Changes in structural style of normal faults due to failure mode transition: First results from excavated scale models

The effects of failure mode transition from tensile to shear on structural style and fault zone architecture have long been recognized but are not well studied in 3D, although the two modes are both common in the upper crust of Earth and terrestrial planets, and are associated with large differences in transport properties. We present a simple method to study this in physical scale models of normal faults, using a cohesive powder embedded in cohesionless sand. By varying the overburden thickness, the failure mode changes from tensile to hybrid and finally to shear. Hardening and excavating the cohesive layer allows post mortem investigation of 3D structures at high resolution. We recognize two end member structural domains that differ strongly in their attributes. In the tensile domain faults are strongly dilatant with steep open fissures and sharp changes in strike at segment boundaries and branch points. In the shear domain fault dips are shallower and fault planes develop striations; map-view fault traces undulate with smaller changes in strike at branches. These attributes may be recognized in subsurface fault maps and could provide a way to better predict fault zone structure in the subsurface.     

高邮凹陷真武断裂带西部低级序断层发育规律预测

在应用蚂蚁追踪技术对真武断裂带西部低级序断层进行解释并根据主要断层走向确定阜宁期构造应力方向的基础上,应用构造应力场数值模拟法模拟阜宁期古构造应力的分布,从应力的角度对低级序断层的平面及剖面发育规律进行预测,最后将预测结果与构造解析结果进行对比。研究结果表明,应用蚂蚁追踪技术对低级序断层进行解释获得的蚂蚁属性体断裂痕迹清晰直观,应用效果要优于相干体技术、方差体技术等其他地震属性技术;真武断裂带西部阜宁期最小主应力方向为NW333°-SE153°;低级序断层的发育主要受阜宁期最小主应力及剪应力控制,最小主应力控制断层的优势发育区,平面剪应力控制断层的平面展布,左旋剪应力区主要发育近东西走向断层,右旋剪应力区主要发育北东走向断层,剖面剪应力控制断层的倾向,左旋剪应力区主要发育北倾、西倾断层,右旋剪应力区主要发育南倾、东倾断层。      

二连盆地哈南油田伸展构造体系裂缝及其油气地质意义

哈南油田构造断裂十分复杂,受伸展构造体系裂缝及断层的控制,形成有与断层共生的裂缝组系和断层活动派生的裂缝组系。裂缝与NE向断层平行或与其斜交或横交。裂缝力学性质表现为张裂缝、剪裂缝和张剪裂缝,以张裂缝为主。无论是何种力学性质的裂缝,如果裂缝没有被充填,则会对油气聚集和开发产生影响。有效裂缝可以为储层提供油气运移通道和油气储集空间,在油田开发中,裂缝与断层组成裂缝网络形成的断裂导水,会致使注水层系混乱,形成非同层注水局面,影响着层系开发的效果。     

广东莲花山断裂带韧性剪切带变形特征及其与成矿的关系

莲花山断裂带是中国东南陆缘重要的NE向构造带。该断裂带不仅是区域上重要的二级构造单元分界线,也控制着广东省最重要的锡铜多金属成矿带。前人研究表明,莲花山断裂带内的韧性变形与锡铜多金属成矿关系密切,但对于莲花山断裂带内的韧性变形展布特征及其对成矿作用的贡献,还存在着较多争议。本次研究,通过对莲花山断裂带进行大比例尺的矿田构造填图,实测典型地质剖面等手段,结合拉伸线理产状的测量和显微构造的观察,认为断裂带内的韧性变形由自北向南一系列近NE60°走向的剪切带雁列展布而成,各剪切带之间呈大致平行展布。在韧性变形之后,这些雁列状的剪切带又被30°走向的脆性断层所切割。莲花山断裂带内的韧性变形控制着矿体的形态和规模,后期岩浆-热液活动利用先存韧性剪切带的空间,成矿元素在韧性变形的裂隙中沉淀富集成矿。莲花山断裂带内找矿勘探工作部署应该围绕断裂带内韧性变形的区域,并注意韧性变形附近次一级的容矿裂隙。     

Kinematic significance of fold- and fault-related fracture systems in the Zagros mountains, southern Iran

