and left-lateral East Anatolian Fault Zone in the east. The Biga Peninsula is tectonically influenced by the Anatolian motion originating along the North Anatolian Fault Zone which splits into two main (northern and southern) branches in the east of Marmara region: the southern branch extends towards the Biga Peninsula which is characterized by strike-slip to oblique normal faulting stress regime in the central to northern part. The southernmost part of peninsula is characterized by a normal to oblique faulting stress regime. The analysis of both seismological and structural field data confirms the change of stress regime from strike-slip character in the center and north to normal faulting character in the south of peninsula where the earthquake swarm recently occurred. The earthquakes began on 14 January 2017 (Mw: 4.4) on Tuzla Fault and migrated southward along the Kocaköy and Babakale's stepped-normal faults of over three months. The inversion of focal mechanisms yields a normal faulting stress regime with an approximately N-S (N4°E) σ3 axis. The inversion of earthquakes occurring in central and northern Biga Peninsula and the north Aegean region gives a strike-slip stress regime with approximately WNW-ESE (N85°W) σ1 and NNE-SSW (N17°E) σ3 axis. The strike-slip stress regime is attributed to westward Anatolian motion, while the normal faulting stress regime is attributed to both the extrusion of Anatolian block and the slab-pull force of the subducting African plate along the Hellenic arc.

Marine forearc extension in the Hikurangi Margin: New insights from high-resolution 3D seismic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Böttner, Christoph; Gross, Felix; Geersen, Jacob; Mountjoy, Joshu; Crutchley, Gareth; Krastel, Sebastian

2017-04-01

In subduction zones upper-plate normal faults have long been considered a tectonic feature primarily associated with erosive margins. However, increasing data coverage has proven that similar features also occur in accretionary margins, such as Cascadia, Makran, Nankai or Central Chile, where kinematics are dominated by compression. Considering their wide distribution there is, without doubt, a significant lack of qualitative and quantitative knowledge regarding the role and importance of normal faults and zones of extension for the seismotectonic evolution of accretionary margins. We use a high-resolution 3D P-Cable seismic volume from the Hikurangi Margin acquired in 2014 to analyze the spatial distribution and mechanisms of upper-plate normal faulting. The study area is located at the upper continental slope in the area of the Tuaheni landslide complex. In detail we aim to (1) map the spatial distribution of normal faults and characterize their vertical throws, strike directions, and dip angles; (2) investigate their possible influence on fluid migration in an area, where gas hydrates are present; (3) discuss the mechanisms that may cause extension of the upper-slope in the study area. Beneath the Tuaheni Landslide Complex we mapped about 200 normal faults. All faults have low displacements (<15 m) and dip at high (> 65°) angles. About 71% of the faults dip landward. We found two main strike directions, with the majority of faults striking 350-10°, parallel to the deformation front. A second group of faults strikes 40-60°. The faults crosscut the BSR, which indicates the base of the gas hydrate zone. In combination with seismically imaged bright-spots and pull-up structures, this indicates that the normal faults effectively transport fluids vertically across the base of the gas hydrate zone. Localized uplift, as indicated by the presence of the Tuaheni Ridge, might support normal faulting in the study area. In addition, different subduction rates across the margin may also favor extension between the segments. Future work will help to further untangle the mechanisms that cause extension of the upper continental slope.

Observations, models, and mechanisms of failure of surface rocks surrounding planetary surface loads

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Schultz, R. A.; Zuber, M. T.

1994-01-01

Geophysical models of flexural stresses in an elastic lithosphere due to an axisymmetric surface load typically predict a transition with increased distance from the center of the load of radial thrust faults to strike-slip faults to concentric normal faults. These model predictions are in conflict with the absence of annular zones of strike-slip faults around prominent loads such as lunar maria, Martian volcanoes, and the Martian Tharsis rise. We suggest that this paradox arises from difficulties in relating failure criteria for brittle rocks to the stress models. Indications that model stresses are inappropriate for use in fault-type prediction include (1) tensile principal stresses larger than realistic values of rock tensile strength, and/or (2) stress differences significantly larger than those allowed by rock-strength criteria. Predictions of surface faulting that are consistent with observations can be obtained instead by using tensile and shear failure criteria, along with calculated stress differences and trajectories, with model stress states not greatly in excess of the maximum allowed by rock fracture criteria.

Irregular focal mechanisms observed at Salton Sea Geothermal Field: Possible influences of anthropogenic stress perturbations

USGS Publications Warehouse

Crandall-Bear, Aren; Barbour, Andrew J.; Schoenball, Martin; Schoenball, Martin

2018-01-01

At the Salton Sea Geothermal Field (SSGF), strain accumulation is released through seismic slip and aseismic deformation. Earthquake activity at the SSGF often occurs in swarm-like clusters, some with clear migration patterns. We have identified an earthquake sequence composed entirely of focal mechanisms representing an ambiguous style of faulting, where strikes are similar but deformation occurs due to steeply-dipping normal faults with varied stress states. In order to more accurately determine the style of faulting for these events, we revisit the original waveforms and refine estimates of P and S wave arrival times and displacement amplitudes. We calculate the acceptable focal plane solutions using P-wave polarities and S/P amplitude ratios, and determine the preferred fault plane. Without constraints on local variations in stress, found by inverting the full earthquake catalog, it is difficult to explain the occurrence of such events using standard fault-mechanics and friction. Comparing these variations with the expected poroelastic effects from local production and injection of geothermal fluids suggests that anthropogenic activity could affect the style of faulting.

The influence of a reverse-reactivated normal fault on natural fracture geometries and relative chronologies at Castle Cove, Otway Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Debenham, Natalie; King, Rosalind C.; Holford, Simon P.

2018-07-01

Despite the ubiquity of normal faults that have undergone compressional inversion, documentation of the structural history of natural fractures around these structures is limited. In this paper, we investigate the geometries and relative chronologies of natural fractures adjacent to a reverse-reactivated normal fault, the Castle Cove Fault in the Otway Basin, southeast Australia. Local variations in strain resulted in greater deformation within the fault damage zone closer to the fault. Structural mapping within the damage zone reveals a complex tectonic history recording both regional and local perturbations in stress and a total of 11 fracture sets were identified, with three sets geometrically related to the Castle Cove Fault. The remaining fracture sets formed in response to local stresses at Castle Cove. Rifting in the late Cretaceous resulted in normal movement of the Castle Cove Fault and associated rollover folding, and the formation of the largest fracture set. Reverse-reactivation of the fault and associated anticlinal folding occurred during late Miocene to Pliocene compression. Rollover folding may have provided structural traps if seals were not breached by fractures, however anticlinal folding likely post-dated the main episodes of hydrocarbon generation and migration in the region. This study highlights the need to conduct careful reconstruction of the structural histories of fault zones that experienced complex reactivation histories when attempting to define off-fault fluid flow properties.

Thermo-mechanical pressurization of experimental faults in cohesive rocks during seismic slip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Violay, M.; Di Toro, G.; Nielsen, S.; Spagnuolo, E.; Burg, J. P.

2015-11-01

Earthquakes occur because fault friction weakens with increasing slip and slip rates. Since the slipping zones of faults are often fluid-saturated, thermo-mechanical pressurization of pore fluids has been invoked as a mechanism responsible for frictional dynamic weakening, but experimental evidence is lacking. We performed friction experiments (normal stress 25 MPa, maximal slip-rate ∼3 ms-1) on cohesive basalt and marble under (1) room-humidity and (2) immersed in liquid water (drained and undrained) conditions. In both rock types and independently of the presence of fluids, up to 80% of frictional weakening was measured in the first 5 cm of slip. Modest pressurization-related weakening appears only at later stages of slip. Thermo-mechanical pressurization weakening of cohesive rocks can be negligible during earthquakes due to the triggering of more efficient fault lubrication mechanisms (flash heating, frictional melting, etc.).

Fault rock texture and porosity type in Triassic dolostones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Agosta, Fabrizio; Grieco, Donato; Bardi, Alessandro; Prosser, Giacomo

2015-04-01

Preliminary results of an ongoing project aimed at deciphering the micromechanics and porosity evolution associated to brittle deformation of Triassic dolostones are presented. Samples collected from high-angle, oblique-slip, 10's to 100's m-throw normal faults crosscutting Mesozoic carbonates of the Neo Tethys (Campanian-Lucanian Platform) are investigated by mean of field geological mapping, optical microscopy, SEM and image analyses. The goal is to characterize in detail composition, texture and porosity of cataclastic rocks in order to assess the structural architecture of dolomitic fault cores. Moreover, the present study addresses the time-space control exerted by several micro-mechanisms such as intragranular extensional fracturing, chipping and shear fracturing, which took place during grain rolling and crushing within the evolving faults, on type, amount, dimensions and distribution of micropores present within the cataclastic fault cores. Study samples are representative of well-exposed dolomitic fault cores of oblique-slip normal faults trending either NW-SE or NE-SW. The high-angle normal faults crosscut the Mesozoic carbonates of the Campanian-Lucanian Platform, which overrode the Lagonegro succession by mean of low-angle thrust faults. Fault throws are measured by considering the displaced thrust faults as key markers after large scale field mapping (1:10,000 scale) of the study areas. In the field, hand samples were selected according to their distance from main slip surfaces and, in some case, along secondary slip surfaces. Microscopy analysis of about 100 oriented fault rock samples shows that, mostly, the study cataclastic rocks are made up of dolomite and sparse, minute survivor silicate grains deriving from the Lagonegro succession. In order to quantitatively assess the main textural classes, a great attention is paid to the grain-matrix ratio, grain sphericity, grain roundness, and grain sorting. By employing an automatic box-counting technique, the fractal dimension of representative samples is also computed. Results of such a work shows that five main textural types are present: 1) fractured and fragmented dolomites; 2) protocataclasites characterized by intense intragranular extensional fracturing; 3) cataclasites due to a chipping-dominated mechanism; 4) cataclasites and ultracataclasites with pronounced shear fracturing; 5) cemented fault rocks, which localize along the main slip surfaces. The first four textural types are therefore indicative to the fault rock maturity within individual cataclastic fault cores. A negative correlation among grain-matrix ratio and grain sphericity, roundness and sorting is computed, which implies that ultracataclasites are made up of more spherical and rounded smaller grains relative to cataclasites and protocataclasites. Each textural type shows distinct D0-values (box-counting dimension). As expected, a good correlation between the D0-value and fault rock maturity is computed. Ongoing analysis of selected images obtained from representative samples of the five textural classes will shed lights on the relative role played by the aforementioned micro-mechanisms on the porosity evolution within the cataclastic fault cores.

Semi-automated fault system extraction and displacement analysis of an excavated oyster reef using high-resolution laser scanned data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molnár, Gábor; Székely, Balázs; Harzhauser, Mathias; Djuricic, Ana; Mandic, Oleg; Dorninger, Peter; Nothegger, Clemens; Exner, Ulrike; Pfeifer, Norbert

2015-04-01

In this contribution we present a semi-automated method for reconstructing the brittle deformation field of an excavated Miocene oyster reef, in Stetten, Korneuburg Basin, Lower Austria. Oyster shells up to 80 cm in size were scattered in a shallow estuarine bay forming a continuous and almost isochronous layer as a consequence of a catastrophic event in the Miocene. This shell bed was preserved by burial of several hundred meters of sandy to silty sediments. Later the layers were tilted westward, uplifted and erosion almost exhumed them. An excavation revealed a 27 by 17 meters area of the oyster covered layer. During the tectonic processes the sediment volume suffered brittle deformation. Faults mostly with some centimeter normal component and NW-SE striking affected the oyster covered volume, dissecting many shells and the surrounding matrix as well. Faults and displacements due to them can be traced along the site typically at several meters long, and as fossil oysters are broken and parts are displaced due to the faulting, along some faults it is possible to follow these displacements in 3D. In order to quantify these varying displacements and to map the undulating fault traces high-resolution scanning of the excavated and cleaned surface of the oyster bed has been carried out using a terrestrial laser scanner. The resulting point clouds have been co-georeferenced at mm accuracy and a 1mm resolution 3D point cloud of the surface has been created. As the faults are well-represented in the point cloud, this enables us to measure the dislocations of the dissected shell parts along the fault lines. We used a semi-automatic method to quantify these dislocations. First we manually digitized the fault lines in 2D as an initial model. In the next step we estimated the vertical (i.e. perpendicular to the layer) component of the dislocation along these fault lines comparing the elevations on two sides of the faults with moving averaging windows. To estimate the strike-slip dislocation component, the surface points of the dissected shells on both sides of the fault planes were compared and displacement vectors were derived. The exact orientation of the fault planes cannot be accurately extracted automatically, so the distinction between normal and reverse fault is difficult. This makes the third component of the dislocation to be estimated inaccurately. These derived dislocation values are regarded as components of the dislocation vectors and were transformed back to the real world spatial coordinate system. Interpolating these dislocation vectors along fault lines we calculated and visualized the deformation field along the whole surface of the oyster reef. Although this deformation field is only a 2D section of the real 3D deformation field, its elaboration reveals the spatial variability of the deformation according to sediment inhomogeneity. The project is supported by the Austrian Science Fund (FWF P 25883-N29).

Kinematics of syn- and post-exhumational shear zones at Lago di Cignana (Western Alps, Italy): constraints on the exhumation of Zermatt-Saas (ultra)high-pressure rocks and deformation along the Combin Fault and Dent Blanche Basal Thrust

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kirst, Frederik; Leiss, Bernd

2017-01-01

Kinematic analyses of shear zones at Lago di Cignana in the Italian Western Alps were used to constrain the structural evolution of units from the Piemont-Ligurian oceanic realm (Zermatt-Saas and Combin zones) and the Adriatic continental margin (Dent Blanche nappe) during Palaeogene syn- and post-exhumational deformation. Exhumation of Zermatt-Saas (U)HP rocks to approximately lower crustal levels at ca. 39 Ma occurred during normal-sense top-(S)E shearing under epidote-amphibolite-facies conditions. Juxtaposition with the overlying Combin zone along the Combin Fault at mid-crustal levels occurred during greenschist-facies normal-sense top-SE shearing at ca. 38 Ma. The scarcity of top-SE kinematic indicators in the hanging wall of the Combin Fault probably resulted from strain localization along the uppermost Zermatt-Saas zone and obliteration by subsequent deformation. A phase of dominant pure shear deformation around 35 Ma affected units in the direct footwall and hanging wall of the Combin Fault. It is interpreted to reflect NW-SE crustal elongation during updoming of the nappe stack as a result of underthrusting of European continental margin units and the onset of continental collision. This phase was partly accompanied and followed by ductile bulk top-NW shearing, especially at higher structural levels, which transitioned into semi-ductile to brittle normal-sense top-NW deformation due to Vanzone phase folding from ca. 32 Ma onwards. Our structural observations suggest that syn-exhumational deformation is partly preserved within units and shear zones exposed at Lago di Cignana but also that the Combin Fault and Dent Blanche Basal Thrust experienced significant post-exhumational deformation reworking and overprinting earlier structures.

Fault zone architecture of a major oblique-slip fault in the Rawil depression, Western Helvetic nappes, Switzerland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gasser, D.; Mancktelow, N. S.

2009-04-01

The Helvetic nappes in the Swiss Alps form a classic fold-and-thrust belt related to overall NNW-directed transport. In western Switzerland, the plunge of nappe fold axes and the regional distribution of units define a broad depression, the Rawil depression, between the culminations of Aiguilles Rouge massif to the SW and Aar massif to the NE. A compilation of data from the literature establishes that, in addition to thrusts related to nappe stacking, the Rawil depression is cross-cut by four sets of brittle faults: (1) SW-NE striking normal faults that strike parallel to the regional fold axis trend, (2) NW-SE striking normal faults and joints that strike perpendicular to the regional fold axis trend, and (3) WNW-ESE striking normal plus dextral oblique-slip faults as well as (4) WSW-ENE striking normal plus dextral oblique-slip faults that both strike oblique to the regional fold axis trend. We studied in detail a beautifully exposed fault from set 3, the Rezli fault zone (RFZ) in the central Wildhorn nappe. The RFZ is a shallow to moderately-dipping (ca. 30-60˚) fault zone with an oblique-slip displacement vector, combining both dextral and normal components. It must have formed in approximately this orientation, because the local orientation of fold axes corresponds to the regional one, as does the generally vertical orientation of extensional joints and veins associated with the regional fault set 2. The fault zone crosscuts four different lithologies: limestone, intercalated marl and limestone, marl and sandstone, and it has a maximum horizontal dextral offset component of ~300 m and a maximum vertical normal offset component of ~200 m. Its internal architecture strongly depends on the lithology in which it developed. In the limestone, it consists of veins, stylolites, cataclasites and cemented gouge, in the intercalated marls and limestones of anastomosing shear zones, brittle fractures, veins and folds, in the marls of anastomosing shear zones, pressure solution seams and veins and in the sandstones of coarse breccia and veins. Later, straight, sharp fault planes cross-cut all these features. In all lithologies, common veins and calcite-cemented fault rocks indicate the strong involvement of fluids during faulting. Today, the southern Rawil depression and the Rhone Valley belong to one of the seismically most active regions in Switzerland. Seismogenic faults interpreted from earthquake focal mechanisms strike ENE-WSW to WNW-ESE, with dominant dextral strike-slip and minor normal components and epicentres at depths of < 15 km. All three Neogene fault sets (2-4) could have been active under the current stress field inferred from the current seismicity. This implies that the same mechanisms that formed these fault zones in the past may still persist at depth. The Rezli fault zone allows the detailed study of a fossil fault zone that can act as a model for processes still occurring at deeper levels in this seismically active region.

Fault orientations in extensional and conjugate strike-slip environments and their implications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thatcher, W.; Hill, D.P.

1991-01-01

Seismically active conjugate strike-slip faults in California and Japan typically have mutually orthogonal right- and left-lateral fault planes. Normal-fault dips at earthquake nucleation depths are concentrated between 40?? and 50??. The observed orientations and their strong clustering are surprising, because conventional faulting theory suggests fault initiation with conjugate 60?? and 120?? intersecting planes and 60?? normal-fault dip or fault reactivation with a broad range of permitted orientations. The observations place new constraints on the mechanics of fault initiation, rotation, and evolutionary development. We speculate that the data could be explained by fault rotation into the observed orientations and deactivation for greater rotation or by formation of localized shear zones beneath the brittle-ductile transition in Earth's crust. Initiation as weak frictional faults seems unlikely. -Authors

Rupture preparation process controlled by surface roughness on meter-scale laboratory fault

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yamashita, Futoshi; Fukuyama, Eiichi; Xu, Shiqing; Mizoguchi, Kazuo; Kawakata, Hironori; Takizawa, Shigeru

2018-05-01

We investigate the effect of fault surface roughness on rupture preparation characteristics using meter-scale metagabbro specimens. We repeatedly conducted the experiments with the same pair of rock specimens to make the fault surface rough. We obtained three experimental results under the same experimental conditions (6.7 MPa of normal stress and 0.01 mm/s of loading rate) but at different roughness conditions (smooth, moderately roughened, and heavily roughened). During each experiment, we observed many stick-slip events preceded by precursory slow slip. We investigated when and where slow slip initiated by using the strain gauge data processed by the Kalman filter algorithm. The observed rupture preparation processes on the smooth fault (i.e. the first experiment among the three) showed high repeatability of the spatiotemporal distributions of slow slip initiation. Local stress measurements revealed that slow slip initiated around the region where the ratio of shear to normal stress (τ/σ) was the highest as expected from finite element method (FEM) modeling. However, the exact location of slow slip initiation was where τ/σ became locally minimum, probably due to the frictional heterogeneity. In the experiment on the moderately roughened fault, some irregular events were observed, though the basic characteristics of other regular events were similar to those on the smooth fault. Local stress data revealed that the spatiotemporal characteristics of slow slip initiation and the resulting τ/σ drop for irregular events were different from those for regular ones even under similar stress conditions. On the heavily roughened fault, the location of slow slip initiation was not consistent with τ/σ anymore because of the highly heterogeneous static friction on the fault, which also decreased the repeatability of spatiotemporal distributions of slow slip initiation. These results suggest that fault surface roughness strongly controls the rupture preparation process, and generally increases its complexity with the degree of roughness.

Late Pleistocene intraplate extension of the Central Anatolian Plateau, Turkey: Inferences from cosmogenic exposure dating of alluvial fan, landslide and moraine surfaces along the Ecemiş Fault Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yildirim, Cengiz; Akif Sarikaya, Mehmet; Ciner, Attila

2016-04-01

Late Pleistocene activity of the Ecemiş Fault Zone is integrally tied to ongoing intraplate crustal deformation in the Central Anatolian Plateau. Here we document the vertical displacement, slip rate, extension rate, and geochronology of normal faults within a narrow strip along the main strand of the fault zone. The Kartal, Cevizlik and Lorut faults are normal faults that have evident surface expression within the strip. Terrestrial cosmogenic nuclide geochronology reveals that the Kartal Fault deformed a 104.2 ± 16.5 ka alluvial fan surface and the Cevizlik Fault deformed 21.9 ± 1.8 ka glacial moraine and talus fan surfaces. The Cevizlik Fault delimits mountain front of the Aladaglar and forms >1 km relief. Our topographic surveys indicate 13.1 ± 1.4 m surface breaking vertical displacements along Cevizlik Faults, respectively. Accordingly, we suggest a 0.60 ± 0.08 mm a-1 slip rate and 0.35 ± 0.05 mm a-1 extension rate for the last 21.9 ± 1.8 ka on the Cevizlik Fault. Taken together with other structural observations in the region, we believe that the Cevizlik, Kartal ve Lorut faults are an integral part of intraplate crustal deformation in Central Anatolia. They imply that intraplate structures such as the Ecemiş Fault Zone may change their mode through time; presently, the Ecemiş Fault Zone has been deformed predominantly by normal faults. The presence of steep preserved fault scarps along the Kartal, Cevizlik and Lorut faults point to surface breaking normal faulting away from the main strand and particularly signify that these structures need to be taken into account for regional seismic hazard assessments. This project is supported by The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK, Grant number: 112Y087).

The Tjellefonna fault system of Western Norway: Linking late-Caledonian extension, post-Caledonian normal faulting, and Tertiary rock column uplift with the landslide-generated tsunami event of 1756

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Redfield, T. F.; Osmundsen, P. T.

2009-09-01

On February 22, 1756, approximately 15.7 million cubic meters of bedrock were catastrophically released as a giant rockslide into the Langfjorden. Subsequently, three ˜ 40 meter high tsunami waves overwhelmed the village of Tjelle and several other local communities. Inherited structures had isolated a compartment in the hanging wall damage zone of the fjord-dwelling Tjellefonna fault. Because the region is seismically active in oblique-normal mode, and in accordance with scant historical sources, we speculate that an earthquake on a nearby fault may have caused the already-weakened Tjelle hillside to fail. From interpretation of structural, geomorphic, and thermo-chronological data we suggest that today's escarpment topography of Møre og Trøndelag is controlled to a first order by post-rift reactivation of faults parallel to the Mesozoic passive margin. In turn, a number of these faults reactivated Late Caledonian or early post-Caledonian fabrics. Normal-sense reactivation of inherited structures along much of coastal Norway suggests that a structural link exists between the processes that destroy today's mountains and those that created them. The Paleozoic Møre-Trøndelag Fault Complex was reactivated as a normal fault during the Mesozoic and, probably, throughout the Cenozoic until the present day. Its NE-SW trending strands crop out between the coast and the base of a c. 1.7 km high NW-facing topographic 'Great Escarpment.' Well-preserved kinematic indicators and multiple generations of fault products are exposed along the Tjellefonna fault, a well-defined structural and topographic lineament parallel to both the Langfjorden and the Great Escarpment. The slope instability that was formerly present at Tjelle, and additional instabilities currently present throughout the region, may be viewed as the direct product of past and ongoing development of tectonic topography in Møre og Trøndelag county. In the Langfjorden region in particular, structural geometry suggests additional unreleased rock compartments may be isolated and under normal fault control. Although post-glacial rebound and topographically-derived horizontal spreading stresses might in part help drive present-day oblique normal seismicity, the normal-fault-controlled escarpments of Norway were at least partly erected in pre-glacial times. Cretaceous to Early Tertiary post-rift subsidence was interrupted by normal faulting at the innermost portion of the passive margin, imposing a strong tectonic empreinte on the developing landscape.

High-frequency imaging of elastic contrast and contact area with implications for naturally observed changes in fault properties

USGS Publications Warehouse

Nagata, Kohei; Kilgore, Brian D.; Beeler, Nicholas M.; Nakatani, Masao

2014-01-01

During localized slip of a laboratory fault we simultaneously measure the contact area and the dynamic fault normal elastic stiffness. One objective is to determine conditions where stiffness may be used to infer changes in area of contact during sliding on nontransparent fault surfaces. Slip speeds between 0.01 and 10 µm/s and normal stresses between 1 and 2.5 MPa were imposed during velocity step, normal stress step, and slide-hold-slide tests. Stiffness and contact area have a linear interdependence during rate stepping tests and during the hold portion of slide-hold-slide tests. So long as linearity holds, measured fault stiffness can be used on nontransparent materials to infer changes in contact area. However, there are conditions where relations between contact area and stiffness are nonlinear and nonunique. A second objective is to make comparisons between the laboratory- and field-measured changes in fault properties. Time-dependent changes in fault zone normal stiffness made in stress relaxation tests imply postseismic wave speed changes on the order of 0.3% to 0.8% per year in the two or more years following an earthquake; these are smaller than postseismic increases seen within natural damage zones. Based on scaling of the experimental observations, natural postseismic fault normal contraction could be accommodated within a few decimeter wide fault core. Changes in the stiffness of laboratory shear zones exceed 10% per decade and might be detectable in the field postseismically.

2D Simulations of Earthquake Cycles at a Subduction Zone Based on a Rate and State Friction Law -Effects of Pore Fluid Pressure Changes-

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mitsui, Y.; Hirahara, K.

2006-12-01

There have been a lot of studies that simulate large earthquakes occurring quasi-periodically at a subduction zone, based on the laboratory-derived rate-and-state friction law [eg. Kato and Hirasawa (1997), Hirose and Hirahara (2002)]. All of them assume that pore fluid pressure in the fault zone is constant. However, in the fault zone, pore fluid pressure changes suddenly, due to coseismic pore dilatation [Marone (1990)] and thermal pressurization [Mase and Smith (1987)]. If pore fluid pressure drops and effective normal stress rises, fault slip is decelerated. Inversely, if pore fluid pressure rises and effective normal stress drops, fault slip is accelerated. The effect of pore fluid may cause slow slip events and low-frequency tremor [Kodaira et al. (2004), Shelly et al. (2006)]. For a simple spring model, how pore dilatation affects slip instability was investigated [Segall and Rice (1995), Sleep (1995)]. When the rate of the slip becomes high, pore dilatation occurs and pore pressure drops, and the rate of the slip is restrained. Then the inflow of pore fluid recovers the pore pressure. We execute 2D earthquake cycle simulations at a subduction zone, taking into account such changes of pore fluid pressure following Segall and Rice (1995), in addition to the numerical scheme in Kato and Hirasawa (1997). We do not adopt hydrostatic pore pressure but excess pore pressure for initial condition, because upflow of dehydrated water seems to exist at a subduction zone. In our model, pore fluid is confined to the fault damage zone and flows along the plate interface. The smaller the flow rate is, the later pore pressure recovers. Since effective normal stress keeps larger, the fault slip is decelerated and stress drop becomes smaller. Therefore the smaller flow rate along the fault zone leads to the shorter earthquake recurrence time. Thus, not only the frictional parameters and the subduction rate but also the fault zone permeability affects the recurrence time of earthquake cycle. Further, the existence of heterogeneity in the permeability along the plate interface can bring about other slip behaviors, such as slow slip events. Our simulations indicate that, in addition to the frictional parameters, the permeability within the fault damage zone is one of essential parameters, which controls the whole earthquake cycle.

Relationships between tectonism, volcano-tectonism and volcanism: the Ischia island (Italy) case.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marotta, E.; de Vita, S.; Orsi, G.; Sansivero, F.

2005-12-01

The resurgent calderas of Ischia, Campi Flegrei and Pantelleria are characterized by differentially displaced blocks, and distribution of later eruption vents in a well defined sector of the resurgent area. These features suggest a simple shearing block resurgence mechanism. Moreover, the studies carried out on Ischia and Campi Flegrei evidenced a very complex structural pattern due to deformation related to the local stress regime induced by magmatism and volcanism and also to reactivation of regional structures. In order to better define the relationships among tectonic, volcano-tectonic and caldera resurgence mechanism, a structural study has been carried out at Ischia, where the Mt. Epomeo has been uplifted of about 900 m in the past 30 ka. The measures taken on 1,400 planar surfaces (faults, joints and fracture cleavages) show that the resurgent area is composed of differentially displaced blocks whose uplifting is maximum for the Mt. Epomeo and decreases southeastward. The resurgent area has a poligonal shape resulting from the reactivation of regional faults and by the activation of faults directly related to volcano-tectonism. The limit of the resurgent area is not defined towards the north, as beach deposits displaced at variable elevation by E-W and NW-SE trending faults, are exposed along the coastline. The western sector is bordered by inward-dipping, high-angle reverse faults, whose directions vary from N40E to NS and N50W from NW to SW of the block, testifying a compressional stress regime active in this area. These features are cut by late outward-dipping normal faults due to gravitational readjustment of the slopes. Vertical faults border the block at NE ad SW with right transtensive and left transpressive movements, respectively. The area located to the east of the most uplifted block, characterized by a tensile stress regime, has been deformed by N-S, N40-70E and N15W trending normal faults, with maximum elongation direction along N50W. The results of our study and the volcanological data of the past 3 ka, suggest that the eastern part of the resurgent block is the area with highest probability of vent opening in case of renewal of volcanism. Occurrence of landslides just before and after eruptions, suggest that resurgence occurs through discontinuous vertical movements which likely trigger the volcanic activity.

Tertiary extension and mineral deposits, southwestern U.S.

USGS Publications Warehouse

Rehrig, William A.; Hardy, James.J.

1996-01-01

Starting in Las Vegas, we will traverse through many of the geometric elements and complexities of hanging wall deformation above the regional detachment systems of the Colorado River extensional terrane. We will study the interaction of normal faults as arranged in regional, crustal-scale mega-domains and the bounding structures that separate these tilt domains. As we progress through the classic Eldorado Mountains-Hoover Dam region, where many of the ideas of listric normal faulting were first popularized, we will see both the real rocks and the historic rationale for their deformation. By examining the listric versus domino models for normal faulting, we will utilize different geometric techniques for determining the depth to the detachment structures and percent extension. Continuing further south toward southernmost Nevada, we will cross the accommodation zone that separates the Lake Mead and Whipple dip domains and further descend to deeper structural levels to examine lower levels of the major normal faults and their tilting of upper-crustal blocks and associated offset along the regional detachment faults. Fluid flow within the shattered fault zones and its relationship to the 3-D geometries of the fault surfaces will be studied both along the faults and within the hydrothermally altered and mineralized wallrocks.

A case study on pseudo 3-D Chirp sub-bottom profiler (SBP) survey for the detection of a fault trace in shallow sedimentary layers at gas hydrate site in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kim, Young-Jun; Koo, Nam-Hyung; Cheong, Snons; Kim, Jung-Ki; Chun, Jong-Hwa; Shin, Sung-Ryul; Riedel, Michael; Lee, Ho-Young

2016-10-01

A pseudo 3-D Chirp sub-bottom profiler (SBP) survey was conducted to define the extension of a fault that was previously identified on low-resolution 2-D seismic data with an emphasis on the shallow sedimentary layers and to determine if the fault extends to the seafloor. The geophysical survey was conducted as part of an environmental impact assessment for a proposed gas hydrate production test in the Ulleung Basin, East Sea. The Chirp SBP raw data were acquired over an area of 1 km × 1 km with an average line spacing of 20 m. To produce a 3-D Chirp SBP volume, we developed an optimal processing sequence that was divided into two steps. The first phase of 2-D data processing included a sweep signature estimation, correlation, deconvolution, swell effect correction, and migration. The second phase of 3-D data processing was composed of a bin design, bin gathering of the final processed 2-D data set, amplitude normalization, and residual statics correction. The 3-D Chirp SBP volume provides enhanced imaging especially due to the residual static processing using a moving average method and shows better continuity of the sedimentary layers and consistency of the reflection events than the individual 2-D lines. Deformation of the seafloor as a result of the fault was detected, and the fault offset increases in the deeper sedimentary layers. We also determined that the fault strikes northwest-southeast. However, the shallow sub-seafloor sediments have high porosities and therefore do not exhibit brittle fault-behavior but rather deform continuously due to fault movement.

The 2014 Mw6.9 Gokceada and 2017 Mw6.3 Lesvos Earthquakes in the Northern Aegean Sea: The Transition from Right-Lateral Strike-Slip Faulting on the North Anatolian Fault to Extension in the Central Aegean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cetin, S.; Konca, A. O.; Dogan, U.; Floyd, M.; Karabulut, H.; Ergintav, S.; Ganas, A.; Paradisis, D.; King, R. W.; Reilinger, R. E.

2017-12-01

The 2014 Mw6.9 Gokceada (strike-slip) and 2017 Mw6.3 Lesvos (normal) earthquakes represent two of the set of faults that accommodate the transition from right-lateral strike-slip faulting on the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) to normal faulting along the Gulf of Corinth. The Gokceada earthquake was a purely strike-slip event on the western extension of the NAF where it enters the northern Aegean Sea. The Lesvos earthquake, located roughly 200 km south of Gokceada, occurred on a WNW-ESE-striking normal fault. Both earthquakes respond to the same regional stress field, as indicated by their sub-parallel seismic tension axis and far-field coseismic GPS displacements. Interpretation of GPS-derived velocities, active faults, crustal seismicity, and earthquake focal mechanisms in the northern Aegean indicates that this pattern of complementary faulting, involving WNW-ESE-striking normal faults (e.g. Lesvos earthquake) and SW-NE-striking strike-slip faults (e.g. Gokceada earthquake), persists across the full extent of the northern Aegean Sea. The combination of these two "families" of faults, combined with some systems of conjugate left-lateral strike-slip faults, complement one another and culminate in the purely extensional rift structures that form the large Gulfs of Evvia and Corinth. In addition to being consistent with seismic and geodetic observations, these fault geometries explain the increasing velocity of the southern Aegean and Peloponnese regions towards the Hellenic subduction zone. Alignment of geodetic extension and seismic tension axes with motion of the southern Aegean towards the Hellenic subduction zone suggests a direct association of Aegean extension with subduction, possibly by trench retreat, as has been suggested by prior investigators.

Geophysical setting of the February 21, 2008 Mw 6 Wells earthquake, Nevada, and implications for earthquake hazards

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ponce, David A.; Watt, Janet T.; Bouligand, C.

2011-01-01

We utilize gravity and magnetic methods to investigate the regional geophysical setting of the Wells earthquake. In particular, we delineate major crustal structures that may have played a role in the location of the earthquake and discuss the geometry of a nearby sedimentary basin that may have contributed to observed ground shaking. The February 21, 2008 Mw 6.0 Wells earthquake, centered about 10 km northeast of Wells, Nevada, caused considerable damage to local buildings, especially in the historic old town area. The earthquake occurred on a previously unmapped normal fault and preliminary relocated events indicate a fault plane dipping about 55 degrees to the southeast. The epicenter lies near the intersection of major Basin and Range normal faults along the Ruby Mountains and Snake Mountains, and strike-slip faults in the southern Snake Mountains. Regionally, the Wells earthquake epicenter is aligned with a crustal-scale boundary along the edge of a basement gravity high that correlates to the Ruby Mountains fault zone. The Wells earthquake also occurred near a geophysically defined strike-slip fault that offsets buried plutonic rocks by about 30 km. In addition, a new depth-to-basement map, derived from the inversion of gravity data, indicates that the Wells earthquake and most of its associated aftershock sequence lie below a small oval- to rhomboid-shaped basin, that reaches a depth of about 2 km. Although the basin is of limited areal extent, it could have contributed to increased ground shaking in the vicinity of the city of Wells, Nevada, due to basin amplification of seismic waves.

Exploring variations of earthquake moment on patches with heterogeneous strength

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Y. Y.; Lapusta, N.

2016-12-01

Finite-fault inversions show that earthquake slip is typically non-uniform over the ruptured region, likely due to heterogeneity of the earthquake source. Observations also show that events from the same fault area can have the same source duration but different magnitude ranging from 0.0 to 2.0 (Lin et al., GJI, 2016). Strong heterogeneity in strength over a patch could provide a potential explanation of such behavior, with the event duration controlled by the size of the patch and event magnitude determined by how much of the patch area has been ruptured. To explore this possibility, we numerically simulate earthquake sequences on a rate-and-state fault, with a seismogenic patch governed by steady-state velocity-weakening friction surrounded by a steady-state velocity-strengthening region. The seismogenic patch contains strong variations in strength due to variable normal stress. Our long-term simulations of slip in this model indeed generate sequences of earthquakes of various magnitudes. In some seismic events, dynamic rupture cannot overcome areas with higher normal strength, and smaller events result. When the higher-strength areas are loaded by previous slip and rupture, larger events result, as expected. Our current work is directed towards exploring a range of such models, determining the variability in the seismic moment that they can produce, and determining the observable properties of the resulting events.

Geology and structure of the Malpaso caldera and El Ocote ignimbrite, Aguascalientes, Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nieto-Obregón, Jorge; Aguirre-Díaz, Gerardo

2008-10-01

A new caldera, named Malpaso, is reported west of the city of Aguascalientes, Mexico. The Malpaso caldera is a volcano-tectonic depression, highly fractured and faulted, and was filled by voluminous pyroclastic products related to the caldera collapse. Due to these characteristics it as a graben caldera. It is truncated by younger normal faults of the Calvillo and Aguascalientes grabens. In this work we present a summary of the geologic and structural observations on this caldera, as well as a description of the main caldera product, the high-grade El Ocote ignimbrite.

Rupture Process During the Mw 8.1 2017 Chiapas Mexico Earthquake: Shallow Intraplate Normal Faulting by Slab Bending

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Okuwaki, R.; Yagi, Y.

2017-12-01

A seismic source model for the Mw 8.1 2017 Chiapas, Mexico, earthquake was constructed by kinematic waveform inversion using globally observed teleseismic waveforms, suggesting that the earthquake was a normal-faulting event on a steeply dipping plane, with the major slip concentrated around a relatively shallow depth of 28 km. The modeled rupture evolution showed unilateral, downdip propagation northwestward from the hypocenter, and the downdip width of the main rupture was restricted to less than 30 km below the slab interface, suggesting that the downdip extensional stresses due to the slab bending were the primary cause of the earthquake. The rupture front abruptly decelerated at the northwestern end of the main rupture where it intersected the subducting Tehuantepec Fracture Zone, suggesting that the fracture zone may have inhibited further rupture propagation.

Fault reactivation by fluid injection considering permeability evolution in fault-bordering damage zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Z.; Yehya, A.; Rice, J. R.; Yin, J.

2017-12-01

Earthquakes can be induced by human activity involving fluid injection, e.g., as wastewater disposal from hydrocarbon production. The occurrence of such events is thought to be, mainly, due to the increase in pore pressure, which reduces the effective normal stress and hence the strength of a nearby fault. Change in subsurface stress around suitably oriented faults at near-critical stress states may also contribute. We focus on improving the modeling and prediction of the hydro-mechanical response due to fluid injection, considering the full poroelastic effects and not solely changes in pore pressure in a rigid host. Thus we address the changes in porosity and permeability of the medium due to the changes in the local volumetric strains. Our results also focus on including effects of the fault architecture (low permeability fault core and higher permeability bordering damage zones) on the pressure diffusion and the fault poroelastic response. Field studies of faults have provided a generally common description for the size of their bordering damage zones and how they evolve along their direction of propagation. Empirical laws, from a large number of such observations, describe their fracture density, width, permeability, etc. We use those laws and related data to construct our study cases. We show that the existence of high permeability damage zones facilitates pore-pressure diffusion and, in some cases, results in a sharp increase in pore-pressure at levels much deeper than the injection wells, because these regions act as conduits for fluid pressure changes. This eventually results in higher seismicity rates. By better understanding the mechanisms of nucleation of injection-induced seismicity, and better predicting the hydro-mechanical response of faults, we can assess methodologies and injection strategies to avoid risks of high magnitude seismic events. Microseismic events occurring after the start of injection are very important indications of when injection should be stopped and how to avoid major events. Our work contributes to the assessment or mitigation of seismic hazard and risk, and our long-term target question is: How to not make an earthquake?

Faulting, Seismicity and Stress Interaction in the Salton Sea Region of Southern California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kilb, D. L.; Brothers, D. S.; Lin, G.; Kent, G.; Newman, R. L.; Driscoll, N.

2009-12-01

The Salton Sea region in southern California provides an ideal location to study the relationship between transcurrent and extensional motion in the northern Gulf of California margin, allowing us to investigate the spatial and temporal interaction of faults in the area and better understand their kinematics. In this region, the San Andreas Fault (SAF) and Imperial Fault present two major transform faults separated by the Salton Sea transtensional domain. Earthquakes over magnitude 4 in this area almost always have associated aftershock sequences. Recent seismic reflection surveys in the Salton Sea reveal that the majority of faults under the southern Salton Sea trend ~N15°E, appear normal-dominant and have very minimal associated microseismicity. These normal faults rupture every 100-300 years in large earthquakes and most of the nearby microseismicity locates east of the mapped surface traces. For example, there is profuse microseismicity in the Brawley Seismic Zone (BSZ), which is coincident with the southern terminus of the SAF as it extends offshore into the Salton Sea. Earthquakes in the BSZ are dominantly swarm-like, occurring along short (<5 km) ~N45°E oriented sinistral and N35°W oriented dextral fault planes. This mapped seismicity makes a rung-and-ladder pattern. In an effort to reconcile differences between processes at the surface and those at seismogenic depths we integrate near surface fault kinematics, geometry and paleoseismic history with seismic data. We identify linear and planer trends in these data (20 near surface faults, >20,000 relocated earthquakes and >2,000 earthquake focal mechanisms) and when appropriate estimate the fault strike and dip using principal component analysis. With our more detailed image of the fault structure we assess how static stress changes imparted by magnitude ~6.0 ruptures along N15E oriented normal faults beneath the Salton Sea can modulate the stress field in the BSZ and along the SAF. These tests include exploring sensitivity of the results to parameter uncertainties. In general, we find rupture of the normal faults produces a butterfly pattern of static stress changes on the SAF with decreases along the southernmost portion below latitude 33.3±0.1 and increases on segments above these latitudes. Additionally, simulated ruptures on the normal faults predict optimally oriented sinistral faults that align with the “rungs” in the BSZ and optimally oriented dextral faults that are parallel to the SAF. Given these observations and results, we favor the scenario that normal faults beneath the Salton Sea accommodate most of the strain budget, rupturing as magnitude ~6.0-6.6 events every 100 years or so, and the consequent stress field generated within the relatively weak crust shapes the orientation of the short faults in the BSZ.

Shallow Seismic Reflection Study of Recently Active Fault Scarps, Mina Deflection, Western Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Black, R. A.; Christie, M.; Tsoflias, G. P.; Stockli, D. F.

2006-12-01

During the spring and summer of 2006 University of Kansas geophysics students and faculty acquired shallow, high resolution seismic reflection data over actively deforming alluvial fans developing across the Emmigrant Peak (in Fish Lake Valley) and Queen Valley Faults in western Nevada. These normal faults represent a portion of the transition from the right-lateral deformation associated with the Walker Lane/Eastern California Shear Zone to the normal and left-lateral faulting of the Mina Deflection. Data were gathered over areas of recent high resolution geological mapping and limited trenching by KU students. An extensive GPR data grid was also acquired. The GPR results are reported in Christie, et al., 2006. The seismic data gathered in the spring included both walkaway tests and a short CMP test line. These data indicated that a very near-surface P-wave to S-wave conversion was taking place and that very high quality S-wave reflections were probably dominating shot records to over one second in time. CMP lines acquired during the summer utilized a 144 channel networked Geode system, single 28 hz geophones, and a 30.06 downhole rifle source. Receiver spacing was 0.5 m, source spacing 1.0m and CMP bin spacings were 0.25m for all lines. Surveying was performed using an RTK system which was also used to develop a concurrent high resolution DEM. A dip line of over 400m and a strike line over 100m in length were shot across the active fan scarp in Fish Lake Valley. Data processing is still underway. However, preliminary interpretation of common-offset gathers and brute stacks indicates very complex faulting and detailed stratigraphic information to depths of over 125m. Depth of information was actually limited by the 1024ms recording time. Several west-dipping normal faults downstep towards the basin. East-dipping antithetic normal faulting is extensive. Several distinctive stratigraphic packages are bound by the faults and apparent unconformitites. A CMP dip line was also run across a large active scarp in Queen Valley near Boundary Peak. Due to slope steepness and extensive boulder armoring shot and receiver locations had to be skipped within several meters of the actual scarp location. Initial structural and stratigraphic interpretations are similar to those in the Fish Lake Valley location. Overall the data prove that the actively deforming fans can be imaged in detail sufficient to perform structural and possibly seismic stratigraphic analysis within the upper one hundred meters of the fans, if not deeper.

Frictional heterogeneities on carbonate-bearing normal faults: Insights from the Monte Maggio Fault, Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, B. M.; Scuderi, M. M.; Collettini, C.; Marone, C.

2014-12-01

Observations of heterogeneous and complex fault slip are often attributed to the complexity of fault structure and/or spatial heterogeneity of fault frictional behavior. Such complex slip patterns have been observed for earthquakes on normal faults throughout central Italy, where many of the Mw 6 to 7 earthquakes in the Apennines nucleate at depths where the lithology is dominated by carbonate rocks. To explore the relationship between fault structure and heterogeneous frictional properties, we studied the exhumed Monte Maggio Fault, located in the northern Apennines. We collected intact specimens of the fault zone, including the principal slip surface and hanging wall cataclasite, and performed experiments at a normal stress of 10 MPa under saturated conditions. Experiments designed to reactivate slip between the cemented principal slip surface and cataclasite show a 3 MPa stress drop as the fault surface fails, then velocity-neutral frictional behavior and significant frictional healing. Overall, our results suggest that (1) earthquakes may readily nucleate in areas of the fault where the slip surface separates massive limestone and are likely to propagate in areas where fault gouge is in contact with the slip surface; (2) postseismic slip is more likely to occur in areas of the fault where gouge is present; and (3) high rates of frictional healing and low creep relaxation observed between solid fault surfaces could lead to significant aftershocks in areas of low stress drop.

Data-driven fault mechanics: Inferring fault hydro-mechanical properties from in situ observations of injection-induced aseismic slip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bhattacharya, P.; Viesca, R. C.

2017-12-01

In the absence of in situ field-scale observations of quantities such as fault slip, shear stress and pore pressure, observational constraints on models of fault slip have mostly been limited to laboratory and/or remote observations. Recent controlled fluid-injection experiments on well-instrumented faults fill this gap by simultaneously monitoring fault slip and pore pressure evolution in situ [Gugleilmi et al., 2015]. Such experiments can reveal interesting fault behavior, e.g., Gugleilmi et al. report fluid-activated aseismic slip followed only subsequently by the onset of micro-seismicity. We show that the Gugleilmi et al. dataset can be used to constrain the hydro-mechanical model parameters of a fluid-activated expanding shear rupture within a Bayesian framework. We assume that (1) pore-pressure diffuses radially outward (from the injection well) within a permeable pathway along the fault bounded by a narrow damage zone about the principal slip surface; (2) pore-pressure increase ativates slip on a pre-stressed planar fault due to reduction in frictional strength (expressed as a constant friction coefficient times the effective normal stress). Owing to efficient, parallel, numerical solutions to the axisymmetric fluid-diffusion and crack problems (under the imposed history of injection), we are able to jointly fit the observed history of pore-pressure and slip using an adaptive Monte Carlo technique. Our hydrological model provides an excellent fit to the pore-pressure data without requiring any statistically significant permeability enhancement due to the onset of slip. Further, for realistic elastic properties of the fault, the crack model fits both the onset of slip and its early time evolution reasonably well. However, our model requires unrealistic fault properties to fit the marked acceleration of slip observed later in the experiment (coinciding with the triggering of microseismicity). Therefore, besides producing meaningful and internally consistent bounds on in-situ fault properties like permeability, storage coefficient, resolved stresses, friction and the shear modulus, our results also show that fitting the complete observed time history of slip requires alternative model considerations, such as variations in fault mechanical properties or friction coefficient with slip.

Fault strength in Marmara region inferred from the geometry of the principle stress axes and fault orientations: A case study for the Prince's Islands fault segment

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pinar, Ali; Coskun, Zeynep; Mert, Aydin; Kalafat, Dogan

2015-04-01

The general consensus based on historical earthquake data point out that the last major moment release on the Prince's islands fault was in 1766 which in turn signals an increased seismic risk for Istanbul Metropolitan area considering the fact that most of the 20 mm/yr GPS derived slip rate for the region is accommodated mostly by that fault segment. The orientation of the Prince's islands fault segment overlaps with the NW-SE direction of the maximum principle stress axis derived from the focal mechanism solutions of the large and moderate sized earthquakes occurred in the Marmara region. As such, the NW-SE trending fault segment translates the motion between the two E-W trending branches of the North Anatolian fault zone; one extending from the Gulf of Izmit towards Çınarcık basin and the other extending between offshore Bakırköy and Silivri. The basic relation between the orientation of the maximum and minimum principal stress axes, the shear and normal stresses, and the orientation of a fault provides clue on the strength of a fault, i.e., its frictional coefficient. Here, the angle between the fault normal and maximum compressive stress axis is a key parameter where fault normal and fault parallel maximum compressive stress might be a necessary and sufficient condition for a creeping event. That relation also implies that when the trend of the sigma-1 axis is close to the strike of the fault the shear stress acting on the fault plane approaches zero. On the other hand, the ratio between the shear and normal stresses acting on a fault plane is proportional to the coefficient of frictional coefficient of the fault. Accordingly, the geometry between the Prince's islands fault segment and a maximum principal stress axis matches a weak fault model. In the frame of the presentation we analyze seismological data acquired in Marmara region and interpret the results in conjuction with the above mentioned weak fault model.

The influence of topographic stresses on faulting, emphasizing the 2008 Wenchuan, China earthquake rupture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Styron, R. H.; Hetland, E. A.; Zhang, G.

2013-12-01

The weight of large mountains produces stresses in the crust that locally may be on the order of tectonic stresses (10-100 MPa). These stresses have a significant and spatially-variable deviatoric component that may be resolved as strong normal and shear stresses on range-bounding faults. In areas of high relief, the shear stress on faults can be comparable to inferred stress drops in earthquakes, and fault-normal stresses may be greater than 50 MPa, and thus may potentially influence fault rupture. Additionally, these stresses may be used to make inferences about the orientation and magnitude of tectonic stresses, for example by indicating a minimum stress needed to be overcome by tectonic stress. We are studying these effects in several tectonic environments, such as the Longmen Shan (China), the Denali fault (Alaska, USA) and the Wasatch Fault Zone (Utah, USA). We calculate the full topographic stress tensor field in the crust in a study region by convolution of topography with Green's functions approximating stresses from a point load on the surface of an elastic halfspace, using the solution proposed by Liu and Zoback [1992]. The Green's functions are constructed from Boussinesq's solutions for a vertical point load on an elastic halfspace, as well as Cerruti's solutions for a horizontal surface point load, accounting for irregular surface boundary and topographic spreading forces. The stress tensor field is then projected onto points embedded in the halfspace representing the faults, and the fault normal and shear stresses at each point are calculated. Our primary focus has been on the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, as this event occurred at the base of one of Earth's highest and steepest topographic fronts and had a complex and well-studied coseismic slip distribution, making it an ideal case study to evaluate topographic influence on faulting. We calculate the topographic stresses on the Beichuan and Pengguan faults, and compare the results to the coseismic slip distribution, considering several published fault models. These models differ primarily in slip magnitude and planar vs. listric fault geometry at depth. Preliminary results indicate that topographic stresses are generally resistive to tectonic deformation, especially above ~10 km depth, where the faults are steep in all models. Down-dip topographic shear stresses on the fault are normal sense where the faults dip steeply, and reach 20 MPa on the fault beneath the Pengguan massif. Reverse-sense shear up to ~15 MPa is present on gently-dipping thrust flats at depth on listric fault models. Strike-slip shear stresses are sinistral on the steep, upper portions of faults but may be dextral on thrust flats. Topographic normal stress on the faults reaches ~80 MPa on thrust ramps and may be higher on flats. Coseismic slip magnitude is negatively correlated with topographic normal and down-dip shear stresses. The spatial patterns of topographic stresses and slip suggest that topographic stresses have significantly suppressed slip in certain areas: slip maxima occur in areas of locally lower topographic stresses, while areas of higher down-dip shear and normal stress show less slip than adjacent regions.

The Deformation of Overburden Soil and Interaction with Pile Foundations of Bridges Induced by Normal Faulting

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Liang-Chun; Li, Chien-Hung; Chan, Pei-Chen; Lin, Ming-Lang

2017-04-01

According to the investigations of well-known disastrous earthquakes in recent years, ground deformation induced by faulting is one of the causes for engineering structure damages in addition to strong ground motion. Most of structures located on faulting zone has been destroyed by fault offset. Take the Norcia Earthquake in Italy (2016, Mw=6.2) as an example, the highway bridge in Arquata crossing the rupture area of the active normal fault suffered a quantity of displacement which causing abutment settlement, the piers of bridge fractured and so on. However, The Seismic Design Provisions and Commentary for Highway Bridges in Taiwan, the stating of it in the general rule of first chapter, the design in bridges crossing active fault: "This specification is not applicable of making design in bridges crossing or near active fault, that design ought to the other particular considerations ".This indicates that the safty of bridges crossing active fault are not only consider the seismic performance, the most ground deformation should be attended. In this research, to understand the failure mechanism and the deformation characteristics, we will organize the case which the bridges subjected faulting at home and abroad. The processes of research are through physical sandbox experiment and numerical simulation by discrete element models (PFC3-D). The normal fault case in Taiwan is Shanchiao Fault. As above, the research can explore the deformation in overburden soil and the influences in the foundations of bridges by normal faulting. While we can understand the behavior of foundations, we will make the bridge superstructures into two separations, simple beam and continuous beam and make a further research on the main control variables in bridges by faulting. Through the above mentioned, we can then give appropriate suggestions about planning considerations and design approaches. This research presents results from sandbox experiment and 3-D numerical analysis to simulate overburden soil and embedded pile foundations subjected to normal faulting. In order to validate this numerical model, it is compared to sandbox experiments. Since the 3-D numerical analysis corresponds to the sandbox expeiments, the response of pile foundations and ground deformation induced by normal faulting are discussed. To understand the 3-D behavior of ground deformation and pile foundations, the observation such as the triangular shear zone, the width of primary deformation zone and the inclination, displacements, of the pile foundations are discussed in experiments and simulations. Furthermore, to understand the safty of bridges crossing faulting zone. The different superstructures of bridges, simple beam and continuous beam will be discussed subsequently in simulations.

Fluid-driven normal faulting earthquake sequences in the Taiwan orogen

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Ling-hua; Rau, Ruey-Juin; Lee, En-Jui

2017-04-01

Seismicity in the Central Range of Taiwan shows normal faulting mechanisms with T-axes directing NE, subparallel to the strike of the mountain belt. We analyze earthquake sequences occurred within 2012-2015 in the Nanshan area of northern Taiwan which indicating swarm behavior and migration characteristics. We select events larger than 2.0 from Central Weather Bureau catalog and use the double-difference relocation program hypoDD with waveform cross-correlation in the Nanshan area. We obtained a final count of 1406 (95%) relocated earthquakes. Moreover, we compute focal mechanisms using USGS program HASH by P-wave first motion and S/P ratio picking and 114 fault plane solutions with M 3.0-5.87 were determined. To test for fluid diffusion, we model seismicity using the equation of Shapiro et al. (1997) by fitting earthquake diffusing rate D during the migration period. According to the relocation result, seismicity in the Taiwan orogenic belt present mostly N25E orientation parallel to the mountain belt with the same direction of the tension axis. In addition, another seismic fracture depicted by seismicity rotated 35 degree counterclockwise to the NW direction. Nearly all focal mechanisms are normal fault type. In the Nanshan area, events show N10W distribution with a focal depth range from 5-12 km and illustrate fault plane dipping about 45-60 degree to SW. Three months before the M 5.87 mainshock which occurred in March, 2013, there were some foreshock events occurred in the shallow part of the fault plane of the mainshock. Half a year following the mainshock, earthquakes migrated to the north and south, respectively with processes matched the diffusion model at a rate of 0.2-0.6 m2/s. This migration pattern and diffusion rate offer an evidence of 'fluid-driven' process in the fault zone. We also find the upward migration of earthquakes in the mainshock source region. These phenomena are likely caused by the opening of the permeable conduit due to the M 5.87 earthquake and the rise of the high pressure fluid.

Recent state of stress change in the Walker Lane zone, western Basin and Range province, United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bellier, Olivier; Zoback, Mary Lou

1995-06-01

The NW to north-trending Walker Lane zone (WLZ) is located along the western boundary of the northern Basin and Range province with the Sierra Nevada. This zone is distinguished from the surrounding Basin and Range province on the basis of irregular topography and evidence for both normal and strike-slip Holocene faulting. Inversion of slip vectors from active faults, historic fault offsets, and earthquake focal mechanisms indicate two distinct Quaternary stress regimes within the WLZ, both of which are characterized by a consistent WNW σ3 axis; these are a normal faulting regime with a mean σ3 axis of N85°±9°W and a mean stress ratio (R value) (R=(σ2-σ1)/(σ3-σ1)) of 0.63-0.74 and a younger strike-slip faulting regime with a similar mean σ3 axis (N65° - 70°W) and R values ranging between ˜ 0.1 and 0.2. This younger regime is compatible with historic fault offsets and earthquake focal mechanisms. Both the extensional and strike-slip stress regimes reactivated inherited Mesozoic and Cenozoic structures and also produced new faults. The present-day strike-slip stress regime has produced strike-slip, normal oblique-slip, and normal dip-slip historic faulting. Previous workers have explained the complex interaction of active strike-slip, oblique, and normal faulting in the WLZ as a simple consequence of a single stress state with a consistent WNW σ3 axis and transitional between strike-slip and normal faulting (maximum horizontal stress approximately equal to vertical stress, or R ≈ 0 in both regimes) with minor local fluctuations. The slip data reported here support previous results from Owens Valley that suggest deformation within temporally distinct normal and strike-slip faulting stress regimes with a roughly constant WNW trending σ3 axis (Zoback, 1989). A recent change from a normal faulting to a strike-slip faulting stress regime is indicated by the crosscutting striae on faults in basalts <300,000 years old and is consistent with the dominantly strike-slip earthquake focal mechanisms and the youngest striae observed on faults in Plio-Quaternary deposits. Geologic control on the timing of the change is poor; it is impossible to determine if there has been a single recent absolute change or if there is, rather, an alternating or cyclical variation in stress magnitudes. Our slip data, in particular, the cross-cutting normal and strike-slip striae on the same fault plane, are inconsistent with postulated simple strain partitioning of deformation within a single regional stress field suggested for the WLZ by Wesnousky and Jones [1994]. The location of the WLZ between the deep-seated regional extension of the Basin and Range and the right-lateral strike-slip regional tectonics of the San Andreas fault zone is probably responsible for the complex interaction of tectonic regimes in this transition zone. In early to mid-Tertiary time the WLZ appears to have had a similarly complex deformational history, in this case as a back arc or intra-arc region, accommodating at least part of the right-lateral component of oblique convergence as well as a component of extension.

Structural controls on a geothermal system in the Tarutung Basin, north central Sumatra

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nukman, Mochamad; Moeck, Inga

2013-09-01

The Sumatra Fault System provides a unique geologic setting to evaluate the influence of structural controls on geothermal activity. Whereas most of the geothermal systems in Indonesia are controlled by volcanic activity, geothermal systems at the Sumatra Fault System might be controlled by faults and fractures. Exploration strategies for these geothermal systems need to be verified because the typical pattern of heat source and alteration clays are missing so that conventional exploration with magnetotelluric surveys might not provide sufficient data to delineate favorable settings for drilling. We present field geological, structural and geomorphological evidence combined with mapping of geothermal manifestations to allow constraints between fault dynamics and geothermal activity in the Tarutung Basin in north central Sumatra. Our results indicate that the fault pattern in the Tarutung Basin is generated by a compressional stress direction acting at a high angle to the right-lateral Sumatra Fault System. NW-SE striking normal faults possibly related to negative flower structures and NNW-SSE to NNE-SSW oriented dilative Riedel shears are preferential fluid pathways whereas ENE-WSW striking faults act as barriers in this system. The dominant of geothermal manifestations at the eastern part of the basin indicates local extension due to clockwise block rotation in the Sumatra Fault System. Our results support the effort to integrate detailed field geological surveys to refined exploration strategies even in tropical areas where outcrops are limited.

Simulations of tremor-related creep reveal a weak crustal root of the San Andreas Fault

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shelly, David R.; Bradley, Andrew M.; Johnson, Kaj M.

2013-01-01

Deep aseismic roots of faults play a critical role in transferring tectonic loads to shallower, brittle crustal faults that rupture in large earthquakes. Yet, until the recent discovery of deep tremor and creep, direct inference of the physical properties of lower-crustal fault roots has remained elusive. Observations of tremor near Parkfield, CA provide the first evidence for present-day localized slip on the deep extension of the San Andreas Fault and triggered transient creep events. We develop numerical simulations of fault slip to show that the spatiotemporal evolution of triggered tremor near Parkfield is consistent with triggered fault creep governed by laboratory-derived friction laws between depths of 20–35 km on the fault. Simulated creep and observed tremor northwest of Parkfield nearly ceased for 20–30 days in response to small coseismic stress changes of order 104 Pa from the 2003 M6.5 San Simeon Earthquake. Simulated afterslip and observed tremor following the 2004 M6.0 Parkfield earthquake show a coseismically induced pulse of rapid creep and tremor lasting for 1 day followed by a longer 30 day period of sustained accelerated rates due to propagation of shallow afterslip into the lower crust. These creep responses require very low effective normal stress of ~1 MPa on the deep San Andreas Fault and near-neutral-stability frictional properties expected for gabbroic lower-crustal rock.

Coulomb Stress Accumulation along the San Andreas Fault System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Smith, Bridget; Sandwell, David

2003-01-01

Stress accumulation rates along the primary segments of the San Andreas Fault system are computed using a three-dimensional (3-D) elastic half-space model with realistic fault geometry. The model is developed in the Fourier domain by solving for the response of an elastic half-space due to a point vector body force and analytically integrating the force from a locking depth to infinite depth. This approach is then applied to the San Andreas Fault system using published slip rates along 18 major fault strands of the fault zone. GPS-derived horizontal velocity measurements spanning the entire 1700 x 200 km region are then used to solve for apparent locking depth along each primary fault segment. This simple model fits remarkably well (2.43 mm/yr RMS misfit), although some discrepancies occur in the Eastern California Shear Zone. The model also predicts vertical uplift and subsidence rates that are in agreement with independent geologic and geodetic estimates. In addition, shear and normal stresses along the major fault strands are used to compute Coulomb stress accumulation rate. As a result, we find earthquake recurrence intervals along the San Andreas Fault system to be inversely proportional to Coulomb stress accumulation rate, in agreement with typical coseismic stress drops of 1 - 10 MPa. This 3-D deformation model can ultimately be extended to include both time-dependent forcing and viscoelastic response.

Pros and cons of rotating ground motion records to fault-normal/parallel directions for response history analysis of buildings

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kalkan, Erol; Kwong, Neal S.

2014-01-01

According to the regulatory building codes in the United States (e.g., 2010 California Building Code), at least two horizontal ground motion components are required for three-dimensional (3D) response history analysis (RHA) of building structures. For sites within 5 km of an active fault, these records should be rotated to fault-normal/fault-parallel (FN/FP) directions, and two RHAs should be performed separately (when FN and then FP are aligned with the transverse direction of the structural axes). It is assumed that this approach will lead to two sets of responses that envelope the range of possible responses over all nonredundant rotation angles. This assumption is examined here, for the first time, using a 3D computer model of a six-story reinforced-concrete instrumented building subjected to an ensemble of bidirectional near-fault ground motions. Peak values of engineering demand parameters (EDPs) were computed for rotation angles ranging from 0 through 180° to quantify the difference between peak values of EDPs over all rotation angles and those due to FN/FP direction rotated motions. It is demonstrated that rotating ground motions to FN/FP directions (1) does not always lead to the maximum responses over all angles, (2) does not always envelope the range of possible responses, and (3) does not provide maximum responses for all EDPs simultaneously even if it provides a maximum response for a specific EDP.

Structural Data for the Columbus Salt Marsh Geothermal Area - GIS Data

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2011-12-31

Shapefiles and spreadsheets of structural data, including attitudes of faults and strata and slip orientations of faults. - Detailed geologic mapping of ~30 km2 was completed in the vicinity of the Columbus Marsh geothermal field to obtain critical structural data that would elucidate the structural controls of this field. - Documenting E‐ to ENE‐striking left lateral faults and N‐ to NNE‐striking normal faults. - Some faults cut Quaternary basalts. - This field appears to occupy a displacement transfer zone near the eastern end of a system of left‐lateral faults. ENE‐striking sinistral faults diffuse into a system of N‐ to NNE‐striking normal faults within the displacement transfer zone. - Columbus Marsh therefore corresponds to an area of enhanced extension and contains a nexus of fault intersections, both conducive for geothermal activity.

Apparent stress, fault maturity and seismic hazard for normal-fault earthquakes at subduction zones

USGS Publications Warehouse

Choy, G.L.; Kirby, S.H.

2004-01-01

The behavior of apparent stress for normal-fault earthquakes at subduction zones is derived by examining the apparent stress (?? a = ??Es/Mo, where E s is radiated energy and Mo is seismic moment) of all globally distributed shallow (depth, ?? 1 MPa) are also generally intraslab, but occur where the lithosphere has just begun subduction beneath the overriding plate. They usually occur in cold slabs near trenches where the direction of plate motion across the trench is oblique to the trench axis, or where there are local contortions or geometrical complexities of the plate boundary. Lower ??a (< 1 MPa) is associated with events occurring at the outer rise (OR) complex (between the OR and the trench axis), as well as with intracrustal events occurring just landward of the trench. The average apparent stress of intraslab-normal-fault earthquakes is considerably higher than the average apparent stress of interplate-thrust-fault earthquakes. In turn, the average ?? a of strike-slip earthquakes in intraoceanic environments is considerably higher than that of intraslab-normal-fault earthquakes. The variation of average ??a with focal mechanism and tectonic regime suggests that the level of ?? a is related to fault maturity. Lower stress drops are needed to rupture mature faults such as those found at plate interfaces that have been smoothed by large cumulative displacements (from hundreds to thousands of kilometres). In contrast, immature faults, such as those on which intraslab-normal-fault earthquakes generally occur, are found in cold and intact lithosphere in which total fault displacement has been much less (from hundreds of metres to a few kilometres). Also, faults on which high ??a oceanic strike-slip earthquakes occur are predominantly intraplate or at evolving ends of transforms. At subduction zones, earthquakes occurring on immature faults are likely to be more hazardous as they tend to generate higher amounts of radiated energy per unit of moment than earthquakes occurring on mature faults. We have identified earthquake pairs in which an interplate-thrust and an intraslab-normal earthquake occurred remarkably close in space and time. The intraslab-normal member of each pair radiated anomalously high amounts of energy compared to its thrust-fault counterpart. These intraslab earthquakes probably ruptured intact slab mantle and are dramatic examples in which Mc (an energy magnitude) is shown to be a far better estimate of the potential for earthquake damage than Mw. This discovery may help explain why loss of life as a result of intraslab earthquakes was greater in the 20th century in Latin America than the fatalities associated with interplate-thrust events that represented much higher total moment release. ?? 2004 RAS.

Shallow subsurface structure of the Wasatch fault, Provo segment, Utah, from integrated compressional and shear-wave seismic reflection profiles with implications for fault structure and development

USGS Publications Warehouse

McBride, J.H.; Stephenson, W.J.; Williams, R.A.; Odum, J.K.; Worley, D.M.; South, J.V.; Brinkerhoff, A.R.; Keach, R.W.; Okojie-Ayoro, A. O.

2010-01-01

Integrated vibroseis compressional and experimental hammer-source, shear-wave, seismic reflection profiles across the Provo segment of the Wasatch fault zone in Utah reveal near-surface and shallow bedrock structures caused by geologically recent deformation. Combining information from the seismic surveys, geologic mapping, terrain analysis, and previous seismic first-arrival modeling provides a well-constrained cross section of the upper ~500 m of the subsurface. Faults are mapped from the surface, through shallow, poorly consolidated deltaic sediments, and cutting through a rigid bedrock surface. The new seismic data are used to test hypotheses on changing fault orientation with depth, the number of subsidiary faults within the fault zone and the width of the fault zone, and the utility of integrating separate elastic methods to provide information on a complex structural zone. Although previous surface mapping has indicated only a few faults, the seismic section shows a wider and more complex deformation zone with both synthetic and antithetic normal faults. Our study demonstrates the usefulness of a combined shallow and deeper penetrating geophysical survey, integrated with detailed geologic mapping to constrain subsurface fault structure. Due to the complexity of the fault zone, accurate seismic velocity information is essential and was obtained from a first-break tomography model. The new constraints on fault geometry can be used to refine estimates of vertical versus lateral tectonic movements and to improve seismic hazard assessment along the Wasatch fault through an urban area. We suggest that earthquake-hazard assessments made without seismic reflection imaging may be biased by the previous mapping of too few faults. ?? 2010 Geological Society of America.

Improving Ms Estimates by Calibrating Variable-Period Magnitude Scales at Regional Distances

DTIC Science & Technology

2008-09-01

TF), or oblique - slip variations of normal and thrust faults using the Zoback (1992) classification scheme. For normal faults , 2008 Monitoring...between the observed and Ms-predicted Mw have a definable faulting mechanism effect, especially when strike- slip events are compared to those with...between true and Ms-predicted Mw have a definable faulting mechanism effect, especially when strike- slip events are compared to those with other

Geothermal studies at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Riddle, L.; Grant, B.

Due to an effort by government installations to discontinue use of natural gas, alternative energy sources are being investigated at Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, New Mexico. New Mexico has geologic characteristics favorable for geothermal energy utilization. Local heat flow and geochemical studies indicate a normal subsurface temperature regime. The alluvial deposits, however, extend to great depths where hot fluids, heated by the normal geothermal gradient, could be encountered. Two potential models for tapping geothermal energy are presented: the basin model and the fault model.

Late 20th Century Deep-seated Vertical Motions in New Orleans and implications for Gulf Coast Subsidence

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dokka, R. K.

2010-12-01

Subsidence of the Mississippi River delta and adjoining coastal areas is widely thought to be dominated by compaction of Holocene sediments. Current public policies regarding hurricane protection and ecosystems restoration are founded on this interpretation. To test this hypothesis, monuments that penetrate the entire Holocene section were measured using geodetic leveling and water gauges attached to bridge foundations. Results show that the entire sampling area subsided between 1955 and 1995 in amounts unanticipated by previous models. Subsidence due to processes originating below the Holocene section locally exceeded 0.9 m between 1955 and 1995. The maxima of deep subsidence occurred in the urbanized and industrialized sections of eastern New Orleans. Subsidence decreased away from urbanized areas and north of the belt of active basin margin normal faults; this decrease in subsidence continued to the north and east along the Mississippi coast. These independent measurements provide insights into the complexity and causes of modern landscape change in the region. Modern subsidence is clearly not dominated solely by shallow processes such as natural compaction, Deep subsidence occurring east and north of the basin margin faults can be explained by regional tectonic loading of the lithosphere by the modern Mississippi River delta and local groundwater withdrawal. Sharp, local changes in subsidence coincide with strands of the basin margin normal fault system. Deep subsidence of the New Orleans area can be explained by a combination of groundwater withdrawal from shallow upper Pleistocene aquifers, the aforementioned lithospheric loading, and non-groundwater-related faulting. Subsidence due to groundwater extraction from aquifers ~160 to 200 m deep dominated the urbanized areas from ~1960 to the early 1990s and is likely responsible for lowering flood protection structures and bridges in the area by as much as ~0.8 m.

Syntectonic Deposition of Plio-Quaternary Sediments in the Santa Rosalia Basin of Baja California Sur, Mexico

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Michels, A.; Johnson, L.; Niemi, T. M.

2017-12-01

Plio-Quaternary sediments of the Tirabuzón, Infierno, and Santa Rosalía formations record syntectonic deposition in the Santa Rosalía basin—an oblique-rift-margin basin along the Gulf of California in Baja California Sur, Mexico. These deposits unconformably overlie the upper Miocene, Cu-Zn-Co-Mn-rich Boleo Formation. The Mesa Soledad outcrops, exposed on the Minera Boleo mine property, show interfingering of marine and terrestrial deposits of the three formations along the inland margin of the basin in an area that has not previously been studied. Faults that cut the Pliocene section of the mesa are mostly steeply-dipping, NW- and NE-striking faults with normal displacement determined from stratigraphic offset and steep plunge in striations. Two stratigraphic sections were measured on either side of one of these high-angle, NW-striking fault that has a normal throw of 26 m. Our analyses of sediment grain size, fossil assemblages, and sedimentary petrography indicate a mismatch of the stratigraphic units across the fault and suggest a component of strike slip. North of the fault, poorly-sorted, well-rounded, fluvial gravels from the Pliocene-aged, Tirabuzón Formation unconformably underlie fossiliferous marine deposits from the late-Pliocene to Pleistocene? -aged Infierno Formation. South of the fault, marine deposits of the Tirabuzón Formation grade upward into imbricated, clast-supported beach gravel, and finally into non-marine conglomerates. The absence of the Infierno Formation on the southern side of the fault suggests the deposits were either eroded unevenly due to uplift or laterally displaced by strike-slip movement. Fossiliferous sandstones and conglomerates of the Santa Rosalía Formation unconformably cap the entire outcrop and show no displacement from faulting. The Santa Rosalía Formation is overlain by the 1.4 Ma La Reforma ignimbrite (Schmidt 2006), indicating that the style of deformation of the basin changed at approximately this time.

A brittle-ductile high- and low-angle fault related to the Kea extensional detachment (W Cyclades., Greece)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rockenschaub, M.; Grasemann, B.; Iglseder, C.; Rice, A. H. N.; Schneider, D.; Zamolyi, A.

2010-05-01

Roll-back of the African Plate within the Eurasian-African collision zone since the Oligocene/Miocene led to extension in the Cyclades along low-angle normal fault zones and exhumation of rocks from near the brittle-ductile transition zone. On the island of Kea (W Cyclades), which represents such a crustal scale low-angle fault zone with top-to-SSW kinematics, remote sensing analysis of brittle fault lineaments in the Pissis area (W Kea) demonstrates two dominant strike directions: ca. NE-SW and NW-SE. From the north of Pisses southwards, the angle between the two main fault directions changes gradually from a rhombohedral geometry (ca. 50°/130° angle between faults, with the acute angle facing westwards) to an orthogonal geometry. The aim of this study is the development of this fault system. We investigate, if this fault system is related to the Miocene extension or if it is related to a later overprinting event (e.g. the opening of the Corinth) Field observations revealed that the investigated lineaments are high-angle (50-90° dip) brittle/ductile conjugate, faults. Due to the lack of marker layers offsets could only rarely be estimated. Locally centimetre thick marble layers in the greenschists suggest a displacement gradient along the faults with a maximum offset of less than 60 cm. Large displacement gradients are associated with a pronounced ductile fault drag in the host rocks. In some instances, high-angle normal faults were observed to link kinematically with low-angle, top-to-SSW brittle/ductile shear bands. Both the high- and the low-angle faults have a component of ductile shear, which is overprinted by brittle deformation mechanisms. In thin-section, polyphase mode-2 cracks are filled mainly with calcite and quartz (ultra)cataclasites, sometimes followed by further opening with fluid-related iron-rich carbonate (ankeritic) precipitation. CL analysis reveals several generations of cements, indicating multiple phases of cataclastic deformation and fluid infiltration. Ar/Ar white mica data from Pisses constrain ductile deformation to ca. 20 Ma. Since the high-angle faults show a continuum from ductile to brittle deformation, the Ar/Ar cooling ages suggest that faulting must have occurred in the Miocene. Consequently the high-angle faulting was genetically related to the SSW-directed low-angle extensional event and does not represent a later overprint related to a different kinematic event.

Normal fault earthquakes or graviquakes

PubMed Central

Doglioni, C.; Carminati, E.; Petricca, P.; Riguzzi, F.

2015-01-01

Earthquakes are dissipation of energy throughout elastic waves. Canonically is the elastic energy accumulated during the interseismic period. However, in crustal extensional settings, gravity is the main energy source for hangingwall fault collapsing. Gravitational potential is about 100 times larger than the observed magnitude, far more than enough to explain the earthquake. Therefore, normal faults have a different mechanism of energy accumulation and dissipation (graviquakes) with respect to other tectonic settings (strike-slip and contractional), where elastic energy allows motion even against gravity. The bigger the involved volume, the larger is their magnitude. The steeper the normal fault, the larger is the vertical displacement and the larger is the seismic energy released. Normal faults activate preferentially at about 60° but they can be shallower in low friction rocks. In low static friction rocks, the fault may partly creep dissipating gravitational energy without releasing great amount of seismic energy. The maximum volume involved by graviquakes is smaller than the other tectonic settings, being the activated fault at most about three times the hypocentre depth, explaining their higher b-value and the lower magnitude of the largest recorded events. Having different phenomenology, graviquakes show peculiar precursors. PMID:26169163

Fault and fracture patterns in low porosity chalk and their potential influence on sub-surface fluid flow-A case study from Flamborough Head, UK

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sagi, D. A.; De Paola, N.; McCaffrey, K. J. W.; Holdsworth, R. E.

2016-10-01

To better understand fault zone architecture and fluid flow in mesoscale fault zones, we studied normal faults in chalks with displacements up to 20 m, at two representative localities in Flamborough Head (UK). At the first locality, chalk contains cm-thick, interlayered marl horizons, whereas at the second locality marl horizons were largely absent. Cm-scale displacement faults at both localities display ramp-flat geometries. Mesoscale fault patterns in the marl-free chalk, including a larger displacement fault (20 m) containing multiple fault strands, show widespread evidence of hydraulically-brecciated rocks, whereas clays smears along fault planes, and injected into open fractures, and a simpler fault zone architecture is observed where marl horizons are present. Hydraulic brecciation and veins observed in the marl-free chalk units suggest that mesoscale fault patterns acted as localized fault conduit allowing for widespread fluid flow. On the other hand, mesoscale fault patterns developed in highly fractured chalk, which contains interlayered marl horizons can act as localized barriers to fluid flow, due to the sealing effect of clays smears along fault planes and introduced into open fractures in the damage zone. To support our field observations, quantitative analyses carried out on the large faults suggest a simple fault zone in the chalk with marl units with fracture density/connectivity decreasing towards the protolith. Where marls are absent, density is high throughout the fault zone, while connectivity is high only in domains nearest the fault core. We suggest that fluid flow in fractured chalk is especially influenced by the presence of marls. When present, it can smear onto fault planes, forming localised barriers. Fluid flow along relatively large displacement faults is additionally controlled by the complexity of the fault zone, especially the size/geometry of weakly and intensely connected damage zone domains.

Enigmatic rift-parallel, strike-slip faults around Eyjafjörður, Northern Iceland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Proett, J. A.; Karson, J. A.

2014-12-01

Strike-slip faults along mid-ocean ridge spreading centers are generally thought to be restricted to transform boundaries connecting rift segments. Faults that are parallel to spreading centers are generally assumed to be normal faults associated with tectonic extension. However, clear evidence of north-south (rift-parallel), strike-slip displacements occur widely around the southern portion of Eyjafjörður, northern Iceland about 50 km west of the Northern Rift Zone. The area is south of the southernmost strand (Dalvík Lineament) of the NW-SE-trending, dextral-slip, Tjӧrnes Fracture Zone (where N-S, sinistral, strike-slip "bookshelf" faulting occurs). Faults in the Eyjafjörður area cut 8.5-10 m.y. basaltic crust and are parallel to spreading-related dikes and are commonly concentrated along dike margins. Fault rocks range from fault breccia to gouge. Riedel shears and other kinematic indicators provide unambiguous evidence of shear sense. Most faults show evidence of sinistral, strike-slip movement but smaller proportions of normal and oblique-slip faults also are present. Cross cutting relations among the different types of faults are inconsistent and appear to be related to a single deformation event. Fault slip-line kinematic analysis yields solutions indicating sinistral-normal oblique-slip overall. These results may be interpreted in terms of either previously unrecognized transform-fault bookshelf faulting or slip accommodating block rotation associated with northward propagation of the Northern Rift Zone.

