Soil gas radon concentrations along the Ganos Fault (GF)

In this study, soil radon levels have been measured for the first time across the Ganos fault (GF), which is known as the western part of the North Anatolian Fault Zone. LR 115 Type 2 Solid State Nuclear Track Detectors (time integrated) have been applied to determine soil gas radon levels, and the survey was performed in 16 stations along the fault line. The results showed that soil gas radon concentrations and variation of concentration levels are comparable high along the fault line. It is also observed that in the middle of the Ganos Fault, fairly elevated radon levels were detected. These can be related to the activity of the fault lines. It is confirmed that the study area has a very active tectonic structure and is great location for analyzing radon variations.     

城市活动断裂带的土壤氡、汞气评价方法

活断层的勘探是城市发展中的一项重要任务。根据氡、汞断层气在断层上形成的机制,分析了断层气上氡、汞异常形态特征。根据长春市两条已知断层实例,分析了断层上土壤氡气、汞气异常的特征,可用该特征来确定断层的位置、产状以及推测断层的规模,探讨了盖层的性质对异常形成的影响。它们可为活断层勘探、评价提供有益的参考。     

天水地区主要活动断裂特征与氡气测试成果分析

断层氡气释放强度、范围、成分等的变化可以用来分析评价活动断层的相对活动性。研究了天水地区主要活动断裂的基本特征,并对这些断裂进行了氡气测试与分析。结果表明:西秦岭北缘断裂带的活动性为强—极强;礼县—罗家堡断裂的活动性为强;礼县—积石峡断裂的活动性为强—中等;清水断裂活动性为中等。该结果与活断层的活动强度较吻合,说明氡气测试成果可以作为一种断裂活动性的评价方法。      

Impact of geohydrology and neotectonic activity on radon concentration in groundwater of intermontane Doon Valley, Outer Himalaya, India

 Radon concentration was measured in 133 water samples from tubewells, handpumps, dug wells and springs of the Doon Valley, Outer Himalaya, India. The observed radon values were found to vary from 10 to 154 Bq/l whereas radium in selected water samples varied from 0.11 to 0.75 Bq/l. Three different clusters of high radon values were observed in the north-western, central and south-eastern parts of the Doon Valley. These clusters were found to be associated with tectonics (thrust/fault) and associated uranium mineralization in the area. In general, radon concentration in groundwater was found to be positively correlated with the depth of the wells, whereas no significant correlation was observed between radon concentration in groundwater and the water temperature, pH value, conductivity and altitude of the water samples. An attempt has also been made to determine the nature and extent of aquifers in the Doon Valley on radon concentration in groundwater. The variation in radon concentration within the groundwater of the study area was found to be controlled by the neotectonic activity and geohydrological processes that occur in the area. The impact of these activities on radon concentration in groundwater are discussed. Received: 17 September 1999 · Accepted: 11 April 2000     

Monitoring of secular gravity change in southern California

Repeat gravity measurements have been carried out over more than 1000 km of level lines in southern California. The initial surveys over a number of these lines were made in 1962. Repeat gravity survey lines are located primarily in the San Joaquin Valley, in the Los Angeles and Palmdale areas and in the Imperial Valley. Secular changes of gravity have been noted in a number of areas. In areas of subsidence, due to groundwater withdrawal, direct correlation between elevation and gravity change is found. In areas of vertical crustal motion along fault zones, such as in the Palmdale area, gravity changes are also noted. However, these are not, in general, directly related to elevation change. Apparently, subsurface mass redistributions are associated with the vertical motions noted in fault-zone areas before and after earthquakes. Several possible models to explain the gravity observations are being explored.     

The Northern end of the Dead Sea Basin: Geometry from reflection seismic evidence

Recently released reflection seismic lines from the Eastern side of the Jordan River north of the Dead Sea were interpreted by using borehole data and incorporated with the previously published seismic lines of the eastern side of the Jordan River. For the first time, the lines from the eastern side of the Jordan River were combined with the published reflection seismic lines from the western side of the Jordan River. In the complete cross sections, the inner deep basin is strongly asymmetric toward the Jericho Fault supporting the interpretation of this segment of the fault as the long-lived and presently active part of the Dead Sea Transform. There is no indication for a shift of the depocenter toward a hypothetical eastern major fault with time, as recently suggested. Rather, the north-eastern margin of the deep basin takes the form of a large flexure, modestly faulted. In the N–S-section along its depocenter, the floor of the basin at its northern end appears to deepen continuously by roughly 0.5 km over 10 km distance, without evidence of a transverse fault. The asymmetric and gently-dipping shape of the basin can be explained by models in which the basin is located outside the area of overlap between en-echelon strike-slip faults.     