Initiation and formation of folds and the Kazerun high-angle fault zone, in the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt, were related to the continuing SW–NE oriented contraction that probably initiated in the Late Cretaceous, and intensified, starting in Miocene, when the Arabian and Eurasian plates collided. The contraction that led to folding and thrusting of the Phanerozoic sequence in the belt has led to the strike–slip reactivation of basement faults that formed during the Precambrian. Two major systems of fractures have developed, under the same regional state of contraction, during the folding and strike–slip faulting processes. Folding led to the formation of a system of fold-related fractures that comprises four sets of fractures, which include an axial and a cross-axial set that trend parallel and perpendicular to the confining fold axial trace, respectively, and two oblique sets that trend at moderate angles to the axial trace. Slip along high-angle, strike–slip faults formed a system of fractures in the damage zone of the faults (e.g., Kazerun), and deformed folds that existed in the shear zone by rotating their axial plane. This fault-related fracture system is made of five sets of fractures, which include the two sets of Riedel shear fractures (R and R′), P- and Y-shear fractures, and an extensional set.

Remote sensing analysis of both fracture systems, in a GIS environment, reveals a related kinematic history for folding outside of the Kazerun shear zone and faulting and deformation (fracturing and rotation of folds) within the Kazerun fault zone. Rotation of the folds and formation of the five sets of the fault-related fractures in the Kazerun shear zone are consistent with a dextral motion along the fault. The mean trends of the shortening directions, independently calculated for the fold- and fault-related fracture systems, are remarkably close (N53 ± 4°E and N50 ± 5°E, respectively), and are perpendicular to the general NW–SE trend of the Zagros fold-and-thrust belt. Although segments of the Kazerun fault are variably oriented within a narrow range, the angular relationships between sets of fault-related fractures and these segments remain constant.     

Formation and growth of normal faults at the divergent plate boundary in Iceland

The divergent plate boundary in Iceland is characterized by 40–80 km long and 5–10 km wide swarms of tension fractures (∼10² m long) and normal faults (∼10³ m long). The upper part of the crust is mainly composed of lava flows, with abundant columnar joints that are mostly perpendicular to the lava contacts. The lava flows are horizontal at the surface of the rift zone but become tilted at the rate of 1° for every 150 m depth in the crust. At the surface of the rift zone the joints are vertical and parallel to the vertical principal stress. Because of tilting of the lava pile, the columnar joints become oblique to this stress, hence becoming potential shear fractures, and form echelon sets at greater depths in the crust. Theoretical considerations suggest that normal faults start to nucleate on sets of en echelon columnar joints and/or large-scale tension fractures at crustal depths of 0.5–1.5 km. The width (depth) must be the smallest (controlling) dimension of many faults. Nevertheless, there is a positive linear relation (r = 0.91) between maximum throw and length of the Holocene faults. If the faults grow as self-similar structures, the throw-length relationship can be explained by a similar relation between fault length and width.     

非均匀应力场下的铲状正断层带位移场和应力场特征

本文利用新的有限元方法研究了铲状正断层带在非均匀应力场下错动引起的位移场和应力场。研究发现：① 铲状正断层错动引起的断层面上的最大错距不是发生在地表,而是发生地表下面断层的中部;② 地表面最大水平位移和垂直位移都不是发生在地表断层上,而是发生在偏离断层一定距离的地方;③ 铲状正断层错动会在地表附近产生两个破裂区,一个在地表断层附近,一个在远离断层的上盘地表附近,这两个区与野外观测到的次生正断层区一致;④ 断层错动的应力降在断层内不是均匀的,最大值也是位于断层中部。     

Faults and their associated host rock deformation: Part I. Structure of small faults in a quartz–syenite body,southern Israel

