内蒙古狼山地区新生代断层活动特征：对正断层生长的限定

阿拉善地块东北缘的狼山地区新生代发育有3期构造,分别为中新世NW-SE向挤压形成的逆断层,NNE向挤压形成的左行走滑断层以及晚新生代NW-SE向伸展形成的高角度正断层。结合阿拉善地块东缘的新生代构造,认为狼山地区新生代断层的活动与青藏高原东北缘的逐步扩展、应力场逐渐调整有关。狼山山前正断层目前是一条贯通的断层,其演化基本符合恒定长度断层生长模型,断层中间部位滑动速率最大,向断层两侧逐渐递减。从不同方法得出的滑动速率来看,进入全新世以来,断层滑动速率有逐渐变小的趋势。结合阿拉善地块内部及东缘断层震源机制解以及断层的几何学、运动学特征,认为河套—吉兰泰盆地和银川盆地属于两个性质不同的伸展盆地,两者通过构造转换带相连,转换区内断层表现为右行走滑。转换区5级以上地震可能是受区域性NE-SW向挤压,近南北向右行断层活动的表现。     

鹤岗盆地断裂构造特征与地应力演化史分析

鹤岗盆地断裂构造发育,对煤炭勘查和煤矿生产造成巨大影响。基于鹤岗盆地内13个矿区346条正断层、逆断层的走向分布规律,分析了各期构造应力与区内断裂的生成关系。研究表明:区内逆断层走向以NE、NNE、NW为优势方向,正断层走向以NE、NNE、NW、NNW为优势方向;含煤盆地经历了燕山期(NW-SE向挤压)、喜马拉雅早期(NW-SE向伸展)、喜马拉雅晚期(NW-SE向挤压)三期构造运动,燕山期、喜马拉雅晚期形成NE、NNE向逆断层与NW及NNW向正断层,喜马拉雅早期形成NW向逆断层与NE、NNE向正断层;研究区断裂优势方向的多变性说明受到多期不同性质应力场的控制。     

伸展边界方向对伸展盆地正断层走向的影响——来自平面砂箱实验的启示

五种不同边界几何条件的平面砂箱实验模型表明,一个方向的伸展变形可因伸展边界方向的变化形成不同走向的正断层,伸展裂陷盆地中不同走向的正断层并非一定代表不同方向区域构造应力作用、或多期构造变形的结果。伸展裂陷盆地正断层走向受伸展边界走向和构造伸展的方向共同控制,伸展边界的控制力随距离增大而逐渐衰减。伸展边界附近的断层走向主要受伸展边界方向控制,大致反映伸展边界方向。盆地内部断层走向主要受构造伸展方向控制(趋向于垂直构造伸展方向),主要反映构造伸展方向。盆地伸展边界方向的变化可以引起伸展裂陷盆地内部断层走向的转向。因铲式正断层上盘滚动变形产生的正断层,其走向平行于铲式边界断层的走向。     

高邮凹陷南断阶调节带断层构造特征分析与数值模拟

在高邮凹陷南断阶北界上,始新世出现的总体北北东走向、左阶雁列状真②断层带内发育了许庄与方巷调节带。各反射层构造图显示,这两个调节带内部发育了连接与非连接两大类断层。其中连接断层可分为垂向连接、斜向连接与弧形连接3类,而非连接断层可分为同向平行断层、区域斜向正断层、斜向与横向断坡拉张断层、斜向与垂向连接-扩展断层、派生斜列断层、网状断层8类。本文通过有限差分法与有限单元法数值模拟,再现了调节带内各类断层的发育过程。结果表明,调节带内的断层一方面是区域应力直接作用的产物,另一方面是边界断层斜向拉张与扩展、断坡弯曲等影响的结果。故而,调节带内断层的发育受多种因素影响,常形成复杂的断层组合。     