河南卢氏盆地黄村断裂土壤氡气测量及断裂活动性分析

本文是为了确定在卢氏盆地内被第四系覆盖的黄村断裂的位置、断裂性质,分析黄村断裂与其北侧的乔家窑地热异常的关系。断裂构造是深部氡气汇集和迁移的主要通道,氡气沿断裂向上迁移,在地表浅部形成氡异常。土壤氡气异常可揭示隐伏断裂构造的位置、产状和活动性。黄村断裂通过卢氏乔家窑一带,为第四系沉积物所覆盖。沿垂直断裂走向方向布置4条测线。应用瞬时土壤测氡仪进行了野外现场测量,测试了土壤氡气浓度,确定土壤氡气异常,分析黄村断裂位置、产状和活动性。结果表明:黄村断裂带上方土壤氡气具有异常显示,异常位置与断层位置具有较好的一致性。沿QJ12测线,从南向北,土壤氡气异常形态为低-高-较高-较低-低的峰值形态。在断层带上方氡气峰值异常高于背景值的1.5倍以上,异常峰多数为2个测点以上组成。土壤氡气变化特征表明黄村断裂具有较强的活动性。利用土壤氡气异常分析了黄村断裂深部结构特征,给出了主断裂面与次级断裂面产状和位置。结合土壤氡气异常,分析了乔家地热形成机理。初步研究结果表明,豫西基底构造具有多期活动性,活化区域内的压扭性断裂,可转变为局部张性断裂,控制水热、成矿物质的迁移和富集。     

Soil-gas radon anomalies in three study areas of Central-Northern Calabria (Southern Italy)

Soil-gas radon concentrations and exhalation rates have generally been observed to be anomalously high along active faults in many parts of the world. The soil-gas method is based on the principle that faults and fractures in rocks are highly permeable pathways along which gases can migrate upward from deep crust and mantle to soil cover, retaining their source signatures. The present study summarizes the influence of fault zones on anomalous radon concentrations in soil by integrated geophysical and geo-structural analyses in three study areas of Central-Northern Calabria (Southern Italy). Soil-gas radon surveys have been carried out by means of an alpha scintillation counting system, at 12,509 locations between 2002 and 2004. A geostatistical approach has been used to estimate the spatial distribution of soil radon concentrations. Relations among soil-gas distribution and geo-structural features have been evaluated by ordinary multi-Gaussian kriging. Highest soil radon concentrations (ca. 90 kBq m^?3) have been measured in the Rossanese sector. In the three study areas, no appreciable differences can be noticed among lithotypes, with the highest concentration values (ca. 89 kBq m^?3) measured in alluvial deposit and in clay. Measurements of soil-gas radon reveal anomalies clearly connected to the tectonic structures. Increased signals are linearly distributed along regional WNW–ESE trending shear zones, with main pathways of concentration also recognizable along the E–W fault system in the Rossanese sector, the N–S fault system in the Crati Graben and the Catanzaro Trough, and the NE–SW fault system in the Catanzaro Trough. The distribution of epicentres of historical earthquakes occurred between 1184 and 2001 confirms the recent activity of the same fault systems. Soil-gas radon concentrations generally increase, as expected, with decreasing distance to the faults.     

珠江三角州沙湾断裂带第四纪活动性研究

沙湾断裂是珠江三角州北西向的主干断裂。为了查清其第四纪活动性,我们进行了1∶5万地质地貌填图、断层活动年代测定、氡气测量、浅层地震勘测和联合钻孔验证及构造解析等工作。第四纪地貌与断裂的耦合性及历史地震情况说明,沙湾断裂目前仍有一定活动性;地质调查及勘测未发现断裂切割第四系,氡气测量结果表明断裂目前活动性中等以下,说明沙湾断裂目前活动性较弱;年代测量结果表明断裂在中更新世中期至晚更新世前期活动性较强,晚更新世以后活动性渐弱,仅在南段南沙区大岗镇罗汉山发现晚于100 ka剖面。罗汉山构造解析实例说明三角洲局部地段仍受断裂活动控制处于拉张环境,但全新世以来活动性渐弱。综合研究认为,沙湾断裂目前仍有一定活动性,但活动性较弱。     