The role of bed-parallel slip in the development of complex normal fault zones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Delogkos, Efstratios; Childs, Conrad; Manzocchi, Tom; Walsh, John J.; Pavlides, Spyros

2017-04-01

Normal faults exposed in Kardia lignite mine, Ptolemais Basin, NW Greece formed at the same time as bed-parallel slip-surfaces, so that while the normal faults grew they were intermittently offset by bed-parallel slip. Following offset by a bed-parallel slip-surface, further fault growth is accommodated by reactivation on one or both of the offset fault segments. Where one fault is reactivated the site of bed-parallel slip is a bypassed asperity. Where both faults are reactivated, they propagate past each other to form a volume between overlapping fault segments that displays many of the characteristics of relay zones, including elevated strains and transfer of displacement between segments. Unlike conventional relay zones, however, these structures contain either a repeated or a missing section of stratigraphy which has a thickness equal to the throw of the fault at the time of the bed-parallel slip event, and the displacement profiles along the relay-bounding fault segments have discrete steps at their intersections with bed-parallel slip-surfaces. With further increase in displacement, the overlapping fault segments connect to form a fault-bound lens. Conventional relay zones form during initial fault propagation, but with coeval bed-parallel slip, relay-like structures can form later in the growth of a fault. Geometrical restoration of cross-sections through selected faults shows that repeated bed-parallel slip events during fault growth can lead to complex internal fault zone structure that masks its origin. Bed-parallel slip, in this case, is attributed to flexural-slip arising from hanging-wall rollover associated with a basin-bounding fault outside the study area.

Seismological constraints on the down-dip shape of normal faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reynolds, Kirsty; Copley, Alex

2018-04-01

We present a seismological technique for determining the down-dip shape of seismogenic normal faults. Synthetic models of non-planar source geometries reveal the important signals in teleseismic P and SH waveforms that are diagnostic of down-dip curvature. In particular, along-strike SH waveforms are the most sensitive to variations in source geometry, and have significantly more complex and larger-amplitude waveforms for curved source geometries than planar ones. We present the results of our forward-modelling technique for 13 earthquakes. Most continental normal-faulting earthquakes that rupture through the full seismogenic layer are planar and have dips of 30°-60°. There is evidence for faults with a listric shape from some of the earthquakes occurring in two regions; Tibet and East Africa. These ruptures occurred on antithetic faults, or minor faults within the hanging walls of the rifts affected, which may suggest a reason for the down-dip curvature. For these earthquakes, the change in dip across the seismogenic part of the fault plane is ≤30°.

Structural controls of the Tuscarora geothermal field, Elko County, Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dering, G.; Faulds, J. E.

2012-12-01

Tuscarora is an amagmatic geothermal system located ~90 km northwest of Elko, Nevada, in the northern part of the Basin and Range province ~15 km southeast of the Snake River Plain. Detailed geologic mapping, structural analysis, and well data have been integrated to identify the structural controls of the Tuscarora geothermal system. The structural framework of the geothermal field is defined by NNW- to NNE-striking normal faults that are approximately orthogonal to the present extension direction. Boiling springs, fumaroles, and siliceous sinter emanate from a single NNE-striking, west-dipping normal fault. Normal faults west of these hydrothermal features mostly dip steeply east, whereas normal faults east of the springs primarily dip west. Thus, the springs, fumaroles, and sinter straddle a zone of interaction between fault sets that dip toward each other, classified as a strike-parallel anticlinal accommodation zone. Faults within the geothermal area are mostly discontinuous along strike with offsets of tens to hundreds of meters, whereas the adjacent range-bounding fault systems of the Bull Run and Independence Mountains accommodate several kilometers of displacement. The geothermal field lies within a broad step over between the southward terminating west-dipping Bull Run fault zone and the northward terminating west-dipping Independence Mountains fault zone. Neither of these major fault zones is known to host high temperature geothermal systems. The accommodation zone lies within the broad step over and contains both east-dipping antithetic and west-dipping synthetic faults. Accommodation zones are relatively common structural components of extended terranes that transfer strain between oppositely dipping fault sets via a network of subsidiary normal faults. This study has identified the hinge zone of an anticlinal accommodation zone as the site most conducive to fluid up-flow. The recognition of this specific portion of an accommodation zone as a favorable structural setting for geothermal activity may be a useful exploration tool for development of drilling targets in extensional terranes, as well as for developing geologic models of known geothermal fields. This type of information may ultimately help to reduce the risks of targeting successful geothermal wells in such settings.

Numerical analysis of the effects induced by normal faults and dip angles on rock bursts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jiang, Lishuai; Wang, Pu; Zhang, Peipeng; Zheng, Pengqiang; Xu, Bin

2017-10-01

The study of mining effects under the influences of a normal fault and its dip angle is significant for the prediction and prevention of rock bursts. Based on the geological conditions of panel 2301N in a coalmine, the evolution laws of the strata behaviors of the working face affected by a fault and the instability of the fault induced by mining operations with the working face of the footwall and hanging wall advancing towards a normal fault are studied using UDEC numerical simulation. The mechanism that induces rock burst is revealed, and the influence characteristics of the fault dip angle are analyzed. The results of the numerical simulation are verified by conducting a case study regarding the microseismic events. The results of this study serve as a reference for the prediction of rock bursts and their classification into hazardous areas under similar conditions.

Effect of thermal pressurization on dynamic rupture propagation under depth-dependent stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urata, Y.; Kuge, K.; Kase, Y.

2009-12-01

Fluid and pore pressure evolution can affect dynamic propagation of earthquake ruptures owing to thermal pressurization (e.g., Mase and Smith, 1985). We investigate dynamic rupture propagation with thermal pressurization on a fault subjected to depth-dependent stress, on the basis of 3-D numerical simulations for spontaneous dynamic ruptures. We put a vertical strike-slip rectangular fault in a semi-infinite, homogenous, and elastic medium. The length and width of the fault are 8 and 3 km, respectively. We assume a depth-dependent stress estimated by Yamashita et al. (2004). The numerical algorithm is based on the finite-difference method by Kase and Kuge (2001). A rupture is initiated by increasing shear stress in a small patch at the bottom of the fault, and then proceeds spontaneously, governed by a slip-weakening law with the Coulomb failure criteria. Coefficients of friction and Dc are homogeneous on the fault. On a fault with thermal pressurization, we allow effective normal stress to vary with pore pressure change due to frictional heating by the formulation of Bizzarri and Cocco (2006). When thermal pressurization does not work, tractions drop in the same way everywhere and rupture velocity is subshear except near the free surface. Due to thermal pressurization, dynamic friction on the fault decreases and is heterogeneous not only vertically but horizontally, slip increases, and rupture velocity along the strike direction becomes supershear. As a result, plural peaks of final slip appear, as observed in the case of undrained dip-slip fault by Urata et al. (2008). We found in this study that the early stage of rupture growth under the depth-dependent stress is affected by the location of an initial crack. When a rupture is initiated at the center of the fault without thermal pressurization, the rupture cannot propagate and terminates. Thermal pressurization can help such a powerless rupture to keep propagating.

Active tectonics in southern Xinjiang, China: Analysis of terrace riser and normal fault scarp degradation along the Hotan-Qira fault system

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Avouac, Jean-Philippe; Peltzer, Gilles

1993-01-01

The northern piedmont of the western Kunlun mountains (Xinjiang, China) is marked at its easternmost extremity, south of the Hotan-Qira oases, by a set of normal faults trending N50E for nearly 70 km. Conspicuous on Landsat and SPOT images, these faults follow the southeastern border of a deep flexural basin and may be related to the subsidence of the Tarim platform loaded by the western Kunlun northward overthrust. The Hotan-Qira normal fault system vertically offsets the piedmont slope by 70 m. Highest fault scarps reach 20 m and often display evidence for recent reactivations about 2 m high. Successive stream entrenchments in uplifted footwallls have formed inset terraces. We have leveled topographic profiles across fault scarps and transverse abandoned terrace risers. The state of degradation of each terrace edge has been characterized by a degradation coefficient tau, derived by comparison with analytical erosion models. Edges of highest abandoned terraces yield a degradation coefficient of 33 +/- 4 sq.m. Profiles of cumulative fault scarps have been analyzed in a similar way using synthetic profiles generated with a simple incremental fault scarp model.

Tectonic geomorphology of large normal faults bounding the Cuzco rift basin within the southern Peruvian Andes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Byers, C.; Mann, P.

2015-12-01

The Cuzco basin forms a 80-wide, relatively flat valley within the High Andes of southern Peru. This larger basin includes the regional capital of Cuzco and the Urubamba Valley, or "Sacred Valley of the Incas" favored by the Incas for its mild climate and broader expanses of less rugged and arable land. The valley is bounded on its northern edge by a 100-km-long and 10-km-wide zone of down-to-the-south systems of normal faults that separate the lower area of the down-dropped plateau of central Peru and the more elevated area of the Eastern Cordillera foldbelt that overthrusts the Amazon lowlands to the east. Previous workers have shown that the normal faults are dipslip with up to 600 m of measured displacements, reflect north-south extension, and have Holocene displacments with some linked to destructive, historical earthquakes. We have constructed topographic and structural cross sections across the entire area to demonstrate the normal fault on a the plateau peneplain. The footwall of the Eastern Cordillera, capped by snowcapped peaks in excess of 6 km, tilts a peneplain surface northward while the hanging wall of the Cuzco basin is radially arched. Erosion is accelerated along the trend of the normal fault zone. As the normal fault zone changes its strike from east-west to more more northwest-southeast, normal displacement decreases and is replaced by a left-lateral strike-slip component.

Major structural controls on the distribution of pre-Tertiary rocks, Nevada Test Site vicinity, southern Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cole, James C.

1997-01-01

The lateral and vertical distributions of Proterozoic and Paleozoic sedimentary rocks in southern Nevada are the combined products of original stratigraphic relationships and post-depositional faults and folds. This map compilation shows the distribution of these pre-Tertiary rocks in the region including and surrounding the Nevada Test Site. It is based on considerable new evidence from detailed geologic mapping, biostratigraphic control, sedimentological analysis, and a review of regional map relationships.Proterozoic and Paleozoic rocks of the region record paleogeographic transitions between continental shelf depositional environments on the east and deeper-water slopefacies depositional environments on the west. Middle Devonian and Mississippian sequences, in particular, show strong lateral facies variations caused by contemporaneous changes in the western margin of North America during the Antler orogeny. Sections of rock that were originally deposited in widely separated facies localities presently lie in close proximity. These spatial relationships chiefly result from major east- and southeastdirected thrusts that deformed the region in Permian or later time.Somewhat younger contractional structures are identified within two irregular zones that traverse the region. These folds and thrusts typically verge toward the west and northwest and overprint the relatively simple pattern of the older contractional terranes. Local structural complications are significant near these younger structures due to the opposing vergence and due to irregularities in the previously folded and faulted crustal section.Structural and stratigraphic discontinuities are identified on opposing sides of two north-trending fault zones in the central part of the compilation region north of Yucca Flat. The origin and significance of these zones are enigmatic because they are largely covered by Tertiary and younger deposits. These faults most likely result from significant lateral offset, most likely in the sinistral sense.Low-angle normal faults that are at least older than Oligocene, and may pre-date Late Cretaceous time, are also present in the region. These faults are shown to locally displace blocks of pre-Tertiary rock by several kilometers. However, none of these structures can be traced for significant distances beyond its outcrop extent, and the inference is made that they do not exert regional influence on the distribution of pre-Tertiary rocks. The extensional strain accommodated by these low-angle normal faults appears to be local and highly irregular.

Calcite Decarbonation and its Influence on the Mechanical Behaviour of Carbonate-bearing Faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Carpenter, Brett; Collettini, Cristiano; Mollo, Silvio; Viti, Cecilia

2014-05-01

Calcite decarbonation has been identified as one of the important, thermally-activated physicochemical processes that are triggered by temperature rise during fast fault motion. This process has been observed in the laboratory during high-velocity friction experiments where the dynamic weakening that occurs for carbonate-rich gouges is strictly controlled by the thermal decomposition of calcite. Furthermore, this process has also been identified along ancient, exhumed faults and is an important indicator of seismic slip. The thermally-induced decarbonation (CaCO3 → CaO + CO2) and microcracking (due to thermal expansion) of calcite are likely to be primary mechanisms in controlling the mechanical and hydrologic properties of carbonate rocks. In addition, the process and products of decarbonation will likely exert significant influence on the behaviour of faults at both geologic and earthquake time scales by causing changes in (1) the effective normal stress on the fault and (2) the frictional behaviour of material within it. Due to the paucity of scientific information on the effects of decarbonation and thermal microcracking on the mechanical properties of carbonate fault rocks, we present results from experiments performed on portlandite (>90 wt.%), a hydrous mineral formed by the recombination of CaO and water, and stable product of the decarbonation reaction. We produced portlandite by thermally-treating powdered Carrara Marble (calcite >98 wt.%) in the laboratory at 1100 °C under air buffering conditions. We then sheared gouge layers of this water-reacted, decarbonation product under saturated conditions at room temperature. These tests were designed to evaluate the frictional strength, stability, and healing behaviour of portlandite-bearing rocks to better understand how its presence affects fault mechanics. Our data indicate that the conversion of calcite to portlandite, results in a distinct change in the mechanical behaviour of the fault gouge. The difference in frictional strength, between marble and portlandite, increases from 0µ to 0.4µ as the normal stress is increased from 1 to 50 MPa. Additionally, at the low shearing rates of 0.1 and 0.3 µm/s, portlandite fails through stick-slip motion whereas calcite slides stably. Furthermore, we observe power-law type healing in portlandite that results in a dramatic increase in static frictional strength of ~0.2 µ over a relatively short hold time of 3000s. We suggest that decarbonated fault patches are (1) frictionally weaker, (2) more frictionally unstable, and (3) likely to regain their frictional strength more quickly, than patches in pure carbonate rocks. Under water-saturated conditions, the occurrence of portlandite and other hydrous minerals is undoubtedly the key for interpreting changes in the mechanical behaviour, both transient and long-term, of decarbonated faults.

Controls of earthquake faulting style on near field landslide triggering: The role of coseismic slip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tatard, L.; Grasso, J. R.

2013-06-01

compare the spatial distributions of seven databases of landslides triggered by Mw=5.6-7.9 earthquakes, using distances normalized by the earthquake fault length. We show that the normalized landslide distance distributions collapse, i.e., the normalized distance distributions overlap whatever the size of the earthquake, separately for the events associated with dip-slip, buried-faulting earthquakes, and surface-faulting earthquakes. The dip-slip earthquakes triggered landslides at larger normalized distances than the oblique-slip event of Loma Prieta. We further identify that the surface-faulting earthquakes of Wenchuan, Chi-Chi, and Kashmir triggered landslides at normalized distances smaller than the ones expected from their Mw ≥ 7.6 magnitudes. These results support a control of the seismic slip (through amplitude, rake, and surface versus buried slip) on the distances at which landslides are triggered. In terms of coseismic landslide management in mountainous areas, our results allow us to propose distances at which 95 and 75% of landslides will be triggered as a function of the earthquake focal mechanism.

Susceptibility of experimental faults to pore pressure increase: insights from load-controlled experiments on calcite-bearing rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Spagnuolo, Elena; Violay, Marie; Nielsen, Stefan; Cornelio, Chiara; Di Toro, Giulio

2017-04-01

Fluid pressure has been indicated as a major factor controlling natural (e.g., L'Aquila, Italy, 2009 Mw 6.3) and induced seismicity (e.g., Wilzetta, Oklahoma, 2011 Mw 5.7). Terzaghi's principle states that the effective normal stress is linearly reduced by a pore pressure (Pf) increase σeff=σn(1 - αPf), where the effective stress parameter α, may be related to the fraction of the fault area that is flooded. A value of α =1 is often used by default, with Pf shifting the Mohr circle towards lower normal effective stresses and anticipating failure on pre-existing faults. However, within a complex fault core of inhomogeneous permeability, α may vary in a yet poorly understood way. To shed light on this problem, we conducted experiments on calcite-bearing rock samples (Carrara marble) at room humidity conditions and in the presence of pore fluids (drained conditions) using a rotary apparatus (SHIVA). A pre-cut fault is loaded by constant shear stress τ under constant normal stress σn=15 MPa until a target value corresponding roughly to the 80 % of the frictional fault strength. The pore pressure Pf is then raised with regular pressure and time steps to induce fault instability. Assuming α=1 and a threshold for instability τp_eff=μp σeff, the experiments reveal that an increase of Pf does not necessarily induce an instability even when the effective strength threshold is largely surpassed (e.g., τp_eff=1.3 μpσeff). This result may indicate that the Pf increase did not instantly diffuse throughout the slip zone, but took a finite time to equilibrate with the external imposed pressure increase due to finite permeability. Under our experimental conditions, a significant departure from α=1 is observed provided that the Pf step is shorter than about < 20s. We interpret this delay as indicative of the diffusion time (td), which is related to fluid penetration length l by l = √ κtd-, where κ is the hydraulic diffusivity on the fault plane. We show that a simple cubic law relates td to hydraulic aperture, pore pressure gradient and injection rate. We redefine α as the ratio between the fluid penetration length and sample dimension L resulting in α = min(√ktd,L) L. Under several pore pressure loading rates this relation yields an approximate hydraulic diffusivity κ ˜10-8 m2 s-1 which is compatible, for example, with a low porosity shale. Our results highlight that a high injection flow rate in fault plane do not necessarily induce seismogenic fault slip: a critical pore penetration length or fluid patch size is necessary to trigger fault instability.

3D Model of the McGinness Hills Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

The McGinness Hills geothermal system lies in a ~8.5 km wide, north-northeast trending accommodation zone defined by east-dipping normal faults bounding the Toiyabe Range to the west and west-dipping normal faults bounding the Simpson Park Mountains to the east. Within this broad accommodation zone lies a fault step-over defined by north-northeast striking, west-dipping normal faults which step to the left at roughly the latitude of the McGinness Hills geothermal system. The McGinness Hills 3D model consists of 9 geologic units and 41 faults. The basal geologic units are metasediments of the Ordovician Valmy and Vininni Formations (undifferentiated in the model) which are intruded by Jurassic granitic rocks. Unconformably overlying is a ~100s m-thick section of Tertiary andesitic lava flows and four Oligocene-to-Miocene ash-flow tuffs: The Rattlesnake Canyon Tuff, tuff of Sutcliffe, the Cambell Creek Tuff and the Nine Hill tuff. Overlying are sequences of pre-to-syn-extensional Quaternary alluvium and post-extensional Quaternary alluvium. 10-15º eastward dip of the Tertiary stratigraphy is controlled by the predominant west-dipping fault set. Geothermal production comes from two west dipping normal faults in the northern limb of the step over. Injection is into west dipping faults in the southern limb of the step over. Production and injection sites are in hydrologic communication, but at a deep level, as the northwest striking fault that links the southern and northern limbs of the step-over has no permeability.

Deformational History and Rotation of the Leeward Antilles Island Arc: Results of the BOLIVAR Project

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Beardsley, A. G.; Avé Lallemant, H. G.

2005-12-01

The Leeward Antilles island arc is located offshore northern Venezuela and includes Aruba, Curaçao, and Bonaire (ABCs). The ABCs trend WNW-ESE parallel to the obliquely convergent Caribbean-South American plate boundary zone. Field work on the ABCs has provided new structural data supporting a minimum of 90° clockwise rotation of the islands within the diffuse plate boundary zone. Analysis of faulting, bedding, and cleavages suggest three phases of deformation (D1-D3). The oldest phase of deformation, D1, is characterized by northeast trending normal faults, northwest trending fold axes and cleavages, and northeast striking dextral strike-slip faults. East striking sinstral strike-slip faults are rare. The second phase of deformation, D2, is represented by west-northwest trending thrust faults, north-northeast striking normal faults, northwest trending dextral strike-slip faults, and northeast striking sinstral strike-slip faults. Finally, the youngest phase of deformation, D3, is characterized by northeast striking thrust faults, northwest striking normal faults, east-west dextral strike-slip faults, and north-northwest sinstral strike-slip faults. Quartz and calcite veins were also studied on the ABCs. Cross-cutting relationships in outcrop suggest three phases of veining (V1-V3). The oldest veins, V1, trend northeastward; V2 veins trend northward; and the youngest veins, V3, trend northwestward. Additionally, joints were measured on the ABCs. On Bonaire and Curaçao, joints trend approximately northeast while joints on Aruba are almost random with a slight preference for west-northwest. Fluid inclusion analysis of quartz and calcite veins provides additional information about the pressure and temperature conditions of the deformation phases. Preliminary results from the earliest veins (V1) show a single deformational event on Aruba and Bonaire. On Bonaire, they exhibit both hydrostatic and lithostatic pressure conditions. This new data supports three stages of deformation accompanied by rotation of the ABCs. The structures identified suggest a clockwise rotation of the principal stress orientation since the Late Cretaceous. D1 deformation and rotation occurred at the southeastern Caribbean plate margin beginning approximately 73 Ma on Aruba. Arc-parallel strike-slip motion rotated the islands clockwise 90° Internal deformation features of the island blocks are consistent with an obliquely convergent plate boundary. D2 deformation is characterized by clockwise block rotation facilitated by dextral strike-slip faults defining the northern and southern boundaries of the diffuse plate boundary zone. Most likely, D2 correlates to the Eocene change in plate motions due to convergence between North and South America, approximately 55 Ma. The youngest phase of deformation and rotation, D3, happens along the arcuate South Caribbean Deformed Belt. Since approximately 25 Ma, rotation and development of northwest trending pull-apart basins between the ABCs progressed. Northeastward motion of the Maracaibo block may also contribute to recent rotation of the island arc.

Structural evolution of fault zones in sandstone by multiple deformation mechanisms: Moab fault, southeast Utah

USGS Publications Warehouse

Davatzes, N.C.; Eichhubl, P.; Aydin, A.

2005-01-01

Faults in sandstone are frequently composed of two classes of structures: (1) deformation bands and (2) joints and sheared joints. Whereas the former structures are associated with cataclastic deformation, the latter ones represent brittle fracturing, fragmentation, and brecciation. We investigated the distribution of these structures, their formation, and the underlying mechanical controls for their occurrence along the Moab normal fault in southeastern Utah through the use of structural mapping and numerical elastic boundary element modeling. We found that deformation bands occur everywhere along the fault, but with increased density in contractional relays. Joints and sheared joints only occur at intersections and extensional relays. In all locations , joints consistently overprint deformation bands. Localization of joints and sheared joints in extensional relays suggests that their distribution is controlled by local variations in stress state that are due to mechanical interaction between the fault segments. This interpretation is consistent with elastic boundary element models that predict a local reduction in mean stress and least compressive principal stress at intersections and extensional relays. The transition from deformation band to joint formation along these sections of the fault system likely resulted from the combined effects of changes in remote tectonic loading, burial depth, fluid pressure, and rock properties. In the case of the Moab fault, we conclude that the structural heterogeneity in the fault zone is systematically related to the geometric evolution of the fault, the local state of stress associated with fault slip , and the remote loading history. Because the type and distribution of structures affect fault permeability and strength, our results predict systematic variations in these parameters with fault evolution. ?? 2004 Geological Society of America.

Mechanics of graben formation in crustal rocks - A finite element analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Melosh, H. J.; Williams, C. A., Jr.

1989-01-01

The mechanics of the initial stages of graben formation are examined, showing that the configuration of a graben (a pair of antithetically dipping normal faults) is the most energetically favorable fault configuration in elastic-brittle rocks subjected to pure extension. The stress field in the vicinity of a single initial normal fault is computed with a two-dimensional FEM. It is concluded that the major factor controlling graben width is the depth of the initial fault.

Mechanical Fault Diagnosis of High Voltage Circuit Breakers Based on Variational Mode Decomposition and Multi-Layer Classifier.

PubMed

Huang, Nantian; Chen, Huaijin; Cai, Guowei; Fang, Lihua; Wang, Yuqiang

2016-11-10

Mechanical fault diagnosis of high-voltage circuit breakers (HVCBs) based on vibration signal analysis is one of the most significant issues in improving the reliability and reducing the outage cost for power systems. The limitation of training samples and types of machine faults in HVCBs causes the existing mechanical fault diagnostic methods to recognize new types of machine faults easily without training samples as either a normal condition or a wrong fault type. A new mechanical fault diagnosis method for HVCBs based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and multi-layer classifier (MLC) is proposed to improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis. First, HVCB vibration signals during operation are measured using an acceleration sensor. Second, a VMD algorithm is used to decompose the vibration signals into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). The IMF matrix is divided into submatrices to compute the local singular values (LSV). The maximum singular values of each submatrix are selected as the feature vectors for fault diagnosis. Finally, a MLC composed of two one-class support vector machines (OCSVMs) and a support vector machine (SVM) is constructed to identify the fault type. Two layers of independent OCSVM are adopted to distinguish normal or fault conditions with known or unknown fault types, respectively. On this basis, SVM recognizes the specific fault type. Real diagnostic experiments are conducted with a real SF₆ HVCB with normal and fault states. Three different faults (i.e., jam fault of the iron core, looseness of the base screw, and poor lubrication of the connecting lever) are simulated in a field experiment on a real HVCB to test the feasibility of the proposed method. Results show that the classification accuracy of the new method is superior to other traditional methods.

Mechanical Fault Diagnosis of High Voltage Circuit Breakers Based on Variational Mode Decomposition and Multi-Layer Classifier

PubMed Central

Huang, Nantian; Chen, Huaijin; Cai, Guowei; Fang, Lihua; Wang, Yuqiang

2016-01-01

Mechanical fault diagnosis of high-voltage circuit breakers (HVCBs) based on vibration signal analysis is one of the most significant issues in improving the reliability and reducing the outage cost for power systems. The limitation of training samples and types of machine faults in HVCBs causes the existing mechanical fault diagnostic methods to recognize new types of machine faults easily without training samples as either a normal condition or a wrong fault type. A new mechanical fault diagnosis method for HVCBs based on variational mode decomposition (VMD) and multi-layer classifier (MLC) is proposed to improve the accuracy of fault diagnosis. First, HVCB vibration signals during operation are measured using an acceleration sensor. Second, a VMD algorithm is used to decompose the vibration signals into several intrinsic mode functions (IMFs). The IMF matrix is divided into submatrices to compute the local singular values (LSV). The maximum singular values of each submatrix are selected as the feature vectors for fault diagnosis. Finally, a MLC composed of two one-class support vector machines (OCSVMs) and a support vector machine (SVM) is constructed to identify the fault type. Two layers of independent OCSVM are adopted to distinguish normal or fault conditions with known or unknown fault types, respectively. On this basis, SVM recognizes the specific fault type. Real diagnostic experiments are conducted with a real SF6 HVCB with normal and fault states. Three different faults (i.e., jam fault of the iron core, looseness of the base screw, and poor lubrication of the connecting lever) are simulated in a field experiment on a real HVCB to test the feasibility of the proposed method. Results show that the classification accuracy of the new method is superior to other traditional methods. PMID:27834902

3D Model of the Tuscarora Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

The Tuscarora geothermal system sits within a ~15 km wide left-step in a major west-dipping range-bounding normal fault system. The step over is defined by the Independence Mountains fault zone and the Bull Runs Mountains fault zone which overlap along strike. Strain is transferred between these major fault segments via and array of northerly striking normal faults with offsets of 10s to 100s of meters and strike lengths of less than 5 km. These faults within the step over are one to two orders of magnitude smaller than the range-bounding fault zones between which they reside. Faults within the broad step define an anticlinal accommodation zone wherein east-dipping faults mainly occupy western half of the accommodation zone and west-dipping faults lie in the eastern half of the accommodation zone. The 3D model of Tuscarora encompasses 70 small-offset normal faults that define the accommodation zone and a portion of the Independence Mountains fault zone, which dips beneath the geothermal field. The geothermal system resides in the axial part of the accommodation, straddling the two fault dip domains. The Tuscarora 3D geologic model consists of 10 stratigraphic units. Unconsolidated Quaternary alluvium has eroded down into bedrock units, the youngest and stratigraphically highest bedrock units are middle Miocene rhyolite and dacite flows regionally correlated with the Jarbidge Rhyolite and modeled with uniform cumulative thickness of ~350 m. Underlying these lava flows are Eocene volcanic rocks of the Big Cottonwood Canyon caldera. These units are modeled as intracaldera deposits, including domes, flows, and thick ash deposits that change in thickness and locally pinch out. The Paleozoic basement of consists metasedimenary and metavolcanic rocks, dominated by argillite, siltstone, limestone, quartzite, and metabasalt of the Schoonover and Snow Canyon Formations. Paleozoic formations are lumped in a single basement unit in the model. Fault blocks in the eastern portion of the model are tilted 5-30 degrees toward the Independence Mountains fault zone. Fault blocks in the western portion of the model are tilted toward steeply east-dipping normal faults. These opposing fault block dips define a shallow extensional anticline. Geothermal production is from 4 closely-spaced wells, that exploit a west-dipping, NNE-striking fault zone near the axial part of the accommodation zone.

The Padul normal fault activity constrained by GPS data: Brittle extension orthogonal to folding in the central Betic Cordillera

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gil, Antonio J.; Galindo-Zaldívar, Jesús; Sanz de Galdeano, Carlos; Borque, Maria Jesús; Sánchez-Alzola, Alberto; Martinez-Martos, Manuel; Alfaro, Pedro

2017-08-01

The Padul Fault is located in the Central Betic Cordillera, formed in the framework of the NW-SE Eurasian-African plate convergence. In the Internal Zone, large E-W to NE-SW folds of western Sierra Nevada accommodated the greatest NW-SE shortening and uplift of the cordillera. However, GPS networks reveal a present-day dominant E-W to NE-SW extensional setting at surface. The Padul Fault is the most relevant and best exposed active normal fault that accommodates most of the NE-SW extension of the Central Betics. This WSW-wards dipping fault, formed by several segments of up to 7 km maximum length, favored the uplift of the Sierra Nevada footwall away from the Padul graben hanging wall. A non-permanent GPS network installed in 1999 constrains an average horizontal extensional rate of 0.5 mm/yr in N66°E direction. The fault length suggests that a (maximum) 6 magnitude earthquake may be expected, but the absence of instrumental or historical seismic events would indicate that fault activity occurs at least partially by creep. Striae on fault surfaces evidence normal-sinistral kinematics, suggesting that the Padul Fault may have been a main transfer fault of the westernmost end of the Sierra Nevada antiform. Nevertheless, GPS results evidence: (1) shortening in the Sierra Nevada antiform is in its latest stages, and (2) the present-day fault shows normal with minor oblique dextral displacements. The recent change in Padul fault kinematics will be related to the present-day dominance of the ENE-WSW regional extension versus NNW-SSE shortening that produced the uplift and northwestwards displacement of Sierra Nevada antiform. This region illustrates the importance of heterogeneous brittle extensional tectonics in the latest uplift stages of compressional orogens, as well as the interaction of folding during the development of faults at shallow crustal levels.

Normal Fault and Tensile Fissure Network Development Around an Off-Axis Silica-Rich Volcanic Dome of the Alarcon Rise, Southern Gulf of California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Contreras, J.; Vega-Ramirez, L. A.; Spelz, R. M.; Portner, R. A.; Clague, D. A.

2017-12-01

The Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute collected in 2012 and 2015 high-resolution (1 m horizontal/0.2 m vertical) bathymetry data in the southern Gulf of California using an autonomous underwater vehicle (AUV) that bring to light an extensive array of normal faults and fissures cutting lava domes and smaller volcanic cones, pillow mounds and lava sheet flows of variable compositions along the Alarcon rise. Active faulting and fissure growth in the transition between the neovolcanic zone and adjacent axial summit trough, in a 6.9 x 1.5 km2 area at the NE segment of the rise, developed at some point between 6 Ka B.P. (14C) and the present time. We performed a population analysis of fracture networks imaged by the AUV that reveal contrasting scaling attributes between mode I (opening) and mode III (shearing) extensional structures. Opening-mode fractures are spatially constrained to narrow bands 400 m wide. The youngest set developed on pillow lavas 800 yr old (14C) of the neovolcanic zone. Regions of normal fault propagation by anti-plane shearing alternate with the tensile-fracture growth areas. This provides evidence for permutations in space of the stress field across the ridge axis. Moreover, fault-length frequency plots for both fracture networks show that opening-mode fractures are best fit using an exponential relationship whereas normal faults are best fit using a power-law relationship. These size distributions indicate tensile fractures rapidly reached a saturated state in which large fractures (102 m) accommodate most of the strain and appear to be constrained to a thin mechanical/thermal layer. Faults, by contrast, have slowly evolved to a state of self-organization characterized by growth by linkage with neighboring faults in the strike direction forming fault arrays with a maximum length of 2km. We also analyzed the development of faults in the vicinity of an off-axis rhyolitic dome. We find that faults have asymmetric, half-restricted slip profiles with abrupt displacement gradients towards the dome. We further document a strain deficit in normal faulting near the dome. We suggest that these observations reflect the control that changes in mechanical properties and rheology may exert on fault slip localization by effectively suppressing fault nucleation and propagation.

Geometry and kinematics of accretionary wedge faults inherited from the structure and rheology of the incoming sedimentary section; insights from 3D seismic reflection data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, Rebecca; Orme, Haydn; Lenette, Kathryn; Jackson, Christopher; Fitch, Peter; Phillips, Thomas; Moore, Gregory

2017-04-01

Intra-wedge thrust faults represent important conduits for fluid flow in accretionary prisms, modulating pore fluid pressure, effective stress and, ultimately, the seismic hazard potential of convergent plate boundaries. Despite its importance, we know surprisingly little regarding the 3D geometry and kinematics of thrust networks in accretionary prisms, largely due to a lack of 3D seismic reflection data providing high-resolution, 3D images. To address this we here present observations from two subduction zones, the Nankai and Lesser Antilles margins, where 3D seismic and borehole data allow us to constrain the geometry and kinematics of intra-wedge fault networks and to thus shed light on the mechanisms responsible for their structural style variability. At the Muroto transect, Nankai margin we find that the style of protothrust zone deformation varies markedly along-strike over distances of only a few km. Using structural restoration and quantitative fault analysis, we reveal that in the northern part of the study area deformation occurred by buckle folding followed by faulting. Further south, intra-wedge faults nucleate above the décollement and propagate radially with no folding, resulting in variable connectivity between faults and the décollement. The seismic facies character of sediments immediately above the décollement varies along strike, with borehole data revealing that, in the north, where buckle folding dominates un-cemented Lower Shikoku Basin sediments overlie the décollement. In contrast, further south, Opal CT-cemented, and thus rigid Upper Shikoku Basin sediments overlie the décollement. We suggest these along-strike variations in diagenesis and thus rheology control the observed structural style variability. Near Barbados, at the Lesser Antilles margin, rough subducting plate relief is blanketed by up to 700 m of sediment. 3D seismic data reveal that basement relief is defined by linear normal fault blocks and volcanic ridges, and sub-circular seamounts. The youngest, most basinward thrusts in the wedge strike NW-SE; however, 17 km landward, towards the wedge core, they strike NE-SW. The orientation of the more landward faults correlates with the trend of linear basement relief, whereas thrust fault orientations close to the deformation front are perpendicular to the convergence direction. We notice that oceanic crust that has been subducted is characterised by NE-SW striking, now-inverted normal faults, with some faults extending up through the entire sedimentary section. We suggest that the NE-SW orientation of thrust faults has been inherited from linear basement ridges. In contrast, basement currently subducting beneath the deformation front is dominated by seamounts and is devoid of more linear features. Here, there are no pre-existing normal faults available for reactivation and thrust faults develop perpendicular to the convergence direction. We show that the incoming plate properties have a profound effect on the geometry of accretionary wedges; it would be difficult to elucidate this without 3D seismic data. Our insights provide new hypotheses that can be tested with numerical and laboratory models.

Impact of pre- and/or syn-tectonic salt layers in the hangingwall geometry of a kinked-planar extensional fault: insights from analogue modelling and comparison with the Parentis basin (bay of Biscay)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ferrer, O.; Vendeville, B. C.; Roca, E.

2012-04-01

Using sandbox analogue modelling we determine the role played by a pre-kinematic or a syn-kinematic viscous salt layer during rollover folding of the hangingwall of a normal fault with a variable kinked-planar geometry, as well as understand the origin and the mechanisms that control the formation, kinematic evolution and geometry of salt structures developed in the hangingwall of this fault. The experiments we conducted consisted of nine models made of dry quartz-sand (35μm average grain size) simulating brittle rocks and a viscous silicone polymer (SMG 36 from Dow Corning) simulating salt in nature. The models were constructed between two end walls, one of which was fixed, whereas the other was moved by a motor-driven worm screw. The fixed wall was part of the rigid footwall of the model's master border fault. This fault was simulated using three different wood block configurations, which was overlain by a flexible (but not stretchable) sheet that was attached to the mobile endwall of the model. We applied three different infill hangingwall configurations to each fault geometry: (1) without silicone (sand only), (2) sand overlain by a pre-kinematic silicone layer deposited above the entire hanginwall, and (3) sand partly overlain by a syn-kinematic silicone layer that overlain only parts of the hangingwall. All models were subjected to a 14 cm of basement extension in a direction orthogonal to that of the border fault. Results show that the presence of a viscous layer (silicone) clearly controls the deformation pattern of the hangingwall. Thus, regardless of the silicone layer's geometry (either pre- or syn-extensional) or the geometry of the extensional fault, the silicone layer acts as a very efficient detachment level separating two different structural styles in each unit. In particular, the silicone layer acts as an extensional ductile shear zone inhibiting upward propagation of normal faults and/or shears bands from the sub-silicone layers. Whereas the basement is affected by antithetic normal faults that are more or less complex depending on the geometry of the master fault, the lateral flow of the silicone produces salt-cored anticlines, walls and diapirs in the overburden of the hangingwall. The mechanical behavior of the silicone layer as an extensional shear zone, combined with the lateral changes in pressure gradients due to overburden thickness changes, triggered the silicone migration from the half-graben depocenter towards the rollover shoulder. As a result, the accumulation of silicone produces gentle silicone-cored anticlines and local diapirs with minor extensional faults. Upwards fault propagation from the sub-silicone "basement" to the supra-silicone unit only occurs either when the supra- and sub-silicone materials are welded, or when the amount of slip along the master fault is large enough so that the tip of the silicone reaches the junction between the upper and lower panels of the master faults. Comparison between the results of these models with data from the western offshore Parentis Basin (Eastern Bay of Biscay) validates the structural interpretation of this region.

Structural superposition in fault systems bounding Santa Clara Valley, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Graymer, Russell W.; Stanley, Richard G.; Ponce, David A.; Jachens, Robert C.; Simpson, Robert W.; Wentworth, Carl M.

2015-01-01

Santa Clara Valley is bounded on the southwest and northeast by active strike-slip and reverse-oblique faults of the San Andreas fault system. On both sides of the valley, these faults are superposed on older normal and/or right-lateral normal oblique faults. The older faults comprised early components of the San Andreas fault system as it formed in the wake of the northward passage of the Mendocino Triple Junction. On the east side of the valley, the great majority of fault displacement was accommodated by the older faults, which were almost entirely abandoned when the presently active faults became active after ca. 2.5 Ma. On the west side of the valley, the older faults were abandoned earlier, before ca. 8 Ma and probably accumulated only a small amount, if any, of the total right-lateral offset accommodated by the fault zone as a whole. Apparent contradictions in observations of fault offset and the relation of the gravity field to the distribution of dense rocks at the surface are explained by recognition of superposed structures in the Santa Clara Valley region.

Pliocene to Recent Tectonic Activity of the Reşadiye Peninsula and the Relationship Between the Recent Earthquakes Occurred in the Gulf of Gökova: Preliminary Results.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kahraman, Burcu; Özsayın, Erman; Üner, Serkan; Dirik, Kadir

2013-04-01

The E-W trending Reşadiye peninsula located at the southwestern part of the Anatolian Plate is an important horst developed between Gökova and Hisarönü Grabens. NW-trending the Datça Graben is the prominent structure comprising on the Reşadiye peninsula and records the significant fingerprints of palaeogeographical and kinematical characteristics from Pliocene to recent. The Datça Graben is controlled by NW-trending the Karaköy fault in the south and E-W trending the Kızlan fault in the north. Basement rocks of the graben are composed of ophiolitic rocks of the Lycian Nappes and Jurassic marine carbonates. The basinfill initiates with Early Pliocene Kızılaǧaç formation consisting conglomerates and continues with transgressive sequence (Yıldırımlı formation) composed of conglomerates, sandstones and marls with ignimbrite intercalations. Late Pliocene age was attributed to this formation based on the gastropoda and pelecypoda fauna according to previous studies. These units are unconformably overlain by Quaternary Karaköy formation consisting red blocky conglomerates. Pyroclastics of Quaternary age (161 ka) cover the older units. Alluvium, alluvial fan deposits and terrace deposits are the youngest units of the study area. To state the tectonic evolution of the Datça Graben, bedding planes and palaeostress analysis of the fault-slip data were used. The palaeostress analyses of the Kızlan fault clearly represent N-S tensional stress regime with pure normal fault characteristics. Due to the thick colluvium and alluvial fans, any fault-slip data were collected from the Karaköy fault. Considering the same stress regime is viable for the southwestern margin of the graben, fault planes ought to have normal fault characteristics with minor strike-slip component. SW-dipping bedding planes and SW-bearing palaeocurrent measurements show that Karaköy fault occurred before the Kızlan fault and the basin was first formed as a half-graben during Early Pliocene and continued till Late Pliocene. As the Kızlan fault juxtaposes the Kızılaǧaç and Yıldırımlı formations, Late Pliocene age is attributed to the fault. Focal mechanism solutions of recent earthquakes occurred in the Gökova Bay show N-S extension which is compatible with the palaeostress analyses of the Kızlan fault. This situation represents the ongoing activity along the northern margin of the Datça Graben.

New constraints on slip-rates, recurrence intervals, and strain partitioning beneath Pyramid Lake, Nevada

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eisses, Amy

A high-resolution CHIRP seismic survey of Pyramid Lake, Nevada, located within the northern Walker Lane Deformation Belt, was conducted in summer 2010. Seismic CHIRP data with submeter vertical accuracy, together with piston and gravity cores, were used to calculate Holocene vertical slip rates, relative earthquake timing, and produce the first complete fault map beneath the lake. More than 500 line-kilometers of CHIRP data imaged complex fault patterns throughout the basin. Fault architecture beneath Pyramid Lake highlights a polarity flip, where down-to-the west patterns of sedimentation near the dextral Pyramid Lake fault to the south give way to down-to-the-east geometries tomore » the north within a mostly normal (i.e., Lake Range fault) and transtensional environment. The Lake Range fault predominantly controls extensional deformation within the northern two-thirds of the basin and exhibits varying degrees of asymmetric tilting and divergence due to along-strike segmentation. This observation is likely a combination of fault segments splaying onshore moving the focus of extension away from the lake coupled with some true along-strike differences in slip-rate. The combination of normal and oblique-slip faults in the northern basin gives Pyramid Lake its distinctive “fanning open to the north” tectonic geometry. The dense network of oblique-slip faults in the northwestern region of the lake, in contrast to the well-defined Lake Range fault, are short and discontinuous in nature, and possible represent a nascent shear zone. Preliminary vertical slip-rates measured across the Lake Range and other faults provide new estimates on the extension across the Pyramid Lake basin. A minimum vertical slip rate of ~1.0 mm/yr is estimated along the Lake Range fault, which yields a potential earthquake magnitude range between M6.4 and M7.0. A rapid influx of sediment was deposited shortly after the end of the Tioga glaciation somewhere between 12.5 ka to 9.5 ka and provides a punctuated short-term record of little to no slip on the Lake Range fault. In contrast, for the past 9,500 years, the basin has experienced a decrease in sedimentation rate, but an escalation in earthquake activity on the Lake Range fault, with the potential of 3 or 4 major earthquakes assuming a characteristic offset of 2.5 m per event. Regionally, our CHIRP investigation helps to reveal how strain is partitioned along the boundary between the eastern edge of the Walker Lane Deformation Belt and the northwest Great Basin proper.« less

Effects of the Yakutat terrane collision with North America on the neighboring Pacific plate

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reece, R.; Gulick, S. P.; Christeson, G. L.; Barth, G. A.; van Avendonk, H.

2011-12-01

High-resolution bathymetry data show a 30 km N-S trending ridge within the deep-sea Surveyor Fan between the mouths of the Yakutat Sea Valley and Bering Trough in the Gulf of Alaska. The ridge originates in the north, perpendicular to and at the base of the continental slope, coincident with the Transition Fault, the strike-slip boundary between the Yakutat terrane (YAK) and the Pacific plate (PAC). The ridge exhibits greatest relief adjacent to the Transition Fault, and becomes less distinct farther from the shelf edge. Seismic reflection data reveal a sharp basement high beneath the ridge (1.1 sec of relief above "normal" basement in two-way travel time) as well as multiple similarly oriented strike-slip fault segments. The ridge, basement high, and faults are aligned and co-located with an intraplate earthquake swarm on the PAC, which includes four events > 6.5 Mw that occurred from 1987-1992. The swarm is defined by right-lateral strike-slip events, and is collectively called the Gulf of Alaska Shear Zone (GASZ). Based on the extent of historic seismicity, the GASZ extends at least 230 km into the PAC, seemingly ending at the Kodiak-Bowie Seamount Chain. Farther southwest, between the Kodiak-Bowie and Patton-Murray Seamount Chains, there is a large regional bathymetric low with an axis centered along the Aja Fracture Zone, perpendicular to the GASZ and Aleutian Trench. Basement and overlying sediment in the low are irregularly, but pervasively faulted. The GASZ and faulted bathymetric low could represent PAC deformation due to PAC-YAK coupling whereby YAK resistance to subduction is expressed as deformation in the thinner (weaker) PAC crust. The YAK is an allochthonous, basaltic terrane coupled to the PAC that began subducting at a low angle beneath North America (NA) ~25-40 Ma. Due to its 15-25 km thickness, the YAK is resistant to subduction compared to the normal oceanic crust of the PAC. As a result the plates developed differential motion along the Transition Fault and have different, convergent, vectors for motion relative to NA. Although a tear on the scale of the GASZ in normal oceanic crust is unusual, preexisting zones of weakness, such as the Aja Fracture Zone and bending faults at the flexural bulge, may have proven to be a kinematically favorable localization for strain. These results expand on a previous tectonic model wherein the differing YAK and PAC vectors caused the northern PAC to behave as two tectonic blocks, separated by the GASZ. In this model, the eastern block of the PAC exhibits a counter-clockwise rotation that accounts for motion along the Transition Fault and GASZ. We will analyze seismic reflection, bathymetric, magnetic, and gravity data in order to further investigate this intraplate deformation and the cause of strain localization in both areas. New bathymetric and 2D seismic reflection data will allow us to confirm whether the GASZ previously extended beyond the Kodiak-Bowie Seamount Chain and the current zone of active seismicity, as well as to characterize the GASZ at opposite ends.

Dolomitization and over-dolomitization in the Vajont limestone (Dolomiti Bellunesi, Italy) controlled by Mesozoic normal faults: a microstructural and diagenesis study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cortinovis, Silvia; Swennen, Rudy; Bistacchi, Andrea

2015-04-01

The Vajont Gorge (Dolomiti Bellunesi, Italy) provides spectacular outcrops of Jurassic limestones (Vajont Limestone Formation) in which Mesozoic faults and fracture corridors are continuously exposed. Some of these faults acted as conduits for Mg-enriched hydrothermal fluids resulting in structurally-controlled dolomitization of the limestone. The dolomitization resulted in several dolomite bodies (100-200 m thick and several hundreds of meters along fault strike) that are particularly interesting as reservoir analogues for hydrocarbon, CO2, or water-bearing systems. The dolomitization process occurred after deposition and compaction of the oolitic limestone (dolomitization post-dates a dissolution event that affected the internal parts of the oolites), but before the Alpine contractional deformation. In fact, the meso-structural data collected in the Vajont Gorge allowed the reconstruction of a 3D model showing that the circulation of the dolomitizing fluids into the limestone host rock, but also the late stage of porosity reduction (strong pore filling due to over-dolomitization) were controlled by normal faults and fracture corridors interpreted as Pre-Alpine (Jurassic or Cretaceous). Later on, the influence of Alpine (Tertiary) deformation have been very limited in the studied volume. For instance dolomite veins are sometimes overprinted by bed-inclined stylolites consistent with Alpine shortening axes, but no large Alpine fault is present in the studied outcrops. Cathodoluminescence microscopy allowed recognizing different growth stages saddle dolomite crystals, which point to varying precipitation conditions during three main stages of dolomitization. Dolomite and calcite crystal twinning suggests deformation under increasing temperature conditions, consistent with intracrystalline plasticity deformation mechanisms. The presence of cataclasites composed of hydrothermal dolostone clasts, in turn cemented by dolomite, or of dolomite veins and compaction/deformation bands in high porosity dolomite bodies, is an additional argument pointing to the close interaction between tectonic deformation and fluid circulation. Particularly, it shows how tectonics controlled fluid circulation both in the first stages of dolomitization, when porosity was created, and in later stages, when porosity was strongly reduced due to over-dolomitization. The microstructure of fault breccia suggests a high-pressure of injected fluids and is useful to reconstruct the chronology of events involved in the formation and evolution of dolostone bodies. A study of quasi-steady-state (e.g. crack and seal) vs. episodic/seismic (mass precipitation, cavitation) deformation processes is under way to investigate the possible correlation between fluid injection events and the progressive slip on faults.

How do normal faults grow?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, Christopher; Bell, Rebecca; Rotevatn, Atle; Tvedt, Anette

2016-04-01

Normal faulting accommodates stretching of the Earth's crust, and it is arguably the most fundamental tectonic process leading to continent rupture and oceanic crust emplacement. Furthermore, the incremental and finite geometries associated with normal faulting dictate landscape evolution, sediment dispersal and hydrocarbon systems development in rifts. Displacement-length scaling relationships compiled from global datasets suggest normal faults grow via a sympathetic increase in these two parameters (the 'isolated fault model'). This model has dominated the structural geology literature for >20 years and underpins the structural and tectono-stratigraphic models developed for active rifts. However, relatively recent analysis of high-quality 3D seismic reflection data suggests faults may grow by rapid establishment of their near-final length prior to significant displacement accumulation (the 'coherent fault model'). The isolated and coherent fault models make very different predictions regarding the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of rift basin, thus assessing their applicability is important. To-date, however, very few studies have explicitly set out to critically test the coherent fault model thus, it may be argued, it has yet to be widely accepted in the structural geology community. Displacement backstripping is a simple graphical technique typically used to determine how faults lengthen and accumulate displacement; this technique should therefore allow us to test the competing fault models. However, in this talk we use several subsurface case studies to show that the most commonly used backstripping methods (the 'original' and 'modified' methods) are, however, of limited value, because application of one over the other requires an a priori assumption of the model most applicable to any given fault; we argue this is illogical given that the style of growth is exactly what the analysis is attempting to determine. We then revisit our case studies and demonstrate that, in the case of seismic-scale growth faults, growth strata thickness patterns and relay zone kinematics, rather than displacement backstripping, should be assessed to directly constrain fault length and thus tip behaviour through time. We conclude that rapid length establishment prior to displacement accumulation may be more common than is typically assumed, thus challenging the well-established, widely cited and perhaps overused, isolated fault model.

Evidence for large-magnitude, post-Eocene extension in the northern Shoshone Range, Nevada, and its implications for Carlin-type gold deposits in the lower plate of the Roberts Mountains allochthon

USGS Publications Warehouse

Colgan, Joseph P.; Henry, Christopher D.; John, David A.

2014-01-01

The northern Shoshone and Toiyabe Ranges in north-central Nevada expose numerous areas of mineralized Paleozoic rock, including major Carlin-type gold deposits at Pipeline and Cortez. Paleozoic rocks in these areas were previously interpreted to have undergone negligible postmineralization extension and tilting, but here we present new data that suggest major post-Eocene extension along west-dipping normal faults. Tertiary rocks in the northern Shoshone Range crop out in two W-NW–trending belts that locally overlie and intrude highly deformed Lower Paleozoic rocks of the Roberts Mountains allochthon. Tertiary exposures in the more extensive, northern belt were interpreted as subvertical breccia pipes (intrusions), but new field data indicate that these “pipes” consist of a 35.8 Ma densely welded dacitic ash flow tuff (informally named the tuff of Mount Lewis) interbedded with sandstones and coarse volcaniclastic deposits. Both tuff and sedimentary rocks strike N-S and dip 30° to 70° E; the steeply dipping compaction foliation in the tuffs was interpreted as subvertical flow foliation in breccia pipes. The southern belt along Mill Creek, previously mapped as undivided welded tuff, includes the tuff of Cove mine (34.4 Ma) and unit B of the Bates Mountain Tuff (30.6 Ma). These tuffs dip 30° to 50° east, suggesting that their west-dipping contacts with underlying Paleozoic rocks (previously mapped as depositional) are normal faults. Tertiary rocks in both belts were deposited on Paleozoic basement and none appear to be breccia pipes. We infer that their present east tilt is due to extension on west-dipping normal faults. Some of these faults may be the northern strands of middle Miocene (ca. 16 Ma) faults that cut and tilted the 34.0 Ma Caetano caldera ~40° east in the central Shoshone Range (

Flexure in the Corinth rift: reconciling marine terraces, rivers, offshore data and fault modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Gelder, G.; Fernández-Blanco, D.; Jara-Muñoz, J.; Melnick, D.; Duclaux, G.; Bell, R. E.; Lacassin, R.; Armijo, R.

2016-12-01

The Corinth rift (Greece) is an exceptional area to study the large-scale mechanics of a young rift system, due to its extremely high extension rates and fault slip rates. Late Pleistocene activity of large normal faults has created a mostly asymmetric E-W trending graben, mainly driven by N-dipping faults that shape the southern margin of the Corinth Gulf. Flexural footwall uplift of these faults is evidenced by Late Pleistocene coastal fan deltas that are presently up to 1700m in elevation, a drainage reversal of some major river systems, and flights of marine terraces that have been uplifted along the southern margin of the Gulf. To improve constraints on this footwall uplift, we analysed the extensive terrace sequence between Xylokastro and Corinth - uplifted by the Xylokastro Fault - using 2m-resolution digital surface models developed from Pleiades satellite imagery (acquired through the Isis and Tosca programs of the French CNES). We refined and improved the spatial uplift pattern and age correlation of these terraces, through a detailed analysis of the shoreline angles using the graphical interface TerraceM, and 2D numerical modeling of terrace formation. We combine the detailed record of flexure provided by this analysis with a morphometric analysis of the major river systems along the southern shore, obtaining constraints of footwall uplift on a longer time scale and larger spatial scale. Flexural subsidence of the hanging wall is evidenced by offshore seismic sections, for which we depth-converted a multi-channel seismic section north of the Xylokastro Fault. We use the full profile of the fault geometry and its associated deformation pattern as constraints to reproduce the long-term flexural wavelength and uplift/subsidence ratio through fault modeling. Using PyLith, an open-source finite element code for quasi-static viscoelastic simulations, we find that a steep-dipping planar fault to the brittle-ductile transition provides the best fit to reproduce the observed deformation pattern on- and offshore. The combined results of this study allow us to compare flexural normal faulting on different scales, and recorded in different elements of the Corinth rift, allowing us to put forward a comprehensive discussion on the deformation mechanisms and the mechanical behavior of this crustal scale feature.

Seismotectonics of the trans-Himalaya, Eastern Ladakh, India: constraints from Moment Tensor Solutions of local earthquake data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, A.

2017-12-01

The eastern Ladakh-Karakoram zone, the northwest part of the Trans-Himalayan belt, bears signature of this collisional process in the form of suture zones, exhumed blocks that underwent deeper subduction and also intra-continental fault zones. The seismotectonic scenario of northwest part of India-Asia collision zone is studied by analyzing the local earthquake data (M 1.4-4.3) recorded by a broadband seismological network consisting of 14 stations. Focal Mechanism Solution (FMS) of 13 selected earthquakes were computed through waveform inversion of three-component broadband records. Depth distribution of the earthquakes and FMS of local earthquakes obtained through waveform inversion reveal the kinematics of the major fault zones present in Eastern Ladakh. The most pronounced cluster of seismicity is observed in the Karakoram Fault (KF) zone up to a depth of 65 km (Fig.1). The FMS reveals transpressive environment with the strike of inferred fault plane roughly parallel to the KF. It is inferred that the KF at least penetrates up to the lower crust and is a manifestation of active under thrusting of Indian lower crust beneath Tibet. Two clusters of micro seismicity is observed at a depth range of 5-20 km at north western and southeastern fringe of the Tso Morari gneiss dome which can be correlated to the activities along the Zildat fault and Karzok fault respectively. The FMSs estimated for representative earthquakes show thrust fault solutions for the Karzok fault and normal fault solution for the Zildat fault. It is inferred that the Zildat fault is acting as detachment, facilitating the exhumation of the Tso Morari dome. On the other hand, the Tso Morari dome is underthrusting the Karzok ophiolite on its southern margin along the Karzok fault, due to gravity collapse.

Earthquake damage orientation to infer seismic parameters in archaeological sites and historical earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martín-González, Fidel

2018-01-01

Studies to provide information concerning seismic parameters and seismic sources of historical and archaeological seismic events are used to better evaluate the seismic hazard of a region. This is of especial interest when no surface rupture is recorded or the seismogenic fault cannot be identified. The orientation pattern of the earthquake damage (ED) (e.g., fallen columns, dropped key stones) that affected architectonic elements of cities after earthquakes has been traditionally used in historical and archaeoseismological studies to infer seismic parameters. However, in the literature depending on the authors, the parameters that can be obtained are contradictory (it has been proposed: the epicenter location, the orientation of the P-waves, the orientation of the compressional strain and the fault kinematics) and authors even question these relations with the earthquake damage. The earthquakes of Lorca in 2011, Christchurch in 2011 and Emilia Romagna in 2012 present an opportunity to measure systematically a large number and wide variety of earthquake damage in historical buildings (the same structures that are used in historical and archaeological studies). The damage pattern orientation has been compared with modern instrumental data, which is not possible in historical and archaeoseismological studies. From measurements and quantification of the orientation patterns in the studied earthquakes, it is observed that there is a systematic pattern of the earthquake damage orientation (EDO) in the proximity of the seismic source (fault trace) (<10 km). The EDO in these earthquakes is normal to the fault trend (±15°). This orientation can be generated by a pulse of motion that in the near fault region has a distinguishable acceleration normal to the fault due to the polarization of the S-waves. Therefore, the earthquake damage orientation could be used to estimate the seismogenic fault trend of historical earthquakes studies where no instrumental data are available.

Static stress changes associated with normal faulting earthquakes in South Balkan area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Papadimitriou, E.; Karakostas, V.; Tranos, M.; Ranguelov, B.; Gospodinov, D.

2007-10-01

Activation of major faults in Bulgaria and northern Greece presents significant seismic hazard because of their proximity to populated centers. The long recurrence intervals, of the order of several hundred years as suggested by previous investigations, imply that the twentieth century activation along the southern boundary of the sub-Balkan graben system, is probably associated with stress transfer among neighbouring faults or fault segments. Fault interaction is investigated through elastic stress transfer among strong main shocks ( M ≥ 6.0), and in three cases their foreshocks, which ruptured distinct or adjacent normal fault segments. We compute stress perturbations caused by earthquake dislocations in a homogeneous half-space. The stress change calculations were performed for faults of strike, dip, and rake appropriate to the strong events. We explore the interaction between normal faults in the study area by resolving changes of Coulomb failure function ( ΔCFF) since 1904 and hence the evolution of the stress field in the area during the last 100 years. Coulomb stress changes were calculated assuming that earthquakes can be modeled as static dislocations in an elastic half-space, and taking into account both the coseismic slip in strong earthquakes and the slow tectonic stress buildup associated with major fault segments. We evaluate if these stress changes brought a given strong earthquake closer to, or sent it farther from, failure. Our modeling results show that the generation of each strong event enhanced the Coulomb stress on along-strike neighbors and reduced the stress on parallel normal faults. We extend the stress calculations up to present and provide an assessment for future seismic hazard by identifying possible sites of impending strong earthquakes.

Geodynamic Evolution of the Banda Sea Region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaymakci, N.; Decker, J.; Orange, D.; Teas, P.; Van Heiningen, P.

2013-12-01

We've carried out a large on- and offshore study in Eastern Indonesia to characterize the major structures and to provide constraints on the Neogene geodynamic evolution of the Banda Sea region. The onshore portion utilized remote sensing data and published geology. We tied the onshore to the offshore using recently acquired high resolution bathymetric data (16m and 25m bin size) and 2D seismic profiles that extend from Sulawesi in the west to Irian Jaya in the east across the northern part of the Banda Arc. We interpret the northern boundary of the 'Birds Head' (BH) of Papua, the Sorong Fault, to be a sinistral strike-slip fault zone with a minimum of 48 km displacement over the last few million years. The western boundary fault of Cendrawasih Basin defines the eastern boundary of BH and corresponds to the Wandamen Peninsula which comprises high pressure metamorphic rocks, including eclogite and granulite facies rocks, with exhumation ages from 4 to 1 Ma. Earthquake focal mechanism solutions indicate that the eastern boundary of BH is linked with a large scale offshore normal fault which we suggest may be related to the exhumation of the Wandamen Peninsula. The eastern boundary of Cendrawasih Basin is defined by a large transpressive belt along which BH is decoupled from the rest of Papua / Irian Jaya. This interpretation is supported by recent GPS studies. We propose that the BH and the Pacific plate are coupled, and therefore the Birds Head is therefore completely detached from Irian Jaya. Furthermore, Aru Basin, located at the NE corner of Banda Arc, is a Fault-Fault-Transform (FFT) type triple junction. According to available literature information the Banda Sea includes three distinct basins with different geologic histories; the North Banda Sea Basin (NBSB) was opened during 12-7 Ma, Wetar-Damar Basin (WDB) during 7-3.5 Ma and Weber Basin (WB) 3-0 Ma. Our bathymetric and seismic data indicated that the NBSB and Weber Basin lack normal oceanic crust and are probably floored by exhumed mantle, while WDB seems to have normal oceanic crust. These basins thought to be developed sequentially from north to south, possibly due to back arc extension resulting from trench retreat and roll-back of the northwards subducting Indo-Australian oceanic plate below the SE Eurasian margin along the Sunda-Banda subduction zone. We suggest that a trench-perpendicular tear in the subducting slab extends from the southwestern corner of Celebes Sea to the northeastern corner of Seram Island. It defines the southern boundary of the Banggai-Sula and Bird's Head (BH) blocks and northern boundary of Banda Sea micro-plate. The dominant character of this structure is sinistral strike-slip fault zone that eastward gradually become transpressional to ultimately thrusting at the tip of the tear east of Seram Island. Here, deformation results in a large accretionary wedge, the Seram Accretionary Belt (SAB) that is partitioned by intensely sheared strike-slip faults. The deformation mechanisms within the SAB is difficult to interpret due to poor seismic imaging below a shallow (Pliocene?) unconformity and the inferred complexity of the deformation within the belt. However, geometries of faults and fault blocks are very well pronounced on bathymetric data which provide hints for the deformation style of the belt.

Seismic Reflection Images of Deep Lithospheric Faults and Thin Crust at the Actively Deforming Indo-Australian Plate Boundary in the Indian Ocean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Singh, S. C.; Carton, H.; Chauhan, A.; Dyment, J.; Cannat, M.; Hananto, N.; Hartoyo, D.; Tapponnier, P.; Davaille, A.

2007-12-01

Recently, we acquired deep seismic reflection data using a state-of-the-art technology of Schlumberger having a powerful source (10,000 cubic inch) and a 12 km long streamer along a 250 km long trench parallel line offshore Sumatra in the Indian Ocean deformation zone that provides seismic reflection image down to 40 km depth over the old oceanic lithosphere formed at Wharton spreading centre about 55-57 Ma ago. We observe deep penetrating faults that go down to 37 km depth (~24 km in the oceanic mantle), providing the first direct evidence for full lithospheric-scale deformation in an intra-plate oceanic domain. These faults dip NE and have dips between 25 and 40 degrees. The majority of faults are present in the mantle and are spaced at about 5 km, and do not seem cut through the Moho. We have also imaged active strike-slip fault zones that seem to be associated with the re-activation of ancient fracture zones, which is consistent with previous seismological and seafloor observations. The geometries of the deep penetrating faults neither seem to correspond to faulting associated with the plate bending at the subduction front nor with the re-activation of fracture zone that initiated about 7.5 Ma ago, and therefore, we suggest that these deep mantle faults were formed due to compressive stress at the beginning of the hard collision between India and Eurasia, soon after the cessation of seafloor spreading in the Wharton basin. We also find that the crust generated at the fast Wharton spreading centre 55-57 Ma ago is only 3.5-4.5 km thick, the thinnest crust ever observed in a fast spreading environment. We suggest that this extremely thin crust is due to 40-50°C lower than normal mantle temperature in this part of the Indian Ocean during its formation.

Rupture Dynamics along Thrust Dipping Fault: Inertia Effects due to Free Surface Wave Interactions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vilotte, J. P.; Scala, A.; Festa, G.

2017-12-01

We numerically investigate the dynamic interaction between free surface and up-dip, in-plane rupture propagation along thrust faults, under linear slip-weakening friction. With reference to shallow along-dip rupture propagation during large subduction earthquakes, we consider here low dip-angle fault configurations with fixed strength excess and depth-increasing initial stress. In this configuration, the rupture undergoes a break of symmetry with slip-induced normal stress perturbations triggered by the interaction with reflected waves from the free surface. We found that both body-waves - behind the crack front - and surface waves - at the crack front - can trigger inertial effects. When waves interact with the rupture before this latter reaches its asymptotic speed, the rupture can accelerate toward the asymptotic speed faster than in the unbounded symmetric case, as a result of these inertial effects. Moreover, wave interaction at the crack front also affects the slip rate generating large ground motion on the hanging wall. Imposing the same initial normal stress, frictional strength and stress drop while varying the static friction coefficient we found that the break of symmetry makes the rupture dynamics dependent on the absolute value of friction. The higher the friction the stronger the inertial effect both in terms of rupture acceleration and slip amount. When the contact condition allows the fault interface to open close to the free surface, the length of the opening zone is shown to depend on the propagation length, the initial normal stress and the static friction coefficient. These new results are shown to agree with analytical results of rupture propagation in bounded media, and open new perspectives for understanding the shallow rupture of large subduction earthquakes and tsunami sources.

Fault detection of helicopter gearboxes using the multi-valued influence matrix method

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chin, Hsinyung; Danai, Kourosh; Lewicki, David G.

1993-01-01

In this paper we investigate the effectiveness of a pattern classifying fault detection system that is designed to cope with the variability of fault signatures inherent in helicopter gearboxes. For detection, the measurements are monitored on-line and flagged upon the detection of abnormalities, so that they can be attributed to a faulty or normal case. As such, the detection system is composed of two components, a quantization matrix to flag the measurements, and a multi-valued influence matrix (MVIM) that represents the behavior of measurements during normal operation and at fault instances. Both the quantization matrix and influence matrix are tuned during a training session so as to minimize the error in detection. To demonstrate the effectiveness of this detection system, it was applied to vibration measurements collected from a helicopter gearbox during normal operation and at various fault instances. The results indicate that the MVIM method provides excellent results when the full range of faults effects on the measurements are included in the training set.

Fault kinematics and active tectonics of the Sabah margin: Insights from the 2015, Mw 6.0, Mt. Kinabalu earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Y.; Wei, S.; Tapponnier, P.; WANG, X.; Lindsey, E.; Sieh, K.

2016-12-01

A gravity-driven "Mega-Landslide" model has been evoked to explain the shortening seen offshore Sabah and Brunei in oil-company seismic data. Although this model is considered to account simultaneously for recent folding at the edge of the submarine NW Sabah trough and normal faulting on the Sabah shelf, such a gravity-driven model is not consistent with geodetic data or critical examination of extant structural restorations. The rupture that produced the 2015 Mw6.0 Mt. Kinabalu earthquake is also inconsistent with the gravity-driven model. Our teleseismic analysis shows that the centroid depth of that earthquake's mainshock was 13 to 14 km, and its favored fault-plane solution is a 60° NW-dipping normal fault. Our finite-rupture model exhibits major fault slip between 5 and 15 km depth, in keeping with our InSAR analysis, which shows no appreciable surface deformation. Both the hypocentral depth and the depth of principal slip are far too deep to be explained by gravity-driven failure, as such a model would predict a listric normal fault connecting at a much shallower depth with a very gentle detachment. Our regional mapping of tectonic landforms also suggests the recent rupture is part of a 200-km long system of narrowly distributed active extension in northern Sabah. Taken together, the nature of the 2015 rupture, the belt of active normal faults, and structural consideration indicate that active tectonic shortening plays the leading role in controlling the overall deformation of northern Sabah and that deep-seated, onland normal faulting likely results from an abrupt change in the dip-angle of the collision interface beneath the Sabah accretionary prism.

3-D GPR data analysis for high-resolution imaging of shallow subsurface faults: the Mt Vettore case study (Central Apennines, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ercoli, Maurizio; Pauselli, Cristina; Frigeri, Alessandro; Forte, Emanuele; Federico, Costanzo

2014-07-01

The activation of Late Quaternary faults in the Central Apennines (Italy) could generate earthquakes with magnitude of about 6.5, and the Monte Vettore fault system probably belongs to the same category of seismogenetic faults. Such structure has been defined `silent', because of its geological and geomorphological evidences of past activation, but the absence of historical records in the seismic catalogues to be associated with its activation. The `Piano di Castelluccio' intramountain basin, resulting from the Quaternary activity of normal faults, is characterized by a secondary fault strand highlighted by a NW-SE fault scarp: it has been already studied through palaeoseismological trenches, which highlighted evidences of Quaternary shallow faulting due to strong earthquakes, and through a 2-D ground penetrating radar (GPR) survey, showing the first geophysical signature of faulting for this site. Within the same place, a 3-D GPR volume over a 20 × 20 m area has been collected. The collection of radar echoes in three dimensions allows to map both the vertical and lateral continuity of shallow geometries of the fault zone (Fz), imaging features with high resolution, ranging from few metres to centimetres and therefore imaging also local variations at the microscale. Several geophysical markers of faulting, already highlighted on this site, have been taken as reference to plan the 3-D survey. In this paper, we provide the first 3-D subsurface imaging of an active shallow fault belonging to the Umbria-Marche Apennine highlighting the subsurface fault geometry and the stratigraphic sequence up to a depth of about 5 m. From our data, geophysical faulting signatures are clearly visible in three dimensions: diffraction hyperbolas, truncations of layers, local attenuated zones and varying dip of the layers have been detected within the Fz. The interpretation of the 3-D data set provided qualitative and quantitative geological information in addition to the fault location, like its geometry, boundaries and an estimation of the fault throw.

Dynamic Modelling of Fault Slip Induced by Stress Waves due to Stope Production Blasts

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sainoki, Atsushi; Mitri, Hani S.

2016-01-01

Seismic events can take place due to the interaction of stress waves induced by stope production blasts with faults located in close proximity to stopes. The occurrence of such seismic events needs to be controlled to ensure the safety of the mine operators and the underground mine workings. This paper presents the results of a dynamic numerical modelling study of fault slip induced by stress waves resulting from stope production blasts. First, the calibration of a numerical model having a single blast hole is performed using a charge weight scaling law to determine blast pressure and damping coefficient of the rockmass. Subsequently, a numerical model of a typical Canadian metal mine encompassing a fault parallel to a tabular ore deposit is constructed, and the simulation of stope extraction sequence is carried out with static analyses until the fault exhibits slip burst conditions. At that point, the dynamic analysis begins by applying the calibrated blast pressure to the stope wall in the form of velocities generated by the blast holes. It is shown from the results obtained from the dynamic analysis that the stress waves reflected on the fault create a drop of normal stresses acting on the fault, which produces a reduction in shear stresses while resulting in fault slip. The influence of blast sequences on the behaviour of the fault is also examined assuming several types of blast sequences. Comparison of the blast sequence simulation results indicates that performing simultaneous blasts symmetrically induces the same level of seismic events as separate blasts, although seismic energy is more rapidly released when blasts are performed symmetrically. On the other hand when nine blast holes are blasted simultaneously, a large seismic event is induced, compared to the other two blasts. It is concluded that the separate blasts might be employed under the adopted geological conditions. The developed methodology and procedure to arrive at an ideal blast sequence can be applied to other mines where faults are found in the vicinity of stopes.

Strain partitioning and deformation mode analysis of the normal faults at Red Mountain, Birmingham, Alabama

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Schuman

1989-12-01

In a low-temperature environment, the thin-section scale rock-deformation mode is primarily a function of confining pressure and total strain at geological strain rates. A deformation mode diagram is constructed from published experimental data by plotting the deformation mode on a graph of total strain versus the confining pressure. Four deformation modes are shown on the diagram: extensional fracturing, mesoscopic faulting, incipient faulting, and uniform flow. By determining the total strain and the deformation mode of a naturally deformed sample, the confining pressure and hence the depth at which the rock was deformed can be evaluated. The method is applied to normal faults exposed on the gently dipping southeast limb of the Birmingham anticlinorium in the Red Mountain expressway cut in Birmingham, Alabama. Samples of the Ordovician Chickamauga Limestone within and adjacent to the faults contain brittle structures, including mesoscopic faults and veins, and ductile deformation features including calcite twins, intergranular and transgranular pressure solution, and deformed burrows. During compaction, a vertical shortening of about 45 to 80% in shale is indicated by deformed burrows and relative compaction of shale to burrows, about 6% in limestone by stylolites. The normal faults formed after the Ordovician rocks were consolidated because the faults and associated veins truncate the deformed burrows and stylolites, which truncate the calcite cement. A total strain of 2.0% was caused by mesoscopic faults during normal faulting. A later homogenous deformation, indicated by the calcite twins in veins, cement and fossil fragments, has its major principal shortening strain in the dip direction at a low angle (about 22°) to bedding. The strain magnitude is about 2.6%. By locating the observed data on the deformation mode diagram, it is found that the normal faulting characterized by brittle deformation occurred under low confining pressure (< 18 MPa) at shallow depth (< 800 m), and the homogenous horizontal compression characterized by uniform flow occurred under higher confining pressure (at least 60 MPa) at greater depth (> 2.5 km).

An experimental study of the influence of stress history on fault slip during injection of supercritical CO2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cuss, Robert J.; Wiseall, Andrew C.; Tamayo-Mas, Elena; Harrington, Jon F.

2018-04-01

The injection of super-critical CO2 into a depleted reservoir will alter the pore pressure of the basin, which if sufficiently perturbed could result in fault slip. Therefore, knowledge of the acceptable pressure limits is required in order to maintain fault stability. A two-part laboratory study was conducted on fully saturated kaolinite fault gouge to investigate this issue. Previously, we showed that fault slip occurred once pore-pressure within the gouge was sufficient to overcome the normal stress acting on the fault. For kaolinite, this behaviour occurred at a pressure similar to the yield stress. The current study shows that following a slow-reduction in the maximum principal stress, as would be expected through changes in effective stress, the reactivation pressure shows a stress memory. Consequently, the pressure necessary to initiate fault slip is similar to that required at the maximum stress encountered. Therefore, fault slip is at least partially controlled by the previous maximum stress and not the current stress state. During the slow reduction in normal stress, the flow characteristics of the fault remain unchanged until pore-pressure exceeds shear stress and does not increase significantly until it exceeds normal stress. This results in fault slip, which slows the rate of flow increase as shear is an effective self-sealing mechanism. These observations lead to the conclusion that stress history is a vital parameter when considering fault stability.

Rare normal faulting earthquake induced by subduction megaquake: example from 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ishiyama, T.; Sugito, N.; Echigo, T.; Sato, H.; Suzuki, T.

2012-04-01

A month after March 11 gigantic M9.0 Tohoku-oki earthquake, M7.0 intraplate earthquake occurred at a depth of 5 km on April 11 beneath coastal area of near Iwaki city, Fukushima prefecture. Focal mechanism of the mainshock indicates that this earthquake is a normal faulting event. Based on field reconnaissance and LIDAR mapping by Geospatial Information Authority of Japan, we recognized coseismic surface ruptures, presumably associated with the main shock. Coseismic surface ruptures extend NNW for about 11 km in a right-stepping en echelon manner. Geomorphic expressions of these ruptures commonly include WWS-facing normal fault scarps and/or drape fold scarp with open cracks on their crests, on the hanging wall sides of steeply west-dipping normal fault planes subparallel to Cretaceous metamorphic rocks. Highest topographic scarp height is about 2.3 m. In this study we introduce preliminary results of a trenching survey across the coseismic surface ruptures at Shionohira site, to resolve timing of paleoseismic events along the Shionohira fault. Trench excavations were carried out at two sites (Ichinokura and Shionohira sites) in Iwaki, Fukushima. At Shionohira site a 2-m-deep trench was excavated across the coseismic fault scarp emerged on the alluvial plain on the eastern flank of the Abukuma Mountains. On the trench walls we observed pairs of steeply dipping normal faults that deform Neogene to Paleogene conglomerates and unconformably overlying, late Quaternary to Holocene fluvial units. Sense of fault slip observed on the trench walls (large dip-slip with small sinistral component) is consistent with that estimated from coseismic surface ruptures. Fault throw estimated from separation of piercing points on lower Unit I and vertical structural relief on folded upper Unit I is consistent with topographic height of the coseismic fault scarp at the trench site. In contrast, vertical separation of Unit II, unconformably overlain by Unit I, is measured as about 1.5 m, twice as large as coseismic vertical component of slip, indicative of penultimate seismic event prior to the 2011 earthquake. Abrupt thickening of overlying Unit I may also suggest preexisting topographic relief prior to its deposition. Radiocarbon dating of charred materials included in event horizons and tephrostratigraphy at two sites indicate that penultimate event prior to the 2011 event might occurred at about 40 ka. This normal fault earthquake is in contrast to compressional or neutral stress regimes in Tohoku region before the 2011 megaquake and rarity of the normal faulting earthquake inferred from these paleoseismic studies may reflect its mechanical relation to the gigantic megathrust earthquakes, such as unusual, enhanced extensional stress on the hangingwall block induced by mainshock and/or postseismic creep after the M~9 earthquake.

Mechanical Effects of Normal Faulting Along the Eastern Escarpment of the Sierra Nevada, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martel, S. J.; Logan, J. M.; Stock, G. M.

2013-12-01

Here we test whether the regional near-surface stress field in the Sierra Nevada, California, and the near-surface fracturing that heavily influences the Sierran landscape are a mechanical response to normal faulting along its eastern escarpment. A compilation of existing near-surface stress measurements for the central Sierra Nevada, together with three new measurements, shows the most compressive horizontal stresses are 3-21 MPa, consistent with the widespread distribution of sheeting joints (near-surface fractures subparallel to the ground surface). In contrast, a new stress measurement at Aeolian Buttes in the Mono Basin, east of the range front fault system, reveals a horizontal principal tension of 0.014 MPa, consistent with the abundant vertical joints there. To evaluate mechanical effects of normal faulting, we modeled both normal faults and grabens in three ways: (1) dislocations of specified slip in an elastic half-space, (2) frictionless sliding surfaces in an elastic half-space; and (3) faults in thin elastic beams resting on an inviscid fluid. The different mechanical models predict concave upward flexure and widespread near-surface compressive stresses in the Sierra Nevada that surpass the measurements even for as little as 1 km of normal slip along the eastern escarpment, which exhibits 1-3 km of structural and topographic relief. The models also predict concave downward flexure of the bedrock floors and horizontal near-surface tensile stresses east of the escarpment. The thin-beam models account best for the topographic relief of the eastern escarpment and the measured stresses given current best estimates for the rheology of the Sierran lithosphere. Our findings collectively indicate that the regional near-surface stress field and the widespread near-surface fracturing directly reflect the mechanical response to normal faulting along the eastern escarpment. These results have broad scientific and engineering implications for slope stability, hydrology, and geomorphology in and near fault-bounded mountain ranges in general.

The influence of geologic structures on deformation due to ground water withdrawal.