南海北部新生代盆地断裂系统及构造动力学影响因素

利用地震资料、油气勘探资料分析了南海北部大陆边缘珠江口-琼东南新生代盆地断裂系统的时空差异及动力学成因机制.珠江口-琼东南盆地古近系裂陷构造层以NE向、近EW向基底正断层构成的伸展断裂系统的几何学、运动学沿着盆地走向有明显变化,盆地内部隐伏的区域性和局部的NW向断裂及相关构造变形带构成伸展断裂系统之间的构造变换带.在空间上,区域性的云开、松涛-松南等NW向构造变换带以西为NE-NEE向正断层构成的"非拆离"伸展断层系,以东为NE向正断层、近EW向正断层(走滑正断层)复合而成的拆离伸展断层系.在时间上,古近纪裂陷作用可划分为早(文昌组沉积期)、中(恩平组/崖城组沉积期)、晚(珠海组/陵水组沉积期)3个有明显差异的裂陷期.裂陷早期,盆地西部以平面式正断层控制的简单地堑、半地堑为主,伸展量相对较小,东部则以铲式正断层控制的复式地堑、半地堑为主,伸展量相对大,断层向深部收敛在中地壳韧性层构成拆离的伸展断层系统.裂陷中期,琼东南盆地、珠江口盆地西部断裂具有继承性活动特点,珠江口盆地东部发育NWW-EW向伸展断层,并向深层切割早期浅层拆离断层,形成深层拆离伸展断层系统,而沿着云开构造变换带发育反转构造.裂陷晚期,琼东南盆地、珠江口盆地西部断裂具有活动性减弱特点,琼东南盆地东部发育NWW-EW向伸展断层,形成深层拆离伸展断层系统,而沿着琼中央构造变换带发育反转、走滑构造.珠江口-琼东南盆地不同区段断裂系统及其构造演化的差异性受盆地基底先存构造、地壳及岩石圈结构及伸展量等多方面因素的影响,拆离伸展断层系统与发育NWW向"贯穿"断裂的基底构造薄弱带、现今地壳局部减薄带相关,南海扩展由东而西的迁移诱导北部大陆边缘块体沿着先存NW向深大断裂发生走滑旋转是导致变换构造带两侧差异伸展的动力学原因,应力场及岩石圈热结构变化是引起拆离断层深度变化的重要因素.     

南美奥连特前陆盆地斜坡带低幅度构造形成物理模拟

奥连特盆地是一个位于南美安第斯山前的弧后前陆盆地,盆地东部斜坡带发育大量低幅度构造,并与油气有密切关系。为明确奥连特盆地东部斜坡带低幅度构造的形成过程及其主控因素,深入分析了低幅度构造的发育特征,针对性地开展了构造物理模拟实验研究。结果表明,奥连特盆地东部斜坡带低幅度构造主要与逆断层、反转断层和走滑断层相伴生,一般位于断层上盘,控制其发育的动力学机制主要是断层的正反转作用和走滑作用,而且先存正断层向深部变缓,有利于断层后期的反转以及低幅度构造的发育。     

转换—正断拉张作用和不对称盆地:另一种拉分盆地模式

大陆转换断层常常伴生—些较小型的拉分盆地。但是,常常发育于转换断层附近的大型盆地,并不符合拉分模式,沿死海裂谷和El Pilar断层伴生的几个盆地的构造证明了这种观点,这些盆地极不对称,其一侧边界基本上沿着线状转换断层,另—侧则是—条近平行的正断层,表明走滑运动和转换—正断层拉张作用是同时发生的。这种现象不符合经典的断层理论,其原因可能是沿离散板块边缘转换断层比附近地壳软弱得多。分析发育于相对较硬的地壳内一条软弱转换断层附近的水平主应力方向表明,聚敛和离散板块运动分别造成了与断裂近垂直的挤压和拉张为特征的应力场。沿圣安德烈斯、死海以及El Pilar转换系统的构造样式表明,沿转换断层走向这两种应力状态可随时间发生预期的变化。     