Spatial radon anomalies on active faults in California

Radon emanation has been observed to be anomalously high along active faults in many parts of the world. We tested this relationship by conducting and repeating soil-air radon surveys with a portable radon meter across several faults in California. The results confirm the existence of fault-associated radon anomalies, which show characteristic features that may be related to fault structures but vary in time due to other environmental changes, such as rainfall. Across two creeping faults in San Juan Bautista and Hollister, the radon anomalies showed prominent double peaks straddling the fault-gouge zone during dry summers, but the peak-to-background ratios diminished after significant rain fall during winter. Across a locked segment of the San Andreas fault near Olema, the anomaly has a single peak located several meters southwest of the slip zone associated with the 1906 San Francisco earthquake. Across two fault segments that ruptured during the magnitude 7.5 Landers earthquake in 1992, anomalously high radon concentration was found in the fractures three weeks after the earthquake. We attribute the fault-related anomalies to a slow vertical gas flow in or near the fault zones. Radon generated locally in subsurface soil has a concentration profile that increases three orders of magnitude from the surface to a depth of several meters; thus an upward flow that brings up deeper and radon-richer soil air to the detection level can cause a significantly higher concentration reading. This explanation is consistent with concentrations of carbon dioxide and oxygen, measured in soil-air samples collected during one of the surveys.     

Vulnerability mapping of shallow groundwater aquifer using SINTACS model in the Jordan Valley area, Jordan

Jordan Valley is one of the important areas in Jordan that involves dense agricultural activities, which depend on groundwater resources. The groundwater is exploited from an unconfined shallow aquifer which is mainly composed of alluvial deposits. In the vicinity of the Kafrein and South Shunah, the shallow aquifer shows signs of contamination from a wide variety of non-point sources. In this study, a vulnerability map was created as a tool to determine areas where groundwater is most vulnerable to contamination. One of the most widely used groundwater vulnerability mapping methods is SINTACS, which is a point count system model for the assessment of groundwater pollution hazards. SINTACS model is an adaptation for Mediterranean conditions of the well-known DRASTIC model. The model takes into account several environmental factors: these include topography, hydrology, geology, hydrogeology, and pedology. Spatial knowledge of all these factors and their mutual relationships is needed in order to properly model aquifer vulnerability using this model. Geographic information system was used to express each of SINTACS parameters as a spatial thematic layer with a specific weight and score. The final SINTACS thematic layer (intrinsic vulnerability index) was produced by taking the summation of each score parameter multiplied by its specific weight. The resultant SINTACS vulnerability map of the study area indicates that the highest potential sites for contamination are along the area between Er Ramah and Kafrein area. To the north of the study area there is a small, circular area which shows fairly high potential. Elsewhere, very low to low SINTACS index values are observed, indicating areas of low vulnerability potential.     

Distribution of the energy release, b-values and seismic hazard in Egypt

A review of the seismicity and seismic history of Egypt indicates areas of high activity concentrated along Oligocene-Miocene faults. This supports the idea of recent activation of the Oligocene-Miocene stress cycle. There are similarities in the spatial distribution of recent and historical epicenters. Destructive earthquakes in Egypt are mostly concentrated in the highly populated areas of the Nile Valley and Nile Delta. Some big earthquakes located near the plate boundary as far away as Turkey and Crete were strongly felt in Egypt. The distribution of the energy release shows a possible tectonic connection between active zones in Egypt and the complicated tectonic zones in Turkey and Crete through geologically verified fault systems. The distribution of intensity shows a strong directivity along the Nile Valley. This is due to the presence of a thick layer of loose sediments on top of the hard rock in the Nile Valley graben. The distribution of b-values indicates two different zones, comparable with stable and unstable shelf areas. Stress loads in the northern Red Sea and northern Egypt are similar. Geologically, northern Egypt is a part of the Unstable Shelf area. The probability to have an earthquake with intensity V or larger within 94 years is more than 80% in the Nile Valley and Nile Delta areas, Egypt-Mediterranean coastal area, Aswan High Dam area, Gulf of Aqaba-Levant Fault zone and in the oil fields of the Gulf of Suez. The maximum expected intensity in these areas and within the same period is V–VI for a 80% probability and VII–VIII+ for a 10% probability. Intensity VIII–IX has been reported for several earthquakes in both historical and recent time.     