PubMed

Burbey, Thomas J

2008-01-01

A 62 day controlled aquifer test was conducted in thick alluvial deposits at Mesquite, Nevada, for the purpose of monitoring horizontal and vertical surface deformations using a high-precision global positioning system (GPS) network. Initial analysis of the data indicated an anisotropic aquifer system on the basis of the observed radial and tangential deformations. However, new InSAR data seem to indicate that the site may be bounded by an oblique normal fault as the subsidence bowl is both truncated to the northwest and offset from the pumping well to the south. A finite-element numerical model was developed using ABAQUS to evaluate the potential location and hydromechanical properties of the fault based on the observed horizontal deformations. Simulation results indicate that for the magnitude and direction of motion at the pumping well and at other GPS stations, which is toward the southeast (away from the inferred fault), the fault zone (5 m wide) must possess a very high permeability and storage coefficient and cross the study area in a northeast-southwest direction. Simulated horizontal and vertical displacements that include the fault zone closely match observed displacements and indicate the likelihood of the presence of the inferred fault. This analysis shows how monitoring horizontal displacements can provide valuable information about faults, and boundary conditions in general, in evaluating aquifer systems during an aquifer test.

Continentward-Dipping Normal Faults, Boudinage and Ductile Shear at Rifted Passive Margins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clerc, C. N.; Ringenbach, J. C.; Jolivet, L.; Ballard, J. F.

2017-12-01

Deep structures resulting from the rifting of the continental crust are now well imaged by seismic profiles. We present a series of recent industrial profiles that allow the identification of various rift-related geological processes such as crustal boudinage, ductile shear of the base of the crust and low-angle detachment faulting. Along both magma-rich and magma-poor rifted margins, we observe clear indications of ductile deformation of the deep continental crust. Large-scale shallow dipping shear zones are identified with a top-to-the-continent sense of shear. This sense of shear is consistent with the activity of the Continentward-Dipping Normal Faults (CDNF) that accommodate the extension in the upper crust. This pattern is responsible for an oceanward migration of the deformation and of the associated syn-tectonic deposits (sediments and/or volcanics). We discuss the origin of the Continentward-Dipping Normal Faults (CDNF) and investigate their implications and the effect of sediment thermal blanketing on crustal rheology. In some cases, low-angle shear zones define an anastomosed pattern that delineates boudin-like structures that seem to control the position and dip of upper crustal normal faults. We present some of the most striking examples from several locations (Uruguay, West Africa, South China Sea…), and discuss their rifting histories that differ from the classical models of oceanward-dipping normal faults.

Magma-tectonic Interaction at Laguna del Maule, Chile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Keranen, K. M.; Peterson, D. E.; Miller, C. A.; Garibaldi, N.; Tikoff, B.; Williams-Jones, G.

2016-12-01

The Laguna del Maule Volcanic Field (LdM), Chile, the largest concentration of rhyolite <20 kyr globally, exhibits crustal deformation at rates higher than any non-erupting volcano. The interaction of large magmatic systems with faulting is poorly understood, however, the Chaitén rhyolitic system demonstrated that faults can serve as magma pathways during an eruption. We present a complex fault system at LdM in close proximity to the magma reservoir. In March 2016, 18 CHIRP seismic reflection lines were acquired at LdM to identify faults and analyze potential spatial and temporal impacts of the fault system on volcanic activity. We mapped three key horizons on each line, bounding sediment packages between Holocene onset, 870 ybp, and the present date. Faults were mapped on each line and offset was calculated across key horizons. Our results indicate a system of normal-component faults in the northern lake sector, striking subparallel to the mapped Troncoso Fault SW of the lake. These faults correlate to prominent magnetic lineations mapped by boat magnetic data acquired February 2016 which are interpreted as dykes intruding along faults. We also imaged a vertical fault, interpreted as a strike-slip fault, and a series of normal faults in the SW lake sector near the center of magmatic inflation. Isochron and fault offset maps illuminate areas of growth strata and indicate migration and increase of fault activity from south to north through time. We identify a domal structure in the SW lake sector, coincident with an area of low magnetization, in the region of maximum deformation from InSAR results. The dome experienced 10 ms TWT ( 10 meters) of uplift throughout the past 16 kybp, which we interpret as magmatic inflation in a shallow magma reservoir. This inflation is isolated to a 1.5 km diameter region in the hanging wall of the primary normal fault system, indicating possible fault-facilitated inflation.

Strike-slip faulting at Thebes Gap, Missouri and Illinois; implications for New Madrid tectonism

USGS Publications Warehouse

Harrison, Richard W.; Schultz, Art

1994-01-01

Numerous NNE and NE striking strike-slip faults and associated normal faults, folds, and transtensional grabens occur in the Thebes Gap area of Missouri and Illinois. These structures developed along the northwestern margin of the buried Reelfoot rift of Precambrian-Cambrian age at the northern edge of the Mississippi embayment. They have had a long-lived and complex structural history. This is an area of recent moderate seismicity, approximately 45 km north of the New Madrid seismic zone. Stratigraphic evidence suggests that these faults were active during the Middle Ordovician. They were subsequently reactivated between the Early Devonian and Late Cretaceous, probably in response to both the Acadian and Ouachita orogenies. Deformation during this period was characterized by strongly faulted and folded Ordovician through Devonian rocks. In places, these deformed rocks are overlain with angular unconformity by undeformed Cretaceous strata. Fault motion is interpreted as dominantly strike slip. A still younger period of reactivation involved Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic formations as young as the Miocene or Pliocene Mounds Gravel. These formations have experienced both minor high-angle normal faulting and subsequent major, right-lateral strike-slip faulting. En echelon north-south folds, ENE striking normal faults, regional fracture patterns, and drag folds indicate the right-lateral motion for this major episode of faulting which predates deposition of Quaternary loess. Several nondefinitive lines of evidence suggest Quaternary faulting. Similar fault orientations and kinematics, as well as recent seismicity and proximity, clearly suggest a structural relationship between deformation at Thebes Gap and tectonism associated with the New Madrid area.

Frictional stability and earthquake triggering during fluid pressure stimulation of an experimental fault

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scuderi, M. M.; Collettini, C.; Marone, C.

2017-11-01

It is widely recognized that the significant increase of M > 3.0 earthquakes in Western Canada and the Central United States is related to underground fluid injection. Following injection, fluid overpressure lubricates the fault and reduces the effective normal stress that holds the fault in place, promoting slip. Although, this basic physical mechanism for earthquake triggering and fault slip is well understood, there are many open questions related to induced seismicity. Models of earthquake nucleation based on rate- and state-friction predict that fluid overpressure should stabilize fault slip rather than trigger earthquakes. To address this controversy, we conducted laboratory creep experiments to monitor fault slip evolution at constant shear stress while the effective normal stress was systematically reduced via increasing fluid pressure. We sheared layers of carbonate-bearing fault gouge in a double direct shear configuration within a true-triaxial pressure vessel. We show that fault slip evolution is controlled by the stress state acting on the fault and that fluid pressurization can trigger dynamic instability even in cases of rate strengthening friction, which should favor aseismic creep. During fluid pressurization, when shear and effective normal stresses reach the failure condition, accelerated creep occurs in association with fault dilation; further pressurization leads to an exponential acceleration with fault compaction and slip localization. Our work indicates that fault weakening induced by fluid pressurization can overcome rate strengthening friction resulting in fast acceleration and earthquake slip. Our work points to modifications of the standard model for earthquake nucleation to account for the effect of fluid overpressure and to accurately predict the seismic risk associated with fluid injection.

Seismotectonics of the Trans-Himalaya, Eastern Ladakh, India

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paul, A.

2016-12-01

The eastern Ladakh-Karakoram zone is the northwest part of the trans-Himalayan belt which bears signature of the India-Asia collision process in the form of suture zones and exhumed blocks that underwent deep subduction and intra-continental crustal scale fault zones.The seismotectonic scenario of northwest part of India-Asia collision zone has been studied by analyzing the local earthquake data (M 1.4-4.3) recorded by a broadband seismological network consisting of 14 stations. Focal Mechanism Solution (FPS) of 13 selected earthquakes were computed through waveform inversion of three-component broadband records. Depth distribution of the earthquakes and FPS of local earthquakes obtained through waveform inversion reveal the kinematics of the major fault zones present in Eastern Ladakh. The most pronounced cluster of seismicity is observed in the Karakoram Fault (KF) zone up to a depth of 65 km. The FPS reveals transpressive environment with the strike of inferred fault plane roughly parallel to the KF. It is inferred that the KF at least penetrates up to the lower crust and is a manifestation of active under thrusting of Indian lower crust beneath Tibet. Two clusters of micro seismicity is observed at a depth range of 5-20 km at north western and southeastern fringe of the Tso Morari gneiss dome which can be correlated to the activities along the Zildat fault and Karzok fault respectively. The FPSs estimated for representative earthquakes show thrust fault solutions for the Karzok fault and normal fault solution for the Zildat fault. It is inferred that the Zildat fault is acting as detachment, facilitating the exhumation of the Tso Morari dome. On the other hand, the Tso Morari dome is thrusting over the Karzok ophiolite on its southern margin along the Karzokfault, due to gravity collapse.

Mechanics of Multifault Earthquake Ruptures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fletcher, J. M.; Oskin, M. E.; Teran, O.

2015-12-01

The 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake of magnitude Mw 7.2 produced the most complex rupture ever documented on the Pacific-North American plate margin, and the network of high- and low-angle faults activated in the event record systematic changes in kinematics with fault orientation. Individual faults have a broad and continuous spectrum of slip sense ranging from endmember dextral strike slip to normal slip, and even faults with thrust sense of dip slip were commonly observed in the aftershock sequence. Patterns of coseismic slip are consistent with three-dimensional constrictional strain and show that integrated transtensional shearing can be accommodated in a single earthquake. Stress inversions of coseismic surface rupture and aftershock focal mechanisms define two coaxial, but permuted stress states. The maximum (σ1) and intermediate (σ2) principal stresses are close in magnitude, but flip orientations due to topography- and density-controlled gradients in lithostatic load along the length of the rupture. Although most large earthquakes throughout the world activate slip on multiple faults, the mechanical conditions of their genesis remain poorly understood. Our work attempts to answer several key questions. 1) Why do complex fault systems exist? They must do something that simple, optimally-oriented fault systems cannot because the two types of faults are commonly located in close proximity. 2) How are faults with diverse orientations and slip senses prepared throughout the interseismic period to fail spontaneously together in a single earthquake? 3) Can a single stress state produce multi-fault failure? 4) Are variations in pore pressure, friction and cohesion required to produce simultaneous rupture? 5) How is the fabric of surface rupture affected by variations in orientation, kinematics, total geologic slip and fault zone architecture?

Does magmatism influence low-angle normal faulting?

USGS Publications Warehouse

Parsons, Thomas E.; Thompson, George A.

1993-01-01

Synextensional magmatism has long been recognized as a ubiquitous characteristic of highly extended terranes in the western Cordillera of the United States. Intrusive magmatism can have severe effects on the local stress field of the rocks intruded. Because a lower angle fault undergoes increased normal stress from the weight of the upper plate, it becomes more difficult for such a fault to slide. However, if the principal stress orientations are rotated away from vertical and horizontal, then a low-angle fault plane becomes more favored. We suggest that igneous midcrustal inflation occurring at rates faster than regional extension causes increased horizontal stresses in the crust that alter and rotate the principal stresses. Isostatic forces and continued magmatism can work together to create the antiformal or domed detachment surface commonly observed in the metamorphic core complexes of the western Cordillera. Thermal softening caused by magmatism may allow a more mobile mid-crustal isostatic response to normal faulting.

Comparison of Observed Spatio-temporal Aftershock Patterns with Earthquake Simulator Results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kroll, K.; Richards-Dinger, K. B.; Dieterich, J. H.

2013-12-01

Due to the complex nature of faulting in southern California, knowledge of rupture behavior near fault step-overs is of critical importance to properly quantify and mitigate seismic hazards. Estimates of earthquake probability are complicated by the uncertainty that a rupture will stop at or jump a fault step-over, which affects both the magnitude and frequency of occurrence of earthquakes. In recent years, earthquake simulators and dynamic rupture models have begun to address the effects of complex fault geometries on earthquake ground motions and rupture propagation. Early models incorporated vertical faults with highly simplified geometries. Many current studies examine the effects of varied fault geometry, fault step-overs, and fault bends on rupture patterns; however, these works are limited by the small numbers of integrated fault segments and simplified orientations. The previous work of Kroll et al., 2013 on the northern extent of the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah rupture in the Yuha Desert region uses precise aftershock relocations to show an area of complex conjugate faulting within the step-over region between the Elsinore and Laguna Salada faults. Here, we employ an innovative approach of incorporating this fine-scale fault structure defined through seismological, geologic and geodetic means in the physics-based earthquake simulator, RSQSim, to explore the effects of fine-scale structures on stress transfer and rupture propagation and examine the mechanisms that control aftershock activity and local triggering of other large events. We run simulations with primary fault structures in state of California and northern Baja California and incorporate complex secondary faults in the Yuha Desert region. These models produce aftershock activity that enables comparison between the observed and predicted distribution and allow for examination of the mechanisms that control them. We investigate how the spatial and temporal distribution of aftershocks are affected by changes to model parameters such as shear and normal stress, rate-and-state frictional properties, fault geometry, and slip rate.

Geomorphic and Structural Evidence for Rolling Hinge Style Deformation in the Footwall of an Active Low Angle Normal Fault, Mai'iu Fault, Woodlark Rift, SE Papua New Guinea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mizera, M.; Little, T.; Norton, K. P.; Webber, S.; Ellis, S. M.; Oesterle, J.

2016-12-01

While shown to operate in oceanic crust, rolling hinge style deformation remains a debated process in metamorpic core complexes (MCCs) in the continents. The model predicts that unloading and isostatic uplift during slip causes a progressive back-tilting in the upper crust of a normal fault that is more steeply dipping at depth. The Mai'iu Fault in the Woodlark Rift, SE Papua New Guinea, is one of the best-exposed and fastest slipping (probably >7 mm/yr) active low-angle normal faults (LANFs) on Earth. We analysed structural field data from this fault's exhumed slip surface and footwall, together with geomorphic data interpreted from aerial photographs and GeoSAR-derived digital elevation models (gridded at 5-30 m spacing), to evaluate deformational processes affecting the rapidly exhuming, domal-shaped detachment fault. The exhumed fault surface emerges from the ground at the rangefront near sea level with a northward dip of 21°. Up-dip, it is well-preserved, smooth and corrugated, with some fault remnants extending at least 29 km in the slip direction. The surface flattens over the crest of the dome, beyond where it dips S at up to 15°. Windgaps perched on the crestal main divide of the dome, indicate both up-dip tectonic advection and progressive back-tilting of the exhuming fault surface. We infer that slip on a serial array of m-to-km scale up-to-the-north, steeply S-dipping ( 75°) antithetic-sense normal faults accommodated some of the exhumation-related, inelastic bending of the footwall. These geomorphically well expressed faults strike parallel to the main Mai'iu fault at 110.9±5°, have a mean cross-strike spacing of 1520 m, and slip with a consistent up-to-the-north sense of throw ranging from <5 m to 120 m. Apparently the Mai'iu Fault was able to continue slipping despite having to negotiate this added fault-roughness. We interpret the antithetic faulting to result from bending stresses, and to provide the first clear examples of rolling hinge-style accommodation structures on a continental MCC.

Structural geology of western part of Lemhi Range, east-central Idaho

USGS Publications Warehouse

Tysdal, Russell G.

2002-01-01

The Poison Creek Anticline is a major fold that occupies a large part of the western part of the Lemhi Range. The fold is now broken by normal faults, but removal of displacement on the normal faults permitted reconstruction of the anticline. The fold formed during late Mesozoic compressional deformation in the hinterland of the Cordilleran thrust belt. It is in the hanging wall of the Poison Creek thrust fault, a major fault in east-central Idaho, that displaced Proterozoic strata over lower Paleozoic rocks.

Shallow subsurface imaging of the Piano di Pezza active normal fault (central Italy) by high-resolution refraction and electrical resistivity tomography coupled with time domain electromagnetic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villani, Fabio; Tulliani, Valerio; Fierro, Elisa; Sapia, Vincenzo; Civico, Riccardo

2015-04-01

The Piano di Pezza fault is the north-westernmost segment of the >20 km long Ovindoli-Pezza active normal fault-system (central Italy). Although existing paleoseismic data document high vertical Holocene slip rates (~1 mm/yr) and a remarkable seismogenic potential of this fault, its subsurface setting and Pleistocene cumulative displacement are still poorly known. We investigated for the first time by means of high-resolution seismic and electrical resistivity tomography coupled with time domain electromagnetic (TDEM) measurements the shallow subsurface of a key section of the Piano di Pezza fault. Our surveys cross a ~5 m-high fault scarp that was generated by repeated surface-rupturing earthquakes displacing some Late Holocene alluvial fans. We provide 2-D Vp and resistivity images which clearly show significant details of the fault structure and the geometry of the shallow basin infill material down to 50 m depth. We can estimate the dip (~50°) and the Holocene vertical displacement of the master fault (~10 m). We also recognize in the hangingwall some low-velocity/low-resistivity regions that we relate to packages of colluvial wedges derived from scarp degradation, which may represent the record of several paleo-earthquakes older than the Late Holocene events previously recognized by paleoseismic trenching. Conversely, due to the limited investigation depth of seismic and electrical tomography, the estimation of the cumulative amount of Pleistocene throw is hampered. Therefore, to increase the depth of investigation, we performed 7 TDEM measurements along the electrical profile using a 50 m loop size both in central and offset configuration. The recovered 1-D resistivity models show a good match with 2-D resistivity images in the near surface. Moreover, TDEM inversion results indicate that in the hangingwall, ~200 m away from the surface fault trace, the carbonate pre-Quaternary basement may be found at ~90-100 m depth. The combined approach of electrical and seismic data coupled with TDEM measurements provides a robust constraint to the Piano di Pezza fault cumulative offset. Our data are useful for better reconstructing the deep structural setting of the Piano di Pezza basin and assessing the role played by extensional tectonics in its Quaternary evolution.

Structural and geochemical characteristics of faulted sediments and inferences on the role of water in deformatiion, Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Caine, Jonathan S.; Minor, S.A.

2009-01-01

The San Ysidro fault is a spectacularly exposed normal fault located in the northwestern Albuquerque Basin of the Rio Grande Rift. This intrabasin fault is representative of many faults that formed in poorly lithified sediments throughout the rift. The fault is exposed over nearly 10 km and accommodates nearly 700 m of dip slip in subhorizontal, siliciclastic sediments. The extent of the exposure facilitates study of along-strike variations in deformation mechanisms, archi tecture, geochemistry, and permeability. The fault is composed of structural and hydrogeologic components that include a clay-rich fault core, a calcite-cemented mixed zone, and a poorly developed damage zone primarily consisting of deformation bands. Structural textures suggest that initial deformation in the fault occurred at low temperature and pressure, was within the paleosaturated zone of the evolving Rio Grande Rift, and was dominated by particulate flow. Little geochemical change is apparent across the fault zone other than due to secondary processes. The lack of fault-related geochemical change is interpreted to reflect the fundamental nature of water-saturated, particulate fl ow. Early mechanical entrainment of low-permeability clays into the fault core likely caused damming of groundwater flow on the up-gradient, footwall side of the fault. This may have caused a pressure gradient and flow of calcite-saturated waters in higher-permeability, fault-entrained siliciclastic sediments, ultimately promoting their cementation by sparry calcite. Once developed, the cemented and clay-rich fault has likely been, and continues to be, a partial barrier to cross-fault groundwater flow, as suggested by petrophysical measurements. Aeromagnetic data indicate that there may be many more unmapped faults with similar lengths to the San Ysidro fault buried within Rio Grande basins. If these buried faults formed by the same processes that formed the San Ysidro fault and have persistent low-permeability cores and cemented mixed zones, they could compartmentalize the basin-fill aquifers more than is currently realized, particularly if pumping stresses continue to increase in response to population growth. ?? 2009 Geological Society of America.

Rupture dynamics along dipping thrust faults: free surface interaction and the case of Tohoku earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Festa, Gaetano; Scala, Antonio; Vilotte, Jean-Pierre

2017-04-01

To address the influence of the free surface interaction on rupture propagating along subduction zones, we numerically investigate dynamic interactions, involving coupling between normal and shear tractions, between in-plane rupture propagating along dipping thrust faults and a free surface for different structural and geometrical conditions. When the rupture occurs along reverse fault with a dip angle different from 90° the symmetry is broken as an effect of slip-induced normal stress perturbations and a larger ground motion is evidenced on the hanging wall. The ground motion is amplified by multiple reflections of waves trapped between the fault and the free surface. This effect is shown to occur when the rupture tip lies on the vertical below the intersection between the S-wave front and the surface that is when waves along the surface start to interact with the rupture front. This interaction is associated with a finite region where the rupture advances in a massive regime preventing the shrinking of the process zone and the emission of high-frequency radiation. The smaller the dip angle the larger co-seismic slip in the shallow part as an effect of the significant break of symmetry. Radiation from shallow part is still depleted in high frequencies due to the massive propagating regime and the interaction length dominating the rupture dynamics. Instantaneous shear response to normal traction perturbations may lead to unstable solutions as in the case of bimaterial rupture. A parametric study has been performed to analyse the effects of a regularised shear traction response to normal traction variations. Finally the case of Tohoku earthquake is considered and we present 2D along-dip numerical results. At first order the larger slip close to the trench can be ascribed to the break of symmetry and the interaction with free surface. When shear/normal coupling is properly regularised the signal from the trench is depleted in high frequencies whereas during deep propagation high-frequency radiations emerge associated to geometrical and structural complexities or to frictional strength asperities.

A Normal-faulting Paleostress in the Vicinity of Up-dip Limit of Seismogenic Zone Detected by Meso-scale Fault Analysis in a Tectonic Mélange

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sato, K.; Ikesawa, E.; Kimura, G.

2003-12-01

The Mugi mélange in the Shimanto Belt, SW Japan, is a mixture of terrigenous and oceanic materials of late Cretaceous to Paleocene. Intermittent bedding planes trend ENE-WSW to E-W (subparallel to the Nankai trough axis) and dip steeply northward. The Mugi mélange consists of several duplex units accompanied by shear zones of basalt layers at their boundaries. Systematic shear fabrics and P-T conditions estimated from analyses of vitrinite reflectance and fluid inclusions indicate that the Mugi mélange had once been subducted to a significant depth (6-7 km below sea floor, which appears to coincide with the up-dip limit of the seismogenic zone), then underplated to the Shimanto accretionary prism, and is now exhumed on ground surface. In this study, for the purpose of determining paleostress fields related to the processes in which subducted materials were deformed, underplated and uplifted to surface, orientations of meso-scale faults and striations were analyzed. Stress inversion techniques including Angelier's Inversion, Multiple Inversion and Ginkgo Method were applied to fault-slip data obtained in each duplex unit of the Mugi mélange, and the results were almost consistent with each other. Most of the resultant σ 1 axes trend N-S horizontally, and are parallel to poles of shale cleavages, which are roughly parallel to bedding planes. Although the cleavages slightly vary their orientations according to later rotation, σ 1 axis changes together with them. This cleavage-controlled paleostress has a low Bishop's stress ratio (i.e. low magnitude of σ 2), therefore is an axial compressional stress normal to cleavages. The restored paleostress was probably exerted just before or at the same time of the formation of duplex structure and the rotation of bedding planes. The meso-scale faults appear to have been formed as normal ones due to overburden. P-T conditions estimated by analysis of fluid inclusions, which occur in the mineral veins sealing measured faults, and cross-cutting relationships between the faults and unit boundary shear zones indicate the simultaneity of these faulting and duplexing. The duplex structure is thought to be formed at the moment of underplating and be caused by stepdown of the décollement. A great variety of drastic changes in properties of material and circumstance such as stress field may occur at the very point of the stepdown, underplating of subducted material, and the up-dip limit of the seismogenic zone.

Alteration of fault rocks by CO2-bearing fluids with implications for sequestration

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luetkemeyer, P. B.; Kirschner, D. L.; Solum, J. G.; Naruk, S.

2011-12-01

Carbonates and sulfates commonly occur as primary (diagenetic) pore cements and secondary fluid-mobilized veins within fault zones. Stable isotope analyses of calcite, formation fluid, and fault zone fluids can help elucidate the carbon sources and the extent of fluid-rock interaction within a particular reservoir. Introduction of CO2 bearing fluids into a reservoir/fault system can profoundly affect the overall fluid chemistry of the reservoir/fault system and may lead to the enhancement or degradation of porosity within the fault zone. The extent of precipitation and/or dissolution of minerals within a fault zone can ultimately influence the sealing properties of a fault. The Colorado Plateau contains a number of large carbon dioxide reservoirs some of which leak and some of which do not. Several normal faults within the Paradox Basin (SE Utah) dissect the Green River anticline giving rise to a series of footwall reservoirs with fault-dependent columns. Numerous CO2-charged springs and geysers are associated with these faults. This study seeks to identify regional sources and subsurface migration of CO2 to these reservoirs and the effect(s) faults have on trap performance. Data provided in this study include mineralogical, elemental, and stable isotope data for fault rocks, host rocks, and carbonate veins that come from two localities along one fault that locally sealed CO2. This fault is just tens of meters away from another normal fault that has leaked CO2-charged waters to the land surface for thousands of years. These analyses have been used to determine the source of carbon isotopes from sedimentary derived carbon and deeply sourced CO2. XRF and XRD data taken from several transects across the normal faults are consistent with mechanical mixing and fluid-assisted mass transfer processes within the fault zone. δ13C range from -6% to +10% (PDB); δ18O values range from +15% to +24% (VSMOW). Geochemical modeling software is used to model the alteration productions of fault rocks from fluids of various chemistries coming from several different reservoirs within an active CO2-charged fault system. These results are compared to data obtained in the field.

Structural localization and origin of compartmentalized fluid flow, Comstock lode, Virginia City, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Berger, B.R.; Tingley, J.V.; Drew, L.J.

2003-01-01

Bonanza-grade orebodies in epithermal-style mineral deposits characteristically occur as discrete zones within spatially more extensive fault and/or fracture systems. Empirically, the segregation of such systems into compartments of higher and lower permeability appears to be a key process necessary for high-grade ore formation and, most commonly, it is such concentrations of metals that make an epithermal vein district world class. In the world-class silver- and gold-producing Comstock mining district, Nevada, several lines of evidence lead to the conclusion that the Comstock lode is localized in an extensional stepover between right-lateral fault zones. This evidence includes fault geometries, kinematic indicators of slip, the hydraulic connectivity of faults as demonstrated by veins and dikes along faults, and the opening of a normal-fault-bounded, asymmetric basin between two parallel and overlapping northwest-striking, lateral- to lateral-oblique-slip fault zones. During basin opening, thick, generally subeconomic, banded quartz-adularia veins were deposited in the normal fault zone, the Comstock fault, and along one of the bounding lateral fault zones, the Silver City fault. As deformation continued, the intrusion of dikes and small plugs into the hanging wall of the Comstock fault zone may have impeded the ability of the stepover to accommodate displacement on the bounding strike-slip faults through extension within the stepover. A transient period of transpressional deformation of the Comstock fault zone ensued, and the early-stage veins were deformed through boudinaging and hydraulic fragmentation, fault-motion inversion, and high- and low-angle axial rotations of segments of the fault planes and some fault-bounded wedges. This deformation led to the formation of spatially restricted compartments of high vertical permeability and hydraulic connectivity and low lateral hydraulic connectivity. Bonanza orebodies were formed in the compartmentalized zones of high permeability and hydraulic connectivity. As heat flow and related hydrothermal activitv waned along the Comstock fault zone, extension was reactivated in the stepover along the Occidental zone of normal faults east of the Comstock fault zone. Volcanic and related intrusive activity in this part of the stepover led to a new episode of hydrothermal activity and formation of the Occidental lodes.

Deformation along the leading edge of the Maiella thrust sheet in central Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aydin, Atilla; Antonellini, Marco; Tondi, Emanuele; Agosta, Fabrizio

2010-09-01

The eastern forelimb of the Maiella anticline above the leading edge of the underlying thrust displays a complex system of fractures, faults and a series of kink bands in the Cretaceous platform carbonates. The kink bands have steep limbs, display top-to-the-east shear, parallel to the overall transport direction, and are brecciated and faulted. A system of pervasive normal faults, trending sub-parallel to the strike of the mechanical layers, accommodates local extension generated by flexural slip. Two sets of strike-slip faults exist: one is left-lateral at a high angle to the main Maiella thrust; the other is right-lateral, intersecting the first set at an acute angle. The normal and strike-slip faults were formed by shearing across bed-parallel, strike-, and dip-parallel pressure solution seams and associated splays; the thrust faults follow the tilted mechanical layers along the steeper limb of the kink bands. The three pervasive, mutually-orthogonal pressure solution seams are pre-tilting. One set of low-angle normal faults, the oldest set in the area, is also pre-tilting. All other fault/fold structures appear to show signs of overlapping periods of activity accounting for the complex tri-shear-like deformation that developed as the front evolved during the Oligocene-Pliocene Apennine orogeny.

The 2016 Mw7.0 Kumamoto, Japan earthquake: the rupture propagation under extensional stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Y.; Shan, X.; Zhang, G.; Gong, W.

2016-12-01

On April 16, 2016, the Kumamoto city was hit by an Mw7.0 earthquake, the largest earthquake since 1900 in the central part of Kyushu Island in Japan. It is an event with two foreshocks and rather complex source faults and surface rupture scarps. The Mw7.0 Kumamoto earthquake and its foreshocks and aftershocks occurred on the Futagawa and Hinagu faults, which are previously mapped and formed the southwest portion of the median tectonic line on Kyushu Island. These faults are mainly controlled by extensional and right-lateral shear stress. In this study, we obtained the deformation filed of the Kumamoto earthquake using both of descending and ascending Sentinel-1A data. We then invert the fault slip distribution based on the displacements obtained by InSAR. A three-segment fault model is established by trial and error. We analyze the rupture propagation and the conclusions are listed as following: The Mw 7.0 earthquake is a right-lateral striking event with a slight normal component. Most of the slip distributed on the Futagawa fault segment, with a maximum slip of 4.9 m at 5 km depth below the surface. The energy released on this Futagawa fault segment is equivalent to an Mw6.9 event. The slip distribution on the Hinagu fault segment is also right-lateral, but with a maximum slip of 2 m. Compared to the southern two segments, the northern source fault segment has the steepest dipping segment, which is almost vertical, with a dip as high as 80°; The normal component of the Kumamoto event is controlled by extensional stress due to the tectonic background. The Beppu-Shimabara half graben is the largest extensional structure on Kyushu Island and its formation could strongly be affected by Philippine Sea slab (PHS) convergence and Okinawa Trough extension, so we argue the Kumamoto event maybe exhibits the concrete manifestation of Okinawa Trough extension to Kyushu Island; Continuous surface rupture trace is observed from InSAR coseismic deformation and field investigation, based on which we confirm that the Kumamoto event jumped a 1 km wide step over of the Kiyama fault and two 0.6km wide gaps. However, the mainshock do not jump a 1.7 km wide step over of the Futagawa fault, so its magnitude moment is constrained. In addition, both the Mw6.4 and Mw6.5 events could not go through a 2 km wide at the northeast termination of the Hinagu faults.

Marine and land active-source seismic investigation of geothermal potential, tectonic structure, and earthquake hazards in Pyramid Lake, Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eisses, A.; Kell, A. M.; Kent, G.; Driscoll, N. W.; Karlin, R. E.; Baskin, R. L.; Louie, J. N.; Smith, K. D.; Pullammanappallil, S.

2011-12-01

Preliminary slip rates measured across the East Pyramid Lake fault, or the Lake Range fault, help provide new estimates of extension across the Pyramid Lake basin. Multiple stratigraphic horizons spanning 48 ka were tracked throughout the lake, with layer offsets measured across all significant faults in the basin. A chronstratigraphic framework acquired from four sediment cores allows slip rates of the Lake Range and other faults to be calculated accurately. This region of the northern Walker Lake, strategically placed between the right-lateral strike-slip faults of Honey and Eagle Lakes to the north, and the normal fault bounded basins to the southwest (e.g., Tahoe, Carson), is critical in understanding the underlying structural complexity that is not only necessary for geothermal exploration, but also earthquake hazard assessment due to the proximity of the Reno-Sparks metropolitan area. In addition, our seismic CHIRP imaging with submeter resolution allows the construction of the first fault map of Pyramid Lake. The Lake Range fault can be obviously traced west of Anahoe Island extending north along the east end of the lake in numerous CHIRP lines. Initial drafts of the fault map reveal active transtension through a series of numerous, small, northwest striking, oblique-slip faults in the north end of the lake. A previously field mapped northwest striking fault near Sutcliff can be extended into the west end of Pyramid Lake. This fault map, along with the calculated slip rate of the Lake Range, and potentially multiple other faults, gives a clearer picture into understanding the geothermal potential, tectonic regime and earthquake hazards in the Pyramid Lake basin and the northern Walker Lane. These new results have also been merged with seismicity maps, along with focal mechanisms for the larger events to begin to extend our fault map in depth.

Geologic framework and hydrogeologic characteristics of the Edwards Aquifer recharge zone, Bexar County, Texas

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stein, W.G.; Ozuna, G.B.

1995-01-01

The faults in northern Bexar County are part of the Balcones fault zone. Although most of the faults in this area trend northeast, a smaller set of cross-faults trend northwest. Generally, the faults are en echelon and normal, with the downthrown blocks typically toward the coast.

Deformation style and controlling geodynamic processes at the eastern Guadalquivir foreland basin (Southern Spain)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marín-Lechado, C.; Pedrera, A.; Peláez, J. A.; Ruiz-Constán, A.; González-Ramón, A.; Henares, J.

2017-06-01

The tectonic structure of the Guadalquivir foreland basin becomes complex eastward evolving from a single depocenter to a compartmented basin. The deformation pattern within the eastern Guadalquivir foreland basin has been characterized by combining seismic reflection profiles, boreholes, and structural field data to output a 3-D model. High-dipping NNE-SSW to NE-SW trending normal and reverse fault arrays deform the Variscan basement of the basin. These faults generally affect Tortonian sediments, which show syntectonic features sealed by the latest Miocene units. Curved and S-shaped fault traces are abundant and caused by the linkage of nearby fault segments during lateral fault propagation. Preexisting faults were reactivated either as normal or reverse faults depending on their position within the foreland. At Tortonian time, reverse faults deformed the basin forebulge, while normal faults predominated within the backbulge. Along-strike variation of the Betic foreland basin geometry is supported by an increasing mechanical coupling of the two plates (Alborán Domain and Variscan basement) toward the eastern part of the cordillera. Thus, subduction would have progressed in the western Betics, while it would have failed in the eastern one. There, the initially subducted Iberian paleomargin (Nevado-Filábride Complex) was incorporated into the upper plate promoting the transmission of collision-related compressional stresses into the foreland since the middle Miocene. Nowadays, compression is still active and produces low-magnitude earthquakes likely linked to NNE-SSW to NE-SW preexiting faults reactivated with reverse oblique-slip kinematics. Seismicity is mostly concentrated around fault tips that are frequently curved in overstepping zones.

Discovering the Complexity of Capable Faults in Northern Chile

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gonzalez, G.; del Río, I. A.; Rojas Orrego, C., Sr.; Astudillo, L. A., Sr.

2017-12-01

Great crustal earthquakes (Mw >7.0) in the upper plate of subduction zones are relatively uncommon and less well documented. We hypothesize that crustal earthquakes are poorly represented in the instrumental record because they have long recurrence intervals. In northern Chile, the extreme long-term aridity permits extraordinary preservation of landforms related to fault activity, making this region a primary target to understand how upper plate faults work at subduction zones. To understand how these faults relate to crustal seismicity in the long-term, we have conducted a detailed palaeoseismological study. We performed a palaeoseismological survey integrating trench logging and photogrammetry based on UAVs. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) age determinations were practiced for dating deposits linked to faulting. In this contribution we present the study case of two primary faults located in the Coastal Cordillera of northern Chile between Iquique (21ºS) and Antofagasta (24ºS). We estimate the maximum moment magnitude of earthquakes generated in these upper plate faults, their recurrence interval and the fault-slip rate. We conclude that the studied upper plate faults show a complex kinematics on geological timescales. Faults seem to change their kinematics from normal (extension) to reverse (compression) or from normal to transcurrent (compression) according to the stage of subduction earthquake cycle. Normal displacement is related to coseismic stages and compression is linked to interseismic period. As result this complex interaction these faults are capable of generating Mw 7.0 earthquakes, with recurrence times on the order of thousands of years during every stage of the subduction earthquake cycle.

Seismicity and Seismotectonic Properties of The Sultandağı Fault Zone (Afyonkarahisar-Konya): Western Anatolia,Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kalafat, D.; Gunes, Y.; Kekovali, K.; Kara, M.; Gorgun, E.

2017-12-01

n this study we investigated seismicity and source characteristics of the Sultandağı Fault Zone (SFZ). As known Western Anatolia is one of the most important seismically active region in Turkey. The relative movement of the African-Arabian plates, it causes the Anatolian Plate to movement to the west-Southwest direction 2.5 cm per year and this result provides N-S direction with extensional regime in the recent tectonic. In this study, especially with the assessment of seismic activity occurring in Afyon and around between 200-2002 years, we have been evaluated to date with seismic activity as well as fault mechanism solution. We analyzed recent seismicity and distribution of earthquakes in this region. In the last century, 3 important earthquakes occurred in the Sultandağı Fault zone (Afyon-Akşehir Graben), this result shown it was seismic active and broken fault segments caused stress balance in the region and it caused to occur with short intervals of earthquakes in 2000 and 2002, triggering each other. The scope of this tudy, we installed new BB stations in the region and we have been done of the fault plane solutions for important earthquakes. The focal mechanisms clearly exhibit the activation of a NE-SW trending normal faulting system along the SFZ region. The results of stress analysis showed that the effective current tectonic evolution of normal faulting in this region. This study is supported by Bogazici University Research Projects Commission under SRP/BAP project No. 12280. Key Words: Sultandağı fault zone, normal faulting, seismicity, fault mechanism

Clay-clast aggregates: A new textural evidence for seismic fault sliding?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boutareaud, Sébastien; Calugaru, Dan-Gabriel; Han, Raehee; Fabbri, Olivier; Mizoguchi, Kazuo; Tsutsumi, Akito; Shimamoto, Toshihiko

2008-03-01

To determine the processes responsible for slip-weakening in clayey gouge zones, rotary-shear experiments were conducted at seismic slip rates (equivalent to 0.9 and 1.3 m/s) at 0.6 MPa normal stress on a natural clayey gouge for saturated and non-saturated initial conditions. The mechanical behavior of the simulated faults shows a reproducible slip-weakening behavior, whatever initial moisture conditions. Examination of gouge obtained at the residual friction stage in saturated and non-saturated initial conditions allows the definition of two types of microstructures: a foliated type reflecting strain localization, and a non-foliated type composed of spherical aggregates. Friction experiments demonstrate that liquid-vapor transition of water within gouge due to frictional heating has a high capacity to explain the formation of spherical aggregates in the first meters of displacement. This result suggests that the occurrence of spherical aggregates in natural clayey fault gouges can constitute a new textural evidence for shallow depth pore water phase transition at seismic slip velocity and consequently for past seismic fault sliding.

Broadband Ground Motion Observation and Simulation for the 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Miyake, H.; Chimoto, K.; Yamanaka, H.; Tsuno, S.; Korenaga, M.; Yamada, N.; Matsushima, T.; Miyakawa, K.

2016-12-01

During the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake, strong motion data were widely recorded by the permanent dense triggered strong motion network of K-NET/KiK-net and seismic intensity meters installed by local government and JMA. Seismic intensities close to the MMI 9-10 are recorded twice at the Mashiki town, and once at the Nishihara village and KiK-net Mashiki (KMMH16 ground surface). Near-fault records indicate extreme ground motion exceeding 400 cm/s in 5% pSv at a period of 1 s for the Mashiki town and 3-4 s for the Nishihara village. Fault parallel velocity components are larger between the Mashiki town and the Nishihara village, on the other hand, fault normal velocity components are larger inside the caldera of the Aso volcano. The former indicates rupture passed through along-strike stations, and the latter stations located at the forward rupture direction (e.g., Miyatake, 1999). In addition to the permanent observation, temporary continuous strong motion stations were installed just after the earthquake in the Kumamoto city, Mashiki town, Nishihara village, Minami-Aso village, and Aso town, (e.g., Chimoto et al., 2016; Tsuno et al., 2016; Yamanaka et al. 2016). This study performs to estimate strong motion generation areas for the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake sequence using the empirical Green's function method, then to simulate broadband ground motions for both the permanent and temporary strong motion stations. Currently the target period range is between 0.1 s to 5-10 s due to the signal-to-noise ratio of element earthquakes used for the empirical Green's functions. We also care fault dimension parameters N within 4 to 10 to avoid spectral sags and artificial periodicity. The simulated seismic intensities as well as fault normal and parallel velocity components will be discussed.

The emergence of asymmetric normal fault systems under symmetric boundary conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schöpfer, Martin P. J.; Childs, Conrad; Manzocchi, Tom; Walsh, John J.; Nicol, Andrew; Grasemann, Bernhard

2017-11-01

Many normal fault systems and, on a smaller scale, fracture boudinage often exhibit asymmetry with one fault dip direction dominating. It is a common belief that the formation of domino and shear band boudinage with a monoclinic symmetry requires a component of layer parallel shearing. Moreover, domains of parallel faults are frequently used to infer the presence of a décollement. Using Distinct Element Method (DEM) modelling we show, that asymmetric fault systems can emerge under symmetric boundary conditions. A statistical analysis of DEM models suggests that the fault dip directions and system polarities can be explained using a random process if the strength contrast between the brittle layer and the surrounding material is high. The models indicate that domino and shear band boudinage are unreliable shear-sense indicators. Moreover, the presence of a décollement should not be inferred on the basis of a domain of parallel faults alone.

Multidisciplinary approach for fault detection: Integration of PS-InSAR, geomorphological, stratigraphic and structural data in the Venafro intermontane basin (Central-Southern Apennines, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Amato, Vincenzo; Aucelli, Pietro P. C.; Bellucci Sessa, Eliana; Cesarano, Massimo; Incontri, Pietro; Pappone, Gerardo; Valente, Ettore; Vilardo, Giuseppe

2017-04-01

A multidisciplinary methodology, integrating stratigraphic, geomorphological and structural data, combined with GIS-aided analysis and PS-InSAR interferometric data, was applied to characterize the relationships between ground deformations and the stratigraphic and the morphostructural setting of the Venafro intermontane basin. This basin is a morphostructural depression related to NW-SE and NE-SW oriented high angle normal faults bordering and crossing it. In particular, a well-known active fault crossing the plain is the Aquae Juliae Fault, whose recent activity is evidenced by archeoseismological data. The approach applied here reveals new evidence of possible faulting, acting during the Lower to Upper Pleistocene, which has driven the morphotectonic and the environmental evolution of the basin. In particular, the tectonic setting emerging from this study highlights the influence of the NW-SE oriented extensional phase during the late Lower Pleistocene - early Middle Pleistocene, in the generation of NE-SW trending, SE dipping, high-angle faults and NW-SE trending, high-angle transtensive faults. This phase has been followed by a NE-SW extensional one, responsible for the formation of NW-SE trending, both NW and SE dipping, high-angle normal faults, and the reactivation of the oldest NE-SW oriented structures. These NW-SE trending normal faults include the Aquae Juliae Fault and a new one, unknown until now, crossing the plain between the Venafro village and the Colle Cupone Mt. (hereinafter named the Venafro-Colle Cupone Fault, VCCF). This fault has controlled deposition of the youngest sedimentary units (late Middle Pleistocene to late Upper Pleistocene) suggesting its recent activity and it is well constrained by PS-InSAR data, as testified by the increase of the subsidence rate in the hanging wall block.

Aksu-Dinar Fault System: Its bearing on the evolution of the Isparta Angle (SW Turkey)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaymakci, Nuretdin; Özacar, Arda; Langereis, Cornelis G.; Özkaptan, Murat; Gülyüz, Erhan; van Hinsbergen, Douwe J. J.; Uzel, Bora; McPhee, Peter; Sözbilir, Hasan

2017-04-01

The Isparta Angle is a triangular structure in SW Turkey with NE-SW trending western and NW-SE trending eastern flanks. Aksu Fault is located within the core of this structure and have been taken-up large E-W shortening and sinistral translation since the Late Miocene. It is an inherited structure which emplaced Antalya nappes over the Beydaǧları Platform during the late Eocene to Late Miocene and was reactivated by the Pliocene as a high angle reverse fault to accommodate the counter-clockwise rotation of Beydaǧları and SW Anatolia. On the other hand, the Dinar Fault is a normal fault with slight sinistral component has been active since Pliocene. These two structures are collinear and delimit areas with clockwise and counter-clockwise rotations. The areas to the north and east of these structures rotated clockwise while southern and western areas are rotated counter-clockwise. We claim that the Dinar-Aksu Fault System facilitate rotational deformation in the region as a scissor like mechanism about a pivot point north of Burdur. This mechanism resulted in the normal motion along the Dinar and reverse motion along the Aksu faults with combined sinistral translation component on both structures. We claim that the driving force for the motion of these faults and counter-clockwise rotation of the SW Anatolia seems to be slab-pull forces exerted by the east dipping Antalya Slab, a relic of Tethys oceanic lithosphere. The research for this paper is supported by TUBITAK - Grant Number 111Y239. Key words: Dinar Fault, Aksu Fault, Isparta Angle, SW Turkey, Burdur Pivot, Normal Fault, Reverse Fault

Active backstop faults in the Mentawai region of Sumatra, Indonesia, revealed by teleseismic broadband waveform modeling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Xin; Bradley, Kyle Edward; Wei, Shengji; Wu, Wenbo

2018-02-01

Two earthquake sequences that affected the Mentawai islands offshore of central Sumatra in 2005 (Mw 6.9) and 2009 (Mw 6.7) have been highlighted as evidence for active backthrusting of the Sumatran accretionary wedge. However, the geometry of the activated fault planes is not well resolved due to large uncertainties in the locations of the mainshocks and aftershocks. We refine the locations and focal mechanisms of medium size events (Mw > 4.5) of these two earthquake sequences through broadband waveform modeling. In addition to modeling the depth-phases for accurate centroid depths, we use teleseismic surface wave cross-correlation to precisely relocate the relative horizontal locations of the earthquakes. The refined catalog shows that the 2005 and 2009 "backthrust" sequences in Mentawai region actually occurred on steeply (∼60 degrees) landward-dipping faults (Masilo Fault Zone) that intersect the Sunda megathrust beneath the deepest part of the forearc basin, contradicting previous studies that inferred slip on a shallowly seaward-dipping backthrust. Static slip inversion on the newly-proposed fault fits the coseismic GPS offsets for the 2009 mainshock equally well as previous studies, but with a slip distribution more consistent with the mainshock centroid depth (∼20 km) constrained from teleseismic waveform inversion. Rupture of such steeply dipping reverse faults within the forearc crust is rare along the Sumatra-Java margin. We interpret these earthquakes as 'unsticking' of the Sumatran accretionary wedge along a backstop fault separating imbricated material from the stronger Sunda lithosphere. Alternatively, the reverse faults may have originated as pre-Miocene normal faults of the extended continental crust of the western Sunda margin. Our waveform modeling approach can be used to further refine global earthquake catalogs in order to clarify the geometries of active faults.

Frictional properties of low-angle normal fault gouges and implications for low-angle normal fault slip

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Haines, Samuel; Marone, Chris; Saffer, Demian

2014-12-01

The mechanics of slip on low-angle normal faults (LANFs) remain an enduring problem in structural geology and fault mechanics. In most cases, new faults should form rather than having slip occur on LANFs, assuming values of fault friction consistent with Byerlee's Law. We present results of laboratory measurements on the frictional properties of natural clay-rich gouges from low-angle normal faults (LANF) in the American Cordillera, from the Whipple Mts. Detachment, the Panamint range-front detachment, and the Waterman Hills detachment. These clay-rich gouges are dominated by neoformed clay minerals and are an integral part of fault zones in many LANFs, yet their frictional properties under in situ conditions remain relatively unknown. We conducted measurements under saturated and controlled pore pressure conditions at effective normal stresses ranging from 20 to 60 MPa (corresponding to depths of 0.9-2.9 km), on both powdered and intact wafers of fault rock. For the Whipple Mountains detachment, friction coefficient (μ) varies depending on clast content, with values ranging from 0.40 to 0.58 for clast-rich material, and 0.29-0.30 for clay-rich gouge. Samples from the Panamint range-front detachment were clay-rich, and exhibit friction values of 0.28 to 0.38, significantly lower than reported from previous studies on fault gouges tested under room humidity (nominally dry) conditions, including samples from the same exposure. Samples from the Waterman Hills detachment are slightly stronger, with μ ranging from 0.38 to 0.43. The neoformed gouge materials from all three localities exhibits velocity-strengthening frictional behavior under almost all of the experimental conditions we explored, with values of the friction rate parameter (a - b) ranging from -0.001 to +0.025. Clast-rich samples exhibited frictional healing (strength increases with hold time), whereas clay-rich samples do not. Our results indicate that where clay-rich neoformed gouges are present along LANFs, they provide a mechanically viable explanation for slip on faults with dips <20°, requiring only moderate (Pf <σ3) overpressures and/or correcting for ∼5° of footwall tilting. Furthermore, the low rates of frictional strength recovery and velocity-strengthening frictional behavior we observe provide an explanation for the lack of observed seismicity on these structures. We suggest that LANFs in the upper crust (depth <8 km) slip via a combination of a) reaction-weakening of initially high-angle fault zones by the formation of neoformed clay-rich gouges, and b) regional tectonic accommodation of rotating fault blocks.

Kinematic Model for the Sierra Nevada Frontal Fault Zone, California: Paleomagnetism of the Eureka Valley Tuff

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rood, D. H.; Burbank, D. W.; Luyendyk, B. P.

2005-12-01

We document the geometry, timing, rates, and kinematic style of Late Tertiary deformation between Sonora Pass and Mono Basin, central Sierra Nevada, California. Observed mismatches between geodetic and geologic deformation rates in the western Great Basin may be primarily due to underestimates of true geologic deformation. Relatively little attention has been paid to the role of permanent deformation between faults, i.e. folding or crustal block rotation. Current slip discrepancies may be accounted for if a significant component of off-fault transrotational deformation is present. We use geologic and paleomagnetic data to address the kinematic development of the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone (SNFFZ), and to quantify both the elastic and inelastic strain accumulated across the Sierra Nevada-Basin and Range transition since ~9 Ma. The complex structure of this transition, between the regions of Sonora Pass and Mono Basin, may be a result of three distinct modes of dextral shear accommodation (transtensional, transpressional, and crustal thinning). The study area is characterized by four important structural elements that lie between the SNFFZ and Walker Lane Belt: (1) N- to NNW-striking normal and oblique faults, dominantly E-dipping, and associated W-tilted fault blocks; (2) NW-striking dextral faults; (3) ENE- to NE-striking left-lateral oblique faults that may accommodate overall dextral shear through clockwise vertical axis rotations of fault blocks; (4) E- to NE-trending folds, which may accommodate N-S shortening at large-scale left steps in the dextral transtensional fault system. Between Bridgeport and Mono Basins, a regional E- to NE-trending fold is present that affects both the Tertiary volcanic strata and a Quaternary glacial outwash surface. To the west, normal faulting rates on the SNFFZ are 1-2 mm/yr (Bursik and Sieh, 1989). This slip decreases to the north, into the folded region of the Bodie Hills. This kinematic relationship suggests that the region may be an accommodation zone between two linking faults, possibly an active fold that accommodates N-S shortening at a large-scale left step in the range front fault system. We collected ~200 paleomagnetic samples from the Late Miocene Eureka Valley Tuff of the Stanislaus Group at 21 sites over a 125-km-long, E-W transect (from the Sierra Nevada foothills to east of Mono Basin). Stepwise AF demagnetization reveals a stable characteristic remnant magnetization. Our preliminary data suggest 20-40 degrees of clockwise rotation adjacent to faults of the SNFFZ. An expanded dataset aims to identify specific structural domains, quantify differential vertical axis block rotations, and test geometric models of transrotation (i.e. block-specific versus gradational) during transtensional lithospheric deformation.

Ground Surface Deformation in Unconsolidated Sediments Caused by Bedrock Fault Movements: Dip-Slip and Strike-Slip Fault Model Test and Field Survey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ueta, K.; Tani, K.

2001-12-01

Sandbox experiments were performed to investigate ground surface deformation in unconsolidated sediments caused by dip-slip and strike-slip motion on bedrock faults. A 332.5 cm long, 200 cm high, and 40 cm wide sandbox was used in a dip-slip fault model test. In the strike-slip fault test, a 600 cm long, 250 cm wide, and 60 cm high sandbox and a 170 cm long, 25 cm wide, 15 cm high sandbox were used. Computerized X-ray tomography applied to the sandbox experiments made it possible to analyze the kinematic evolution, as well as the three-dimensional geometry, of the faults. The fault type, fault dip, fault displacement, thickness and density of sandpack and grain size of the sand were varied for different experiments. Field survey of active faults in Japan and California were also made to investigate the deformation of unconsolidated sediments overlying bedrock faults. A comparison of the experimental results with natural cases of active faults reveals the following: (1) In the case of dip-slip faulting, the shear bands are not shown as one linear plane but as en echelon pattern. Thicker and finer unconsolidated sediments produce more shear bands and clearer en echelon shear band patterns. (2) In the case of left-lateral strike-slip faulting, the deformation of the sand pack with increasing basement displacement is observed as follows. a) In three dimensions, the right-stepping shears that have a "cirque" / "shell" / "ship body" shape develop on both sides of the basement fault. The shears on one side of the basement fault join those on the other side, resulting in helicoidal shaped shear surfaces. Shears reach the surface of the sand near or above the basement fault and en echelon Riedel shears are observed at the surface of the sand. b) Right-stepping pressure ridges develop within the zone defined by the Riedel shears. c) Lower-angle shears generally branch off from the first Riedel shears. d) Right-stepping helicoidal shaped lower-angle shears offset Riedel shears and pressure ridges, and left-stepping and right-stepping pressure ridges are observed. d) With displacement concentrated on the central throughgoing fault zone, a "Zone of shear band" (ZSB) developed directly above the basement fault. The geometry of the ZSB shows a strong resemblance to linear ridge and trough geomorphology associated with active strike-slip faulting. (3) In the case of normal faulting, the location of the surface fault rupture is just above the bedrock faults, which have no relationship with the fault dip. On the other hand, the location of the surface rupture of the reverse fault has closely relationship with the fault dip. In the case of strike-slip faulting, the width of the deformation zone in dense sand is wider than that in loose sand. (4) The horizontal distance of surface rupture from the bedrock fault normalized by the height of sand mass (W/H) does not depend on the height of sand mass and grain size of sand. The values of W/H from the test agree well with those of earthquake faults. (5) The normalized base displacement required to propagate the shear rupture zone to the ground surface (D/H), in the case of normal faulting, is lower than those for reverse faulting and strike-slip faulting.

Normal-faulting stress state associated with low differential stress in an overriding plate in northeast Japan prior to the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Otsubo, Makoto; Miyakawa, Ayumu; Imanishi, Kazutoshi

2018-03-01

Spatial and temporal variations in inland crustal stress prior to the 2011 Mw 9.0 Tohoku earthquake are investigated using focal mechanism solutions for shallow seismicity in Iwaki City, Japan. The multiple inverse method of stress tensor inversion detected two normal-faulting stress states that dominate in different regions. The stress field around Iwaki City changed from a NNW-SSE-trending triaxial extensional stress (stress regime A) to a NW-SE-trending axial tension (stress regime B) between 2005 and 2008. These stress changes may be the result of accumulated extensional stress associated with co- and post-seismic deformation due to the M7 class earthquakes. In this study we suggest that the stress state around Iwaki City prior to the 2011 Tohoku earthquake may have been extensional with a low differential stress. High pore pressure is required to cause earthquakes under such small differential stresses.

Design criteria for prompt radiation limits on the relativistic heavy ion collider site.

PubMed

Stevens, A; Musolino, S; Harrison, M

1994-03-01

The Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider (RHIC) is a superconducting colliding beam accelerator facility that is currently under construction. Relatively small amounts of energy depositing in the coils of superconducting magnets can result in a "quench," the irreversible transition to the normal resistive state. The quench limit of superconducting magnets, therefore, constrains local beam loss throughout the injection, acceleration, and storage cycles to extremely low levels. From a practical standpoint, it follows that there is essentially no prompt radiation in most regions due to normal operations. The design of shielding is, therefore, principally driven by the consequences of a single pulse fault at full energy in one of the two storage rings. Since there are no regulatory requirements or guidance documents that prescribe radiological performance goals for this situation, the RHIC Project has proposed a scheme to classify the various areas of the RHIC complex based on Design Basis Accident faults. The criteria is then compared to existing regulatory requirements and guidance recommendations.

Frictional strength of wet and dry montmorillonite

USGS Publications Warehouse

Morrow, Carolyn A.; Moore, Diane E.; Lockner, David A.

2017-01-01

Montmorillonite is a common mineral in fault zones, and its low strength relative to other common gouge minerals is important in many models of fault rheology. However, the coefficient of friction, μ, varies with degree of saturation and is not well constrained in the literature due to the difficulty of establishing fully drained or fully dried states in the laboratory. We measured μ of both saturated and oven-dried montmorillonite at normal stresses up to 700 MPa. Care was taken to shear saturated samples slowly enough to avoid pore fluid overpressure. For saturated samples, μ increased from 0.10 to 0.28 with applied effective normal stress, while for dry samples μ decreased from 0.78 to 0.45. The steady state rate dependence of friction, (a − b), was positive, promoting stable sliding. The wide disparity in reported frictional strengths can be attributed to experimental procedures that promote differing degrees of partial saturation or overpressured pore fluid conditions.

Slip and Dilation Tendency Analysis of the Tuscarora Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

Critically stressed fault segments have a relatively high likelihood of acting as fluid flow conduits (Sibson, 1994). As such, the tendency of a fault segment to slip (slip tendency; Ts; Morris et al., 1996) or to dilate (dilation tendency; Td; Ferrill et al., 1999) provides an indication of which faults or fault segments within a geothermal system are critically stressed and therefore likely to transmit geothermal fluids. The slip tendency of a surface is defined by the ratio of shear stress to normal stress on that surface: Ts = τ / σn (Morris et al., 1996). Dilation tendency is defined by the stress acting normal to a given surface: Td = (σ1-σn) / (σ1-σ3) (Ferrill et al., 1999). Slip and dilation were calculated using 3DStress (Southwest Research Institute). Slip and dilation tendency are both unitless ratios of the resolved stresses applied to the fault plane by ambient stress conditions. Values range from a maximum of 1, a fault plane ideally oriented to slip or dilate under ambient stress conditions to zero, a fault plane with no potential to slip or dilate. Slip and dilation tendency values were calculated for each fault in the focus study areas at, McGinness Hills, Neal Hot Springs, Patua, Salt Wells, San Emidio, and Tuscarora on fault traces. As dip is not well constrained or unknown for many faults mapped in within these we made these calculations using the dip for each fault that would yield the maximum slip tendency or dilation tendency. As such, these results should be viewed as maximum tendency of each fault to slip or dilate. The resulting along-fault and fault-to-fault variation in slip or dilation potential is a proxy for along fault and fault-to-fault variation in fluid flow conduit potential. Stress Magnitudes and directions Stress field variation within each focus area was approximated based on regional published data and the world stress database (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2010; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012; Moeck et al., 2010; Moos and Ronne, 2010 and Reinecker et al., 2005) as well as local stress information if applicable. For faults within these focus systems we applied either a normal faulting stress regime where the vertical stress (sv) is larger than the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (sv>shmax>shmin) or strike-slip faulting stress regime where the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) is larger than the vertical stress (sv) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (shmax >sv>shmin) depending on the general tectonic province of the system. Based on visual inspection of the limited stress magnitude data in the Great Basin we used magnitudes such that shmin/shmax = .527 and shmin/sv= .46, which are consistent with complete and partial stress field determinations from Desert Peak, Coso, the Fallon area and Dixie valley (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2011; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012). Slip and dilation tendency for the Tuscarora geothermal field was calculated based on the faults mapped Tuscarora area (Dering, 2013). The Tuscarora area lies in the Basin and Range Province, as such we applied a normal faulting stress regime to the Tuscarora area faults, with a minimum horizontal stress direction oriented 115, based on inspection of local and regional stress determinations, as explained above. Under these stress conditions north-northeast striking, steeply dipping fault segments have the highest dilation tendency, while north-northeast striking 60° dipping fault segments have the highest tendency to slip. Tuscarora is defined by a left-step in a major north- to-north northeast striking, west-dipping range-bounding normal fault system. Faults within the broad step define an anticlinal accommodation zone...

Interplay between magmatic accretion, spreading asymmetry and detachment faulting at a segment end: Crustal structure south of the Ascension Fracture Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bialas, Jörg; Dannowski, Anke; Reston, Timothy J.

2015-12-01

A wide-angle seismic section across the Mid-Atlantic Ridge just south of the Ascension transform system reveals laterally varying crustal thickness, and to the east a strongly distorted Moho that appears to result from slip along a large-offset normal fault, termed an oceanic detachment fault. Gravity modelling supports the inferred crustal structure. We investigate the interplay between magmatism, detachment faulting and the changing asymmetry of crustal accretion, and consider several possible scenarios. The one that appears most likely is remarkably simple: an episode of detachment faulting which accommodates all plate divergence and results in the westward migration of the ridge axis, is interspersed with dominantly magmatic and moderately asymmetric (most on the western side) spreading which moves the spreading axis back towards the east. Following the runaway weakening of a normal fault and its development into an oceanic detachment fault, magma both intrudes the footwall to the fault, producing a layer of gabbro (subsequently partially exhumed).

Style of Cenozoic extensional deformation in the central Beaverhead Mountains, Idaho-Montana

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kellogg, K.S.

1993-04-01

Cenozoic extension in the upper Medicine Lodge Creek area in the Beaverhead Mountains was accommodated along numerous low- to high-angle, west-facing normal faults. These faults have repeated moderately east-dipping (by 20--40[degree]) Tertiary rocks that are as old as the Eocene Medicine Lodge Volcanics and that include conformably overlying Miocene and Oligocene conglomerate, tuffaceous sandstone, siltstone, and limestone; a reasonable restoration of Tertiary faulting suggests that the region has extended about 20 percent. At least one normal fault soles into the Late Cretaceous Cabin thrust, one of at least four major Cordilleran thrusts in the Beaverhead Mountains and the Tendoy Mountainsmore » immediately to the east. The Cabin thrust places enigmatic quartzite (age is between Middle Proterozoic and Lower Cambrian) and Archean gneiss above Mississippian to Ordovician rocks. The formation of the north-northwest-trending upper Medicine Lodge Valley was controlled mostly by low-angle normal faults along its east side, where Eocene volcanics and overlying sedimentary rocks dip about 25[degree] eastward against Archean rocks. Faceted spurs are prominent but no scarps are visible, suggesting that last movement is pre-Holocene. Other large-displacement normal faults at higher elevations show relatively little topographic expression. The Late Proterozoic or Cambrian Beaverhead impact structure, defined by wide-spread shatter-coning, pseudotachylite formation, and localized brecciation, make interpretation of some extensive breccia zones in Archean rocks along the east side of Medicine Lodge Valley problematic. The proximity of the breccias to Tertiary normal faults makes a Tertiary age attractive, yet the breccias are older than pseudotachylite interpreted to have been produced by the impact.« less

Deep-tow studies of the Vema Fracture Zone: 1. Tectonics of a major slow slipping transform fault and its intersection with the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

MacDonald, Ken. C.; Castillo, David A.; Miller, Stephen P.; Fox, Paul J.; Kastens, Kim A.; Bonatti, Enrico

1986-03-01

The Vema transform fault, which slips at a rate of 24 mm/yr, displaces the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) 320 km in a left-lateral sense. High-resolution deep-tow studies of the Vema ridge-transform intersection (RTI) and the eastern 130 km of the active transform fault reveal a complex pattern of dip-slip and strike-slip faults which evolve in time and space. At the intersection, both the neovolcanic zone and the west wall of the MAR rift valley curve counterclockwise toward the transform fault along trends approximately 30° oblique to the regional north-south trend of the spreading axis. The curving of extensional structures in the rift valley, such as normal faults and the axial zone of dike injection, appears to be related to transmission of transform related shear stresses into the spreading center domain. Intermittent locking of the American and African lithospheric plates across the RTI causes shear stresses to penetrate up to 4 km into the MAR axial neovolcanic zone where the lithosphere is relatively thin and up to 12 km into the block-faulted west wall of the rift valley where the lithosphere is thicker. The degree of shear coupling across the RTI may vary with time due to changes in the thickness of the lithosphere along the axis (0-10 km), the strength of a "mantle weld" at depth, and the presence or absence of an axial magma chamber, so that extensional structures at the RTI may be either spreading center parallel when coupling is weak or oblique when coupling is strong. Oblique extension across the RTI in addition to other factors may account for some of the down dropping of lithosphere within the deep nodal basin. The easternmost 20 km of the active transform fault zone near the RTI displays a braided network of three to nine tectonically active grabens and V-shaped furrows in a zone 2-4 km wide, interpreted to consist of interwoven Riedel shears, P shears, and oblique normal faults. Clay cake deformation experiments and deep-tow observations suggest that P shears and R shears, which are 10°-20° oblique to the transform slip direction, develop during the initial stages of transform faulting near the RTI as the newly accreted lithosphere accelerates to full plate velocity. Some of the R shears propagate along strike and intercept the oblique normal faults resulting in sharply curving scarps at the RTI. Subsequent to this merging of the two fault types, some of the R shears develop a significant component of dip slip, while other R shears merge with P shears creating a complex anastomosing fault pattern up to 4 km wide. A continuous strand within this braided pattern of faults is interpreted to be the principal transform displacement zone near the RTI. Twenty kilometers west of the RTI the active transform fault zone narrows to a furrow generally less than 100 m wide with only a few short discontinuous splays. This narrow groove cuts through thinly sedimented basalt 20-40 km west of the RTI and continues as a narrow furrow (less than 100 m wide) through up to 1.5 km of layered turbidite fill most of the way to the western RTI. Such a narrow zone of deformation typifies the mature stages of transform faulting where the lithosphere on both sides of the transform fault is relatively old, thick, and rigid and has completed its acceleration to full plate velocity. The transform fault zone is closely associated with a partially buried median ridge and widens to 1-2 km where it transects exposed portions of the ridge. The transform parallel median and transverse ridges create the highest topography associated with the transform fault and may be serpentinized ultramafic intrusions capped by displaced crustal blocks of gabbro, metagabbro, and basalt.

Architectural and microstructural characterization of a seismogenic normal fault in dolostones (Central Apennines, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Demurtas, Matteo; Fondriest, Michele; Clemenzi, Luca; Balsamo, Fabrizio; Storti, Fabrizio; Di Toro, Giulio

2015-04-01

Fault zones cutting carbonate sequences represent significant seismogenic sources worldwide (e.g. L'Aquila 2009, MW 6.1). Though seismological and geophysical techniques (double differences method, trapped waves, etc.) allow us to investigate down to the decametric scale the structure of active fault zones, further geological field surveys and microstructural studies of exhumed seismogenic fault zones are required to support interpretation of geophysical data, quantify the geometry of fault zones and identify the fault processes active during the seismic cycle. Here we describe the architecture (i.e. fault geometry and fault rock distribution) of the well-exposed footwall-block of the Campo Imperatore Fault Zone (CIFZ) by means of remote sensed analyses, field surveys, mineralogical (XRD, micro-Raman spectroscopy) and microstructural (FE-SEM, optical microscope cathodoluminescence) investigations. The CIFZ dips 58° towards N210 and its strike mimics that of the arcuate Gran Sasso Thrust Belt (Central Apennines). The CIFZ was exhumed from 2-3 km depth and accommodated a normal throw of ~2 km starting from the Early-Pleistocene. In the studied area, the CIFZ puts in contact the Holocene deposits at the hangingwall with dolomitized Jurassic carbonate platform successions (Calcare Massiccio) at the footwall. From remote sensed analyses, structural lineaments both inside and outside the CIFZ have a typical NW-SE Apenninic strike, which is parallel to the local trend of the Gran Sasso Thrust. Based on the density of the fracture/fault network and the type of fault zone rocks, we distinguished four main structural domains within the ~300 m thick CIFZ footwall-block, which include (i) a well-cemented (white in color) cataclastic zone (up to ~40 m thick) at the contact with the Holocene deposits, (ii) a well-cemented (brown to grey in color) breccia zone (up to ~15 m thick), (iii) an high strain damage zone (fracture spacing < 2-3 cm), and (iv) a low strain damage zone (fracture spacing > 10 cm). Other than by the main boundary normal fault, slip was accommodated in the cataclastic zone by minor sub-parallel synthetic and antithetic normal faults and by few tear strike-slip fault; the rest of the footwall shows progressively less pervasive damage down to the background intensity of deformation. High strain domains include (1) pervasively fragmented dolostones with radial fractures (evidence of in-situ shattering), (2) shiny (mirror-like) fault surfaces truncating dolostone clasts, (3) mm-thick ultra-cataclastic layers with lobate and cuspate boundaries, (4) mixed calcite-dolomite "foliated cataclasites". The above microstructures can be associated with seismic faulting. Fluids infiltration during deformation is attested by the occurrence of multiple generations of carbonate-filled veins, often exploited as minor faults with a mylonite-like fabric (e.g. presence of micrometer in size euhedral calcite grains). The attitude of the studied segment of the CIFZ, the thickness of the footwall block and the kinematics of the minor faults compares well with the hypocentral and focal mechanisms distribution typical of the earthquake sequences in the Apennines. In particular, the CIFZ can be considered as an exhumed analogue of the normal fault system that caused the L'Aquila 2009 seismic sequence.

The 2016-2017 Central Italy Seismic Sequence: Source Complexity Inferred from Rupture Models.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scognamiglio, L.; Tinti, E.; Casarotti, E.; Pucci, S.; Villani, F.; Cocco, M.; Magnoni, F.; Michelini, A.

2017-12-01

The Apennines have been struck by several seismic sequences in recent years, showing evidence of the activation of multiple segments of normal fault systems in a variable and, relatively short, time span, as in the case of the 1980 Irpinia earthquake (three shocks in 40 s), the 1997 Umbria-Marche sequence (four main shocks in 18 days) and the 2009 L'Aquila earthquake having three segments activated within a few weeks. The 2016-2017 central Apennines seismic sequence begin on August 24th with a MW 6.0 earthquake, which strike the region between Amatrice and Accumoli causing 299 fatalities. This earthquake ruptures a nearly 20 km long normal fault and shows a quite heterogeneous slip distribution. On October 26th, another main shock (MW 5.9) occurs near Visso extending the activated seismogenic area toward the NW. It is a double event rupturing contiguous patches on the fault segment of the normal fault system. Four days after the second main shock, on October 30th, a third earthquake (MW 6.5) occurs near Norcia, roughly midway between Accumoli and Visso. In this work we have inverted strong motion waveforms and GPS data to retrieve the source model of the MW 6.5 event with the aim of interpreting the rupture process in the framework of this complex sequence of moderate magnitude earthquakes. We noted that some preliminary attempts to model the slip distribution of the October 30th main shock using a single fault plane oriented along the Apennines did not provide convincing fits to the observed waveforms. In addition, the deformation pattern inferred from satellite observations suggested the activation of a multi-fault structure, that is coherent to the complexity and the extension of the geological surface deformation. We investigated the role of multi-fault ruptures and we found that this event revealed an extraordinary complexity of the rupture geometry and evolution: the coseismic rupture propagated almost simultaneously on a normal fault and on a blind fault, possibly inherited from compressional tectonics. These earthquakes raise serious concerns on our understanding of fault segmentation and seismicity evolution during sequences of normal faulting earthquakes. Finally, the retrieved rupture history has important implications on seismic hazard assessment and on the maximum expected magnitude in a given tectonic area.

Role of N-S strike-slip faulting in structuring of north-eastern Tunisia; geodynamic implications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arfaoui, Aymen; Soumaya, Abdelkader; Ben Ayed, Noureddine; Delvaux, Damien; Ghanmi, Mohamed; Kadri, Ali; Zargouni, Fouad

2017-05-01

Three major compressional events characterized by folding, thrusting and strike-slip faulting occurred in the Eocene, Late Miocene and Quaternary along the NE Tunisian domain between Bou Kornine-Ressas-Msella and Cap Bon Peninsula. During the Plio-Quaternary, the Grombalia and Mornag grabens show a maximum of collapse in parallelism with the NNW-SSE SHmax direction and developed as 3rd order distensives zones within a global compressional regime. Using existing tectonic and geophysical data supplemented by new fault-kinematic observations, we show that Cenozoic deformation of the Mesozoic sedimentary sequences is dominated by first order N-S faults reactivation, this sinistral wrench system is responsible for the formation of strike-slip duplexes, thrusts, folds and grabens. Following our new structural interpretation, the major faults of N-S Axis, Bou Kornine-Ressas-Messella (MRB) and Hammamet-Korbous (HK) form an N-S first order compressive relay within a left lateral strike-slip duplex. The N-S master MRB fault is dominated by contractional imbricate fans, while the parallel HK fault is characterized by a trailing of extensional imbricate fans. The Eocene and Miocene compression phases in the study area caused sinistral strike-slip reactivation of pre-existing N-S faults, reverse reactivation of NE-SW trending faults and normal-oblique reactivation of NW-SE faults, creating a NE-SW to N-S trending system of east-verging folds and overlaps. Existing seismic tomography images suggest a key role for the lithospheric subvertical tear or STEP fault (Slab Transfer Edge Propagator) evidenced below this region on the development of the MRB and the HK relay zone. The presence of extensive syntectonic Pliocene on top of this crustal scale fault may be the result of a recent lithospheric vertical kinematic of this STEP fault, due to the rollback and lateral migration of the Calabrian slab eastward.

The complex architecture of the 2009 MW 6.1 L'Aquila normal fault system (Central Italy) as imaged by 64,000 high-resolution aftershock locations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Valoroso, L.; Chiaraluce, L.; Di Stefano, R.; Piccinini, D.; Schaff, D. P.; Waldhauser, F.

2011-12-01

On April 6th 2009, a MW 6.1 normal faulting earthquake struck the axial area of the Abruzzo region in Central Italy. We present high-precision hypocenter locations of an extraordinary dataset composed by 64,000 earthquakes recorded at a very dense seismic network of 60 stations operating for 9 months after the main event. Events span in magnitude (ML) between -0.9 to 5.9, reaching a completeness magnitude of 0.7. The dataset has been processed by integrating an accurate automatic picking procedure together with cross-correlation and double-difference relative location methods. The combined use of these procedures results in earthquake relative location uncertainties in the range of a few meters to tens of meters, comparable/lower than the spatial dimension of the earthquakes themselves). This data set allows us to image the complex inner geometry of individual faults from the kilometre to meter scale. The aftershock distribution illuminates the anatomy of the en-echelon fault system composed of two major faults. The mainshock breaks the entire upper crust from 10 km depth to the surface along a 14-km long normal fault. A second segment, located north of the normal fault and activated by two Mw>5 events, shows a striking listric geometry completely blind. We focus on the analysis of about 300 clusters of co-located events to characterize the mechanical behavior of the different portions of the fault system. The number of events in each cluster ranges from 4 to 24 events and they exhibit strongly correlated seismograms at common stations. They mostly occur where secondary structures join the main fault planes and along unfavorably oriented segments. Moreover, larger clusters nucleate on secondary faults located in the overlapping area between the two main segments, where the rate of earthquake production is very high with a long-lasting seismic decay.

Negative Selection Algorithm for Aircraft Fault Detection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dasgupta, D.; KrishnaKumar, K.; Wong, D.; Berry, M.

2004-01-01

We investigated a real-valued Negative Selection Algorithm (NSA) for fault detection in man-in-the-loop aircraft operation. The detection algorithm uses body-axes angular rate sensory data exhibiting the normal flight behavior patterns, to generate probabilistically a set of fault detectors that can detect any abnormalities (including faults and damages) in the behavior pattern of the aircraft flight. We performed experiments with datasets (collected under normal and various simulated failure conditions) using the NASA Ames man-in-the-loop high-fidelity C-17 flight simulator. The paper provides results of experiments with different datasets representing various failure conditions.

On the sensitivity of transtensional versus transpressional tectonic regimes to remote dynamic triggering by Coulomb failure

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hill, David P.

2015-01-01

 Accumulating evidence, although still strongly spatially aliased, indicates that although remote dynamic triggering of small-to-moderate (Mw<5) earthquakes can occur in all tectonic settings, transtensional stress regimes with normal and subsidiary strike-slip faulting seem to be more susceptible to dynamic triggering than transpressional regimes with reverse and subsidiary strike-slip faulting. Analysis of the triggering potential of Love- and Rayleigh-wave dynamic stresses incident on normal, reverse, and strike-slip faults assuming Andersonian faulting theory and simple Coulomb failure supports this apparent difference for rapid-onset triggering susceptibility.

Characterization of radon levels in soil and groundwater in the North Maladeta Fault area (Central Pyrenees) and their effects on indoor radon concentration in a thermal spa.

PubMed

Moreno, V; Bach, J; Zarroca, M; Font, Ll; Roqué, C; Linares, R

2018-09-01

Radon levels in the soil and groundwater in the North Maladeta Fault area (located in the Aran Valley sector, Central Pyrenees) are analysed from both geological and radiation protection perspectives. This area is characterized by the presence of two important normal faults: the North Maladeta fault (NMF) and the Tredós Fault (TF). Two primary aspects make this study interesting: (i) the NMF shows geomorphic evidence of neotectonic activity and (ii) the presence of a thermal spa, Banhs de Tredós, which exploits one of the several natural springs of the area and needs to be evaluated for radiation dosing from radon according to the European regulation on basic safety standards for protection against ionizing radiation. The average soil radon and thoron concentrations along a profile perpendicular to the two normal faults - 22 ± 3 kBq·m -3 and 34 ± 3 kBq·m -3 , respectively - are not high and can be compared to the radionuclide content of the granitic rocks of the area, 25 ± 4 Bq·kg -1 for 226 Ra and 38 ± 2 Bq·kg -1 for 224 Ra. However, the hypothesis that the normal faults are still active is supported by the presence of anomalies in both the soil radon and thoron levels that are unlikely to be of local origin together with the presence of similar anomalies in CO 2 fluxes and the fact that the highest groundwater radon values are located close to the normal faults. Additionally, groundwater 222 Rn data have complemented the hydrochemistry data, enabling researchers to better distinguish between water pathways in the granitic and non-granitic aquifers. Indoor radon levels in the spa vary within a wide range, [7-1664] Bq·m -3 because the groundwater used in the treatment rooms is the primary source of radon in the air. Tap water radon levels inside the spa present an average value of 50 ± 8 kBq·m -3 , which does not exceed the level stipulated by the Spanish Nuclear Safety Council (CSN) of 100 kBq·m -3 for water used for human consumption. This finding implies that even relatively low radon concentration values in water can constitute a relevant indoor radon source when the transfer from water to indoor air is efficient. The estimated effective dose range of values for a spa worker due to radon inhalation is [1-9] mSv·y -1 . The use of annual averaged radon concentration values may significantly underestimate the dose in these situations; therefore, a detailed dynamic study must be performed by considering the time that the workers spend in the spa. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Transfer zones in listric normal fault systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bose, Shamik

Listric normal faults are common in passive margin settings where sedimentary units are detached above weaker lithological units, such as evaporites or are driven by basal structural and stratigraphic discontinuities. The geometries and styles of faulting vary with the types of detachment and form landward and basinward dipping fault systems. Complex transfer zones therefore develop along the terminations of adjacent faults where deformation is accommodated by secondary faults, often below seismic resolution. The rollover geometry and secondary faults within the hanging wall of the major faults also vary with the styles of faulting and contribute to the complexity of the transfer zones. This study tries to understand the controlling factors for the formation of the different styles of listric normal faults and the different transfer zones formed within them, by using analog clay experimental models. Detailed analyses with respect to fault orientation, density and connectivity have been performed on the experiments in order to gather insights on the structural controls and the resulting geometries. A new high resolution 3D laser scanning technology has been introduced to scan the surfaces of the clay experiments for accurate measurements and 3D visualizations. Numerous examples from the Gulf of Mexico have been included to demonstrate and geometrically compare the observations in experiments and real structures. A salt cored convergent transfer zone from the South Timbalier Block 54, offshore Louisiana has been analyzed in detail to understand the evolutionary history of the region, which helps in deciphering the kinematic growth of similar structures in the Gulf of Mexico. The dissertation is divided into three chapters, written in a journal article format, that deal with three different aspects in understanding the listric normal fault systems and the transfer zones so formed. The first chapter involves clay experimental models to understand the fault patterns in divergent and convergent transfer zones. Flat base plate setups have been used to build different configurations that would lead to approaching, normal offset and overlapping faults geometries. The results have been analyzed with respect to fault orientation, density, connectivity and 3D geometry from photographs taken from the three free surfaces and laser scans of the top surface of the clay cake respectively. The second chapter looks into the 3D structural analysis of the South Timbalier Block 54, offshore Louisiana in the Gulf of Mexico with the help of a 3D seismic dataset and associated well tops and velocity data donated by ExxonMobil Corporation. This study involves seismic interpretation techniques, velocity modeling, cross section restoration of a series of seismic lines and 3D subsurface modeling using depth converted seismic horizons, well tops and balanced cross sections. The third chapter deals with the clay experiments of listric normal fault systems and tries to understand the controls on geometries of fault systems with and without a ductile substrate. Sloping flat base plate setups have been used and silicone fluid underlain below the clay cake has been considered as an analog for salt. The experimental configurations have been varied with respect to three factors viz. the direction of slope with respect to extension, the termination of silicone polymer with respect to the basal discontinuities and overlap of the base plates. The analyses for the experiments have again been performed from photographs and 3D laser scans of the clay surface.

