The oblique intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge with Charlie-Gibbs transform fault

The junction angle between the western Charlie-Gibbs transform fault and the spreading axis of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge diverges by 40° from the orthogonal intersection assumed in many studies of plate boundaries. This has been established by a surface-ship reconnaissance and by mapping fault trends in a transponder-navigated deep-tow survey of the fracture valley 25 km from the intersection. One set of normal faults trends 325–330°, parallel to the obliquely spreading ridge axis, and another set trends 275°, parellel to the direction of relative plate motion. Although the near-bottom survey was in the theoretically inactive part of the fracture zone, beyond the transform fault section, there is evidence for recent motion on faults that cut the thick sediment fill of the fracture valley.Oblique spreading of a ridge axis near a transform fault may result from distortion of the regional stress field by a strike-slip couple. Tension parallel to the long axis of the strike-slip strain ellipse, which is responsible for oblique normal faulting in transform valleys, causes oblique dike injection and oblique faulting in the axial rift valley. These effects extend further from transfrom fault intersections on slow-spreading ridges than on fast-spreading rises.     

Immature and mature transform zones near a hot spot: The South Iceland Seismic Zone and the Tjörnes Fracture Zone (Iceland)

We describe and compare the two transform zones that connect the Icelandic rift segments and the mid-Atlantic Ridge close to the Icelandic hot spot, in terms of geometry of faulting and stress fields. The E–W trending South Iceland Seismic Zone is a diffuse shear zone with a Riedel fault pattern including N0°–N20°E trending right-lateral and N60°–N70°E trending left-lateral faults. The dominant stress field in this zone is characterised by NW–SE extension, in general agreement with left-lateral transform motion. The Tjörnes Fracture Zone includes three major lineaments at different stages of development. The most developed, the Húsavík–Flatey Fault, presents a relatively simple geometry with a major fault that trends ESE–WNW. The stress pattern is however complex, with two dominant directions of extension, E–W and NE–SW on average. Both these extensions are compatible with the right-lateral transform motion and reveal different behaviours in terms of coupling. Transform motion has unambiguous fault expression along a mature zone, a situation close to that of the Tjörnes Fracture Zone. In contrast, transform motion along the immature South Iceland Seismic Zone is expressed through a more complicate structural pattern. At the early stage of the transform process, relatively simple stress patterns prevail, with a single dominant stress field, whereas, when the transform zone is mature, moderate and low coupling situations may alternate, as a function of volcanic–tectonic crises and induce changes in stress orientation.     

Accretion of oceanic crust under conditions of oblique spreading

The accretion of oceanic crust under conditions of oblique spreading is considered. It is shown that deviation of the normal to the strike of mid-ocean ridge from the extension direction results in the formation of echeloned basins and ranges in the rift valley, which are separated by normal and strike-slip faults oriented at an angle to the axis of the mid-ocean ridge. The orientation of spreading ranges is determined by initial breakup and divergence of plates, whereas the within-rift structural elements are local and shallow-seated; they are formed only in the tectonically mobile rift zone. As a rule, the mid-ocean ridges with oblique spreading are not displaced along transform fracture zones, and stresses are relaxed in accommodation zones without rupture of continuity of within-rift structural elements. The structural elements related to oblique spreading can be formed in both rift and megafault zones. At the initial breakup and divergence of continental or oceanic plates with increased crust thickness, the appearance of an extension component along with shear in megafault zones gives rise to the formation of embryonic accretionary structural elements. As opening and extension increase, oblique spreading zones are formed. Various destructive and accretionary structural elements (nearly parallel extension troughs; basin and range systems oriented obliquely relative to the strike of the fault zone and the extension axis; rhomb-shaped extension basins, etc.) can coexist in different segments of the fault zone and replace one another over time. The Andrew Bain Megafault Zone in the South Atlantic started to develop as a strike-slip fault zone that separated the African and Antarctic plates. Under extension in the oceanic domain, this zone was transformed into a system of strike-slip faults divided by accretionary structures. It is suggested that the De Geer Megafault Zone in the North Atlantic, which separated Greenland and Eurasia at the initial stage of extension that followed strike-slip offset, evolved in the same way.     

