Tectonic analysis of mine tremor mechanisms from the Upper Silesian Coal Basin

Fault network of the Upper Silesian Coal Basin (USCB) is built of sets of strike-slip, oblique-slip and dip-slip faults. It is a typical product of force couple which acts evenly with the parallel of latitude, causing horizontal and anti-clockwise movement of rock-mass. Earlier research of focal mechanisms of mine tremors, using a standard fault plane solution, has shown that some events are related to tectonic directions in main structural units of the USCB. An attempt was undertaken to analyze the records of mine tremors from the period 1992–1994 in the selected coal fields. The digital records of about 200 mine tremors with energy larger than 1×10⁴ J (M _L >1.23) were analyzed with SMT software for seismic moment tensor inversion. The decomposition of seismic moment tensor of mine tremors was segmented into isotropic (I) part, compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) part and double-couple (DC) part. The DC part is prevalent (up to 70%) in the majority of quakes from the central region of the USCB. A group of mine tremors with large I element (up to 50%) can also be observed. The spatial orientation of the fault and auxiliary planes were obtained from the computations for the seismic moment DC part. Study of the DC part of the seismic moment tensor made it possible for us to separate the group of events which might be acknowledged to have their origin in unstable energy release on surfaces of faults forming a regional structural pattern. The possible influence of the Cainozoic tectonic history of the USCB on the recent shape of stress field is discussed.     

Relations between coal transformation and geometric features of faults in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin

The paper presents the results of studies of fault zones carried out in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin. Three types of changes of the coal were distinguished: degradative changes connected with a deterioration in the quality of the coal; aggradational changes connected with an increase in the quality of coal; and the type of coal which shows no significant change in the values of its parameters.     

Seismic activation of tectonic stresses by mining

Hard coal mining in the area of the Bytom Syncline (Upper Silesia Coal Basin, Poland) has been associated with the occurrence of high-energy seismic events (up to 10⁹ J; local magnitude up to 4.0), which have been recorded by the local mining seismological network and regional seismological network. It has been noticed that the strongest seismic events occur when the mine longwall alignments coincide with the syncline axis. Data recorded by the improved local seismic network in the Bobrek Mine allow the estimation of the depths of the events’ hypocentres during excavation of longwall panel 3 as it approached the syncline axis. The recorded data were also used to estimate the location of the rupture surface and stress distribution in the seismic focus region. It was concluded that tectonic stresses, particularly horizontal stress components, are essential in the distribution of seismic tremors resulting from reverse faulting. The stresses induced by mining activity are only triggering tectonic deformations. The hypocentres of the strongest seismic events during mining of longwall panel 3/503 were located 300–800 m deeper than the level of coal seam 503.     

Recognition of the zones of seismic hazard in Polish Coal mines by using a seismic method

In the Upper Silesian Coal Field the seismic hazard induced by mining operations in collieries is closely related to the rockburst hazard. A seismic method is used for premonitory recognition of the zones of seismic hazard. It takes advantage of the relationship between the velocity of propagation of seismic waves and the state of stress existing in the rock. It consists of the determination of the velocity field of artificially induced seismic waves in a studied fragment of the rock, and of locating the velocity anomaly. The position of the velocity anomaly zones and their intensity are the basis for estimating the seismic hazard in advance of mining works.     

Characteristics of mining tremors within the near-wave field zone

Mining in the Upper Silesian Coal Basin, Poland, induces tremors with magnitudes ranging up to 4.3. The recordings of mining tremors from the near-wave fiel and the far-wave field show different characteristics of ground motion.Knowledge of these characrteristics, has an enormous practical importance when solving the problems of resistance of underground workings against seismic impacts. The near-wave field is characterized by a domination of the high frequency components of motion, and the seismograms often are a single pulse Geomechanical interpretation of them leads to the conclusion that this pulse corresponds to a single exciting force. This fact is also reflected in the rockbursts: the potentially damaging ground motion which is restricted to the seismic source region.The seismometric data have shown that the peak particle velocities from a hypocentral distance of 200–300 m, resulted in more than 3 cm/s. The peak ground velocities appear to be dependent on stress drop , and peak particle velocities reaching 5 m/s may occur. The computational example proves that in a thick coal seam the pulse with the stress =1.8 MPa from the tremor at the short source distance can generate the rockburst.     