The application of active-source seismic imaging techniques to transtensional problems the Walker Lane and Salton Trough

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kell, Anna Marie

The plate margin in the western United States is an active tectonic region that contains the integrated deformation between the North American and Pacific plates. Nearly focused plate motion between the North American and Pacific plates within the northern Gulf of California gives way north of the Salton Trough to more diffuse deformation. In particular a large fraction of the slip along the southernmost San Andreas fault ultimately bleeds eastward, including about 20% of the total plate motion budget that finds its way through the transtensional Walker Lane Deformation Belt just east of the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Fault-bounded ranges combined with intervening low-lying basins characterize this region; the down-dropped features are often filled with water, which present opportunities for seismic imaging at unprecedented scales. Here I present active-source seismic imaging from the Salton Sea and Walker Lane Deformation Belt, including both marine applications in lakes and shallow seas, and more conventional land-based techniques along the Carson range front. The complex fault network beneath the Salton Trough in eastern California is the on-land continuation of the Gulf of California rift system, where North American-Pacific plate motion is accommodated by a series of long transform faults, separated by small pull-apart, transtensional basins; the right-lateral San Andreas fault bounds this system to the north where it carries, on average, about 50% of total plate motion. The Salton Sea resides within the most youthful and northerly "spreading center" in this several thousand-kilometer-long rift system. The Sea provides an ideal environment for the use of high-data-density marine seismic techniques. Two active-source seismic campaigns in 2010 and 2011 show progression of the development of the Salton pull-apart sub-basin and the northerly propagation of the Imperial-San Andreas system through time at varying resolutions. High fidelity seismic imagery documents the timing of strain transfer from the Imperial fault onto the San Andreas fault through the application of sequence stratigraphy. Evidence shows that the formation of the Salton and Mesquite sub-basins and the associated change of strain partitioning occurred within the last 20-40 k.y., essentially modifying a broader zone of transtension bounding the Imperial and San Andreas faults into two smaller zones of focused extension. The north-central Walker Lane contains a diffuse network of both strike-slip and normal faults, with some degree of strain partitioning characterized by normal faulting to the west along the eastern edge of the Sierra Nevada mountain range, and strike-slip faults to the east that define a diffuse boundary against the Basin and Range proper. A seismic study across the Mount Rose fault zone, bounding the Carson Range near Reno, Nevada, was carried out to investigate slip across a potential low-angle normal fault. A hammer seismic reflection and refraction profile combined with airborne LiDAR (light detection and ranging) imagery highlights fault scarp modification through minor slumping/landslides, providing a better understanding of the nature of slip on this fault. The northeastern margin of the Walker Lane is a region where both "Basin and Range" style normal faults and dextral strike-slip faults contribute to the northward propagation of the Walker Lane (essentially parallel to an equivalent northward propagation of the Mendocino triple junction). Near this intersection lies Pyramid Lake, bounded to the southwest by the dextral Pyramid Lake fault and to the northeast by the normal Lake Range fault. A high-resolution (sub-meter) seismic CHIRP survey collected in 2010 shows intriguing relationships into fault architecture beneath Pyramid Lake. Over 500 line-km of seismic data reveal a polarity flip in basin structure as down-to-the-east motion at the northern end of the Pyramid Lake fault rapidly gives way to down-to-the-west normal motion along the Lake Range fault. Alternating patterns of asymmetric and symmetric stratal patterns west of the Lake Range fault provides some evidence for segmentation of total slip along this large normal fault. Using dated sediment cores, slip rate for the Lake Range fault was found to be approximately 1 mm/yr during the Holocene. A complex zone of transtenstion was also observed in seismic CHIRP data in the northwest quadrant of the lake, where short, discontinuous faults hint at the development of a nascent shear zone trending to the northwest. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)

Rock friction under variable normal stress

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kilgore, Brian D.; Beeler, Nicholas M.; Lozos, Julian C.; Oglesby, David

2017-01-01

This study is to determine the detailed response of shear strength and other fault properties to changes in normal stress at room temperature using dry initially bare rock surfaces of granite at normal stresses between 5 and 7 MPa. Rapid normal stress changes result in gradual, approximately exponential changes in shear resistance with fault slip. The characteristic length of the exponential change is similar for both increases and decreases in normal stress. In contrast, changes in fault normal displacement and the amplitude of small high-frequency elastic waves transmitted across the surface follow a two stage response consisting of a large immediate and a smaller gradual response with slip. The characteristic slip distance of the small gradual response is significantly smaller than that of shear resistance. The stability of sliding in response to large step decreases in normal stress is well predicted using the shear resistance slip length observed in step increases. Analysis of the shear resistance and slip-time histories suggest nearly immediate changes in strength occur in response to rapid changes in normal stress; these are manifested as an immediate change in slip speed. These changes in slip speed can be qualitatively accounted for using a rate-independent strength model. Collectively, the observations and model show that acceleration or deceleration in response to normal stress change depends on the size of the change, the frictional characteristics of the fault surface, and the elastic properties of the loading system.

How Do Normal Faults Grow?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jackson, C. A. L.; Bell, R. E.; Rotevatn, A.; Tvedt, A. B. M.

2015-12-01

Normal faulting accommodates stretching of the Earth's crust and is one of the fundamental controls on landscape evolution and sediment dispersal in rift basins. Displacement-length scaling relationships compiled from global datasets suggest normal faults grow via a sympathetic increase in these two parameters (the 'isolated fault model'). This model has dominated the structural geology literature for >20 years and underpins the structural and tectono-stratigraphic models developed for active rifts. However, relatively recent analysis of high-quality 3D seismic reflection data suggests faults may grow by rapid establishment of their near-final length prior to significant displacement accumulation (the 'coherent fault model'). The isolated and coherent fault models make very different predictions regarding the tectono-stratigraphic evolution of rift basin, thus assessing their applicability is important. To-date, however, very few studies have explicitly set out to critically test the coherent fault model thus, it may be argued, it has yet to be widely accepted in the structural geology community. Displacement backstripping is a simple graphical technique typically used to determine how faults lengthen and accumulate displacement; this technique should therefore allow us to test the competing fault models. However, in this talk we use several subsurface case studies to show that the most commonly used backstripping methods (the 'original' and 'modified' methods) are, however, of limited value, because application of one over the other requires an a priori assumption of the model most applicable to any given fault; we argue this is illogical given that the style of growth is exactly what the analysis is attempting to determine. We then revisit our case studies and demonstrate that, in the case of seismic-scale growth faults, growth strata thickness patterns and relay zone kinematics, rather than displacement backstripping, should be assessed to directly constrain fault length and thus tip behaviour through time. We conclude that rapid length establishment prior to displacement accumulation may be more common than is typically assumed, thus challenging the well-established, widely cited and perhaps overused, isolated fault model.

Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectonic transition process in Zhanhua Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, East China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cheng, Yanjun; Wu, Zhiping; Lu, Shunan; Li, Xu; Lin, Chengyan; Huang, Zheng; Su, Wen; Jiang, Chao; Wang, Shouye

2018-04-01

The Zhanhua sag is part of the Bohai Bay intracontinental basin system that has developed since the Mesozoic in East China. The timing of this basin system coincides with the final assembly of East Asia and the development of Western Pacific-type plate margin. Here we use 3-D seismic and core log data to investigate the evolution of this basin and discuss its broad tectonic settings. Our new structural study of Zhanhua sag suggests that there are four major tectonic transitions occurred in the Bohai Bay Basin during Mesozoic and Cenozoic: (1) The first tectonic transition was from stable Craton to thrusting during the Triassic, mainly caused by the South China Block's subduction northward beneath the North China Block, which induced the formation of the NW-striking thrust faults. (2) The second tectonic transition was mainly characterized by a change from compression to extension, which can be further divided into two-stages. At the first stage, two episodes of NW-SE shortening occurred in East Asia during Early-Middle Jurassic and Late Jurassic-earliest Cretaceous, respectively. At the second stage, the extension and left-lateral shearing took place during Early Cretaceous while compression occurred during Late Cretaceous. The NW-striking thrust faults changed to normal faults and the NNE-striking left-lateral strike-slip faults started to influence the eastern part of the basin. (3) The third transition occurred when the NW-SE extension and NNE-striking right-lateral shearing started to form during Paleogene, and the peak deformation happen around 40 Ma due to the change of the subduction direction of Pacific Plate relative to Eurasia Plate. The NE-striking normal faults are the main structure, and the pre-existing NNE-striking strike-slip faults changed from left-lateral to right-lateral. (4) The fourth transition saw the regional subsidence during Neogene, which was probably caused by the India-Asia "Hard collision" between 25 and 20 Ma.

Geochemistry, mineralization, structure, and permeability of a normal-fault zone, Casino mine, Alligator Ridge district, north central Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hammond, K. Jill; Evans, James P.

2003-05-01

We examine the geochemical signature and structure of the Keno fault zone to test its impact on the flow of ore-mineralizing fluids, and use the mined exposures to evaluate structures and processes associated with normal fault development. The fault is a moderately dipping normal-fault zone in siltstone and silty limestone with 55-100 m of dip-slip displacement in north-central Nevada. Across-strike exposures up to 180 m long, 65 m of down-dip exposure and 350 m of along-strike exposure allow us to determine how faults, fractures, and fluids interact within mixed-lithology carbonate-dominated sedimentary rocks. The fault changes character along strike from a single clay-rich slip plane 10-20 mm thick at the northern exposure to numerous hydrocarbon-bearing, calcite-filled, nearly vertical slip planes in a zone 15 m wide at the southern exposure. The hanging wall and footwall are intensely fractured but fracture densities do not vary markedly with distance from the fault. Fault slip varies from pure dip-slip to nearly pure strike-slip, which suggests that either slip orientations may vary on faults in single slip events, or stress variations over the history of the fault caused slip vector variations. Whole-rock major, minor, and trace element analyses indicate that Au, Sb, and As are in general associated with the fault zone, suggesting that Au- and silica-bearing fluids migrated along the fault to replace carbonate in the footwall and adjacent hanging wall rocks. Subsequent fault slip was associated with barite and calcite and hydrocarbon-bearing fluids deposited at the southern end of the fault. No correlation exists at the meter or tens of meter scale between mineralization patterns and fracture density. We suggest that the fault was a combined conduit-barrier system in which the fault provides a critical connection between the fluid sources and fractures that formed before and during faulting. During the waning stages of deposit formation, the fault behaved as a localized conduit to hydrocarbon-bearing calcite veins. The results of this study show that fault-zone character may change dramatically over short, deposit- or reservoir-scale distances. The presence of damage zones may not be well correlated at the fine scale with geochemically defined regions of the fault, even though a gross spatial correlation may exist.

Fluid-controlled faulting process in the Asal Rift, Djibouti, from 8 yr of radar interferometry observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doubre, Cécile; Peltzer, Gilles

2007-01-01

The deformation in the Asal Rift (Djibouti) is characterized by magmatic inflation, diking, distributed extension, fissure opening, and normal faulting. An 8 yr time line of surface displacement maps covering the rift, constructed using radar interferometry data acquired by the Canadian satellite Radarsat between 1997 and 2005, reveals the aseismic behavior of faults and its relation with bursts of microseismicity. The observed ground movements show the asymmetric subsidence of the inner floor of the rift with respect to the bordering shoulders accommodated by slip on three of the main active faults. Fault slip occurs both as steady creep and during sudden slip events accompanied by an increase in the seismicity rate around the slipping fault and the Fieale volcanic center. Slip distribution along fault strike shows triangular sections, a pattern not explained by simple elastic dislocation theory. These observations suggest that the Asal Rift faults are in a critical failure state and respond instantly to small pressure changes in fluid-filled fractures connected to the faults, reducing the effective normal stress on their locked section at depth.

Shallow subsurface imaging of the Piano di Pezza active normal fault (central Italy) by high-resolution refraction and electrical resistivity tomography coupled with time-domain electromagnetic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Villani, Fabio; Tulliani, Valerio; Sapia, Vincenzo; Fierro, Elisa; Civico, Riccardo; Pantosti, Daniela

2015-12-01

The Piano di Pezza fault is the central section of the 35 km long L'Aquila-Celano active normal fault-system in the central Apennines of Italy. Although palaeoseismic data document high Holocene vertical slip rates (˜1 mm yr-1) and a remarkable seismogenic potential of this fault, its subsurface setting and Pleistocene cumulative displacement are still poorly known. We investigated for the first time the shallow subsurface of a key section of the main Piano di Pezza fault splay by means of high-resolution seismic and electrical resistivity tomography coupled with time-domain electromagnetic soundings (TDEM). Our surveys cross a ˜5-m-high fault scarp that was generated by repeated surface-rupturing earthquakes displacing Holocene alluvial fans. We provide 2-D Vp and resistivity images, which show significant details of the fault structure and the geometry of the shallow basin infill material down to 50 m depth. Our data indicate that the upper fault termination has a sub-vertical attitude, in agreement with palaeoseismological trench evidence, whereas it dips ˜50° to the southwest in the deeper part. We recognize some low-velocity/low-resistivity regions in the fault hangingwall that we relate to packages of colluvial wedges derived from scarp degradation, which may represent the record of some Holocene palaeo-earthquakes. We estimate a ˜13-15 m throw of this fault splay since the end of the Last Glacial Maximum (˜18 ka), leading to a 0.7-0.8 mm yr-1 throw rate that is quite in accordance with previous palaeoseismic estimation of Holocene vertical slip rates. The 1-D resistivity models from TDEM soundings collected along the trace of the electrical profile significantly match with 2-D resistivity images. Moreover, they indicate that in the fault hangingwall, ˜200 m away from the surface fault trace, the pre-Quaternary carbonate basement is at ˜90-100 m depth. We therefore provide a minimal ˜150-160 m estimate of the cumulative throw of the Piano di Pezza fault system in the investigated section. We further hypothesize that the onset of the Piano di Pezza fault activity may date back to the Middle Pleistocene (˜0.5 Ma), so this is a quite young active normal fault if compared to other mature normal fault systems active since 2-3 Ma in this portion of the central Apennines.

Estimation of in-situ Stress Magnitudes and Orientations in a Deep South African Gold Mine: Applications to Fault Mechanics and Mine Safety

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lucier, A. M.; Heesakkers, V.; Zoback, M. D.; Reches, Z.

2006-12-01

As part of the Natural Earthquake Laboratory in South African Mines (NELSAM) project, we are investigating the far-field in-situ stress state around the TauTona gold mine. The far-field stress state is used as a boundary condition to quantify the stresses within the active mining area, and to evaluate the potential for reactivation of existing faults (or creation of new faults) in the NELSAM study area. Our main goals are to gain insight into earthquake processes under induced faulting conditions and to guide mining practices in improving underground seismic safety. To characterize in-situ stresses, we use an integrated stress measurement strategy that incorporates rock properties with breakout and drilling-induced tensile fracture observations from camera log images of several boreholes in the NELSAM study area at a depth of 3.5 km below the ground surface. The quantification of the far-field in-situ stress state is based on breakouts observed in a sub-horizontal borehole that extends 418 m away from the mined region and intersects the Pretorius fault, the largest fault-zone in the mine. The location, width and orientation of these breakouts were interpreted along the length of the borehole. Breakouts occur along most of the length of the borehole, with widths ranging from 25-95 deg and orientations fluctuating up to 45 deg around the sidewalls of the borehole. The fluctuations in breakout orientations are presumably due to slip on fault segments, and modeling these fluctuations provides constraints on the far-field stress state. Rock properties (uniaxial compressive strength, Young's modulus and Poisson's ratio) from on-going laboratory experiments will further constrain the stress magnitudes. The results of the stress characterization in this long borehole have been compared with independent stress determinations made in several 10-40 m long boreholes within the mined region to ensure consistency between the modeled far-field stress magnitudes and the observed near-field stresses. Our preliminary results indicate a normal faulting to normal/strike-slip stress state. Once a final stress model has been obtained, we will use it to assess the potential for fault reactivation and to predict future stress changes associated with further mining operations. The study was supported by NSF Continental Dynamics grant 0409605.

Development of a Converter-Based Transmission Line Emulator with Three-Phase Short-Circuit Fault Emulation Capability

DOE PAGES

Zhang, Shuoting; Liu, Bo; Zheng, Sheng; ...

2018-01-01

A transmission line emulator has been developed to flexibly represent interconnected ac lines under normal operating conditions in a voltage source converter (VSC)-based power system emulation platform. As the most serious short-circuit fault condition, the three-phase short-circuit fault emulation is essential for power system studies. Here, this paper proposes a model to realize a three-phase short-circuit fault emulation at different locations along a single transmission line or one of several parallel-connected transmission lines. At the same time, a combination method is proposed to eliminate the undesired transients caused by the current reference step changes while switching between the fault statemore » and the normal state. Experiment results verify the developed transmission line three-phase short-circuit fault emulation capability.« less

Development of a Converter-Based Transmission Line Emulator with Three-Phase Short-Circuit Fault Emulation Capability

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zhang, Shuoting; Liu, Bo; Zheng, Sheng

A transmission line emulator has been developed to flexibly represent interconnected ac lines under normal operating conditions in a voltage source converter (VSC)-based power system emulation platform. As the most serious short-circuit fault condition, the three-phase short-circuit fault emulation is essential for power system studies. Here, this paper proposes a model to realize a three-phase short-circuit fault emulation at different locations along a single transmission line or one of several parallel-connected transmission lines. At the same time, a combination method is proposed to eliminate the undesired transients caused by the current reference step changes while switching between the fault statemore » and the normal state. Experiment results verify the developed transmission line three-phase short-circuit fault emulation capability.« less

Subduction of thick oceanic plateau and high-angle normal-fault earthquakes intersecting the slab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arai, Ryuta; Kodaira, Shuichi; Yamada, Tomoaki; Takahashi, Tsutomu; Miura, Seiichi; Kaneda, Yoshiyuki; Nishizawa, Azusa; Oikawa, Mitsuhiro

2017-06-01

The role of seamounts on interplate earthquakes has been debated. However, its impact on intraslab deformation is poorly understood. Here we present unexpected evidence for large normal-fault earthquakes intersecting the slab just ahead of a subducting seamount. In 1995, a series of earthquakes with maximum magnitude of 7.1 occurred in northern Ryukyu where oceanic plateaus are subducting. The aftershock distribution shows that conjugate faults with an unusually high dip angle of 70-80° ruptured the entire subducting crust. Seismic reflection images reveal that the plate interface is displaced over 1 km along one of the fault planes of the 1995 events. These results suggest that a lateral variation in slab buoyancy can produce sufficient differential stress leading to near-vertical normal-fault earthquakes within the slab. On the contrary, the upper surface of the seamount (plate interface) may correspond to a weakly coupled region, reflecting the dual effects of seamounts/plateaus on subduction earthquakes.

Active transfer fault zone linking a segmented extensional system (Betics, southern Spain): Insight into heterogeneous extension driven by edge delamination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez-Martínez, José Miguel; Booth-Rea, Guillermo; Azañón, José Miguel; Torcal, Federico

2006-08-01

Pliocene and Quaternary tectonic structures mainly consisting of segmented northwest-southeast normal faults, and associated seismicity in the central Betics do not agree with the transpressive tectonic nature of the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary in the Ibero-Maghrebian region. Active extensional deformation here is heterogeneous, individual segmented normal faults being linked by relay ramps and transfer faults, including oblique-slip and both dextral and sinistral strike-slip faults. Normal faults extend the hanging wall of an extensional detachment that is the active segment of a complex system of successive WSW-directed extensional detachments which have thinned the Betic upper crust since middle Miocene. Two areas, which are connected by an active 40-km long dextral strike-slip transfer fault zone, concentrate present-day extension. Both the seismicity distribution and focal mechanisms agree with the position and regime of the observed faults. The activity of the transfer zone during middle Miocene to present implies a mode of extension which must have remained substantially the same over the entire period. Thus, the mechanisms driving extension should still be operating. Both the westward migration of the extensional loci and the high asymmetry of the extensional systems can be related to edge delamination below the south Iberian margin coupled with roll-back under the Alborán Sea; involving the asymmetric westward inflow of asthenospheric material under the margins.

Geometric and thermal controls on normal fault seismicity from rate-and-state friction models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mark, H. F.; Behn, M. D.; Olive, J. A. L.; Liu, Y.

2017-12-01

Seismic and geodetic observations from the last two decades have led to a growing realization that a significant amount of fault slip at plate boundaries occurs aseismically, and that the amount of aseismic displacement varies across settings. Here we investigate controls on the seismogenic behavior of crustal-scale normal faults that accommodate extensional strain at mid-ocean ridges and continental rifts. Seismic moment release rates measured along the fast-spreading East Pacific Rise suggest that the majority of fault growth occurs aseismically with almost no seismic slip. In contrast, at the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge seismic slip may represent up to 60% of the total fault displacement. Potential explanations for these variations include heterogeneous distributions of frictional properties on fault surfaces, effects of variable magma supply associated with seafloor spreading, and/or differences in fault geometry and thermal structure. In this study, we use rate-and-state friction models to study the seismic coupling coefficient (the fraction of total fault slip that occurs seismically) for normal faults at divergent plate boundaries, and investigate controls on fault behavior that might produce the variations in the coupling coefficient observed in natural systems. We find that the seismic coupling coefficient scales with W/h*, where W is the downdip width of the seismogenic area of the fault and h* is the critical earthquake nucleation size. At mid-ocean ridges, W is expected to increase with decreasing spreading rate. Thus, the observed relationship between seismic coupling and W/h* explains to first order variations in seismic coupling coefficient as a function of spreading rate. Finally, we use catalog data from the Gulf of Corinth to show that this scaling relationship can be extended into the thicker lithosphere of continental rift systems.

Slip behaviour of experimental faults subjected to fluid pressure stimulation: carbonates vs. shales

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Collettini, C.; Scuderi, M. M.; Marone, C.

2017-12-01

Fluid overpressure is one of the primary mechanisms for triggering tectonic fault slip and human-induced seismicity. This mechanism has been invoked to explain the dramatic increase in seismicity associated with waste water disposal in intra-plate setting, and it is appealing because fluids lubricate the fault and reduce the effective normal stress that holds the fault in place. Although, this basic physical mechanism is well understood, several fundamental questions remain including the apparent delay between fluid injection and seismicity, the role of fault zone rheology, and the relationship between injection volume and earthquake size. Moreover, models of earthquake nucleation predict that a reduction in normal stress, as expected for fluid overpressure, should stabilize fault slip. Here, we address these questions using laboratory experiments, conducted in the double direct shear configuration in a true-triaxial machine on carbonates and shale fault gouges. In particular, we: 1) evaluate frictional strength and permeability, 2) characterize the rate- and state- friction parameters and 3) study fault slip evolution during fluid pressure stimulations. With increasing fluid pressure, when shear and effective normal stresses reach the failure condition, in calcite gouges, characterized by slightly velocity strengthening behaviour, we observe an acceleration of slip that spontaneously evolves into dynamic failure. For shale gouges, with a strong rate-strengthening behaviour, we document complex fault slip behavior characterized by periodic accelerations and decelerations with slip velocity that remains slow (i.e. v 200 µm/s), never approaching dynamic slip rates. Our data indicate that fault rheology and fault stability is controlled by the coupling between fluid pressure and rate- and state- friction parameters suggesting that their comprehensive characterization is fundamental for assessing the role of fluid pressure in natural and human induced earthquakes.

Extensional collapse along the Sevier Desert reflection, northern Sevier Desert basin, western United States

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Coogan, James C.; Decelles, Peter G.

1996-10-01

Newly released and previously published seismic reflection data from the northern Sevier Desert basin provide a complete seismic transect between the tilted western margin of the basin and the eastern breakaway zone. When tied to well and surface age data, the transect delineates a continuum of extensional fault and basin fill geometries that developed between late Oligocene and Pleistocene time across the basin. A minimum of 18 km of top-to-the-west normal displacement is estimated across the Sevier Desert from only the most conspicuous growth geometries and offsets across listric normal faults that sole downward into the Sevier Desert reflection (SDR). The SDR clearly marks a normal fault zone beneath the entire basin, where stratal truncations are imaged for 50% of the 39 km length of the reflection east of the Cricket Mountains block. Restoration of extensional displacement along this entire 39 km fault length is necessary to reconstruct the pre-Oligocene configuration and erosion level of Sevier thrust sheets across the Sevier Desert area. The SDR normal fault zone underlies the former topographic crest of the Sevier orogenic belt, where it accommodated extensional collapse after cessation of regional contractile tectonism.

Slip and Dilation Tendency Anlysis of Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

Slip and Dilation Tendency in focus areas Critically stressed fault segments have a relatively high likelihood of acting as fluid flow conduits (Sibson, 1994). As such, the tendency of a fault segment to slip (slip tendency; Ts; Morris et al., 1996) or to dilate (dilation tendency; Td; Ferrill et al., 1999) provides an indication of which faults or fault segments within a geothermal system are critically stressed and therefore likely to transmit geothermal fluids. The slip tendency of a surface is defined by the ratio of shear stress to normal stress on that surface: Ts = τ / σn (Morris et al., 1996). Dilation tendency is defined by the stress acting normal to a given surface: Td = (σ1-σn) / (σ1-σ3) (Ferrill et al., 1999). Slip and dilation were calculated using 3DStress (Southwest Research Institute). Slip and dilation tendency are both unitless ratios of the resolved stresses applied to the fault plane by ambient stress conditions. Values range from a maximum of 1, a fault plane ideally oriented to slip or dilate under ambient stress conditions to zero, a fault plane with no potential to slip or dilate. Slip and dilation tendency values were calculated for each fault in the focus study areas at, McGinness Hills, Neal Hot Springs, Patua, Salt Wells, San Emidio, and Tuscarora on fault traces. As dip is not well constrained or unknown for many faults mapped in within these we made these calculations using the dip for each fault that would yield the maximum slip tendency or dilation tendency. As such, these results should be viewed as maximum tendency of each fault to slip or dilate. The resulting along-fault and fault-to-fault variation in slip or dilation potential is a proxy for along fault and fault-to-fault variation in fluid flow conduit potential. Stress Magnitudes and directions Stress field variation within each focus area was approximated based on regional published data and the world stress database (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2010; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012; Moeck et al., 2010; Moos and Ronne, 2010 and Reinecker et al., 2005) as well as local stress information if applicable. For faults within these focus systems we applied either a normal faulting stress regime where the vertical stress (sv) is larger than the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (sv>shmax>shmin) or strike-slip faulting stress regime where the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) is larger than the vertical stress (sv) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (shmax >sv>shmin) depending on the general tectonic province of the system. Based on visual inspection of the limited stress magnitude data in the Great Basin we used magnitudes such that shmin/shmax = .527 and shmin/sv= .46, which are consistent with complete and partial stress field determinations from Desert Peak, Coso, the Fallon area and Dixie valley (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2011; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012). Based on inversion of fault kinematic data, Edwards (2013) interpreted that two discrete stress orientations are preserved at Neal Hot Springs. An older episode of east-west directed extension and a younger episode of southwest-northeast directed sinistral, oblique -normal extension. This interpretation is consistent with the evolution of Cenozoic tectonics in the region (Edwards, 2013). As such we applied a southwest-northeast (060) directed normal faulting stress regime, consistent with the younger extensional episode, to the Neal Hot Springs faults. Under these stress conditions northeast striking steeply dipping fault segments have the highest tendency to dilate and northeast striking 60° dipping fault segments have the highest tendency to slip. Under these stress condition...

Space and time distribution of foci and source-mechanisms of West-Bohemia/Vogtland earthquake swarms - a tool for insight into their triggering mechanisms and driving forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Horalek, Josef; Fischer, Tomas; Cermakova, Hana

2013-04-01

West Bohemia/Vogtland (border area between Czech Republic and Germany) belongs to the most active intraplate earthquake-swarm regions in Europe. Above, this area is characteristic by high activity of crustal fluids. Swarm earthquakes with magnitudes ML < 4.0 occur frequently in the area of about 3 000 km2, however, the Nový Kostel focal zone (NK), which shows a few tens of thousands events within the last twenty years, dominates the recent seismicity of the whole region. During last fifteen years there were four earthquake swarms in 1997, 2000, 2008 and 20011 (besides a few tens of microswarms) encompassing a fault plane of about 15 x 6 km. The swarms were located close to each other. Moreover, the 2000 (MLmax = 3.3) and 2008 (MLmax = 3.8) swarms were "twins", i.e. their hypocenters fall precisely on the same portion of the NK fault plane; and the 1997 (MLmax = 2.9) and 2011 (MLmax = 3.6) swarms also occurred on the same fault segment. However, the individual swarms differed considerably in their evolution, mainly in the rate of the seismic-moment release and foci migration. Source mechanisms (in the full moment-tensor description) and their time and space variations also show different patterns. All the 2000- and 2008-swarm events were pure shears, most of them showing the oblique normal faulting. Although source mechanisms of majority of the 2000- and 2008 events signify the faulting parallel to the main NK fault plane, there is a significant amount of events having different source mechanisms. We also found alteration of the source mechanisms with depths. The 1997 and 2011 swarms took place on two differently oriented fault segments thus two different source mechanisms occurred: the oblique-normal on the one segment and the oblique-thrust type on the other one. Moreover, source mechanisms of the oblique thrust events suggest combined sources (possessing significant non-DC components). This indicates complexity of both NK focal zone (where earthquake swarms have periodically occurred) and rupturing in the individual swarms. Similar pattern of the strain energy release we disclosed for seismicity due to fluid injection into deep boreholes at HDR site Soultz-sous-Forêts (France) in 2003. We analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution of micro-earthquakes and their source mechanisms and found that injected fluids triggered large seismicity (pure-shear events) at two existing natural fault segments, which ran independently of the injection strategy. Taking into account all our results, we can conclude that earthquake swarms occur on short subcritically loaded fault segments which are affected by crustal fluids. Pressurized fluids reduced normal component of the tectonic stress and lower friction, thus decrease the shear strength of the medium (in terms of Coulomb friction criterion). On critically loaded and favourably oriented fault segments the swarm activity is driven by the differential local stress, the shear rupturing occurs.

The 2006-2007 Kuril Islands great earthquake sequence

USGS Publications Warehouse

Lay, T.; Kanamori, H.; Ammon, C.J.; Hutko, Alexander R.; Furlong, K.; Rivera, L.

2009-01-01

The southwestern half of a ???500 km long seismic gap in the central Kuril Island arc subduction zone experienced two great earthquakes with extensive preshock and aftershock sequences in late 2006 to early 2007. The nature of seismic coupling in the gap had been uncertain due to the limited historical record of prior large events and the presence of distinctive upper plate, trench and outer rise structures relative to adjacent regions along the arc that have experienced repeated great interplate earthquakes in the last few centuries. The intraplate region seaward of the seismic gap had several shallow compressional events during the preceding decades (notably an MS 7.2 event on 16 March 1963), leading to speculation that the interplate fault was seismically coupled. This issue was partly resolved by failure of the shallow portion of the interplate megathrust in an MW = 8.3 thrust event on 15 November 2006. This event ruptured ???250 km along the seismic gap, just northeast of the great 1963 Kuril Island (Mw = 8.5) earthquake rupture zone. Within minutes of the thrust event, intense earthquake activity commenced beneath the outer wall of the trench seaward of the interplate rupture, with the larger events having normal-faulting mechanisms. An unusual double band of interplate and intraplate aftershocks developed. On 13 January 2007, an MW = 8.1 extensional earthquake ruptured within the Pacific plate beneath the seaward edge of the Kuril trench. This event is the third largest normal-faulting earthquake seaward of a subduction zone on record, and its rupture zone extended to at least 33 km depth and paralleled most of the length of the 2006 rupture. The 13 January 2007 event produced stronger shaking in Japan than the larger thrust event, as a consequence of higher short-period energy radiation from the source. The great event aftershock sequences were dominated by the expected faulting geometries; thrust faulting for the 2006 rupture zone, and normal faulting for the 2007 rupture zone. A large intraplate compressional event occurred on 15 January 2009 (Mw = 7.4) near 45 km depth, below the rupture zone of the 2007 event and in the vicinity of the 16 March 1963 compressional event. The fault geometry, rupture process and slip distributions of the two great events are estimated using very broadband teleseismic body and surface wave observations. The occurrence of the thrust event in the shallowest portion of the interplate fault in a region with a paucity of large thrust events at greater depths suggests that the event removed most of the slip deficit on this portion of the interplate fault. This great earthquake doublet demonstrates the heightened seismic hazard posed by induced intraplate faulting following large interplate thrust events. Future seismic failure of the remainder of the seismic gap appears viable, with the northeastern region that has also experienced compressional activity seaward of the megathrust warranting particular attention. Copyright 2009 by the American Geophysical Union.

Non-tectonic exposure Rates along Bedrock Fault Scarps in an active Mountain Belt of the central Apennines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kastelic, Vanja; Burrato, Pierfrancesco; Carafa, Michele M. C.; Basili, Roberto

2017-04-01

The central Apennines (Italy) are a mountain chain affected by post-collisional active extension along NW-SE striking normal faults and well-documented regional-scale uplift. Moderate to strong earthquakes along the seismogenically active extensional faults are frequent in this area, thus a good knowledge on the characteristics of the hosting faults is necessary for realistic seismic hazard models. The studied bedrock fault surfaces are generally located at various heights on mountain fronts above the local base level of glacio-fluvial valleys and intermountain fluvio-lacustrine basins and are laterally confined to the extent of related mountain fronts. In order to investigate the exposure of the bedrock fault scarps from under their slope-deposit cover, a process that has often been exclusively attributed to co-seismic earthquake slip and used as proxy for tectonic slip rates and earthquake recurrence estimations, we have set up a measurement experiment along various such structures. In this experiment we measure the relative position of chosen markers on the bedrock surface and the material found directly at the contact with its hanging wall. We present the results of monitoring the contact between the exposed fault surfaces and slope deposits at 23 measurement points on 12 different faults over 3.4 year-long observation period. We detected either downward or upward movements of the slope deposit with respect to the fault surface between consecutive measurements. During the entire observation period all points, except one, registered a net downward movement in the 2.9 - 25.6 mm/yr range, resulting in the progressive exposure of the fault surface. During the monitoring period no major earthquakes occurred in the region, demonstrating the measured exposure process is disconnected from seismic activity. We do however observe a positive correlation between the higher exposure in respect to higher average temperatures. Our results indicate that the fault surface exposure rates are rather due to gravitational and landsliding movements aided by weathering and slope degradation processes. The so far neglected slope degradation and other (sub)surface processes should thus be carefully taken into consideration before attempting to recover fault slip rates using surface gathered data. The results of the present studies have been recently published (Kastelic et al., 2016) and our research is ongoing, implementing the so-far results with newer measurements and other techniques in order to improve our knowledge on the magnitude of the exposure and its causative process(es). Kastelic, V., P. Burrato, M. M. C. Carafa, and R. Basili (2016), Repeated surveys reveal nontectonic exposure of supposedly active normal faults in the central Apennines, Italy, J. Geophys. Res. Earth Surf., 121, doi:10.1002/2016JF003953.

Influence of overconsolidated condition on permeability evolution in silica sand

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kimura, S.; Kaneko, H.; Ito, T.; Nishimura, O.; Minagawa, H.

2013-12-01

Permeability of sediments is important factors for production of natural gas from natural gas hydrate bearing layers. Methane-hydrate is regarded as one of the potential resources of natural gas. As results of coring and logging, the existence of a large amount of methane-hydrate is estimated in the Nankai Trough, offshore central Japan, where many folds and faults have been observed. In the present study, we investigate the permeability of silica sand specimen forming the artificial fault zone after large displacement shear in the ring-shear test under two different normal consolidated and overconsolidated conditions. The significant influence of overconsolidation ratio (OCR) on permeability evolution is not found. The permeability reduction is influenced a great deal by the magnitude of normal stress during large displacement shearing. The grain size distribution and structure observation in the shear zone of specimen after shearing at each normal stress level are analyzed by laser scattering type particle analyzer and scanning electron microscope, respectively. It is indicated that the grain size and porosity reduction due to the particle crushing are the factor of the permeability reduction. This study is financially supported by METI and Research Consortium for Methane Hydrate Resources in Japan (the MH21 Research Consortium).

The northwest trending north Boquerón Bay-Punta Montalva Fault Zone; A through going active fault system in southwestern Puerto Rico

USGS Publications Warehouse

Roig‐Silva, Coral Marie; Asencio, Eugenio; Joyce, James

2013-01-01

The North Boquerón Bay–Punta Montalva fault zone has been mapped crossing the Lajas Valley in southwest Puerto Rico. Identification of the fault was based upon detailed analysis of geophysical data, satellite images, and field mapping. The fault zone consists of a series of Cretaceous bedrock faults that reactivated and deformed Miocene limestone and Quaternary alluvial fan sediments. The fault zone is seismically active (local magnitude greater than 5.0) with numerous locally felt earthquakes. Focal mechanism solutions suggest strain partitioning with predominantly east–west left-lateral displacements with small normal faults striking mostly toward the northeast. Northeast-trending fractures and normal faults can be found in intermittent streams that cut through the Quaternary alluvial fan deposits along the southern margin of the Lajas Valley, an east–west-trending 30-km-long fault-controlled depression. Areas of preferred erosion within the alluvial fan trend toward the west-northwest parallel to the onland projection of the North Boquerón Bay fault. The North Boquerón Bay fault aligns with the Punta Montalva fault southeast of the Lajas Valley. Both faults show strong southward tilting of Miocene strata. On the western end, the Northern Boquerón Bay fault is covered with flat-lying Holocene sediments, whereas at the southern end the Punta Montalva fault shows left-lateral displacement of stream drainage on the order of a few hundred meters.

Fault geometries and deformation mechanisms in the evolution of low-angle normal faults (Kea, Greece)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iglseder, C.; Grasemann, B.; Schneider, D.; Rice, A. H. N.; Stöckli, D.; Rockenschaub, M.

2009-04-01

The overall tectonic regime in the Cyclades since the Oligocene has been characterized by crustal extension, accommodated by movements on low-angle normal faults (LANFs). On Kea, structural investigations have demonstrated the existence of an island-wide LANF within a large-scale ductile-brittle shear-zone traceable over a distance of 19.5 km parallel to the stretching lineation. The tectonostratigraphy comprises Attic-Cycladic Crystalline lithologies with a shallowly-dipping schist-calcite marble unit overlain by calcitic and dolomitic fault rocks. Notably, the calcitic marbles have been mylonitized, with a mean NNE/NE-SSW/SW trending, pervasive stretching lineation and intense isoclinal folding with fold axes parallel to the stretching lineation. Numerous SC-SCĆ-fabrics and monoclinic clast-geometries show a consistent top-to-SSW shear-sense. Recorded within all lithologies is a consistent WNW/NW-ESE/SE and NNE/NE-SSW/SW striking network of conjugated brittle, brittle-ductile high-angle faults perpendicular and (sub)parallel to the main stretching direction. Field evidence and microstructural investigations indicate high-angle normal faults formed synchronously with movement on LANFs. This interplay of LANFs with high-angle structures, initiated and evolved from brittle-ductile to brittle conditions, indicates initial stages of movement below the calcite brittle-ductile transition but above the dolomite transition. Weakening processes related to syntectonic fluid-rock interactions highlight these observations. In particular, grain-size reduction and strain localisation in fine-grained (ultra)-cataclasites and fine-grained aggregates of phyllosilicate-rich fault-rocks promoted fluid-flow and pressure-solution-accommodated ‘frictional-viscous' creep. These mechanisms show the importance for LANF slip and movement in the progressive development and interaction between contemporaneous active normal faults in the Andersonian-Byerlee frictional mechanics.

Influence of slip-surface geometry on earth-flow deformation, Montaguto earth flow, southern Italy

USGS Publications Warehouse

Guerriero, L.; Coe, Jeffrey A.; Revellio, P.; Grelle, G.; Pinto, F.; Guadagno, F.

2016-01-01

We investigated relations between slip-surface geometry and deformational structures and hydrologic features at the Montaguto earth flow in southern Italy between 1954 and 2010. We used 25 boreholes, 15 static cone-penetration tests, and 22 shallow-seismic profiles to define the geometry of basal- and lateral-slip surfaces; and 9 multitemporal maps to quantify the spatial and temporal distribution of normal faults, thrust faults, back-tilted surfaces, strike-slip faults, flank ridges, folds, ponds, and springs. We infer that the slip surface is a repeating series of steeply sloping surfaces (risers) and gently sloping surfaces (treads). Stretching of earth-flow material created normal faults at risers, and shortening of earth-flow material created thrust faults, back-tilted surfaces, and ponds at treads. Individual pairs of risers and treads formed quasi-discrete kinematic zones within the earth flow that operated in unison to transmit pulses of sediment along the length of the flow. The locations of strike-slip faults, flank ridges, and folds were not controlled by basal-slip surface topography but were instead dependent on earth-flow volume and lateral changes in the direction of the earth-flow travel path. The earth-flow travel path was strongly influenced by inactive earth-flow deposits and pre-earth-flow drainages whose positions were determined by tectonic structures. The implications of our results that may be applicable to other earth flows are that structures with strikes normal to the direction of earth-flow motion (e.g., normal faults and thrust faults) can be used as a guide to the geometry of basal-slip surfaces, but that depths to the slip surface (i.e., the thickness of an earth flow) will vary as sediment pulses are transmitted through a flow.

Brittle extension of the continental crust along a rooted system of low-angle normal faults: Colorado River extensional corridor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

John, B. E.; Howard, K. A.

1985-01-01

A transect across the 100 km wide Colorado River extensional corridor of mid-Tertiary age shows that the upper 10 to 15 km of crystalline crust extended along an imbricate system of brittle low-angle normal faults. The faults cut gently down a section in the NE-direction of tectonic transport from a headwall breakaway in the Old Woman Mountains, California. Successively higher allochthons above a basal detachment fault are futher displaced from the headwall, some as much as tens of kilometers. Allochthonous blocks are tilted toward the headwall as evidenced by the dip of the cappoing Tertiary strata and originally horizontal Proterozoic diabase sheets. On the down-dip side of the corridor in Arizona, the faults root under the unbroken Hualapai Mountains and the Colorado Plateau. Slip on faults at all exposed levels of the crust was unidirectional. Brittle thinning above these faults affected the entire upper crust, and wholly removed it locally along the central corridor or core complex region. Isostatic uplift exposed metamorphic core complexes in the domed footwall. These data support a model that the crust in California moved out from under Arizona along an asymmetric, rooted normal-slip shear system. Ductile deformation must have accompanied mid-Tertiary crustal extension at deeper structural levels in Arizona.

Overview of the Mechanics of the Active Mai'iu Low Angle Normal Fault (Dayman Dome), Southeastern Papua New Guinea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Little, T. A.; Boulton, C. J.; Webber, S. M.; Mizera, M.; Oesterle, J.; Ellis, S. M.; Norton, K. P.; Wallace, L.; Biemiller, J.; Seward, D.; Boles, A.

2016-12-01

The Mai'iu Fault is a corrugated low-angle normal fault (LANF) that has slipped >24 km. It emerges near sea level at 21° N dip, and flattens southward over the dome crest at 3000 m. This reactivated Paleogene suture is slipping at up to 1 cm/year based on previous GPS data and preliminary 10Be cosmogenic nuclide exposure scarp dating. An alignment of microseismicity (Eilon et al. 2015) suggests a dip of 30° N at 15-25 km depth. Pseudotachylites are abundant in lower, mylonitic parts of the footwall. One vein yielded 40Ar/39Ar ages of 1.9-2.2 Ma, implying seismicity at 8-10 km depth at the above slip rate. Widespread, antithetic normal faults in the footwall are attributed to rolling-hinge controlled yielding during exhumation. A single rider block is downfolded into synformal megamullion. Unconformities within this block, and ductile folding and conjugate strike-slip faulting of mylonitic footwall fabrics record prolonged EW shortening and constriction. Many normal and strike-slip faults cut the metabasaltic footwall recording Andersonian stresses and flipping between σ1 and σ2. To exhume the steep faults, the LANF must have remained active despite differential stress being locally high enough to initiate well-oriented faults—relationships that bracket the frictional strength of the LANF. Quantitative XRD on mafic and serpentinitic gouges reveal the Mai'iu fault core is enriched in weak clays corrensite and saponite. Hydrothermal friction experiments were done at effective normal stresses of 30-210 MPa, and temperatures of 50-450oC. At shallow depths (T≤200 oC), clay-rich fault gouges are frictionally weak (μ=0.13-0.15 and 0.20-0.28) and velocity-strengthening. At intermediate depths (T>200 oC), the footwall is frictionally strong (μ=0.71-0.78 and 0.50-0.64) and velocity-weakening. Velocity-strengthening is observed at T≥400 oC. The experiments provide evidence for deep unstable slip, consistent with footwall pseudotachylites and microseismicity at depth

Constant Fault Slip-Rates Over Hundreds of Millenia Constrained By Deformed Quaternary Palaeoshorelines: the Vibo and Capo D'Orlando Faults, Southern Italy.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meschis, M.; Roberts, G.; Robertson, J.; Houghton, S.; Briant, R. M.

2017-12-01

Whether slip-rates on active faults accumulated over multiple seismic events is constant or varying over tens to hundreds of millenia timescales is an open question that can be addressed through study of deformed Quaternary palaeoshorelines. It is important to know the answer so that one can judge whether shorter timescale measurements (e.g. Holocene palaeoseismology or decadal geodesy) are suitable for determining earthquake recurrence intervals for Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment or more suitable for studying temporal earthquake clustering. We present results from the Vibo Fault and the Capo D'Orlando Fault, that lie within the deforming Calabrian Arc, which has experienced damaging seismic events such as the 1908 Messina Strait earthquake ( Mw 7) and the 1905 Capo Vaticano earthquake ( Mw 7). These normal faults deform uplifted Late Quaternary palaeoshorelines, which outcrop mainly within their hangingwalls, but also partially in their footwalls, showing that a regional subduction and mantle-related uplift outpaces local fault-related subsidence. Through (1) field and DEM-based mapping of palaeoshorelines, both up flights of successively higher, older inner edges, and along the strike of the faults, and (2) utilisation of synchronous correlation of non-uniformly-spaced inner edge elevations with non-uniformly spaced sea-level highstand ages, we show that slip-rates decrease towards fault tips and that slip-rates have remained constant since 340 ka (given the time resolution we obtain). The slip-rates for the Capo D'Orlando Fault and Vibo Fault are 0.61mm/yr and 1mm/yr respectively. We show that the along-strike gradients in slip-rate towards fault tips differ for the two faults hinting at fault interaction and also discuss this in terms of other regions of extension like the Gulf of Corinth, Greece, where slip-rate has been shown to change through time through the Quaternary. We make the point that slip-rates may change through time as fault systems grow and fault interaction changes due to geometrical effects.

Nearly frictionless faulting by unclamping in long-term interaction models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Parsons, T.

2002-01-01

In defiance of direct rock-friction observations, some transform faults appear to slide with little resistance. In this paper finite element models are used to show how strain energy is minimized by interacting faults that can cause long-term reduction in fault-normal stresses (unclamping). A model fault contained within a sheared elastic medium concentrates stress at its end points with increasing slip. If accommodating structures free up the ends, then the fault responds by rotating, lengthening, and unclamping. This concept is illustrated by a comparison between simple strike-slip faulting and a mid-ocean-ridge model with the same total transform length; calculations show that the more complex system unclapms the transforms and operates at lower energy. In another example, the overlapping San Andreas fault system in the San Francisco Bay region is modeled; this system is complicated by junctions and stepovers. A finite element model indicates that the normal stress along parts of the faults could be reduced to hydrostatic levels after ???60-100 k.y. of system-wide slip. If this process occurs in the earth, then parts of major transform fault zones could appear nearly frictionless.

Optimal fault-tolerant control strategy of a solid oxide fuel cell system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Xiaojuan; Gao, Danhui

2017-10-01

For solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) development, load tracking, heat management, air excess ratio constraint, high efficiency, low cost and fault diagnosis are six key issues. However, no literature studies the control techniques combining optimization and fault diagnosis for the SOFC system. An optimal fault-tolerant control strategy is presented in this paper, which involves four parts: a fault diagnosis module, a switching module, two backup optimizers and a controller loop. The fault diagnosis part is presented to identify the SOFC current fault type, and the switching module is used to select the appropriate backup optimizer based on the diagnosis result. NSGA-II and TOPSIS are employed to design the two backup optimizers under normal and air compressor fault states. PID algorithm is proposed to design the control loop, which includes a power tracking controller, an anode inlet temperature controller, a cathode inlet temperature controller and an air excess ratio controller. The simulation results show the proposed optimal fault-tolerant control method can track the power, temperature and air excess ratio at the desired values, simultaneously achieving the maximum efficiency and the minimum unit cost in the case of SOFC normal and even in the air compressor fault.

Mechanisms for landscape evolution: Correlations between topography, lithology, erosion, and rock uplift in the central Nepalese Himalaya

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Walsh, L. S.; Martin, A. J.; Ojha, T. P.; Fedenczuk, T.

2009-12-01

To investigate feedbacks between tectonics and erosion in the Himalaya-Tibet orogen we compare high resolution digital topography with detailed geologic maps of the Modi Khola valley in central Nepal. We examine the influence of lithologic contacts and structures on river steepness and concavity. The trace of the Bhanuwa fault, a large normal fault in Greater Himalayan rocks, coincides with the steepest location on the river profile where river steepness (ksn) reaches 884 m0.9. Transitions in ksn also occur at 1) the Romi fault, another normal fault, 2) within the Kuncha formation, 3) within Greater Himalayan rocks at the Formation I - Formation II boundary, and 4) between quartzite- and phyllite-rich parts of the Fagfog Formation. We assess mechanisms for ksn transitions on the Modi Khola by examining the influence of precipitation variability, glacial and landslide dams, tributary junctions, changes in lithology, and rock uplift on the topography. Although changes in lithology and/or landslide dams potentially explain all ksn extrema and transitions, these changes in river steepness consistently occur at normal faults suggesting possible recent motion on some of them. In detail, the Main Central thrust appears not to be the location of a major steepness change. Correlations of ksn with normal faults and lithologic contacts exhibit an important component of the landscape evolution process occurring in central Nepal and potentially other mountain belts.

Geometrical and mechanical constraints on the formation of ring-fault calderas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Folch, A.; Martí, J.

2004-04-01

Ash-flow, plate-subsidence (piston-like) calderas are bounded by a set of arcuated sub-vertical collapse faults named ring-faults. Experimental studies on caldera formation, performed mostly using spherical or cylindrical magma chamber geometries, find that the resulting ring-faults correspond to steeply outward dipping reverse faults, and show that pre-existing fractures developed during pre-eruptive phases of pressure increase may play a major role in controlling the final collapse mechanism, a situation that should be expected in small to medium sized ring-fault calderas developed on top of composite volcanoes or volcanic clusters. On the other hand, some numerical experiments indicate that large sill-like, elongated magma chambers may induce collapse due to roof bending without fault reactivation, as seems to occur in large plate-subsidence calderas formed independently of pre-existing volcanoes. Also, numerical experiments allow the formation of nearly vertical or steeply inward dipping normal ring-faults, in contrast with most of the analogue models. Using a thermoelastic model, we investigate the geometrical and mechanical conditions to form ring-fault calderas, in particular the largest ones, without needing a previous crust fracturing. Results are given in terms of two dimensionless geometrical parameters, namely λ and e. The former is the chamber extension to chamber depth ratio, whereas the latter stands for the chamber eccentricity. We propose that the ( λ, e) pair determinates two different types of ring-fault calderas with different associated collapse regimes. Ring-fault region A is related to large plate-subsidence calderas (i.e. Andean calderas or Western US calderas), for which few depressurisation is needed to set up a collapse initially governed by flexural bending of the chamber roof. In contrast, ring-fault region B is related to small to moderate sized calderas (i.e. composite volcano calderas), for which much depressurisation is needed. Our opinion is that collapse requires, in the latter case, reactivation of pre-existing fractures and it is therefore more complex and history dependent.

Structural control on the CO2 release west of Mt. Epomeo resurgent block (Ischia, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Vita, S.; Marotta, E.; Ventura, G.; Chiodini, G.

2003-04-01

Volcanism at Ischia started more than 150 ka B.P. and continued until the last eruption occurred in 1302 A.D. Ischia is dominated by the caldera forming eruption of Mt. Epomeo Green Tuff (55 ka), which was followed by block resurgence inside the caldera from 33 ka B.P. Resurgence influenced the volcanic activity determining the conditions for magma ascent mainly along the eastern edge of the resurgent block. The resurgent area has a poligonal shape resulting from reactivation of regional faults and by activation of faults related to volcanotectonism. The western sector is bordered by inward dipping, high angle strike-slip/reverse faults testifying a compressional stress regime in this area. These features are cut by late outward dipping normal faults due to gravitational stress. The activity of the volcanic system is testified by seismicity and thermal manifestations. Fumarolic activity concentrates along the faults that borders westward the Mt. Epomeo resurgent block, where the Green Tuff overlies fractured lavas. The structural data show that, outside the most active degassing zone, fractures show a NNW-SSE strike and dip toward Mt. Epomeo. These fractures delimit the northern sector of Mt. Epomeo and show strike and dip consistent with the inward dipping reverse faults. Inside the degassing area fractures show a NW-SE strike and dip outward Mt. Epomeo. These gravity-related faults cut the lavas where the hydrothermal circulation is active. The dip direction of the NW-SE striking fractures within the degassing zone is not consistent with that of the strike-slip/reverse faults (i.e. towards NE) but agrees well with that of the gravity-induced faults (dip direction towards SW). Inside the degassing zone, NW-SE striking faults with lengths not exceeding the hydrothermalized extension occur. This arrangement indicate that the syn-resurgence faults act as permeability barriers, whereas the youngest faults act as the main fluid pathway.

Role of the Precambrian Mughese Shear Zone on Cenozoic faulting along the Rukwa-Malawi Rift segment of the East African Rift System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heilman, E.; Kolawole, F.; Mayle, M.; Atekwana, E. A.; Abdelsalam, M. G.

2017-12-01

We address the longstanding question of the role of long-lived basement structures in strain accommodation within active rift systems. Studies have highlighted the influence of pre-existing zones of lithospheric weakness in modulating faulting and fault kinematics. Here, we investigate the role of the Neoproterozoic Mughese Shear Zone (MSZ) in Cenozoic rifting along the Rukwa-Malawi rift segment of the East African Rift System (EARS). Detailed analyses of Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) DEM and filtered aeromagnetic data allowed us to determine the relationship between rift-related basement-rooted normal faults and the MSZ fabric extending along the southern boundary of the Rukwa-Malawi Rift North Basin. Our results show that the magnetic lineaments defining the MSZ coincide with the collinear Rukwa Rift border fault (Ufipa Fault), a dextral strike-slip fault (Mughese Fault), and the North Basin hinge-zone fault (Mbiri Fault). Fault-scarp and minimum fault-throw analyses reveal that within the Rukwa Rift, the Ufipa Border Fault has been accommodating significant displacement relative to the Lupa Border Fault, which represents the northeastern border fault of the Rukwa Rift. Our analysis also shows that within the North Basin half-graben, the Mbiri Fault has accommodated the most vertical displacement relative to other faults along the half-graben hinge zone. We propose that the Cenozoic reactivation along the MSZ facilitated significant normal slip displacement along the Ufipa Border Fault and the Mbiri Fault, and minor dextral strike-slip between the two faults. We suggest that the fault kinematics along the Rukwa-Malawi Rift is the result of reactivation of the MSZ through regional oblique extension.

Fethiye-Burdur Fault Zone (SW Turkey): a myth?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaymakci, Nuretdin; Langereis, Cornelis; Özkaptan, Murat; Özacar, Arda A.; Gülyüz, Erhan; Uzel, Bora; Sözbilir, Hasan

2017-04-01

Fethiye Burdur Fault Zone (FBFZ) is first proposed by Dumont et al. (1979) as a sinistral strike-slip fault zone as the NE continuation of Pliny-Strabo trench in to the Anatolian Block. The fault zone supposed to accommodate at least 100 km sinistral displacement between the Menderes Massif and the Beydaǧları platform during the exhumation of the Menderes Massif, mainly during the late Miocene. Based on GPS velocities Barka and Reilinger (1997) proposed that the fault zone is still active and accommodates sinistral displacement. In order to test the presence and to unravel its kinematics we have conducted a rigorous paleomagnetic study containing more than 3000 paleomagnetic samples collected from 88 locations and 11700 fault slip data collected from 198 locations distributed evenly all over SW Anatolia spanning from Middle Miocene to Late Pliocene. The obtained rotation senses and amounts indicate slight (around 20°) counter-clockwise rotations distributed uniformly almost whole SW Anatolia and there is no change in the rotation senses and amounts on either side of the FBFZ implying no differential rotation within the zone. Additionally, the slickenside pitches and constructed paleostress configurations, along the so called FBFZ and also within the 300 km diameter of the proposed fault zone, indicated that almost all the faults, oriented parallel to subparallel to the zone, are normal in character. The fault slip measurements are also consistent with earthquake focal mechanisms suggesting active extension in the region. We have not encountered any significant strike-slip motion in the region to support presence and transcurrent nature of the FBFZ. On the contrary, the region is dominated by extensional deformation and strike-slip components are observed only on the NW-SE striking faults which are transfer faults that accommodated extension and normal motion. Therefore, we claim that the sinistral Fethiye Burdur Fault (Zone) is a myth and there is no tangible evidence to support the existence of such a strike-slip fault zone. The research for this paper is supported by TUBITAK - Grant Number 111Y239. Key words: Fethiye Burdu Fault Zone, Paleomagnetism, paleostress inversion, normal fault, Strike-slip fault, SW Turkey

Focal Mechanisms of Recent Earthquakes in the Southern Korean Peninsula

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Park, J.; Kim, W.; Chung, T.; Baag, C.; Ree, J.

2005-12-01

There has been a lack of seismic data in the Korean Peninsula mainly because it is in a seismically stable area within the Eurasian plate (or Amurian microplate) and because a network of seismic stations has been poor until recently. Consequently, first motion studies on the peninsula showed a large uncertainty or covered only local areas. Also, a tectonic province map constructed based on pre-Cenozoic tectonic events in Korea has been used for a seismic zonation. To solve these problems, we made focal mechanism solutions for 71 earthquakes (ML = 1.9 to 5.2) occurred in and around the peninsula from 1999 to 2004 and collected by a new dense seismic network established since 1995. For this, we relocated the hypocenters and obtained fault plane solutions with errors of fault parameter less than 15° from the data set of 1,270 clear P-wave polarities and from 46 SH/P amplitude ratios. The focal mechanism solutions show that subhorizontal ENE P- and subhorizontal NNW T-axes are predominant, representing the common direction of P- and T-axes within the Amurian plate. The faulting mechanisms are mostly strike-slip faulting or strike-slip-dominant-oblique-slip faulting with a reverse-slip component, although normal-slip-dominant-oblique-slip faultings occur locally probably due to a local reorientation of stress. These results incorporated with those from the kinematic studies of the Quaternary faults imply that NNE-striking faults (dextral strike-slip or oblique-slip with a reverse-slip component) are highly likely to generate earthquakes in South Korea. The spatial distribution of the maximum horizontal stress direction and faulting types does not correlate with the preexisting tectonic province map of Korea, and a new construction of seismic zonation map is required for a better seismic evaluation.

Kanda fault: A major seismogenic element west of the Rukwa Rift (Tanzania, East Africa)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vittori, Eutizio; Delvaux, Damien; Kervyn, François

1997-09-01

The NW-SE trending Rukwa Rift, part of the East African Rift System, links the approximately N-S oriented Tanganyika and Nyassa (Malawi) depressions. The rift has a complex half-graben structure, generally interpreted as the result of normal and strike-slip faulting. Morphological and structural data (e.g. fault scarps, faceted spurs, tilting of Quaternary continental deposits, volcanism, seismicity) indicate Late Quaternary activity within the rift. In 1910 an earthquake of M = 7.4 (historically the largest felt in Africa) struck the Rukwa region. The epicentre was located near the Kanda fault, which affects the Ufipa plateau, separating the Rukwa depression from the south-Tanganyika basin. The geomorphic expression of the Kanda fault is a prominent fresh-looking scarp more than 180 km long, from Tunduma to north of Sumbawanga, that strikes roughly NW-SE, and dips constantly northeast. No evidence for horizontal slip was observed. Generally, the active faulting affects a very narrow zone, and is only locally distributed over several subparallel scarps. The height of the scarp progressively decreases towards the northwest, from about 40-50 m to a few metres north of Sumbawanga. Faulted lacustrine deposits exposed in a road cut near Kaengesa were dated as 8340 ± 700 and 13 600 ± 1240 radiocarbon years. These low-energy deposits now hang more than 15 m above the present-day valley floor, suggesting rapid uplift during the Holocene. Due to its high rate of activity in very recent times, the Kanda Fault could have produced the 1910 earthquake. Detailed paleoseismological studies are used to characterize its recent history. In addition, the seismic hazard posed by this fault, which crosses the fast growing town of Sumbawanga, must be seriously considered in urban planning.

Active normal fault network of the Apulian Ridge (Eastern Mediterranean Sea) imaged by multibeam bathymetry and seismic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pellegrini, Claudio; Marchese, Fabio; Savini, Alessandra; Bistacchi, Andrea

2016-04-01

The Apulian ridge (North-eastern Ionian margin - Mediterranean Sea) is formed by thick cretaceous carbonatic sequences and discontinuous tertiary deposits crosscut by a NNW-SSE penetrative normal fault system and is part of the present foreland system of both the Apennine to the west and the Hellenic arc to the east. The geometry, age, architecture and kinematics of the fault network were investigated integrating data of heterogeneous sources, provided by previous studies: regional scale 2D seismics and three wells collected by oil companies from the '60s to the '80s, more recent seismics collected during research projects in the '90s, very high resolution seismic (VHRS - Sparker and Chirp-sonar data), multi-beam echosounder bathymetry and results from sedimentological and geo-chronological analysis of sediment samples collected on the seabed. Multibeam bathymetric data allowed in particular assessing the 3D continuity of structures imaged in 2D seismics, thanks to the occurrence of continuous fault scarps on the seabed (only partly reworked by currents and covered by landslides), revealing the vertical extent and finite displacement associated to fault scarps. A penetrative network of relatively small faults, always showing a high dip angle, composes the NNW-SSE normal fault system, resulting in frequent relay zones, which are particularly well imaged by seafloor geomorphology. In addition, numerous fault scarps appear to be roughly coeval with quaternary submarine mass-wasting deposits colonised by Cold-Water Corals (CWC). Coral colonies, yielding ages between 11 and 14 kA, develop immediately on top of late Pleistocene mass-wasting deposits. Mutual cross-cutting relationships have been recognized between fault scarps and landslides, indicating that, at least in places, these features may be coeval. We suppose that fault activity lasted at least as far as the Holocene-Pleistocene boundary and that the NNW-SSW normal fault network in the Apulian Plateau can be considered active (or at least active till the Holocene-Pleistocene boundary), and that the cumulative horizontal displacement is consistent with a relevant WSW-ENE stretching, that can be associated to the bending moment applied to the Apulian Plate by the combined effect of the Appennines and Hellenides subduction.

Crystal plastic earthquakes in dolostones: from slow to fast ruptures.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Passelegue, F. X.; Aubry, J.; Nicolas, A.; Fondriest, M.; Schubnel, A.; Di Toro, G.

2017-12-01

Dolostone is the most dominant lithology of the seismogenic upper crust around the Mediterranean Sea. Understanding the internal mechanisms controlling fault friction is crucial for understanding seismicity along active faults. Displacement in such fault zones is frequently highlighted by highly reflective (mirror-like) slip surfaces, created by thin films of nanogranular fault rock. Using saw-cut dolostone samples coming from natural fault zones, we conducted stick-slip experiments under triaxial loading conditions at 30, 60 and 90 MPa confining pressure and temperature ranging from 30 to 100 degrees C. At 30 and 65 degrees C, only slow rupture was observed and the experimental fault exhibits frictional behaviour, i.e. a dependence of normal stress on peak shear stress. At 65 degrees C, a strengthening behaviour is observed after the main rupture, leading to a succession of slow rupture. At 100 degrees C, the macroscopic behaviour of the fault becomes ductile, and no dependence of pressure on the peak shear stress is observed. In addition, the increase of the confining pressure up to 60 and 90 MPa allow the transition from slow to fast rupture, highlighted by the records of acoustic activity and by dynamic stress drop occurring in a few tens of microseconds. Using strain gages located along the fault surface and acoustic transducers, we were able to measure the rupture velocities during slow and fast rupture. Slow ruptures propagated around 0.1 m/s, in agreement with natural observations. Fast ruptures propagated up to supershear velocities, i.e. faster than the shear wave speed (>3500 m/s). A complete study of the microstructures was realized before and after ruptures. Slow ruptures lead to the production of mirror-like surface driven by the production of nanograins due to dislocation processes. Fast ruptures induce the production of amorphous material along the fault surface, which may come from decarbonation and melting processes. We demonstrate that the transition from slow to fast instabilities is observed due to an increase of the fault stiffness with increasing both temperature and confining pressure. This increase in the stiffness leads to an increase of the slip velocity during the main instability, which allow flash weakening processes and fast propagation of the seismic rupture.

The Japan Trench and its juncture with the Kuril Trench: cruise results of the Kaiko project, Leg 3

USGS Publications Warehouse

Cadet, J.-P.; Kobayashi, K.; Aubouin, J.; Boulegue, J.; Deplus, C.; Dubois, J.; von Huene, Roland E.; Jolivet, L.; Kanazawa, T.; Kasahara, J.; Koizumi, K.; Lallemand, S.; Nakamura, Y.; Pautot, G.; Suyehiro, K.; Tani, S.; Tokuyama, H.; Yamazaki, T.

1987-01-01

This paper presents the results of a detailed survey combining Seabeam mapping, gravity and geomagnetic measurements as well as single-channel seismic reflection observations in the Japan Trench and the juncture with the Kuril Trench during the French-Japanese Kaiko project (northern sector of the Leg 3) on the R/V "Jean Charcot". The main data acquired during the cruise, such as the Seabeam maps, magnetic anomalies pattern, and preliminary interpretations are discussed. These new data cover an area of 18,000 km2 and provide for the first time a detailed three-dimensional image of the Japan Trench. Combined with the previous results, the data indicate new structural interpretations. A comparative study of Seabeam morphology, single-channel and reprocessed multichannel records lead to the conclusion that along the northern Japan Trench there is little evidence of accretion but, instead, a tectonic erosion of the overriding plate. The tectonic pattern on the oceanic side of the trench is controlled by the creation of new normal faults parallel to the Japan Trench axis, which is a direct consequence of the downward flexure of the Pacific plate. In addition to these new faults, ancient normal faults trending parallel to the N65?? oceanic magnetic anomalies and oblique to the Japan trench axis are reactivated, so that two directions of normal faulting are observed seaward of the Japan Trench. Only one direction of faulting is observed seaward of the Kuril Trench because of the parallelism between the trench axis and the magnetic anomalies. The convergent front of the Kuril Trench is offset left-laterally by 20 km relative to those of the Japan Trench. This transform fault and the lower slope of the southernmost Kuril Trench are represented by very steep scarps more than 2 km high. Slightly south of the juncture, the Erimo Seamount riding on the Pacific plate, is now entering the subduction zone. It has been preceded by at least another seamount as revealed by magnetic anomalies across the landward slope of the trench. Deeper future studies will be necessary to discriminate between the two following hypothesis about the origin of the curvature between both trenches: Is it due to the collision of an already subducted chain of seamounts? or does it correspond to one of the failure lines of the America/Eurasia plate boundary? ?? 1987.

Is low-angle normal fault slip aided by local stress rotations?: Assessment of paleostress inversion methods

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luther, A. L.; Axen, G. J.; Selverstone, J.; Khalsa, N.

2009-12-01

Classical fault mechanic theory does not adequately explain slip on “weak” faults oriented at high angles to the regional maximum stress direction, such as the San Andreas Fault and low-angle normal faults. One hypothesis is that stress rotation due to fault-weakening mechanisms allows slip, which may be testable using detailed paleostress analyses of minor faults and tensile fractures. Preliminary data from the footwalls of the Whipple detachment (WD) and the West Salton detachment (WSD) suggest lateral and/or vertical stress rotations. Three inversion programs that use different fault-slip datasets are compared. 1) FaultKin (Marrett and Allmendinger ‘90; Cladouhos and Allmendinger ‘93) determines the principal strain directions using only faults with striae and known slip senses; principal stress orientations are determined assuming coaxiality. To date, FaultKin results appear to be the most reproducible, but it is difficult to find enough faults with striae and slip sense in the small outcrop areas of our study. 2) Slick.bas (Ramsey and Lisle ‘00) uses a grid search to find the best-fit stress tensor from fault and striae orientations, but does not accept slip sense. This program can yield erroneous stress fields that predict slip senses opposite those known for some faults (particularly faults at a high angle to sigma 1). 3) T-TECTO 2.0 (Zalohar and Vrabec ‘07) applies a Gaussian approach, using orientations of faults and striae, the slip senses of any faults for which it is known, plus tensile fractures. We expect that this flexibility of input data types will be best, but testing is preliminary. Paleostress analyses assume that minor faults slipped in response to constant, homogeneous stress fields. We use shear and tensile fractures and cross-cutting relationships from the upper ~25 m of both footwalls to test for spatial and temporal changes to the paleostress field. Paleostress analysis of fractures ~0.3 - 2 m below the WSD on the N limb of an antiform suggests that sigma 3 plunges moderately (~45 degrees) W, sigma 1 plunges gently S, and sigma 2 is steep, consistent with wrench-related folding about E-W trends during WSD slip. However, tensile fractures in the immediately overlying ultracataclasite yield sigma 3 with a shallow W plunge (~4 degrees). In a synformal trough, Reidel shears in the upper 1-2 m of the WSD footwall suggest a moderately (~50 degrees) E plunging sigma 1. Deeper (2-10 m) in the footwall, shear fractures have different but consistent orientations, suggesting a change in the stress field. Preliminary results from several sets of shear fractures in the WD footwall suggest that sigma 1 is steep (~75-90 degrees) in the chlorite breccia zone (implying low shear traction) but is shallower (~45 degrees) in the deeper damage zone. Prior work (Axen & Selverstone ‘94) found that sigma 1 becomes steep again at greater depths. Continued testing of paleostress analysis methods and several other datasets are in progress to confirm our results.

Glacially induced faulting along the NW segment of the Sorgenfrei-Tornquist Zone, northern Denmark: Implications for neotectonics and Lateglacial fault-bound basin formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brandes, Christian; Steffen, Holger; Sandersen, Peter B. E.; Wu, Patrick; Winsemann, Jutta

2018-06-01

The Sorgenfrei-Tornquist Zone (STZ) is the northwestern segment of the Tornquist Zone and extends from Bornholm across the Baltic Sea and northern Denmark into the North Sea. It represents a major lithospheric structure with a significant increase in lithosphere thickness from south to north. A series of meter-scale normal faults and soft-sediment deformation structures (SSDS) are developed in Lateglacial marine and lacustrine sediments, which are exposed along the Lønstrup Klint cliff at the North Sea coast of northern Denmark. These deformed deposits occur in the local Nørre Lyngby basin that forms part of the STZ. Most of the SSDS are postdepositional, implying major tectonic activity between the Allerød and Younger Dryas (∼14 ka to 12 ka). The occurrence of some syn- and metadepositional SSDS point to an onset of tectonic activity at around 14.5 ka. The formation of normal faults is probably the effect of neotectonic movements along the Børglum fault, which represents the northern boundary fault of the STZ in the study area. The narrow and elongated Nørre Lyngby basin can be interpreted as a strike-slip basin that developed due to right-lateral movements at the Børglum fault. As indicated by the SSDS, these movements were most likely accompanied by earthquake(s). Based on the association of SSDS these earthquake(s) had magnitudes of at least Ms ≥ 4.2 or even up to magnitude ∼ 7 as indicated by a fault with 3 m displacement. The outcrop data are supported by a topographic analysis of the terrain that points to a strong impact from the fault activity on the topography, characterized by a highly regular erosional pattern, the evolution of fault-parallel sag ponds and a potential fault scarp with a height of 1-2 m. With finite-element simulations, we test the impact of Late Pleistocene (Weichselian) glaciation-induced Coulomb stress change on the reactivation potential of the Børglum fault. The numerical simulations of deglaciation-related lithospheric stress build-up additionally support that this neotectonic activity occurred between ∼14.5 and 12 ka and was controlled by stress changes that were induced by the decay of the Scandinavian ice sheet. In the Holocene, the stress field in the study area thus changed from GIA-controlled to a stress field that is determined by plate tectonic forces. Comparable observations were described from the central STZ in the Kattegat area and the southeastern end of the STZ near Bornholm. We therefore interpret the entire STZ as a structure where glacially induced faulting very likely occurred in Lateglacial times. The fault reactivation was associated with the formation of small fault-bound basins that provided accommodation space for Lateglacial to Holocene marine and freshwater sediments.

Fault zone structure and fluid-rock interaction of a high angle normal fault in Carrara marble (NW Tuscany, Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molli, G.; Cortecci, G.; Vaselli, L.; Ottria, G.; Cortopassi, A.; Dinelli, E.; Mussi, M.; Barbieri, M.

2010-09-01

We studied the geometry, intensity of deformation and fluid-rock interaction of a high angle normal fault within Carrara marble in the Alpi Apuane NW Tuscany, Italy. The fault is comprised of a core bounded by two major, non-parallel slip surfaces. The fault core, marked by crush breccia and cataclasites, asymmetrically grades to the host protolith through a damage zone, which is well developed only in the footwall block. On the contrary, the transition from the fault core to the hangingwall protolith is sharply defined by the upper main slip surface. Faulting was associated with fluid-rock interaction, as evidenced by kinematically related veins observable in the damage zone and fluid channelling within the fault core, where an orange-brownish cataclasite matrix can be observed. A chemical and isotopic study of veins and different structural elements of the fault zone (protolith, damage zone and fault core), including a mathematical model, was performed to document type, role, and activity of fluid-rock interactions during deformation. The results of our studies suggested that deformation pattern was mainly controlled by processes associated with a linking-damage zone at a fault tip, development of a fault core, localization and channelling of fluids within the fault zone. Syn-kinematic microstructural modification of calcite microfabric possibly played a role in confining fluid percolation.

Basement control of structure in the Gettysburg rift basin, Pennsylvania and Maryland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Root, Samuel I.

1989-09-01

Jurassic faulting formed the 93 km long Gettysburg basin as an extensional half graben paralleling the basement structural grain. Preserved in the basin are rift-related Carnian to Rhaetian strata that were tilted 20-30° NW into a SE dipping, listric normal fault at the northwest border of the basin. Vertical displacement on the border fault approaches 10 km. The border fault developed parallel to the trend of the terminal Paleozoic Alleghenian South Mountain cleavage of the Blue Ridge basement along 80% of its extent. However, it is only roughly parallel to discordant to dip of the cleavage. Relationship of cleavage and later border faulting may be the result of persistent reactivation of the original Appalachian continental margin. Local complex structures in the half graben are related to reactivation of two subvertical, pre-Mesozoic faults that transect basement structural grain (cleavage) at a large angle. The northern Shippensburg fault was reactivated during basin normal faulting, offsetting the border fault in a right-lateral sense by 3.5 km and forming within the basin a fold and a fault sliver of basement. The southern Carbaugh-Marsh Creek fault was not reactivated, but is the locus of a 20°-30° change of trend of both the basement cleavage and later border fault. However, two large, NW trending, left-lateral wrench faults, antithetic to the Carbaugh-March Creek fault, developed here offsetting the border fault and forming en echelon folds and horst blocks of basement rock within the basin.

A low-angle normal fault and basement structures within the Enping Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin: Insights into late Mesozoic to early Cenozoic tectonic evolution of the South China Sea area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ye, Qing; Mei, Lianfu; Shi, Hesheng; Shu, Yu; Camanni, Giovanni; Wu, Jing

2018-04-01

The basement structure of the Cenozoic Enping Sag, within the Pearl River Mouth Basin on the northern margin of South China Sea, is revealed by borehole-constrained high-quality 3D seismic reflection data. Such data suggest that the Enping Sag is bounded in the north by a low-angle normal fault. We interpret this low-angle normal fault to have developed as the result of the reactivation of a pre-existing thrust fault part of a pre-Cenozoic thrust system. This is demonstrated by the selective reactivation of the pre-existing thrust and by diffuse contractional deformation recognized from the accurate analysis of basement reflections. Another significant result of this study is the finding of some residual rift basins within the basement of the Enping Sag. Both the thrust system and the residual basins are interpreted to have developed after the emplacement of continental margin arc-related granitoids (J3-K1) that define the basement within the study area. Furthermore, seismic sections show that the pre-existing residual rift basins are offset by the main thrust fault and they are both truncated by the Tg unconformity. These structural relationships, interpreted in the frame of previous studies, help us to reconstruct a six-event structural evolution model for the Enping Sag from the late Mesozoic to the early Cenozoic. In particular, we interpret the residual rift basins to have formed as the result of back-arc extension due to the slab roll-back of the Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction in the early K2. The thrust system has recorded a compressional event in the late K2 that followed the back-arc extension in the SCS area. The mechanism of this compressional event is still to be clarified, and might be related to continuous subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate or to the continent-continent collision between a micro-continental block and the South China margin.

The regional structural setting of the 2008 Wells earthquake and Town Creek Flat Basin: implications for the Wells earthquake fault and adjacent structures

USGS Publications Warehouse

Henry, Christopher S.; Colgan, Joseph P.

2011-01-01

The 2008 Wells earthquake occurred on a northeast-striking, southeast-dipping fault that is clearly delineated by the aftershock swarm to a depth of 10-12 km below sea level. However, Cenozoic rocks and structures around Wells primarily record east-west extension along north- to north-northeast-striking, west-dipping normal faults that formed during the middle Miocene. These faults are responsible for the strong eastward tilt of most basins and ranges in the area, including the Town Creek Flat basin (the location of the earthquake) and the adjacent Snake Mountains and western Windermere Hills. These older west-dipping faults are locally overprinted by a younger generation of east-dipping, high-angle normal faults that formed as early as the late Miocene and have remained active into the Quaternary. The most prominent of these east-dipping faults is the set of en-échelon, north-striking faults that bounds the east sides of the Ruby Mountains, East Humboldt Range, and Clover Hill (about 5 km southwest of Wells). The northeastern-most of these faults, the Clover Hill fault, projects northward along strike toward the Snake Mountains and the approximately located surface projection of the Wells earthquake fault as defined by aftershock locations. The Clover Hill fault also projects toward a previously unrecognized, east-facing Quaternary fault scarp and line of springs that appear to mark a significant east-dipping normal fault along the western edge of Town Creek Flat. Both western and eastern projections may be northern continuations of the Clover Hill fault. The Wells earthquake occurred along this east-dipping fault system. Two possible alternatives to rupture of a northern continuation of the Clover Hill fault are that the earthquake fault (1) is antithetic to an active west-dipping fault or (2) reactivated a Mesozoic thrust fault that dips east as a result of tilting by the west-dipping faults along the west side of the Snake Mountains. Both alternatives are precluded by the depths of the earthquake and aftershocks, about 8 km and as deep as 12 km, respectively. These depths are below where an antithetic fault would intersect any main fault, and a tilted, formerly shallow and sub-horizontal thrust fault would not extend to depths of more than about 5–6 km. The east-dipping, high-angle, earthquake fault cuts older west-dipping faults rather than reactivating them, highlighting a change in the structural style of Basin and Range extension in this region from closely-spaced, west-dipping faults that rotated significantly during slip and accommodated large-magnitude extension, to widely-spaced, high-angle faults that accommodate much less total strain over a long time span.

Characterizing the Inner Accretionary Prism of the Nankai Trough with 3D Seismic and Logging While Drilling at IODP Site C0002

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boston, B.; Moore, G. F.; Jurado, M. J.; Sone, H.; Tobin, H. J.; Saffer, D. M.; Hirose, T.; Toczko, S.; Maeda, L.