Deformation produced by oblique rifting

With oblique rifting, both extension perpendicular to the rift trend and shear parallel to the rift trend contribute to rift formation. The relative amounts of extension and shear depend on α, the acute angle between the rift trend and the relative displacement direction between opposite sides of the rift. Analytical and experimental (clay) models of combined extension and left-lateral shear suggest the fault patterns produced by oblique rifting. If α is less than 30°, conjugate sets of steeply dipping strike-slip faults form in rifts. Sinistral and dextral strike-slip faults trend subparallel and at large angles to the rift trend, respectively. If α is about 30°, strike-slip, oblique-slip and/or normal faults form in rifts. Faults with sinistral and dextral strike slip trend subparallel and at large angles to the rift trend, respectively. Normal faults strike about 30° counterclockwise from the rift trend. If α exceeds 30°, normal faults form in rifts. They have moderate dips and generally strike obliquely to the rift trend and to the relative displacement direction between opposite sides of the rift. If α equals 90°, the normal faults strike parallel to the rift trend and perpendicularly to the displacement direction.The modeling results apply to the Gulf of California and Gulf of Aden, two Tertiary continental rift systems produced by combined extension and shear. Our results explain the presence and trends of oblique-slip and strike-slip faults along the margins of the Gulf of California and the oblique trend (relative to the rift trend) of many normal faults along the margins of both the Gulf of California and the Gulf of Aden.     

Strike-slip faults parallel to crustal spreading axes: data from Iceland and the Afar Depression

Slickenside studies in regions of crustal spreading such as Iceland and the Afar Depression, East Africa, reveal that a significant number of faults parallel and close to rift axes are strike-slip rather than normal. Therefore, the pattern of brittle deformation in these regions does not conform to the classic two-dimensional schemes of oceanic tectonics and pre-oceanic rifting. Dip-slip and strike-slip faulting presumably alternated along or in the vicinity of spreading axes, indicate a varying stress field and a combination of transverse and longitudinal movements. In Iceland, strike-slip faults parallel to rifts are observed both west and east of the rift system as well as in a median area between overlapping rifts; the mechanisms proposed for their origin include accommodation of oblique convergence or divergence of crustal sections due to variations of spreading directions along axis and the interaction of overlapping rifts. In the Afar Depression this kind of fault is recorded west of the rift of Asal and can be imputed to reflect an interaction among rifts in the vicinity of the Afar triple junction. Rift-parallel strike-slip faults cannot however be assumed to be a feature of all crustal spreading axes due to the peculiarity of the examined regions: both of them are hot-spot areas and the Afar Depression lies at a triple junction.     

辽东湾北部地区走滑构造特征与油气富集规律

辽东湾北部地区右行走滑构造特征较为典型,主要表现为:沿走滑断裂带发育雁行式伸展断裂;剖面上发育花状构造;走滑断裂沿走向呈“S”型或反“S”型波状弯曲;沿走滑断裂带断槽与断鼻构造相间分布。分析认为,渐新世晚期,辽东湾北部地区南北向拉张、东西向挤压的区域应力场控制了右行走滑构造的形成,断槽与断鼻构造相间分布是由于沿走滑断裂带局部应力场性质发生改变所致。右行走滑断裂的“S”型弯曲部位为增压弯部位,走滑断裂两侧断块在此汇聚,地层因应力集中而形成断鼻构造;右行走滑断裂的反“S”型弯曲部位为释拉张部位,走滑断裂两侧断块在此离散,地层因拉张而发生断陷形成断槽。受走滑构造所控制,油气沿走滑断层自断槽向断鼻方向运移、聚集而成藏。研究走滑构造发育特征,对于预测圈闭分布以和研究油气富集规律具有重要意义。     

Tectonic stress regimes,rift extension and transform motion: The South Iceland Seismic Zone