青藏高原东北缘武威盆地内部全新世伸展构造特征及其成因机制

武威盆地位于青藏高原东北缘北祁连山与龙首山之间的河西走廊东端,全新世期间处于北东向挤压环境中。野外地质调查发现,武威盆地内部发育有两组走向近于垂直的正断层,即北西西走向和北东走向的正断层。光释光测年结果表明,两组正断层在0.70 ka、0.49~0.18 ka发生了两期构造活动。分析结果认为,北西西走向正断层是由武威盆地内部坟门山隆起持续隆升所产生的垂直于地层层面的差异应力作用所形成;北东走向正断层可能是盆地两侧近东西走向左旋走滑断裂控制下形成的张性破裂（T破裂）,也不排除是由在青藏高原北东向挤压作用下,与挤压应力相垂直方向上的伸展作用形成。因此,晚全新世期间武威盆地的构造变形受到青藏高原东北缘构造的控制。      

苏北盆地金湖凹陷铜城断裂带的构造演化特征

苏北金湖凹陷内部断裂发育并活动强烈,不同规模、性质、时期的断层交织在一起共同控制了凹陷内油气资源的形成与分布。铜城断裂带位于金湖凹陷南部,是龙岗次凹和汊涧次凹之间的构造高带。古近系沉积期间经历了吴堡和三垛运动,形成复杂的断裂带,组成断鼻—断块油藏。铜城断层平面上表现为一条近南北向的线状主位移带,主断层倾向南段东倾,北段西倾;铜城断层两侧发育一系列次级正断层,东盘次级正断层走向北东,倾向北西,西盘次级正断层走向近东西向,倾向北北西,这些次级正断层与铜城断层呈锐角相交,构成雁列构造。关于铜城断裂带的构造演化特征,长期以来存在不同的认识。基于构造演化剖面的分析并结合构造应力场数值模拟,认为铜城断裂带古近纪经历了由简单到复杂的演化过程,阜宁组沉积期,在NW—SE向区域拉张应力作用下,受杨村断层的控制,在杨村断层下降盘形成一系列与其近平行的次级断层;三垛组沉积晚期,在近东西向区域挤压应力作用下形成铜城逆断层,并发育断展背斜;三垛组沉积末期,铜城断层表现为"P"剪切走滑正断层。     

柴达木盆地北缘地区新生代构造特征及变形规律

柴达木盆地北缘地区的新生代构造主要为一系列断层转折褶皱、断层传播褶皱。在邻近祁连山山前的北东背斜带中主要发育规模相对较小、隆升幅度较低的断层传播褶皱和与之相伴产出的突破断层,开始形成于古新世上新世早期;中部背斜带中发育的构造主要为断层转折褶皱和少量断层传播褶皱,开始形成于中新世上新世中期;远离山前的南西背斜带主要发育断层转折褶皱和少量滑脱褶皱,开始于上新世晚期更新世。研究区的台阶状逆断层及其相关褶皱是由祁连山山前向盆地按照一定的序次、以背驮式渐次扩展的,这个扩展过程自古新世一直持续到现在。     