2014-12-01

The deeper, inner parts of active accretionary prisms have been poorly studied due the lack of drilling data, low seismic image quality and typically thick overlying sediments. Our project focuses on the interior of the Nankai Trough inner accretionary prism using deep scientific drilling and a 3D seismic cube. International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 348 extended the existing riser hole to more than 3000 meters below seafloor (mbsf) at Site C0002. Logging while drilling (LWD) data included gamma ray, resistivity, resistivity image, and sonic logs. LWD analysis of the lower section revealed on the borehole images intense deformation characterized by steep bedding, faults and fractures. Bedding plane orientations were measured throughout, with minor gaps at heavily deformed zones disrupting the quality of the resistivity images. Bedding trends are predominantly steeply dipping (60-90°) to the NW. Interpretation of fractures and faults in the image log revealed the existence of different sets of fractures and faults and variable fracture density, remarkably high at fault zones. Gamma ray, resistivity and sonic logs indicated generally homogenous lithology interpretation along this section, consistent with the "silty-claystone" predominant lithologies described on cutting samples. Drops in sonic velocity were observed at the fault zones defined on borehole images. Seismic reflection interpretation of the deep faults in the inner prism is exceedingly difficult due to a strong seafloor multiple, high-angle bedding dips, and low frequency of the data. Structural reconstructions were employed to test whether folding of seismic horizons in the overlying forearc basin could be from an interpreted paleothrust within the inner prism. We used a trishear-based restoration to estimate fault slip on folded horizons landward of C0002. We estimate ~500 m of slip from a steeply dipping deep thrust within the last ~0.9 Ma. Folding is not found in the Kumano sediments near C0002, where normal faults and tilting dominate the modern basin deformation. Both logging and seismic are consistent in characterizing a heavily deformed inner prism. Most of this deformation must have occurred during or before formation of the overlying modern Kumano forearc basin sediments.

3D Model of the San Emidio Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

James E. Faulds

2013-12-31

The San Emidio geothermal system is characterized by a left-step in a west-dipping normal fault system that bounds the western side of the Lake Range. The 3D geologic model consists of 5 geologic units and 55 faults. Overlying Jurrassic-Triassic metasedimentary basement is a ~500 m-1000 m thick section of the Miocene lower Pyramid sequence, pre- syn-extensional Quaternary sedimentary rocks and post-extensional Quaternary rocks. 15-30º eastward dip of the stratigraphy is controlled by the predominant west-dipping fault set. Both geothermal production and injection are concentrated north of the step over in an area of closely spaced west dipping normal faults.

Strength evolution of simulated carbonate-bearing faults: The role of normal stress and slip velocity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mercuri, Marco; Scuderi, Marco Maria; Tesei, Telemaco; Carminati, Eugenio; Collettini, Cristiano

2018-04-01

A great number of earthquakes occur within thick carbonate sequences in the shallow crust. At the same time, carbonate fault rocks exhumed from a depth < 6 km (i.e., from seismogenic depths) exhibit the coexistence of structures related to brittle (i.e., cataclasis) and ductile deformation processes (i.e., pressure-solution and granular plasticity). We performed friction experiments on water-saturated simulated carbonate-bearing faults for a wide range of normal stresses (from 5 to 120 MPa) and slip velocities (from 0.3 to 100 μm/s). At high normal stresses (σn > 20 MPa) fault gouges undergo strain-weakening, that is more pronounced at slow slip velocities, and causes a significant reduction of frictional strength, from μ = 0.7 to μ = 0.47. Microstructural analysis show that fault gouge weakening is driven by deformation accommodated by cataclasis and pressure-insensitive deformation processes (pressure solution and granular plasticity) that become more efficient at slow slip velocity. The reduction in frictional strength caused by strain weakening behaviour promoted by the activation of pressure-insensitive deformation might play a significant role in carbonate-bearing faults mechanics.

Geologic map of the Paintbrush Canyon Area, Yucca Mountain, Nevada

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Dickerson, R.P.; Drake, R.M. II

This geologic map is produced to support site characterization studies of Yucca Mountain, Nevada, site of a potential nuclear waste storage facility. The area encompassed by this map lies between Yucca Wash and Fortymile Canyon, northeast of Yucca Mountain. It is on the southern flank of the Timber Mountain caldera complex within the southwest Nevada volcanic field. Miocene tuffs and lavas of the Calico Hills Formation, the Paintbrush Group, and the Timber Mountain Group crop out in the area of this map. The source vents of the tuff cones and lava domes commonly are located beneath the thickest deposits ofmore » pyroclastic ejecta and lava flows. The rocks within the mapped area have been deformed by north- and northwest-striking, dominantly west-dipping normal faults and a few east-dipping normal faults. Faults commonly are characterized by well developed fault scarps, thick breccia zones, and hanging-wall grabens. Latest movement as preserved by slickensides on west-dipping fault scarps is oblique down towards the southwest. Two of these faults, the Paintbrush Canyon fault and the Bow Ridge fault, are major block-bounding faults here and to the south at Yucca Mountain. Offset of stratigraphic units across faults indicates that faulting occurred throughout the time these volcanic units were deposited.« less

Evolution of regional stress state based on faulting and folding near the pit river, Shasta county, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Austin, Lauren Jean

We investigate the evolution of the regional stress state near the Pit River, northern California, in order to understand the faulting style in a tectonic transition zone and to inform the hazard analysis of Fault 3432 near the Pit 3 Dam. By analyzing faults and folds preserved in and adjacent to a diatomite mine north of the Pit River, we have determined principal stress directions preserved during the past million years. We find that the stress state has evolved from predominantly normal to strike slip and most recently to reverse, which is consistent with regional structures such as the extensional Hat Creek Fault to the south and the compressional folding of Mushroom Rock to the north. South of the Pit River, we still observe normal and strike slip faults, suggesting that changes in stress state are moving from north to south through time.

Gravity and Magnetic Surveys Over the Santa Rita Fault System, Southeastern Arizona

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hegmann, Mary

2001-01-01

Gravity and magnetic surveys were performed in the northeast portion of the Santa Rita Experimental Range, in southeastern Arizona, to identify faults and gain a better understanding of the subsurface geology. A total of 234 gravity stations were established, and numerous magnetic data were collected with portable and truck-mounted proton precession magnetometers. In addition, one line of very low frequency electromagnetic data was collected together with magnetic data. Gravity anomalies are used to identify two normal faults that project northward toward a previously identified fault. The gravity data also confirm the location of a second previously interpreted normal fault. Interpretation of magnetic anomaly data indicates the presence of a higher-susceptibility sedimentary unit located beneath lowersusceptibility surficial sediments. Magnetic anomaly data identify a 1-km-wide negative anomaly east of these faults caused by an unknown source and reveal the high variability of susceptibility in the Tertiary intrusive rocks in the area.

Fault and joint geometry at Raft River Geothermal Area, Idaho

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guth, L. R.; Bruhn, R. L.; Beck, S. L.

1981-07-01

Raft River geothermal reservoir is formed by fractures in sedimentary strata of the Miocene and Pliocene salt lake formation. The fracturing is most intense at the base of the salt lake formation, along a decollement that dips eastward at less than 50 on top of metamorphosed precambrian and lower paleozoic rocks. Core taken from less than 200 m above the decollement contains two sets of normal faults. The major set of faults dips between 500 and 700. These faults occur as conjugate pairs that are bisected by vertical extension fractures. The second set of faults dips 100 to 200 and may parallel part of the basal decollement or reflect the presence of listric normal faults in the upper plate. Surface joints form two suborthogonal sets that dip vertically. East-northeast-striking joints are most frequent on the limbs of the Jim Sage anticline, a large fold that is associated with the geothermal field.

Fault Slip Partitioning in the Eastern California Shear Zone-Walker Lane Belt: Pliocene to Late Pleistocene Contraction Across the Mina Deflection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lee, J.; Stockli, D.; Gosse, J.

2007-12-01

Two different mechanisms have been proposed for fault slip transfer between the subparallel NW-striking dextral- slip faults that dominant the Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ)-Walker Lane Belt (WLB). In the northern WLB, domains of sinistral-slip along NE-striking faults and clockwise block rotation within a zone of distributed deformation accommodated NW-dextral shear. A somewhat modified version of this mechanism was also proposed for the Mina deflection, southern WLB, whereby NE-striking sinistral faults formed as conjugate faults to the primary zone of NW-dextral shear; clockwise rotation of the blocks bounding the sinistral faults accommodated dextral slip. In contrast, in the northern ECSZ and Mina deflection, domains of NE-striking pure dip-slip normal faults, bounded by NW-striking dextral-slip faults, exhibited no rotation; the proposed mechanism of slip transfer was one of right-stepping, high angle normal faults in which the magnitude of extension was proportional to the amount of strike-slip motion transferred. New geologic mapping, tectonic geomorphologic, and geochronologic data from the Queen Valley area, southern Mina deflection constrain Pliocene to late Quaternary fault geometries, slip orientations, slip magnitudes, and slip rates that bear on the mechanism of fault slip transfer from the relatively narrow northern ECSZ to the broad deformation zone that defines the Mina deflection. Four different fault types and orientations cut across the Queen Valley area: (1) The NE-striking normal-slip Queen Valley fault; (2) NE-striking sinistral faults; (3) the NW-striking dextral Coyote Springs fault, which merges into (4) a set of EW-striking thrust faults. (U-Th)/He apatite and cosmogenic radionuclide data, combined with magnitude of fault offset measurements, indicate a Pliocene to late Pleistocene horizontal extension rate of 0.2-0.3 mm/yr across the Queen Valley fault. Our results, combined with published slip rates for the dextral White Mountain fault zone (0.3-0.8 mm/yr) and the eastern sinistral Coaldale fault (0.4 mm/yr) suggest that transfer of dextral slip from the narrow White Mountains fault zone is explained best by a simple shear couple whereby slip is partitioned into three different components: horizontal extension along the Queen Valley fault, dominantly dextral slip along the Coyote Springs fault, and dominantly sinistral slip along the Coaldale fault. A velocity vector diagram illustrating fault slip partitioning predicts contraction rates of <0.1 to 0.5 mm/yr across the Coyote Springs and western Coaldale faults. The predicted long-term contraction across the Mina deflection is consistent with present-day GPS data.

Combined Application of Shallow Seismic Reflection and High-resolution Refraction Exploration Approach to Active Fault Survey, Central Orogenic Belt, China

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, S.; Luo, D.; Yanlin, F.; Li, Y.

2016-12-01

Shallow Seismic Reflection (SSR) is a major geophysical exploration method with its exploration depth range, high-resolution in urban active fault exploration. In this paper, we carried out (SSR) and High-resolution refraction (HRR) test in the Liangyun Basin to explore a buried fault. We used NZ distributed 64 channel seismic instrument, 60HZ high sensitivity detector, Geode multi-channel portable acquisition system and hammer source. We selected single side hammer hit multiple overlay, 48 channels received and 12 times of coverage. As there are some coincidence measuring lines of SSR and HRR, we chose multi chase and encounter observation system. Based on the satellite positioning, we arranged 11 survey lines in our study area with total length for 8132 meters. GEOGIGA seismic reflection data processing software was used to deal with the SSR data. After repeated tests from the aspects of single shot record compilation, interference wave pressing, static correction, velocity parameter extraction, dynamic correction, eventually got the shallow seismic reflection profile images. Meanwhile, we used Canadian technology company good refraction and tomographic imaging software to deal with HRR seismic data, which is based on nonlinear first arrival wave travel time tomography. Combined with drilling geological profiles, we explained 11 measured seismic profiles. Results show 18 obvious fault feature breakpoints, including 4 normal faults of south-west, 7 reverse faults of south-west, one normal fault of north-east and 6 reverse faults of north-east. Breakpoints buried depth is 15-18 meters, and the inferred fault distance is 3-12 meters. Comprehensive analysis shows that the fault property is reverse fault with northeast incline section, and fewer branch normal faults presenting southwest incline section. Since good corresponding relationship between the seismic interpretation results, drilling data and SEM results on the property, occurrence, broken length of the fault, we considered the Liangyun fault to be an active fault which has strong activity during the Neogene Pliocene and early Pleistocene, Middle Pleistocene period. The combined application of SSR and HRR can provide more parameters to explain the seismic results, and improve the accuracy of the interpretation.

Identification of the meta-instability stage via synergy of fault displacement: An experimental study based on the digital image correlation method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhuo, Yan-Qun; Ma, Jin; Guo, Yan-Shuang; Ji, Yun-Tao

In stick-slip experiments modeling the occurrence of earthquakes, the meta-instability stage (MIS) is the process that occurs between the peak differential stress and the onset of sudden stress drop. The MIS is the final stage before a fault becomes unstable. Thus, identification of the MIS can help to assess the proximity of the fault to the earthquake critical time. A series of stick-slip experiments on a simulated strike-slip fault were conducted using a biaxial servo-controlled press machine. Digital images of the sample surface were obtained via a high speed camera and processed using a digital image correlation method for analysis of the fault displacement field. Two parameters, A and S, are defined based on fault displacement. A, the normalized length of local pre-slip areas identified by the strike-slip component of fault displacement, is the ratio of the total length of the local pre-slip areas to the length of the fault within the observed areas and quantifies the growth of local unstable areas along the fault. S, the normalized entropy of fault displacement directions, is derived from Shannon entropy and quantifies the disorder of fault displacement directions along the fault. Based on the fault displacement field of three stick-slip events under different loading rates, the experimental results show the following: (1) Both A and S can be expressed as power functions of the normalized time during the non-linearity stage and the MIS. The peak curvatures of A and S represent the onsets of the distinct increase of A and the distinct reduction of S, respectively. (2) During each stick-slip event, the fault evolves into the MIS soon after the curvatures of both A and S reach their peak values, which indicates that the MIS is a synergetic process from independent to cooperative behavior among various parts of a fault and can be approximately identified via the peak curvatures of A and S. A possible application of these experimental results to field conditions is provided. However, further validation is required via additional experiments and exercises.

Numerical simulation of the stress distribution in a coal mine caused by a normal fault

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Hongmei; Wu, Jiwen; Zhai, Xiaorong

2017-06-01

Luling coal mine was used for research using FLAC3D software to analyze the stress distribution characteristics of the two sides of a normal fault zone with two different working face models. The working faces were, respectively, on the hanging wall and the foot wall; the two directions of mining were directed to the fault. The stress distributions were different across the fault. The stress was concentrated and the influenced range of stress was gradually larger while the working face was located on the hanging wall. The fault zone played a negative effect to the stress transmission. Obviously, the fault prevented stress transmission, the stress concentrated on the fault zone and the hanging wall. In the second model, the stress on the two sides decreased at first, but then increased continuing to transmit to the hanging wall. The concentrated stress in the fault zone decreased and the stress transmission was obvious. Because of this, the result could be used to minimize roadway damage and lengthen the time available for coal mining by careful design of the roadway and working face.

Evolving geometrical heterogeneities of fault trace data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wechsler, Neta; Ben-Zion, Yehuda; Christofferson, Shari

2010-08-01

We perform a systematic comparative analysis of geometrical fault zone heterogeneities using derived measures from digitized fault maps that are not very sensitive to mapping resolution. We employ the digital GIS map of California faults (version 2.0) and analyse the surface traces of active strike-slip fault zones with evidence of Quaternary and historic movements. Each fault zone is broken into segments that are defined as a continuous length of fault bounded by changes of angle larger than 1°. Measurements of the orientations and lengths of fault zone segments are used to calculate the mean direction and misalignment of each fault zone from the local plate motion direction, and to define several quantities that represent the fault zone disorder. These include circular standard deviation and circular standard error of segments, orientation of long and short segments with respect to the mean direction, and normal separation distances of fault segments. We examine the correlations between various calculated parameters of fault zone disorder and the following three potential controlling variables: cumulative slip, slip rate and fault zone misalignment from the plate motion direction. The analysis indicates that the circular standard deviation and circular standard error of segments decrease overall with increasing cumulative slip and increasing slip rate of the fault zones. The results imply that the circular standard deviation and error, quantifying the range or dispersion in the data, provide effective measures of the fault zone disorder, and that the cumulative slip and slip rate (or more generally slip rate normalized by healing rate) represent the fault zone maturity. The fault zone misalignment from plate motion direction does not seem to play a major role in controlling the fault trace heterogeneities. The frequency-size statistics of fault segment lengths can be fitted well by an exponential function over the entire range of observations.

Miocene extension in the East Range, Nevada: A two-stage history of normal faulting in the northern basin and range

USGS Publications Warehouse

Fosdick, J.C.; Colgan, J.P.

2008-01-01

The East Range in northwestern Nevada is a large, east-tilted crustal block bounded by west-dipping normal faults. Detailed mapping of Tertiary stratigraphic units demonstrates a two-phase history of faulting and extension. The oldest sedimentary and volcanic rocks in the area record cumulative tilting of -30??-45??E, whereas younger olivine basalt flows indicate only a 15??-20??E tilt since ca. 17-13 Ma. Cumulative fault slip during these two episodes caused a minimum of 40% extensional strain across the East Range, and Quaternary fault scarps and seismic activity indicate that fault motion has continued to the present day. Apatite fission track and (U-Th)/He data presented here show that faulting began in the East Range ca. 17-15 Ma, coeval with middle Miocene extension that occurred across much of the Basin and Range. This phase of extension occurred contemporaneously with middle Miocene volcanism related to the nearby northern Nevada rifts, suggesting a link between magmatism and extensional stresses in the crust that facilitated normal faulting in the East Range. Younger fault slip, although less well constrained, began after 10 Ma and is synchronous with the onset of low-magnitude extension in many parts of northwestern Nevada and eastern California. These findings imply that, rather than migrating west across a discrete boundary, late Miocene extension in western Nevada is a distinct, younger period of faulting that is superimposed on the older, middle Miocene distribution of extended and unextended domains. The partitioning of such middle Miocene deformation may reflect the influence of localized heterogeneities in crustal structure, whereas the more broadly distributed late Miocene extension may reflect a stronger influence from regional plate boundary processes that began in the late Miocene. ?? 2008 Geological Society of America.

Variation of the fractal dimension anisotropy of two major Cenozoic normal fault systems over space and time around the Snake River Plain, Idaho and SW Montana

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davarpanah, A.; Babaie, H. A.

2012-12-01

The interaction of the thermally induced stress field of the Yellowstone hotspot (YHS) with existing Basin and Range (BR) fault blocks, over the past 17 m.y., has produced a new, spatially and temporally variable system of normal faults around the Snake River Plain (SRP) in Idaho and Wyoming-Montana area. Data about the trace of these new cross faults (CF) and older BR normal faults were acquired from a combination of satellite imageries, DEM, and USGS geological maps and databases at scales of 1:24,000, 1:100,000, 1:250,000, 1:1000, 000, and 1:2,500, 000, and classified based on their azimuth in ArcGIS 10. The box-counting fractal dimension (Db) of the BR fault traces, determined applying the Benoit software, and the anisotropy intensity (ellipticity) of the fractal dimensions, measured with the modified Cantor dust method applying the AMOCADO software, were measured in two large spatial domains (I and II). The Db and anisotropy of the cross faults were studied in five temporal domains (T1-T5) classified based on the geologic age of successive eruptive centers (12 Ma to recent) of the YHS along the eastern SRP. The fractal anisotropy of the CF system in each temporal domain was also spatially determined in the southern part (domain S1), central part (domain S2), and northern part (domain S3) of the SRP. Line (fault trace) density maps for the BR and CF polylines reveal a higher linear density (trace length per unit area) for the BR traces in the spatial domain I, and a higher linear density of the CF traces around the present Yellowstone National Park (S1T5) where most of the seismically active faults are located. Our spatio-temporal analysis reveals that the fractal dimension of the BR system in domain I (Db=1.423) is greater than that in domain II (Db=1.307). It also shows that the anisotropy of the fractal dimension in domain I is less eccentric (axial ratio: 1.242) than that in domain II (1.355), probably reflecting the greater variation in the trend of the BR system in domain I. The CF system in the S1T5 domain has the highest fractal dimension (Db=1.37) and the lowest anisotropy eccentricity (1.23) among the five temporal domains. These values positively correlate with the observed maxima on the fault trace density maps. The major axis of the anisotropy ellipses is consistently perpendicular to the average trend of the normal fault system in each domain, and therefore approximates the orientation of extension for normal faulting in each domain. This fact gives a NE-SW and NW-SE extension direction for the BR system in domains I and II, respectively. The observed NE-SW orientation of the major axes of the anisotropy ellipses in the youngest T4 and T5 temporal domains, oriented perpendicular to the mean trend of the normal faults in the these domains, suggests extension along the NE-SW direction for cross faulting in these areas. The spatial trajectories (form lines) of the minor axes of the anisotropy ellipses, and the mean trend of fault traces in the T4 and T5 temporal domains, define a large parabolic pattern about the axis of the eastern SRP, with its apex at the Yellowstone plateau.

Three Types of Flower Structures in a Divergent-Wrench Fault Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Lei; Liu, Chi-yang

2017-12-01

Flower structures are typical features of wrench fault zones. In conventional studies, two distinct kinds of flower structures have been identified based on differences in their internal structural architecture: (1) negative flower structures characterized by synforms and normal separations and (2) positive flower structures characterized by antiforms and reverse separations. In addition to negative and positive flower structures, in this study, a third kind of flower structure was identified in a divergent-wrench fault zone, a hybrid characterized by both antiforms and normal separations. Negative flower structures widely occur in divergent-wrench fault zones, and their presence indicates the combined effects of extensional and strike-slip motion. In contrast, positive and hybrid flower structures occur only in fault restraining bends and step overs. A hybrid flower structure can be considered as product of a kind of structural deformation typical of divergent-wrench zones; it is the result of the combined effects of extensional, compressional, and strike-slip strains under a locally appropriate compressional environment. The strain situation in it represents the transition stage that in between positive and negative flower structures. Kinematic and dynamic characteristics of the hybrid flower structures indicate the salient features of structural deformation in restraining bends and step overs along divergent-wrench faults, including the coexistence of three kinds of strains (i.e., compression, extension, and strike-slip) and synchronous presence of compressional (i.e., typical fault-bend fold) and extensional (normal faults) deformation in the same place. Hybrid flower structures are also favorable for the accumulation of hydrocarbons because of their special structural configuration in divergent-wrench fault zones.

The influence of normal fault on initial state of stress in rock mass

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tajduś, Antoni; Cała, Marek; Tajduś, Krzysztof

2016-03-01

Determination of original state of stress in rock mass is a very difficult task for rock mechanics. Yet, original state of stress in rock mass has fundamental influence on secondary state of stress, which occurs in the vicinity of mining headings. This, in turn, is the cause of the occurrence of a number of mining hazards, i.e., seismic events, rock bursts, gas and rock outbursts, falls of roof. From experience, it is known that original state of stress depends a lot on tectonic disturbances, i.e., faults and folds. In the area of faults, a great number of seismic events occur, often of high energies. These seismic events, in many cases, are the cause of rock bursts and damage to the constructions located inside the rock mass and on the surface of the ground. To estimate the influence of fault existence on the disturbance of original state of stress in rock mass, numerical calculations were done by means of Finite Element Method. In the calculations, it was tried to determine the influence of different factors on state of stress, which occurs in the vicinity of a normal fault, i.e., the influence of normal fault inclination, deformability of rock mass, values of friction coefficient on the fault contact. Critical value of friction coefficient was also determined, when mutual dislocation of rock mass part separated by a fault is impossible. The obtained results enabled formulation of a number of conclusions, which are important in the context of seismic events and rock bursts in the area of faults.

Size matters: The effects of displacement magnitude on the fluid flow properties of faults in poorly lithified sediments

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Loveless, S. E.; Bense, V.; Turner, J.

2011-12-01

Many aquifers worldwide occur in poorly lithified sediments, often in regions that experience active tectonic deformation. Faulting of these sediments introduces heterogeneities that may affect aquifer porosity and permeability, and consequently subsurface fluid flow and groundwater storage. The specific hydrogeological effects of faults depend upon the fault architecture and deformation mechanisms. These are controlled by factors such as rheology, stratigraphy and burial depth. Here, we analyse fault permeability in poorly lithified sediments as a function of fault displacement. We have carried out detailed outcrop studies of minor normal faults at five study sites within the rapidly extending Corinth rift, Central Greece. Gravel conglomerates of giant Gilbert delta facies form productive but localised shallow aquifers within the region. Exposures reveal dense (average 20 faults per 100 m) networks of minor (0.1 to 50 m displacement) normal faults within the uplifted sequences, proximal to many of the crustal-scale normal faults. Analysis of 42 faults shows that fault zones are primarily composed of smeared beds that can either retain their definition or mix with surrounding sediment. Lenses or blocks of sediment are common in fault zones that cut beds with contrasting rheology, and a few faults have a clay core and/or damage zone. Fault thickness increases at a rate of about 0.4 m per 10 m increase in displacement. Comparison of sediment micro-structures from the field, hand samples and thin sections show grain-scale sediment mixing, fracturing of clasts, and in some cases cementation, within fault zones. In faults with displacements >12 m we also find a number of roughly parallel, highly indurated shear planes, up to 20 mm in thickness, composed of highly fragmented clasts and a fine grained matrix. Image analysis of thin sections from hand samples collected in the field was used to quantify the porosity of fault zones and adjacent undeformed sediment. These data show a reduction in average porosity from 21% (± 4) in undisturbed sediments to 14% (± 8) within fault zones. We find that fault zone porosity decreases by approximately 5% per 1 m displacement (up to 2 m displacement), as sediments undergo greater micro-scale deformation. Porosity within the shear planes of larger displacement faults (> 12 m) is significantly less than 5%. In summary, with an increase in fault displacement there is an increase in fault thickness and decrease in fault zone porosity, in addition to the occurrence of extremely low porosity shear planes. Consequently, the impact of faults in poorly lithified sediment on fluid flow is, to a large degree, dependent upon the magnitude of fault displacement.

Elastic stress interaction between faulting and volcanism in the Olacapato-San Antonio de Los Cobres area (Puna plateau, Argentina)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonali, F. L.; Corazzato, C.; Tibaldi, A.

2012-06-01

We describe the relationships between Plio-Quaternary tectonics, palaeoseismicity and volcanism along the NW-trending Calama-Olacapato-El Toro (COT) lineament that crosses the Andean chain and the Puna Plateau and continues within the eastern Cordillera at about 24° S. We studied in detail the area from the Chile-Argentina border to a few km east of the San Antonio del Los Cobres village. Satellite and field data revealed the presence of seven Quaternary NW-striking normal left-lateral fault segments in the southeastern part of the studied area and of a Plio-Quaternary N-S-striking graben structure in the northwestern part. The NW-striking Chorrillos fault (CF) segment shows the youngest motions, of late Pleistocene age, being marked by several fault scarps, sag ponds and offset Quaternary deposits and landforms. Offset lavas of 0.78 ± 0.1 Ma to 0.2 ± 0.08 Ma indicate fault kinematics characterised by a pitch angle of 20° to 27° SE, a total net displacement of 31 to 63.8 m, and a slip-rate of 0.16 to 0.08 mm/yr. This fault segment is 32 km long and terminates to the northwest near a set of ESE-dipping thrust faults affecting Tertiary strata, while to the southeast it terminates 10 km further from San Antonio. In the westernmost part of the examined area, in Chile at altitudes > 4000 m, recent N-S-striking normal fault scarps depict the 5-km-wide and 10-km-long graben structure. Locally, fault pitches indicate left-lateral normal kinematics. These faults affect deposits up to ignimbrites of Plio-Quaternary age. Scarp heights are from a few metres to 24 m. Despite that this area is located along the trace of the COT strike-slip fault system, which is reported as a continuous structure from Chile to Argentina in the literature, no evidence of NW-striking Plio-Quaternary strike-slip structures is present here. A series of numerical models were also developed in an elastic half-space with uniform isotropic elastic properties using the Coulomb 3.1 code. We studied the stress changes caused by slip along the various Quaternary COT fault segments, showing that the last motions occurred along the CF might promote in the future further displacement along nearby fault segments located to the northwest. Furthermore, slip along the NW-striking fault segments imparts normal stress changes on the nearby Tuzgle volcano feeding system.

Three-dimensional characterization of microporosity and permeability in fault zones hosted in heterolithic succession

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Riegel, H. B.; Zambrano, M.; Jablonska, D.; Emanuele, T.; Agosta, F.; Mattioni, L.; Rustichelli, A.

2017-12-01

The hydraulic properties of fault zones depend upon the individual contributions of the damage zone and the fault core. In the case of the damage zone, it is generally characterized by means of fracture analysis and modelling implementing multiple approaches, for instance the discrete fracture network model, the continuum model, and the channel network model. Conversely, the fault core is more difficult to characterize because it is normally composed of fine grain material generated by friction and wear. If the dimensions of the fault core allows it, the porosity and permeability are normally studied by means of laboratory analysis or in the other case by two dimensional microporosity analysis and in situ measurements of permeability (e.g. micro-permeameter). In this study, a combined approach consisting of fracture modeling, three-dimensional microporosity analysis, and computational fluid dynamics was applied to characterize the hydraulic properties of fault zones. The studied fault zones crosscut a well-cemented heterolithic succession (sandstone and mudstones) and may vary in terms of fault core thickness and composition, fracture properties, kinematics (normal or strike-slip), and displacement. These characteristics produce various splay and fault core behavior. The alternation of sandstone and mudstone layers is responsible for the concurrent occurrence of brittle (fractures) and ductile (clay smearing) deformation. When these alternating layers are faulted, they produce corresponding fault cores which act as conduits or barriers for fluid migration. When analyzing damage zones, accurate field and data acquisition and stochastic modeling was used to determine the hydraulic properties of the rock volume, in relation to the surrounding, undamaged host rock. In the fault cores, the three-dimensional pore network quantitative analysis based on X-ray microtomography images includes porosity, pore connectivity, and specific surface area. In addition, images were used to perform computational fluid simulation (Lattice-Boltzmann multi relaxation time method) and estimate the permeability. These results will be useful for understanding the deformation process and hydraulic properties across meter-scale damage zones.

Deep crustal faults and the origin and long-term flank stability of Mt. Etna : First results from the CIRCEE cruise (Oct. 2013)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gutscher, Marc-Andre; Dominguez, Stephane; Mercier de Lepinay, Bernard; Pinheiro, Luis; Babonneau, Nathalie; Cattaneo, Antonio; LeFaou, Yann; Barreca, Giovanni; Micallef, Aaron; Rovere, Marzia

2014-05-01

The relation between deep crustal faults and the origin of Mount Etna, the largest and most active volcano in Europe has long been suspected due to its unusual geodynamic location. Results from a new marine geophysical survey offshore Eastern Sicily reveal the detailed geometry (location, length, dip and orientation) of a two-branched 200-km long, lithospheric scale fault system, long sought for as being the cause of Mount Etna. Using high-resolution bathymetry and seismic profiling, we image a 60-km long, previously unidentified, NW trending fault with evidence of recent displacement at the seafloor, offsetting Holocene sediments. This newly identified fault connects NE of Catania, to a known 40-km long, offshore-onshore fault system dissecting the southeastern flank of Mount Etna, generally interpreted as purely gravitational collapse structures. Geological and morphological field studies together with earthquake focal mechanisms indicate active dextral strike-slip motion along the onshore and shallow offshore portion of this 40 + 60 km long segment. The southern 100 km branch of the fault is associated with a sub-vertical lithospheric scale tear fault showing pure down to the East normal faulting and a 500+m thick elongate basin marked by syn-tectonic Plio-quaternary sediment fill. Together they represent two kinematically distinct strands of the long sought "STEP" (Subduction Tear Edge Propagator) fault, whose expression at depth controls the position of Mount Etna. Both 100-km long branches of the fault system are mechanically capable of generating magnitude 7 earthquakes (e.g. - like the 1693 Catania earthquake, the strongest in Italian history, causing 40,000 deaths). We conclude this deep-rooted lithospheric weakness guides gradual down slope creep of Mount Etna and may lead to long-term catastrophic flank collapse with associated tsunami by large-scale mass wasting.

Stress perturbation associated with the Amazonas and other ancient continental rifts

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zoback, M.L.; Richardson, R.M.

1996-01-01

The state of stress in the vicinity of old continental rifts is examined to investigate the possibility that crustal structure associated with ancient rifts (specifically a dense rift pillow in the lower crust) may modify substantially the regional stress field. Both shallow (2.0-2.6 km depth) breakout data and deep (20-45 km depth) crustal earthquake focal mechanisms indicate a N to NNE maximum horizontal compression in the vicinity of the Paleozoic Amazonas rift in central Brazil. This compressive stress direction is nearly perpendicular to the rift structure and represents a ???75?? rotation relative to a regional E-W compressive stress direction in the South American plate. Elastic two-dimensional finite element models of the density structure associated with the Amazonas rift (as inferred from independent gravity modeling) indicate that elastic support of this dense feature would generate horizontal rift-normal compressional stresses between 60 and 120 MPa, with values of 80-100 MPa probably most representative of the overall structure. The observed ???75?? stress rotation constrains the ratio of the regional horizontal stress difference to the rift-normal compressive stress to be between 0.25 and 1.0, suggesting that this rift-normal stress may be from 1 to 4 times larger than the regional horizontal stress difference. A general expression for the modification of the normalized local horizontal shear stress (relative to the regional horizontal shear stress) shows that the same ratio of the rift-normal compression relative to the regional horizontal stress difference, which controls the amount of stress rotation, also determines whether the superposed stress increases or decreases the local maximum horizontal shear stress. The potential for fault reactivation of ancient continental rifts in general is analyzed considering both the local stress rotation and modification of horizontal shear stress for both thrust and strike-slip stress regimes. In the Amazonas rift case, because the observed stress rotation only weakly constrains the ratio of the regional horizontal stress difference to the rift-normal compression to be between 0.25 and 1.0, our analysis is inconclusive because the resultant normalized horizontal shear stress may be reduced (for ratios >0.5) or enhanced (for ratios <0.5). Additional information is needed on all three stress magnitudes to predict how a change in horizontal shear stress directly influences the likelihood of faulting in the thrust-faulting stress regime in the vicinity of the Amazonas rift. A rift-normal stress associated with the seismically active New Madrid ancient rift may be sufficient to rotate the horizontal stress field consistent with strike-slip faults parallel to the axis of the rift, although this results in a 20-40% reduction in the local horizontal shear stress within the seismic zone. Sparse stress data in the vicinity of the seismically quiescent Midcontinent rift of the central United States suggest a stress state similar to that of New Madrid, with the local horizontal shear stress potentially reduced by as much as 60%. Thus the markedly different levels of seismic activity associated with these two subparallel ancient rifts is probably due to other factors than stress perturbations due to dense rift pillows. The modeling and analysis here demonstrate that rift-normal compressive stresses are a significant source of stress acting on the lithosphere and that in some cases may be a contributing factor to the association of intraplate seismicity with old zones of continental extension.

Structure and deformation history of the northern range of Trinidad and adjacent areas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Algar, S. T.; Pindell, J. L.

1993-08-01

Conflicting models have been proposed for both the evolution of northern South America and the neotectonics of the south Caribbean plate boundary zone. The Trinidadian portion of the margin is particularly controversial, but surprisingly it has been little studied. We present a structural analysis of Trinidad's Northern Range, pertinent updates of the island's stratigraphy and sedimentology, and new zircon fission track age determinations, and use them to constrain Trinidad's geologic history, and to better understand the controlling tectonic processes. In our interpretation Trinidad's three E-ENE striking ranges, which are separated by late Neogene-Recent depocenters, expose (1) the Northern Range Group, generally greenschist-metamorphosed Upper Jurassic to Cretaceous north facing continental slope sediments of the Northern Range, deposited on the northern South American passive margin 200-400 km to the WNW, and (2) the Trinidad Group, Cretaceous-Paleogene shelf slope sediments of the central and southern Trinidad deposited less than 100 km WNW of their present location. A small allochthon composing the Sans Souci Group Cretaceous tholeiitic volcaniclastic, basaltic, and gabbroic rocks (Sans Souci Formation) and sediments (Toco Formation) now in the northeastern Northern Range, has been transported hundreds of kilometers from the west with the Caribbean Plate. Despite earlier references to Cretaceous orogenesis, all deformation in Trinidad is of Cenozoic age. The first deformation in the Northern Range (D1) formed north vergent nappes and induced greenschist metamorphism, probably in the Late Eocene or Oligocene. The nappes developed either by the underthrusting of the Proto-Caribbean crust beneath South America due to convergence between North and South America, or as gravity slides caused by oversteepening induced by this convergence and/or the passage of the Caribbean Plate's peripheral bulge and arrival of its foredeep. Northern Range D2 deformation is south vergent and represents the incorporation of Northern Range metasediments into the Caribbean accretionary prism. The transition to D3 brittle transpressive right-lateral strike-slip faulting is interpreted to be due to the uplift and east-southeastward transpressive emplacement of Northern Range/Caribbean prism rocks onto the South American stepped shelf. This emplacement formed the Miocene transpressive thrust belts and foreland basin in central and southern Trinidad. In the final phase of Northern Range deformation (D4) ˜E-W normal faults and shear zones and conjugate NNW-SSE and NE-SW normal faults developed, and displacement on preexisting ˜E-W right-lateral strike-slip faults continued. The 11 Ma Northern Range zircon fission track ages suggest rapid uplift from the Late Miocene to Recent. Late Miocene subsidence of the Tobago platform immediately to the north of the Northern Range, and greater than 3 km of normal, down to the north, displacement indicated for the North Coast Fault Zone separating the Northern Range and Tobago platform, leads us to postulate that the rapid uplift of the Northern Range was in response to the northward detachment of the Tobago platform from above the Northern Range, along the north-dipping transtensional North Coast Fault Zone. This Late Miocene change in deformation style can be explained by a change from Caribbean/South American right-lateral transpression to right-lateral strike-slip generally striking 080°. This has generally induced a component of extension on pre-existing faults striking at greater than 080°, and a component of compression on faults striking at less than 080°.

Fault detection and diagnosis using neural network approaches

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kramer, Mark A.

1992-01-01

Neural networks can be used to detect and identify abnormalities in real-time process data. Two basic approaches can be used, the first based on training networks using data representing both normal and abnormal modes of process behavior, and the second based on statistical characterization of the normal mode only. Given data representative of process faults, radial basis function networks can effectively identify failures. This approach is often limited by the lack of fault data, but can be facilitated by process simulation. The second approach employs elliptical and radial basis function neural networks and other models to learn the statistical distributions of process observables under normal conditions. Analytical models of failure modes can then be applied in combination with the neural network models to identify faults. Special methods can be applied to compensate for sensor failures, to produce real-time estimation of missing or failed sensors based on the correlations codified in the neural network.

The evolution of tectonic features on Ganymede

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Squyres, S. W.

1982-01-01

The bands of bright resurfaced terrain on Ganymede are probably broad grabens formed by global expansion and filled with deposits of ice. Grooves within the bands are thought to be extensional features formed during the same episode of expansion. The crust of Ganymede is modeled as a viscoelastic material subjected to extensional strain. With sufficiently high strain rates and stresses, deep normal faulting will occur, creating broad grabens that may then be filled. Continuing deformation at high strain rates and stresses will cause propagation of deep faults up into the flood deposits and normal faulting at the surface, while lower strain rates and stresses will cause formation of open extension fractures or, if the crustal strength is very low, grabens at the surface. The spacing between adjacent fractures may reflect the geothermal gradient at the time of deformation. Surface topography resulting from fracturing and normal faulting will decay with time as a result of viscous relaxation and mass-wasting.

Superconducting fault current-limiter with variable shunt impedance

DOEpatents

Llambes, Juan Carlos H; Xiong, Xuming

2013-11-19

A superconducting fault current-limiter is provided, including a superconducting element configured to resistively or inductively limit a fault current, and one or more variable-impedance shunts electrically coupled in parallel with the superconducting element. The variable-impedance shunt(s) is configured to present a first impedance during a superconducting state of the superconducting element and a second impedance during a normal resistive state of the superconducting element. The superconducting element transitions from the superconducting state to the normal resistive state responsive to the fault current, and responsive thereto, the variable-impedance shunt(s) transitions from the first to the second impedance. The second impedance of the variable-impedance shunt(s) is a lower impedance than the first impedance, which facilitates current flow through the variable-impedance shunt(s) during a recovery transition of the superconducting element from the normal resistive state to the superconducting state, and thus, facilitates recovery of the superconducting element under load.

Structural Inventory of Great Basin Geothermal Systems and Definition of Favorable Structural Settings

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

Over the course of the entire project, field visits were made to 117 geothermal systems in the Great Basin region. Major field excursions, incorporating visits to large groups of systems, were conducted in western Nevada, central Nevada, northwestern Nevada, northeastern Nevada, east‐central Nevada, eastern California, southern Oregon, and western Utah. For example, field excursions to the following areas included visits of multiple geothermal systems: - Northwestern Nevada: Baltazor Hot Spring, Blue Mountain, Bog Hot Spring, Dyke Hot Springs, Howard Hot Spring, MacFarlane Hot Spring, McGee Mountain, and Pinto Hot Springs in northwest Nevada. - North‐central to northeastern Nevada: Beowawe, Crescent Valley (Hot Springs Point), Dann Ranch (Hand‐me‐Down Hot Springs), Golconda, and Pumpernickel Valley (Tipton Hot Springs) in north‐central to northeast Nevada. - Eastern Nevada: Ash Springs, Chimney Hot Spring, Duckwater, Hiko Hot Spring, Hot Creek Butte, Iverson Spring, Moon River Hot Spring, Moorman Spring, Railroad Valley, and Williams Hot Spring in eastern Nevada. - Southwestern Nevada‐eastern California: Walley’s Hot Spring, Antelope Valley, Fales Hot Springs, Buckeye Hot Springs, Travertine Hot Springs, Teels Marsh, Rhodes Marsh, Columbus Marsh, Alum‐Silver Peak, Fish Lake Valley, Gabbs Valley, Wild Rose, Rawhide‐ Wedell Hot Springs, Alkali Hot Springs, and Baileys/Hicks/Burrell Hot Springs. - Southern Oregon: Alvord Hot Spring, Antelope Hot Spring‐Hart Mountain, Borax Lake, Crump Geyser, and Mickey Hot Spring in southern Oregon. - Western Utah: Newcastle, Veyo Hot Spring, Dixie Hot Spring, Thermo, Roosevelt, Cove Fort, Red Hill Hot Spring, Joseph Hot Spring, Hatton Hot Spring, and Abraham‐Baker Hot Springs. Structural controls of 426 geothermal systems were analyzed with literature research, air photos, google‐Earth imagery, and/or field reviews (Figures 1 and 2). Of the systems analyzed, we were able to determine the structural settings of more than 240 sites. However, we found that many “systems” consisted of little more than a warm or hot well in the central part of a basin. Such “systems” were difficult to evaluate in terms of structural setting in areas lacking in geophysical data. Developed database for structural catalogue in a master spreadsheet. Data components include structural setting, primary fault orientation, presence or absence of Quaternary faulting, reservoir lithology, geothermometry, presence or absence of recent magmatism, and distinguishing blind systems from those that have surface expressions. Reviewed site locations for all 426 geothermal systems– Confirmed and/or relocated spring and geothermal sites based on imagery, maps, and other information for master database. Many systems were mislocated in the original database. In addition, some systems that included several separate springs spread over large areas were divided into two or more distinct systems. Further, all hot wells were assigned names based on their location to facilitate subsequent analyses. We catalogued systems into the following eight major groups, based on the dominant pattern of faulting (Figure 1): - Major normal fault segments (i.e., near displacement maxima). - Fault bends. - Fault terminations or tips. - Step‐overs or relay ramps in normal faults. - Fault intersections. - Accommodation zones (i.e., belts of intermeshing oppositely dipping normal faults), - Displacement transfer zones whereby strike‐slip faults terminate in arrays of normal faults. - Transtensional pull‐aparts. These settings form a hierarchal pattern with respect to fault complexity. - Major normal faults and fault bends are the simplest. - Fault terminations are typically more complex than mid‐segments, as faults commonly break up into multiple strands or horsetail near their ends. - A fault intersection is generally more complex, as it generally contains both multiple fault strands and can include discrete di...

Elastic stress interaction between faulting and volcanism in the Olacapato-San Antonio de Los Cobres area (NW Argentina)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bonali, F. L.; Tibaldi, A.; Corazzato, C.; Lanza, F.; Cavallo, A.; Nardin, A.

2012-04-01

The aim of this work is to describe the relationships between Plio-Quaternary tectonics, palaeoseismicity and volcanism along the NW-trending Calama-Olacapato-El Toro (COT) lineament that crosses the Andean chain and the Puna Plateau and continues within the eastern Cordillera at about 24° S. Field and satellite data have been collected from the Chile-Argentina border to a few km east of the San Antonio del Los Cobres village. These data revealed the presence of seven Quaternary NW-striking normal left-lateral fault segments in the southeastern part of the studied area and of a Plio-Quaternary N-S-striking graben structure in the northwestern part. The NW-striking Chorrillos fault (CF) segment shows the youngest motions, of late Pleistocene age, being marked by several fault scarps, sag-ponds and offset Quaternary deposits and landforms. Offset lavas of 0.78±0.1 Ma to 0.2±0.08 Ma indicate fault kinematics characterized by a pitch angle of 20° to 27° SE, a total net displacement that ranges from 31 to 63.8 m, and a slip-rate of 0.16 to 0.08 mm/yr. This fault segment is 32 km long and terminates to the northwest near a set of ESE-dipping thrust faults affecting Tertiary strata, while to the southeast it terminates 10 km further from San Antonio. In the westernmost part of the examined area, in Chile at altitudes of 4000 m, recent N-S-striking normal fault scarps depict the 5-km-wide and 10-km-long graben structure. Locally, fault pitches indicate left-lateral normal kinematics. These faults affect deposits up to ignimbrites of Plio-Quaternary age. Scarp heights are from a few metres to 24 m. Despite this area is located along the trace of the COT strike-slip fault system, which is reported as a continuous structure from Chile to Argentina in the literature, no evidence of NW-striking Plio-Quaternary strike-slip structures is present here. A series of numerical models were developed in an elastic half-space with uniform isotropic elastic properties using the Coulomb 3.2 code. We studied the stress changes caused by slip along the various Quaternary COT fault segments, showing that the last motions occurred along the Chorrillos fault might promote in the future further displacement along nearby fault segments located to the northwest. Furthermore, slip along the NW-striking fault segments imparts normal stress changes on the nearby Tuzgle volcano feeding system. Cumulative effects of fault reactivation disadvantage future Tuzgle eruptions.

Development, Interaction and Linkage of Normal Fault Segments along the 100-km Bilila-Mtakataka Fault, Malawi

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fagereng, A.; Hodge, M.; Biggs, J.; Mdala, H. S.; Goda, K.

2016-12-01

Faults grow through the interaction and linkage of isolated fault segments. Continuous fault systems are those where segments interact, link and may slip synchronously, whereas non-continuous fault systems comprise isolated faults. As seismic moment is related to fault length (Wells and Coppersmith, 1994), understanding whether a fault system is continuous or not is critical in evaluating seismic hazard. Maturity may be a control on fault continuity: immature, low displacement faults are typically assumed to be non-continuous. Here, we study two overlapping, 20 km long, normal fault segments of the N-S striking Bilila-Mtakataka fault, Malawi, in the southern section of the East African Rift System. Despite its relative immaturity, previous studies concluded the Bilila-Mtakataka fault is continuous for its entire 100 km length, with the most recent event equating to an Mw8.0 earthquake (Jackson and Blenkinsop, 1997). We explore whether segment geometry and relationship to pre-existing high-grade metamorphic foliation has influenced segment interaction and fault development. Fault geometry and scarp height is constrained by DEMs derived from SRTM, Pleiades and `Structure from Motion' photogrammetry using a UAV, alongside direct field observations. The segment strikes differ on average by 10°, but up to 55° at their adjacent tips. The southern segment is sub-parallel to the foliation, whereas the northern segment is highly oblique to the foliation. Geometrical surface discontinuities suggest two isolated faults; however, displacement-length profiles and Coulomb stress change models suggest segment interaction, with potential for linkage at depth. Further work must be undertaken on other segments to assess the continuity of the entire fault, concluding whether an earthquake greater than that of the maximum instrumentally recorded (1910 M7.4 Rukwa) is possible.

Activation of preexisting transverse structures in an evolving magmatic rift in East Africa

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Muirhead, J. D.; Kattenhorn, S. A.

2018-01-01

Inherited crustal weaknesses have long been recognized as important factors in strain localization and basin development in the East African Rift System (EARS). However, the timing and kinematics (e.g., sense of slip) of transverse (rift-oblique) faults that exploit these weaknesses are debated, and thus the roles of inherited weaknesses at different stages of rift basin evolution are often overlooked. The mechanics of transverse faulting were addressed through an analysis of the Kordjya fault of the Magadi basin (Kenya Rift). Fault kinematics were investigated from field and remote-sensing data collected on fault and joint systems. Our analysis indicates that the Kordjya fault consists of a complex system of predominantly NNE-striking, rift-parallel fault segments that collectively form a NNW-trending array of en echelon faults. The transverse Kordjya fault therefore reactivated existing rift-parallel faults in ∼1 Ma lavas as oblique-normal faults with a component of sinistral shear. In all, these fault motions accommodate dip-slip on an underlying transverse structure that exploits the Aswa basement shear zone. This study shows that transverse faults may be activated through a complex interplay among magma-assisted strain localization, preexisting structures, and local stress rotations. Rather than forming during rift initiation, transverse structures can develop after the establishment of pervasive rift-parallel fault systems, and may exhibit dip-slip kinematics when activated from local stress rotations. The Kordjya fault is shown here to form a kinematic linkage that transfers strain to a newly developing center of concentrated magmatism and normal faulting. It is concluded that recently activated transverse faults not only reveal the effects of inherited basement weaknesses on fault development, but also provide important clues regarding developing magmatic and tectonic systems as young continental rift basins evolve.

Near-simultaneous great earthquakes at Tongan megathrust and outer rise in September 2009.

PubMed

Beavan, J; Wang, X; Holden, C; Wilson, K; Power, W; Prasetya, G; Bevis, M; Kautoke, R

2010-08-19

The Earth's largest earthquakes and tsunamis are usually caused by thrust-faulting earthquakes on the shallow part of the subduction interface between two tectonic plates, where stored elastic energy due to convergence between the plates is rapidly released. The tsunami that devastated the Samoan and northern Tongan islands on 29 September 2009 was preceded by a globally recorded magnitude-8 normal-faulting earthquake in the outer-rise region, where the Pacific plate bends before entering the subduction zone. Preliminary interpretation suggested that this earthquake was the source of the tsunami. Here we show that the outer-rise earthquake was accompanied by a nearly simultaneous rupture of the shallow subduction interface, equivalent to a magnitude-8 earthquake, that also contributed significantly to the tsunami. The subduction interface event was probably a slow earthquake with a rise time of several minutes that triggered the outer-rise event several minutes later. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that the normal fault ruptured first and dynamically triggered the subduction interface event. Our evidence comes from displacements of Global Positioning System stations and modelling of tsunami waves recorded by ocean-bottom pressure sensors, with support from seismic data and tsunami field observations. Evidence of the subduction earthquake in global seismic data is largely hidden because of the earthquake's slow rise time or because its ground motion is disguised by that of the normal-faulting event. Earthquake doublets where subduction interface events trigger large outer-rise earthquakes have been recorded previously, but this is the first well-documented example where the two events occur so closely in time and the triggering event might be a slow earthquake. As well as providing information on strain release mechanisms at subduction zones, earthquakes such as this provide a possible mechanism for the occasional large tsunamis generated at the Tonga subduction zone, where slip between the plates is predominantly aseismic.

Coseismic fault zone deformation caused by the 2014 Mw=6.2 Nagano-ken-hokubu, Japan, earthquake on the Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line revealed with differential LiDAR

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Toda, S.; Ishimura, D.; Homma, S.; Mukoyama, S.; Niwa, Y.

2015-12-01

The Mw = 6.2 Nagano-ken-hokubu earthquake struck northern Nagano, central Japan, on November 22, 2014, and accompanied a 9-km-long surface rupture mostly along the previously mapped N-NW trending Kamishiro fault, one of the segments of the 150-km-long Itoigawa-Shizuoka Tectonic Line active fault system. While we mapped the rupture and measured vertical displacement of up to 80 cm at the field, interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) shows densely spaced fringes on the hanging wall side, suggesting westward or uplift movement associated with thrust faulting. The mainshock focal mechanism and aftershock hypocenters indicate the source fault dips to the east but the InSAR images cannot exactly differentiate between horizontal and vertical movements and also lose coherence within and near the fault zone itself. To reveal near-field deformation and shallow fault slip, here we demonstrate a differential LiDAR analysis using a pair of 1 m-resolution pre-event and post-event bare Earth digital terrain models (DTMs) obtained from commercial LiDAR provider. We applied particle image velocity (PIV) method incorporating elevation change to obtain 3-D vectors of coseismic displacements (Mukoyama, 2011, J. Mt. Sci). Despite sporadic noises mostly due to local landslides, we detected up to 1.5 m net movement at the tip of the hanging wall, more than the field measurement of 80 cm. Our result implies that a 9-km-long rupture zone is not a single continuous fault but composed of two bow-shaped fault strands, suggesting a combination of shallow fault dip and modest amount (< 1.5 m) of slip. Eastward movement without notable subsidence on the footwall also supports the low angle fault dip near the surface, and significant fault normal contraction, observed as buckled cultural features across the fault zone. Secondary features, such as subsidiary back-thrust faults confirmed at the field, are also visible as a significant contrast of vector directions and slip amounts.

An imbalance fault detection method based on data normalization and EMD for marine current turbines.

PubMed

Zhang, Milu; Wang, Tianzhen; Tang, Tianhao; Benbouzid, Mohamed; Diallo, Demba

2017-05-01

This paper proposes an imbalance fault detection method based on data normalization and Empirical Mode Decomposition (EMD) for variable speed direct-drive Marine Current Turbine (MCT) system. The method is based on the MCT stator current under the condition of wave and turbulence. The goal of this method is to extract blade imbalance fault feature, which is concealed by the supply frequency and the environment noise. First, a Generalized Likelihood Ratio Test (GLRT) detector is developed and the monitoring variable is selected by analyzing the relationship between the variables. Then, the selected monitoring variable is converted into a time series through data normalization, which makes the imbalance fault characteristic frequency into a constant. At the end, the monitoring variable is filtered out by EMD method to eliminate the effect of turbulence. The experiments show that the proposed method is robust against turbulence through comparing the different fault severities and the different turbulence intensities. Comparison with other methods, the experimental results indicate the feasibility and efficacy of the proposed method. Copyright © 2017 ISA. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

An integrated geodetic and seismic study of the Cusco Fault system in the Cusco Region-Southern Peru

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norabuena, E. O.; Tavera, H. J.

2017-12-01

The Cusco Fault system is composed by six main faults (Zurite, Tamboray, Qoricocha, Tambomachay, Pachatusan, and Urcos) extending in a NW-SE direction over the Cusco Region in southeastern Peru. From these, the Tambomachay is a normal fault of 20 km length, strikes N120°E and bounds a basin filled with quaternary lacustrine and fluvial deposits. Given its 5 km distance to Cusco, an historical and Inca's archeological landmark, it represents a great seismic hazard for its more than 350,000 inhabitants. The Tambomachay fault as well as the other secondary faults have been a source of significant seismic activity since historical times being the more damaging ones the Cusco earthquakes of 1650, 1950 and more recently April 1986 (M 5.8). Previous geological studies indicate that at the beginning of the Quaternary the fault showed a transcurrent mechanism leading to the formation of the Cusco basin. However, nowadays its mechanism is normal fault and scarps up to 22m can be observed. We report the current dynamics of the Tambomachay fault and secondary faults based on seismic activity imaged by a network of 29 broadband stations deployed in the Cusco Region as well as the deformation field inferred from GPS survey measurements carried out between 2014 and 2016.

Influence of crystallised igneous intrusions on fault nucleation and reactivation during continental extension

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Magee, Craig; McDermott, Kenneth G.; Stevenson, Carl T. E.; Jackson, Christopher A.-L.

2014-05-01

Continental rifting is commonly accommodated by the nucleation of normal faults, slip on pre-existing fault surfaces and/or magmatic intrusion. Because crystallised igneous intrusions are pervasive in many rift basins and are commonly more competent (i.e. higher shear strengths and Young's moduli) than the host rock, it is theoretically plausible that they locally intersect and modify the mechanical properties of pre-existing normal faults. We illustrate the influence that crystallised igneous intrusions may have on fault reactivation using a conceptual model and observations from field and subsurface datasets. Our results show that igneous rocks may initially resist failure, and promote the preferential reactivation of favourably-oriented, pre-existing faults that are not spatially-associated with solidified intrusions. Fault segments situated along strike from laterally restricted fault-intrusion intersections may similarly be reactivated. This spatial and temporal control on strain distribution may generate: (1) supra-intrusion folds in the hanging wall; (2) new dip-slip faults adjacent to the igneous body; or (3) sub-vertical, oblique-slip faults oriented parallel to the extension direction. Importantly, stress accumulation within igneous intrusions may eventually initiate failure and further localise strain. The results of our study have important implications for the structural of sedimentary basins and the subsurface migration of hydrocarbons and mineral-bearing fluids.

Fault Diagnosis of Internal Combustion Engine Valve Clearance Using the Impact Commencement Detection Method.

PubMed

Jiang, Zhinong; Mao, Zhiwei; Wang, Zijia; Zhang, Jinjie

2017-12-15

Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are widely used in many important fields. The valve train clearance of an ICE usually exceeds the normal value due to wear or faulty adjustment. This work aims at diagnosing the valve clearance fault based on the vibration signals measured on the engine cylinder heads. The non-stationarity of the ICE operating condition makes it difficult to obtain the nominal baseline, which is always an awkward problem for fault diagnosis. This paper overcomes the problem by inspecting the timing of valve closing impacts, of which the referenced baseline can be obtained by referencing design parameters rather than extraction during healthy conditions. To accurately detect the timing of valve closing impact from vibration signals, we carry out a new method to detect and extract the commencement of the impacts. The results of experiments conducted on a twelve-cylinder ICE test rig show that the approach is capable of extracting the commencement of valve closing impact accurately and using only one feature can give a superior monitoring of valve clearance. With the help of this technique, the valve clearance fault becomes detectable even without the comparison to the baseline, and the changing trend of the clearance could be trackable.

Crustal Evolution of the Protonilus Mensae Area, Mars

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McGill, G. E.; Smrekar, S. E.; Dimitriou, A. M.; Raymond, C. A.

2004-01-01

Despite research by numerous geologists and geo- physicists, the age and origin of the martian crustal dichotomy remain uncertain. Models for the origin of this dichotomy involve single or multiple impact, mantle megaplumes, primordial crustal asymmetry, and plate tectonics. Most of these models imply a Noachian age for the dichotomy. A major problem common to all genetic models is the difficulty separating the features resulting from the primary cause for the dichotomy from features due to younger fault- ing, impact cratering, volcanism, deposition, and erosion. highlands (the dichotomy boundary) approximates a small circle that ranges in latitude from about -10 deg. in Elysium Planitia to about +45 deg. north of Arabia Terra. For much of its length the boundary is characterized by relatively steep scarps separating highland plateau to the south from lowland plains to the north, generally with a complex transition zone on the lowland side of these scarps. These scarps are almost certainly due to normal faulting. The type fretted terrain, which defines the boundary in north-central Arabia Terra, also is characterized by scarps but has under- gone a more complex history of faulting and dissection [13]. In some places, notably in the Acidalia Planitia region, the dichotomy boundary is gradational. In the Tharsis region the boundary is obscured by younger volcanics.

Some Key Features of the Strong-Motion Data from the M 6.0 Parkfield, California, Earthquake of 28 September 2004

USGS Publications Warehouse

Shakal, A.; Haddadi, H.; Graizer, V.; Lin, K.; Huang, M.

2006-01-01

The 2004 Parkfield, California, earthquake was recorded by an extensive set of strong-motion instruments well positioned to record details of the motion in the near-fault region, where there has previously been very little recorded data. The strong-motion measurements obtained are highly varied, with significant variations occurring over only a few kilometers. The peak accelerations in the near fault region range from 0.13g to over 1.8g (one of the highest acceleration recorded to date, exceeding the capacity of the recording instrument The largest accelerations occurred near the northwest end of the inferred rupture zone. These motions are consistent with directivity for a fault rupturing from the hypocenter near Gold Hill toward the northwest. However, accelerations up to 0.8g were also observed in the opposite direction, at the south end of the Cholame Valley near Highway 41, consistent with bilateral rupture, with rupture southeast of the hypocenter. Several stations near and over the rupturing fault recorded relatively weak motions, consistent with seemingly paradoxical observations of low shaking damage near strike-slip faults. This event had more ground-motion observations within 10 km of the fault than many other earthquakes combined. At moderate distances peak horizontal ground acceleration (PGA) values dropped off more rapidly with distance than standard relationships. At close-in distance the wide variation of PGA suggests a distance-dependent sigma may be important to consider. The near-fault ground-motion variation is greater than that assumed in ShakeMap interpolations, based on the existing set of observed data. Higher density of stations near faults may be the only means in the near future to reduce uncertainty in the interpolations. Outside of the near-fault zone the variance is closer to that assumed. This set of data provides the first case where near-fault radiation has been observed at an adequate number of stations around the fault to allow detailed study of the fault-normal and fault-parallel motion and the near-field S-wave radiation. The fault-normal motions are significant, but they are not large at the central part of the fault, away from the ends. The fault-normal and fault-parallel motions drop off quite rapidly with distance from the fault. Analysis of directivity indicates increased values of peak velocity in the rupture direction. No such dependence is observed in the peak acceleration, except for stations close to the strike of the fault near and beyond the ends of the faulting.

Modeling River Incision Across Active Normal Faults Using the Channel-Hillslope Integrated Landscape Development Model (CHILD): the case of the Central Apennines (Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Attal, M.; Tucker, G.; Whittaker, A.; Cowie, P.; Roberts, G.

2005-12-01

River systems constitute some of the most efficient agents that shape terrestrial landscapes. Fluvial incision rates govern landscape evolution but, due to the variety of processed involved and the difficulty of quantifying them in the field, there is no "universal theory" describing the way rivers incise into bedrock. The last decades have seen the birth of numerous fluvial incision laws associated with models that assign different roles to hydrodynamic variables and to sediments. In order to discriminate between models and constrain their parameters, the transient response of natural river systems to a disturbance (tectonic or climatic) can be used. Indeed, the different models predict different kinds of transient response whereas most models predict a similar power law relationship between slope and drainage area at equilibrium. To this end, a coupled field - modeling study is in progress. The field area consists of the Central Apennines that are subject to active faulting associated with a regional extensional regime. Fault initiation occurred 3 My ago, associated with throw rates of 0.3 +/- 0.2 mm/yr. Due to fault interaction and linkage, the throw rate on the faults located near the center of the fault system increased dramatically 0.7 My ago (up to 2 mm/yr), whereas slip rates on distal faults either decayed or remained approximately constant. The present study uses the landscape evolution model, CHILD, to examine the behavior of rivers draining across these active faults. Distal and central faults are considered in order to track the effects of the fault acceleration on the development of the fluvial network. River characteristics have been measured in the field (e.g. channel width, slope, sediment grain size) and extracted from a 20m DEM (e.g. channel profile, drainage area). We use CHILD to test the ability of alternative incision laws to reproduce observed topography under known tectonic forcing. For each of the fluvial incision models, a Monte-Carlo simulation has been performed, allowing the exploration of a wide range of values for the different parameters relative to tectonic, climate, sediment characteristics, and channel geometry. Observed profiles are consistent with a dominantly wave-like, as opposed to diffusive, transient response to accelerated fault motion. The ability of the different models to reproduce more or less accurately the catchment characteristics, in particular the specific profiles exhibited by the rivers, are discussed in light of our first results.

Modeling the effect of preexisting joints on normal fault geometries using a brittle and cohesive material

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kettermann, M.; van Gent, H. W.; Urai, J. L.

2012-04-01

Brittle rocks, such as for example those hosting many carbonate or sandstone reservoirs, are often affected by different kinds of fractures that influence each other. Understanding the effects of these interactions on fault geometries and the formation of cavities and potential fluid pathways might be useful for reservoir quality prediction and production. Analogue modeling has proven to be a useful tool to study faulting processes, although usually the used materials do not provide cohesion and tensile strength, which are essential to create open fractures. Therefore, very fine-grained, cohesive, hemihydrate powder was used for our experiments. The mechanical properties of the material are scaling well for natural prototypes. Due to the fine grain size structures are preserved in in great detail. The used deformation box allows the formation of a half-graben and has initial dimensions of 30 cm width, 28 cm length and 20 cm height. The maximum dip-slip along the 60° dipping predefined basement fault is 4.5 cm and was fully used in all experiments. To setup open joints prior to faulting, sheets of paper placed vertically within the box to a depth of about 5 cm from top. The powder was then sieved into the box, embedding the paper almost entirely. Finally strings were used to remove the paper carefully, leaving open voids. Using this method allows the creation of cohesionless open joints while ensuring a minimum impact on the sensitive surrounding material. The presented series of experiments aims to investigate the effect of different angles between the strike of a rigid basement fault and a distinct joint set. All experiments were performed with a joint spacing of 2.5 cm and the fault-joint angles incrementally covered 0°, 4°, 8°, 12°, 16°, 20° and 25°. During the deformation time lapse photography from the top and side captured every structural change and provided data for post-processing analysis using particle imaging velocimetry (PIV). Additionally, stereo-photography at the final stage of deformation enabled the creation of 3D models to preserve basic geometric information. The models showed that at the surface the deformation localized always along preexisting joints, even when they strike at an angle to the basement-fault. In most cases faults intersect precisely at the maximum depth of the joints. With increasing fault-joint angle the deformation occurred distributed over several joints by forming stepovers with fractures oriented normal to the strike of the joints. No fractures were observed parallel to the basement fault. At low angles stepovers coincided with wedge-shaped structures between two joints that remain higher than the surrounding joint-fault intersection. The wide opening gap along the main fault allowed detailed observations of the fault planes at depth, which revealed (1) changing dips according to joint-fault angles, (2) slickenlines, (3) superimposed steepening fault-planes, causing sharp sawtooth-shaped structures. Comparison to a field analogue at Canyonlands National Park, Utah/USA showed similar structures and features such as vertical fault escarpments at the surface coinciding with joint-surfaces. In the field and in the models stepovers were observed as well as conjugate faulting and incremental fault-steepening.

SURFACE RUPTURE OF THE NORMAL SEISMIC FAULTS AND SLOPE FAILURES APPEARED IN APRIL 11th, 2011 FUKUSHIMA-PREFECTURE HAMADOORI EARTHQUAKE

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kazmi, Zaheer Abbas; Konagai, Kazuo; Kyokawa, Hiroyuki; Tetik, Cigdem

On April 11th, 2011, Iwaki region of Fukushima prefecture was jolted by Fukushima-Prefecture Hamadoori Earthquake. Surface ruptures were observed along causative Idosawa and Yunotake normal faults. In addition to numerous small slope failures, a coherent landslide and building structures of Tabito Junior High School, bisected by Idosawa Fault, were found along the causative faults. A precise digital elevation model of the coherent landslide was obtained through the ground and air-born LiDAR surveys. The measurements of perimeters of the gymnasium building and the swimming pool of Tabito Junior High School have shown that ground undergoes a slow and steady/continual deformation.

Why is the central area of the Alburni Mts in southern Italy so full of caves?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cafaro, Simona; Gueguen, Erwan; Parise, Mario; Schiattarella, Marcello

2016-04-01

The Alburni Mts represent one of the most important karst area of southern Italy, with about 250 registered caves. Located in the southern Apennines, they constitute an impressive carbonate massif within the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Campania-Lucania platform. The study area is located inside the National Park of Cilento, Vallo di Diano and Alburni, and is bounded by two major rivers: the Calore and Tanagro rivers. This area has been repeatedly affected during Pleistocene by the activity of a regional, partly blind, NW-SE-striking fault system responsible for several huge earthquakes. The massif is limited to the north by an important normal fault zone (Alburni Line), whereas towards the E-SE it is bounded by a complex fault system linking the Alburni Mts to the Maddalena Mts across the Auletta basin and the Vallo di Diano valley. The entire massif is structured by NW-SE trending transtensional faults delimiting half-graben basins, and offset also by NE-SW trending faults. In particular, structural and geomorphological data have shown that the central area of the calcareous ridge is characterized by a relative structural low rhombic-shaped in planimetric view. Approximately 180 karst caves of the known 250, including some of the most significant from a speleological viewpoint, are located in this area. Is this simply due to repeated exploration activity in the last 25 years in this specific sector or might it be related to geological matter? New morphometric and structural data suggest that a relevant transversal structure, consisting of a complex NE-SW fault system, responsible for the genesis of the downthrown area in the central sector of the flat-topped ridge, was able to create the tectonic framework for the development of a great number of karst caves which present peculiar features and hydrological behaviour due to such structural controls. In this contribution we present and discuss these data, aimed at contributing to increase the knowledge on an area of sure karst and speleological interest.

Effects of A Weak Crustal Layer in a Transtensional Pull-Apart Basin: Results from a Scaled Physical Modeling Study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dooley, T. P.; Monastero, F. C.; McClay, K. R.

2007-12-01

Results of scaled physical models of a releasing bend in the transtensional, dextral strike-slip Coso geothermal system located in the southwest Basin and Range, U.S.A., are instructive for understanding crustal thinning and heat flow in such settings. The basic geometry of the Coso system has been approximated to a 30? dextral releasing stepover. Twenty-four model runs were made representing successive structural iterations that attempted to replicate geologic structures found in the field. The presence of a shallow brittle-ductile transition in the field known from a well-documented seismic-aseismic boundary, was accommodated by inclusion of layers of silicone polymer in the models. A single polymer layer models a conservative brittle-ductile transition in the Coso area at a depth of 6 km. Dual polymer layers impose a local elevation of the brittle-ductile transition to a depth of 4 km. The best match to known geologic structures was achieved with a double layer of silicone polymers with an overlying layer of 100 µm silica sand, a 5° oblique divergent motion across the master strike-slip faults, and a thin-sheet basal rubber décollement. Variation in the relative displacement of the two base plates resulted in some switching in basin symmetry, but the primary structural features remained essentially the same. Although classic, basin-bounding sidewall fault structures found in all pull-apart basin analog models formed in our models, there were also atypical complex intra-basin horst structures that formed where the cross-basin fault zone is situated. These horsts are flanked by deep sedimentary basins that were the locus of maximum crustal thinning accomplished via high-angle extensional and oblique-extensional faults that become progressively more listric with depth as the brittle-ductile transition was approached. Crustal thinning was as much as 50% of the original model depth in dual polymer models. The weak layer at the base of the upper crust appears to focus brittle deformation and facilitate formation of listric normal faults. The implications of these modeling efforts are that: 1) Releasing stepovers that have associated weak upper crust will undergo a more rapid rate of crustal thinning due to the strain focusing effect of this ductile layer; 2) The origin of listric normal faults in these analog models is related to the presence of the weak, ductile layer; and, 3) Due to high dilatency related to major intra-basin extension these stepover structures can be the loci for high heat flow.

Geodetic Measurement of Deformation East of the San Andreas Fault in Central California

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sauber, Jeanne M.; Lisowski, Michael; Solomon, Sean C.

1988-01-01

Triangulation and trilateration data from two geodetic networks located between the western edge of the Great Valley and the San Andreas fault have been used to calculate shear strain rates in the Diablo Range and to estimate the slip rate along the Calaveras and Paicines faults in Central California. Within the Diablo Range the average shear strain rate was determined for the time period between 1962 and 1982 to be 0.15 + or - 0.08 microrad/yr, with the orientation of the most compressive strain at N 16 deg E + or - 14 deg. The orientation of the principal compressive strain predicted from the azimuth of the major structures in the region is N 25 deg E. It is inferred that the measured strain is due to compression across the folds of this area: the average shear straining corresponds to a relative shortening rate of 4.5 + or - 2.4 mm/yr. From an examination of wellbore breakout orientations and the azimuths of P-axes from earthquake focal mechanisms the inferred orientation of maximum compressive stress was found to be similar to the direction of maximum compressive strain implied by the trend of local fold structures. Results do not support the hypothesis of uniform fault-normal compression within the Coast Ranges. From trilateration measurements made between 1972 and 1987 on lines that are within 10 km of the San Andreas fault, a slip rate of 10 to 12 mm/yr was calculated for the Calaveras-Paicines fault south of Hollister. The slip rate of the Paicines fault decreases to 4 mm/yr near Bitter.

Active simultaneous uplift and margin-normal extension in a forearc high, Crete, Greece

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gallen, S. F.; Wegmann, K. W.; Bohnenstiehl, D. R.; Pazzaglia, F. J.; Brandon, M. T.; Fassoulas, C.

2014-07-01

The island of Crete occupies a forearc high in the central Hellenic subduction zone and is characterized by sustained exhumation, surface uplift and extension. The processes governing orogenesis and topographic development here remain poorly understood. Dramatic topographic relief (2-6 km) astride the southern coastline of Crete is associated with large margin-parallel faults responsible for deep bathymetric depressions known as the Hellenic troughs. These structures have been interpreted as both active and inactive with either contractional, strike-slip, or extensional movement histories. Distinguishing between these different structural styles and kinematic histories here allows us to explore more general models for improving our global understanding of the tectonic and geodynamic processes of syn-convergent extension. We present new observations from the south-central coastline of Crete that clarifies the role of these faults in the late Cenozoic evolution of the central Hellenic margin and the processes controlling Quaternary surface uplift. Pleistocene marine terraces are used in conjunction with optically stimulated luminesce dating and correlation to the Quaternary eustatic curve to document coastal uplift and identify active faults. Two south-dipping normal faults are observed, which extend offshore, offset these marine terrace deposits and indicate active N-S (margin-normal) extension. Further, marine terraces preserved in the footwall and hanging wall of both faults demonstrate that regional net uplift of Crete is occurring despite active extension. Field mapping and geometric reconstructions of an active onshore normal fault reveal that the subaqueous range-front fault of south-central Crete is synthetic to the south-dipping normal faults on shore. These findings are inconsistent with models of active horizontal shortening in the upper crust of the Hellenic forearc. Rather, they are consistent with topographic growth of the forearc in a viscous orogenic wedge, where crustal thickening and uplift are a result of basal underplating of material that is accompanied by extension in the upper portions of the wedge. Within this framework a new conceptual model is presented for the late Cenozoic vertical tectonics of the Hellenic forearc.

Strike-parallel and strike-normal coordinate system around geometrically complicated rupture traces: use by NGA-West2 and further improvements

USGS Publications Warehouse

Spudich, Paul A.; Chiou, Brian

2015-01-01

We present a two-dimensional system of generalized coordinates for use with geometrically complex fault ruptures that are neither straight nor continuous. The coordinates are a generalization of the conventional strike-normal and strike-parallel coordinates of a single straight fault. The presented conventions and formulations are applicable to a single curved trace, as well as multiple traces representing the rupture of branching faults or noncontiguous faults. An early application of our generalized system is in the second round of the Next Generation of Ground-Motion Attenuation Model project for the Western United States (NGA-West2), where they were used in the characterization of the hanging-wall effects. We further improve the NGA-West2 strike-parallel formulation for multiple rupture traces with a more intuitive definition of the nominal strike direction. We also derive an analytical expression for the gradient of the generalized strike-normal coordinate. The direction of this gradient may be used as the strike-normal direction in the study of polarization effects on ground motions.

Continental Shelf Morphology and Stratigraphy Offshore San Onofre, CA: The Interplay Between Rates of Eustatic Change and Sediment Supply

USGS Publications Warehouse

Klotsko, Shannon; Driscoll, Neal W.; Kent, Graham; Brothers, Daniel

2016-01-01

New high-resolution CHIRP seismic data acquired offshore San Onofre, southern California reveal that shelf sediment distribution and thickness are primarily controlled by eustatic sea level rise and sediment supply. Throughout the majority of the study region, a prominent abrasion platform and associated shoreline cutoff are observed in the subsurface from ~ 72 to 53 m below present sea level. These erosional features appear to have formed between Melt Water Pulse 1A and Melt Water Pulse 1B, when the rate of sea-level rise was lower. There are three distinct sedimentary units mapped above a regional angular unconformity interpreted to be the Holocene transgressive surface in the seismic data. Unit I, the deepest unit, is interpreted as a lag deposit that infills a topographic low associated with an abrasion platform. Unit I thins seaward by downlap and pinches out landward against the shoreline cutoff. Unit II is a mid-shelf lag deposit formed from shallower eroded material and thins seaward by downlap and landward by onlap. The youngest, Unit III, is interpreted to represent modern sediment deposition. Faults in the study area do not appear to offset the transgressive surface. The Newport Inglewood/Rose Canyon fault system is active in other regions to the south (e.g., La Jolla) where it offsets the transgressive surface and creates seafloor relief. Several shoals observed along the transgressive surface could record minor deformation due to fault activity in the study area. Nevertheless, our preferred interpretation is that the shoals are regions more resistant to erosion during marine transgression. The Cristianitos fault zone also causes a shoaling of the transgressive surface. This may be from resistant antecedent topography due to an early phase of compression on the fault. The Cristianitos fault zone was previously defined as a down-to-the-north normal fault, but the folding and faulting architecture imaged in the CHIRP data are more consistent with a strike-slip fault with a down-to-the-northwest dip-slip component. A third area of shoaling is observed off of San Mateo and San Onofre creeks. This shoaling has a constructional component and could be a relict delta or beach structure. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Identification of Lembang fault, West-Java Indonesia by using controlled source audio-magnetotelluric (CSAMT)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sanny, Teuku A.

2017-07-01

The objective of this study is to determine boundary and how to know surrounding area between Lembang Fault and Cimandiri fault. For the detailed study we used three methodologies: (1). Surface deformation modeling by using Boundary Element method and (2) Controlled Source Audiomagneto Telluric (CSAMT). Based on the study by using surface deformation by using Boundary Element Methods (BEM), the direction Lembang fault has a dominant displacement in east direction. The eastward displacement at the nothern fault block is smaller than the eastward displacement at the southern fault block which indicates that each fault block move in left direction relative to each other. From this study we know that Lembang fault in this area has left lateral strike slip component. The western part of the Lembang fault move in west direction different from the eastern part that moves in east direction. Stress distribution map of Lembang fault shows difference between the eastern and western segments of Lembang fault. Displacement distribution map along x-direction and y-direction of Lembang fault shows a linement oriented in northeast-southwest direction right on Tangkuban Perahu Mountain. Displacement pattern of Cimandiri fault indicates that the Cimandiri fault is devided into two segment. Eastern segment has left lateral strike slip component while the western segment has right lateral strike slip component. Based on the displacement distribution map along y-direction, a linement oriented in northwest-southeast direction is observed at the western segment of the Cimandiri fault. The displacement along x-direction and y-direction between the Lembang and Cimandiri fault is nearly equal to zero indicating that the Lembang fault and Cimandiri Fault are not connected to each others. Based on refraction seismic tomography that we know the characteristic of Cimandiri fault as normal fault. Based on CSAMT method th e lembang fault is normal fault that different of dip which formed as graben structure.

Evidence for distributed clockwise rotation of the crust in the northwestern United States from fault geometries and focal mechanisms

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brocher, Thomas M.; Wells, Ray E.; Lamb, Andrew P.; Weaver, Craig S.

2017-05-01

Paleomagnetic and GPS data indicate that Washington and Oregon have rotated clockwise for the past 16 Myr. Late Cenozoic and Quaternary fault geometries, seismicity lineaments, and focal mechanisms provide evidence that this rotation is accommodated by north directed thrusting and right-lateral strike-slip faulting in Washington, and SW to W directed normal faulting and right-lateral strike-slip faulting to the east. Several curvilinear NW to NNW trending high-angle strike-slip faults and seismicity lineaments in Washington and NW Oregon define a geologic pole (117.7°W, 47.9°N) of rotation relative to North America. Many faults and focal mechanisms throughout northwestern U.S. and southwestern British Columbia have orientations consistent with this geologic pole as do GPS surface velocities corrected for elastic Cascadia subduction zone coupling. Large Quaternary normal faults radial to the geologic pole, which appear to accommodate crustal rotation via crustal extension, are widespread and can be found along the Lewis and Clark zone in Montana, within the Centennial fault system north of the Snake River Plain in Idaho and Montana, to the west of the Wasatch Front in Utah, and within the northern Basin and Range in Oregon and Nevada. Distributed strike-slip faults are most prominent in western Washington and Oregon and may serve to transfer slip between faults throughout the northwestern U.S.

Evidence for distributed clockwise rotation of the crust in the northwestern United States from fault geometries and focal mechanisms

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brocher, Thomas M.; Wells, Ray E.; Lamb, Andrew P.; Weaver, Craig S.