The South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) is located at the junction of three rift segments in southwestern Iceland. The presence of different types of faulting and of differently orientated subgroups in Upper Pliocene to Holocene formations indicate polyphase tectonism. We measured 736 minor faults at 25 sites. Two types of relationships between stress regimes are represented. The first type, named IDS (inhomogeneous data set), is characterized by the presence of two types of fault mechanisms, normal and strike-slip, consistent with a single direction of extension. The second type, named OSR (opposite stress regimes), is characterized by the presence of perpendicular directions of extensions for a single type (normal or strike-slip) of faulting. Because of contradictory chronological criteria, we infer that the OSR alternated during the brittle tectonic activity of the SISZ. Two stress regimes, primary and secondary, are characterized by directions of extension NW-SE and NE-SW, respectively. The general fracture pattern characterized for the primary stress regime in the SISZ includes NNE-SSW trending right-lateral strike-slip faults, conjugate ENE-WSW trending left-lateral faults and NE-SW normal faults. This distribution is quite consistent with a Riedeltype model of fault pattern in a left-lateral shear zone. The stress states characterized based on analysis of both the earthquake focal mechanisms and the recent faulting show great similarity in terms of stress directions. The main difference is the larger ratio of strike-slip motions representing 71 % of the total population in the case of earthquake focal mechanisms, whereas for the whole set of faults the proportion of strike-slip faulting was 50 %. We explain that a temporal evolution of the tectonic regime in the SISZ region, accompanied by a gradual change in stress field, starts with rift-type pure extension and progressively leads to development of preferentially strike-slip structures in the kinematic context of leftlateral transform motion.     

Tectonic stress regimes,rift extension and transform motion: the South Iceland Seismic Zone

Abstract

The South Iceland Seismic Zone (SISZ) is located at the junction of three rift segments in southwestern Iceland. The presence of different types of faulting and of differently orientated subgroups in Upper Pliocene to Holocene formations indicate polyphase tectonism. We measured 736 minor faults at 25 sites. Two types of relationships between stress regimes are represented. The first type, named IDS (inhomogeneous data set), is characterized by the presence of two types of fault mechanisms, normal and strike-slip, consistent with a single direction of extension. The second type, named OSR (opposite stress regimes), is characterized by the presence of perpendicular directions of extensions for a single type (normal or strike-slip) of faulting. Because of contradictory chronological criteria, we infer that the OSR alternated during the brittle tectonic activity of the SISZ. Two stress regimes, primary and secondary, are characterized by directions of extension NW-SE and NE-SW, respectively. The general fracture pattern characterized for the primary stress regime in the SISZ includes NNE-SSW trending right-lateral strike-slip faults, conjugate ENE-WSW trending left-lateral faults and NE-SW normal faults. This distribution is quite consistent with a Riedel- type model of fault pattern in a left-lateral shear zone. The stress states characterized based on analysis of both the earthquake focal mechanisms and the recent faulting sow great similarity in terms of stress directions. The main difference is the larger ratio of strike-slip motions representing 71% of the total population in the case of earthquake focal mechanisms, whereas for the whole set of faults the proportion of strike-slip faulting was 50 %. We explain that a témpora evolution of the tectonic regime in the SISZ region, accompanied by a gradual change in stress field, starts with rift-type pure extension and progressively leads to development of preferentially strike-slip structures in the kinematic context of left- lateral transform motion. © Elsevier, Paris     

Variable coupling across weak oceanic transform fault: Flateyjarskagi, Iceland

Tectonic studies near major fault zones often reveal multiple tectonic regimes. Do these regimes indicate multiphase tectonism with distinct episodes, or do they reflect single‐phase tectonism with time‐space perturbations along lithospheric weakness zones? Based on tectonic analyses in Flateyjarskagi, North Iceland, we reconstruct the late Cenozoic tectonic regimes related to right‐lateral transform motion along the Tjörnes Fracture Zone, which connects the Kolbeinsey Ridge and the North Iceland Rift. Rifting and transform motion have induced eight normal and strike‐slip regimes, four of which are inconsistent with the overall kinematics (as a probable result of stress drop, elastic rebound and dyke injection). For the consistent regimes, contrasting angles between extension and transform trends reflect repeated changes from moderate (25°) to very low mechanical coupling (85°) across the transform zone. Thus, the tectonic regimes need not be interpreted in terms of numerous tectonic episodes but rather as a consequence of variable coupling across the transform zone.     

Micro- and macroseismicity of the Dead Sea rift and off-coast eastern Mediterranean

The seismicity of Israel has been evaluated from documented earthquake records of the present century and two years of routine monitoring of microearthquake activity by means of eleven stations spreading from the Gulf of Elat to northern Galilee.

