Structural–Tectonic Features of the Northeastern Barents Plate from Numerical Modeling of Potential Fields

Structural–geological inhomogeneities in the northeastern Barents Sea are zoned based on an analysis of various components of the gravity and magnetic fields. The objects revealed in the basement and sedimentary cover of the Barents Sea Plate form anomalies in potential fields at coexisting complex geological structures and contrasting petrophysical properties. Cluster analysis reveals the fault-marked boundaries of individual blocks in the basement. A numerical model of faults in the sedimentary cover and basement of the Barents Sea Plate is constructed.     

磁异常三维解析信号所揭示的中国东部及邻近海域岩浆岩特征

根据中国东部及邻近海域总磁异常计算的三维解析信号振幅值比总磁异常,能精确地刻画磁源体的位置、深度和边界。结果显示在中国东部地区不同构造块体内的岩浆岩深度差异很大,华北块体的磁异常解析信号振幅值较高、尺度大,磁源体埋深达10 km左右或更深,反映了这个古老克拉通块体的中—下地壳内部较为强烈的岩浆活动过程与活化。受构造抬升和岩浆上涌影响,苏鲁—大别造山带的岩浆岩体埋深则相对较浅,多小于5 km。中、下扬子块体的岩浆岩体的埋深也普遍较大,但是岩浆活动微弱,解析信号振幅值很低。受晚中生代古太平洋俯冲的影响,华南块体及其东北海域分布比较孤立的岩浆岩体,其深度大都小于5 km。在东海,受新生代张裂作用的影响,岩浆岩体的深度与基底隆起或沉降呈明显对应关系。琉球群岛对应平静的磁异常并显示较深的岩浆岩体分布,表明琉球群岛不是菲律宾海板块俯冲形成的火山弧而可能是由俯冲增生楔物质和部分从欧亚大陆分离出来的块体构成,其西侧的岩浆岩带才是真正的火山弧。     

塔中北斜坡碳酸盐岩岩溶储层油气差异富集特征

塔中北斜坡下奥陶统岩溶储层基本为低孔低渗储层,主要的储集空间为溶蚀孔、洞和断裂活动产生的裂缝。储层呈现“横向连片,纵向分层”特点,优质储层主要呈层状叠合分布在不整合面下0~200m范围内的垂直渗流带和水平潜流带。岩溶储层具有大面积、多储集段含油气的特点,平面上整体表现为“西油东气,内油外气”的分布特征。鹰山组直接盖层良3—5段致密灰岩平面上具有“东厚西薄,北厚南薄”的分布特点,剖面上呈现“块状分布,横向相连,纵向叠置”的展布特征。鹰山组内部多套高阻层相互叠置,与下伏含油气层构成良好的配置关系,形成一套或多套储盖组合,控制油气的分层聚集。塔中北斜坡发育着一系列NE向左行走滑断裂,以之为边界,可以分为若干个构造区块。区块内油气水正常分异,相对高的部位聚集油气、低部位出水。块体内部油气多富集在距主干走滑断裂0.5~4.0km范围内。      

Fundamental challenges of the location of oil and gas in the South Caspian Basin

Subvertical and subhorizontal bodies were identified in the South Caspian Basin. They are a new class of geological structures with a complicated form, which can serve as migration pathways and hydrocarbon accumulation zones. The basin incorporates a few autonomous sources of oil and gas occurrences with their own distribution areas and spatial–temporal evolution. HC generation sources are displaced relative to each other. The lower boundary of the oil and gas occurrence reaches depths of more than 12–15 km, while the upper boundary of the “oil window” is confined to hypsometric depths of 5–7 km.     