Analysis of spatial distribution of mining tremors occurring in Rudna copper mine (Poland)

The distribution of mining tremors is strictly related to the exploitation progress of mining works and, consequently, to the local stress field. In case the distribution is known, it is possible to determine future area of intensive seismicity in exploited mining panel. In the paper, an analysis of working face-to-tremor distance for Rudna copper mine in Poland is presented. In order to develop a spatial model of tremors’ occurrence in the exploited mine, the seismicity of four mining sections in the five-month period was investigated and the tremors’ distribution was obtained. It was compared with the spatial distribution of tremors in coal mines found in the literature. The results show that the places where tremors mostly occur — the vicinity of the face, in front of it — coincide with the high-stress area predicted by literature models. The obtained results help to predict the future seismic zone connected with planned mining section, which can be used in seismic hazard analysis.     

汶川8.0级地震地表破裂带与岩性关系

2008年汶川8.0级地震沿龙门山断裂带内的映秀—北川断裂和灌县—安县断裂分别形成约230 km和70 km的地表破裂带.震后地质考察研究表明,伴随地震断层出露地表的滑动面大多沿炭质泥岩和煤层发育.与1∶5万区域地质图进行对照,显示映秀—北川地震破裂带的西南段（虹口—清平段）和灌县—安县地震地表破裂带的展布与龙门山地区上三叠统须家河组煤系地层的出露范围相一致.龙门山地区的上三叠统须家河组地层中的薄煤层、炭质泥岩层以及志留系、寒武系的炭质页岩层是易于产生滑动的柔性岩层,易形成滑脱面或成岩片夹于断层带中.汶川地震产生的复杂地表破裂带是龙门山逆冲推覆构造带沿地表构造层中夹有煤层等柔性岩层的断层产生B型滑动的结果.     

Structural characteristics of epicentral areas in Central Europe: study case Cheb Basin (Czech Republic)

The earthquake distribution pattern of Central Europe differs systematically from the neighbouring areas of NW and southern Europe regarding the fault plane kinematics. Within a belt between the French Massif Central and the northern part of the Bohemian Massif (1000 km) sinistral faulting along N-S zones dominates on the contrary to the Alps and their foreland with common bookshelf shears. One of the prominent N-S structures is the Regensburg-Leipzig-Rostock Zone (A) with several epicentral areas, where the main seismic center occurs in the northern Cheb Basin (NW Bohemia). The study demonstrates new structural results for the swarm-quake region in NW-Bohemia, especially for the Nový Kostel area in the Cheb Basin. There the N-S-trending newly found Počatky-Plesná zone (PPZ) is identical with the main earthquake line. The PPZ is connected with a mofette line between Hartušov and Bublák with evidence for CO₂ degassing from the subcrustal mantle. The morphologically more prominent Mariánské Lázně fault (MLF) intersects the PPZ obliquely under an acuate angle. In the past the MLF was supposed to be the tectonic structure connected with the epicentral area of Nový Kostel. But evidence from the relocated hypocentres along the PPZ (at 7–12 kms depth) indicate that the MLF is seismically non-active. Asymmetric drainage patterns of the Cheb Basin are caused by fault related movement along Palaeozoic basement faults which initiate a deformation of the cover (Upper Pliocene to Holocene basin filling). The PPZ forms an escarpment in Pliocene and Pleistocene soft rock and is supposingly acting as an earthquake zone since late Pleistocene time. The uppermost Pleistocene of 0.12–0.01 Ma deposited only in front of the fault scarp dates the fault activity. The crossing faults envelope crustal wedges under different local stress conditions. Their intersection line forms a zone beginning at the surface near Nový Kostel, dipping south with increasing depth, probably down to about 12 km. The intersection zone represents a crustal anomaly. There fault movements can be blocked up and peculiar stress condition influence the behaviour of the adjacent crust. An ENE-WNW striking dextral wrench fault was detected which is to expect as kinematic counterpart to the ca. N-S striking sinistral shear zones. Nearly E-W striking fracture segments were formerly only known as remote sensing lineaments or as joint density zones. The ENE shear zone is characterized by a set of compressional m-scale folds and dm-scale faults scattered within a 20 m wide wrench zone. It is built up of different sets of cleavage-like clay plate pattern of microscopical scale. The associated shear planes fit into a Riedel shear system. One characteristic feature are tiny channels of micrometer scale. They have originated after shear plane bending and are the sites of CO₂ mantle degassing.     