The Dead Sea rift asserts itself as the tectonic feature that accounts for the seismicity of our region. The activity peaks at zones where the fault branches sideways or at a junction with other fault systems. In particular, the crescent fault of Wadi Faria seems to be a zone of high strain accumulation. This is probably the site of many historical earthquakes which caused inland and coastal damage. It is thus found that the most active fault today which constitutes the greatest seismic risk to Israeli metropolitan areas extends along the Dead Sea rift from 31.2°N to 33.4°N.

The seismicity around the Dead Sea conforms with the proposed movement along en-echelon faults. While the southwest segment is presently inactive, most of the seismic activity there is limited to the neighbourhood of its eastern shore with extreme seismicity at its southern tip near the prehistorical site of Bab-a-Dara'a. The seismicity of the Arava is much lower than the Jordan-Dead Sea section. The seismicity of the Israeli coast was found to be somewhat higher than that of the Arava.     

新疆巴楚地区走滑断裂对碳酸盐岩构造裂缝发育的控制

走滑断裂如何控制附近构造裂缝的发育程度是碳酸盐岩地区构造裂缝定量研究的重要内容,对碳酸盐岩裂缝油气藏的储层预测具有重要意义。通过对野外测量的测量面距断裂的距离和构造裂缝面密度的定量关系进行统计分析,发现新疆巴楚地区的2条走滑断裂(张扭性皮羌走滑断裂和压扭性西克尔走滑断裂)控制的构造裂缝的密度与距断裂的距离呈指数关系,即远离断裂,裂缝密度呈指数下降,且存在一个裂缝密度骤减的范围,这个范围内为断裂控制的裂缝带;范围以外为区域控制的裂缝带,此带裂缝密度变化缓慢,相对稳定。新疆巴楚碳酸盐岩地区压扭性走滑断裂控制的构造裂缝的带宽与走滑断距的比值是张扭性走滑断裂的10倍以上,说明碳酸盐岩地区压扭性走滑断裂控制的构造裂缝带远比张扭性断裂控制的宽,压扭性走滑断裂附近的构造裂缝相对更发育,更有利于裂缝型碳酸盐岩储层的发育。     

惠民凹陷南坡北北西向走滑断裂带的发育特征及成因分析

通过对惠民南坡前中生代断裂的平面分布和三维地震剖面特征的分析,识别出了一组在平面上相互平行,在剖面上具有负花状构造的北北西向走滑断裂带。通过对负花状构造的形态及其卷入地层特征的分析,认为该组断裂带经历过两期不同性质的走滑运动,在中生代经历了较强的左行张性走滑,在新生代经历了较弱的右行压性走滑。其演化过程与鲁西地块上北北西向走滑断层的演化过程一致,均属于郯庐断裂区域性走滑作用所形成的帚状构造体系的一部分,郯庐断裂在中生代的左行走滑和新生代的右行走滑是控制其发展演化的主要因素。     

Holocene displacement field at an emerged oceanic transform-ridge junction: The Husavik-Flatey Fault – Gudfinnugja Fault system,North Iceland

Our research focuses on Holocene tectonics in a broad area surrounding the junction between the active NW–SE trending Husavik-Flatey transform fault (HFF) and the N–S Gudfinnugja normal fault (GF), an exceptional example of onshore transform-ridge intersection. We mapped 637 minor and major faults, and measured the dip-slip and strike-slip offset components on the major faults. We also mapped 1016 individual tension fractures, as well as opening directions on the most reliable ones. The results indicate that this portion of the HFF comprises major right-stepping segments, with both normal and right-lateral strike-slip components, linked by local normal faults. The entire GF always shows pure dip-slip normal displacements, with a strong decrease in offset at the junction with the HFF. Fissure opening directions are in the range N45°-65°E along the HFF, N90°E along the GF, and N110°E within the area south of the HFF and west of the GF. Fault kinematics and fissure openings suggest a displacement field in good agreement with most of present-day GPS measurements, although our data indicate the possible long-term Holocene effects of the superimposition of magma-related stresses on the regional tectonic stresses. The HFF and the GF work together as a structural system able to accommodate differential crustal block motion, and possibly past dyke intrusions.     