We analyze pervasive and discontinuous deformation associated with small faults in a quartz–syenite body in southern Israel. The analysis includes detailed mapping, measurement of in-situ mechanical rock properties and microstructural study of the faults. The mapped faults have 1–100-m-long horizontal traces, consisting of linked, curved segments; the segmented nature of the faults is also apparent at the 1–10 mm scale. The observed deformation features are breccia, as well as intra- and inter-granular fractures; these features are accompanied by reduction of the Young modulus and uniaxial strength of the host rock. The deformation features are zoned from a central fault-core through a damage-zone to the protolith at distances of 0.05–0.06 the fault length. Shear strains up to 300% were calculated from measured marker lines displacements and distortion in proximity to the faults. We argue here that the fault-related deformation during fault propagation is manifested by highly localized deformation in a process zone having a width of 0.001–0.005 of the fault length (fault-related deformation due to subsequent slip along the existing faults is analyzed in Part II). The observed self-similarity of the discontinuities over five length orders of magnitude and the outstanding lack of tensile microcracks suggest fault initiation and growth as primary shear fractures.     

The Relationship between Fractures and Tectonic Stress Field in the Extra Low-Permeability Sandstone Reservoir at the South of Western Sichuan Depression

The formation and distribution of fractures are controlled by paleotectonic stress field,and their preservative status and effects on development are dominated by the modern stress field. Since Triassic,it has experienced four tectonic movements and developed four sets of tectonic fractures in the extra low-permeability sandstone reservoir at the south of western Sichuan depression. The strikes of fractures are in the S-N,NE-SW,E-W,and NW-SE directions respectively. At the end of Triassic,under the horizontal compression tectonic stress field,for which the maximum principal stress direction was NW-SE,the fractures were well developed near the S-N faults and at the end of NE-SW faults,because of their stress concentration. At the end of Cretaceous,in the horizontal compression stress fields of the NE-SW direction,the stress was obviously lower near the NE-SW faults,thus,fractures mainly developed near the S-N faults. At the end of Neogene-Early Pleistocene,under the horizontal compression tectonic stress fields of E-W direction,stress concentrated near the NE-SW faults and fractures developed at these places,especially at the end of the NE-SE faults,the cross positions of NE-SW,and S-N faults. Therefore,fractures developed mostly near S-N faults and NE-SW faults. At the cross positions of the above two sets of faults,the degree of development of the fractures was the highest. Under the modern stress field of the NW-SE direction,the NW-SE fractures were mainly the seepage ones with tensional state,the best connectivity,the widest aperture,the highest permeability,and the minimum opening pressure.     

滇西北永胜地区主要活动断裂与活动构造体系

位于滇西北断陷带东北部、程海-宾川断裂带北端的永胜地区上新世以来断裂活动强烈,构造地貌特征显著。永胜地区1:50000活动构造填图发现,区内共存在各类断裂14条。其中金官断裂（F₁）、永胜断裂（F₂）、木耳坪羊坪断裂（F₃）三者规模最大,活动性亦远超其他断裂,属于程海-宾川断裂带的一级分支断裂,其他断裂为程海-宾川断裂的二级分支断裂。构造地貌特征、错断地质体及擦痕统计等均指示区内断裂现今主要以伸展正断活动为主,根据活动性的差异可将其分为强、较强、中等、弱、极弱5类,其中金官断裂的活动性最强,垂向活动速率可达0.20~0.26 mm/a。对永胜地区主要断裂几何学、运动学特征的研究及动力学机制的讨论可知,永胜地区主要断裂在平面上构成向东突出的弧形旋扭构造体系,在剖面上表现为张扭性断裂常见的负花状构造;程海-宾川断裂带现今活动主要是在近南北向主压应力作用下产生的近东西向的伸展正断,并因为叠加了旋扭作用而具有一定左旋走滑。永胜地区的弧形旋扭构造体系及滇西北断陷带等均是在川滇内弧带顺时针旋转及南汀河断裂、畹町断裂与理塘断裂的走滑拉分共同作用下形成的。      