Basement structural architecture and hydrocarbon conduit potential of polygonal faults in the Cooper‐Eromanga Basin,Australia

A thorough and complete understanding of the structural geology and evolution of the Cooper‐Eromanga Basin has been hampered by low‐resolution seismic data that becomes particularly difficult to interpret below the thick Permian coal measures. As a result, researchers are tentative to interpret the basement fault architecture within the basin, which is largely undefined. To provide a better understanding of the basement fault geometry, all available two‐dimensional seismic lines together with 12 three‐dimensional seismic surveys were structurally interpreted with assistance from seismic attribute analysis. The Upper Cretaceous Cadna‐owie Formation and top Permian reflectors were analysed using a common seismic attribute technique (incoherency) that was used to infer the presence of faults that may have otherwise been overlooked. Detailed basement fault maps for each seismic survey were constructed and used in conjunction with two‐dimensional seismic data interpretation to produce a regional basement fault map. Large north‐northeast–south‐southwest‐striking sinistral strike–slip faults were identified within the Patchawarra Trough appearing to splay from the main northeast–southwest‐striking ridge. These sinistral north‐northeast–south‐southwest‐striking faults, together with field‐scale southeast–northwest‐striking dextral strike–slip faults, are optimally oriented to have potentially developed as a conjugated fault set under a south‐southeast–north‐northwest‐oriented strike–slip stress regime. Geomechanical modelling for a regionally extensive system of Cretaceous polygonal faults was performed to calculate the Leakage Factor and Dilation Tendency of individual faults. Faults that extend into Lower Cretaceous oil‐rich reservoirs with strikes of between 060°N and 140°N and a high to near‐vertical dip angle were identified to most likely be acting as conduits for the tertiary migration of hydrocarbons from known Lower Cretaceous hydrocarbon reservoirs into shallow Cretaceous sediments. This research provides valuable information on the regional basement fault architecture and a more detailed exploration target for the Cooper‐Eromanga Basin, which were previously not available in literature.     

An application of 4D seismic monitoring technique to modern coal mining

To study the impact of modern coal mining on the overlying formation, a full‐life‐cycle four‐dimensional seismic monitoring study has been carried out. Four seismic data campaigns have been performed using flexi‐bin geometry with square bins, with total duration of 171 days. The four seismic datasets have been processed with the same processing workflow and parameters; major problems such as statics correction, signal‐to‐noise ratio, resolution, and consistency processing are addressed taking into account the geological features of the research area. This guarantees that remaining four‐dimensional differences between the time‐lapse datasets show mostly geological factors due to the coal mining and effects such as surface subsidence. Our four‐dimensional seismic monitoring of modern coal mining shows that mined and unmined areas have significant zoning characteristics; coal mining has a direct impact on the overlying formation. The mining leads to obvious event subsidence, which reflects that overlying formations undergo subsidence during the mining process. The overlying formation appears as two zones called caving zone and fractured zone. We determine the fault dip of the overlying formation at one end of the working face to be 56°or so by calculation and conversion. We also see that, during the coal mining process, over time, the overlying formation has a self‐recovery capability, which gradually strengthens from the roof siltstone upward to the Aeolian sandstone near the surface. The stability of 20‐m coal pillars between working faces displays a strengthening trend and remains safe during the mining process due to both coal seam supporting and formation compaction effects.     