Modeling and Interpreting CHAMP Magnetic Anomaly Field over China Continent Using Spherical Cap Harmonic Analysis

Based on the CHAMP Magsat data set, spherical cap harmonic analysis was used to model the magnetic fields over China continent. The data set used in the analysis includes the 15′×15′ gridded values of the CHAMP anomaly fields (latitude φ=25°N to 50°N and longitude λ=78°E to 135°E). The pole of the cap is located at φ=35°N and λ=110°E with half-angle of 30°. The maximum index (Kmax) of the model is 30 and the total number of model coefficients is 961, which corresponds to the minimum wavelength at the earth's surface about 400 km. The root mean square (RMS) deviations between the calculated and observed values are ～ 4 nT for ΔX, ～ 3 nT for ΔY and ～ 3.5 nT for ΔZ, respectively. Results show that positive anomalies are found mainly at the Tarim basin with ～6- 8 nT, the Yangtze platform and North China platform with ～4 nT, and the Songliao basin with ～4-6 nT. In contrast, negative anomaly is mainly located in the Tibet orogenic belt with the amplitude ～ (-6)-(-8) nT. Upward continuation of magnetic anomalies was used to semi-quantitatively separate the magnetic anomalies in different depths of crust. The magnetic anomalies at the earth's surface are from -6 to 10 nT for upper crust, middle crust -27 to 42 nT and lower crust -12 to 18 nT, respectively. The strikes of the magnetic anomalies for the upper crust are consistent with those for the middle crust, but not for the lower crust. The high positive magnetic anomalies mainly result from the old continental nucleus and diastrophic block (e.g. middle Sichuan continental nucleus, middle Tarim basin continental nucleus, Junggar diastrophic block and Qaidam diastrophic block). The amplitudes of the magnetic anomalies of the old continental nucleus and diastrophic block are related to evolution of deep crust. These results improve our understanding of the crustal structure over China continent.     

New data on mantle seismicity of the Caspian region and their geological interpretation

The results of detailed seismological observations with bottom recording systems carried out in 2004 and 2006 near the Dagestan coast of the Middle Caspian are considered. The records of more than 550 micro- and weak earthquakes with M_L = 0.1–4.7 (M_LH = ?0.7 to 4.3) were obtained during 165 days of recording; a fifth of these earthquakes occurred in the upper mantle at a depth of 50–200 km. Over the entire period of instrumental recording since the 1930s, only 10 mantle earthquakes with M_LH = 3.5?6.3 have been recorded by on-land systems. The highest density of earthquake epicenters with source depths down to 50 km is established on the Middle Caspian coast between Derbent and Izberbash and in the adjacent water area. The mantle earthquakes with hypocenters at a depth of 60–80 km cluster beneath the western wall of the Derbent Basin, whereas deeper hypocenters are located beneath both the wall of this basin and the Middle Caspian coast. The sporadic mantle earthquakes recorded in 2004 (about 30 shocks), determined by a network of systems with a small aperture, depicted a zone plunging beneath the Greater Caucasus with indications of a peculiar “subduction” of the Scythian Plate beneath the Caucasus. Subsequent observations based on a more extensive network were carried out in 2006. They substantially changed the pattern of mantle earthquake hypocenters. According to this evidence, the sources of mantle earthquakes make up a dispersed cloud extended in the vertical direction beneath the Middle Caspian coast and water area, which may be regarded as a relic of tectonic activity of a bygone tectonic epoch. A comprehensive tectonic interpretation of the detected seismological phenomenon is given.     

Progress in the Study of Deep Profiles of Tibet and the Himalayas (INDEPTH)

This paper introduces 8 major discoveries and new understandings with regard to the deep structure and tectonics of the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau obtained in Project INDEPTH, They are mainly as follows. (1) The upper crust, lower crust and mantle lithosphere beneath the blocks of the plateau form a "sandwich" structure with a relatively rigid-brittle upper crust, a visco-plastic lower crust and a relatively rigid-ductile mantle lithosphere. This structure is completely different from that of monotonous, cold and more rigid oceanic plates. (2) In the process of north-directed collision-compression of the Indian subcontinent, the upper crust was attached to the foreland in the form of a gigantic foreland accretionary wedge. The interior of the accretionary wedge thickened in such tectonic manners as large-scale thrusting, backthrusting and folding, and magmatic masses and partially molten masses participated in the crustal thickening. Between the upper crust and lower crust lies a large detachment (e.g     