Physical models of rifting and transform faulting, due to ridge push in a wedge-shaped oceanic lithosphere

By scaled physical modelling, we have investigated the mechanical response to gravitational forces in an oceanic lithosphere, overlying a less dense asthenosphere. In the models, an upper wedge-shaped layer of sand represented an oceanic lithosphere (0–35 Ma old, with a half-spreading velocity of 3 cm/yr), and a lower layer of polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), mixed with dense wolframite powder, represented the asthenosphere. In the models, as in nature, isostatic compensation resulted in uplift of ridges and subsidence on their flanks. The resulting relief was responsible for ridge push. We tested two main configurations: straight ridges and offset ridges. In all the models, ridge push was sufficient to cause plate motion, underlying advection, and symmetrical rifting at the ridge axis. There was no need to impose plate motions through external pistons and motors. In models of straight ridges, the style of normal faults in the axial rift zone depended on the local thickness of the brittle sand layer. For thick layers, normal faults rafted out from the active zone of rifting, creating a fossil topography of tilted blocks, between faults dipping toward the ridge. In a model of an offset ridge, with thin lithosphere at the ridge crest and no embedded weakness, ridge push was responsible for a short transform fault, linking en-échelon rifts. In a similar model, but with thick lithosphere, an oblique rift formed at about 20° to the offset trace. We conclude that ridge push was not adequate to create an ideal transform fault. In a model of an offset ridge, with an embedded thin vertical layer of pure PDMS at 90° to the ridge, transform motion concentrated along this weak layer, and the resulting structural style was very similar to that in nature. On the basis of these results, we infer that, in nature, (1) ridge push can indeed drive plate motion, and (2) ridge push can drive strike-slip motion on transform faults, provided that these are weaker than the adjacent oceanic lithosphere and that they form early in the history of spreading.     

Spatial instability of the rift in the St. Paul multifault transform fracture system,Atlantic Ocean

The structure of the acoustic basement of the eastern part of the St. Paul multifault transform fracture system hosts rift paleovalleys and a paleonodal depression that mismatch the position of the currently active zones. This displacement zone, which is composed of five fault troughs, is unstable in terms of the position of the rift segments, which jumped according to redistribution of stresses. The St. Paul system is characterized by straightening of the transform transition between two remote segments of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR). The eastern part of the system contains anomalous bright-spot-like reflectors on the flattened basement, which is a result of atypical magmatism, that forms the standard ridge relief of the acoustic basement. Deformations of the acoustic basement have a presedimentation character. The present-day deformations with lower amplitude in comparison to the basement are accompanied by acoustic brightening of the sedimentary sequence. The axial Bouguer anomalies in the east of the system continue to the north for 120 km from the active segments of the St. Paul system. Currently seismically active segments of the spreading system are characterized by increasing amplitudes of the E–W displacement along the fault troughs. Cross-correlation of the lengths of the active structural elements of the MAR zone (segments of the ridge and transform fracture zones of displacement) indicates that, statistically, the multifault transform fracture system is a specific type of oceanic strike-slip faults.     

鲁西北西向断裂系与沂沭断裂带晚中生代演化关系及其动力学背景探讨

晚中生代是华北地块构造演化的转折时期。由出露于沂沭断裂带、鲁西地体、鲁东地体的中生代地层、岩浆,结合断裂活动年代学、区域地质等资料分析,可以将沂沭断裂带晚中生代构造演化划分出距今约160Ma、130～110Ma、90～80Ma等3个关键时期,并分别与左行压剪、左行张剪、右行压剪构造活动相对应。晚中生代沂沭断裂带与鲁西北西向断裂系间的几何学、运动学、年代学的共轭匹配关系表明,它们为特定构造动力学背景下形成的一组共轭断裂系。同时对鲁东地体晚中生代构造演化、鲁东北西向断裂系特征,以及沂沭断裂带、北西向断裂系晚中生代构造演化的动力学背景进行探讨。     