断裂构造发育过程与控矿构造形成演化——以邹家山铀矿床为例

热液脉状矿床主要受断裂控制，控制矿脉就位的含矿(赋矿)构造绝大多数是规模比较小的次级断裂或裂隙，而主干断裂普遍被认为是导矿构造或配(运)矿构造，但往往不含矿，甚至没有一点与矿化有关的蚀变痕迹、或成矿流体经过的痕迹。从岩石力学破裂准则看，是最先形成有微孔隙或缺陷存在的微破裂，微破裂逐渐扩展形成小断裂，最后贯通形成主断裂；相关模拟实验也证实存在基底断裂的情况下，盖层破裂的发育过程是最先出现R裂隙、其次是P裂隙、再是D裂隙，最后贯通成具辫状结构的主断裂带。邹家山铀矿床含矿构造是在"X"剪节理基础上发展起来并经持续(递进)变形而形成的"弧形断层面夹透镜状岩块"组合，控制矿带或矿体群的构造是北东东走向、倾向北北西中偏缓倾角、具有左行正断的隐性断裂带。含矿裂隙经历初成、成型和成矿三个阶段演化，成矿后经历邹家山-石洞主断裂贯通和隆升剥露两个阶段演化，最终形成目前的保存状态。      

Structural Attributes of Travertine-Filled Extensional Fissures in the Pamukkale Plateau,Western Turkey

Numerous active and inactive fissure-ridge travertines are located in the hanging wall of the Pamukkale range-front fault, a large normal fault bounding the northeast side of the Denizli Basin. A typical principal fissure-ridge comprises flanking bedded travertines dipping gently away from a nearly vertical, irregular central fissure, partially filled by vertically banded travertine. More complex ridges bear parasitic fissures and associated ridges on their flanks. Fissures roughly follow the long axes of ridge crests, some of them being divided into angular segments and others anastomosing. The traces of fissures are commonly parallel but some are oblique to one another. Fissures vary in width from a few millimeters to 5 m, and range in length from a few meters to a few kilometers.

The widths of central fissures are at a maximum near the midpoints of ridges, but decrease toward both ends, suggesting that they grew in length over time. Lateral fissure development involved the opening of both new and old cracks, some of which propagated into former process zones at crack tips. Fissures increase in width with depth either gradually or in a series of steps, depending on whether there was a uniform rate of fissure dilation during travertine deposition or episodic dilation during fracture propagation. The characteristic irregular morphology of fractures probably reflects extension-fracture propagation in differential stress fields that were weak as a consequence of location near the earth's surface. The fissures probably express a set of subsidiary extension fractures splaying from the Pamukkale range-front fault into its hanging wall.     

伏牛山构造带变质流体脉变形特征及构造意义

伏牛山构造带由多条近平行的断裂带和夹持其间的变形岩片组成,洛南-栾川断裂带和瓦穴子-乔端断裂带为其中的两条主要断裂带。这两条断裂带虽遭受多期强烈构造活动的影响,但主造山期的构造特征至今仍然保存完好,并以中深层次的韧性剪切变形为主,形成了典型的糜棱岩和同构造期石英脉。本文从宏观、微观、超微观变形特征及年龄等方面对这些变质流体脉进行了研究,以探讨与其形成密切相关的构造活动特征、年代及其在秦岭造山带和华北板块南缘强变形带中的作用。石英脉中石英颗粒动态重结晶特征总体显示远离剪切带只有少量的膨凸式,靠近断裂带为亚颗粒式,形成核-幔结构,位错特征显示远离剪切带位错密度较小,靠近断裂带较大,位错形态显示瓦乔断裂带以挤压为主,洛南-栾川断裂带以剪切为主。两条断裂带石英脉的变形特征说明它们的糜棱岩化过程均为塑性变形中的晶质塑性变形,形成过程均为挤压在先,剪切在后。所测糜棱岩中石英脉的ESR年龄分别为372.9±30.0 Ma、275.0±20.0 Ma和218.0±20.0 Ma,真实地记录了晚加里东至中-晚海西期北秦岭的构造活动及所受影响。其中372.9±30.0 Ma是宽坪岩块向华北板块下的斜向俯冲汇聚和走滑的年代, 275.0±20.0 Ma是瓦乔断裂带的形成年龄。218.0±20.0 Ma的年龄则反映了华南、华北两大板块印支晚期全面闭合作用在秦岭造山带内部的影响。从以上3个年龄可以看出:北秦岭各构造带自北向南演化,时代上自北向南变新。     