The measurement of soil gases and shallow temperature for determination of active faults in a geothermal area: a case study from Ömer–Gecek,Afyonkarahisar (West Anatolia)

Afyonkarahisar is a very important geothermal province of western Anatolia and has low and medium enthalpy geothermal areas. This study has been carried out for the preparation of distribution maps of soil gases (radon and carbon dioxide) and shallow soil temperature and the exploration of permeable tectonic regions associated with geothermal systems and reveal the origins of radon and carbon dioxide gases. The western district of the study area is characterized by the high radon concentration (168.30 kBq/m³), carbon dioxide ratio (0.30%), and soil temperature (21.0 °C) values. Fethibey and Demirçevre faults, which allow the circulation of geothermal fluids, have been detected in the distribution maps of radon, carbon dioxide, and shallow depth temperature and the directions of the curves in these maps correspond to the strikes of Demirçevre faults. The effect of the fault plays an important role in the change of carbon dioxide concentration along the W-E directional geological section prepared to determine the change of soil gas and shallow depth temperature values depending on lithological differences, fault existence, and geothermal reservoir depth. On the other hand, it was determined that Rn²²² concentration and soil temperature changed as a function of geothermal reservoir depth or lithological difference. Tuffs in Köprülü volcano-sedimentary units are the main source of radon due to their higher uranium contents. Besides, the carbon dioxide in Ömer–Gecek soils has geothermal origin because of the highest carbon dioxide content (99.3%) in non-condense gas. The similarities in patterns of soil temperature, radon, and carbon dioxide indicate that the variation in soil temperatures is related to radon and carbon dioxide emissions. It is concluded that soil gas and temperature measurements can be used to determine the active faults in the initial stage of geothermal exploration successfully.     

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。     

基于土壤氡气测量识别甘肃北山南缘隐伏断裂

我国高放废物地质处置库首选预选区位于甘肃北山南缘，区内分布有多条大型非活动断裂构造，这些断裂很可能成为未来放射性核素迁移的主要通道。断裂在向地表延伸过程中，受第四系覆盖等因素影响，造成关键构造部位隐伏地下而难以识别。本文以北山地区新场地段南部红旗山和前红泉断裂为研究对象，采用土壤中氡气测量方法，探讨了大型断裂构造中隐伏段落的识别及其指示的水文地质意义。结果表明：土壤中氡气测量对于识别北山南缘隐伏断裂具有很好的指示意义，是传统地质调查方法的一种重要补充；红旗山和前红泉断裂裂隙系统整体开启性均较差，裂隙系统不发育，影响范围较小，不具备形成较大规模储水空间的可能性。不同断裂带土壤氡浓度背景值差异较大，可根据土壤氡浓度累积频率分布图确定背景值；土壤氡浓度等值线分布图对判断隐伏断裂位置具有一定的指示作用。对于压剪性断裂而言，主断裂多沿氡气高异常与低异常边界分布或表现为氡气中等异常，而两侧的次级断裂表现为氡气高异常。     

Structural control of groundwater flow regimes and groundwater chemistry along the lower reaches of the Zerka River,West Jordan,using remote sensing,GIS, and field methods

A hydrogeological study was completed within a sub-catchment of the Zerka River drainage basin, in western Jordan. The system is characterized by anticlinal bending with an axis trending SSW–NNE and plunging a few degrees in the SSW direction. The anticlinal structure diverts groundwater flow towards the SSW while the strike-slipe faults cause the groundwater to diverge where the fault is perpendicular to the groundwater flow lines, and to converge where the fault is parallel to the groundwater flow lines. A direct relationship was found between the location of springs and the type of groundwater flow with regard to the amount of discharge wherein large spring discharges are located in zones of converging groundwater flow lines. In areas where faults are not abundant, the groundwater retention time in the aquifers is long and a zonation of the electrical conductivity was detected due to mineral dissolution. By controlling groundwater flow, the anticlinal setting produces three genetic groups of groundwater flow systems: (1) alkaline–earth alkaline water which is predominately a bicarbonate-type composition, (2) alkaline–earth alkaline water which is predominately bicarbonate–sulfate, and (3) alkaline–earth alkaline water with a high alkaline component.     