郯庐断裂中段新生代右行走滑位移

依据走滑拉分盆地中盆地沉降（或抬升）速率与边界断层走滑速率之间的数值关系,通过对夹在郯庐断裂中段两分支断层间的潍北凹陷沉积埋藏史的恢复,间接求取郯庐断裂中段新生代右行走滑位移。潍北凹陷内不同构造位置4口井的埋藏史恢复结果表明：凹陷新生代经历了古近纪早、中期的快速沉降,古近纪末-新近纪初的抬升剥蚀和中新世以来的缓慢沉降3个阶段;各阶段的平均沉降速率分别为0.142 9、-0.072 8、0.032 5 km/Ma。通过对太平洋板块与欧亚板块间俯冲速率和方向变化的分析推断,中新世中期（39.5 Ma）太平洋板块由北西向俯冲转而变成正西向俯冲所产生的西南向应力分量是导致新生代郯庐断裂开始右行走滑的主要因素,且走滑活动持续至今。根据走滑活动发生和持续的时间,结合各个时期内潍北凹陷的沉降和抬升速率,计算出郯庐断裂中段新生代右行走滑位移量为15 km左右。     

Tectonics and sedimentation in the Fohnsdorf-Seckau Basin (Miocene, Austria): from a pull-apart basin to a half-graben

The Miocene intramontane Fohnsdorf-Seckau Basin is situated at the junction of the sinistral Mur-Mürz-fault system and the dextral Pöls-Lavanttal fault system. The basin comprises a 2,400-m-thick coal-bearing fluviodeltaic-lacustrine succession (Lower to Middle Miocene, Upper Karpatian?/Lower Badenian) which is overlain by a 1,000-m-thick alluvio-deltaic conglomeratic succession (Apfelberg Formation, ?Middle/Upper Badenian) in the south. A three-stage model for the basin evolution has been reconstructed from structural analysis and basin fill geometries. During a first pull-apart phase, subsidence occurred along ENE-trending, sinistral strike-slip faults of the Mur-Mürz fault system and NE-SW to N-S-trending normal faults, forming a composite pull-apart basin between overstepping en-echelon strike-slip faults. The Seckau and Fohnsdorf sub-basins are considered as two adjacent pull-aparts which merged into one basin. During the second phase, N-S to NNW-SSE extension and normal faulting along the southern basin margin fault formed a half-graben, filled by wedge-shaped alluvial strata (Apfelberg Formation). During the third phase, after the end of basin sedimentation, the dextral Pöls-Lavanttal fault system reshaped the western basin margin into a positive flower structure.     

西藏易贡滑坡源区坡体赋存的地质结构及其滑动模式

西藏易贡滑坡源区BH01、BH02与BH03斜坡体呈不稳定状, 严重威胁下游工程设施安全。为防控源区坡体再次高位滑动致灾, 亟待开展斜坡赋存的地质结构及变形趋势分析。文章基于2 m精度的Pleiades数字高程模型及地形影像, 厘定了定量地貌学、地质构造与滑坡学3方面证据, 确定易贡滑坡源区具有前缘叠瓦式逆冲断裂区单面山、逆冲断裂区块体、走滑断裂区块体、走滑断裂区北东向拉裂槽4个次级斜坡单元。现场地质调查发现源区坡体内发育倾向南东、南西两组主控结构面, 这两组结构面是滑坡前缘逆冲断裂、后缘走滑断裂渐进活动的结果。与山脊近直交的北东向拉裂槽可能与晚期东西伸展变形背景相关。研究认为在地质构造影响下, 易贡源区斜坡沿着北东向拉裂槽下延结构面呈现多级、多期次深层滑移, 具有岩质滑坡蠕滑-拉裂-剪断型滑动机制。依据源区拉裂缝扩展的深度判断, 源区BH02坡体具有潜在加速滑移风险, 且BH03坡体亦不稳定。      

Tjörnes fracture zone. New and old seismic evidences for the link between the North Iceland rift zone and the Mid-Atlantic ridge

The Tjörnes facture zone (TFZ) connects the EW extension of the Mid-Atlantic ridge north of Iceland to the extension of the North volcanic zone (NVZ) of Iceland. Earthquakes up to magnitude 7 (Ms) can occur in TFZ, volcanic eruptions have been observed and large crustal deformations are expected in similar way as have been observed in the NVZ. Most of the zone is below ocean, which limits the historical information and geological observations. For studying the dynamics of the zone we must rely on interpretation and modelling based on seismic observations, especially on microearthquake observations for the last 10 years. In this paper we demonstrate how microearthquakes can be applied to map the details of the plate boundary, and how this information can be applied to find epicenters and fault planes of large historical earthquakes, also how seismic information can be applied in dynamic modelling and to infer spatial and temporal interplay in activity, and to enhance hazard assessment.