2017-01-01

Paleomagnetic and GPS data indicate that Washington and Oregon have rotated clockwise for the past 16 Myr. Late Cenozoic and Quaternary fault geometries, seismicity lineaments, and focal mechanisms provide evidence that this rotation is accommodated by north directed thrusting and right-lateral strike-slip faulting in Washington, and SW to W directed normal faulting and right-lateral strike-slip faulting to the east. Several curvilinear NW to NNW trending high-angle strike-slip faults and seismicity lineaments in Washington and NW Oregon define a geologic pole (117.7°W, 47.9°N) of rotation relative to North America. Many faults and focal mechanisms throughout northwestern U.S. and southwestern British Columbia have orientations consistent with this geologic pole as do GPS surface velocities corrected for elastic Cascadia subduction zone coupling. Large Quaternary normal faults radial to the geologic pole, which appear to accommodate crustal rotation via crustal extension, are widespread and can be found along the Lewis and Clark zone in Montana, within the Centennial fault system north of the Snake River Plain in Idaho and Montana, to the west of the Wasatch Front in Utah, and within the northern Basin and Range in Oregon and Nevada. Distributed strike-slip faults are most prominent in western Washington and Oregon and may serve to transfer slip between faults throughout the northwestern U.S.

Complex basin evolution in the Gökova Gulf region: implications on the Late Cenozoic tectonics of southwest Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gürer, Ömer Feyzi; Sanğu, Ercan; Özburan, Muzaffer; Gürbüz, Alper; Sarica-Filoreau, Nuran

2013-11-01

Southwestern Turkey experienced a transition from crustal shortening to extension during Late Cenozoic, and evidence of this was recorded in four distinct basin types in the Muğla-Gökova Gulf region. During the Oligocene-Early Miocene, the upper slices of the southerly moving Lycian Nappes turned into north-dipping normal faults due to the acceleration of gravity. The Kale-Tavas Basin developed as a piggyback basin along the fault plane on hanging wall blocks of these normal faults. During Middle Miocene, a shift had occurred from local extension to N-S compression/transpression, during which sediments in the Eskihisar-Tınaz Basins were deposited in pull-apart regions of the Menderes Massif cover units, where nappe slices were already eroded. During the Late Miocene-Pliocene, a hiatus occurred from previous compressional/transpressional tectonism along intermountain basins and Yatağan Basin fills were deposited on Menderes Massif, Lycian Nappes, and on top of Oligo-Miocene sediments. Plio-Quaternary marked the activation of N-S extension and the development of the E-W-trending Muğla-Gökova Grabens, co-genetic equivalents of which are common throughout western Anatolia. Thus, the tectonic evolution of the western Anotolia during late Cenozoic was shifting from compressional to extensional with a relaxation period, suggesting a non-uniform evolution.

Fault kinematics and depocenter evolution of oil-bearing, continental successions of the Mina del Carmen Formation (Albian) in the Golfo San Jorge basin, Argentina

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paredes, José Matildo; Plazibat, Silvana; Crovetto, Carolina; Stein, Julián; Cayo, Eric; Schiuma, Ariel

2013-10-01

Up to 10% of the liquid hydrocarbons of the Golfo San Jorge basin come from the Mina del Carmen Formation (Albian), an ash-dominated fluvial succession preserved in a variably integrated channel network that evolved coeval to an extensional tectonic event, poorly analyzed up to date. Fault orientation, throw distribution and kinematics of fault populations affecting the Mina del Carmen Formation were investigated using a 3D seismic dataset in the Cerro Dragón field (Eastern Sector of the Golfo San Jorge basin). Thickness maps of the seismic sub-units that integrate the Mina del Carmen Formation, named MEC-A-MEC-C in ascending order, and mapping of fluvial channels performed applying geophysical tools of visualization were integrated to the kinematical analysis of 20 main normal faults of the field. The study provides examples of changes in fault throw patterns with time, associated with faults of different orientations. The "main synrift phase" is characterized by NE-SW striking (mean Az = 49°), basement-involved normal faults that attains its maximum throw on top of the volcanic basement; this set of faults was active during deposition of the Las Heras Group and Pozo D-129 formation. A "second synrift phase" is recognized by E-W striking normal faults (mean Az = 91°) that nucleated and propagated from the Albian Mina del Carmen Formation. Fault activity was localized during deposition of the MEC-A sub-unit, but generalized during deposition of MEC-B sub-unit, producing centripetal and partially isolated depocenters. Upward decreasing in fault activity is inferred by more gradual thickness variation of MEC-C and the overlying Lower Member of Bajo Barreal Formation, evidencing passive infilling of relief associated to fault boundaries, and conformation of wider depocenters with well integrated networks of channels of larger dimensions but random orientation. Lately, the Mina del Carmen Formation was affected by the downward propagation of E-W to ESE-WNW striking normal faults (mean Az = 98°) formed during the "third rifting phase", which occurs coeval with the deposition of the Upper Member of the Bajo Barreal Formation. The fault characteristics indicate a counterclockwise rotation of the stress field during the deposition of the Chubut Group of the Golfo San Jorge basin, likely associated to the rotation of Southern South America during the fragmentation of the Gondwana paleocontinent. Understanding the evolution of fault-controlled topography in continental basins allow to infer location and orientation of coeval fluvial systems, providing a more reliable scenario for location of producing oil wells.

High-angle faults control the geometry and morphology of the Corinth Rift

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bell, R. E.; Duclaux, G.; Nixon, C.; Gawthorpe, R.; McNeill, L. C.

2016-12-01

Slip along low-angle normal faults is mechanically difficult, and the existence of low angle detachment faults presents one of most important paradoxes in structural geology. Only a few examples of young continental rifts where low-angle faults may be a mechanism for accommodating strain have been described in the literature, and an important example is the Gulf of Corinth, central Greece. Here, microseismicity, the geometry of onshore faults and deep seismic reflection images have been used to argue for the presence of <30o dipping faults. However, new and reinterpreted data calls into question whether low-angle faults have been influential in controlling rift geometry. We seek to definitively test whether slip on a mature low-angle normal fault can reproduce the long-term geometry and morphology of the Corinth Rift, which involves i) significant uplift of the southern margin, ii) long-term uplift to subsidence ratios across south coast faults of 1 -2, and iii) a northern margin that does not undergo significant long-term uplift. We use PyLith, an open-source finite-element code for quasi-static viscoelastic simulations of crustal deformation and model the uplift and subsidence fields associated with the following fault geometries: i) planar faults with dips of 45-60° that sole onto a 10° detachment at a depth of 6 to 8 km, ii) 45-60° faults, which change to a dip angle of 25-45° at a depth of 3 km and continue to a brittle-ductile transition at 10 km and iii) planar faults which dip 45-60° to the brittle-ductile transition at a depth of 10 km. We show that models involving low-angle detachments, shallower than 8 km produce very minor coseismic uplift of the southern margin and post-seismic relaxation results in the southern margin experiencing net subsidence over many seismic cycles, incompatible with geological observations. Models involving planar faults produce long-term displacement fields involving uplifted southern margin with uplift to subsidence ratios of c. 1:2 and subsidence of the northern margin, compatible with geological observations. We propose that low-angle detachment faults cannot have controlled the long-term geometry of the Corinth rift, and that the rift should no longer be used as an example of low-angle normal faulting.

Structure and mechanics of the Hayward-Rodgers Creek Fault step-over, San Francisco Bay, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Parsons, T.; Sliter, R.; Geist, E.L.; Jachens, R.C.; Jaffe, B.E.; Foxgrover, A.; Hart, P.E.; McCarthy, J.

2003-01-01

A dilatational step-over between the right-lateral Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults lies beneath San Pablo Bay in the San Francisco Bay area. A key seismic hazard issue is whether an earthquake on one of the faults could rupture through the step-over, enhancing its maximum possible magnitude. If ruptures are terminated at the step-over, then another important issue is how strain transfers through the step. We developed a combined seismic reflection and refraction cross section across south San Pablo Bay and found that the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults converge to within 4 km of one another near the surface, about 2 km closer than previously thought. Interpretation of potential field data from San Pablo Bay indicated a low likelihood of strike-slip transfer faults connecting the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults. Numerical simulations suggest that it is possible for a rupture to jump across a 4-km fault gap, although special stressing conditions are probably required (e.g., Harris and Day, 1993, 1999). Slip on the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults is building an extensional pull-apart basin that could contain hazardous normal faults. We investigated strain in the pull-apart using a finite-element model and calculated a ???0.02-MPa/yr differential stressing rate in the step-over on a least-principal-stress orientation nearly parallel to the strike-slip faults where they overlap. A 1- to 10-MPa stress-drop extensional earthquake is expected on normal faults oriented perpendicular to the strike-slip faults every 50-500 years. The last such earthquake might have been the 1898 M 6.0-6.5 shock in San Pablo Bay that apparently produced a small tsunami. Historical hydrographic surveys gathered before and after 1898 indicate abnormal subsidence of the bay floor within the step-over, possibly related to the earthquake. We used a hydrodynamic model to show that a dip-slip mechanism in north San Pablo Bay is the most likely 1898 rupture scenario to have caused the tsunami. While we find no strike-slip transfer fault between the Hayward and Rodgers Creek faults, a normal-fault link could enable through-going segmented rupture of both strike-slip faults and may pose an independent hazard of M ???6 earthquakes like the 1898 event.

A combined approach of generalized additive model and bootstrap with small sample sets for fault diagnosis in fermentation process of glutamate.

PubMed

Liu, Chunbo; Pan, Feng; Li, Yun

2016-07-29

Glutamate is of great importance in food and pharmaceutical industries. There is still lack of effective statistical approaches for fault diagnosis in the fermentation process of glutamate. To date, the statistical approach based on generalized additive model (GAM) and bootstrap has not been used for fault diagnosis in fermentation processes, much less the fermentation process of glutamate with small samples sets. A combined approach of GAM and bootstrap was developed for the online fault diagnosis in the fermentation process of glutamate with small sample sets. GAM was first used to model the relationship between glutamate production and different fermentation parameters using online data from four normal fermentation experiments of glutamate. The fitted GAM with fermentation time, dissolved oxygen, oxygen uptake rate and carbon dioxide evolution rate captured 99.6 % variance of glutamate production during fermentation process. Bootstrap was then used to quantify the uncertainty of the estimated production of glutamate from the fitted GAM using 95 % confidence interval. The proposed approach was then used for the online fault diagnosis in the abnormal fermentation processes of glutamate, and a fault was defined as the estimated production of glutamate fell outside the 95 % confidence interval. The online fault diagnosis based on the proposed approach identified not only the start of the fault in the fermentation process, but also the end of the fault when the fermentation conditions were back to normal. The proposed approach only used a small sample sets from normal fermentations excitements to establish the approach, and then only required online recorded data on fermentation parameters for fault diagnosis in the fermentation process of glutamate. The proposed approach based on GAM and bootstrap provides a new and effective way for the fault diagnosis in the fermentation process of glutamate with small sample sets.

Geometry and architecture of faults in a syn-rift normal fault array: The Nukhul half-graben, Suez rift, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, Paul; Gawthorpe, Rob L.; Hodgetts, David; Rarity, Franklin; Sharp, Ian R.

2009-08-01

The geometry and architecture of a well exposed syn-rift normal fault array in the Suez rift is examined. At pre-rift level, the Nukhul fault consists of a single zone of intense deformation up to 10 m wide, with a significant monocline in the hanging wall and much more limited folding in the footwall. At syn-rift level, the fault zone is characterised by a single discrete fault zone less than 2 m wide, with damage zone faults up to approximately 200 m into the hanging wall, and with no significant monocline developed. The evolution of the fault from a buried structure with associated fault-propagation folding, to a surface-breaking structure with associated surface faulting, has led to enhanced bedding-parallel slip at lower levels that is absent at higher levels. Strain is enhanced at breached relay ramps and bends inherited from pre-existing structures that were reactivated during rifting. Damage zone faults observed within the pre-rift show ramp-flat geometries associated with contrast in competency of the layers cut and commonly contain zones of scaly shale or clay smear. Damage zone faults within the syn-rift are commonly very straight, and may be discrete fault planes with no visible fault rock at the scale of observation, or contain relatively thin and simple zones of scaly shale or gouge. The geometric and architectural evolution of the fault array is interpreted to be the result of (i) the evolution from distributed trishear deformation during upward propagation of buried fault tips to surface faulting after faults breach the surface; (ii) differences in deformation response between lithified pre-rift units that display high competence contrasts during deformation, and unlithified syn-rift units that display low competence contrasts during deformation, and; (iii) the history of segmentation, growth and linkage of the faults that make up the fault array. This has important implications for fluid flow in fault zones.

Coastal land loss and gain as potential earthquake trigger mechanism in SCRs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Klose, C. D.

2007-12-01

In stable continental regions (SCRs), historic data show earthquakes can be triggered by natural tectonic sources in the interior of the crust and also by sources stemming from the Earth's sub/surface. Building off of this framework, the following abstract will discuss both as potential sources that might have triggered the 2007 ML4.2 Folkestone earthquake in Kent, England. Folkestone, located along the Southeast coast of Kent in England, is a mature aseismic region. However, a shallow earthquake with a local magnitude of ML = 4.2 occurred on April 28 2007 at 07:18 UTC about 1 km East of Folkestone (51.008° N, 1.206° E) between Dover and New Romney. The epicentral error is about ±5 km. While coastal land loss has major effects towards the Southwest and the Northeast of Folkestone, research observations suggest that erosion and landsliding do not exist in the immediate Folkestone city area (<1km). Furthermore, erosion removes rock material from the surface. This mass reduction decreases the gravitational stress component and would bring a fault away from failure, given a tectonic normal and strike-slip fault regime. In contrast, land gain by geoengineering (e.g., shingle accumulation) in the harbor of Folkestone dates back to 1806. The accumulated mass of sand and gravel accounted for a 2.8·109 kg (2.8 Mt) in 2007. This concentrated mass change less than 1 km away from the epicenter of the mainshock was able to change the tectonic stress in the strike-slip/normal stress regime. Since 1806, shear and normal stresses increased at most on oblique faults dipping 60±10°. The stresses reached values ranging between 1.0 KPa and 30.0 KPa in up to 2 km depth, which are critical for triggering earthquakes. Furthermore, the ratio between holding and driving forces continuously decreased for 200 years. In conclusion, coastal engineering at the surface most likely dominates as potential trigger mechanism for the 2007 ML4.2 Folkestone earthquake. It can be anticipated that the mainshock nucleated at shallower depth (<500 m) near the Paleozoic surface a) where differential stresses are generally maximum and b) because earthquakes in aseismic regions are generally overestimated by 88% due to sparse instrumental coverage. The latter was suggested by recent research on shallow seismicitiy (<10 km) in SCRs in northeastern USA and eastern Canada. Data of the focal mechanism provided by the British Geological Survey (BGS) confirm fault zone orientations of 326°/74° (strike-slip fault component) and 71°/48° (normal fault component).

Armenia-To Trans-Boundary Fault: AN Example of International Cooperation in the Caucasus

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Karakhanyan, A.; Avagyan, A.; Avanesyan, M.; Elashvili, M.; Godoladze, T.; Javakishvili, Z.; Korzhenkov, A.; Philip, S.; Vergino, E. S.

2012-12-01

Studies of a trans-boundary active fault that cuts through the border of Armenia to Georgia in the area of the Javakheti volcanic highland have been conducted since 2007. The studies have been implemented based on the ISTC 1418 and NATO SfP 983284 Projects. The Javakheti Fault is oriented to the north-northwest and consists of individual segments displaying clear left-stepping trend. Fault mechanism is represented by right-lateral strike-slip with normal-fault component. The fault formed distinct scarps, deforming young volcanic and glacial sediments. The maximum-size displacements are recorded in the central part of the fault and range up to 150-200 m by normal fault and 700-900 m by right-lateral strike-slip fault. On both flanks, fault scarps have younger appearance, and displacement size there decreases to tens of meters. Fault length is 80 km, suggesting that maximum fault magnitude is estimated at 7.3 according to the Wells and Coppersmith (1994) relation. Many minor earthquakes and a few stronger events (1088, Mw=6.4, 1899 Mw=6.4, 1912, Mw=6.4 and 1925, Mw=5.6) are associated with the fault. In 2011/2012, we conducted paleoseismological and archeoseismological studies of the fault. By two paleoseismological trenches were excavated in the central part of the fault, and on its northern and southern flanks. The trenches enabled recording at least three strong ancient earthquakes. Presently, results of radiocarbon age estimations of those events are expected. The Javakheti Fault may pose considerable seismic hazard for trans-boundary areas of Armenia and Georgia as its northern flank is located at the distance of 15 km from the Baku-Ceyhan pipeline.

Quaternary uplift and tilting of Amorgos Island (southern Aegean) and the 1956 earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stiros, Stathis C.; Marangou, Lila; Arnold, Maurice

1994-12-01

Uplifted Pleistocene marine sediments, submerged ancient ruins and raised beaches confirm earlier views that the asymmetry of the relief of Amorgos Island (southern Aegean) testifies to a fault-bounded block uplifted and tilted along a SW-NE trending horizontal axis; the uplifted coast corresponds to a high-gradient slope controlled by an oblique master normal fault. Furthermore, geomorphic and biological evidence, radiometric data and comparison of aerial photographs indicates that the 1956 earthquake (Ms = 7.4) uplifted the footwall of this normal fault by about 30 cm.

Automatic Channel Fault Detection on a Small Animal APD-Based Digital PET Scanner

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Charest, Jonathan; Beaudoin, Jean-François; Cadorette, Jules; Lecomte, Roger; Brunet, Charles-Antoine; Fontaine, Réjean

2014-10-01

Avalanche photodiode (APD) based positron emission tomography (PET) scanners show enhanced imaging capabilities in terms of spatial resolution and contrast due to the one to one coupling and size of individual crystal-APD detectors. However, to ensure the maximal performance, these PET scanners require proper calibration by qualified scanner operators, which can become a cumbersome task because of the huge number of channels they are made of. An intelligent system (IS) intends to alleviate this workload by enabling a diagnosis of the observational errors of the scanner. The IS can be broken down into four hierarchical blocks: parameter extraction, channel fault detection, prioritization and diagnosis. One of the main activities of the IS consists in analyzing available channel data such as: normalization coincidence counts and single count rates, crystal identification classification data, energy histograms, APD bias and noise thresholds to establish the channel health status that will be used to detect channel faults. This paper focuses on the first two blocks of the IS: parameter extraction and channel fault detection. The purpose of the parameter extraction block is to process available data on individual channels into parameters that are subsequently used by the fault detection block to generate the channel health status. To ensure extensibility, the channel fault detection block is divided into indicators representing different aspects of PET scanner performance: sensitivity, timing, crystal identification and energy. Some experiments on a 8 cm axial length LabPET scanner located at the Sherbrooke Molecular Imaging Center demonstrated an erroneous channel fault detection rate of 10% (with a 95% confidence interval (CI) of [9, 11]) which is considered tolerable. Globally, the IS achieves a channel fault detection efficiency of 96% (CI: [95, 97]), which proves that many faults can be detected automatically. Increased fault detection efficiency would be advantageous but, the achieved results would already benefit scanner operators in their maintenance task.

Recent crustal movements in the Sierra Nevada-Walker lane region of California-Nevada: Part i, rate and style of deformation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Slemmons, D.B.; Wormer, D.V.; Bell, E.J.; Silberman, M.L.

1979-01-01

This review of geological, seismological, geochronological and paleobotanical data is made to compare historic and geologic rates and styles of deformation of the Sierra Nevada and western Basin and Range Provinces. The main uplift of this region began about 17 m.y. ago, with slow uplift of the central Sierra Nevada summit region at rates estimated at about 0.012 mm/yr and of western Basin and Range Province at about 0.01 mm/yr. Many Mesozoic faults of the Foothills fault system were reactivated with normal slip in mid-Tertiary time and have continued to be active with slow slip rates. Sparse data indicate acceleration of rates of uplift and faulting during the Late Cenozoic. The Basin and Range faulting appears to have extended westward during this period with a reduction in width of the Sierra Nevada. The eastern boundary zone of the Sierra Nevada has an irregular en-echelon pattern of normal and right-oblique faults. The area between the Sierra Nevada and the Walker Lane is a complex zone of irregular patterns of ho??rst and graben blocks and conjugate normal-to right- and left-slip faults of NW and NE trend, respectively. The Walker Lane has at least five main strands near Walker Lake, with total right-slip separation estimated at 48 km. The NE-trending left-slip faults are much shorter than the Walker Lane fault zone and have maximum separations of no more than a few kilometers. Examples include the 1948 and 1966 fault zone northeast of Truckee, California, the Olinghouse fault (Part III) and possibly the almost 200-km-long Carson Lineament. Historic geologic evidence of faulting, seismologic evidence for focal mechanisms, geodetic measurements and strain measurements confirm continued regional uplift and tilting of the Sierra Nevada, with minor internal local faulting and deformation, smaller uplift of the western Basin and Range Province, conjugate focal mechanisms for faults of diverse orientations and types, and a NS to NE-SW compression axis (??1) and an EW to NW-SE extension axis (??3). ?? 1979.

Frictional heating processes during laboratory earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aubry, J.; Passelegue, F. X.; Deldicque, D.; Lahfid, A.; Girault, F.; Pinquier, Y.; Escartin, J.; Schubnel, A.

2017-12-01

Frictional heating during seismic slip plays a crucial role in the dynamic of earthquakes because it controls fault weakening. This study proposes (i) to image frictional heating combining an in-situ carbon thermometer and Raman microspectrometric mapping, (ii) to combine these observations with fault surface roughness and heat production, (iii) to estimate the mechanical energy dissipated during laboratory earthquakes. Laboratory earthquakes were performed in a triaxial oil loading press, at 45, 90 and 180 MPa of confining pressure by using saw-cut samples of Westerly granite. Initial topography of the fault surface was +/- 30 microns. We use a carbon layer as a local temperature tracer on the fault plane and a type K thermocouple to measure temperature approximately 6mm away from the fault surface. The thermocouple measures the bulk temperature of the fault plane while the in-situ carbon thermometer images the temperature production heterogeneity at the micro-scale. Raman microspectrometry on amorphous carbon patch allowed mapping the temperature heterogeneities on the fault surface after sliding overlaid over a few micrometers to the final fault roughness. The maximum temperature achieved during laboratory earthquakes remains high for all experiments but generally increases with the confining pressure. In addition, the melted surface of fault during seismic slip increases drastically with confining pressure. While melting is systematically observed, the strength drop increases with confining pressure. These results suggest that the dynamic friction coefficient is a function of the area of the fault melted during stick-slip. Using the thermocouple, we inverted the heat dissipated during each event. We show that for rough faults under low confining pressure, less than 20% of the total mechanical work is dissipated into heat. The ratio of frictional heating vs. total mechanical work decreases with cumulated slip (i.e. number of events), and decreases with increasing confining pressure and normal stress. Our results suggest that earthquakes are less dispersive under large normal stress. We linked this observation with fault roughness heterogeneity, which also decreases with applied normal stress. Keywords: Frictional heating, stick-slip, carbon, dynamic rupture, fault weakening.

The role of rock anisotropy in developing non-Andersonian faults: staircase trajectories for strike-slip faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barchi, M. R.; Collettini, C.; Lena, G.

2012-04-01

Thrust and normal faults affecting mechanically heterogeneous multilayers often show staircase trajectories, where flat segments follow less competent units. Within flat segments the initiation/reactivation angle, θ, which is the angle that the fault makes with the σ1 direction, is different from that predicted by the Andersonian theory. This suggests that fault trajectory is mainly controlled by rock anisotropy instead of frictional properties of the material. Our study areas are located in the Umbria-Marche fold-thrust belt, within the Northern Apennines of Italy. The area is characterized by a lithologically complex multilayer, about 2000 m thick, consisting of alternated competent (mainly calcareous) and less competent (marls or evaporites) units. At the outcrop scale, some units show a significant mechanical layering, consisting of alternated limestones and shales. Due to the complex tectonic evolution of the Apennines, well developed sets of conjugate normal, thrust and strike-slip faults are exposed in the region. The study outcrop, Candigliano Gourge, is characterized by steep (dip > 60°) NE dipping beds, affected by conjugate sets of strike-slip faults, exposed in the eastern limb of a NE verging anticline. The faults develop within the Marne a Fucoidi Fm., a Cretaceous sedimentary unit, about 70 m thick, made of competent calcareous beds (about 20 cm thick), separated by marly beds (1-20 cm thick). The conjugate strike-slip faults are formed after the major folding phase: in fact the strike-slip faults cut both minor folds and striated bedding surfaces, related to syn-folding flexural slip. Faults show marked staircase trajectories, with straight segments almost parallel to the marly horizons and ramps cutting through the calcareous layers. Slip along these faults induces local block rotation of the competent strata, dilational jogs (pull-aparts), extensional duplexes and boudinage of the competent layers, while marly levels are strongly laminated. In order to reconstruct the σ1 direction, calcite veins syntectonic to strike-slip faulting, have been used to constrain the σ1-σ2 plane: fixing the σ2 direction at the conjugate fault intersection, the σ1 is oriented N15°, forming an angle of about 70° with the bedding direction. Once constrained the σ1 direction, we have calculated the θ angle that is comprised between 40° and 55°, resulting therefore larger than expected from Andersonian theory, i.e. 22°-32° for friction coefficient in the range of 0.5-1.0. Initiation/reactivation angles, θ, as a function of the different lithologies, are less than 35° for calcareous beds, 50°-70° for the marly and clayey layers, and around 60° for the black shales. Our studies, focused on strike-slip small displacement faults, show that: 1) irrespective of the σ1 orientation, ramp and flat form along competent and less competent material respectively and 2) the overall fault orientation/initiation is at high-angle to the σ1 direction. Our results suggest that rock anisotropy and layering are one of the possible causes for faulting at high angle to the σ1 direction, i.e. fault weakness. Further studies are required to up-scale the results of our outcrop-based study to crustal scale structures.

Resolving the fault systems with the magnetotelluric method in the western Ilan plain of NE Taiwan

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, P. Y.; Chen, C. S.

2017-12-01

In the study we attempt to use the magnetotelluric (MT) surveys to delineate the basement topography of the western part of the Ilan plain. The triangular plain is located on the extension part of the Okinawa Trough, and is thought to be a subsidence basin bounded by the Hsueshan Range in the north and the Central Range in the south. The basement of the basin is composed of Tertiary metamorphic rocks such as argillites and slates. The recent extension of the Okinawa Trough started from approximately 0.1 Ma and involved ENE- and WSW-trending normal faults that may extended into the Ilan plain area. However, high sedimentation rates as well as the frequent human activities have resulted in unconsolidated sediments with a thickness of over 100 meters, and caused the difficulties in observing the surface traces of the active faults in the area. Hence we deployed about 70 MT stations across the southwestern tip of the triangular plain. We also tried to resolve the subsurface faults the relief variations of the basement with the inverted resistivity images, since the saturated sediments are relatively conductive and the consolidated rocks are resistive. With the inverted MT images, we found that there are a series of N-S trending horsts and grabens in addition to the ENE-WSW normal fault systems. The ENE-WSW trending faults are dipping mainly toward the north in our study area in the western tip of the Ilan plain. The preliminary results suggest that a younger N-S trending normal fault system may modify the relief of the basement in the recent stage after the activation of the ENE-WSW normal faults. The findings of the MT resistivity images provide new information to further review the tectonic explanations of the region in the future.

Study on vibration characteristics and fault diagnosis method of oil-immersed flat wave reactor in Arctic area converter station

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lai, Wenqing; Wang, Yuandong; Li, Wenpeng; Sun, Guang; Qu, Guomin; Cui, Shigang; Li, Mengke; Wang, Yongqiang

2017-10-01

Based on long term vibration monitoring of the No.2 oil-immersed fat wave reactor in the ±500kV converter station in East Mongolia, the vibration signals in normal state and in core loose fault state were saved. Through the time-frequency analysis of the signals, the vibration characteristics of the core loose fault were obtained, and a fault diagnosis method based on the dual tree complex wavelet (DT-CWT) and support vector machine (SVM) was proposed. The vibration signals were analyzed by DT-CWT, and the energy entropy of the vibration signals were taken as the feature vector; the support vector machine was used to train and test the feature vector, and the accurate identification of the core loose fault of the flat wave reactor was realized. Through the identification of many groups of normal and core loose fault state vibration signals, the diagnostic accuracy of the result reached 97.36%. The effectiveness and accuracy of the method in the fault diagnosis of the flat wave reactor core is verified.

Artificial Neural Network Based Fault Diagnostics of Rotating Machinery Using Wavelet Transforms as a Preprocessor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Paya, B. A.; Esat, I. I.; Badi, M. N. M.

1997-09-01

The purpose of condition monitoring and fault diagnostics are to detect and distinguish faults occurring in machinery, in order to provide a significant improvement in plant economy, reduce operational and maintenance costs and improve the level of safety. The condition of a model drive-line, consisting of various interconnected rotating parts, including an actual vehicle gearbox, two bearing housings, and an electric motor, all connected via flexible couplings and loaded by a disc brake, was investigated. This model drive-line was run in its normal condition, and then single and multiple faults were introduced intentionally to the gearbox, and to the one of the bearing housings. These single and multiple faults studied on the drive-line were typical bearing and gear faults which may develop during normal and continuous operation of this kind of rotating machinery. This paper presents the investigation carried out in order to study both bearing and gear faults introduced first separately as a single fault and then together as multiple faults to the drive-line. The real time domain vibration signals obtained for the drive-line were preprocessed by wavelet transforms for the neural network to perform fault detection and identify the exact kinds of fault occurring in the model drive-line. It is shown that by using multilayer artificial neural networks on the sets of preprocessed data by wavelet transforms, single and multiple faults were successfully detected and classified into distinct groups.

Geology of the Elephanta Island fault zone, western Indian rifted margin, and its significance for understanding the Panvel flexure

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Samant, Hrishikesh; Pundalik, Ashwin; D'souza, Joseph; Sheth, Hetu; Lobo, Keegan Carmo; D'souza, Kyle; Patel, Vanit

2017-02-01

The Panvel flexure is a 150-km long tectonic structure, comprising prominently seaward-dipping Deccan flood basalts, on the western Indian rifted margin. Given the active tectonic faulting beneath the Panvel flexure zone inferred from microseismicity, better structural understanding of the region is needed. The geology of Elephanta Island in the Mumbai harbour, famous for the ca. mid-6th century A.D. Hindu rock-cut caves in Deccan basalt (a UNESCO World Heritage site) is poorly known. We describe a previously unreported but well-exposed fault zone on Elephanta Island, consisting of two large faults dipping steeply east-southeast and producing easterly downthrows. Well-developed slickensides and structural measurements indicate oblique slip on both faults. The Elephanta Island fault zone may be the northern extension of the Alibag-Uran fault zone previously described. This and two other known regional faults (Nhava-Sheva and Belpada faults) indicate a progressively eastward step-faulted structure of the Panvel flexure, with the important result that the individual movements were not simply downdip but also oblique-slip and locally even rotational (as at Uran). An interesting problem is the normal faulting, block tectonics and rifting of this region of the crust for which seismological data indicate a normal thickness (up to 41.3 km). A model of asymmetric rifting by simple shear may explain this observation and the consistently landward dips of the rifted margin faults.

X-Ray Diffuse Scattering Study of the Kinetics of Stacking Fault Growth and Annihilation in Boron-Implanted Silicon.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patel, J. R.

2002-06-01

Stacking faults in boron-implanted silicon give rise to streaks or rods of scattered x-ray intensity normal to the stacking fault plane. We have used the diffuse scattering rods to follow the growth of faults as a function of time when boron-implanted silicon is annealed in the range 925 - 1025 C.

Slip triggered on southern California faults by the 1992 Joshua Tree, Landers, and big bear earthquakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Bodin, Paul; Bilham, Roger; Behr, Jeff; Gomberg, Joan; Hudnut, Kenneth W.

1994-01-01

Five out of six functioning creepmeters on southern California faults recorded slip triggered at the time of some or all of the three largest events of the 1992 Landers earthquake sequence. Digital creep data indicate that dextral slip was triggered within 1 min of each mainshock and that maximum slip velocities occurred 2 to 3 min later. The duration of triggered slip events ranged from a few hours to several weeks. We note that triggered slip occurs commonly on faults that exhibit fault creep. To account for the observation that slip can be triggered repeatedly on a fault, we propose that the amplitude of triggered slip may be proportional to the depth of slip in the creep event and to the available near-surface tectonic strain that would otherwise eventually be released as fault creep. We advance the notion that seismic surface waves, perhaps amplified by sediments, generate transient local conditions that favor the release of tectonic strain to varying depths. Synthetic strain seismograms are presented that suggest increased pore pressure during periods of fault-normal contraction may be responsible for triggered slip, since maximum dextral shear strain transients correspond to times of maximum fault-normal contraction.

Evidence of extensional and strike-slip deformation in the offshore Gökova-Kos area affected by the July 2017 Mw6.6 Bodrum-Kos earthquake, eastern Aegean Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ocakoğlu, Neslihan; Nomikou, Paraskevi; İşcan, Yeliz; Loreto, Maria Filomena; Lampridou, Danai

2018-06-01

The interpretation of new multichannel seismic profiles and previously published high-resolution swath and seismic reflection data from the Gökova Gulf and southeast of Kos Island in the eastern Aegean Sea revealed new morphotectonic features related to the July 20, 2017 Mw6.6 Bodrum-Kos earthquake offshore between Kos Island and the Bodrum Peninsula. The seafloor morphology in the northern part of the gulf is characterized by south-dipping E-W-oriented listric normal faults. These faults bend to a ENE-WSW direction towards Kos Island, and then extend parallel to the southern coastline. A left-lateral SW-NE strike-slip fault zone is mapped with segments crossing the Gökova Gulf from its northern part to south of Kos Island. This fault zone intersects and displaces the deep basins in the gulf. The basins are thus interpreted as the youngest deformed features in the study area. The strike-slip faults also produce E-W-oriented ridges between the basin segments, and the ridge-related vertical faults are interpreted as reverse faults. This offshore study reveals that the normal and strike-slip faults are well correlated with the focal mechanism solutions of the recent earthquake and general seismicity of the Gökova Gulf. Although the complex morphotectonic features could suggest that the area is under a transtensional regime, kinematic elements normally associated with a transtensional system are missing. At present, the Gökova Gulf is experiencing strike-slip motion with dominant extensional deformation, rather than transtensional deformation.

Three-Dimensional Structural and Hydrologic Evolution of Sant Corneli Anticline, a Fault-Cored Fold in the Central Spanish Pyrenees

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shackleton, J. R.; Cooke, M. L.

2005-12-01

The Sant Corneli Anticline is a well-exposed example of a fault-cored fold whose hydrologic evolution and structural development are directly linked. The E-W striking anticline is ~ 5 km wide with abrupt westerly plunge, and formed in response to thrusting associated with the upper Cretaceous to Miocene collision of Iberia with Europe. The fold's core of fractured carbonates contains a variety of west dipping normal faults with meter to decameter scale displacement and abundant calcite fill. This carbonate unit is capped by a marl unit with low angle, calcite filled normal faults. The marl unit is overlain by clastic syn-tectonic strata whose sedimentary architecture records limb rotation during the evolution of the fold. The syn-tectonic strata contain a variety of joint sets that record the stresses before, during, and possibly after fold growth. Faulting in the marl and calcite-filled joints in the syn-tectonic strata suggest that normal faults within the carbonate core of the fold eventually breached the overlying marl unit. This breach may have connected the joints of the syn-tectonic strata to the underlying carbonate reservoir and eliminated previous compartmentalization of fluids. Furthermore, breaching of the marl units probably enhanced joint formation in the overlying syn-tectonic strata. Future geochemical studies of calcite compositions in the three units will address this hypothesis. Preliminary mapping of joint sets in the syn-tectonic strata reveal a multistage history of jointing. Early bed-perpendicular joints healed by calcite strike NE-SW, parallel to normal faults in the underlying carbonates, and may be related to an early regional extensional event. Younger healed bed-perpendicular joints cross cut the NE-SW striking set, and are closer to N-S in strike: these joints are interpreted to represent the initial stages of folding. Decameter scale, bed perpendicular, unfilled fractures that are sub-parallel to strike probably represent small joints and faults that formed in response to outer arc extension during folding. Many filled, late stage joints strike sub-parallel to, and increase in frequency near, normal faults and transverse structures observed in the carbonate fold core. This suggests that faulting in the underlying carbonates and marls significantly affected the joint patterns in the syn-tectonic strata. Preliminary three-dimensional finite element restorations using Dynel have allowed us to test our hypotheses and constrain the timing of jointing and marl breach.

États de contraintes et mécanismes d'ouverture et de fermeture des bassins permiens du Maroc hercynien. L'exemple des bassins des Jebilet et des RéhamnaStates of stresses and opening/closing mechanisms of the Permian basins in Hercynian Morocco. The example of the Jebilet and Réhamna Basins

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saidi, Amal; Tahiri, Abdelfatah; Ait Brahim, Lahcen; Saidi, Maraim

The fracturing analysis in the Permian basins of Jebilet and Rehamna (Hercynian Morocco) and the underlying terranes allowed us to suggest a model for their opening. Three tectonic episodes are distinguished: a transtensional episode NNE-SSW-trending (Permian I), occurring during the opening along sinistral wrench faults N70-110-trending, associated with synsedimentary normal faults; a transpressive episode ESE-WNW-trending (Permian II), initiating the closure, the normal faults playing back reverse faults and the N70 trending faults dextral wrench faults; a compressional episode NNW-SSE (post-Permian, ante-Triassic), accentuating the closure and the deformation and putting an end to the Tardi-Hercynian compressive movements. To cite this article: A. Saidi et al., C. R. Geoscience 334 (2002) 221-226.

The growth of geological structures by repeated earthquakes: 2, Field examples of continental dip-slip faults

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stein, R.S.; King, G.C.P.; Rundle, J.B.

1988-01-01

A strong test of our understanding of the earthquake cycle is the ability to reproduce extant faultbounded geological structures, such as basins and ranges, which are built by repeated cycles of deformation. Three examples are considered for which the structure and fault geometry are well known: the White Wolf reverse fault in California, site of the 1952 Kern County M=7.3 earthquake, the Lost River normal fault in Idaho, site of the 1983 Borah Peak M=7.0 earthquake, and the Cricket Mountain normal fault in Utah, site of Quaternary slip events. Basin stratigraphy and seismic reflection records are used to profile the structure, and coseismic deformation measured by leveling surveys is used to estimate the fault geometry. To reproduce these structures, we add the deformation associated with the earthquake cycle (the coseismic slip and postseismic relaxation) to the flexure caused by the observed sediment load, treating the crust as a thin elastic plate overlying a fluid substrate. -from Authors

Triggering of destructive earthquakes in El Salvador

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Martínez-Díaz, José J.; Álvarez-Gómez, José A.; Benito, Belén; Hernández, Douglas

2004-01-01

We investigate the existence of a mechanism of static stress triggering driven by the interaction of normal faults in the Middle American subduction zone and strike-slip faults in the El Salvador volcanic arc. The local geology points to a large strike-slip fault zone, the El Salvador fault zone, as the source of several destructive earthquakes in El Salvador along the volcanic arc. We modeled the Coulomb failure stress (CFS) change produced by the June 1982 and January 2001 subduction events on planes parallel to the El Salvador fault zone. The results have broad implications for future risk management in the region, as they suggest a causative relationship between the position of the normal-slip events in the subduction zone and the strike-slip events in the volcanic arc. After the February 2001 event, an important area of the El Salvador fault zone was loaded with a positive change in Coulomb failure stress (>0.15 MPa). This scenario must be considered in the seismic hazard assessment studies that will be carried out in this area.

Lithospheric "corner flow" via extensional faulting and tectonic rotation at non-volcanic, slow-spreading ridges

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schroeder, T.; Cheadle, M. J.; Dick, H. J.; Faul, U.

2005-12-01

Large degrees (up to 90°) of tectonic rotation may be the norm at slow-spreading, non-volcanic ridges. Vertically upwelling mantle beneath all mid-ocean ridges must undergo corner flow to move horizontally with the spreading plate. Because little or no volcanic crust is produced at some slow-spreading ridges, the uppermost lithospheric mantle must undergo this rotation in the regime of localized, rather than distributed deformation. Anomalous paleomagnetic inclinations in peridotite and gabbro cores drilled near the 15-20 Fracture Zone (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, ODP Leg 209) support such large rotations, with sub-Curie-temperature rotations up to 90° (Garces et al., 2004). Here, we present two end-member tectonic mechanisms, with supporting data from Leg 209 cores and bathymetry, to show how rotation is accomplished via extensional faults and shear zones: 1) long-lived detachment faults, and 2) multiple generations of high-angle normal faults. Detachment faults accommodate rotation by having a moderate to steep dip at depth, and rotating to horizontal through a rolling hinge as the footwall is tectonically denuded. Multiple generations of high-angle normal faults accommodate large rotations in a domino fashion; early faults become inactive when rotated to inopportune slip angles, and are cut by younger high-angle faults. Thus, each generation of high-angle faults accommodates part of the total rotation. There is likely a gradation between the domino and detachment mechanisms; transition from domino to detachment faulting occurs when a single domino fault remains active at inopportune slip angles and evolves into a detachment that accommodates all corner flow for that region. In both cases, the original attitude of layering within mantle-emplaced gabbro bodies must be significantly different than present day observed attitudes; sub-horizontal bodies may have been formed sub-vertically and vice-versa. Leg 209 cores record an average major brittle fault spacing of approximately 100 m, suggesting that the width of individual rotating fault blocks may be on the order of 100-200 m. Numerous fault bounded domino slices could therefore be formed within a 10km wide axial valley, with large rotations (and commensurate extension) leading to the exposure of 1km wide shallow-dipping fault surfaces, as are seen in the 15-20 FZ region bathymetry. The region's bathymetry is dominated by irregular, low-relief ridges that were likely formed by domino faulting of lithosphere with a small elastic thickness. The region contains relatively few corrugated detachment fault domes, suggesting that domino faulting may be the normal mode of lithospheric corner flow at non-volcanic ridges.

The Seismic Stratigraphic Record of Quaternary Deformation Across the North Anatolian Fault System in Southern Marmara Sea, Turkey

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sorlien, C. C.; Seeber, L.; Diebold, J.; Shillington, D.; Steckler, M. S.; Gurcay, S.; Kucuk, H. M.; Akhun, S. D.; Timur, D.; Dondurur, D.; Kurt, H.; Perincek, E.; Ozer, P.; Imren, C.; Coskun, S.; Buyukasik, E.; Cevatoglu, M.; Cifci, G.; Demirbag, E.

2008-12-01

We collected high-resolution multichannel seismic reflection (MCS) and chirp seismic data across the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) system in the Marmara Sea aboard the R/V K. Piri Reis during July 2008. Three 1200+ m-deep bathymetric basins are arrayed along the North strand of the NAF. This strand passes closest to Istanbul and is considered to carry most of the current and late Holocene plate motion, but other strands to the south are active and may have been more important in the past. The transverse Central Marmara Ridge, formed by a contractional anticline, separates two of the basins. Filled sedimentary basins underlie the southern shelf, and, adjacent to that shelf, the partly-filled North Imrali basin underlies a 400 m-deep platform. Our chirp data image several strands of the southern fault system, 50 km south of the northern NAF on the inner (southern) shelf, that offset strata which postdate the ~12 ka marine transgression. Another W-striking fault that deforms post-12 ka strata cuts the mid-southern shelf. A WNW-striking segment of the Imrali fault system is associated with normal-separation, 300 m-high sea floor scarps that separate the shelf from the North Imrali basin. This basin is cut by numerous NW-striking normal-separation faults, some deforming the sea floor. At least 4 complexes of shelf edge deltas, whose tops were formed near sea level or lake level, are stacked between 500 and 900 m depth in this downthrown block of the Imrali fault. The originally sub- horizontal tops of each delta are now locally progressively tilted and folded near an ENE-striking branch of the Imrali fault (known as the Yalova fault). Lacking stratigraphic control, we infer that the deltas represent glacial intervals spaced at 100 ka during the late Pleistocene. Assuming a locally constant subsidence rate, with lowstands near -90 m, and the observed 130 m vertical spacing between the deltas, subsidence rates would be ~1.3 mm/yr, and the youngest well-preserved delta would be ~320 ka (MIS10). Alternatively, it corresponds to the pronounced 420 ka glacial (MIS12). Younger deltas did not form in this area, at least not with prograding geometries, because the water depth became too great. Possibly, outer shelf anticlinal growth may have diverted the river westward, where younger deltas are preserved on the shelf. The slope between the 400 m platform and the lower flank of the NE-trending Central Marmara Ridge is dominated by north-trending and northeast-trending 1 km-wavelength folds. These folds grew through the late Quaternary interval of deposition of the imaged deltas, and they deform the seafloor. They could be secondary shortening structures, forced folds above blind normal faults, or both. Farther east along the same slope, low-angle normal faults also grew through much of late Quaternary time. These faults root above unfaulted strata, and represent a slow collapse of the escarpment into the deep basin. NE-trending thrust- folds, NW-striking normal faults, WNW-striking transtensional faults, and ENE-striking transpressional faults are all consistent with the E-W right-lateral continental transform fault system.

Folding associated with extensional faulting: Sheep Range detachment, southern Nevada

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Guth, P.L.

1985-01-01

The Sheep Range detachment is a major Miocene extensional fault system of the Great Basin. Its major faults have a scoop shape, with straight, N-S traces extending 15-30 km and then abruptly turning to strike E-W. Tertiary deformation involved simultaneous normal faulting, sedimentation, landsliding, and strike-slip faulting. Folds occur in two settings: landslide blocks and drag along major faults. Folds occur in landslide blocks and beneath them. Most folds within landslide blocks are tight anticlines, with limbs dipping 40-60 degrees. Brecciation of the folds and landslide blocks suggests brittle deformation. Near Quijinump Canyon in the Sheep Range, at least threemore » landslide blocks (up to 500 by 1500 m) slid into a small Tertiary basin. Tertiary limestone beneath the Paleozoic blocks was isoclinally folded. Westward dips reveal drag folds along major normal faults, as regional dips are consistently to the east. The Chowderhead anticline is the largest drag fold, along an extensional fault that offsets Ordovician units 8 km. East-dipping Ordovician and Silurian rocks in the Desert Range form the hanging wall. East-dipping Cambrian and Ordovician units in the East Desert Range form the foot wall and east limb of the anticline. Caught along the fault plane, the anticline's west-dipping west limb contains mostly Cambrian units.« less

Reevaluation of 1935 M 7.0 earthquake fault, Miaoli-Taichung Area, western Taiwan: a DEM and field study

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lin, Y. N.; Chen, Y.; Ota, Y.

2003-12-01

A large earthquake (M 7.0) took place in Miaoli area, western Taiwan on April 21st, 1935. Right to its south is the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake fault, indicating it is not only tectonically but seismically active. As the previous study, the study area is located in the mature zone of a tectonic collision that occurred between Philippine sea Plate and Eurasia continental Plate. The associated surface ruptures of 1935 earthquake daylighted Tungtsichiao Fault, a tear fault trending NE in the south and Chihhu Fault, a back thrust trending N-S in the north, but no ruptures occurred in between. Strike-slip component was identified by the horizontal offset observed along Tungtsichiao Fault; however, there are still disputes on the reported field evidence. Our purposes are (1) to identify the structural behaviors of these two faults, (2) to find out what the seismogenic structure is, and (3) to reconstruct the regional geology by information given by this earthquake. By DEM interpretation and field survey, we can clearly recognize a lot of the 1935 associated features. In the west of Chihhu Fault, a series of N-S higher terraces can be identified with eastward tilted surfaces and nearly 200 m relative height. Another lower terrace is also believed being created during the 1935 earthquake, showing an east-facing scarp with a height of ca. 1.5~2 m. Outcrop investigation reveals that the late-Miocene bedrock has been easterly thrusted over the Holocene conglomerates, indicating a west-dipping fault plane. The Tungtsichiao Fault cuts through a lateritic terrace at Holi, which is supposed developed in Pleistocene. The fault scarp is only discernible in the northeastern ending. Other noticeable features are the fault related antiforms that line up along the surface rupture. There is no outcrop to show the fault geometry among bedrocks. We re-interpret the northern Chihhu Fault as the back thrust generated from a main subsurface detachment, which may be the actual seismogenic fault. Due to the bend geometry normally existing between ramp and detachment, stress accumulated and earthquake happened right on it. The fault tip of this main thrust may be blind on land or break out offshore, which explains why no surface ruptures related to the main thrust were found.

Static Stress Transfers Causes Delayed Seismicity Shutdown

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kroll, K.; Richards-Dinger, K. B.; Dieterich, J. H.; Cochran, E. S.

2015-12-01

It has been long debated what role static stress changes play in the enhancement and suppression of seismicity in the near-field region of large earthquakes. While numerous observations have correlated earthquake triggering and elevated seismicity rates with regions of increased Coulomb failure stress (CFS), observations of seismic quiescence in stress shadow regions are more controversial. When observed, seismicity shutdowns are often delayed by days to months following a negative stress perturbation. Some studies propose that the delay in the seismic shutdown can be caused by rupture promoting failure on one fault type while suppressing activity on another; thus the observed seismicity reflects the weighted contribution of the two faulting populations. For example, it was noted that in the 75 years following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, strike-slip faulting earthquakes were inhibited, while thrust faulting events were promoted. However, definitive observations supporting this delayed shutdown mechanism are rare. In this study, we report seismicity rate increases and decreases that correlate with regions of Coulomb stress transfer, and show observations of a delayed shutdown in the Yuha Desert, California. We use a Coulomb stress change model coupled with a rate-and state- earthquake model to show that the delay in the shutdown is due to the combined changes in the rates of normal and strike-slip faulting events following the 2010 M5.72 Ocotillo aftershock of the 2010 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake.

Gravity anomaly and crustal density structure in Jilantai rift zone and its adjacent region

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wu, Guiju; Shen, Chongyang; Tan, Hongbo; Yang, Guangliang

2016-08-01

This paper deals with the interpretation of Bouguer gravity anomalies measured along a 250 km long Suhaitu-Etuokeqi gravity profile located at the transitional zone of the Alxa and Ordos blocks where geophysical characteristics are very complex. The analysis is carried out in terms of the ratio of elevation and Bouguer gravity anomaly, the normalized full gradient of a section of the Bouguer gravity anomaly ( G h ) and the crustal density structure reveal that (1) the ratio of highs and lows of elevation and Bouguer gravity anomaly is large between Zhengyiguan fault (F4) and Helandonglu fault (F6), which can be explained due to crustal inhomogeneities related to the uplift of the Qinghai-Tibet block in the northeast; (2) the main active faults correspond to the G h contour strip or cut the local region, and generally show strong deformation characteristics, for example the Bayanwulashan mountain front fault ( F1) or the southeast boundary of Alxa block is in accord with the western change belt of G h , a belt about 10 km wide that extends to about 30 km; (3) Yinchuan-Pingluo fault ( F8) is the seismogenic structure of the Pingluo M earthquake, and its focal depth is about 15 km; (4) the Moho depth trend and Bouguer gravity anomaly variation indicates that the regional gravity field is strongly correlated with the Moho discontinuity.

A micromechanical model of rate and state friction: 2. Effect of shear and normal stress changes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Molinari, A.; Perfettini, H.

2017-04-01

In this paper we analyze the influence of shear and normal stress changes on frictional properties. This problem is fundamental as, for instance, sudden stress changes are naturally induced on active faults by nearby earthquakes. As any stress changes can be seen as resulting from a succession of infinitesimal stress steps, the role of sudden stress changes is crucial to our understanding of fault dynamics. Laboratory experiments carried out by Linker and Dieterich (1992) and Nagata et al. (2012), considering steps in normal and shear stress, respectively, show an instantaneous response of the state variable (a proxy for the evolution of contact surface in our model) to a sudden stress change. We interpret this response as being due to an (instantaneous) elastic response of the plastic and elastic contacts. We assume that the anelastic response of the plastic contacts is frozen during sudden stress changes. The contacts, which were driven by plasticity before the stress change, are elastically accommodated during the sudden variation of the load. On the contrary, when the loading is slowly varying, elastic deformation of plastic contacts can be neglected. Our model is able to explain the evolution law for the state variable reported by Linker and Dieterich (1992).

A study of fault prediction and reliability assessment in the SEL environment

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Basili, Victor R.; Patnaik, Debabrata

1986-01-01

An empirical study on estimation and prediction of faults, prediction of fault detection and correction effort, and reliability assessment in the Software Engineering Laboratory environment (SEL) is presented. Fault estimation using empirical relationships and fault prediction using curve fitting method are investigated. Relationships between debugging efforts (fault detection and correction effort) in different test phases are provided, in order to make an early estimate of future debugging effort. This study concludes with the fault analysis, application of a reliability model, and analysis of a normalized metric for reliability assessment and reliability monitoring during development of software.

The January 2014 Northern Cuba Earthquake Sequence - Unusual Location and Unexpected Source Mechanism Variability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braunmiller, J.; Thompson, G.; McNutt, S. R.

2017-12-01

On 9 January 2014, a magnitude Mw=5.1 earthquake occurred along the Bahamas-Cuba suture at the northern coast of Cuba revealing a surprising seismic hazard source for both Cuba and southern Florida where it was widely felt. Due to its location, the event and its aftershocks (M>3.5) were recorded only at far distances (300+ km) resulting in high-detection thresholds, low location accuracy, and limited source parameter resolution. We use three-component regional seismic data to study the sequence. High-pass filtered seismograms at the closest site in southern Florida are similar in character suggesting a relatively tight event cluster and revealing additional, smaller aftershocks not included in the ANSS or ISC catalogs. Aligning on the P arrival and low-pass filtering (T>10 s) uncovers a surprise polarity flip of the large amplitude surface waves on vertical seismograms for some aftershocks relative to the main shock. We performed regional moment tensor inversions of the main shock and its largest aftershocks using complete three-component seismograms from stations distributed throughout the region to confirm the mechanism changes. Consistent with the GCMT solution, we find an E-W trending normal faulting mechanism for the main event and for one immediate aftershock. Two aftershocks indicate E-W trending reverse faulting with essentially flipped P- and T-axes relative to the normal faulting events (and the same B-axes). Within uncertainties, depths of the two event families are indistinguishable and indicate shallow faulting (<10 km). One intriguing possible interpretation is that both families ruptured the same fault with reverse mechanisms compensating for overshooting. However, activity could also be spatially separated either vertically (with reverse mechanisms possibly below extension) or laterally. The shallow source depth and the 200-km long uplifted chain of islands indicate that larger, shallow and thus potentially tsunamigenic earthquakes could occur just offshore of northern Cuba posing a potential hazard to Florida and the Bahamas.

The 2017/09/08 Mw 8.2 Tehuantepec, Mexico Earthquake: A Large but Compact Dip-Slip Faulting Event Severing the Slab

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hjorleifsdottir, V.; Iglesias, A.; Suarez, G.; Santoyo, M. A.; Villafuerte, C. D.; Ji, C.; Franco-Sánchez, S. I.; Singh, S. K.; Cruz-Atienza, V. M.; Ando, R.

2017-12-01

The Mw 8.2 September 8 earthquake occurred in the middle of the "Tehuantepec Gap", a segment of the Mexican subduction zone that has no historical mentions of a large earthquake. It was, however, not the expected subduction megathrust earthquake, but rather an intraplate, normal faulting event, in the subducting oceanic Cocos plate. The earthquake rupture initiated at a depth of 50 km and propagated NW on a near-vertical plane, breaking towards the surface. Most of the slip was concentrated in the distance range 30-100 km from the hypocenter and at depth between 15 and 50 km, with maximum slip of 15m. The earthquake seems to have broken the entire lithosphere, estimated to be 35 km thick. The strike of the fault is about 20 degrees oblique to the trench but aligned with the existing fabric on the incoming oceanic plate, suggesting a structural control by preexisting intraslab fractures and activation by the extensional stress due to the slab bending and pulling. Aftershocks occurred along the fault plane during the first day after the event, with activation of other parallel structures within the subducting plate, towards the east, as well as in upper plate, in the following days. Coulomb stress modeling suggests that the stress on the plate interface above the rupture was significantly increased where shallow thrust aftershoks took place, and reduced updip of the earthquake. There are several other examples of large intraslab normal faulting earthquakes, near the downdip edge (1931 Mw 7.8 and 1999 Mw 7.5, Oaxaca) or directly below (1997 Mw 7.1, Michoacan) the coupled plate interface, along the Mexican subduction zone. The possibility of events of similar magnitude to the 2017 earthquake occurring close to the coastline, all along this part of the subduction zone, cannot be ruled out.

Evidence of post-Pleistocene faults on New Jersey Atlantic outer continental shelf

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sheridan, R.E.; Knebel, H.J.

1976-01-01

Recently obtained high-resolution seismic profiles (400-4,000-Hz band) show evidence of faults in shallow sedimentary strata near the edge of the Atlantic continental shelf off New Jersey. Apparent normal faults having a throw of about 1.5 m displace sediments to within 7 m of the sea floor. The faults appear to be overlain by undeformed horizontal beds of relatively recent age. Several faults 1 to 2 km apart strike approximately N70°E and dip northwest. The data suggest that the faults are upthrown on the southeast.Projection of the faults on the high-resolution profiles to a nearby multichannel seismic-reflection profile indicates that these shallow faults might be the near-surface expression of a more fundamental deep-seated fault. Several prominent reflectors in the multichannel records are offset by a high-angle normal fault reaching depths of 4.0 to 5.0 sec (6.0 to 6.5 km). The deep fault on the multichannel line also is upthrown on the southeast. Throws of as much as 90 m are apparent at depth, but offsets of as much as 10 m could be present in the shallower parts of the section that may not be resolved in the multichannel data.The position and strike of these faults coincide with and parallel the East Coast magnetic anomaly interpreted as the fundamental seaward basement boundary of the Baltimore Canyon trough. Recurring movements along such boundary faults are expected theoretically if the marginal basins are subsiding in response to the plate rotation of North America and seafloor spreading in the Atlantic.

Late Quaternary Faulting in Southeastern Louisiana: A Natural Laboratory for Understanding Shallow Faulting in Deltaic Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dawers, N. H.; McLindon, C.

2017-12-01

A synthesis of late Quaternary faults within the Mississippi River deltaic plain aims to provide a more accurate assessment of regional and local fault architecture, and interactions between faulting, sediment loading, salt withdrawal and compaction. This effort was initiated by the New Orleans Geological Society and has resulted in access to industry 3d seismic reflection data, as well as fault trace maps, and various types of well data and biostratigraphy. An unexpected outgrowth of this project is a hypothesis that gravity-driven normal faults in deltaic settings may be good candidates for shallow aseismic and slow-slip phenomena. The late Quaternary fault population is characterized by several large, highly segmented normal fault arrays: the Baton Rouge-Tepetate fault zone, the Lake Pontchartrain-Lake Borgne fault zone, the Golden Meadow fault zone (GMFZ), and a major counter-regional salt withdrawal structure (the Bay Marchand-Timbalier Bay-Caillou Island salt complex and West Delta fault zone) that lies just offshore of southeastern Louisiana. In comparison to the other, more northerly fault zones, the GMFZ is still significantly salt-involved. Salt structures segment the GMFZ with fault tips ending near or within salt, resulting in highly localized fault and compaction related subsidence separated by shallow salt structures, which are inherently buoyant and virtually incompressible. At least several segments within the GMFZ are characterized by marsh breaks that formed aseismically over timescales of days to months, such as near Adams Bay and Lake Enfermer. One well-documented surface rupture adjacent to a salt dome propagated over a 3 day period in 1943. We suggest that Louisiana's coastal faults make excellent analogues for deltaic faults in general, and propose that a series of positive feedbacks keep them active in the near surface. These include differential sediment loading and compaction, weak fault zone materials, high fluid pressure, low elastic stiffness in surrounding materials, and low confining pressure.

Section 7 reactor incident file general information from 1945

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Not Available

1969-01-10

At 0308 on January 10, 1966, both B and C Reactors ``scrammed`` due to an electrical fault on Line C2-L8 caused by a raccoon coming in contact with the 13-8 KV line on top of transformer No. 2 at 182-B Building. Line C2-L8 relayed out at the 151-B Building. Details of the occurrence at 151-B are covered in the attachment. C-Reactor scrammed due to reduced voltage on the pressure monitor system. The reduction in voltage caused the auxiliary relays of the pressure monitor ground detector to open, de-energizing the end result relays PSR and PSRA. The safety circuit trip identificationmore » system displayed ``Pressure Monitor`` and ``Ground Detector.`` B-Reactor scrammed by a power failure signal from 190-B Building. The power failure relays for pump numbers 1 and 3 opened due to these pumps contributing power to the fault. The power failure relays at 190-B remained open long enough for the end result relays PF and PFA to open. Since these relays are timed delayed, 0.26 seconds, the power failure relays must have remained open at least that long. At the 190-B Building the steam turbines started due to the power failure relays for pump numbers 1 and 3 opening. The main process pumps remained stable and continued to supply normal flow to the reactor. Pumps were tripped from the line at 182-B and 183-B Buildings. The surge suppressors cycled normally and the turbine export pumps started as a result of low export line pressure. No power equipment was affected in C Area.« less

Effect of water phase transition on dynamic ruptures with thermal pressurization: Numerical simulations with changes in physical properties of water

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Urata, Yumi; Kuge, Keiko; Kase, Yuko

2015-02-01

Phase transitions of pore water have never been considered in dynamic rupture simulations with thermal pressurization (TP), although they may control TP. From numerical simulations of dynamic rupture propagation including TP, in the absence of any water phase transition process, we predict that frictional heating and TP are likely to change liquid pore water into supercritical water for a strike-slip fault under depth-dependent stress. This phase transition causes changes of a few orders of magnitude in viscosity, compressibility, and thermal expansion among physical properties of water, thus affecting the diffusion of pore pressure. Accordingly, we perform numerical simulations of dynamic ruptures with TP, considering physical properties that vary with the pressure and temperature of pore water on a fault. To observe the effects of the phase transition, we assume uniform initial stress and no fault-normal variations in fluid density and viscosity. The results suggest that the varying physical properties decrease the total slip in cases with high stress at depth and small shear zone thickness. When fault-normal variations in fluid density and viscosity are included in the diffusion equation, they activate TP much earlier than the phase transition. As a consequence, the total slip becomes greater than that in the case with constant physical properties, eradicating the phase transition effect. Varying physical properties do not affect the rupture velocity, irrespective of the fault-normal variations. Thus, the phase transition of pore water has little effect on dynamic ruptures. Fault-normal variations in fluid density and viscosity may play a more significant role.

Verification of an IGBT Fusing Switch for Over-current Protection of the SNS HVCM

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Benwell, Andrew; Kemp, Mark; Burkhart, Craig

2010-06-11

An IGBT based over-current protection system has been developed to detect faults and limit the damage caused by faults in high voltage converter modulators. During normal operation, an IGBT enables energy to be transferred from storage capacitors to a H-bridge. When a fault occurs, the over-current protection system detects the fault, limits the fault current and opens the IGBT to isolate the remaining stored energy from the fault. This paper presents an experimental verification of the over-current protection system under applicable conditions.

Salt movements and faulting of the overburden - can numerical modeling predict the fault patterns above salt structures?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clausen, O. R.; Egholm, D. L.; Wesenberg, R.

2012-04-01

Salt deformation has been the topic of numerous studies through the 20th century and up until present because of the close relation between commercial hydrocarbons and salt structure provinces of the world (Hudec & Jackson, 2007). The fault distribution in sediments above salt structures influences among other things the productivity due to the segmentation of the reservoir (Stewart 2006). 3D seismic data above salt structures can map such fault patterns in great detail and studies have shown that a variety of fault patterns exists. Yet, most patterns fall between two end members: concentric and radiating fault patterns. Here we use a modified version of the numerical spring-slider model introduced by Malthe-Sørenssen et al.(1998a) for simulating the emergence of small scale faults and fractures above a rising salt structure. The three-dimensional spring-slider model enables us to control the rheology of the deforming overburden, the mechanical coupling between the overburden and the underlying salt, as well as the kinematics of the moving salt structure. In this presentation, we demonstrate how the horizontal component on the salt motion influences the fracture patterns within the overburden. The modeling shows that purely vertical movement of the salt introduces a mesh of concentric normal faults in the overburden, and that the frequency of radiating faults increases with the amount of lateral movements across the salt-overburden interface. The two end-member fault patterns (concentric vs. radiating) can thus be linked to two different styles of salt movement: i) the vertical rising of a salt indenter and ii) the inflation of a 'salt-balloon' beneath the deformed strata. The results are in accordance with published analogue and theoretical models, as well as natural systems, and the model may - when used appropriately - provide new insight into how the internal dynamics of the salt in a structure controls the generation of fault patterns above the structure. The model is thus an important contribution to the understanding of small-scale faults, which may be unresolved by seismic data when the hydrocarbon production from reservoirs located above salt structures is optimized.

Paleostress analysis of the upper-plate rocks of Anafi Island (Cyclades, Greece)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soukis, Konstantinos; Lozios, Stylianos

2017-04-01

The Attic Cycladic complex (Aegean Sea, Greece) is an area where profound extension, as a result of the Hellenic trench retreat due to slab-rollback, has exhumed mid-crustal rocks to the surface. The remnants of the upper plate are observed in the form of clippen scattered throughout the complex, occupying a very small percentage of the area. Anafi Island, located at the southeastern rim of the Attic-Cycladic complex, represents one of the few areas where a significant part of the upper plate units can be observed and studied. The complex tectonostratigraphy of Anafi Island is characterized by inverted metamorphism and includes a series of medium to high-grade metamorphic rocks that are thrusted onto a non-metamorphosed Paleogene flysch. The uppermost amphibolitic-facies thrust sheets were intruded in the late Cretaceous by intermediate to felsic magmatic rocks. The nappe pile was later destroyed in the late Miocene - Pliocene through successive stages of normal faulting that included both low- and high-angle normal faults. During that stage, supra-detachment syn-extensional sedimentation has taken place thus giving the opportunity to put some age constraints on the fault activity. Paleostress analysis with the separation and stress inversion method TRM revealed two stress tensors that can explain the fault-slip data-set of Anafi Island related to NE-SW and N-S extension, respectively. The older NE-SW trend is related to the late Miocene stress field whereas the N-S is likely related to the present day stress field. These results show that there was a gradual rotation to the trend of least principal stress axis (σ3), that could be associated with regional events such as the escape of Anatolia towards the Aegean and fastest retreat of the Hellenic subduction zone.

Evaluation of the evolving stress field of the Yellowstone volcanic plateau, 1988 to 2010, from earthquake first-motion inversions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Russo, E.; Waite, G. P.; Tibaldi, A.

2017-03-01

Although the last rhyolite eruption occurred around 70 ka ago, the silicic Yellowstone volcanic field is still considered active due to high hydrothermal and seismic activity and possible recent magma intrusions. Geodetic measurements document complex deformation patterns in crustal strain and seismic activity likewise reveal spatial and temporal variations in the stress field. We use earthquake data recorded between 1988 and 2010 to investigate these variations and their possible causes in more detail. Earthquake relocations and a set of 369 well-constrained, double-couple, focal mechanism solutions were computed. Events were grouped according to location and time to investigate trends in faulting. The majority of the events have normal-faulting solutions, subordinate strike-slip kinematics, and very rarely, reverse motions. The dominant direction of extension throughout the 0.64 Ma Yellowstone caldera is nearly ENE, consistent with the perpendicular direction of alignments of volcanic vents within the caldera, but our study also reveals spatial and temporal variations. Stress-field solutions for different areas and time periods were calculated from earthquake focal mechanism inversion. A well-resolved rotation of σ3 was found, from NNE-SSW near the Hebgen Lake fault zone, to ENE-WSW near Norris Junction. In particular, the σ3 direction changed throughout the years around Norris Geyser Basin, from being ENE-WSW, as calculated in the study by Waite and Smith (2004), to NNE-SSW, while the other σ3 directions are mostly unchanged over time. The presence of ;chocolate tablet; structures, with two sets of nearly perpendicular normal faults, was identified in many stages of the deformation history both in the Norris Geyser Basin area and inside the caldera.

New Modulation Method and Control Strategies for Power Electronics Inverters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aleenejad, Mohsen

The DC to AC power Converters (so-called Inverters) are widely used in industrial applications. The MLIs are becoming increasingly popular in industrial apparatus aimed at medium to high power conversion applications. In comparison to the conventional inverters, they feature superior characteristics such as lower total harmonic distortion (THD), higher efficiency, and lower switching voltage stress. Nevertheless, the superior characteristics come at the price of a more complex topology with an increased number of power electronic switches. The increased number of power electronics switches results in more complicated control strategies for the inverter. Moreover, as the number of power electronic switches increases, the chances of fault occurrence of the switches increases, and thus the inverter's reliability decreases. Due to the extreme monetary ramifications of the interruption of operation in commercial and industrial applications, high reliability for power inverters utilized in these sectors is critical. As a result, developing simple control strategies for normal and fault-tolerant operation of MLIs has always been an interesting topic for researchers in related areas. The purpose of this dissertation is to develop new control and fault-tolerant strategies for the multilevel power inverter. For the normal operation of the inverter, a new high switching frequency technique is developed. The proposed method extends the utilization of the dc link voltage while minimizing the dv/dt of the switches. In the event of a fault, the line voltages of the faulty inverters are unbalanced and cannot be applied to the 3-phase loads. For the faulty condition of the inverter, three novel fault-tolerant techniques are developed. The proposed fault-tolerant strategies generate balanced line voltages without bypassing any healthy and operative inverter element, makes better use of the inverter capacity and generates higher output voltage. These strategies exploit the advantages of the Selective Harmonic Elimination (SHE) and Space Vector Modulation (SVM) methods in conjunction with a slightly modified Fundamental Phase Shift Compensation (FPSC) technique to generate balanced voltages and manipulate voltage harmonics at the same time. The proposed strategies are applicable to several classes of MLIs with three or more voltage levels.

Strike-Slip Fault Deformation and Its Control in Hydrocarbon Trapping in Ketaling Area, Jambi Subbasin, Indonesia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ramadhan, Aldis; Badai Samudra, Alexis; Jaenudin; Puji Lestari, Enik; Saputro, Julian; Sugiono; Hirosiadi, Yosi; Amrullah, Indi

2018-03-01

Geologically, Ketaling area consists of a local high considered as flexure margin of Tempino-Kenali Asam Deep in west part and graben in east part also known as East Ketaling Deep. Numerous proven plays were established in Ketaling area with reservoir in early Miocene carbonate and middle Miocene sand. This area underwent several major deformations. Faults are developed widely, yet their geometrical features and mechanisms of formation remained so far indistinct, which limited exploration activities. With new three-dimensional seismic data acquired in 2014, this area evidently interpreted as having strike-slip mechanism. The objective of this study is to examine characteristic of strike slip fault and its affect to hydrocarbon trapping in Ketaling Area. Structural pattern and characteristic of strike slip fault deformation was examined with integration of normal seismic with variance seismic attribute analysis and the mapping of Syn-rift to Post-rift horizon. Seismic flattening on 2D seismic cross section with NW-SE direction is done to see the structural pattern related to horst (paleohigh) and graben. Typical flower structure, branching strike-slip fault system and normal fault in synrift sediment clearly showed in section. An echelon pattern identified from map view as the result of strike slip mechanism. Detail structural geology analysis show the normal fault development which has main border fault in the southern of Ketaling area dipping to the Southeast-East with NE-SW lineament. These faults related to rift system in Ketaling area. NW-SE folds with reactive NE-SW fault which act as hydrocarbon trapping in the shallow zone. This polyphase tectonic formed local graben, horst and inverted structure developed a good kitchen area (graben) and traps (horst, inverted structure). Subsequently, hydrocarbon accumulation potentials such as basement fractures, inverted syn-rift deposit and shallow zone are very interesting to explore in this area.

Fault trends on the seaward slope of the Aleutian Trench: Implications for a laterally changing stress field tied to a westward increase in oblique convergence

USGS Publications Warehouse

Mortera-Gutierrez, C. A.; Scholl, D. W.; Carlson, R.L.

2003-01-01

Normal faults along the seaward trench slope (STS) commonly strike parallel to the trench in response to bending of the oceanic plate into the subduction zone. This is not the circumstance for the Aleutian Trench, where the direction of convergence gradually changes westward, from normal to transform motion. GLORIA side-scan sonar images document that the Aleutian STS is dominated by faults striking oblique to the trench, west of 179??E and east of 172??W. These images also show a pattern of east-west trending seafloor faults that are aligned parallel to the spreading fabric defined by magnetic anomalies. The stress-strain field along the STS is divided into two domains west and east, respectively, of 179??E. Over the western domain, STS faults and nodal planes of earthquakes are oriented oblique (9??-46??) to the trench axis and (69??-90??) to the magnetic fabric. West of 179??E, STS fault strikes change by 36?? from the E-W trend of STS where the trench-parallel slip gets larger than its orthogonal component of convergence. This rotation indicates that horizontal stresses along the western domain of the STS are deflected by the increasing obliquity in convergence. An analytical model supports the idea that strikes of STS faults result from a superposition of stresses associated with the dextral shear couple of the oblique convergence and stresses caused by plate bending. For the eastern domain, most nodal planes of earthquakes strike parallel to the outer rise, indicating bending as the prevailing mechanism causing normal faulting. East of 172??W, STS faults strike parallel to the magnetic fabric but oblique (10??-26??) to the axis of the trench. On the basis of a Coulomb failure criterion the trench-oblique strikes probably result from reactivation of crustal faults generated by spreading. Copyright 2003 by the American Geophysical Union.

Preliminary Pseudo 3-D Imagery of the State Line Fault, Stewart Valley, Nevada Using Seismic Reflection Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saldaña, S. C.; Snelson, C. M.; Taylor, W. J.; Beachly, M.; Cox, C. M.; Davis, R.; Stropky, M.; Phillips, R.; Robins, C.; Cothrun, C.

2007-12-01

The Pahrump Fault system is located in the central Basin and Range region and consists of three main fault zones: the Nopah range front fault zone, the State Line fault zone and the Spring Mountains range fault zone. The State Line fault zone is made up north-west trending dextral strike-slip faults that run parallel to the Nevada- California border. Previous geologic and geophysical studies conducted in and around Stewart Valley, located ~90 km from Las Vegas, Nevada, have constrained the location of the State Line fault zone to within a few kilometers. The goals of this project were to use seismic methods to definitively locate the northwestern most trace of the State Line fault and produce pseudo 3-D seismic cross-sections that can then be used to characterize the subsurface geometry and determine the slip of the State Line fault. During July 2007, four seismic lines were acquired in Stewart Valley: two normal and two parallel to the mapped traces of the State Line fault. Presented here are preliminary results from the two seismic lines acquired normal to the fault. These lines were acquired utilizing a 144-channel geode system with each of the 4.5 Hz vertical geophones set out at 5 m intervals to produce a 595 m long profile to the north and a 715 m long profile to the south. The vibroseis was programmed to produce an 8 s linear sweep from 20-160 Hz. These data returned excellent signal to noise and reveal subsurface lithology that will subsequently be used to resolve the subsurface geometry of the State Line fault. This knowledge will then enhance our understanding of the evolution of the State Line fault. Knowing how the State Line fault has evolved gives insight into the stick-slip fault evolution for the region and may improve understanding of how stress has been partitioned from larger strike-slip systems such as the San Andreas fault.

Late Quaternary faulting along the Death Valley-Furnace Creek fault system, California and Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brogan, George E.; Kellogg, Karl; Slemmons, D. Burton; Terhune, Christina L.

1991-01-01

The Death Valley-Furnace Creek fault system, in California and Nevada, has a variety of impressive late Quaternary neotectonic features that record a long history of recurrent earthquake-induced faulting. Although no neotectonic features of unequivocal historical age are known, paleoseismic features from multiple late Quaternary events of surface faulting are well developed throughout the length of the system. Comparison of scarp heights to amount of horizontal offset of stream channels and the relationships of both scarps and channels to the ages of different geomorphic surfaces demonstrate that Quaternary faulting along the northwest-trending Furnace Creek fault zone is predominantly right lateral, whereas that along the north-trending Death Valley fault zone is predominantly normal. These observations are compatible with tectonic models of Death Valley as a northwest-trending pull-apart basin. The largest late Quaternary scarps along the Furnace Creek fault zone, with vertical separation of late Pleistocene surfaces of as much as 64 m (meters), are in Fish Lake Valley. Despite the predominance of normal faulting along the Death Valley fault zone, vertical offset of late Pleistocene surfaces along the Death Valley fault zone apparently does not exceed about 15 m. Evidence for four to six separate late Holocene faulting events along the Furnace Creek fault zone and three or more late Holocene events along the Death Valley fault zone are indicated by rupturing of Q1B (about 200-2,000 years old) geomorphic surfaces. Probably the youngest neotectonic feature observed along the Death Valley-Furnace Creek fault system, possibly historic in age, is vegetation lineaments in southernmost Fish Lake Valley. Near-historic faulting in Death Valley, within several kilometers south of Furnace Creek Ranch, is represented by (1) a 2,000-year-old lake shoreline that is cut by sinuous scarps, and (2) a system of young scarps with free-faceted faces (representing several faulting events) that cuts Q1B surfaces.

Illite authigenesis during faulting and fluid flow - a microstructural study of fault rocks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Scheiber, Thomas; Viola, Giulio; van der Lelij, Roelant; Margreth, Annina

2017-04-01

Authigenic illite can form synkinematically during slip events along brittle faults. In addition it can also crystallize as a result of fluid flow and associated mineral alteration processes in hydrothermal environments. K-Ar dating of illite-bearing fault rocks has recently become a common tool to constrain the timing of fault activity. However, to fully interpret the derived age spectra in terms of deformation ages, a careful investigation of the fault deformation history and architecture at the outcrop-scale, ideally followed by a detailed mineralogical analysis of the illite-forming processes at the micro-scale, are indispensable. Here we integrate this methodological approach by presenting microstructural observations from the host rock immediately adjacent to dated fault gouges from two sites located in the Rolvsnes granodiorite (Bømlo, western Norway). This granodiorite experienced multiple episodes of brittle faulting and fluid-induced alteration, starting in the Mid Ordovician (Scheiber et al., 2016). Fault gouges are predominantly associated with normal faults accommodating mainly E-W extension. K-Ar dating of illites separated from representative fault gouges constrains deformation and alteration due to fluid ingress from the Permian to the Cretaceous, with a cluster of ages for the finest (<0.1 µm) fraction in the early to middle Jurassic. At site one, high-resolution thin section structural mapping reveals a complex deformation history characterized by several coexisting types of calcite veins and seven different generations of cataclasite, two of which contain a significant amount of authigenic and undoubtedly deformation-related illite. At site two, fluid ingress along and adjoining the fault core induced pervasive alteration of the host granodiorite. Quartz is crosscut by calcite veinlets whereas plagioclase, K-feldspar and biotite are almost completely replaced by the main alteration products kaolin, quartz and illite. Illite-bearing micro-domains were physically separated by means of microsawing and drilling devices. K-Ar and XRD data from these separates are compared with bulk K-Ar and XRD data from the adjacent fault gouges, which may help to further unravel complex histories archived in multiply activated brittle fault zones. Scheiber, T., Viola, G., Wilkinson, C.M., Ganerød, M., Skår, Ø., and D. Gasser (2016): Direct 40Ar/39Ar dating of Late-Ordovician and Silurian brittle faulting in the southwestern Norwegian Caledonides. Terra Nova 28, 374-382.

Seismic Structure of the Oceanic Plate Entering the Central Part of the Japan Trench Obtained from Ocean-Bottom Seismic Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ohira, A.; Kodaira, S.; Fujie, G.; No, T.; Nakamura, Y.; Miura, S.

2017-12-01

In trench-outer rise regions, the normal faults develop due to the bending of the incoming plate, which cause numerous normal-faulting earthquakes and systematic structural variations toward trenches. In addition to the effects on the bend-related normal fault, structural variations which are interpreted to be attributed to pseudofaults, a fracture zone, and petit-spot volcanic activities are observed in the oceanic plate entering the central part of the Japan Trench, off Miyagi. In May-June 2017, to understand detail structural variations and systematic structural changes of the oceanic plate toward the trench, we conducted an active-source seismic survey off Miyagi using R/V Kaimei, a new research vessel of JAMSTEC. Along a 100 km-long seismic profile which is approximately perpendicular to the trench axis, we deployed 40 ocean-bottom seismometers at intervals of 2 km and fired a large airgun array (total volume 10,600 cubic inches) with 100 m shooting intervals. Multi-channel seismic reflection data were also collected along the profile. On OBS records we observed refractions from the sedimentary layer and the oceanic crust (Pg), wide-angle reflections from the crust-mantle boundary (PmP), and refractions from the uppermost mantle (Pn). Pg is typically observed clearly at near offsets (approximately 20 km) but it highly attenuates at far offsets (> 20 km). A triplication of Pg-PmP-Pn with strong amplitudes is observed at ranges from 30 km to 60 km offsets. Pn is typically weak and its apparent velocity is approximately 8 km/sec. High attenuation of Pg and weak Pn may indicate the complex crustal structure related to petit-spot volcanic activities and/or a fracture zone, which are recognized in bathymetry data around the profile.