Crust structure of the northeastern Barents Sea basin area

Processing of data from regional geophysical surveys completed in the northern Barents Sea has provided updates to gravity and magnetic databases, structural maps of seismic interfaces, and positions of anomaly sources, which made a basis for 3D density and magnetic models of the crust. The new geological and geophysical results placed constraints on the boundaries between basement blocks formed in different settings and on the contours of deposition zones of different ages in the northeastern Barents Sea. The estimated thicknesses of sedimentary sequences that formed within certain time spans record the deposition history of the region. There is a 20-50 km wide deep suture between two basins of Mesozoic and Paleozoic ages in the eastern part of the region, where pre-Late Triassic reflectors have no clear correlation. The suture slopes eastward at a low angle and corresponds to a paleothrust according to seismic and modeling data. In the basement model, the suture is approximated by a zone of low magnetization and density, which is common to active fault systems. The discovery of the suture has important geological and exploration implications.     

东海地区重磁场特征及其地质意义

重磁方法是地球物理研究中的重要分支,其以位场理论为基础,具有在水平方向上的高分辨率能力并能够提供地壳深部结构的信息,从而对于研究沉积盆地的形成演化过程起着经济有效的作用.文章以东海地区近年的重磁数据为基础,分析了重磁场特征,布格异常值介于-160～460 mGal,在正值背景上发育一些局部的重力低圈闭,布格重力异常的主体走向为NE向,磁力异常值介于-200～+ 500 nT,磁力异常的主体走向为NE向.同时,利用磁异常数据计算了东海的磁性基底界面,磁性基底深度在4～12 km之间变化,各个地区磁性基底深度起伏变化不同,结合前人研究成果,认为东海地区广泛存在中生界地层.     

A possible Caledonide arm through the Barents Sea imaged by OBS data

The assembly of the crystalline basement of the western Barents Sea is related to the Caledonian orogeny during the Silurian. However, the development southeast of Svalbard is not well understood, as conventional seismic reflection data does not provide reliable mapping below the Permian sequence. A wide-angle seismic survey from 1998, conducted with ocean bottom seismometers in the northwestern Barents Sea, provides data that enables the identification and mapping of the depths to crystalline basement and Moho by ray tracing and inversion. The four profiles modeled show pre-Permian basins and highs with a configuration distinct from later Mesozoic structural elements. Several strong reflections from within the crystalline crust indicate an inhomogeneous basement terrain. Refractions from the top of the basement together with reflections from the Moho constrain the basement velocity to increase from 6.3 km s⁻¹ at the top to 6.6 km s⁻¹ at the base of the crust. On two profiles, the Moho deepens locally into root structures, which are associated with high top mantle velocities of 8.5 km s⁻¹. Combined P- and S-wave data indicate a mixed sand/clay/carbonate lithology for the sedimentary section, and a predominantly felsic to intermediate crystalline crust. In general, the top basement and Moho surfaces exhibit poor correlation with the observed gravity field, and the gravity models required high-density bodies in the basement and upper mantle to account for the positive gravity anomalies in the area. Comparisons with the Ural suture zone suggest that the Barents Sea data may be interpreted in terms of a proto-Caledonian subduction zone dipping to the southeast, with a crustal root representing remnant of the continental collision, and high mantle velocities and densities representing eclogitized oceanic crust. High-density bodies within the crystalline crust may be accreted island arc or oceanic terrain. The mapped trend of the suture resembles a previously published model of the Caledonian orogeny. This model postulates a separate branch extending into central parts of the Barents Sea coupled with the northerly trending Svalbard Caledonides, and a microcontinent consisting of Svalbard and northern parts of the Barents Sea independent of Laurentia and Baltica at the time. Later, compressional faulting within the suture zone apparently formed the Sentralbanken High.     