张性断裂带内部结构特征及油气运移和保存研究

断裂带是一个宽度、长度和高度均与断距呈正比关系的三维地质体,具有典型的二分结构：即断层核和破碎带。断层核由多种类型的断层岩和后期胶结物组成,具有分选差,粘土含量高,颗粒粒径小等特征,表现为具有比围岩更低的孔渗性。破碎带同围岩相比发育大量的裂缝,裂缝的密度随着离断层核距离的增大而逐渐减小,孔渗性较高。断层岩类型取决于断移地层的岩性、成岩程度和断裂变形时期。对于同生断层而言,泥岩和不纯净的砂岩主要发生泥岩涂抹作用;纯净砂岩发生解聚作用,形成颗粒重排的变形带。中成岩阶段发生断裂变形,泥岩发生泥岩涂抹作用,不纯净的砂岩发生碎裂作用和层状硅酸盐涂抹作用,形成碎裂岩和层状硅酸盐 框架断层岩;纯净砂岩主要发生碎裂作用,形成碎裂岩。晚成岩阶段发生断裂变形,碎裂作用成为主要的变形机制,泥岩破碎形成大量断层泥,不纯净的砂岩和纯净的砂岩均形成碎裂岩,其中纯净砂岩形成的碎裂岩由于石英的压溶胶结变得更致密。因此不同成岩阶段、不同岩性形成的断层岩类型不同,泥岩涂抹的排替压力高于层状硅酸盐 框架断层岩和碎裂岩,即使都是碎裂岩,其渗透率相差7个数量级。从断裂带结构看油气运移和保存,断层垂向封闭主要靠剪切型泥岩涂抹的连续性,侧向封闭能力取决于断层岩物性,物性很高的碎裂岩自身封闭能力很差,依靠两盘岩性对接封闭油气,最小断距决定油水界面位置。物性很低的断层岩一般能封住一定高度的油气柱,其是断裂带中泥质含量的函数。断层在储盖层段变形机制差异,决定了断裂输导与封闭油气的耦合,即破碎带双向输导充注,盖层段剪切型泥岩涂抹顶部封闭,断层核遮挡成藏。     

Particle-size distributions of low-angle normal fault breccias: Implications for slip mechanisms on weak faults

Slip on low-angle normal faults is not well understood because they slip at high angles to the maximum principal stress directions. These faults are considered weak and their motion cannot be explained using standard Byerlee friction and Andersonian fault mechanics. One proposed mechanism for weak fault slip is reduction of effective normal stress induced by high pore-fluid pressure. This mechanism is likely to allow dilation of the fault zone and, therefore, affect the particle-size distribution of fault breccia, which has been shown to differ for unconstrained versus constrained comminution. High pore-fluid pressure can cause dilation which leads to unconstrained comminution. We analyze samples from the footwalls of two low-angle normal faults in southern California (West Salton and Whipple detachment faults) to determine the fault-rock textures and grain-size distributions (GSDs). The GSDs are fractal with fractal dimensions ranging from ∼2.6 to 3.4. The lower end of this range is thought to reflect constrained comminution and only occurs in samples from the footwall of a small-offset “minidetachment” fault about 100 m below the Whipple detachment. The higher fractal dimensions are common in cataclasites related to the main faults and also reflect constrained comminution but are overprinted by shear localization. Our GSDs are similar to those from natural and laboratory-deformed fault rocks from strong faults. We conclude that if high pore-fluid pressure aided slip on these faults, it did not strongly affect mechanisms by which brecciation occurs, implying that fluid pressure generally was sublithostatic. Independent evidence exists for lithostatic fluid pressure that having dropped or cycled to hydrostatic levelsin the minidetachment, but our GSD results suggest that periods of high fluid pressure were too short or infrequent for unconstrained comminution to have been the dominant cataclastic mechanism. Fractal dimensions of ∼2.6 for these samples suggest that little subsequent abrasion occurred due to shear localization, consistent with minor offset on the minidetachment. Main detachment footwall samples with fractal dimensions ≥3 reflect constrained comminution followed by shear-related abrasion, and suggest that seismic cycling was important in formation of main detachment cataclasites.     

Plio-Quaternary changes of the normal fault architecture in the Central Apennines (Italy)