Architecture of buried reverse fault zone in the sedimentary basin: A case study from the Hong-Che Fault Zone of the Junggar Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, Yin; Wu, Kongyou; Wang, Xi; Liu, Bo; Guo, Jianxun; Du, Yannan

2017-12-01

It is widely accepted that the faults can act as the conduits or the barrier for oil and gas migration. Years of studies suggested that the internal architecture of a fault zone is complicated and composed of distinct components with different physical features, which can highly influence the migration of oil and gas along the fault. The field observation is the most useful methods of observing the fault zone architecture, however, in the petroleum exploration, what should be concerned is the buried faults in the sedimentary basin. Meanwhile, most of the studies put more attention on the strike-slip or normal faults, but the architecture of the reverse faults attracts less attention. In order to solve these questions, the Hong-Che Fault Zone in the northwest margin of the Junggar Basin, Xinjiang Province, is chosen for an example. Combining with the seismic data, well logs and drill core data, we put forward a comprehensive method to recognize the internal architectures of buried faults. High-precision seismic data reflect that the fault zone shows up as a disturbed seismic reflection belt. Four types of well logs, which are sensitive to the fractures, and a comprehensive discriminated parameter, named fault zone index are used in identifying the fault zone architecture. Drill core provides a direct way to identify different components of the fault zone, the fault core is composed of breccia, gouge, and serpentinized or foliated fault rocks and the damage zone develops multiphase of fractures, which are usually cemented. Based on the recognition results, we found that there is an obvious positive relationship between the width of the fault zone and the displacement, and the power-law relationship also exists between the width of the fault core and damage zone. The width of the damage zone in the hanging wall is not apparently larger than that in the footwall in the reverse fault, showing different characteristics with the normal fault. This study provides a comprehensive method in identifying the architecture of buried faults in the sedimentary basin and would be helpful in evaluating the fault sealing behavior.

Slip accumulation and lateral propagation of active normal faults in Afar

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Manighetti, I.; King, G. C. P.; Gaudemer, Y.; Scholz, C. H.; Doubre, C.

2001-01-01

We investigate fault growth in Afar, where normal fault systems are known to be currently growing fast and most are propagating to the northwest. Using digital elevation models, we have examined the cumulative slip distribution along 255 faults with lengths ranging from 0.3 to 60 km. Faults exhibiting the elliptical or "bell-shaped" slip profiles predicted by simple linear elastic fracture mechanics or elastic-plastic theories are rare. Most slip profiles are roughly linear for more than half of their length, with overall slopes always <0.035. For the dominant population of NW striking faults and fault systems longer than 2 km, the slip profiles are asymmetric, with slip being maximum near the eastern ends of the profiles where it drops abruptly to zero, whereas slip decreases roughly linearly and tapers in the direction of overall Aden rift propagation. At a more detailed level, most faults appear to be composed of distinct, shorter subfaults or segments, whose slip profiles, while different from one to the next, combine to produce the roughly linear overall slip decrease along the entire fault. On a larger scale, faults cluster into kinematically coupled systems, along which the slip on any scale individual fault or fault system complements that of its neighbors, so that the total slip of the whole system is roughly linearly related to its length, with an average slope again <0.035. We discuss the origin of these quasilinear, asymmetric profiles in terms of "initiation points" where slip starts, and "barriers" where fault propagation is arrested. In the absence of a barrier, slip apparently extends with a roughly linear profile, tapered in the direction of fault propagation.

Deformation pattern during normal faulting: A sequential limit analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yuan, X. P.; Maillot, B.; Leroy, Y. M.

2017-02-01

We model in 2-D the formation and development of half-graben faults above a low-angle normal detachment fault. The model, based on a "sequential limit analysis" accounting for mechanical equilibrium and energy dissipation, simulates the incremental deformation of a frictional, cohesive, and fluid-saturated rock wedge above the detachment. Two modes of deformation, gravitational collapse and tectonic collapse, are revealed which compare well with the results of the critical Coulomb wedge theory. We additionally show that the fault and the axial surface of the half-graben rotate as topographic subsidence increases. This progressive rotation makes some of the footwall material being sheared and entering into the hanging wall, creating a specific region called foot-to-hanging wall (FHW). The model allows introducing additional effects, such as weakening of the faults once they have slipped and sedimentation in their hanging wall. These processes are shown to control the size of the FHW region and the number of fault-bounded blocks it eventually contains. Fault weakening tends to make fault rotation more discontinuous and this results in the FHW zone containing multiple blocks of intact material separated by faults. By compensating the topographic subsidence of the half-graben, sedimentation tends to slow the fault rotation and this results in the reduction of the size of the FHW zone and of its number of fault-bounded blocks. We apply the new approach to reproduce the faults observed along a seismic line in the Southern Jeanne d'Arc Basin, Grand Banks, offshore Newfoundland. There, a single block exists in the hanging wall of the principal fault. The model explains well this situation provided that a slow sedimentation rate in the Lower Jurassic is proposed followed by an increasing rate over time as the main detachment fault was growing.

Re-Evaluation of Event Correlations in Virtual California Using Statistical Analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Glasscoe, M. T.; Heflin, M. B.; Granat, R. A.; Yikilmaz, M. B.; Heien, E.; Rundle, J.; Donnellan, A.

2010-12-01

Fusing the results of simulation tools with statistical analysis methods has contributed to our better understanding of the earthquake process. In a previous study, we used a statistical method to investigate emergent phenomena in data produced by the Virtual California earthquake simulator. The analysis indicated that there were some interesting fault interactions and possible triggering and quiescence relationships between events. We have converted the original code from Matlab to python/C++ and are now evaluating data from the most recent version of Virtual California in order to analyze and compare any new behavior exhibited by the model. The Virtual California earthquake simulator can be used to study fault and stress interaction scenarios for realistic California earthquakes. The simulation generates a synthetic earthquake catalog of events with a minimum size of ~M 5.8 that can be evaluated using statistical analysis methods. Virtual California utilizes realistic fault geometries and a simple Amontons - Coulomb stick and slip friction law in order to drive the earthquake process by means of a back-slip model where loading of each segment occurs due to the accumulation of a slip deficit at the prescribed slip rate of the segment. Like any complex system, Virtual California may generate emergent phenomena unexpected even by its designers. In order to investigate this, we have developed a statistical method that analyzes the interaction between Virtual California fault elements and thereby determine whether events on any given fault elements show correlated behavior. Our method examines events on one fault element and then determines whether there is an associated event within a specified time window on a second fault element. Note that an event in our analysis is defined as any time an element slips, rather than any particular “earthquake” along the entire fault length. Results are then tabulated and then differenced with an expected correlation, calculated by assuming a uniform distribution of events in time. We generate a correlation score matrix, which indicates how weakly or strongly correlated each fault element is to every other in the course of the VC simulation. We calculate correlation scores by summing the difference between the actual and expected correlations over all time window lengths and normalizing by the time window size. The correlation score matrix can focus attention on the most interesting areas for more in-depth analysis of event correlation vs. time. The previous study included 59 faults (639 elements) in the model, which included all the faults save the creeping section of the San Andreas. The analysis spanned 40,000 yrs of Virtual California-generated earthquake data. The newly revised VC model includes 70 faults, 8720 fault elements, and spans 110,000 years. Due to computational considerations, we will evaluate the elements comprising the southern California region, which our previous study indicated showed interesting fault interaction and event triggering/quiescence relationships.

Temporal resistance variation of the second generation HTS tape during superconducting-to-normal state transition.

PubMed

Malginov, Vladimir A; Malginov, Andrey V; Fleishman, Leonid S

2013-01-01

The quench process in high-temperature superconducting (HTS) wires plays an important role in superconducting power devices, such as fault current limiters, magnets, cables, etc. The superconducting device should survive after the overheating due to quench. We studied the evolution of the resistance of the YBCO tape wire during the quench process with 1 ms time resolution for various excitation voltages. The resistive normal zone was found to be located in a domain of about 1-4 cm long. The normal state nucleation begins in 40-60 ms after voltage is applied across the HTS tape. In subsequent 200-300 ms other normal state regions appear. The normal domain heating continues in the following 5-10s that results in a factor of 2-3 increase of its resistance. Formation of the normal domain during the quench process follows the same stages for different excitation voltages. Characteristic domain sizes, lifetimes and temperatures are determined for all stages.

Spatial stress variations in the aftershock sequence following the 2008 M6 earthquake doublet in the South Iceland Seismic Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hensch, M.; Árnadóttir, Th.; Lund, B.; Brandsdóttir, B.

2012-04-01

The South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) is an approximately 80 km wide E-W transform zone, bridging the offset between the Eastern Volcanic Zone and the Hengill triple junction to the west. The plate motion is accommodated in the brittle crust by faulting on many N-S trending right-lateral strike-slip faults of 2-5 km separation. Major sequences of large earthquakes (M>6) has occurred repeatedly in the SISZ since the settlement in Iceland more than thousand years ago. On 29th May 2008, two M6 earthquakes hit the western part of the SISZ on two adjacent N-S faults within a few seconds. The intense aftershock sequence was recorded by the permanent Icelandic SIL network and a promptly installed temporary network of 11 portable seismometers in the source region. The network located thousands of aftershocks during the following days, illuminating a 12-17 km long region along both major fault ruptures as well as several smaller parallel faults along a diffuse E-W trending region west of the mainshock area without any preceding main rupture. This episode is suggested to be the continuation of an earthquake sequence which started with two M6.5 and several M5-6 events in June 2000. The time delay between the 2000 and 2008 events could be due to an inflation episode in Hengill during 1993-1998, that potentially locked N-S strike slip faults in the western part of the SISZ. Around 300 focal solutions for aftershocks have been derived by analyzing P-wave polarities, showing predominantly strike-slip movements with occasional normal faulting components (unstable P-axis direction), which suggests an extensional stress regime as their driving force. A subsequent stress inversion of four different aftershock clusters reveals slight variations of the directions of the average σ3 axes. While for both southern clusters, including the E-W cluster, the σ3 axes are rather elongated perpendicular to the overall plate spreading axis, they are more northerly trending for shallower clusters located further north. In this study we will try to shed light into whether the azimuth variations of σ3 is caused by stress changes due to the inflation-deflation episode in Hengill (NW of the activated fault zone) or solely depending to the depth of the aftershock clusters.

Seismological analyses of the 2010 March 11, Pichilemu, Chile Mw 7.0 and Mw 6.9 coastal intraplate earthquakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ruiz, Javier A.; Hayes, Gavin P.; Carrizo, Daniel; Kanamori, Hiroo; Socquet, Anne; Comte, Diana

2014-01-01

On 2010 March 11, a sequence of large, shallow continental crust earthquakes shook central Chile. Two normal faulting events with magnitudes around Mw 7.0 and Mw 6.9 occurred just 15 min apart, located near the town of Pichilemu. These kinds of large intraplate, inland crustal earthquakes are rare above the Chilean subduction zone, and it is important to better understand their relationship with the 2010 February 27, Mw 8.8, Maule earthquake, which ruptured the adjacent megathrust plate boundary. We present a broad seismological analysis of these earthquakes by using both teleseismic and regional data. We compute seismic moment tensors for both events via a W-phase inversion, and test sensitivities to various inversion parameters in order to assess the stability of the solutions. The first event, at 14 hr 39 min GMT, is well constrained, displaying a fault plane with strike of N145°E, and a preferred dip angle of 55°SW, consistent with the trend of aftershock locations and other published results. Teleseismic finite-fault inversions for this event show a large slip zone along the southern part of the fault, correlating well with the reported spatial density of aftershocks. The second earthquake (14 hr 55 min GMT) appears to have ruptured a fault branching southward from the previous ruptured fault, within the hanging wall of the first event. Modelling seismograms at regional to teleseismic distances (Δ > 10°) is quite challenging because the observed seismic wave fields of both events overlap, increasing apparent complexity for the second earthquake. We perform both point- and extended-source inversions at regional and teleseismic distances, assessing model sensitivities resulting from variations in fault orientation, dimension, and hypocentre location. Results show that the focal mechanism for the second event features a steeper dip angle and a strike rotated slightly clockwise with respect to the previous event. This kind of geological fault configuration, with secondary rupture in the hanging wall of a large normal fault, is commonly observed in extensional geological regimes. We propose that both earthquakes form part of a typical normal fault diverging splay, where the secondary fault connects to the main fault at depth. To ascertain more information on the spatial and temporal details of slip for both events, we gathered near-fault seismological and geodetic data. Through forward modelling of near-fault synthetic seismograms we build a kinematic k−2 earthquake source model with spatially distributed slip on the fault that, to first-order, explains both coseismic static displacement GPS vectors and short-period seismometer observations at the closest sites. As expected, the results for the first event agree with the focal mechanism derived from teleseismic modelling, with a magnitude Mw 6.97. Similarly, near-fault modelling for the second event suggests rupture along a normal fault, Mw 6.90, characterized by a steeper dip angle (dip = 74°) and a strike clockwise rotated (strike = 155°) with respect to the previous event.

Eastern rim of the Chesapeake Bay impact crater: Morphology, stratigraphy, and structure

USGS Publications Warehouse

Poag, C.W.

2005-01-01

This study reexamines seven reprocessed (increased vertical exaggeration) seismic reflection profiles that cross the eastern rim of the Chesapeake Bay impact crater. The eastern rim is expressed as an arcuate ridge that borders the crater in a fashion typical of the "raised" rim documented in many well preserved complex impact craters. The inner boundary of the eastern rim (rim wall) is formed by a series of raterfacing, steep scarps, 15-60 m high. In combination, these rim-wall scarps represent the footwalls of a system of crater-encircling normal faults, which are downthrown toward the crater. Outboard of the rim wall are several additional normal-fault blocks, whose bounding faults trend approximately parallel to the rim wall. The tops of the outboard fault blocks form two distinct, parallel, flat or gently sloping, terraces. The innermost terrace (Terrace 1) can be identified on each profile, but Terrace 2 is only sporadically present. The terraced fault blocks are composed mainly of nonmarine, poorly to moderately consolidated, siliciclastic sediments, belonging to the Lower Cretaceous Potomac Formation. Though the ridge-forming geometry of the eastern rim gives the appearance of a raised compressional feature, no compelling evidence of compressive forces is evident in the profiles studied. The structural mode, instead, is that of extension, with the clear dominance of normal faulting as the extensional mechanism. 

Tectonic evolution of the northeastern part of the African continental margin, Egypt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hussein, I. M.; Abd-Allah, A. M. A.

2001-07-01

The area between Manzalah Lake and the southern Galala Plateau in northeast Egypt constitutes the Galalas, Cairo-Suez, southern Nile Delta and northern Nile Delta structural provinces. The northern Galala Fault separates the Galalas Province from the Cairo-Suez Province and is considered to be the westward extension of the Themed Fault in central Sinai. The pre-Eocene rocks are affected by northeast to east-northeast-orientated folds and reverse faults, as well as east-west-orientated oblique-slip faults with dextral and normal components. Some folds and reverse faults are interpreted to have been formed by northwest to north-northwest-orientated compression related to the Syrian Arc movement, whereas the others by the secondary northwest orientated shortening, which accompanied dextral strike-slip component along the planes of the east-west-orientated faults. The east-west-orientated faults were initially formed during the Late Triassic/Early Jurassic extension related to the drifting of the African/Arabian Plate away from the Eurasian Plate as a result of opening of the Neotethyan Sea. The Neotethyan began to close due to convergence between the two plates, leading to the Syrian Arc deformation. This deformation mildly started in Late Cenomanian and followed by a more intensive phase in Conacian/Santonian. It mildly continued in the Maastrichtian, Early Palæocene and Late Palæocene/Early Eocene. The southward thinning of the pre-Eocene rocks controlled the intensity and style of deformation. Two deformational mechanisms are proposed for the Nile Delta hinge zone. The first is related to Late Oligocene—Early Miocene north-northwest-orientated Alpine compression. The second is related to northward gravitational sliding of the post-Oligocene shale and sandstone over Cretaceous-Eocene carbonates.

The evolution of a Late Cretaceous-Cenozoic intraplate basin (Duaringa Basin), eastern Australia: evidence for the negative inversion of a pre-existing fold-thrust belt

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Babaahmadi, Abbas; Sliwa, Renate; Esterle, Joan; Rosenbaum, Gideon

2017-12-01

The Duaringa Basin in eastern Australia is a Late Cretaceous?-early Cenozoic sedimentary basin that developed simultaneously with the opening of the Tasman and Coral Seas. The basin occurs on the top of an earlier (Permian-Triassic) fold-thrust belt, but the negative inversion of this fold-thrust belt, and its contribution to the development of the Duaringa Basin, are not well understood. Here, we present geophysical datasets, including recently surveyed 2D seismic reflection lines, aeromagnetic and Bouguer gravity data. These data provide new insights into the structural style in the Duaringa Basin, showing that the NNW-striking, NE-dipping, deep-seated Duaringa Fault is the main boundary fault that controlled sedimentation in the Duaringa Basin. The major activity of the Duaringa Fault is observed in the southern part of the basin, where it has undergone the highest amount of displacement, resulting in the deepest and oldest depocentre. The results reveal that the Duaringa Basin developed in response to the partial negative inversion of the pre-existing Permian-Triassic fold-thrust belt, which has similar orientation to the extensional faults. The Duaringa Fault is the negative inverted part of a single Triassic thrust, known as the Banana Thrust. Furthermore, small syn-depositional normal faults at the base of the basin likely developed due to the reactivation of pre-existing foliations, accommodation faults, and joints associated with Permian-Triassic folds. In contrast to equivalent offshore basins, the Duaringa Basin lacks a complex structural style and thick syn-rift sediments, possibly because of the weakening of extensional stresses away from the developing Tasman Sea.

Development and evaluation of virtual refrigerant mass flow sensors for fault detection and diagnostics

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Woohyun; Braun, J.

Refrigerant mass flow rate is an important measurement for monitoring equipment performance and enabling fault detection and diagnostics. However, a traditional mass flow meter is expensive to purchase and install. A virtual refrigerant mass flow sensor (VRMF) uses a mathematical model to estimate flow rate using low-cost measurements and can potentially be implemented at low cost. This study evaluates three VRMFs for estimating refrigerant mass flow rate. The first model uses a compressor map that relates refrigerant flow rate to measurements of inlet and outlet pressure, and inlet temperature measurements. The second model uses an energy-balance method on the compressormore » that uses a compressor map for power consumption, which is relatively independent of compressor faults that influence mass flow rate. The third model is developed using an empirical correlation for an electronic expansion valve (EEV) based on an orifice equation. The three VRMFs are shown to work well in estimating refrigerant mass flow rate for various systems under fault-free conditions with less than 5% RMS error. Each of the three mass flow rate estimates can be utilized to diagnose and track the following faults: 1) loss of compressor performance, 2) fouled condenser or evaporator filter, 3) faulty expansion device, respectively. For example, a compressor refrigerant flow map model only provides an accurate estimation when the compressor operates normally. When a compressor is not delivering the expected flow due to a leaky suction or discharge valve or other internal fault, the energy-balance or EEV model can provide accurate flow estimates. In this paper, the flow differences provide an indication of loss of compressor performance and can be used for fault detection and diagnostics.« less

Spatiotemporal Patterns of Fault Slip Rates Across the Central Sierra Nevada Frontal Fault Zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rood, D. H.; Burbank, D.; Finkel, R. C.

2010-12-01

We examine patterns in fault slip rates through time and space across the transition from the Sierra Nevada to the Eastern California Shear Zone-Walker Lane belt. At each of four sites along the eastern Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone between 38-39° N latitude, geomorphic markers, such as glacial moraines and outwash terraces, are displaced by a suite of range-front normal faults. Using geomorphic mapping, surveying, and Be-10 surface exposure dating, we define mean fault slip rates, and by utilizing markers of different ages (generally, ~20 ka and ~150 ka), we examine rates through time and interactions among multiple faults over 10-100 ky timescales. At each site for which data are available for the last ~150 ky, mean slip rates across the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone have probably not varied by more than a factor of two over time spans equal to half of the total time interval (~20 ky and ~150 ky timescales): 0.3 ± 0.1 mm/yr (mode and 95% CI) at both Buckeye Creek in the Bridgeport basin and Sonora Junction; and 0.4 +0.3/-0.1 mm/yr along the West Fork of the Carson River at Woodfords. Our data permit that rates are relatively constant over the time scales examined. In contrast, slip rates are highly variable in space over the last ~20 ky. Slip rates decrease by a factor of 3-5 northward over a distance of ~20 km between the northern Mono Basin (1.3 +0.6/-0.3 mm/yr at Lundy Canyon site) and the Bridgeport Basin (0.3 ± 0.1 mm/yr). The 3-fold decrease in the slip rate on the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone northward from Mono Basin reflects a change in the character of faulting north of the Mina Deflection as extension is transferred eastward onto normal faults between the Sierra Nevada and Walker Lane belt. A compilation of regional deformation rates reveal that the spatial pattern of extension rates changes along strike of the Eastern California Shear Zone-Walker Lane belt. South of the Mina Deflection, extension is accommodated within a diffuse zone of normal and oblique faults, with extension rates increasing northward on the Fish Lake Valley fault. Where faults of the Eastern California Shear Zone terminate northward into the Mina Deflection, extension rates increase northward along the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone to ~0.7 mm/yr in northern Mono Basin. This spatial pattern suggests that extension is transferred from faults systems to the east (e.g. Fish Lake Valley fault) and localized on the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone as Eastern California Shear Zone-Walker Lane belt faulting is transferred through the Mina Deflection.

Stress sensitivity of fault seismicity: A comparison between limited-offset oblique and major strike-slip faults

USGS Publications Warehouse

Parsons, T.; Stein, R.S.; Simpson, R.W.; Reasenberg, P.A.

1999-01-01

We present a new three-dimensional inventory of the southern San Francisco Bay area faults and use it to calculate stress applied principally by the 1989 M = 7.1 Loma Prieta earthquake and to compare fault seismicity rates before and after 1989. The major high-angle right-lateral faults exhibit a different response to the stress change than do minor oblique (right-lateral/thrust) faults. Seismicity on oblique-slip faults in the southern Santa Clara Valley thrust belt increased where the faults were unclamped. The strong dependence of seismicity change on normal stress change implies a high coefficient of static friction. In contrast, we observe that faults with significant offset (>50-100 km) behave differently; microseismicity on the Hayward fault diminished where right-lateral shear stress was reduced and where it was unclamped by the Loma Prieta earthquake. We observe a similar response on the San Andreas fault zone in southern California after the Landers earthquake sequence. Additionally, the offshore San Gregorio fault shows a seismicity rate increase where right-lateral/oblique shear stress was increased by the Loma Prieta earthquake despite also being clamped by it. These responses are consistent with either a low coefficient of static friction or high pore fluid pressures within the fault zones. We can explain the different behavior of the two styles of faults if those with large cumulative offset become impermeable through gouge buildup; coseismically pressurized pore fluids could be trapped and negate imposed normal stress changes, whereas in more limited offset faults, fluids could rapidly escape. The difference in behavior between minor and major faults may explain why frictional failure criteria that apply intermediate coefficients of static friction can be effective in describing the broad distributions of aftershocks that follow large earthquakes, since many of these events occur both inside and outside major fault zones.

Stability of faults with heterogeneous friction properties and effective normal stress

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Luo, Yingdi; Ampuero, Jean-Paul

2018-05-01

Abundant geological, seismological and experimental evidence of the heterogeneous structure of natural faults motivates the theoretical and computational study of the mechanical behavior of heterogeneous frictional fault interfaces. Fault zones are composed of a mixture of materials with contrasting strength, which may affect the spatial variability of seismic coupling, the location of high-frequency radiation and the diversity of slip behavior observed in natural faults. To develop a quantitative understanding of the effect of strength heterogeneity on the mechanical behavior of faults, here we investigate a fault model with spatially variable frictional properties and pore pressure. Conceptually, this model may correspond to two rough surfaces in contact along discrete asperities, the space in between being filled by compressed gouge. The asperities have different permeability than the gouge matrix and may be hydraulically sealed, resulting in different pore pressure. We consider faults governed by rate-and-state friction, with mixtures of velocity-weakening and velocity-strengthening materials and contrasts of effective normal stress. We systematically study the diversity of slip behaviors generated by this model through multi-cycle simulations and linear stability analysis. The fault can be either stable without spontaneous slip transients, or unstable with spontaneous rupture. When the fault is unstable, slip can rupture either part or the entire fault. In some cases the fault alternates between these behaviors throughout multiple cycles. We determine how the fault behavior is controlled by the proportion of velocity-weakening and velocity-strengthening materials, their relative strength and other frictional properties. We also develop, through heuristic approximations, closed-form equations to predict the stability of slip on heterogeneous faults. Our study shows that a fault model with heterogeneous materials and pore pressure contrasts is a viable framework to reproduce the full spectrum of fault behaviors observed in natural faults: from fast earthquakes, to slow transients, to stable sliding. In particular, this model constitutes a building block for models of episodic tremor and slow slip events.

A dense, intersecting array of normal faults on the outer shelf off Southern Costa Rica, associated with subducting Quepos ridge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Silver, E. A.; Kluesner, J. W.; Gibson, J. C.; Bangs, N. L.; McIntosh, K. D.; von Huene, R.; Orange, D.; Ranero, C. R.

2012-12-01

Use of narrow, fixed swath multibeam data with high sounding densities has allowed order of magnitude improvement in image resolution with EM122 multibeam and backscatter data, as part of a 3D seismic study west of the Osa Peninsula. On the outer shelf, along the projection of the subducting Quepos Ridge, we mapped a dense array of faults cutting an arcuate, well-layered set of outcropping beds in the backscatter imagery (mosaicked at 2 m), with roughly N-S and E-W trends. The N-S trends dominate, and show inconsistent offsets, implying that the faults are normal and not strike-slip. The faults also show normal displacement in the 3D seismic data, consistent with the surface interpretation. The outcropping beds (of late Pleistocene age, based on Expedition 334 drilling), may have been truncated during the late Pleistocene low sea-level stand. The outermost shelf (edged by arcuate bathymetric contours) does not show these folded beds, as it was below wave base and buried by a thin sediment layer. However, narrow lines of small pockmarks and mounds follow the fault trends exactly, indicating that fluid flow through the faults is expressed at the surface, including a gas plume that extends to the sea-surface. The almost unprecedented increase in resolution of the EM122 data allows us to infer that the N-S, E-W grid of faults overlying the NE-trending Quepos Ridge projection (and NE directed subduction) formed by extensional arching above the ridge, not by collisional slip lines at a rigid indenter (as proposed earlier based on sandbox models). The extensional fault pattern also facilitates fluid and gas flow through the sedimentary section.

In-situ stress and fracture permeability in a fault-hosted geothermal reservoir at Dixie Valley, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hickman, Stephen; Barton, Colleen; Zoback, Mark; Morin, Roger; Sass, John; Benoit, Richard; ,

1997-01-01

As part of a study relating fractured rock hydrology to in-situ stress and recent deformation within the Dixie Valley Geothermal Field, borehole televiewer logging and hydraulic fracturing stress measurements were conducted in a 2.7-km-deep geothermal production well (73B-7) drilled into the Stillwater fault zone. Borehole televiewer logs from well 73B-7 show numerous drilling-induced tensile fractures, indicating that the direction of the minimum horizontal principal stress, Shmin, is S57 ??E. As the Stillwater fault at this location dips S50 ??E at approximately 3??, it is nearly at the optimal orientation for normal faulting in the current stress field. Analysis of the hydraulic fracturing data shows that the magnitude of Shmin is 24.1 and 25.9 MPa at 1.7 and 2.5 km, respectively. In addition, analysis of a hydraulic fracturing test from a shallow well 1.5 km northeast of 73B-7 indicates that the magnitude of Shmin is 5.6 MPa at 0.4 km depth. Coulomb failure analysis shows that the magnitude of Shmin in these wells is close to that predicted for incipient normal faulting on the Stillwater and subparallel faults, using coefficients of friction of 0.6-1.0 and estimates of the in-situ fluid pressure and overburden stress. Spinner flowmeter and temperature logs were also acquired in well 73B-7 and were used to identify hydraulically conductive fractures. Comparison of these stress and hydrologic data with fracture orientations from the televiewer log indicates that hydraulically conductive fractures within and adjacent to the Stillwater fault zone are critically stressed, potentially active normal faults in the current west-northwest extensional stress regime at Dixie Valley.

From experiment to design -- Fault characterization and detection in parallel computer systems using computational accelerators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yim, Keun Soo

This dissertation summarizes experimental validation and co-design studies conducted to optimize the fault detection capabilities and overheads in hybrid computer systems (e.g., using CPUs and Graphics Processing Units, or GPUs), and consequently to improve the scalability of parallel computer systems using computational accelerators. The experimental validation studies were conducted to help us understand the failure characteristics of CPU-GPU hybrid computer systems under various types of hardware faults. The main characterization targets were faults that are difficult to detect and/or recover from, e.g., faults that cause long latency failures (Ch. 3), faults in dynamically allocated resources (Ch. 4), faults in GPUs (Ch. 5), faults in MPI programs (Ch. 6), and microarchitecture-level faults with specific timing features (Ch. 7). The co-design studies were based on the characterization results. One of the co-designed systems has a set of source-to-source translators that customize and strategically place error detectors in the source code of target GPU programs (Ch. 5). Another co-designed system uses an extension card to learn the normal behavioral and semantic execution patterns of message-passing processes executing on CPUs, and to detect abnormal behaviors of those parallel processes (Ch. 6). The third co-designed system is a co-processor that has a set of new instructions in order to support software-implemented fault detection techniques (Ch. 7). The work described in this dissertation gains more importance because heterogeneous processors have become an essential component of state-of-the-art supercomputers. GPUs were used in three of the five fastest supercomputers that were operating in 2011. Our work included comprehensive fault characterization studies in CPU-GPU hybrid computers. In CPUs, we monitored the target systems for a long period of time after injecting faults (a temporally comprehensive experiment), and injected faults into various types of program states that included dynamically allocated memory (to be spatially comprehensive). In GPUs, we used fault injection studies to demonstrate the importance of detecting silent data corruption (SDC) errors that are mainly due to the lack of fine-grained protections and the massive use of fault-insensitive data. This dissertation also presents transparent fault tolerance frameworks and techniques that are directly applicable to hybrid computers built using only commercial off-the-shelf hardware components. This dissertation shows that by developing understanding of the failure characteristics and error propagation paths of target programs, we were able to create fault tolerance frameworks and techniques that can quickly detect and recover from hardware faults with low performance and hardware overheads.

Noise Threshold and Resource Cost of Fault-Tolerant Quantum Computing with Majorana Fermions in Hybrid Systems.

PubMed

Li, Ying

2016-09-16

Fault-tolerant quantum computing in systems composed of both Majorana fermions and topologically unprotected quantum systems, e.g., superconducting circuits or quantum dots, is studied in this Letter. Errors caused by topologically unprotected quantum systems need to be corrected with error-correction schemes, for instance, the surface code. We find that the error-correction performance of such a hybrid topological quantum computer is not superior to a normal quantum computer unless the topological charge of Majorana fermions is insusceptible to noise. If errors changing the topological charge are rare, the fault-tolerance threshold is much higher than the threshold of a normal quantum computer and a surface-code logical qubit could be encoded in only tens of topological qubits instead of about 1,000 normal qubits.

3D Model of the Neal Hot Springs Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

The Neal Hot Springs geothermal system lies in a left-step in a north-striking, west-dipping normal fault system, consisting of the Neal Fault to the south and the Sugarloaf Butte Fault to the north (Edwards, 2013). The Neal Hot Springs 3D geologic model consists of 104 faults and 13 stratigraphic units. The stratigraphy is sub-horizontal to dipping <10 degrees and there is no predominant dip-direction. Geothermal production is exclusively from the Neal Fault south of, and within the step-over, while geothermal injection is into both the Neal Fault to the south of the step-over and faults within the step-over.

Autonomous Propulsion System Technology Being Developed to Optimize Engine Performance Throughout the Lifecycle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Litt, Jonathan S.

2004-01-01

The goal of the Autonomous Propulsion System Technology (APST) project is to reduce pilot workload under both normal and anomalous conditions. Ongoing work under APST develops and leverages technologies that provide autonomous engine monitoring, diagnosing, and controller adaptation functions, resulting in an integrated suite of algorithms that maintain the propulsion system's performance and safety throughout its life. Engine-to-engine performance variation occurs among new engines because of manufacturing tolerances and assembly practices. As an engine wears, the performance changes as operability limits are reached. In addition to these normal phenomena, other unanticipated events such as sensor failures, bird ingestion, or component faults may occur, affecting pilot workload as well as compromising safety. APST will adapt the controller as necessary to achieve optimal performance for a normal aging engine, and the safety net of APST algorithms will examine and interpret data from a variety of onboard sources to detect, isolate, and if possible, accommodate faults. Situations that cannot be accommodated within the faulted engine itself will be referred to a higher level vehicle management system. This system will have the authority to redistribute the faulted engine's functionality among other engines, or to replan the mission based on this new engine health information. Work is currently underway in the areas of adaptive control to compensate for engine degradation due to aging, data fusion for diagnostics and prognostics of specific sensor and component faults, and foreign object ingestion detection. In addition, a framework is being defined for integrating all the components of APST into a unified system. A multivariable, adaptive, multimode control algorithm has been developed that accommodates degradation-induced thrust disturbances during throttle transients. The baseline controller of the engine model currently being investigated has multiple control modes that are selected according to some performance or operational criteria. As the engine degrades, parameters shift from their nominal values. Thus, when a new control mode is swapped in, a variable that is being brought under control might have an excessive initial error. The new adaptive algorithm adjusts the controller gains on the basis of the level of degradation to minimize the disruptive influence of the large error on other variables and to recover the desired thrust response.

Active and long-lived permanent forearc deformation driven by the subduction seismic cycle

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Aron Melo, Felipe Alejandro

I have used geological, geophysical and engineering methods to explore mechanisms of upper plate, brittle deformation at active forearc regions. My dissertation particularly addresses the permanent deformation style experienced by the forearc following great subduction ruptures, such as the 2010 M w8.8 Maule, Chile and 2011 Mw9.0 Tohoku, Japan earthquakes. These events triggered large, shallow seismicity on upper plate normal faults above the rupture reaching Mw7.0. First I present new structural data from the Chilean Coastal Cordillera over the rupture zone of the Maule earthquake. The study area contains the Pichilemu normal fault, which produced the large crustal aftershocks of the megathrust event. Normal faults are the major neotectonic structural elements but reverse faults also exist. Crustal seismicity and GPS surface displacements show that the forearc experiences pulses of rapid coseismic extension, parallel to the heave of the megathrust, and slow interseismic, convergence-parallel shortening. These cycles, over geologic time, build the forearc structural grain, reactivating structures properly-oriented respect to the deformation field of each stage of the interplate cycle. Great subduction events may play a fundamental role in constructing the crustal architecture of extensional forearc regions. Static mechanical models of coseismic and interseismic upper plate deformation are used to explore for distinct features that could result from brittle fracturing over the two stages of the interplate cycle. I show that the semi-elliptical outline of the first-order normal faults along the Coastal Cordillera may define the location of a characteristic, long-lived megathrust segment. Finally, using data from the Global CMT catalog I analyzed the seismic behavior through time of forearc regions that have experienced great subduction ruptures >Mw7.7 worldwide. Between 61% and 83% of the cases where upper plate earthquakes exhibited periods of increased seismicity above background levels occurred contemporaneous to megathrust ruptures. That correlation is stronger for normal fault events than reverse or strike-slip crustal earthquakes. More importantly, for any given megathrust the summation of the Mw accounted by the forearc normal fault aftershocks appears to have a positive linear correlation with the Mw of the subduction earthquake -- the larger the megathrust the larger the energy released by forearc events.

Late Oligocene to present contractional structure in and around the Susitna basin, Alaska—Geophysical evidence and geological implications

USGS Publications Warehouse

Saltus, Richard W.; Stanley, Richard G.; Haeussler, Peter J.; Jones, James V.; Potter, Christopher J.; Lewis, Kristen A.

2016-01-01

The Cenozoic Susitna basin lies within an enigmatic lowland surrounded by the Central Alaska Range, Western Alaska Range (including the Tordrillo Mountains), and Talkeetna Mountains in south-central Alaska. Some previous interpretations show normal faults as the defining structures of the basin (e.g., Kirschner, 1994). However, analysis of new and existing geophysical data shows predominantly (Late Oligocene to present) thrust and reverse fault geometries in the region, as previously proposed by Hackett (1978). A key example is the Beluga Mountain fault where a 50-mGal gravity gradient, caused by the density transition from the igneous bedrock of Beluga Mountain to the >4-km-thick Cenozoic sedimentary section of Susitna basin, spans a horizontal distance of ∼40 km and straddles the topographic front. The location and shape of the gravity gradient preclude a normal fault geometry; instead, it is best explained by a southwest-dipping thrust fault, with its leading edge located several kilometers to the northeast of the mountain front, concealed beneath the shallow glacial and fluvial cover deposits. Similar contractional fault relationships are observed for other basin-bounding and regional faults as well. Contractional structures are consistent with a regional shortening strain field inferred from differential offsets on the Denali and Castle Mountain right-lateral strike-slip fault systems.

Geology and structure of the North Boqueron Bay-Punta Montalva Fault System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roig Silva, Coral Marie

The North Boqueron Bay-Punta Montalva Fault Zone is an active fault system that cuts across the Lajas Valley in southwestern Puerto Rico. The fault zone has been recognized and mapped based upon detailed analysis of geophysical data, satellite images and field mapping. The fault zone consists of a series of Cretaceous bedrock faults that reactivated and deformed Miocene limestone and Quaternary alluvial fan sediments. The fault zone is seismically active (ML < 5.0) with numerous locally felt earthquakes. Focal mechanism solutions and structural field data suggest strain partitioning with predominantly east-west left-lateral displacements with small normal faults oriented mostly toward the northeast. Evidence for recent displacement consists of fractures and small normal faults oriented mostly northeast found in intermittent streams that cut through the Quaternary alluvial fan deposits along the southern margin of the Lajas Valley, Areas of preferred erosion, within the alluvial fan, trend toward the west-northwest parallel to the on-land projection of the North Boqueron Bay Fault. Beyond the faulted alluvial fan and southeast of the Lajas Valley, the Northern Boqueron Bay Fault joins with the Punta Montalva Fault. The Punta Montalva Fault is defined by a strong topographic WNW lineament along which stream channels are displaced left laterally 200 meters and Miocene strata are steeply tilted to the south. Along the western end of the fault zone in northern Boqueron Bay, the older strata are only tilted 3° south and are covered by flat lying Holocene sediments. Focal mechanisms solutions along the western end suggest NW-SE shortening, which is inconsistent with left lateral strain partitioning along the fault zone. The limited deformation of older strata and inconsistent strain partitioning may be explained by a westerly propagation of the fault system from the southwest end. The limited geomorphic structural expression along the North Boqueron Bay Fault segment could also be because most of the displacement along the fault zone is older than the Holocene and that the rate of displacement is low, such that the development of fault escarpments and deformation all along the fault zone has yet to occur.

Evolution of the Median Tectonic Line fault zone, SW Japan, during exhumation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shigematsu, Norio; Kametaka, Masao; Inada, Noriyuki; Miyawaki, Masahiro; Miyakawa, Ayumu; Kameda, Jun; Togo, Tetsuhiro; Fujimoto, Koichiro

2017-01-01

Like many crustal-scale fault zones, the Median Tectonic Line (MTL) fault zone in Japan preserves fault rocks that formed across a broad range of physical conditions. We examined the architecture of the MTL at a large new outcrop in order to understand fault behaviours under different crustal levels. The MTL here strikes almost E-W, dips to the north, and juxtaposes the Sanbagawa metamorphic rocks to the south against the Izumi Group sediments to the north. The fault core consists mainly of Sanbagawa-derived fault gouges. The fault zone can be divided into several structural units, including two slip zones (upper and lower slip zones), where the lower slip zone is more conspicuous. Crosscutting relationships among structures and kinematics indicate that the fault zone records four stages of deformation. Microstructures and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicate that the four stages of deformation occurred under different temperature conditions. The oldest deformation (stage 1) was widely distributed, and had a top-to-the-east (dextral) sense of slip at deep levels of the seismogenic zone. Deformation with the same sense of slip, then became localised in the lower slip zone (stage 2). Subsequently, the slip direction in the lower slip zone changed to top-to-the-west (sinistral-normal) (stage 3). The final stage of deformation (stage 4) involved top-to-the-north normal faulting along the two slip zones within the shallow crust (near the surface). The widely distributed stage 1 damage zone characterises the deeper part of the seismogenic zone, while the sets of localised principal slip zones and branching faults of stage 4 characterise shallow depths. The fault zone architecture described in this paper leads us to suggest that fault zones display different behaviours at different crustal levels.

Decentralized Sliding Mode Observer Based Dual Closed-Loop Fault Tolerant Control for Reconfigurable Manipulator against Actuator Failure.

PubMed

Zhao, Bo; Li, Chenghao; Liu, Derong; Li, Yuanchun

2015-01-01

This paper considers a decentralized fault tolerant control (DFTC) scheme for reconfigurable manipulators. With the appearance of norm-bounded failure, a dual closed-loop trajectory tracking control algorithm is proposed on the basis of the Lyapunov stability theory. Characterized by the modularization property, the actuator failure is estimated by the proposed decentralized sliding mode observer (DSMO). Moreover, the actuator failure can be treated in view of the local joint information, so its control performance degradation is independent of other normal joints. In addition, the presented DFTC scheme is significantly simplified in terms of the structure of the controller due to its dual closed-loop architecture, and its feasibility is highly reflected in the control of reconfigurable manipulators. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed DFTC scheme is demonstrated using simulations.

Decentralized Sliding Mode Observer Based Dual Closed-Loop Fault Tolerant Control for Reconfigurable Manipulator against Actuator Failure

PubMed Central

Zhao, Bo; Li, Yuanchun

2015-01-01

This paper considers a decentralized fault tolerant control (DFTC) scheme for reconfigurable manipulators. With the appearance of norm-bounded failure, a dual closed-loop trajectory tracking control algorithm is proposed on the basis of the Lyapunov stability theory. Characterized by the modularization property, the actuator failure is estimated by the proposed decentralized sliding mode observer (DSMO). Moreover, the actuator failure can be treated in view of the local joint information, so its control performance degradation is independent of other normal joints. In addition, the presented DFTC scheme is significantly simplified in terms of the structure of the controller due to its dual closed-loop architecture, and its feasibility is highly reflected in the control of reconfigurable manipulators. Finally, the effectiveness of the proposed DFTC scheme is demonstrated using simulations. PMID:26181826

Error recovery in shared memory multiprocessors using private caches

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wu, Kun-Lung; Fuchs, W. Kent; Patel, Janak H.

1990-01-01

The problem of recovering from processor transient faults in shared memory multiprocesses systems is examined. A user-transparent checkpointing and recovery scheme using private caches is presented. Processes can recover from errors due to faulty processors by restarting from the checkpointed computation state. Implementation techniques using checkpoint identifiers and recovery stacks are examined as a means of reducing performance degradation in processor utilization during normal execution. This cache-based checkpointing technique prevents rollback propagation, provides rapid recovery, and can be integrated into standard cache coherence protocols. An analytical model is used to estimate the relative performance of the scheme during normal execution. Extensions to take error latency into account are presented.

Crystal plastic earthquakes in dolostones

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Passelegue, Francois; Aubry, Jerome; Nicolas, Aurelien; Fondriest, Michele; Schubnel, Alexandre; Di Toro, Giulio

2017-04-01

Dolostone is the most dominant lithology of the seismogenic upper crust around the Mediterranean Sea. Understanding the internal mechanisms controlling fault friction is crucial for understanding seismicity along active faults. Displacement in such fault zones is frequently highlighted by highly reflective (mirror-like) slip surfaces, created by thin films of nanogranular fault rock. Using saw-cut dolostone samples coming from natural fault zones, we conducted friction experiments under triaxial loading conditions. To reproduce the natural conditions, experiments were conducted at 30, 60 and 90 MPa confining pressure at respectively 30, 65 and 100 degrees C. At 30 and 65 degrees C, only slow rupture was observed and the experimental fault exhibits frictional behaviour, i.e. a dependence of normal stress on peak shear stress. At 65 degrees C, a strengthening behaviour is observed after the main rupture, leading to a succession of slow rupture. At 100 degrees C, the macroscopic behaviour of the fault becomes ductile, and no dependence of pressure on the peak shear stress is observed. In addition, the increase of the confining pressure up to 60 and 90 MPa allow the transition from slow to fast rupture, highlighted by the records of acoustic activity and by dynamic stress drop occurring in a few tens of microseconds. Using strain gages located along the fault surface and acoustic transducers, we were able to measure the rupture velocities during slow and fast rupture. Slow ruptures propagated around 0.1 m/s, in agreement with natural observations. Fast ruptures propagated up the supershear velocities, i.e. faster than the shear wave speed (>3500 m/s). A complete study of the microstructures was realized before and after ruptures. Slow ruptures lead to the production of mirror-like surface driven by the production of nanograins due to dislocation processes. Fast ruptures induce the production of amorphous material along the fault surface, which may come from melting processes. We demonstrate that the transition from slow to dynamic instabilities is observed when the entire fault exhibits plastic processes, which increase the stiffness of the fault.

Geologic and structural controls on rupture zone fabric: A field-based study of the 2010 Mw 7.2 El Mayor–Cucapah earthquake surface rupture

USGS Publications Warehouse

Teran, Orlando; Fletcher, John L.; Oskin, Michael; Rockwell, Thomas; Hudnut, Kenneth W.; Spelz, Ronald; Akciz, Sinan; Hernandez-Flores, Ana Paula; Morelan, Alexander

2015-01-01

We systematically mapped (scales >1:500) the surface rupture of the 4 April 2010 Mw (moment magnitude) 7.2 El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake through the Sierra Cucapah (Baja California, northwestern Mexico) to understand how faults with similar structural and lithologic characteristics control rupture zone fabric, which is here defined by the thickness, distribution, and internal configuration of shearing in a rupture zone. Fault zone thickness and master fault dip are strongly correlated with many parameters of rupture zone fabric. Wider fault zones produce progressively wider rupture zones and both of these parameters increase systematically with decreasing dip of master faults, which varies from 20° to 90° in our dataset. Principal scarps that accommodate more than 90% of the total coseismic slip in a given transect are only observed in fault sections with narrow rupture zones (<25 m). As rupture zone thickness increases, the number of scarps in a given transect increases, and the scarp with the greatest relative amount of coseismic slip decreases. Rupture zones in previously undeformed alluvium become wider and have more complex arrangements of secondary fractures with oblique slip compared to those with pure normal dip-slip or pure strike-slip. Field relations and lidar (light detection and ranging) difference models show that as magnitude of coseismic slip increases from 0 to 60 cm, the links between kinematically distinct fracture sets increase systematically to the point of forming a throughgoing principal scarp. Our data indicate that secondary faults and penetrative off-fault strain continue to accommodate the oblique kinematics of coseismic slip after the formation of a thoroughgoing principal scarp. Among the widest rupture zones in the Sierra Cucapah are those developed above buried low angle faults due to the transfer of slip to widely distributed steeper faults, which are mechanically more favorably oriented. The results from this study show that the measureable parameters that define rupture zone fabric allow for testing hypotheses concerning the mechanics and propagation of earthquake ruptures, as well as for siting and designing facilities to be constructed in regions near active faults.

A new confined high pressure rotary shear apparatus: preliminary results

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Faulkner, D.; Coughlan, G.; Bedford, J. D.

2017-12-01

The frictional properties of fault zone materials, and their evolution during slip, are of paramount importance for determining the earthquake mechanics of large tectonic faults. Friction is a parameter that is difficult to determine from seismological methods so much of our understanding comes from experiment. Rotary shear apparatuses have been widely used in experimental studies to elucidate the frictional properties of faults under realistic earthquake slip velocities (0.1-10 m/s) and displacements (>20 m). However one technical limitation of rotary shear experiments at seismic slip rates has been the lack of confinement. This has led to a limit on the normal stress (due to the strength of the forcing blocks) and also a lack of control of measurements of the pore fluid pressure. Here we present the first preliminary results from a rotary shear apparatus that has been developed to attempt to address this issue. The new fully confined ring shear apparatus has a fast-acting servo-hydraulic confining pressure system of up to 200 MPa and a servo-controlled upstream and downstream pore pressure system of up to 200 MPa. Displacement rates of 0.01μ/s to 2 m/s can be achieved. Fault gouge samples can therefore be sheared at earthquake speed whilst being subject to pressures typically associated with the depth of earthquake nucleation.

Morphology of Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau from high resolution bathymetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Jinchang; Sager, William W.; Durkin, William J.

2017-06-01

Newly collected, high resolution multi-beam sonar data are combined with previous bathymetry data to produce an improved bathymetric map of Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau. Bathymetry data show that two massifs within Shatsky Rise are immense central volcanoes with gentle flank slopes declining from a central summit. Tamu Massif is a slightly elongated, dome-like volcanic edifice; Ori Massif is square shaped and smaller in area. Several down-to-basin normal faults are observed on the western flank of the massifs but they do not parallel the magnetic lineations, indicating that these faults are probably not related to spreading ridge faulting. Moreover, the faults are observed only on one side of the massifs, which is contrary to expectations from a mechanism of differential subsidence around the massif center. Multi-beam data show many small secondary cones with different shapes and sizes that are widely-distributed on Shatsky Rise massifs, which imply small late-stage magma sources scattered across the surface of the volcanoes in the form of lava flows or explosive volcanism. Erosional channels occur on the flanks of Shatsky Rise volcanoes due to mass wasting and display evidence of down-slope sediment movement. These channels are likely formed by sediments spalling off the edges of summit sediment cap.

Fault Diagnosis of Internal Combustion Engine Valve Clearance Using the Impact Commencement Detection Method

PubMed Central

Jiang, Zhinong; Wang, Zijia; Zhang, Jinjie

2017-01-01

Internal combustion engines (ICEs) are widely used in many important fields. The valve train clearance of an ICE usually exceeds the normal value due to wear or faulty adjustment. This work aims at diagnosing the valve clearance fault based on the vibration signals measured on the engine cylinder heads. The non-stationarity of the ICE operating condition makes it difficult to obtain the nominal baseline, which is always an awkward problem for fault diagnosis. This paper overcomes the problem by inspecting the timing of valve closing impacts, of which the referenced baseline can be obtained by referencing design parameters rather than extraction during healthy conditions. To accurately detect the timing of valve closing impact from vibration signals, we carry out a new method to detect and extract the commencement of the impacts. The results of experiments conducted on a twelve-cylinder ICE test rig show that the approach is capable of extracting the commencement of valve closing impact accurately and using only one feature can give a superior monitoring of valve clearance. With the help of this technique, the valve clearance fault becomes detectable even without the comparison to the baseline, and the changing trend of the clearance could be trackable. PMID:29244722

Geomorphic evidence of Quaternary tectonics within an underlap fault zone of southern Apennines, Italy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giano, Salvatore Ivo; Pescatore, Eva; Agosta, Fabrizio; Prosser, Giacomo

2018-02-01

A composite seismic source, the Irpinia - Agri Valley Fault zone, located in the axial sector of the fold-and-thrust belt of southern Apennines, Italy, is investigated. This composite source is made up of a series of nearly parallel, NW-striking normal fault segments which caused many historical earthquakes. Two of these fault segments, known as the San Gregorio Magno and Pergola-Melandro, and the fault-related mountain fronts, form a wedge-shaped, right-stepping, underlap fault zone. This work is aimed at documenting tectonic geomorphology and geology of this underlap fault zone. The goal is to decipher the evidence of surface topographic interaction between two bounding fault segments and their related mountain fronts. In particular, computation of geomorphic indices such as mountain front sinuosity (Smf), water divide sinuosity (Swd), asymmetry factor (AF), drainage basin elongation (Bs), relief ratio (Rh), Hypsometry (HI), normalized steepness (Ksn), and concavity (θ) is integrated with geomorphological analysis, the geological mapping, and structural analysis in order to assess the recent activity of the fault scarp sets recognized within the underlap zone. Results are consistent with the NW-striking faults as those showing the most recent tectonic activity, as also suggested by presence of related slope deposits younger than 38 ka. The results of this work therefore show how the integration of a multidisciplinary approach that combines geomorphology, morphometry, and structural analyses may be key to solving tectonic geomorphology issues in a complex, fold-and-thrust belt configuration.

Late Cenozoic extensional faulting in Central-Western Peloponnesus, Greece

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skourtsos, E.; Fountoulis, I.; Mavroulis, S.; Kranis, H.

2012-04-01

A series of forearc-dipping, orogen-parallel extensional faults are found in the central-western Peloponnesus, (south-western Aegean) which control the western margin of Mt Mainalon. The latter comprises HP/LT rocks of the Phyllites-Quartzites Unit (PQ), overlain by the carbonates and flysch of the Tripolis Unit while the uppermost nappe is the Pindos Unit, a sequence of Mesozoic pelagic sequence, topped by a Paleocene flysch. Most of the extensional structures were previously thought of as the original thrust between the Pindos and Tripolis Units. However, the cross-cutting relationships among these structures indicate that these are forearc (SW-dipping) extensional faults, downthrowing the Pindos thrust by a few tens or hundreds of meters each, rooting onto different levels of the nappe pile. In SW Mainalon the lowermost of the extensional faults is a low-angle normal fault dipping SW juxtaposing the metamorphic rocks of the PQ Unit against the non-metamorphic sequence of the Tripolis Unit. High-angle normal faults, found further to the west, have truncated or even sole onto the low-angle ones and control the eastern margin of the Quaternary Megalopolis basin. All these extensional structures form the eastern boundary of a series of Neogene-Quaternary tectonic depressions, which in turn are separated by E-W horsts. In the NW, these faults are truncated by NE to NNE-striking, NW-dipping faults, which relay the whole fault activity to the eastern margin of the Pyrgos graben. The whole extensional fault architecture has resulted (i) in the Pindos thrust stepping down from altitudes higher than 1000 m in Mainalon in the east, to negative heights in North Messinia and Southern Ilia in the west; and (ii) the gradual disappearance of the Phyllite-Quartzite metamorphics of Mainalon towards the west. The combination of these extensional faults (which may reach down to the Ionian décollement) with the low-angle floor thrusts of the Pindos, Tripolis and Ionian Units leads to additional ENE-WSW shortening, normal to the Hellenic Arc, west of the Peloponnesus.

Magnetic Fabric Associated with Faulting of Poorly Consolidated Basin Sediments of the Rio Grande Rift, New Mexico, USA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hudson, M. R.; Minor, S. A.; Caine, J. S.

2015-12-01

Permanent strain in sediments associated with shallow fault zones can be difficult to characterize. Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data were obtained from 120 samples at 6 sites to assess the nature of fault-related AMS fabrics for 4 faults cutting Miocene-Pliocene basin fill sediments of the Rio Grande rift of north-central New Mexico. The San Ysidro (3 sites), Sand Hill, and West Paradise faults within the northern Albuquerque basin have normal offset whereas an unnamed fault near Buckman in the western Española basin has oblique strike-slip offset. Previous studies have shown that detrital magnetite controls magnetic susceptibility in rift sandstones, and in a 50-m-long hanging wall traverse of the San Ysidro fault, non-gouge samples have typical sedimentary AMS fabrics with Kmax and Kint axes (defining magnetic foliation) scattered within bedding. For the 5 normal-fault sites, samples from fault cores or adjacent mixed zones that lie within 1 m of the principal slip surface developed common deformation fabrics with (1) magnetic foliation inclined in the same azimuth but more shallowly dipping than the fault plane, and (2) magnetic lineation plunging down foliation dip with nearly the same trend as the fault striae, although nearer for sand versus clay gouge samples. These relations suggest that the sampled fault materials deformed by particulate flow with alignment of magnetite grains in the plane of maximum shortening. For a 2-m-long traverse at the Buckman site, horizontal sedimentary AMS foliation persists to < 15 cm to the fault slip surface, wherein foliation in sand and clay gouge rotates toward the steeply dipping fault plane in a sense consistent with sinistral offset. Collectively these data suggest permanent deformation fabrics were localized within < 1 m of fault surfaces and that AMS fabrics from gouge samples can provide kinematic information for faults in unconsolidated sediments which may lack associated slickenlines.

Using the salt tectonics as a proxy to reveal post-rift active crustal tectonics: The example of the Eastern Sardinian margin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lymer, Gaël; Vendeville, Bruno; Gaullier, Virginie; Chanier, Frank; Gaillard, Morgane

2017-04-01

The Western Tyrrhenian Basin, Mediterranean Sea, is a fascinating basin in terms of interactions between crustal tectonics, salt tectonics and sedimentation. The METYSS (Messinian Event in the Tyrrhenian from Seismic Study) project is based on 2100 km of HR seismic data acquired in 2009 and 2011 along the Eastern Sardinian margin. The main aim is to study the Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC) in the Western Tyrrhenian Basin, but we also investigate the thinning processes of the continental crust and the timing of crustal vertical motions across this complex domain. Our first results allowed us to map the MSC seismic markers and to better constrain the timing of the rifting, which ended before the MSC across the upper and middle parts of the margin. We also evidenced that crustal activity persisted long after the end of rifting. This has been particularly observed on the upper margin, where several normal faults and a surprising compressional structure were recently active. In this study we investigate the middle margin, the Cornaglia Terrace, where the Mobile Unit (MU, mobile Messinian salt) accumulated during the MSC and acts as a décollement. Our goal is to ascertain whether or not crustal tectonics existed after the pre-MSC rift. This is a challenge where the MU is thick, because potential basement deformations could be first accommodated by the MU and therefore would not find any expression in the supra-salt layers (Upper Unit, UU and Plio-Quaternary, PQ). However our investigations clearly reveal interactions between crustal and salt tectonics along the margin. We thus evidence gravity gliding of the salt and its brittle sedimentary cover along basement slopes generated by the post-MSC tilting of some basement blocks bounded by crustal normal faults, formerly due to the rifting. Another intriguing structure also got our interest. It corresponds to a wedge-shaped of MU located in a narrow N-S half graben bounded to the west by a major, east-verging, crustal normal fault. Below the MU, the sediments thicken toward the fault. The top of the MU is sub-horizontal and the supra-salt layers are sub-horizontal. At a first glance this geometry would suggest that the pre-salt unit and the MU are syn-tectonic and that nothing happened after Messinian times. However some subtle evidence of deformations in the UU and PQ (an anticline to the west and a small west-verging normal fault in the east) imply that some crustal tectonics activity persisted after the end of the rifting. To understand why the salt unit is wedge-shaped, we considered several scenarii that we tested with physical modelling. We demonstrate that this structure is related to the post-rift activity of the major crustal normal fault, whose vertical motion has been cushioned by lateral flow of an initially tabular salt layer, which thinned upslope and inflated downslope, keeping the overlying sediments remained sub-horizontal. Such interactions between thin-skinned and thick-skinned tectonics highlight how the analysis of the salt tectonics is a powerful tool to reveal recent deep crustal tectonics in the Western Mediterranean Basin.

Improving the performance of univariate control charts for abnormal detection and classification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yiakopoulos, Christos; Koutsoudaki, Maria; Gryllias, Konstantinos; Antoniadis, Ioannis

2017-03-01

Bearing failures in rotating machinery can cause machine breakdown and economical loss, if no effective actions are taken on time. Therefore, it is of prime importance to detect accurately the presence of faults, especially at their early stage, to prevent sequent damage and reduce costly downtime. The machinery fault diagnosis follows a roadmap of data acquisition, feature extraction and diagnostic decision making, in which mechanical vibration fault feature extraction is the foundation and the key to obtain an accurate diagnostic result. A challenge in this area is the selection of the most sensitive features for various types of fault, especially when the characteristics of failures are difficult to be extracted. Thus, a plethora of complex data-driven fault diagnosis methods are fed by prominent features, which are extracted and reduced through traditional or modern algorithms. Since most of the available datasets are captured during normal operating conditions, the last decade a number of novelty detection methods, able to work when only normal data are available, have been developed. In this study, a hybrid method combining univariate control charts and a feature extraction scheme is introduced focusing towards an abnormal change detection and classification, under the assumption that measurements under normal operating conditions of the machinery are available. The feature extraction method integrates the morphological operators and the Morlet wavelets. The effectiveness of the proposed methodology is validated on two different experimental cases with bearing faults, demonstrating that the proposed approach can improve the fault detection and classification performance of conventional control charts.

Coulomb Stress Change and Seismic Hazard of Rift Zones in Southern Tibet after the 2015 Mw7.8 Nepal Earthquake and Its Mw7.3 Aftershock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dai, Z.; Zha, X.; Lu, Z.

2015-12-01

In southern Tibet (30~34N, 80~95E), many north-trending rifts, such as Yadong-Gulu and Lunggar rifts, are characterized by internally drained graben or half-graben basins bounded by active normal faults. Some developed rifts have become a portion of important transportation lines in Tibet, China. Since 1976, eighty-seven >Mw5.0 earthquakes have happened in the rift regions, and fifty-five events have normal faulting focal mechanisms according to the GCMT catalog. These rifts and normal faults are associated with both the EW-trending extension of the southern Tibet and the convergence between Indian and Tibet. The 2015 Mw7.8 Nepal great earthquake and its Mw7.3 aftershock occurred at the main Himalayan Thrust zone and caused tremendous damages in Kathmandu region. Those earthquakes will lead to significant viscoelastic deformation and stress changes in the southern Tibet in the future. To evaluate the seismic hazard in the active rift regions in southern Tibet, we modeled the slip distribution of the 2015 Nepal great earthquakes using the InSAR displacement field from the ALOS-2 satellite SAR data, and calculated the Coulomb failure stress (CFS) on these active normal faults in the rift zones. Because the estimated CFS depends on the geometrical parameters of receiver faults, it is necessary to get the accurate fault parameters in the rift zones. Some historical earthquakes have been studied using the field data, teleseismic data and InSAR observations, but results are in not agreement with each other. In this study, we revaluated the geometrical parameters of seismogenic faults occurred in the rift zones using some high-quality coseismic InSAR observations and teleseismic body-wave data. Finally, we will evaluate the seismic hazard in the rift zones according to the value of the estimated CFS and aftershock distribution.

Fernandina caldera collapse morphology in geometric and dynamic comparison to sandbox models, subsidence sinks over nuclear-explosion cavities, and some other calderas

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Howard, K. A.

2009-12-01

The 1968 collapse structure of Fernandina caldera (1.5 km3 collapsed) and also the smaller Darwin Bay caldera in Galápagos each closely resembles morphologically the structural zoning of features found in depressions collapsed into nuclear-explosion cavities (“sinks” of Houser, 1969) and in coherent sandbox-collapse models. Coherent collapses characterized by faulting, folding, and organized structure contrast with spalled pit craters (and lab experiments with collapsed powder) where disorganized piles of floor rubble result from tensile failure of the roof. Subsidence in coherent mode, whether in weak sand in the lab, stronger desert alluvium for nuclear-test sinks, or in hard rock for calderas, exhibits consistent morphologic zones. Characteristically in the sandbox and the nuclear-test analogs these include a first-formed central plug that drops along annular reverse faults. This plug and a surrounding inward-tilted or monoclinal ring (hanging wall of the reverse fault) contract as the structure expands outward by normal faulting, wherein peripheral rings of distending material widen the upper part of the structure along inward-dipping normal faults and compress inner zones and help keep them intact. In Fernandina, a region between the monocline and the outer zone of normal faulting is interpreted, by comparison to the analogs, to overlie the deflation margin of an underlying magma chamber. The same zoning pattern is recognized in structures ranging from sandbox subsidence features centimeters across, to Alae lave lake and nuclear-test sinks tens to hundreds of meters across, to Fenandina’s 2x4 km-wide collapse, to Martian calderas tens of kilometers across. Simple dimensional analysis using the height of cliffs as a proxie for material strength implies that the geometric analogs are good dynamic analogs, and validates that the pattern of both reverse and normal faulting that has been reported consistently from sandbox modeling applies widely to calderas.

The Amount and Preferred Orientation of Simple-shear in a Deformation Tensor: Implications for Detecting Shear Zones and Faults with GPS

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Johnson, A. M.; Griffiths, J. H.

2007-05-01

At the 2005 Fall Meeting of the American Geophysical Union, Griffiths and Johnson [2005] introduced a method of extracting from the deformation-gradient (and velocity-gradient) tensor the amount and preferred orientation of simple-shear associated with 2-D shear zones and faults. Noting the 2-D is important because the shear zones and faults in Griffiths and Johnson [2005] were assumed non-dilatant and infinitely long, ignoring the scissors- like action along strike associated with shear zones and faults of finite length. Because shear zones and faults can dilate (and contract) normal to their walls and can have a scissors-like action associated with twisting about an axis normal to their walls, the more general method of detecting simple-shear is introduced and called MODES "method of detecting simple-shear." MODES can thus extract from the deformation-gradient (and velocity- gradient) tensor the amount and preferred orientation of simple-shear associated with 3-D shear zones and faults near or far from the Earth's surface, providing improvements and extensions to existing analytical methods used in active tectonics studies, especially strain analysis and dislocation theory. The derivation of MODES is based on one definition and two assumptions: by definition, simple-shear deformation becomes localized in some way; by assumption, the twirl within the deformation-gradient (or the spin within the velocity-gradient) is due to a combination of simple-shear and twist, and coupled with the simple- shear and twist is a dilatation of the walls of shear zones and faults. The preferred orientation is thus the orientation of the plane containing the simple-shear and satisfying the mechanical and kinematical boundary conditions. Results from a MODES analysis are illustrated by means of a three-dimensional diagram, the cricket- ball, which is reminiscent of the seismologist's "beach ball." In this poster, we present the underlying theory of MODES and illustrate how it works by analyzing the three- dimensional displacements measured with the Global Positioning System across the 1999 Chi-Chi earthquake ground rupture in Taiwan. In contrast to the deformation zone in the upper several meters of the ground below the surface detected by Yu et al. [2001], MODES determines the orientation and direction of shift of a shear zone representing the earthquake fault within the upper several hundred or thousand meters of ground below the surface. Thus, one value of the MODES analysis in this case is to provide boundary conditions for dislocation solutions for the subsurface shape of the main rupture during the earthquake.

Structural Analysis of Mt. Epomeo Resurgent Block (ischia, Italy): Deformational Features, Uplifting Mechanism and Implications For Volcanic Hazard Assessment.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de Vita, S.; Marotta, E.; Orsi, G.

The studies carried out on the resurgent calderas of Campi Flegrei, Pantelleria and Is- chia, evidenced that the geometry of the resurgent blocks and the arial distribution of volcanic vents active after the caldera collapse, are not compatible with the commonly accepted resurgent dome model. For these areas a simple shearing block resurgence mechanism, that take in account all the geological and volcanological constraints, has been proposed. In order to define the structural setting of a resurgent block for which this mechanism has been proposed, a detailed structural study has been carried out on the island of Ischia, where the Mt. Epomeo was uplifted of about 900 m in the past 30 ka. The attitude of 1400 planar surfaces has been measured in 50 different sites around the resurgent block. These features have been distinguished in: a) faults; b) joints; c) fracture cleavages. It has been observed that the resurgent area is composed of differentially displaced blocks whose uplifting is maximum for the Mt. Epomeo and decreases southeastward. The resurgent area has a poligonal shape resulting from the reactivation of regional faults and by the activation of faults directly related to volcan- otectonism. Northeastward the limit of the resurgent area is not defined, as along the coastline are exposed beach deposits displaced at variable elevation by E-W and NW- SE trending faults. The western sector is bordered by inward dipping, high angle re- verse faults, whose directions vary from N40E to NS and N50W from the northwestern to the southwestern parts of the block, testifying a compressional stress regime active in this area. These features are cut by late outward dipping normal faults due to grav- itational readjustment of the slopes. The northeastern and the southwestern sides are bordered by vertical faults with right transtensive and left transpressive movements, respectively. The area located to the east of the most uplifted block is characterized by a tensile stress regime and has been deformed by N-S, N40-70E and N15W trending normal faults, which demonstrates that the maximum elongation direction is N50W. The results of this study, together with the volcanological data available for the past 3 ka of activity, suggest that the eastern part of the resurgent block is the area with the highest probability of vent opening in case of renewal of volcanism.

Width of surface rupture zone for thrust earthquakes: implications for earthquake fault zoning

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Boncio, Paolo; Liberi, Francesca; Caldarella, Martina; Nurminen, Fiia-Charlotta

2018-01-01

The criteria for zoning the surface fault rupture hazard (SFRH) along thrust faults are defined by analysing the characteristics of the areas of coseismic surface faulting in thrust earthquakes. Normal and strike-slip faults have been deeply studied by other authors concerning the SFRH, while thrust faults have not been studied with comparable attention. Surface faulting data were compiled for 11 well-studied historic thrust earthquakes occurred globally (5.4 ≤ M ≤ 7.9). Several different types of coseismic fault scarps characterize the analysed earthquakes, depending on the topography, fault geometry and near-surface materials (simple and hanging wall collapse scarps, pressure ridges, fold scarps and thrust or pressure ridges with bending-moment or flexural-slip fault ruptures due to large-scale folding). For all the earthquakes, the distance of distributed ruptures from the principal fault rupture (r) and the width of the rupture zone (WRZ) were compiled directly from the literature or measured systematically in GIS-georeferenced published maps. Overall, surface ruptures can occur up to large distances from the main fault ( ˜ 2150 m on the footwall and ˜ 3100 m on the hanging wall). Most of the ruptures occur on the hanging wall, preferentially in the vicinity of the principal fault trace ( > ˜ 50 % at distances < ˜ 250 m). The widest WRZ are recorded where sympathetic slip (Sy) on distant faults occurs, and/or where bending-moment (B-M) or flexural-slip (F-S) fault ruptures, associated with large-scale folds (hundreds of metres to kilometres in wavelength), are present. A positive relation between the earthquake magnitude and the total WRZ is evident, while a clear correlation between the vertical displacement on the principal fault and the total WRZ is not found. The distribution of surface ruptures is fitted with probability density functions, in order to define a criterion to remove outliers (e.g. 90 % probability of the cumulative distribution function) and define the zone where the likelihood of having surface ruptures is the highest. This might help in sizing the zones of SFRH during seismic microzonation (SM) mapping. In order to shape zones of SFRH, a very detailed earthquake geologic study of the fault is necessary (the highest level of SM, i.e. Level 3 SM according to Italian guidelines). In the absence of such a very detailed study (basic SM, i.e. Level 1 SM of Italian guidelines) a width of ˜ 840 m (90 % probability from "simple thrust" database of distributed ruptures, excluding B-M, F-S and Sy fault ruptures) is suggested to be sufficiently precautionary. For more detailed SM, where the fault is carefully mapped, one must consider that the highest SFRH is concentrated in a narrow zone, ˜ 60 m in width, that should be considered as a fault avoidance zone (more than one-third of the distributed ruptures are expected to occur within this zone). The fault rupture hazard zones should be asymmetric compared to the trace of the principal fault. The average footwall to hanging wall ratio (FW : HW) is close to 1 : 2 in all analysed cases. These criteria are applicable to "simple thrust" faults, without considering possible B-M or F-S fault ruptures due to large-scale folding, and without considering sympathetic slip on distant faults. Areas potentially susceptible to B-M or F-S fault ruptures should have their own zones of fault rupture hazard that can be defined by detailed knowledge of the structural setting of the area (shape, wavelength, tightness and lithology of the thrust-related large-scale folds) and by geomorphic evidence of past secondary faulting. Distant active faults, potentially susceptible to sympathetic triggering, should be zoned as separate principal faults. The entire database of distributed ruptures (including B-M, F-S and Sy fault ruptures) can be useful in poorly known areas, in order to assess the extent of the area within which potential sources of fault displacement hazard can be present. The results from this study and the database made available in the Supplement can be used for improving the attenuation relationships for distributed faulting, with possible applications in probabilistic studies of fault displacement hazard.

Map and Database of Probable and Possible Quaternary Faults in Afghanistan

USGS Publications Warehouse

Ruleman, C.A.; Crone, A.J.; Machette, M.N.; Haller, K.M.; Rukstales, K.S.

2007-01-01

The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) with support from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) mission in Afghanistan, has prepared a digital map showing the distribution of probable and suspected Quaternary faults in Afghanistan. This map is a key component of a broader effort to assess and map the country's seismic hazards. Our analyses of remote-sensing imagery reveal a complex array of tectonic features that we interpret to be probable and possible active faults within the country and in the surrounding border region. In our compilation, we have mapped previously recognized active faults in greater detail, and have categorized individual features based on their geomorphic expression. We assigned mapped features to eight newly defined domains, each of which contains features that appear to have similar styles of deformation. The styles of deformation associated with each domain provide insight into the kinematics of the modern tectonism, and define a tectonic framework that helps constrain deformational models of the Alpine-Himalayan orogenic belt. The modern fault movements, deformation, and earthquakes in Afghanistan are driven by the collision between the northward-moving Indian subcontinent and Eurasia. The patterns of probable and possible Quaternary faults generally show that much of the modern tectonic activity is related to transfer of plate-boundary deformation across the country. The left-lateral, strike-slip Chaman fault in southeastern Afghanistan probably has the highest slip rate of any fault in the country; to the north, this slip is distributed onto several fault systems. At the southern margin of the Kabul block, the style of faulting changes from mainly strike-slip motion associated with the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian plates, to transpressional and transtensional faulting. North and northeast of the Kabul block, we recognized a complex pattern of potentially active strike-slip, thrust, and normal faults that form a conjugate shear system in a transpressional region of the Trans-Himalayan orogenic belt. The general patterns and orientations of faults and the styles of deformation that we interpret from the imagery are consistent with the styles of faulting determined from focal mechanisms of historical earthquakes. Northwest-trending strike-slip fault zones are cut and displaced by younger, southeast-verging thrust faults; these relations define the interaction between northwest-southeast-oriented contraction and northwest-directed extrusion in the western Himalaya, Pamir, and Hindu Kush regions. Transpression extends into north-central Afghanistan where north-verging contraction along the east-west-trending Alburz-Marmul fault system interacts with northwest-trending strike-slip faults. Pressure ridges related to thrust faulting and extensional basins bounded by normal faults are located at major stepovers in these northwest-trending strike-slip systems. In contrast, young faulting in central and western Afghanistan indicates that the deformation is dominated by extension where strike-slip fault zones transition into regions of normal faults. In addition to these initial observations, our digital map and database provide a foundation that can be expanded, complemented, and modified as future investigations provide more detailed information about the location, characteristics, and history of movement on Quaternary faults in Afghanistan.

Recent Motion on the Kern Canyon Fault, Southern Sierra Nevada, California

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nadin, E. S.; Saleeby, J. B.

2005-12-01

Evidence suggests that the Kern Canyon Fault (KCF), the longest fault in the southern Sierra Nevada, is an active fault. Along the 140-km-long KCF, batholithic and metamorphic rocks were displaced up to 16~km in apparent dextral strike slip during at least three discrete phases of deformation throughout the past ~90~Myr. Early ductile shear is preserved along a 1.5-km-wide zone of S-C mylonites and phyllonites that constitutes the Proto-KCF; a later phase of brittle faulting led to through-going cataclasis along the 50-m-wide KCF; and finally, late-stage minor faulting resulted in thin, hematitic gouge zones. The KCF has been considered inactive since 3.5~Ma based on a dated basalt flow reported to cap the fault. However, we believe this basalt to be disturbed, and several pieces of evidence support the idea that the KCF has been reactivated in a normal sense during the Quaternary. Fresh, high-relief fault scarps at Engineer Point in Lake Isabella and near Brush Creek, suggest recent, west-side-up vertical offset. And seismicity in the area hints at local motion. The center of activity during the 1983--1984 Durrwood Meadows earthquake swarm, a series of more than 2,000 earthquakes, the largest of which was M = 4.5, was 10~km east of the KCF. The swarm spanned a discrete, 100~km-long north-south trajectory between latitudes 35° 20'N and 36° 30'N, and its focal mechanisms were consistent with pure normal faulting, but the KCF has been disqualified as too far west and too steep to accommodate the seismic activity. But it could be part of the fault system: Near latitude 36°N, we documented a well-preserved expression of the KCF, which places Cretaceous granitic rocks against a Quaternary glacial debris flow. This fault plane strikes N05°E and is consistent with west-side-up normal faulting, in agreement with the focal mechanism slip planes of the Durrwood Meadows swarm. It is possible that the recent swarm represents a budding strand of the KCF system, much like the Punchbowl Fault took up lateral slip 5~km from the main San Andreas Fault plane. Although the offset is not appreciable, we propose that recent activity along the KCF has accommodated stresses imparted by either Basin and Range extension or by San Andreas and/or Garlock Fault motion.

Abrupt along-strike change in tectonic style: San Andreas fault zone, San Francisco Peninsula

USGS Publications Warehouse

Zoback, M.L.; Jachens, R.C.; Olson, J.A.

1999-01-01

Seismicity and high-resolution aeromagnetic data are used to define an abrupt change from compressional to extensional tectonism within a 10- to 15-km-wide zone along the San Andreas fault on the San Francisco Peninsula and offshore from the Golden Gate. This 100-km-long section of the San Andreas fault includes the hypocenter of the Mw = 7.8 1906 San Francisco earthquake as well as the highest level of persistent microseismicity along that ???470-km-long rupture. We define two distinct zones of deformation along this stretch of the fault using well-constrained relocations of all post-1969 earthquakes based a joint one-dimensional velocity/hypocenter inversion and a redetermination of focal mechanisms. The southern zone is characterized by thrust- and reverse-faulting focal mechanisms with NE trending P axes that indicate "fault-normal" compression in 7- to 10-km-wide zones of deformation on both sides of the San Andreas fault. A 1- to 2-km-wide vertical zone beneath the surface trace of the San Andreas is characterized by its almost complete lack of seismicity. The compressional deformation is consistent with the young, high topography of the Santa Cruz Mountains/Coast Ranges as the San Andreas fault makes a broad restraining left bend (???10??) through the southernmost peninsula. A zone of seismic quiescence ???15 km long separates this compressional zone to the south from a zone of combined normal-faulting and strike-slip-faulting focal mechanisms (including a ML = 5.3 earthquake in 1957) on the northernmost peninsula and offshore on the Golden Gate platform. Both linear pseudo-gravity gradients, calculated from the aeromagnetic data, and seismic reflection data indicate that the San Andreas fault makes an abrupt ???3-km right step less than 5 km offshore in this northern zone. A similar right-stepping (dilatational) geometry is also observed for the subparallel San Gregorio fault offshore. Persistent seismicity and extensional tectonism occur within the San Andreas right stepover region and at least 15 km along-strike both to the SE and NW. The 1906 San Francisco earthquake may have nucleated within the San Andreas right stepover, which may help explain the bilateral nature of rupture of this event. Our analysis suggests two seismic hazards for the San Francisco Peninsula in addition to the hazard associated with a M = 7 to 8 strike-slip earthquake along the San Andreas fault: the potential for a M ??? 6 normal-faulting earthquake just 5-8 km west of San Francisco and a M = 6+ thrust faulting event in the southern peninsula.

Internal structure, fault rocks, and inferences regarding deformation, fluid flow, and mineralization in the seismogenic Stillwater normal fault, Dixie Valley, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Caine, Jonathan S.; Bruhn, R.L.; Forster, C.B.

2010-01-01

Outcrop mapping and fault-rock characterization of the Stillwater normal fault zone in Dixie Valley, Nevada are used to document and interpret ancient hydrothermal fluid flow and its possible relationship to seismic deformation. The fault zone is composed of distinct structural and hydrogeological components. Previous work on the fault rocks is extended to the map scale where a distinctive fault core shows a spectrum of different fault-related breccias. These include predominantly clast-supported breccias with angular clasts that are cut by zones containing breccias with rounded clasts that are also clast supported. These are further cut by breccias that are predominantly matrix supported with angular and rounded clasts. The fault-core breccias are surrounded by a heterogeneously fractured damage zone. Breccias are bounded between major, silicified slip surfaces, forming large pod-like structures, systematically oriented with long axes parallel to slip. Matrix-supported breccias have multiply brecciated, angular and rounded clasts revealing episodic deformation and fluid flow. These breccias have a quartz-rich matrix with microcrystalline anhedral, equant, and pervasively conformable mosaic texture. The breccia pods are interpreted to have formed by decompression boiling and rapid precipitation of hydrothermal fluids whose flow was induced by coseismic, hybrid dilatant-shear deformation and hydraulic connection to a geothermal reservoir. The addition of hydrothermal silica cement localized in the core at the map scale causes fault-zone widening, local sealing, and mechanical heterogeneities that impact the evolution of the fault zone throughout the seismic cycle. ?? 2010.