Seismic hazard model for loss estimation and risk management in Taiwan

We developed a seismic hazard model for Taiwan that integrates all available tectonic, seismicity, and seismic hazard information in the region to provide risk managers and engineers with a model they can use to estimate earthquake losses and manage seismic risk in Taiwan. The seismic hazard model is composed of two major components: a seismotectonic model and a ground-shaking model. The seismotectonic model incorporates earthquakes that are expected to occur on the Ryukyu and Manila subduction zones, on the intermediate-depth Wadati-Benioff seismicity zones, on the active crustal faults, and within seismotectonic provinces. The active crustal faults include the Chelungpu fault zone, the source of the damaging M_W 7.6 Chi-Chi earthquake, and the Huangchi-Hsiaoyukeng fault zone that forms the western boundary of the Taipei Basin. The ground-shaking model uses both US, worldwide, and Taiwanese attenuation relations to provide robust estimates of peak ground acceleration and response spectral acceleration on a reference site condition for shallow crustal and subduction zone earthquakes. The ground shaking for other site conditions is obtained by applying a nonlinear soil-amplification factor defined in terms of the average shear-wave velocity in the top 30 m of the soil profile, consistent with the methodology used in the current US and proposed Taiwan building codes.     

煤矿冲击地压的微地震监测研究

为了研究煤矿冲击地压与岩层在三维空间破裂之间的关系，进而探索依据岩层破裂规律预测和预报冲击地压的可能性，文中采用自行研制的防爆型微地震定位监测（MS）系统，基于定位原理，监测了山东华丰煤矿冲击地压煤层（四层煤）及其解放层（六层煤）开采过程中的岩层破裂过程和二次应力场分布变化的过程，得到了如下结论：冲击地压的发生与岩层破裂密切相关，四层煤下顺槽处于六层煤顶板破裂区的外边缘时，正处于高应力区内，在此处掘进容易引发冲击地压，必须将六层煤下顺槽位置向实体煤侧移动20 m以上，或将四层煤下顺槽位置内移20 m以上，才能消除四层煤的冲击地压；六层煤和四层煤开采时，工作面前方断层活化的距离分别为250 m和350 m左右，根据这一距离，及时对断层带进行卸压处理，可以消除由断层带引发的冲击地压；监测显示了工作面周围岩层的三维破裂形态和范围，为矿井确定防水煤柱的高度提供了可靠的依据；监测证明了厚层砾岩的破裂、断层活化、采场附近关键层的破裂是引起冲击地压的主要原因，证明了所研制的硬件和定位软件具有较高的精度和实用性，可以在煤矿和边坡、隧道等领域应用.     

Spatial Separation of Large Earthquakes, Aftershocks, and Background Seismicity: Analysis of Interseismic and Coseismic Seismicity Patterns in Southern California

We associate waveform-relocated background seismicity and aftershocks with the 3-D shapes of late Quaternary fault zones in southern California. Major earthquakes that can slip more than several meters, aftershocks, and near-fault background seismicity mostly rupture different surfaces within these fault zones. Major earthquakes rupture along the mapped traces of the late Quaternary faults, called the principal slip zones (PSZs). Aftershocks occur either on or in the immediate vicinity of the PSZs, typically within zones that are ??2-km wide. In contrast, the near-fault background seismicity is mostly accommodated on a secondary heterogeneous network of small slip surfaces, and forms spatially decaying distributions extending out to distances of ??10?km from the PSZs. We call the regions where the enhanced rate of background seismicity occurs, the seismic damage zones. One possible explanation for the presence of the seismic damage zones and associated seismicity is that the damage develops as faults accommodate bends and geometrical irregularities in the PSZs. The seismic damage zones mature and reach their finite width early in the history of a fault, during the first few kilometers of cumulative offset. Alternatively, the similarity in width of seismic damage zones suggests that most fault zones are of almost equal strength, although the amount of cumulative offset varies widely. It may also depend on the strength of the fault zone, the time since the last major earthquake as well as other parameters. In addition, the seismic productivity appears to be influenced by the crustal structure and heat flow, with more extensive fault networks in regions of thin crust and high heat flow.     