Abstract

The definition of the active fault geometry and kinematics in young evolving orogens may be difficult owing to changes in the structural architecture which may occur with a frequence of few hundred thousand years. Cases from the central Apennines well illustrate this problem. The Avezzano-Bussi and Vallelonga-Salto Valley fault systems (65 and 85 km long, respectively) show clear evidence of Pliocene-early Pleistocene activity and have been responsible for the formation of intermontane basins. Available geological data, however, indicate that only minor segments (the Tre Monti and Trasacco faults, both 7 km long) of the mentioned faults have to be considered active during the late Pleistocene-Holocene, as faults accommodating minor deformations inside an intermontane basin. The L'Aquila fault system underwent significant geometrical and kinematic modifications during the Quaternary, with the reactivation of minor portions of parallel normal faults to draw a new system of en-echelon normal-oblique left-lateral faults. The Laga Mts. fault experienced an along-fault activity migration. The portion of the fault which was active earlier during the Quaternary shows a significant decrease or end of the activity while a portion previously not active displays impressive evidence of late Pleistocene-Holocene displacements. Structural changes in the intermontane basins bounded by the Colfiorito fault system also indicate that the intensity of the tectonic activity decreased during the Quaternary. Not defining the structural evolution in the above mentioned cases would imply wrong conclusions for both the fault geometry and kinematics which may be delivered for seismotectonics and seismic hazard assessment. This typically leads to overestimate the fault length and the expected magnitude or to the increase in the number of seismogenic sources affecting an area. Finally, the definition of the structural evolution permits to select between different geometrical options in terms of active faulting framework (e.g. a system of parallel normal faults vs. a system of en-echelon normal oblique faults as in the case of the L'Aquila fault system) related to different geometries at depth (detachment normal fault vs. high-angle oblique fault). © 2001 Éditions scientifiques et médicales Elsevier SAS     

地层错动引起的上覆饱和黏土层变形特性的离心试验研究

地震断层错动会引起上覆土层变形,从而造成断层附近的建筑结构、管线产生附加的变形和内力引起破坏。通过一个土工离心机试验分析上覆饱和黏土层在4步连续断层错动作用下的静力响应行为。着重分析断层错动引起的地层变形的范围、不均匀沉降区的分布特点、剪切裂缝在土层传播路径及地表开裂的位置等工程上重点关注的问题。得到以下几点认识：(1) 基岩断层错动引起的地层变形范围基本上不受基岩错动量大小的影响。(2) 断层错动引起地层的不均匀沉降区基本呈三角形分布,其地表宽度约为1倍左右的土层厚度。(3) 基岩错动引起的主剪切裂缝基本沿竖直方向向上传播,其传播距离取决于基岩错动量及土体的破坏应变。(4) 基岩断层错动在主剪区的下盘一侧边缘会产生张拉裂缝,且产生张拉裂缝所需基岩错动量远小于产生剪切裂缝所需的错动量。     

Geologic and geochemical study of the Picacho gold mine, California: gold in a low-angle normal fault environment

The Picacho gold deposit, located in southeasternmost California, is a low-grade gold deposit in a nearly flat-lying denudational fault of regional extent and probable Oligocene age. The deposit is hosted by intensely fractured and faulted Mesozoic leucogranite and by chloritic augen gneiss and schist, and is overlain unconformably and in fault contact by unmineralized late Oligocene Quechan volcanic rocks. The deposit is structurally characterized by normal and normal-oblique faults of low to high dip at shallow depths in the mine, merging downward with a synchronous, low-dipping ore-stage extensional fault system (the Chocolate Mountains/Gatuna Fault) of probable Oligocene age in deeper portions of the deposit. The fault system was infiltrated during much of its active life by hot, dilute, highly exchanged meteoric water having temperatures of 170°–210° C, salinity <2 wt% NaCl equivalent and calculated δ¹⁸O_fluid between −2.6‰ and 5.2‰. This main-stage fluid precipitated quartz, pyrite, and specular hematite, accompanied by silicification and sericitization. Auriferous ore-stage pyrite was precipitated late in the fault evolution probably by mixing of reducing ore fluid with relatively oxidized main-stage fluid during regional Oligocene extension on the Chocolate Mountains/Gatuna Fault. The Picacho deposit is characterized by a gold–arsenic–antimony geochemical signature consistent with bisulfide complexing of gold in reducing fluid, in contrast with typical denudation fault-hosted base-metal-rich deposits associated with high-salinity fluids elsewhere in the southwestern United States. The deposit is overprinted by Miocene normal faults having a wide range of dips. These postore faults are associated with red earthy hematite precipitation, pyrite oxidation, and supergene enrichment of gold. Editorial handling: L. Meinert     