新疆北山金窝子金矿田断裂构造控矿作用及控矿构造格架

金窝子金矿田位于新甘交界的哈密地区,是北山地区最为重要的金矿田之一,其大地构造背景处于哈萨克斯坦—准噶尔板块与塔里木板块交汇部位东北缘的北山裂谷;断裂构造是矿田内最为重要的控矿因素.文章对矿田内主要的控矿断裂构造特征和断裂构造控矿规律特征进行了研究,F210韧脆性剪切断裂带为矿田内的主干断裂,该断裂的逆冲破碎带为210金矿床的直接控矿构造,控制了蚀变岩型金矿化的发育,由逆冲剪切产生的叠瓦式逆断层不含矿,而近SN向缓倾斜构造控制了210金矿床石英脉型矿化的发育:由F210韧脆性剪切断裂逆冲作用在金窝子岩体内形成的近SN向高角度追踪张性断裂控制了金窝子金矿床石英脉型矿体的形态、产状及成矿元素的分布;在对构造控矿作用研究的基础上,建立了矿区的控矿构造格架.     

2008年汶川大地震小鱼洞地表破裂带精细填图

5·12汶川Mw7.9级地震为罕见的、地壳尺度位移配分于多条平行断裂的板内逆冲走滑型地震。在2条北东走向、近平行的主要地表破裂间,发育北西走向的小鱼洞地表破裂。介绍了对小鱼洞北西向地表破裂的精细填图。小鱼洞地表破裂空间上位于灌县-江油与映秀-北川断裂间,全长约8km,总体走向310°,为南西盘抬升、逆冲兼具左旋走滑性质。地表破裂在南东端走向变化较大,从300~310°变为南北向,并与灌县-江油地表破裂带的磁峰段相连。小鱼洞地表破裂的垂向位错自北西往南东方向递减,北西端陡坎高度最大3.4m,南东端则小于0.2m,衰减梯度约为0.5m/km。左旋走滑位移测量点较少,集中在中段的小鱼洞镇附近,所测最大左旋走滑位移约为2.2m,一般走滑位错与同处垂直位错具有同步变化的特征。小鱼洞断裂近地表的倾角较缓,为30°±15°。结合已有地貌、地球物理和地质研究结果,提出小鱼洞断裂是向下与灌县-江油断裂交会的侧向断坡,位于映秀-北川断裂中南段间的断面倾角差异的撕裂部位,连接映秀-北川和灌县-江油断裂。在运动学上,认为小鱼洞断裂是以斜向断坡为几何形态的撕裂断裂,调节了北东走向的主断裂的运动学横向差异。小鱼洞断裂上的同震位移矢量与N70°、80°E的区域主压应力场方向匹配。这一方向与龙门山高原边界斜交。     

Closing-up structures, alternatives to pull-apart basins; the effect of bends in the North Anatolian Fault, Turkey

Fault blocks passing bends or stepovers in a fault zone must adapt their margins to the uneven fault trace. Two cases of adaption are distinguished for extensional bends or stepovers (transtension): (1) The fault margins close up behind a single bend ('knickpoint') of a strike-slip fault and a 'closing-up structure' (new term) arises or (2) fault-block margins are extended behind a releasing bend (double bend) or stepover parallel to the displacement and a pull-apart basin originates. The dosing up described here is accomplished by acute-angled synthetic strike-slip faults that dissect the straight fault in front of a knickpoint to form a zig-zag block boundary behind it. Crustal extension is also involved in the closing-up structure, but in a different way from typical pull-apart basins.
The closing-up structure illustrated was developed behind an extensional knickpoint in the North Anatolian Fault west of Lake Abant, NW Turkey, where the process of closing up continues to this day. The kinematic model of this closing-up structure is supported by displacements and ruptures observed during the 1967 Mudurnu valley earthquake and the 1957 Abant earthquake.     