煤田采区三维地震精细构造解释方法

虽然煤田三维地震勘探已经过了十多年的发展，但构造解释问题仍是目前需要解决的主要问题之一.随着三维地震资料解释方法的不断发展，小波分析技术、相干体技术、地震属性技术、图像处理等提高解释精度的方法相继在地震勘探领域中得到应用.另一方面，由于煤矿采区三维地震勘探资料一般具有高信噪比和高分辨率的特点，为做好三维地震资料精细构造解释提供了物质基础.本文结合小波分析技术、相干体技术、地震属性技术等多种方法，结合两个采区的实例，对小断层和小规模陷落柱做了精细构造解释.解释结果显示联合使用以上几种解释技术，能提高三维地震资料的构造解释精度和可靠信.     

含小断层煤层Rayleigh型槽波波场和频散分析

煤层隐伏小断层在煤田地质勘探期间能否查明,是影响煤矿安全生产的主要地质因素.煤层中传播的地震槽波,非常适用于探测煤田异常构造.本文利用谱元法模拟计算了含断层模型Rayleigh型地震槽波的产生、传播过程,对于直达槽波、反射槽波、透射槽波进行了波场特征分析,频散特征分析,频谱特征分析.根据不同小落差断层模型（垂直断距分别为1/4、1/2、3/4、1个煤厚;断层倾角分别为90°、60°、45°）,分析了Rayleigh型槽波传播过程中断层对反射槽波、透射槽波能量、频谱的影响效应.基于以上分析,对于小断层模型中的Rayleigh型地震槽波取得了一些规律性认识,并对Rayleigh型地震槽波的勘探应用做了一些探讨.     

Structural Geometry of a Sector of the Colorado River Delta,Baja California,Mexico, Based on Seismic Reflections

A structural study in the SW section of the Colorado River delta using seismic reflection data is presented. The study area is located along the Cerro Prieto transform fault, which extends from the northern Gulf of California through the Mexicali Valley and is an active fault within the Pacific-North American plate boundary zone. The research was supported by a database of five seismic profiles with a total length of 215 km, collected in the early 80’s by Petróleos Mexicanos. The results show a high density of faults, most of which are buried by sediments. Within the Cerro Prieto fault zone, several faults were identified, such as: Palmas, Mesa, and Pangas Viejas, until now unknown. In addition, even though the Indiviso fault was investigated and superficially identify prior to this work, herein mapped at depth. West of the Cerro Prieto fault zone lies the Las Tinajas basin, bound by the Dunas and Saldaña faults and by the Montague basin to the southeast. The deformation zone along the plate boundary is 18-km-wide, stretching from the Cerro Prieto fault in the east to the Pangas Viejas fault in the west. The orientations of the faults are NW–SE, and if projected from the southern side of the Sierra Cucapah southward, the faults tend to join the Cerro Prieto fault. In the Las Tinajas basin, the acoustic basement is deeper than 5,000 m. Some of the largest vertical displacements generated by the 2010 7.2-Mw El Mayor-Cucapah earthquake occurred southeast of the epicenter and coincided with the location of the Pangas Viejas Fault, which is buried by sediments. Before this event, seismic activity was very low, and no structures were known in the area. In this paper, we demonstrate that there are at least seven major faults that may now pose a high seismic hazard.     

煤矿微震监测台网优化布设研究

煤矿冲击矿压现象日益严峻,作为矿山动力灾害的主要监测手段,微震监测系统已在许多矿井广泛使用,为保证矿震定位和能量计算的准确,提高预测预报煤矿冲击矿压的可行性,应建立一套台网布设优化及评价系统.应用微震定位和D值优化设计理论,结合煤矿实际条件研究了影响矿震定位精度的主要因素和不利条件,并提出了采用综合指数法确定煤矿高微震活动区域和区域内矿震发生的概率,制定了台站候选点和监测区域确定的一般原则.通过理论分析震中和震源标准差反映台网定位能力的不足,建立基于数值仿真实验方法的震中与震源误差期望值模型,最终形成台网布设优化及评价系统.实验和现场应用结果表明,该系统能够快速确定台网最优布设方案,准确评价台网定位能力,满足煤矿微震监测的需要.     