岩石圈磁场研究--卫星地磁学的一个新分支

评介了卫星磁测的历史和现状 ,并向读者推荐了全球和中国的卫星磁异常图以便研究利用 ;对中国境内的卫星磁异常进行了初步的解释 ,主要结果如下 :华北、塔里木和扬子地台与正异常重合 ,而碰撞造山带、褶皱带、山脉则与负异常重合 ;塔里木、四川、松辽盆地之下 ,都有一个扁平的、致密的磁性底座 ;西藏高原地壳中的磁性层在地表以下 30 km以内 ,其磁化率约为0 .0 163SI,相当于 I型花岗岩类的磁性 ;在南中国海海域 ,有两个伸展很大的磁性层 ,位于莫霍面上下 ,黄海海域的岩石圈内也有类似的一个磁性层。     

Long wavelength magnetic anomalies from the lithosphere: Indian shield and Himalaya

A few long-range airborne magnetic profiles flown at an altitude of 7.5 km a.s.l. across the Indian shield are analysed and interpreted in terms of magnetization in the lower crust. The wavelengths of the crustal anomalies are in the range of 51–255 km and this is used to separate them from signals originating at shallow depths. Spectral analysis of these profiles provided a maximum depth of 34–41 km for the long-wavelength anomalies and 9–10 km for the shallow sources identified as Mohorovic̆ić discontinuity and the basement respectively. The magnetic “high” recorded in satellite observations over the Indian shield is interpreted as due to a bulge of 3–4 km in the Moho under the Godovari graben, with a magnetization of 200 nT in the direction of the Earth's present-day magnetic field. Similarly the magnetic lows observed over the Himalaya are interpreted in terms of thickening of the granitic part of the crust from 18 to 23.5 km with a magnetization contrast of 200 nT in the direction of the Earth's present-day magnetic field.     

三峡库区巴东地震(Ms5.1)成因机制及次声波信号

2013年12月16日三峡库区巴东发生M_s5.1地震.根据eigen-6c2模型研究了巴东地区的8-638阶卫星重力异常, 结果表明: 该地区场源深度为10 km的地壳为局部重力低异常, 反映了该处物质密度较周围偏低, 形成低密度层.同时, 研究了该地区速度结构剖面, 结果表明: 巴东地区地壳5~9 km及10~15 km深处存在上下两个低速层, 上部低速层与水库渗水有关, 下部低速层与地幔热流体的上涌有关.低密度层和低速层的确定为韧性流变层的存在提供了证据.巴东地震是地壳深部能量的长期集聚与突发释放, 属构造地震.然而, 库水下渗引起的上部低速异常降低了断层活动的阈值, 震前库水载荷的变化对此次巴东地震的发生起到了触发作用.通过对比次声波和地震波, 我们得出次声波仪记录到的异常信号为本地次声波.      

Crustal structure of the Barents Sea from seismic data

In 1976, the Institute of Physics of the Earth and the Institute of Oceanology, the U.S.S.R. Academy of Sciences, carried out deep seismic soundings in the Barents Sea along a profile 700 km long northeast of Murmansk. A system of reversed and overlapping traveltime curves from 200 to 400 km long has been obtained. The wave correlation was effected by several independent approaches, which identified on the records the refracted and reflected waves from boundaries in the Earth's crust and the upper mantle. Different methods were applied for the solution of the inverse problem: the isochrone method, the intercept-time method, and the iteration method.The use of these different methods gives an indication of the general applicability of the interpretation and of the most reliable elements in the seismic model.All the interpretations and representations of the section positively establish an essentially horizontal inhomogeneity of the Earth's crust in the Barents Sea. On the whole the structure is similar to that of deep sedimentary basins of the East European platform. The thickness of the sedimentary layer varies from 8 to 17 km, the average crustal thickness is about 35–40 km; the velocities in the upper part of the consolidated crust are 5.8–6.4 km/s; in the lower crust they are 6.8–7.0 km/s and higher.     