Archaeological and geological evidence for protohistoric water management in Northeast Louisiana

Native North American Indians built and maintained water control and irrigation facilities, especially in the southwestern United States. However, the use of human-made structures to manage water for agriculture and personal use is rarely documented in the Southeast. Excavations at the protohistoric period Jordan site in Louisiana demonstrate the use of earthworks, ponds, and ditches to channel and direct surface water for drainage and irrigation. The Jordan site is remarkable for its preservation, as well as for having evidence for sophisticated hydraulic engineering, but it is unlikely that it is unique in the Southeast in regard to the degree and kind of earthmoving related to water management. Archaeological and geological contexts provide the background for understanding the Jordan site features. Results of geoarchaeological subsurface investigations demonstrate the scale and nature of the site's aboriginal constructions and provide evidence that they were part of a deliberate plan to make the site area habitable during the immediate post-contact era in the Mississippi Valley.     

Paleoearthquake Features as Indicators of Potential Earthquake Activities in the Karameh Dam Site

Prehistorical earthquake induced features, such as faults, folds, fissures, and slumps have been discovered during the Karameh dam construction. The dam is located close to the plate tectonics boundary formed by the active Jordan Valley Fault. Of most importance are those known as the fold-type deformations ``décollement type of structure' which are well preserved in the laminated Lisan formations. These features show that historical moderate to strongly sized earthquake activities are likely to have been originated in the vicinity of the dam site. Such features may well provide valuable information for identification of areas of highly strong earthquake regions.     

Geomorphic analysis reveals active tectonic deformation on the eastern flank of the Pir Panjal Range,Kashmir Valley,India

There are plenty of faults that show evidence that they are active. Most of the valley’s floor is occupied by unconsolidated Karewa deposits, in particular on the south–southwest of the Kashmir Valley. In such situations, geomorphic data can reveal the location of active faults. Accordingly, we tried to identify geomorphic indices in SW of the Kashmir Valley (Veshav, Rambiara, and Romushi drainage basins), which revealed the area to be potentially tectonically active. This active faulting was further substantiated by drainage anomalies and field investigations, which provides evidence for an emergent out-of-sequence NE-dipping active reverse fault (identified first time on ground) named the Balapur Fault (BF). The BF can be traced over at least 40 km along the southwest side of the Kashmir Valley. The existence of the active Balapur Fault and of two other inferred faults north of the Panjal Thrust or Murree Thrust presents a picture of a more complex strain-partitioning regime in the Kashmir Himalayas than is usually visualized.     

Seismically induced variations in Mariánské Lázně fault gas composition in the NW Bohemian swarm quake region, Czech Republic — A continuous gas monitoring

A continuously operated gas monitoring station was emplaced within the epicentral area of the NW Bohemian swarm earthquakes overlying directly the active Mariánské Lázně fault. The recordings of 8-month continuous monitoring period are presented. The variations in radon concentrations are similarly to variations in CO₂, i.e. CO₂ is considered to be the carrier gas for radon. Very small diurnal variations in gas concentration are caused by the earth tides, as daily variations in meteorological conditions cannot explain a short daily minimum at midday times. Sudden changes in gas concentration, which clearly exceed these diurnal variations occur and are always linked with seismic activities. Decreased gas concentration may indicate compression resulting in reduced fault permeability as is implied by negative peaks following local earthquake swarms. A sudden increase in CO₂ and Rn concentration may indicate an increased fault permeability caused by stress redistribution, giving rise to opening of migration pathways. This implies a repeatedly sudden rise in gas concentration before local earthquake swarms. Several variations in gas concentration were monitored linked with remote earthquakes of ground motion amplitudes  >1 μm. These seismic events are accompanied by an interference of the diurnal gas concentration–stress-cycle along the Mariánské Lázně fault. However, if shocks of remote earthquake can alter properties of the migrating fluids or the fault properties it can be suggested that these are able to trigger local seismicity, as indicated in the case of the Slovenia earthquake on 12th July 2004.