Reclosing operation characteristics of the flux-coupling type SFCL in a single-line-to ground fault

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jung, B. I.; Cho, Y. S.; Choi, H. S.; Ha, K. H.; Choi, S. G.; Chul, D. C.; Sung, T. H.

2011-11-01

The recloser that is used in distribution systems is a relay system that behaves sequentially to protect power systems from transient and continuous faults. This reclosing operation of the recloser can improve the reliability and stability of the power supply. For cooperation with this recloser, the superconducting fault current limiter (SFCL) must properly perform the reclosing operation. This paper analyzed the reclosing operation characteristics of the three-phase flux-coupling type SFCL in the event of a ground fault. The fault current limiting characteristics according to the changing number of turns of the primary and secondary coils were examined. As the number of turns of the first coil increased, the first maximum fault current decreased. Furthermore, the voltage of the quenched superconducting element also decreased. This means that the power burden of the superconducting element decreases based on the increasing number of turns of the primary coil. The fault current limiting characteristic of the SFCL according to the reclosing time limited the fault current within a 0.5 cycles (8 ms), which is shorter than the closing time of the recloser. In other words, the superconducting element returned to the superconducting state before the second fault and normally performed the fault current limiting operation. If the SFCL did not recover before the recloser reclosing time, the normal current that was flowing in the transmission line after the recovery of the SFCL from the fault would have been limited and would have caused losses. Therefore, the fast recovery time of a SFCL is critical to its cooperation with the protection system.

Splay fault slip in a subduction margin, a new model of evolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conin, Marianne; Henry, Pierre; Godard, Vincent; Bourlange, Sylvain

2012-08-01

In subduction zones, major thrusts called splay faults are thought to slip coseismically during large earthquakes affecting the main plate interface. We propose an analytical condition for the activation of a splay fault based on force balance calculations and suggest thrusting along the splay fault is generally conditioned by the growth of the accretionary wedge, or by the erosion of the hanging wall. In theory, normal slip on the splay fault may occur when the décollement has a very low friction coefficient seaward. Such a low friction also implies an unstable extensional state within the outer wedge. Finite element elasto-plastic calculations with a geometry based on the Nankai Kumano section were performed and confirm that this analytical condition is a valid approximation. Furthermore, localized extension at a shallow level in the splay hanging wall is observed in models for a wide range of friction coefficients (from ∼0 to the value of internal friction coefficient of the rock, here equals to 0.4). The timing of slip established for the splay fault branch drilled on Nankai Kumano transect suggests a phase of concurrent splay and accretionary wedge growth ≈2 Ma to ≈1.5 Ma, followed by a locking of the splay ≈1.3 Ma. Active extension is observed in the hanging wall. This evolution can be explained by the activation of a deeper and weaker décollement, followed by an interruption of accretion. Activation of a splay as a normal fault, as hypothesized in the case of the Tohoku 2011 earthquake, can be achieved only if the friction coefficient on the décollement drops to near zero. We conclude that the tectonic stress state largely determines long-term variations of tightly related splay fault and outer décollement activity and thus influences where and how coseismic rupture ends, but that occurrence of normal slip on a splay fault requires coseismic friction reduction.

Continental Extensional Tectonics in the Basins and Ranges and Aegean Regions: A Review

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cemen, I.

2017-12-01

The Basins and Ranges of North America and the Aegean Region of Eastern Europe and Asia Minor have been long considered as the two best developed examples of continental extension. The two regions contain well-developed normal faults which were considered almost vertical in the 1950s and 1960s. By the mid 1980s, however, overwhelming field evidence emerged to conclude that the dip angle normal faults in the two regions may range from almost vertical to almost horizontal. This led to the discovery that high-grade metamorphic rocks could be brought to surface by the exhumation of mid-crustal rocks along major low-angle normal faults (detachment faults) which were previously either mapped as thrust faults or unconformity. Within the last three decades, our understanding of continental extensional tectonics in the Basins and Ranges and the Aegean Region have improved substantially based on fieldwork, geochemical analysis, analog and computer modeling, detailed radiometric age determinations and thermokinematic modelling. It is now widely accepted that a) Basin and Range extension is controlled by the movement along the San Andreas fault zone as the North American plate moved southeastward with respect to the northwestward movement of the Pacific plate; b) Aegean extension is controlled by subduction roll-back associated with the Hellenic subduction zone; and c) the two regions contain best examples of detachment faulting, extensional folding, and extensional basins. However, there are still many important questions of continental extensional tectonics in the two regions that remain poorly understood. These include determining a) precise amount and percentage of cumulative extension; b) role of strike-slip faulting in the extensional processes; c) exhumation history along detachment surfaces using multimethod geochronology; d) geometry and nature of extensional features in the middle and lower crust; e) the nature of upper mantle and asthenospheric flow; f) evolutions of sedimentary basins associated with dip-slip and strike-slip faults; g) seismic hazards; and i) economic significance of extensional basins.

Seismic images of an extensional basin, generated at the hangingwall of a low-angle normal fault: The case of the Sansepolcro basin (Central Italy)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Barchi, Massimiliano R.; Ciaccio, Maria Grazia

2009-12-01

The study of syntectonic basins, generated at the hangingwall of regional low-angle detachments, can help to gain a better knowledge of these important and mechanically controversial extensional structures, constraining their kinematics and timing of activity. Seismic reflection images constrain the geometry and internal structure of the Sansepolcro Basin (the northernmost portion of the High Tiber Valley). This basin was generated at the hangingwall of the Altotiberina Fault (AtF), an E-dipping low-angle normal fault, active at least since Late Pliocene, affecting the upper crust of this portion of the Northern Apennines. The dataset analysed consists of 5 seismic reflection lines acquired in the 80s' by ENI-Agip for oil exploration and a portion of the NVR deep CROP03 profile. The interpretation of the seismic profiles provides a 3-D reconstruction of the basin's shape and of the sedimentary succession infilling the basin. This consisting of up to 1200 m of fluvial and lacustrine sediments: this succession is much thicker and possibly older than previously hypothesised. The seismic data also image the geometry at depth of the faults driving the basin onset and evolution. The western flank is bordered by a set of E-dipping normal faults, producing the uplifting and tilting of Early to Middle Pleistocene succession along the Anghiari ridge. Along the eastern flank, the sediments are markedly dragged along the SW-dipping Sansepolcro fault. Both NE- and SW-dipping faults splay out from the NE-dipping, low-angle Altotiberina fault. Both AtF and its high-angle splays are still active, as suggested by combined geological and geomorphological evidences: the historical seismicity of the area can be reasonably associated to these faults, however the available data do not constrain an unambiguous association between the single structural elements and the major earthquakes.

The Bear River Fault Zone, Wyoming and Utah: Complex Ruptures on a Young Normal Fault

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schwartz, D. P.; Hecker, S.; Haproff, P.; Beukelman, G.; Erickson, B.

2012-12-01

The Bear River fault zone (BRFZ), a set of normal fault scarps located in the Rocky Mountains at the eastern margin of Basin and Range extension, is a rare example of a nascent surface-rupturing fault. Paleoseismic investigations (West, 1994; this study) indicate that the entire neotectonic history of the BRFZ may consist of two large surface-faulting events in the late Holocene. We have estimated a maximum per-event vertical displacement of 6-6.5 m at the south end of the fault where it abuts the north flank of the east-west-trending Uinta Mountains. However, large hanging-wall depressions resulting from back rotation, which front scarps that locally exceed 15 m in height, are prevalent along the main trace, obscuring the net displacement and its along-strike distribution. The modest length (~35 km) of the BRFZ indicates ruptures with a large displacement-to-length ratio, which implies earthquakes with a high static stress drop. The BRFZ is one of several immature (low cumulative displacement) normal faults in the Rocky Mountain region that appear to produce high-stress drop earthquakes. West (1992) interpreted the BRFZ as an extensionally reactivated ramp of the late Cretaceous-early Tertiary Hogsback thrust. LiDAR data on the southern section of the fault and Google Earth imagery show that these young ruptures are more extensive than currently mapped, with newly identified large (>10m) antithetic scarps and footwall graben. The scarps of the BRFZ extend across a 2.5-5.0 km-wide zone, making this the widest and most complex Holocene surface rupture in the Intermountain West. The broad distribution of Late Holocene scarps is consistent with reactivation of shallow bedrock structures but the overall geometry of the BRFZ at depth and its extent into the seismogenic zone are uncertain.

Pre-existing normal faults have limited control on the rift geometry of the northern North Sea

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Claringbould, Johan S.; Bell, Rebecca E.; Jackson, Christopher A.-L.; Gawthorpe, Robert L.; Odinsen, Tore

2017-10-01

Many rifts develop in response to multiphase extension with numerical and physical models suggesting that reactivation of first-phase normal faults and rift-related variations in bulk crustal rheology control the evolution and final geometry of subsequent rifts. However, many natural multiphase rifts are deeply buried and thus poorly exposed in the field and poorly imaged in seismic reflection data, making it difficult to test these models. Here we integrate recent 3D seismic reflection and borehole data across the entire East Shetland Basin, northern North Sea, to constrain the long-term, regional development of this multiphase rift. We document the following key stages of basin development: (i) pre-Triassic to earliest Triassic development of multiple sub-basins controlled by widely distributed, NNW- to NE-trending, east- and west-dipping faults; (ii) Triassic activity on a single major, NE-trending, west-dipping fault located near the basins western margin, and formation of a large half-graben; and (iii) Jurassic development of a large, E-dipping, N- to NE-trending half-graben near the eastern margin of the basin, which was associated with rift narrowing and strain focusing in the Viking Graben. In contrast to previous studies, which argue for two discrete periods of rifting during the Permian-Triassic and Late Jurassic-Early Cretaceous, we find that rifting in the East Shetland Basin was protracted from pre-Triassic to Cretaceous. We find that, during the Jurassic, most pre-Jurassic normal faults were buried and in some cases cross-cut by newly formed faults, with only a few being reactivated. Previously developed faults thus had only a limited control on the evolution and geometry of the later rift. We instead argue that strain migration and rift narrowing was linked to the evolving thermal state of the lithosphere, an interpretation supporting the predictions of lithosphere-scale numerical models. Our study indicates that additional regional studies of natural rifts are required to test and refine the predictions of physical and numerical models, more specifically, our study suggests models not explicitly recognising or including thermal or rheological effects might over emphasise the role of discrete pre-existing rift structures such as normal faults.

Slip and Dilation Tendency Analysis of the San Emidio Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

Critically stressed fault segments have a relatively high likelihood of acting as fluid flow conduits (Sibson, 1994). As such, the tendency of a fault segment to slip (slip tendency; Ts; Morris et al., 1996) or to dilate (dilation tendency; Td; Ferrill et al., 1999) provides an indication of which faults or fault segments within a geothermal system are critically stressed and therefore likely to transmit geothermal fluids. The slip tendency of a surface is defined by the ratio of shear stress to normal stress on that surface: Ts = τ / σn (Morris et al., 1996). Dilation tendency is defined by the stress acting normal to a given surface: Td = (σ1-σn) / (σ1-σ3) (Ferrill et al., 1999). Slip and dilation were calculated using 3DStress (Southwest Research Institute). Slip and dilation tendency are both unitless ratios of the resolved stresses applied to the fault plane by ambient stress conditions. Values range from a maximum of 1, a fault plane ideally oriented to slip or dilate under ambient stress conditions to zero, a fault plane with no potential to slip or dilate. Slip and dilation tendency values were calculated for each fault in the focus study areas at, McGinness Hills, Neal Hot Springs, Patua, Salt Wells, San Emidio, and Tuscarora on fault traces. As dip is not well constrained or unknown for many faults mapped in within these we made these calculations using the dip for each fault that would yield the maximum slip tendency or dilation tendency. As such, these results should be viewed as maximum tendency of each fault to slip or dilate. The resulting along-fault and fault-to-fault variation in slip or dilation potential is a proxy for along fault and fault-to-fault variation in fluid flow conduit potential. Stress Magnitudes and directions Stress field variation within each focus area was approximated based on regional published data and the world stress database (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2010; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012; Moeck et al., 2010; Moos and Ronne, 2010 and Reinecker et al., 2005) as well as local stress information if applicable. For faults within these focus systems we applied either a normal faulting stress regime where the vertical stress (sv) is larger than the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (sv>shmax>shmin) or strike-slip faulting stress regime where the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) is larger than the vertical stress (sv) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (shmax >sv>shmin) depending on the general tectonic province of the system. Based on visual inspection of the limited stress magnitude data in the Great Basin we used magnitudes such that shmin/shmax = .527 and shmin/sv= .46, which are consistent with complete and partial stress field determinations from Desert Peak, Coso, the Fallon area and Dixie valley (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2011; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012). Slip and dilation tendency for the San Emidio geothermal field was calculated based on the faults mapped Tuscarora area (Rhodes, 2011). The San Emidio area lies in the Basin and Range Province, as such we applied a normal faulting stress regime to the San Emidio area faults, with a minimum horizontal stress direction oriented 115, based on inspection of local and regional stress determinations, as explained above. This is consistent with the shmin determined through inversion of fault data by Rhodes (2011). Under these stress conditions north-northeast striking, steeply dipping fault segments have the highest dilation tendency, while north-northeast striking 60° dipping fault segments have the highest tendency to slip. Interesting, the San Emidio geothermal field lies in an area of primarily north striking faults, which...

Internal architecture, permeability structure, and hydrologic significance of contrasting fault-zone types

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rawling, Geoffrey C.; Goodwin, Laurel B.; Wilson, John L.

2001-01-01

The Sand Hill fault is a steeply dipping, large-displacement normal fault that cuts poorly lithified Tertiary sediments of the Albuquerque basin, New Mexico, United States. The fault zone does not contain macroscopic fractures; the basic structural element is the deformation band. The fault core is composed of foliated clay flanked by structurally and lithologically heterogeneous mixed zones, in turn flanked by damage zones. Structures present within these fault-zone architectural elements are different from those in brittle faults formed in lithified sedimentary and crystalline rocks that do contain fractures. These differences are reflected in the permeability structure of the Sand Hill fault. Equivalent permeability calculations indicate that large-displacement faults in poorly lithified sediments have little potential to act as vertical-flow conduits and have a much greater effect on horizontal flow than faults with fractures.

Seismic reflection images of shallow faulting, northernmost Mississippi embayment, north of the New Madrid seismic zone

USGS Publications Warehouse

McBride, J.H.; Nelson, W.J.

2001-01-01

High-resolution seismic reflection surveys document tectonic faults that displace Pleistocene and older strata just beyond the northeast termination of the New Madrid seismic zone, at the northernmost extent of the Mississippi embayment. These faults, which are part of the Fluorspar Area fault complex in southeastern Illinois, are directly in line with the northeast-trending seismic zone. The reflection data were acquired using an elastic weight-drop source recorded to 500 msec by a 48-geophone array (24-fold) with a 10-ft (??3.0m) station interval. Recognizable reflections were recorded to about 200 msec (100-150 m). The effects of multiple reflections, numerous diffractions, low apparent velocity (i.e., steeply dipping) noise, and the relatively low-frequency content of the recorded signal provided challenges for data processing and interpreting subtle fault offsets. Data processing steps that were critical to the detection of faults included residual statics, post-stack migration, deconvolution, and noise-reduction filtering. Seismic migration was crucial for detecting and mitigating complex fault-related diffraction patterns, which produced an apparent 'folding' of reflectors on unmigrated sections. Detected individual offsets of shallow reflectors range from 5 to 10 m for the top of Paleozoic bedrock and younger strata. The migrated sections generally indicate vertical to steeply dipping normal and reverse faults, which in places outline small horsts and/or grabens. Tilting or folding of stratal reflectors associated with faulting is also locally observed. At one site, the observed faulting is superimposed over a prominent antiformal structure, which may itself be a product of the Quaternary deformation that produced the steep normal and reverse faults. Our results suggest that faulting of the Paleozoic bedrock and younger sediments of the northern Mississippi embayment is more pervasive and less localized than previously thought.

Holocene tectonics and fault reactivation in the foothills of the north Cascade Mountains, Washington

USGS Publications Warehouse

Sherrod, Brian L.; Barnett, Elizabeth; Schermer, Elizabeth; Kelsey, Harvey M.; Hughes, Jonathan; Foit, Franklin F.; Weaver, Craig S.; Haugerud, Ralph; Hyatt, Tim

2013-01-01

We use LiDAR imagery to identify two fault scarps on latest Pleistocene glacial outwash deposits along the North Fork Nooksack River in Whatcom County, Washington (United States). Mapping and paleoseismic investigation of these previously unknown scarps provide constraints on the earthquake history and seismic hazard in the northern Puget Lowland. The Kendall scarp lies along the mapped trace of the Boulder Creek fault, a south-dipping Tertiary normal fault, and the Canyon Creek scarp lies in close proximity to the south-dipping Canyon Creek fault and the south-dipping Glacier Extensional fault. Both scarps are south-side-up, opposite the sense of displacement observed on the nearby bedrock faults. Trenches excavated across these scarps exposed folded and faulted late Quaternary glacial outwash, locally dated between ca. 12 and 13 ka, and Holocene buried soils and scarp colluvium. Reverse and oblique faulting of the soils and colluvial deposits indicates at least two late Holocene earthquakes, while folding of the glacial outwash prior to formation of the post-glacial soil suggests an earlier Holocene earthquake. Abrupt changes in bed thickness across faults in the Canyon Creek excavation suggest a lateral component of slip. Sediments in a wetland adjacent to the Kendall scarp record three pond-forming episodes during the Holocene—we infer that surface ruptures on the Boulder Creek fault during past earthquakes temporarily blocked the stream channel and created an ephemeral lake. The Boulder Creek and Canyon Creek faults formed in the early to mid-Tertiary as normal faults and likely lay dormant until reactivated as reverse faults in a new stress regime. The most recent earthquakes—each likely Mw > 6.3 and dating to ca. 8050–7250 calendar years B.P. (cal yr B.P.), 3190–2980 cal. yr B.P., and 910–740 cal. yr B.P.—demonstrate that reverse faulting in the northern Puget Lowland poses a hazard to urban areas between Seattle (Washington) and Vancouver, British Columbia (Canada).

Antecedent rivers and early rifting: a case study from the Plio-Pleistocene Corinth rift, Greece

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hemelsdaël, Romain; Ford, Mary; Malartre, Fabrice

2016-04-01

Models of early rifting present syn-rift sedimentation as the direct response to the development of normal fault systems where footwall-derived drainage supplies alluvial to lacustrine sediments into hangingwall depocentres. These models often include antecedent rivers, diverted into active depocentres and with little impact on facies distributions. However, antecedent rivers can supply a high volume of sediment from the onset of rifting. What are the interactions between major antecedent rivers and a growing normal fault system? What are the implications for alluvial stratigraphy and facies distributions in early rifts? These questions are investigated by studying a Plio-Pleistocene fluvial succession on the southern margin of the Corinth rift (Greece). In the northern Peloponnese, early syn-rift deposits are preserved in a series of uplifted E-W normal fault blocks (10-15 km long, 3-7 km wide). Detailed sedimentary logging and high resolution mapping of the syn-rift succession (400 to 1300 m thick) define the architecture of the early rift alluvial system. Magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphic markers are used to date and correlate the fluvial succession within and between fault blocks. The age of the succession is between 4.0 and 1.8 Ma. We present a new tectonostratigraphic model for early rift basins based on our reconstructions. The early rift depositional system was established across a series of narrow normal fault blocks. Palaeocurrent data show that the alluvial basin was supplied by one major sediment entry point. A low sinuosity braided river system flowed over 15 to 30 km to the NE. Facies evolved downstream from coarse conglomerates to fined-grained fluvial deposits. Other minor sediment entry points supply linked and isolated depocentres. The main river system terminated eastward where it built stacked small deltas into a shallow lake (5 to 15 m deep) that occupied the central Corinth rift. The main fluvial axis remained constant and controlled facies distribution throughout the early rift evolution. We show that the length scale of fluvial facies transitions is greater than and therefore not related to fault spacing. First order facies variations instead occur at the scale of the full antecedent fluvial system. Strike-parallel subsidence variations in individual fault blocks represent a second order controlling factor on stratigraphic architecture. As depocentres enlarged through time, sediments progressively filled palaeorelief, and formed a continuous alluvial plain above active faults. There was limited creation of footwall relief and thus no significant consequent drainage system developed. Here, instead of being diverted toward subsiding zones, the drainage system overfilled the whole rift from the onset of faulting. Moreover, the zones of maximum subsidence on individual faults are aligned across strike parallel to the persistent fluvial axis. This implies that long-term sediment loading influenced the growth of normal faults. We conclude that a major antecedent drainage system inherited from the Hellenide mountain belt supplied high volumes of coarse sediment from the onset of faulting in the western Corinth rift (around 4 Ma). These observations demonstrate that antecedent drainage systems can be important in the tectono-sedimentary evolution of rift basins.

Impact of fault models on probabilistic seismic hazard assessment: the example of the West Corinth rift.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chartier, Thomas; Scotti, Oona; Boiselet, Aurelien; Lyon-Caen, Hélène

2016-04-01

Including faults in probabilistic seismic hazard assessment tends to increase the degree of uncertainty in the results due to the intrinsically uncertain nature of the fault data. This is especially the case in the low to moderate seismicity regions of Europe, where slow slipping faults are difficult to characterize. In order to better understand the key parameters that control the uncertainty in the fault-related hazard computations, we propose to build an analytic tool that provides a clear link between the different components of the fault-related hazard computations and their impact on the results. This will allow identifying the important parameters that need to be better constrained in order to reduce the resulting uncertainty in hazard and also provide a more hazard-oriented strategy for collecting relevant fault parameters in the field. The tool will be illustrated through the example of the West Corinth rifts fault-models. Recent work performed in the gulf has shown the complexity of the normal faulting system that is accommodating the extensional deformation of the rift. A logic-tree approach is proposed to account for this complexity and the multiplicity of scientifically defendable interpretations. At the nodes of the logic tree, different options that could be considered at each step of the fault-related seismic hazard will be considered. The first nodes represent the uncertainty in the geometries of the faults and their slip rates, which can derive from different data and methodologies. The subsequent node explores, for a given geometry/slip rate of faults, different earthquake rupture scenarios that may occur in the complex network of faults. The idea is to allow the possibility of several faults segments to break together in a single rupture scenario. To build these multiple-fault-segment scenarios, two approaches are considered: one based on simple rules (i.e. minimum distance between faults) and a second one that relies on physically-based simulations. The following nodes represents for each rupture scenario different rupture forecast models (i.e; characteristic or Gutenberg-Richter) and for a given rupture forecast, two probability models commonly used in seismic hazard assessment: poissonian or time-dependent. The final node represents an exhaustive set of ground motion prediction equations chosen in order to be compatible with the region. Finally, the expected probability of exceeding a given ground motion level is computed at each sites. Results will be discussed for a few specific localities of the West Corinth Gulf.

Tidal triggering of low frequency earthquakes near Parkfield, California: Implications for fault mechanics within the brittle-ductile transition

USGS Publications Warehouse

Thomas, A.M.; Burgmann, R.; Shelly, David R.; Beeler, Nicholas M.; Rudolph, M.L.

2012-01-01

Studies of nonvolcanic tremor (NVT) have established the significant impact of small stress perturbations on NVT generation. Here we analyze the influence of the solid earth and ocean tides on a catalog of ∼550,000 low frequency earthquakes (LFEs) distributed along a 150 km section of the San Andreas Fault centered at Parkfield. LFE families are identified in the NVT data on the basis of waveform similarity and are thought to represent small, effectively co-located earthquakes occurring on brittle asperities on an otherwise aseismic fault at depths of 16 to 30 km. We calculate the sensitivity of each of these 88 LFE families to the tidally induced right-lateral shear stress (RLSS), fault-normal stress (FNS), and their time derivatives and use the hypocentral locations of each family to map the spatial variability of this sensitivity. LFE occurrence is most strongly modulated by fluctuations in shear stress, with the majority of families demonstrating a correlation with RLSS at the 99% confidence level or above. Producing the observed LFE rate modulation in response to shear stress perturbations requires low effective stress in the LFE source region. There are substantial lateral and vertical variations in tidal shear stress sensitivity, which we interpret to reflect spatial variation in source region properties, such as friction and pore fluid pressure. Additionally, we find that highly episodic, shallow LFE families are generally less correlated with tidal stresses than their deeper, continuously active counterparts. The majority of families have weaker or insignificant correlation with positive (tensile) FNS. Two groups of families demonstrate a stronger correlation with fault-normal tension to the north and with compression to the south of Parkfield. The families that correlate with fault-normal clamping coincide with a releasing right bend in the surface fault trace and the LFE locations, suggesting that the San Andreas remains localized and contiguous down to near the base of the crust. The deep families that have high sensitivity to both shear and tensile normal stress perturbations may be indicative of an increase in effective fault contact area with depth. Synthesizing our observations with those of other LFE-hosting localities will help to develop a comprehensive understanding of transient fault slip below the “seismogenic zone” by providing constraints on parameters in physical models of slow slip and LFEs.

Stratigraphy, Structure and Tectonics of the Eyjafjarðaráll Rift, Abandoned Southern Segment of the Kolbeinsey Ridge, North Iceland

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Brandsdottir, B.; Karson, J. A.; Magnúsdóttir, S.; Detrick, B.; Driscoll, N. W.

2017-12-01

The multi-branched plate boundary across Iceland is made up of divergent and oblique rifts, and transform zones, characterized by entwined extensional and transform tectonics. The Tjörnes Fracture Zone (TFZ) is a complex transform linking the northern rift zone (NVZ) on land with the offshore Kolbeinsey Ridge. The TFZ lacks a clear topographic expression typical of oceanic fracture zones. The transform zone is roughly 150 km long (E-W) by 50-75 km wide (N-S) with three N-S trending pull-apart basins bounded by a complex array of normal and oblique-slip faults. The offshore extension of the NVZ, the Grímsey Oblique Rift, is composed of several active volcanic systems with N-S trending fissure swarms, including the Skjálfandadjúp Basin (SB). The magma-starved southern extension of the KR, the 80 km NS and 15-20 EW Eyjafjarðaráll Rift (ER), is made up of dominantly normal faults merging southwards with a system of right-lateral strike-slip faults with vertical displacement up to 15 m in the Húsavík Flatey Fault Zone (HFFZ). The northern ER is a 500-700 m deep asymmetric rift, framed by normal faults with 20-25 m vertical displacement, To the south, transform movement associated with the HFFZ has created a NW- striking pull-apart basin with frequent earthquake swarms. Details of the tectonic framework of the ER are documented in a compilation of data from aerial photos, satellite images, field mapping, multibeam bathymetry, high-resolution seismic reflection surveys (Chirp) and seismicity. The TFZ rift basins contain post-glacial sediments of variable thickness. Strata in the western ER and SB basins dip steeply E along the normal faults, towards the deepest part of the rift. The eastern side of the ER and SB basins differ considerably from the western side, with near-vertical faults. Correlation of Chirp reflection data and tephrachronology from a sediment core reveal major rifting episodes between 10-12.1 kyrs BP activating both the Eyjafjarðaráll and Skjálfandadjúp rift basins, followed by smaller-scale fault movements throughout Holocene. These vertical fault movements reflect elevated tectonic activity during early postglacial time coinciding with isostatic rebound and enhanced volcanism within Iceland.

Structure of Kilauea's southwest rift zone and western south flank defined by relocated earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rinard, Bethany D.

This study is the first detailed seismic investigation of the southwest rift and western south flank of Kilauea Volcano. Earthquakes outline the tectonic and magmatic systems of the volcano. In this study, more than 4800 earthquakes from the years 1981--2001 were relocated with a double-difference method, and almost 500 were relocated with cross-correlation. The result is a much-improved image of Kilauea's south flank structure. The shallowest of the earthquakes on Kilauea (<5km) are usually related to magma movement, and occur almost exclusively in the actively intruded rift. The few tectonic earthquakes that occur at this depth are along the Koae and Hilina Fault systems. Focal mechanisms indicate that the shallow events on the Hilina system have [normal, right-lateral] oblique-slip motion. Beneath the entire south flank are earthquakes that occur on a decollement, located at a depth of 7--10km. The inland-dipping decollement structure is clearly imaged with this new data set. Earthquakes on the volcano's south flank normal faults appear to extend downward to the decollement. Earthquakes at intermediate depths image the decollement, a plane that dips inland. This is the boundary between the volcano and the old oceanic crust beneath it. Movement on faults at decollement depths of 7--10km have [right-lateral thrust] oblique-slip motion. When intrusions occur in the rift zones, the flank is forced seaward along the decollement. Since the decollement dips inland, the south flank must move up an incline as it slides seaward. Hawaii also experiences deep (>25km) earthquakes, which are the most intriguing events in this study. These earthquakes are significant because the Moho is located at a depth of 13--15km, so they are clearly occurring in the mantle. The deep events examined in this study are tectonic earthquakes, not attributable to melt migration. A high strain rate in the mantle, largely due to the geologically rapid formation of the island that has quickly increased the load on the underlying mantle, may account for the occurrence of these deep earthquakes. Focal mechanisms indicate [normal, right-lateral] oblique-slip motion on faults below 25km depth.

On the frictional (in) stability of clay-bearing faults

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Violay, M.; Orellana, F.; Scuderi, M. M.; Collettini, C.

2016-12-01

Opalinus clay (OPA) is shale rock studied under the context of deep geological disposal by The Mont Terri Laboratory research program in Switzerland. Despite its favorable hydro-mechanical properties, the presence of a large tectonic fault system intersecting the rock formation arises questions over the long-term safety performance of a nuclear waste repository, in terms of possible leakages and the possibility of earthquakes triggered by fault instability. To study the frictional stability of OPA, we have performed velocity steps (1-300 μm/s) and slide-hold-slide tests (1-10000 s) on simulated gouge and intact samples - sheared parallel and perpendicular to foliation - at different normal stresses (4 - 30 MPa). To understand the deformation mechanisms, we have analyzed the microstructures of the sheared samples trough optical and SE microscopy. Results reported peak and steady state friction values ranging from 0.21 to 0.52 and from 0.14 to 0.39 respectively. Consistently, samples with well-developed layering showed lower friction values than gouge samples even though they have the same mineralogical composition. At all normal stresses, velocity dependence tests on gouge showed a velocity strengthening regime, whereas, intact samples developed both velocity-strengthening and velocity-weakening regimes. Finally, we have recorded near zero healing values for both intact and powdered samples at different normal stress. However, a complex evolution from negative to positive frictional healing rate, with an inflexion holding time of 300 s, has been observed. In conclusion, our data suggests that both the velocity strengthening regime and the near zero healing for the simulated gouge, are consistent with aseismic creep. We have also reported the possibility of unstable sliding outside the fault core accompanied by low capacity of contact regeneration, and low capacity to sustain future stress drops compared to evidence showed by experiments on simulated gouge. Moreover, microstructure analysis revealed different deformation patterns due to anisotropy of the material. Thus, the complex frictional behavior of OPA highlights the need for further experiments in order to better evaluate the seismic risk during long-term nuclear waste disposal within the OPA clay formation.

Slip and Dilation Tendency Analysis of the Salt Wells Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

Critically stressed fault segments have a relatively high likelihood of acting as fluid flow conduits (Sibson, 1994). As such, the tendency of a fault segment to slip (slip tendency; Ts; Morris et al., 1996) or to dilate (dilation tendency; Td; Ferrill et al., 1999) provides an indication of which faults or fault segments within a geothermal system are critically stressed and therefore likely to transmit geothermal fluids. The slip tendency of a surface is defined by the ratio of shear stress to normal stress on that surface: Ts = τ / σn (Morris et al., 1996). Dilation tendency is defined by the stress acting normal to a given surface: Td = (σ1-σn) / (σ1-σ3) (Ferrill et al., 1999). Slip and dilation were calculated using 3DStress (Southwest Research Institute). Slip and dilation tendency are both unitless ratios of the resolved stresses applied to the fault plane by ambient stress conditions. Values range from a maximum of 1, a fault plane ideally oriented to slip or dilate under ambient stress conditions to zero, a fault plane with no potential to slip or dilate. Slip and dilation tendency values were calculated for each fault in the focus study areas at, McGinness Hills, Neal Hot Springs, Patua, Salt Wells, San Emidio, and Tuscarora on fault traces. As dip is not well constrained or unknown for many faults mapped in within these we made these calculations using the dip for each fault that would yield the maximum slip tendency or dilation tendency. As such, these results should be viewed as maximum tendency of each fault to slip or dilate. The resulting along-fault and fault-to-fault variation in slip or dilation potential is a proxy for along fault and fault-to-fault variation in fluid flow conduit potential. Stress Magnitudes and directions Stress field variation within each focus area was approximated based on regional published data and the world stress database (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2010; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012; Moeck et al., 2010; Moos and Ronne, 2010 and Reinecker et al., 2005) as well as local stress information if applicable. For faults within these focus systems we applied either a normal faulting stress regime where the vertical stress (sv) is larger than the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (sv>shmax>shmin) or strike-slip faulting stress regime where the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) is larger than the vertical stress (sv) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (shmax >sv>shmin) depending on the general tectonic province of the system. Based on visual inspection of the limited stress magnitude data in the Great Basin we used magnitudes such that shmin/shmax = .527 and shmin/sv= .46, which are consistent with complete and partial stress field determinations from Desert Peak, Coso, the Fallon area and Dixie valley (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2011; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012). Slip and dilation tendency for the Salt Wells geothermal field was calculated based on the faults mapped in the Bunejug Mountains quadrangle (Hinz et al., 2011). The Salt Wells area lies in the Basin and Range Province (N. Hinz personal comm.) As such we applied a normal faulting stress regime to the Salt Wells area faults, with a minimum horizontal stress direction oriented 105, based on inspection of local and regional stress determinations. Under these stress conditions north-northeast striking, steeply dipping fault segments have the highest dilation tendency, while north-northeast striking 60° dipping fault segments have the highest tendency to slip. Several such faults intersect in high density in the core of the accommodation zone in the Bunejug Mountains and local to the Salt Wells geothermal .

Slip and Dilation Tendency Anlysis of McGinness Hills Geothermal Area

DOE Data Explorer

Faulds, James E.

2013-12-31

Slip and Dilation Tendency in focus areas Critically stressed fault segments have a relatively high likelihood of acting as fluid flow conduits (Sibson, 1994). As such, the tendency of a fault segment to slip (slip tendency; Ts; Morris et al., 1996) or to dilate (dilation tendency; Td; Ferrill et al., 1999) provides an indication of which faults or fault segments within a geothermal system are critically stressed and therefore likely to transmit geothermal fluids. The slip tendency of a surface is defined by the ratio of shear stress to normal stress on that surface: Ts = τ / σn (Morris et al., 1996). Dilation tendency is defined by the stress acting normal to a given surface: Td = (σ1-σn) / (σ1-σ3) (Ferrill et al., 1999). Slip and dilation were calculated using 3DStress (Southwest Research Institute). Slip and dilation tendency are both unitless ratios of the resolved stresses applied to the fault plane by ambient stress conditions. Values range from a maximum of 1, a fault plane ideally oriented to slip or dilate under ambient stress conditions to zero, a fault plane with no potential to slip or dilate. Slip and dilation tendency values were calculated for each fault in the focus study areas at, McGinness Hills, Neal Hot Springs, Patua, Salt Wells, San Emidio, and Tuscarora on fault traces. As dip is not well constrained or unknown for many faults mapped in within these we made these calculations using the dip for each fault that would yield the maximum slip tendency or dilation tendency. As such, these results should be viewed as maximum tendency of each fault to slip or dilate. The resulting along-fault and fault-to-fault variation in slip or dilation potential is a proxy for along fault and fault-to-fault variation in fluid flow conduit potential. Stress Magnitudes and directions Stress field variation within each focus area was approximated based on regional published data and the world stress database (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2010; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012; Moeck et al., 2010; Moos and Ronne, 2010 and Reinecker et al., 2005) as well as local stress information if applicable. For faults within these focus systems we applied either a normal faulting stress regime where the vertical stress (sv) is larger than the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (sv>shmax>shmin) or strike-slip faulting stress regime where the maximum horizontal stress (shmax) is larger than the vertical stress (sv) which is larger than the minimum horizontal stress (shmax >sv>shmin) depending on the general tectonic province of the system. Based on visual inspection of the limited stress magnitude data in the Great Basin we used magnitudes such that shmin/shmax = .527 and shmin/sv= .46, which are consistent with complete and partial stress field determinations from Desert Peak, Coso, the Fallon area and Dixie valley (Hickman et al., 2000; Hickman et al., 1998 Robertson-Tait et al., 2004; Hickman and Davatzes, 2011; Davatzes and Hickman, 2006; Blake and Davatzes 2011; Blake and Davatzes, 2012). Slip and dilation tendency for the McGinness Hills geothermal field was calculated based on the faults mapped McGinness Hills area (Siler 2012, unpublished). The McGinness Hills area lies in the Basin and Range Province, as such we applied a normal faulting stress regime to the McGinness area faults, with a minimum horizontal stress direction oriented 115, based on inspection of local and regional stress determinations, as explained above. Under these stress conditions north-northeast striking, steeply dipping fault segments have the highest dilation tendency, while north-northeast striking 60° dipping fault segments have the highest tendency to slip. The McGinness Hills geothermal system is characterized by a left-step in a north-northeast striking west-dipping fault system wit...

Sensor placement for diagnosability in space-borne systems - A model-based reasoning approach

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chien, Steve; Doyle, Richard; Rouquette, Nicolas

1992-01-01

This paper presents an approach to evaluating sensor placements on the basis of how well they are able to discriminate between a given fault and normal operating modes and/or other fault modes. In this approach, a model of the system in both normal operations and fault modes is used to evaluate possible sensor placements upon the basis of three criteria. Discriminability measures how much of a divergence in expected sensor readings the two system modes can be expected to produce. Accuracy measures confidence in the particular model predictions. Timeliness measures how long after the fault occurrence the expected divergence will take place. These three metrics then can be used to form a recommendation for a sensor placement. This paper describes how these measures can be computed and illustrated these methods with a brief example.

Late Pliocene-Quaternary evolution of outermost hinterland basins of the Northern Apennines (Italy), and their relevance to active tectonics

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sani, Federico; Bonini, Marco; Piccardi, Luigi; Vannucci, Gianfranco; Delle Donne, Dario; Benvenuti, Marco; Moratti, Giovanna; Corti, Giacomo; Montanari, Domenico; Sedda, Lorenzo; Tanini, Chiara

2009-10-01

We examine the tectonic evolution and structural characteristics of the Quaternary intermontane Mugello, Casentino, and Sansepolcro basins, in the Northern Apennines fold-and-thrust belt. These basins have been classically interpreted to have developed under an extensional regime, and to mark the extension-compression transition. The results of our study have instead allowed framing the formation of these basins into a compressive setting tied to the activity of backthrust faults at their northeastern margin. Syndepositional activity of these structures is manifested by consistent architecture of sediments and outcrop-scale deformation. After this phase, the Mugello and Sansepolcro basins experienced a phase of normal faulting extending from the middle Pleistocene until Present. Basin evolution can be thus basically framed into a two-phase history, with extensional tectonics superposed onto compressional structures. Analysis of morphologic features has revealed the occurrence of fresh fault scarps and interaction of faulting with drainage systems, which have been interpreted as evidence for potential ongoing activity of normal faults. Extensional tectonics is also manifested by recent seismicity, and likely caused the strong historical earthquakes affecting the Mugello and Sansepolcro basins. Qualitative comparison of surface information with depth-converted seismic data suggests the basins to represent discrete subsiding areas within the seismic belt extending along the axial zone of the Apennines. The inferred chronology of deformation and the timing of activity of normal faults have an obvious impact on the elaboration of seismic hazard models.

Quantifying Anderson's fault types

USGS Publications Warehouse

Simpson, R.W.

1997-01-01

Anderson [1905] explained three basic types of faulting (normal, strike-slip, and reverse) in terms of the shape of the causative stress tensor and its orientation relative to the Earth's surface. Quantitative parameters can be defined which contain information about both shape and orientation [Ce??le??rier, 1995], thereby offering a way to distinguish fault-type domains on plots of regional stress fields and to quantify, for example, the degree of normal-faulting tendencies within strike-slip domains. This paper offers a geometrically motivated generalization of Angelier's [1979, 1984, 1990] shape parameters ?? and ?? to new quantities named A?? and A??. In their simple forms, A?? varies from 0 to 1 for normal, 1 to 2 for strike-slip, and 2 to 3 for reverse faulting, and A?? ranges from 0?? to 60??, 60?? to 120??, and 120?? to 180??, respectively. After scaling, A?? and A?? agree to within 2% (or 1??), a difference of little practical significance, although A?? has smoother analytical properties. A formulation distinguishing horizontal axes as well as the vertical axis is also possible, yielding an A?? ranging from -3 to +3 and A?? from -180?? to +180??. The geometrically motivated derivation in three-dimensional stress space presented here may aid intuition and offers a natural link with traditional ways of plotting yield and failure criteria. Examples are given, based on models of Bird [1996] and Bird and Kong [1994], of the use of Anderson fault parameters A?? and A?? for visualizing tectonic regimes defined by regional stress fields. Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.

First Results from a Forward, 3-Dimensional Regional Model of a Transpressional San Andreas Fault System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fitzenz, D. D.; Miller, S. A.

2001-12-01

We present preliminary results from a 3-dimensional fault interaction model, with the fault system specified by the geometry and tectonics of the San Andreas Fault (SAF) system. We use the forward model for earthquake generation on interacting faults of Fitzenz and Miller [2001] that incorporates the analytical solutions of Okada [85,92], GPS-constrained tectonic loading, creep compaction and frictional dilatancy [Sleep and Blanpied, 1994, Sleep, 1995], and undrained poro-elasticity. The model fault system is centered at the Big Bend, and includes three large strike-slip faults (each discretized into multiple subfaults); 1) a 300km, right-lateral segment of the SAF to the North, 2) a 200km-long left-lateral segment of the Garlock fault to the East, and 3) a 100km-long right-lateral segment of the SAF to the South. In the initial configuration, three shallow-dipping faults are also included that correspond to the thrust belt sub-parallel to the SAF. Tectonic loading is decomposed into basal shear drag parallel to the plate boundary with a 35mm yr-1 plate velocity, and East-West compression approximated by a vertical dislocation surface applied at the far-field boundary resulting in fault-normal compression rates in the model space about 4mm yr-1. Our aim is to study the long-term seismicity characteristics, tectonic evolution, and fault interaction of this system. We find that overpressured faults through creep compaction are a necessary consequence of the tectonic loading, specifically where high normal stress acts on long straight fault segments. The optimal orientation of thrust faults is a function of the strike-slip behavior, and therefore results in a complex stress state in the elastic body. This stress state is then used to generate new fault surfaces, and preliminary results of dynamically generated faults will also be presented. Our long-term aim is to target measurable properties in or around fault zones, (e.g. pore pressures, hydrofractures, seismicity catalogs, stress orientation, surface strain, triggering, etc.), which may allow inferences on the stress state of fault systems.

High resolution t-LiDAR scanning of an active bedrock fault scarp for palaeostress analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reicherter, Klaus; Wiatr, Thomas; Papanikolaou, Ioannis; Fernández-Steeger, Tomas

2013-04-01

Palaeostress analysis of an active bedrock normal fault scarp based on kinematic indicators is carried applying terrestrial laser scanning (t-LiDAR or TLS). For this purpose three key elements are necessary for a defined region on the fault plane: (i) the orientation of the fault plane, (ii) the orientation of the slickenside lineation or other kinematic indicators and (iii) the sense of motion of the hanging wall. We present a workflow to obtain palaeostress data from point cloud data using terrestrial laser scanning. The entire case-study was performed on a continuous limestone bedrock normal fault scarp on the island of Crete, Greece, at four different locations along the WNW-ESE striking Spili fault. At each location we collected data with a mobile terrestrial light detection and ranging system and validated the calculated three-dimensional palaeostress results by comparison with the conventional palaeostress method with compass at three of the locations. Numerous kinematics indicators for normal faulting were discovered on the fault plane surface using t-LiDAR data and traditional methods, like Riedel shears, extensional break-outs, polished corrugations and many more. However, the kinematic indicators are more or less unidirectional and almost pure dip-slip. No oblique reactivations have been observed. But, towards the tips of the fault, inclination of the striation tends to point towards the centre of the fault. When comparing all reconstructed palaeostress data obtained from t-LiDAR to that obtained through manual compass measurements, the degree of fault plane orientation divergence is around ±005/03 for dip direction and dip. The degree of slickenside lineation variation is around ±003/03 for dip direction and dip. Therefore, the percentage threshold error of the individual vector angle at the different investigation site is lower than 3 % for the dip direction and dip for planes, and lower than 6 % for strike. The maximum mean variation of the complete calculated palaeostress tensors is ±005/03. So, technically t-LiDAR measurements are in the error range of conventional compass measurements. The advantages is that remote palaeostress analysis is possible. Further steps in our research will be studying reactivated faults planes with multiple kinematic indicators or striations with t-LiDAR.

Spatiotemporal patterns of fault slip rates across the Central Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rood, Dylan H.; Burbank, Douglas W.; Finkel, Robert C.

2011-01-01

Patterns in fault slip rates through time and space are examined across the transition from the Sierra Nevada to the Eastern California Shear Zone-Walker Lane belt. At each of four sites along the eastern Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone between 38 and 39° N latitude, geomorphic markers, such as glacial moraines and outwash terraces, are displaced by a suite of range-front normal faults. Using geomorphic mapping, surveying, and 10Be surface exposure dating, mean fault slip rates are defined, and by utilizing markers of different ages (generally, ~ 20 ka and ~ 150 ka), rates through time and interactions among multiple faults are examined over 10 4-10 5 year timescales. At each site for which data are available for the last ~ 150 ky, mean slip rates across the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone have probably not varied by more than a factor of two over time spans equal to half of the total time interval (~ 20 ky and ~ 150 ky timescales): 0.3 ± 0.1 mm year - 1 (mode and 95% CI) at both Buckeye Creek in the Bridgeport basin and Sonora Junction; and 0.4 + 0.3/-0.1 mm year - 1 along the West Fork of the Carson River at Woodfords. Data permit rates that are relatively constant over the time scales examined. In contrast, slip rates are highly variable in space over the last ~ 20 ky. Slip rates decrease by a factor of 3-5 northward over a distance of ~ 20 km between the northern Mono Basin (1.3 + 0.6/-0.3 mm year - 1 at Lundy Canyon site) to the Bridgeport Basin (0.3 ± 0.1 mm year - 1 ). The 3-fold decrease in the slip rate on the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone northward from Mono Basin is indicative of a change in the character of faulting north of the Mina Deflection as extension is transferred eastward onto normal faults between the Sierra Nevada and Walker Lane belt. A compilation of regional deformation rates reveals that the spatial pattern of extension rates changes along strike of the Eastern California Shear Zone-Walker Lane belt. South of the Mina Deflection, extension is accommodated within a diffuse zone of normal and oblique faults, with extension rates increasing northward on the Fish Lake Valley fault. Where faults of the Eastern California Shear Zone terminate northward into the Mina Deflection, extension rates increase northward along the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone to ~ 0.7 mm year - 1 in northern Mono Basin. This spatial pattern suggests that extension is transferred from more easterly fault systems, e.g., Fish Lake Valley fault, and localized on the Sierra Nevada frontal fault zone as the Eastern California Shear Zone-Walker Lane belt faulting is transferred through the Mina Deflection.

Normal faulting of the Daiichi-Kashima Seamount in the Japan Trench revealed by the Kaiko I cruise, Leg 3

USGS Publications Warehouse

Kobayashi, K.; Cadet, J.-P.; Aubouin, J.; Boulegue, J.; Dubois, J.; von Huene, Roland E.; Jolivet, L.; Kanazawa, T.; Kasahara, J.; Koizumi, K.-i.; Lallemand, S.; Nakamura, Y.; Pautot, G.; Suyehiro, K.; Tani, S.; Tokuyama, H.; Yamazaki, T.

1987-01-01

A detailed topographic and geophysical survey of the Daiichi-Kashima Seamount area in the southern Japan Trench, northwestern Pacific margin, clearly defines a high-angle normal fault which splits the seamount into two halves. A fan-shaped zone was investigated along 2-4 km spaced, 100 km long subparallel tracks using narrow multi-beam (Seabeam) echo-sounder with simultaneous measurements of gravity, magnetic total field and single-channel seismic reflection records. Vertical displacement of the inboard half was clearly mapped and its normal fault origin was supported. The northern and southern extensions of the normal fault beyond the flank of the seamount were delineated. Materials on the landward trench slope are displaced upward and to sideways away from the colliding seamount. Canyons observed in the upper landward slope terminate at the mid-slope terrace which has been uplifted since start of subduction of the seamount. Most of the landward slope except for the landward walls aside the seamount comprises only a landslide topography in a manner similar to the northern Japan Trench wall. This survey was conducted on R/V "Jean Charcot" as a part of the Kaiko I cruise, Leg 3, in July-August 1984 under the auspices of the French-Japanese scientific cooperative program. ?? 1987.

Transfer zones and fault reactivation in inverted rift basins: Insights from physical modelling

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Konstantinovskaya, Elena A.; Harris, Lyal B.; Poulin, Jimmy; Ivanov, Gennady M.

2007-08-01

Lateral transfer zones of deformation and fault reactivation were investigated in multilayered silicone-sand models during extension and subsequent co-axial shortening. Model materials were selected to meet similarity criteria and to be distinguished on CT scans; this approach permitted non-destructive visualisation of the progressive evolution of structures. Transfer zones were initiated by an orthogonal offset in the geometry of a basal mobile aluminium sheet and/or by variations of layer thickness or material rheology in basal layers. Transfer zones affected rift propagation and fault kinematics in models. Propagation and overlapping rift culminations occurred in transfer zones during extension. During shortening, deviation in the orientation of frontal thrusts and fold axes occurred within transfer zones in brittle and ductile layers, respectively. CT scans showed that steep (58-67°) rift-margin normal faults were reactivated as reverse faults. The reactivated faults rotated to shallower dips (19-38°) with continuing shortening after 100% inversion. Rotation of rift phase faults appears to be due to deep level folding and uplift during the inversion phase. New thrust faults with shallow dips (20-34°) formed outside the inverted graben at late stages of shortening. Frontal ramps propagated laterally past the transfer structure during shortening. During inversion, the layers filling the rift structures underwent lateral compression at the depth, the graben fill was pushed up and outwards creating local extension near the surface. Sand marker layers in inverted graben have showed fold-like structures or rotation and tilting in the rifts and on the rift margins. The results of our experiments conform well to natural examples of inverted graben. Inverted rift basins are structurally complex and often difficult to interpret in seismic data. The models may help to unravel the structure and evolution of these systems, leading to improved hydrocarbon exploration assessments. Model results may also be used to help predict the location of basement discontinuities which may have focused hydrothermal fluids during basin formation and inversion.

On rate-state and Coulomb failure models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Gomberg, J.; Beeler, N.; Blanpied, M.

2000-01-01

We examine the predictions of Coulomb failure stress and rate-state frictional models. We study the change in failure time (clock advance) Δt due to stress step perturbations (i.e., coseismic static stress increases) added to "background" stressing at a constant rate (i.e., tectonic loading) at time t0. The predictability of Δt implies a predictable change in seismicity rate r(t)/r0, testable using earthquake catalogs, where r0 is the constant rate resulting from tectonic stressing. Models of r(t)/r0, consistent with general properties of aftershock sequences, must predict an Omori law seismicity decay rate, a sequence duration that is less than a few percent of the mainshock cycle time and a return directly to the background rate. A Coulomb model requires that a fault remains locked during loading, that failure occur instantaneously, and that Δt is independent of t0. These characteristics imply an instantaneous infinite seismicity rate increase of zero duration. Numerical calculations of r(t)/r0 for different state evolution laws show that aftershocks occur on faults extremely close to failure at the mainshock origin time, that these faults must be "Coulomb-like," and that the slip evolution law can be precluded. Real aftershock population characteristics also may constrain rate-state constitutive parameters; a may be lower than laboratory values, the stiffness may be high, and/or normal stress may be lower than lithostatic. We also compare Coulomb and rate-state models theoretically. Rate-state model fault behavior becomes more Coulomb-like as constitutive parameter a decreases relative to parameter b. This is because the slip initially decelerates, representing an initial healing of fault contacts. The deceleration is more pronounced for smaller a, more closely simulating a locked fault. Even when the rate-state Δt has Coulomb characteristics, its magnitude may differ by some constant dependent on b. In this case, a rate-state model behaves like a modified Coulomb failure model in which the failure stress threshold is lowered due to weakening, increasing the clock advance. The deviation from a non-Coulomb response also depends on the loading rate, elastic stiffness, initial conditions, and assumptions about how state evolves.

Low-Stress Upper Plate Near Subduction Zones and Implications for Temporal Changes in Loading Forces

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, K.; Hu, Y.; Yoshida, K.

2016-12-01

Subduction megathrusts are weak, often with effective friction coefficients as low as 0.03. Consequently, differential stress (S1 - S3) in the nearby upper plate is low. Compression due to plate coupling and tension due to gravity are in a subtle balance that can be tipped by small perturbations. For example, the 2011 M=9 Tohoku-oki earthquake, which has a rupture-zone-average stress drop of only a few MPa, switched offshore margin-normal stress from compression to tension and affected seismicity pattern and stress directions of various parts of the land area. The low differential stress is also reflected in spatial variations of stresses, such as with changes in topography. In the Andes, crustal earthquake focal mechanisms change from thrust-faulting in low-elevation areas to normal-faulting in high-elevation areas. Given the lack of evidence for a pervasively weak crust, the low differential stress may indicate that in general the crust near subduction zones is not critically stressed. If so, crustal earthquakes do not represent pervasive failure but only local failure due to stress, material, and fluid pressure heterogeneity. If distributed permanent deformation that creates topography is not the norm, it either happens in brief episodes or took place in the past. The outer wedge may enter a compressively or extensionally critical state due to coseismic strengthening or weakening, respectively, of the shallow megathrust in largest interplate earthquakes. Temporal changes in loading forces must occur also at much larger temporal and spatial scales in response to changes in the nature of the subducting plate and other tectonic conditions. We propose that submarine wedges and high topography in the upper plate attain their geometry in geologically brief episodes of high differential stress. They normally stay in a low-stress stable state, but their geometry often reflects high-stress episodes of critical states in the past. In other words, rocks have a sustained memory for the most traumatic moments. Except for the weaker outer wedge, the upper plate does not switch from one critical state to another in megathrust earthquake cycles, such as from compressional failure to gravitational collapse.

Structural and geophysical interpretation of Roatan Island, Honduras, Western Caribbean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sutton, Daniel Scott

Roatan Island is the largest of the Bay Islands of Honduras. These islands form an emergent crest off the Caribbean coast of Honduras called the Bonacca Ridge. The Bartlett Trough to the north and subsequent Bonacca Ridge were likely formed due to the transform fault system of the Motagua-Swan Islands Fault System. This fault system forms the tectonic plate boundary between the North American and Caribbean plates. Although the timing and kinematics are poorly constrained, the Bay Islands and the Bonacca Ridge were likely uplifted due to transpression along this left-lateral strike-slip system. With limited regional exposures along the adjacent tectonic boundary, this study aimed to present a structural interpretation for Roatan. This new interpretation is further explained through regional considerations for a suggested geologic history of the northwestern Caribbean. In order to better constrain the kinematics of uplift and exhumation of Roatan Island, structural, gravity, and magnetic surveys were conducted. Principal attention was directed to the structural relationship between the geologic units and their relationship to one another through deformation. Resulting geologic cross-sections from this study present the metamorphic basement exposed throughout the island to be in a normal structural order consisting of biotite schist and gneiss, with overlying units of chlorite schist, carbonate, and conglomerate. These units have relatively concordant strike and dip measurements, consistent with resultant magnetic survey readings. Additionally, large and irregular bodies of amphibolite and serpentinite throughout the island are interpreted to have been emplaced as mafic and ultra-mafic intrusions in weakness zones along Early Paleogene transform system fault planes. The interpretation and suggested geologic history from this study demonstrate the importance of transpressive tectonics both local to Roatan and regionally throughout geologic history. Consideration of this interpretation will help to further constrain regional studies over the northwestern Caribbean.

Upper mantle diapers, lower crustal magmatic underplating, and lithospheric dismemberment of the Great Basin and Colorado Plateau regions, Nevada and Utah; implications from deep MT resistivity surveying

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wannamaker, P. E.; Doerner, W. M.; Hasterok, D. P.

2005-12-01

In the rifted Basin and Range province of the southwestern U.S., a common faulting model for extensional basins based e.g. on reflection seismology data shows dominant displacement along master faults roughly coincident with the main topographic scarp. On the other hand, complementary data such as drilling, earthquake focal mechanisms, volcanic occurrences, and trace indicators such as helium isotopes suggest that there are alternative geometries of crustal scale faulting and material transport from the deep crust and upper mantle in this province. Recent magnetotelluric (MT) profiling results reveal families of structures commonly dominated by high-angle conductors interpreted to reflect crustal scale fault zones. Based mainly on cross cutting relationships, these faults appear to be late Cenozoic in age and are of low resistivity due to fluids or alteration (including possible graphitization). In the Ruby Mtns area of north-central Nevada, high angle faults along the margins of the core complex connect from near surface to a regional lower crustal conductor interpreted to contain high-temperature fluids and perhaps melts. Such faults may exemplify the high angle normal faults upon which the major earthquakes of the Great Basin appear to nucleate. A larger-scale transect centered on Dixie Valley shows major conductive crustal-scale structures connecting to conductive lower crust below Dixie Valley, the Black Rock desert in NW Nevada, and in east-central Nevada in the Monitor-Diamond Valley area. In the Great Basin-Colorado Plateau transition of Utah, the main structures revealed are a series of nested low-angle detachment structures underlying the incipient development of several rift grabens. All these major fault zones appear to overlie regions of particularly conductive lower crust interpreted to be caused by recent basaltic underplating. In the GB-CP transition, long period data show two, low-resistivity upper mantle diapirs underlying the concentrated conductive lower crust and nested faults, and these are advanced as melt source regions for the underplating. MT, with its wide frequency bandwidth, allows views of nearly a complete melting and emplacement process, from mantle source region, through lower crustal intrusion, to brittle regime deformational response.

Comparison of different digital elevation models and satellite imagery for lineament analysis: Implications for identification and spatial arrangement of fault zones in crystalline basement rocks of the southern Black Forest (Germany)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Meixner, J.; Grimmer, J. C.; Becker, A.; Schill, E.; Kohl, T.

2018-03-01

GIS-based remote sensing techniques and lineament mapping provide additional information on the spatial arrangement of faults and fractures in large areas with variable outcrop conditions. Due to inherent censoring and truncation bias mapping of lineaments is still a challenging task. In this study we show how statistical evaluations help to improve the reliability of lineament mappings by comparing two digital elevation models (ASTER, LIDAR) and satellite imagery data sets in the seismically active southern Black Forest. A statistical assessment of the orientation, average length, and the total length of mapped lineaments reveals an impact of the different resolutions of the data sets that allow to define maximum (censoring bias) and minimum (truncation bias) observable lineament length for each data set. The increase of the spatial resolution of the digital elevation model from 30 m × 30 m to 5 m × 5 m results in a decrease of total lineament length by about 40% whereby the average lineament lengths decrease by about 60%. Lineament length distributions of both data sets follow a power law distribution as documented elsewhere for fault and fracture systems. Predominant NE-, N-, NNW-, and NW-directions of the lineaments are observed in all data sets and correlate with well-known, mappable large-scale structures in the southern Black Forest. Therefore, mapped lineaments can be correlated with faults and hence display geological significance. Lineament density in the granite-dominated areas is apparently higher than in the gneiss-dominated areas. Application of a slip- and dilation tendency analysis on the fault pattern reveals largest reactivation potentials for WNW-ESE and N-S striking faults as strike-slip faults whereas normal faulting may occur along NW-striking faults within the ambient stress field. Remote sensing techniques in combination with highly resolved digital elevation models and a slip- and dilation tendency analysis thus can be used to quickly get first order results of the spatial arrangement of critically stressed faults in crystalline basement rocks.

Role of Growth Faulting in the Quaternary Development of Mississippi-River Delta

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mohrig, D.; George, T. J.; Straub, K. M.

2008-12-01

We use an industry grade seismic volume and observations of present-day surface topography to resolve the influence of growth faulting on evolution of Mississippi delta in southeastern Louisiana from the Pleistocene to Recent. The volume of seismic data covers an area roughly 1400 square kilometers in size and it resolves many normal faults with displacements that can be tied to movement of Jurassic Louann Salt in the subsurface. We have defined the Quaternary activity associated with 6 of these normal faults by measuring the progressive offset of strata deposited on the delta surface over time. These measurements of fault displacement were restricted to the sedimentary section positioned 150 to 1500 m beneath the delta surface. Total vertical offsets measured within this Quaternary section range from 60 to 150 m. These fault displacements represent abrupt spatial variations in subsidence rate that are between 4 and 8 percent of the regional, long-term deposition rate. Our best estimates for the Quaternary rates of fault displacement vary between 0.1 and 1 mm/yr. Five faults can be connected to deformation of the modern delta surface. Wetland on the footwall is replaced by open water on the hanging wall of these structures. In spite of this evidence for modern surface deformation, the orientations of buried, seismically resolved channel bodies do not appear to be affected by the positions of active growth faults. We will evaluate the competition between subsidence and sedimentation patterns that leads to this style of channelized stratigraphy.

Structural controls on Carlin-type gold mineralization in the gold bar district, Eureka County, Nevada

USGS Publications Warehouse

Yigit, O.; Nelson, E.P.; Hitzman, M.W.; Hofstra, A.H.

2003-01-01

The Gold Bar district in the southern Roberts Mountains, 48 km northwest of Eureka, Nevada, contains one main deposit (Gold Bar), five satellite deposits, and other resources. Approximately 0.5 Moz of gold have been recovered from a resource of 1,639,000 oz of gold in Carlin-type gold deposits in lower plate, miogeoclinal carbonate rocks below the Roberts Mountains thrust. Host rocks are unit 2 of the Upper Member of the Devonian Denay Formation and the Bartine Member of the McColley Canyon Formation. Spatial and temporal relations between structures and gold mineralization indicate that both pre-Tertiary and Tertiary structures were important controls on gold mineralization. Gold mineralization occurs primarily along high-angle Tertiary normal faults, some of which are reactivated reverse faults of Paleozoic or Mesozoic age. Most deposits are localized at the intersection of northwest- and northeast-striking faults. Alteration includes decalcification, and to a lesser extent, silicification along high-angle faults. Jasperoid (pervasive silicification), which formed along most faults and in some strata-bound zones, accounts for a small portion of the ore in every deposit. In the Gold Canyon deposit, a high-grade jasperoid pipe formed along a Tertiary normal fault which was localized along a zone of overturned fault-propagation folds and thrust faults of Paleozoic or Mesozoic age.

Rift brittle deformation of SE-Brazilian continental margin: Kinematic analysis of onshore structures relative to the transfer and accommodation zones of southern Campos Basin

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Savastano, Vítor Lamy Mesiano; Schmitt, Renata da Silva; Araújo, Mário Neto Cavalcanti de; Inocêncio, Leonardo Campos

2017-01-01

High-resolution drone-supported mapping and traditional field work were used to refine the hierarchy and kinematics of rift-related faults in the basement rocks and Early Cretaceous mafic dikes onshore of the Campos Basin, SE-Brazil. Two sets of structures were identified. The most significant fault set is NE-SW oriented with predominantly normal displacement. At mesoscale, this fault set is arranged in a rhombic pattern, interpreted here as a breached relay ramp system. The rhombic pattern is a penetrative fabric from the thin-section to regional scale. The second-order set of structures is an E-W/ESE-WNW system of normal faults with sinistral component. These E-W structures are oriented parallel with regional intrabasinal transfer zones associated with the earliest stages of Campos Basin's rift system. The crosscutting relationship between the two fault sets and tholeiitic dikes implies that the NE-SW fault set is the older feature, but remained active until the final stages of rifting in this region as the second-order fault set is older than the tholeiitic dikes. Paleostresses estimated from fault slip inversion method indicated that extension was originally NW-SE, with formation of the E-W transfer, followed by ESE-WNW oblique opening associated with a relay ramp system and related accommodation zones.

Late Quaternary faulting in the Sevier Desert driven by magmatism.

PubMed

Stahl, T; Niemi, N A

2017-03-14

Seismic hazard in continental rifts varies as a function of strain accommodation by tectonic or magmatic processes. The nature of faulting in the Sevier Desert, located in eastern Basin and Range of central Utah, and how this faulting relates to the Sevier Desert Detachment low-angle normal fault, have been debated for nearly four decades. Here, we show that the geodetic signal of extension across the eastern Sevier Desert is best explained by magma-assisted rifting associated with Plio-Pleistocene volcanism. GPS velocities from 14 continuous sites across the region are best-fit by interseismic strain accumulation on the southern Wasatch Fault at c. 3.4 mm yr -1 with a c. 0.5 mm yr -1 tensile dislocation opening in the eastern Sevier Desert. The characteristics of surface deformation from field surveys are consistent with dike-induced faulting and not with faults soling into an active detachment. Geologic extension rates of c. 0.6 mm yr -1 over the last c. 50 kyr in the eastern Sevier Desert are consistent with the rates estimated from the geodetic model. Together, these findings suggest that Plio-Pleistocene extension is not likely to have been accommodated by low-angle normal faulting on the Sevier Desert Detachment and is instead accomplished by strain localization in a zone of narrow, magma-assisted rifting.

Late Quaternary faulting in the Sevier Desert driven by magmatism

PubMed Central

Stahl, T.; Niemi, N. A.

2017-01-01

Seismic hazard in continental rifts varies as a function of strain accommodation by tectonic or magmatic processes. The nature of faulting in the Sevier Desert, located in eastern Basin and Range of central Utah, and how this faulting relates to the Sevier Desert Detachment low-angle normal fault, have been debated for nearly four decades. Here, we show that the geodetic signal of extension across the eastern Sevier Desert is best explained by magma-assisted rifting associated with Plio-Pleistocene volcanism. GPS velocities from 14 continuous sites across the region are best-fit by interseismic strain accumulation on the southern Wasatch Fault at c. 3.4 mm yr−1 with a c. 0.5 mm yr−1 tensile dislocation opening in the eastern Sevier Desert. The characteristics of surface deformation from field surveys are consistent with dike-induced faulting and not with faults soling into an active detachment. Geologic extension rates of c. 0.6 mm yr−1 over the last c. 50 kyr in the eastern Sevier Desert are consistent with the rates estimated from the geodetic model. Together, these findings suggest that Plio-Pleistocene extension is not likely to have been accommodated by low-angle normal faulting on the Sevier Desert Detachment and is instead accomplished by strain localization in a zone of narrow, magma-assisted rifting. PMID:28290529

Extension across Tempe Terra, Mars, from measurements of fault scarp widths and deformed craters

USGS Publications Warehouse

Golombek, M.P.; Tanaka, K.L.; Franklin, B.J.

1996-01-01

Two independent methods, with no common assumptions, have been used to estimate the extension across the heavily deformed Tempe Terra province of the Tharsis region of Mars. One method uses measurements of normal fault scarp width with average scarp slope data for simple grabens and rifts on Mars to estimate the fault throw, which, combined with sparse fault dip data, can be used to estimate extension. Formal uncertainties in this method are only slightly greater than those in other methods, given that the total uncertainty is dominated by the likely uncertainty in the fault dip (assumed to be 60????15??). Measurement of normal fault scarp widths along two N25??-50??W directed traverses across Tempe Terra both yield about 22??16 km of extension (or ???2% strain across the northern traverse and nearly 3% across the southern one). About three quarters of the extension has occurred during the two main phases of Tharsis-related deformation from Middle/Late Noachian to Early Hesperian and from Late Hesperian to Early Amazonian, with more extension closer to the center of Tharsis during the first phase. Extension across the region was also determined by measuring the elongation and elongation direction of all ancient Noachian impact craters without ejecta blankets, which predate most of the deformation. Results have been corrected for initial non circularity of craters, established from similar measurements of young (post deformation) impact craters, yielding a statistically significant mean strain of 1.96??0.35% in a N38????10??W direction across Tempe Terra (extension of ???20??4, comparable in magnitude and direction to the average result from the scarp measurement method). Both methods indicate an average extension for single normal fault scarps (and shortening across wrinkle ridges for the crater method) of ???100 m. The agreement between the results of the two independent methods in overall extension and average single normal fault extension argues that the average scarp slope and fault dip data in the fault scarp width method accurately represent the actual extension across the observed structures. This conclusion supports existing geometric and kinematic models for structural features on Mars. A preliminary estimate of the total circumferential extension around Tharsis (at a radius of ???2500 km) is roughly 60??42 km; total hoop strain is about 0.4% distributed heterogeneously (Tempe Terra is the most highly strained region on Mars). Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.

Extension across Tempe Terra, Mars, from measurements of fault scarp widths and deformed craters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Golombek, M. P.; Tanaka, K. L.; Franklin, B. J.

Two independent methods, with no common assumptions, have been used to estimate the extension across the heavily deformed Tempe Terra province of the Tharsis region of Mars. One method uses measurements of normal fault scarp width with average scarp slope data for simple grabens and rifts on Mars to estimate the fault throw, which, combined with sparse fault dip data, can be used to estimate extension. Formal uncertainties in this method are only slightly greater than those in other methods, given that the total uncertainty is dominated by the likely uncertainty in the fault dip (assumed to be 60°+/-15°). Measurement of normal fault scarp widths along two N25°-50°W directed traverses across Tempe Terra both yield about 22+/-16 km of extension (or ~2% strain across the northern traverse and nearly 3% across the southern one). About three quarters of the extension has occurred during the two main phases of Tharsis-related deformation from Middle/Late Noachian to Early Hesperian and from Late Hesperian to Early Amazonian, with more extension closer to the center of Tharsis during the first phase. Extension across the region was also determined by measuring the elongation and elongation direction of all ancient Noachian impact craters without ejecta blankets, which predate most of the deformation. Results have been corrected for initial non circularity of craters, established from similar measurements of young (post deformation) impact craters, yielding a statistically significant mean strain of 1.96+/-0.35% in a N38°+/-10°W direction across Tempe Terra (extension of ~20+/-4, comparable in magnitude and direction to the average result from the scarp measurement method). Both methods indicate an average extension for single normal fault scarps (and shortening across wrinkle ridges for the crater method) of ~100 m. The agreement between the results of the two independent methods in overall extension and average single normal fault extension argues that the average scarp slope and fault dip data in the fault scarp width method accurately represent the actual extension across the observed structures. This conclusion supports existing geometric and kinematic models for structural features on Mars. A preliminary estimate of the total circumferential extension around Tharsis (at a radius of ~2500 km) is roughly 60+/-42 km; total hoop strain is about 0.4% distributed heterogeneously (Tempe Terra is the most highly strained region on Mars).

Systematic assessment of fault stability in the Northern Niger Delta Basin, Nigeria: Implication for hydrocarbon prospects and increased seismicities

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Adewole, E. O.; Healy, D.

2017-03-01

Accurate information on fault networks, the full stress tensor, and pore fluid pressures are required for quantifying the stability of structure-bound hydrocarbon prospects, carbon dioxide sequestration, and drilling prolific and safe wells, particularly fluid injections wells. Such information also provides essential data for a proper understanding of superinduced seismicities associated with areas of intensive hydrocarbon exploration and solid minerals mining activities. Pressure and stress data constrained from wells and seismic data in the Northern Niger Delta Basin (NNDB), Nigeria, have been analysed in the framework of fault stability indices by varying the maximum horizontal stress direction from 0° to 90°, evaluated at depths of 2 km, 3.5 km and 4 km. We have used fault dips and azimuths interpreted from high resolution 3D seismic data to calculate the predisposition of faults to failures in three faulting regimes (normal, pseudo-strike-slip and pseudo-thrust). The weighty decrease in the fault stability at 3.5 km depth from 1.2 MPa to 0.55 MPa demonstrates a reduction of the fault strength by high magnitude overpressures. Pore fluid pressures > 50 MPa have tendencies to increase the risk of faults to failure in the study area. Statistical analysis of stability indices (SI) indicates faults dipping 50°-60°, 80°-90°, and azimuths ranging 100°-110° are most favourably oriented for failure to take place, and thus likely to favour migrations of fluids given appropriate pressure and stress conditions in the dominant normal faulting regime of the NNDB. A few of the locally assessed stability of faults show varying results across faulting regimes. However, the near similarities of some model-based results in the faulting regimes explain the stability of subsurface structures are greatly influenced by the maximum horizontal stress (SHmax) direction and magnitude of pore fluid pressures.

Stress state reconstruction and tectonic evolution of the northern slope of the Baikit anteclise, Siberian Craton, based on 3D seismic data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moskalenko, A. N.; Khudoley, A. K.; Khusnitdinov, R. R.

2017-05-01

In this work, we consider application of an original method for determining the indicators of the tectonic stress fields in the northern Baikit anteclise based on 3D seismic data for further reconstruction of the stress state parameters when analyzing structural maps of seismic horizons and corresponded faults. The stress state parameters are determined by the orientations of the main stress axes and shape of the stress ellipsoid. To calculate the stress state parameters from data on the spatial orientations of faults and slip vectors, we used the algorithms from quasiprimary stress computation methods and cataclastic analysis, implemented in the software products FaultKinWin and StressGeol, respectively. The results of this work show that kinematic characteristics of faults regularly change toward the top of succession and that the stress state parameters are characterized by different values of the Lode-Nadai coefficient. Faults are presented as strike-slip faults with normal or reverse component of displacement. Three stages of formation of the faults are revealed: (1) partial inversion of ancient normal faults, (2) the most intense stage with the predominance of thrust and strike-slip faults at north-northeast orientation of an axis of the main compression, and (3) strike-slip faults at the west-northwest orientation of an axis of the main compression. The second and third stages are pre-Vendian in age and correlate to tectonic events that took place during the evolution of the active southwestern margin of the Siberian Craton.

Detailed seismicity analysis revealing the dynamics of the southern Dead Sea area

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Braeuer, B.; Asch, G.; Hofstetter, R.; Haberland, Ch.; Jaser, D.; El-Kelani, R.; Weber, M.

2014-10-01

Within the framework of the international DESIRE (DEad Sea Integrated REsearch) project, a dense temporary local seismological network was operated in the southern Dead Sea area. During 18 recording months, 648 events were detected. Based on an already published tomography study clustering, focal mechanisms, statistics and the distribution of the microseismicity in relation to the velocity models from the tomography are analysed. The determined b value of 0.74 leads to a relatively high risk of large earthquakes compared to the moderate microseismic activity. The distribution of the seismicity indicates an asymmetric basin with a vertical strike-slip fault forming the eastern boundary of the basin, and an inclined western boundary, made up of strike-slip and normal faults. Furthermore, significant differences between the area north and south of the Bokek fault were observed. South of the Bokek fault, the western boundary is inactive while the entire seismicity occurs on the eastern boundary and below the basin-fill sediments. The largest events occurred here, and their focal mechanisms represent the northwards transform motion of the Arabian plate along the Dead Sea Transform. The vertical extension of the spatial and temporal cluster from February 2007 is interpreted as being related to the locking of the region around the Bokek fault. North of the Bokek fault similar seismic activity occurs on both boundaries most notably within the basin-fill sediments, displaying mainly small events with strike-slip mechanism and normal faulting in EW direction. Therefore, we suggest that the Bokek fault forms the border between the single transform fault and the pull-apart basin with two active border faults.

Dynamic Rupture Simulations of 11 March 2011 Tohoku Earthquake

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kozdon, J. E.; Dunham, E. M.

2012-12-01

There is strong observational evidence that the 11 March 2011 Tohoku earthquake rupture reached the seafloor. This was unexpected because the shallow portion of the plate interface is believed to be frictionally stable and thus not capable of sustaining coseismic rupture. In order to explore this seeming inconsistency we have developed a two-dimensional dynamic rupture model of the Tohoku earthquake. The model uses a complex fault, seafloor, and material interface structure as derived from seismic surveys. We use a rate-and-state friction model with steady state shear strength depending logarithmically on slip velocity, i.e., there is no dynamic weakening in the model. The frictional parameters are depth dependent with the shallowest portions of the fault beneath the accretionary prism being velocity strengthening. The total normal stress on the fault is taken to be lithostatic and the pore pressure is hydrostatic until a maximum effective normal stress is reached (40 MPa in our preferred model) after which point the pore pressure follows the lithostatic gradient. We also account for poroelastic buffering of effective normal stress changes on the fault. The off-fault response is linear elastic. Using this model we find that large stress changes are dynamically transmitted to the shallowest portions of the fault by waves released by deep slip that are reflected off the seafloor. These stress changes are significant enough to drive the rupture through a velocity strengthening region that is tens of kilometers long. Rupture to the trench is therefore consistent with standard assumptions about depth-dependence of subduction zone properties, and does not require extreme dynamic weakening, shallow high stress drop asperities, or other exceptional processes. We also make direct comparisons with measured seafloor deformation and onshore 1-Hz GPS data from the Tohoku earthquake. Through these comparisons we are able to determine the sensitivity of these data to several dynamic source parameters (prestress, seismogenic depth, and the extent and frictional properties of the shallow plate interface). We find that there is a trade-off between the near-trench frictional properties and effective normal stress, particularly for onshore measurements. That is, the data can be equally well fit by either a velocity strengthening or velocity weakening near-trench fault segment, provided that compensating adjustments are also made to the maximum effective normal stress on the fault. On the other hand, the seismogenic depth is fairly well constrained from the static displacement field, independent of effective normal stress and near-trench properties. Finally, we show that a water layer (modeled as an isotropic linear acoustic material) has a negligible effect on the rupture process. That said, the inclusion of a water layer allows us to make important predictions concerning hydroacoustic signals that were observed by ocean bottom pressure sensors.

SW-NE extensional low-angle faults in Mallorca, key for integrating the Balearic Promontory in the Miocene tectonic evolution of the western Mediterranean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Booth-Rea, Guillermo; Moragues, Lluis; Azañón, Jose Miguel; Roldán, Francisco J.; Pérez-Peña, Jose Vicente

2017-04-01

Mallorca forms part of the external thrust belt of the Betics. However, presently, it is surrounded by thin crust of the Valencia Trough and the Algero-balearic basin and is disconnected from the Internal Betic domains. The main tectonic structures described in the island correspond to thrusts that structured the Tramuntana and Llevant Serres during the Late Oligocene to Middle Miocene. Meanwhile, normal faults with NW-SE transport determined the development of Serravallian to Tortonian basins. Here we present a preliminary tectonic model for Mallorca after revising the contacts between supposed thrusts in Tramuntana and Serres de Llevant. This analysis shows the existence of important low-angle extensional faults with SW-NE transport, older than the high-angle NW-SE directed extensional system. Extensional deformation is more pervasive towards the Serres de Llevant where normal faults represent most of the contacts between units. This extensional gradient is favored by ENE-WSW strike-slip transfer faults, and probably, by the faults that bound the southeastern margin of Mallorca. These faults produced the extensional collapse of Mallorca during the Late Langhian-Serravallian, dismembering the external from the internal zones, which now occupy a more westerly position in the core of the Betics.

Directional semivariogram analysis to identify and rank controls on the spatial variability of fracture networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hanke, John R.; Fischer, Mark P.; Pollyea, Ryan M.

2018-03-01

In this study, the directional semivariogram is deployed to investigate the spatial variability of map-scale fracture network attributes in the Paradox Basin, Utah. The relative variability ratio (R) is introduced as the ratio of integrated anisotropic semivariogram models, and R is shown to be an effective metric for quantifying the magnitude of spatial variability for any two azimuthal directions. R is applied to a GIS-based data set comprising roughly 1200 fractures, in an area which is bounded by a map-scale anticline and a km-scale normal fault. This analysis reveals that proximity to the fault strongly influences the magnitude of spatial variability for both fracture intensity and intersection density within 1-2 km. Additionally, there is significant anisotropy in the spatial variability, which is correlated with trends of the anticline and fault. The direction of minimum spatial correlation is normal to the fault at proximal distances, and gradually rotates and becomes subparallel to the fold axis over the same 1-2 km distance away from the fault. We interpret these changes to reflect varying scales of influence of the fault and the fold on fracture network development: the fault locally influences the magnitude and variability of fracture network attributes, whereas the fold sets the background level and structure of directional variability.