Formation mechanisms of ultradeep sedimentary basins: the North Barents basin. Petroleum potential implications

Consolidated crust in the North Barents basin with sediments 16–18 km thick is attenuated approximately by two times. The normal faults in the basin basement ensure only 10-15% stretching, which caused the deposition of 2–3 km sediments during the early evolution of the basin. The overlying 16 km of sediments have accumulated since the Late Devonian. Judging by the undisturbed reflectors to a depth of 8 s, crustal subsidence was not accompanied by any significant stretching throughout that time. Dramatic subsidence under such conditions required considerable contraction of lithospheric rocks. The contraction was mainly due to high-grade metamorphism in mafic rocks in the lower crust. The metamorphism was favored by increasing pressure and temperature in the lower crust with the accumulation of a thick layer of sediments. According to gravity data, the Moho in the basin is underlain by large masses of high-velocity eclogites, which are denser than mantle peridotites. The same is typical of some other ultradeep basins: North Caspian, South Caspian, North Chukchi, and Gulf of Mexico basins. From Late Devonian to Late Jurassic, several episodes of rapid crustal subsidence took place in the North Barents basin, which is typical of large petroleum basins. The subsidence was due to metamorphism in the lower crust, when it was infiltrated by mantle-source fluids in several episodes. The metamorphic contraction in the lower crust gave rise to deep-water basins with sediments with a high content of unoxidized organic matter. Along with numerous structural and nonstructural traps in the cover of the North Barents basin, this is strong evidence that the North Barents basin is a large hydrocarbon basin.     

Crustal structure of the western Arafura Sea from ocean bottom seismograph data

Refraction data taken from ocean bottom seismograph recordings in the western Arafura Sea indicate a continental‐type structure for the region. This structure is characterised by a thin column (2 km) of sediments, with velocities ranging from about to 2 to 4 km s^‐1, overlying an essentially two layer crust. The compressional wave velocities in the upper and lower crust are 5.97 and 6.52 km s^‐1, respectively, with the boundary between the layers at a depth of 11 km. Very weak mantle‐refracted arrivals with a velocity of about 8.0 km s^‐1 were recorded. Large‐amplitude, later arrivals, beginning at distances near 100 and 150 km, have been interpreted to be part of the retrograde branches from the 8.0 and 7.33 km s^‐1 layers, respectively. Model studies indicate that a small positive velocity gradient is required between 17 and 30 km, and that the Moho is at a depth of 34 km. A third set of large amplitude, later arrivals starting at a distance near 250 km has been interpreted as most probably multiple refraction‐reflection arrivals from the 5.97 and 6.52 km s^‐1 layers. Correlation of this structure with the stratigraphic logs from exploratory oil wells in the Arafura Sea using layer velocities indicates that rocks younger than Jurassic appear to thin towards the east.     

Crustal character and thickness over the Dangerous Grounds and beneath the Northwest Borneo Trough

New deep reflection seismic, bathymetry, gravity and magnetic data have been acquired in a marine geophysical survey of the southern South China Sea, including the Dangerous Grounds, Northwest Borneo Trough and the Central Luconia Platform. The seismic and bathymetry data map the topography of shallow density interfaces, allowing the application of gravity modeling to delineate the thickness and composition of the deeper crustal layers. Many of the strongest gravity anomalies across the area are accounted for by the basement topography mapped in the seismic data, with substantial basement relief associated with major rift development. The total crustal thickness is however quite constant, with variations only between 25 and 30 km across the Central Luconia Platform and Dangerous Grounds. The Northwest Borneo Trough is underlain by thinned crust (25–20 km total crustal thickness) consistent with the substantial water depths. There is no evidence of any crustal suture associated with the trough, nor any evidence of relict oceanic crust beneath the trough. The crustal thinning also does not extend along the complete length of the trough, with crustal thicknesses of 25 km and more modeled on the most easterly lines to cross the trough. Modeled magnetic field variations are also consistent with the study area being underlain by continental crust, with the magnetic field variations well explained by irregular magnetisations consistent with inhomogeneous continental crust, terminating at the basement unconformity as mapped from the seismic data.     