Evolution of fault zones in carbonates with mechanical stratigraphy – Insights from scale models using layered cohesive powder

We present analogue models of the formation of dilatant normal faults and fractures in carbonate fault zones, using cohesive hemihydrate powder (CaSO₄·½H₂O). The evolution of these dilatant fault zones involves a range of processes such as fragmentation, gravity-driven breccia transport and the formation of dilatant jogs. To allow scaling to natural prototypes, extensive material characterisation was done. This showed that tensile strength and cohesion depend on the state of compaction, whereas the friction angle remains approximately constant. In our models, tensile strength of the hemihydrate increases with depth from 9 to 50 Pa, while cohesion increases from 40 to 250 Pa. We studied homogeneous and layered material sequences, using sand as a relatively weak layer and hemihydrate/graphite mixtures as a slightly stronger layer. Deformation was analyzed by time-lapse photography and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) to calculate the evolution of the displacement field. With PIV the initial, predominantly elastic deformation and progressive localization of deformation are observed in detail. We observed near-vertical opening-mode fractures near the surface. With increasing depth, dilational shear faults were dominant, with releasing jogs forming at fault-dip variations. A transition to non-dilatant shear faults was observed near the bottom of the model. In models with mechanical stratigraphy, fault zones are more complex. The inferred stress states and strengths in different parts of the model agree with the observed transitions in the mode of deformation.     

鄂尔多斯盆地西缘横山堡地区构造特征与油气勘探目标优选

鄂尔多斯盆地西缘北区横山堡地区是重要的油气接替区域。本文利用构造解析、地震勘探等技术方法,对研究区构造特征与油气勘探目标进行了研究。结果表明,晚侏罗纪末期,研究区为银川复背斜东翼,喜山期构造调整后转为前缘反冲带,由一系列西冲东倾逆冲断层与断背斜组成;该区可分为西部逆冲断褶带、中部逆冲断阶带和东部过渡构造带3个构造单元。断层可分为4级;以燕山期近南北—北北东向逆断层为主,其次为喜山期近东西向走滑断层,并错断了燕山期逆断层。构造样式为一系列东倾单向叠瓦状冲断组合,由近南北向逆断层及加持于其中的断块组成,断块往往为一些小型断背斜,其轴迹走向以近南北—北北东向为主。地质结构为深层滑脱型单向东倾冲断构造。根据上述研究,在沙亥庙断裂上盘断背斜构造高部位优选出一个钻探目标。     

On the formation and growth of faults: an experimental study

By using an experimental geometry, which includes a slot loaded to produce a mode 3 shear stress concentration, shear fractures have been grown in two fine-grained rock types. The deformation is accomplished by initially generating an array of oblique, mainly tensile, cracks at the tip of the slot, which are subsequently linked to form a rupture zone. This suggests a more general model for the formation of brittle shear rupture. A through-going shear surface will form if a damage zone is concentrated enough in the appropriate orientation. This may occur at the edges of an existing shear strain discontinuity, such as a fault, particularly in a mode 3 displacement field. Thus under some conditions faults may grow or link up as true macroscopic shear ruptures. This may be part of a solution to the apparent paradox of the existence of long faults. We suggest features that would indicate this sequence of formation in the field and review some geological examples.     

Constraints on the Sealing Capacity of Faults with Clay Smears from Discrete Element Models Validated by Laboratory Experiments

Prediction of hydrocarbon column heights in structural traps critically depends on proper analysis of the sealing capacity of faults. Entrainment of clay in fault zones in upper crustal levels may lead to the development of continuous clay smears that dramatically increase the sealing capacity of faults. In this study, direct shear experiments on large-scale samples of layered sandstone–claystone–sandstone are simulated using two-dimensional discrete element numerical models to study the development of clay smears for different claystone types and normal stress conditions. Analysis of clay smear structures in terms of drag, slicing, wear and flow of clay reveals that drag is dominant at low shear displacements and high local stress concentrations, slicing and wear become important at higher shear displacement and low stresses at source bed near the fault zone. Correlation between critical fault displacements in the experiments and local stress ratios (shear stress divided by normal stress) in the models is used to determine smear failure and leakage for all claystones and normal stresses. A smear breach diagram with sealing/leaking conditions for faults containing clay smears shows that clay smears may be sealing at larger displacements than predicted by other fault seal algorithms, such as shale gouge ratio, in particular for low shale content and high normal stress.