深大断裂对松辽断陷盆地群南部的控制作用

通过野外地质调查及对各断陷典型地震剖面和构造发育史剖面的综合研究,系统探讨了研究区深大断裂对断陷盆地群的控制作用。以西拉木伦河-长春-延吉板块拼接带、赤峰-开原超岩石圈断裂为边界,将研究区自南向北分为辽西盆地区、辽北盆地区和吉西盆地区等3个一级构造分区;根据控盆断裂及其断陷盆地群的时空分布、断陷构造样式、不同时期伸展量等特征将辽北盆地区分为西部、中西部、中东部等3个二级断陷区。西拉木伦河断裂控制了西部区断陷的形成和分布;嫩江—八里罕断裂和孙吴—大庆—阜新断裂对中西部断陷区的控盆效应大体相近;孙吴—大庆—阜新断裂与佳木斯—伊通断裂共同对中东部断陷区起着重要的控制作用;昌图断陷主要受佳木斯—伊通断裂所控制。辽北盆地区主要表现为双断式地堑,断陷群的形成和分布不仅受北北东向断裂控制,也受到近东西向的西拉木伦河断裂和赤峰—开原断裂重新活动的控制。中西部断陷区伸展率具有从九佛堂组沉积期—沙海组沉积期—阜新组沉积期依次减小的变化规律。中东部断陷区与中西部断陷区存在明显差异,NNE向与近EW向深大断裂对两区构造分区控制程度不同。     

龙泉山断裂带隐伏断层氡气特征及其活动性分析

龙泉山断裂构造带作为龙门山推覆带的前陆隆起,严格控制了成都平原东边界,其活动性历来受到人们的关注。通过对龙泉山断裂带的氡气进行测量,可以有效地判断隐伏断层的位置及其活动性。测量结果显示,龙泉山断裂带北段东坡活动性强于西坡,主断层的活动性明显强于边缘隐伏断层,4条断层的活动性由强到弱依次为合兴场断层红花塘断层龙泉驿断层松林场断层。龙泉山断裂带同一条断层在地表由多个破碎带组成,其氡气异常特征与断层活动性和破碎带特征呈正相关性,即断层活动性越强,氡气异常特征越显著。龙泉山断裂带氡气平均异常浓度是背景值的9.6倍,将各异常带峰值浓度与背景值进行对比分析,大致归纳出了龙泉山地区隐伏断层活动性的相对判别标准。     

Principal fault zone width and permeability of the active Neodani fault, Nobi fault system, Southwest Japan

The internal structure and permeability of the Neodani fault, which was last activated at the time of the 1891 Nobi earthquake (M8.0), were examined through field survey and experiments. A new exposure of the fault at a road construction site reveals a highly localized feature of the past fault deformation within a narrow fault core zone. The fault of the area consists of three zone units towards the fault core: (a) protolith rocks; (b) 15 to 30 m of fault breccia, and (c) 200 mm green to black fault gouge. Within the fault breccia zone, cataclastic foliation oblique to the fault has developed in a fine-grained 2-m-wide zone adjacent to the fault. Foliation is defined by subparallel alignment of intact lozenge shaped clasts, or by elongated aggregates of fine-grained chert fragments. The mean angle of 20°, between the foliation and the fault plane suggests that the foliated breccia accommodated a shear strain of γ<5 assuming simple shear for the rotation of the cataclastic foliation. Previous trench surveys have revealed that the fault has undergone at least 70 m of fault displacement within the last 20,000 years in this locality. The observed fault geometry suggests that past fault displacements have been localized into the 200-mm-wide gouge zone. Gas permeability analysis of the gouges gives low values of the order of 10⁻²⁰ m². Water permeability as low as 10⁻²⁰ m² is therefore expected for the fault gouge zone, which is two orders of magnitude lower than the critical permeability suggested for a fault to cause thermal pressurization during a fault slip.     