新丰江库区上地壳三维细结构层析成像

在新丰江库区布设一个范围约50 km×40 km、由50个地震临时台站组成的观测台阵,接收来自不同方位的人工震源产生的莫霍界面反射波;台阵中的20个台站和5个区域固定台还对2009年3月至2010年5月发生在库区的地方震进行了观测.本文联合利用人工地震莫霍面反射波走时和天然地震直达波走时,采用连续模型反演技术重建了库区上地壳P波、S波慢度扰动和V_p/V_s扰动分布图像.研究结果表明:新丰江库区东、西部地区上地壳结构存在明显的差异.库区东部地区构造复杂,多条断裂在该区呈交叉状分布.北西向的石角-新港-白田断裂带在库区段内具有复杂的岩性和构造特征,该断裂带在新港至双塘一线可能延伸至地下8 km左右;近北东向的断裂带切割地壳较深.峡谷区及大坝以东附近地区存在上、下贯通的波速比高值区,尤其是大坝以西的深水峡谷区,存在一条顺河走向的陡倾角断层裂隙带,为库水渗透提供了良好通道.库区西部地区为相对稳定构造区,完整坚硬的花岗岩体透水性能较差,受库水渗透影响很小.新丰江水库诱发地震的形成与深部构造环境密切相关.峡谷区及大坝以东附近地区上地壳介质性质呈现明显的横向不均匀性,微震分布在介质物性结构的特定部位,"软"、"硬"交错的介质环境是倾滑正断层型微小震产生的可能原因.     

关于黄海深部构造的地球物理认识

利用黄海海区重磁观测数据,以最新的地震层析成像和浅层反射地震探测结果作为约束,并利用小波分解、纹理特征图像处理等手段,对研究区进行了地球物理场特征分析、岩石物性总结、断裂信息提取和磁性基底埋深反演计算,同时对南黄海海域三条剖面进行了广义逆重磁数据拟合反演和地震P波速度成像.根据地球物理数据的各种处理结果,提出在南黄海西部存在一条串珠状地球物理线性构造带,并将这条NNW向断续延伸的构造带称之为南黄海西缘断裂带.该断裂带延伸长,断裂两侧前新生代地层差异较大,有可能是造成陆区和南黄海南部盆地区前新生代油气远景差异的原因之一.文中得到南黄海磁性基底埋藏分布具有“中间浅四周深”的分布特征,与地震层析成像结果相吻合.磁性基底的局部起伏和局部构造的边界断层共同控制了前新生代残留盆地的格架和残余厚度分布,反映出“区域控制局部,深层约束浅层”的规律.     

渤海海域主要新构造活动断裂带

渤海位于渤海湾盆地的东部,是我国华北地区新构造活动最强烈的地区之一,盆地内的沉积盖层(N-Q)中断裂极为发育。许多研究者从不同角度对渤海新构造进行过研究,但认识不一。笔者基于以往的工作,对该区新构造作了较深入的分析,确定渤海新构造运动起始于中新世晚期(12~10Ma BP)。从三维空间分析盖层断裂,并按其与盆地基底断裂的成因关系,将新构造活动的断裂分为继续活动断裂和新生断裂,并划分出3条主要的新构造活动断裂带:北东(偏北)向营口-潍坊断裂带北段是继续活动构造带,右旋逆平移活动,活动性弱;北西西向北京-蓬莱断裂带亦为继续活动构造带,左旋正平移活动,活动性较强;北东向庙西北-黄河口断裂带为新生构造带,右旋平移活动,活动性强。后两者组成一对以庙西北-黄河口断裂带为主的偏共轭活动构造带,该区域地震活动与之关系密切。最后探讨了渤海地区新构造期北东东-南西西至近东西向水平挤压的构造应力场及其与新构造活动断裂带发育的关系。提出新构造应力场与古近纪盆地裂陷阶段的应力场截然不同,新构造为地壳共轭剪切破裂系统,古近纪盆地构造是发育于地壳上部的伸展构造系统,这是两期不同体制的构造系统。