Configuration of subducting Philippine Sea plate and crustal structure in the central Japan region

A seismic experiment with six explosive sources and 391 seismic stations was conducted in August 2001 in the central Japan region. The crustal velocity structure for the central part of Japan and configuration of the subducting Philippine Sea plate were revealed. A large lateral variation of the thickness of the sedimentary layer was observed, and the P-wave velocity values below the sedimentary layer obtained were 5.3–5.8 km/s. P-wave velocity values for the lower part of upper crust and lower crust were estimated to be 6.0–6.4 and 6.6–6.8 km/s, respectively. The reflected wave from the upper boundary of the subducting Philippine Sea plate was observed on the record sections of several shots. The configuration of the subducting Philippine Sea slab was revealed for depths of 20–35 km. The dip angle of the Philippine Sea plate was estimated to be 26° for a depth range of about 20–26 km. Below this depth, the upper boundary of the subducting Philippine Sea plate is distorted over a depth range of 26–33 km. A large variation of the reflected-wave amplitude with depth along the subducting plate was observed. At a depth of about 20–26 km, the amplitude of the reflected wave is not large, and is explained by the reflected wave at the upper boundary of the subducting oceanic crust. However, the reflected wave from reflection points deeper than 26 km showed a large amplitude that cannot be explained by several reliable velocity models. Some unique seismic structures have to be considered to explain the observed data. Such unique structures will provide important information to know the mechanism of inter-plate earthquakes.     

Results of lithospheric studies from long-range profiles in Siberia

Several long-range seismic profiles, obtained during the last ten years in Siberia, show the complicated lithospheric structure of the Siberian platforms. The three component observations, conducted at distances up to 3000 km, made it possible to obtain information on P- and S-velocities in the crust, on P-velocity and Q-factor for the upper mantle, and on the seismic boundaries responsible for reflected, refracted and converted waves down to a depth of 400–700 km.The crustal models are typical of old platforms of Eurasia: the average thickness of 40 km, three layers with P-velocities 6.2, 6.5, 7.0 km/s and thicknesses of 10–15 km are distinguished. The depth to the M discontinuity varies from 45–50 km beneath the old Tunguss depression, to 35–40 km beneath the younger Vilyui basin. The most complicated Moho structure is observed in the boundary between the West Siberian and the Siberian platforms.A strong inhomogeneity of P-velocity models was revealed for the upper mantle. The horizontal inhomogeneities are more larger in the uppermost mantle to depths of 80–100 km, where P-velocities vary from 8.0–8.2 km/s beneath the young West Siberian plate to 8.4–8.6 km/s beneath some blocks of the Siberian craton. The fine vertical inhomogeneity was studied with reflections correlated after computer processing of seismograms. They outlined several low-velocity layers 20–50 km thick. The layers were characterized by low Q as well.Intensive waves were recorded from the transition zone between the upper and lower mantle. The top of the zone is nearly horizontal in the area; its depth is 400 ± 25 km. The bottom of the zone lies at about 700 km.     

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1674987110000162

<正>Fault-block structures of the Altay-Sayan folded area(ASFA) southeastern Siberia of Russia were used as the basis for creating a 3-D model.The surface structures were projected to depths by previous correlations between long and deep faults,with all layers and deformation factors defined. The mean deformation factor(Ds) is 0.12 unit/km~3 in the upper layer,0.012 unit/km~3 in the intermediate layer,and 0.007 unit/km~3 in the lower layer of the 3-D ASFA neotectonic model.Ds allows correlation of the three distinguished layers with rheological bodies that differ in their potential for accumulating elastic energy.3-D modeling can be used as a methodological approach to projections in seismic prone areas such as the Krasnoyarsk region,for earthquake-hazard monitoring.