鲜水河断裂带色拉哈—康定段新发现的活动断层：木格措南断裂

鲜水河断裂带位于青藏高原东缘,是中国大陆内部地震活动性最强的大型活动断裂带之一。大量研究证据表明,鲜水河断裂带色拉哈—康定段未来几十年内发生破坏性强震的风险较高。目前正在规划建设的国家重大交通基础建设工程——川藏铁路,将在康定折多山地区直接穿越鲜水河活动断裂带。本研究通过高分辨率卫星影像的地质地貌解译和详细的野外构造地质填图,新发现一条发育于色拉哈断裂和折多塘断裂之间折多山花岗岩体内的长约24km的全新世活动断层,该断裂空间上可分成北、中、南三段,呈(正滑)左旋右阶雁行状排列,并将其命名为“木格措南断裂”。该活动断裂的发现对完善鲜水河断裂带色拉哈—康定段的精细几何图像和构造组合特征,准确评价鲜水河断裂带的地震危险性具有重要意义,并为川藏铁路施工建设和安全运营提供了重要科学数据支撑。     

3D seismic analysis of the structure and evolution of a salt-influenced normal fault zone: A test of competing fault growth models

In this paper we determine the structure and evolution of a normal fault system by applying qualitative and quantitative fault analysis techniques to a 3D seismic reflection dataset from the Suez Rift, Egypt. Our analysis indicates that the October Fault Zone is composed of two fault systems that are locally decoupled across a salt-bearing interval of Late Miocene (Messinian) age. The sub-salt system offsets pre-rift crystalline basement, and was active during the Late Oligocene-early Middle Miocene. It is composed of four, planar, NW–SE-striking segments that are hard- linked by N–S-striking segments, and up to 2 km of displacement occurs at top basement, suggesting that this fault system nucleated at or, more likely, below this structural level. The supra-salt system was active during the Pliocene-Holocene, and is composed of four, NW–SE-striking, listric fault segments, which are soft-linked by unbreached relay zones. Segments in the supra-salt fault system nucleated within Pliocene strata and have maximum throws of up to 482 m. Locally, the segments of the supra-salt fault system breach the Messinian salt to hard-link downwards with the underlying, sub-salt fault system, thus forming the upper part of a fault zone composed of: (i) a single, amalgamated fault system below the salt and (ii) a fault system composed of multiple soft-linked segments above the salt. Analysis of throw-distance (T-x) and throw-depth (T-z) plots for the supra-salt fault system, isopach maps of the associated growth strata and backstripping of intervening relay zones indicates that these faults rapidly established their lengths during the early stages of their slip history. The fault tips were then effectively ‘pinned’ and the faults accumulated displacement via predominantly downward propagation. We interpret that the October Fault Zone had the following evolutionary trend; (i) growth of the sub-salt fault system during the Oligocene-to-early Middle Miocene; (ii) cessation of activity on the sub-salt fault system during the Middle Miocene-to-?Early Pliocene; (iii) stretching of the sub- and supra-salt intervals during Pliocene regional extension, which resulted in mild reactivation of the sub-salt fault system and nucleation of the segmented supra-salt fault system, which at this time was geometrically decoupled from the sub-salt fault system; and (iv) Pliocene-to-Holocene growth of the supra-salt fault system by downwards vertical tip line propagation, which resulted in downward breaching of the salt and dip-linkage with the sub-salt fault system. The structure of the October Fault Zone and the rapid establishment of supra-salt fault lengths are compatible with the predictions of the coherent fault model, although we note that individual segments in the supra-salt array grew in accordance with the isolated fault model. Our study thereby indicates that both coherent and isolated fault models may be applicable to the growth of kilometre-scale, basin-bounding faults. Furthermore, we highlight the role that fault reactivation and dip-linkage in mechanically layered sequences can play in controlling the three-dimensional geometry of normal faults.