Ore -controlling structural analysis of thrust and -tear fault associations in the Baiyangchang copper deposit in western YunnanSCIEI北大核心CSCD

砂岩型铜矿床(沉积岩容矿层状铜矿床)作为一种重要的铜矿床广泛发育于滇西兰坪盆地内。经典的砂岩型铜矿床成因模式认为该类矿床形成于伸展背景下的沉积盆地内,但兰坪盆地内的砂岩型铜矿床则产出于挤压背景下的陆-陆碰撞造山带内,其成矿与地壳缩短密切相关。通过详细构造解析揭示成矿与构造变形的时空关系是理解挤压背景下铜成矿过程的基础。本文基于12.5万区域地质调查,详细分析了白洋厂砂岩型铜矿床的区域构造、矿体与构造的空间关系。构造分析结果显示,矿区白垩系经历了中新世东西向挤压变形,形成近南北走向逆断层+近东西走向掀斜-走滑断层构造组合;地壳缩短期间,在主要逆断层前锋(下盘)形成中新世含石膏层的小型周缘前陆盆地。铜多金属矿化发生在逆断层主破碎带或上盘次级破碎带内,赋矿围岩皆为白垩系。基于构造-盆地-矿体这一空间关系,结合矿石结构、区域地质特点,我们提出成矿金属元素主要源自中新世周缘前陆盆地卤水,还原硫来自隐伏于白垩系之下的晚三叠统三合洞组中的还原性流体。始于中新世早期的地壳缩短在晚三叠世、白垩纪地层中形成破裂构造,使得中新世周缘前陆盆地中的卤水下渗、保存于晚三叠世地层中的还原性流体上升,而当两种流体在主要断裂破碎带内发生混合时,则发生硫化物沉淀成矿。     

Structural setting of the Apennine－Maghrebian thrust belt

The Apennine-Maghrebian fold-and-thrust belt devel-oped from the latest Cretaceous to Early Pleistocene at the subduction-collisional boundary between the Euro-pean and the westward-subducted Ionian and Adria plates. Large parts of the Mesozoic oceanic lithosphere were subducted during an Alpine phase from the Late Cretaceous to Middle Eocene. The chain developed through the deformation of major paleogeographic internal domains (tectono-sedimentary sequences of the Ligurian-Piedmont Ocean) and external domains (sedi-mentary sequences derived from the deformation of the continental Adria-African passive mareinL The continu-ity of the Apennine chain is abruptly interrupted in the Calabrian Arc by the extensive klippe of Kabylo-Calabrian crystalline exotic terranes, derived from deformation of the European passive margin.Major complexities (sharp deflections in the arcuate configuration of the thrust belt, out-of-sequence propagation of the thrusts) are referred to contrasting rheology and differential buoyancy of the subducted lithosphere (transitional from conti-nental to oceanic) and consequent differential roll-back of the Adria plate margin, and to competence contrasts in the Mesozoic stratigraphic sequences,where multiple décollement horizons at different stratigraphic levels may have favored significant differential shortening.From the Late Miocene, the geometry of the thrust belt was strongly modified by extensional fault-ing, volcanic activity, crustal thinning and formation of oceanic crust correlated with the development of the Tyrrhenian Basin.     

Problem of “thrust sheets” in the Alay range

According to this article, there has been no extensive thrusting in the May range. On the basis of a study of the internal structure of the Silurian formations, which are found to be a rootless "allochthon," it is suggested that Middle Paleozoic uplifts were formed with abbreviated sections. The edges of these uplifts have indeed been overthrust on younger rocks (Middle Devonian to Middle Carboniferous) and thus form the elements of an imbricate thrust, not a nappe structure. — Author.     

Glacio-tectonic structures: a mesoscale model of thin-skinned thrust sheets?

A series of seven groups of push-ridges ranging from 7 to 40 m in height, 50 to 280 m in length, and occupying a total width of more than 2 km, mark the marginal zone of the A.D. 1890 maximum of Eyjabakkajökull, an outlet glacier of the Vatnajökull ice cap, Iceland. The internal structure of one ridge complex comprises two distinct elements: a proglacial part which has been subject to compressional stresses, resulting in the development of imbricate thrust sheets; and a subglacial part which comprises low-angle normal fault structures. The two sub-systems appear to be linked via a floor thrust and to have evolved together as the glacier reached the limit of its rapid advance in A.D. 1890.     

Spatial arrangement of décollements as a control on the development of thrust faults

We used two-dimensional finite element models to explore different configurations of weak layers in undeformed sedimentary sequences to investigate the occurrence of three characteristic types of thrust configurations: ramp-flat; imbricate; and duplex. In our models, we embedded two low-friction weak layers with a finite spatial extent in a sequence of stronger rock. These two weak layers were initially horizontal, were separated vertically by 1 km, and were arranged in three different relative positions to each other. When the models were deformed and these weak layers developed into décollements, they interacted to produce one of the three types of thrust faults as a function of their initial configurations. When the tips of weak layers were separated by a large gap (>10 km), only the lower-level décollement became active, producing imbricate thrusts. When the two weak layers overlapped for a large distance (>10 km), they simultaneously became active décollements, producing duplexes in the overlapped zone. When the gap or overlap was small (<5 km), the two weak layers also simultaneously became active décollements but their tips linked up to form a ramp-flat geometry. These results suggest that thrust geometry is highly sensitive to the initial arrangement of décollements.     

Double evaporitic décollements: Influence of pinch-out overlapping in experimental thrust wedges

This article focuses on how deformation and displacements are transferred between two décollements located at different stratigraphic levels by means of analogue modeling using brittle/viscous, sand/silicone systems. We present results from ten analogue models, in which we varied key parameters, such as the amount of horizontal offset or overlap between the pinch-outs of the upper and lower décollements, the total amount of shortening, and the planform geometry of the upper décollement. Results indicate that (i) structures root onto the basal and upper décollement, defining an inner and an outer domain and (ii) the offset/overlap of the décollements controls the geometry of the transition zone located between the two décollements, the propagation of deformation into the foreland both in space and time, and the deformation style and kinematics in the different domains of the model. When the pinch-out of the upper décollement is at an angle with the backstop, oblique structures form, and the geometry and propagation-mode of the structures change progressively along-strike. We compare our experimental results with other silicone/sand analogue models and with the natural examples of the Southern Pyrenees, where Upper Triassic and Eocene–Oligocene syn-tectonic evaporites acted as basal and upper décollements, respectively.     

Numerical modelling of fault reactivation in carbonate rocks under fluid depletion conditions – 2D generic models with a small isolated fault

This generic 2D elastic-plastic modelling investigated the reactivation of a small isolated and critically-stressed fault in carbonate rocks at a reservoir depth level for fluid depletion and normal-faulting stress conditions. The model properties and boundary conditions are based on field and laboratory experimental data from a carbonate reservoir. The results show that a pore pressure perturbation of −25 MPa by depletion can lead to the reactivation of the fault and parts of the surrounding damage zones, producing normal-faulting downthrows and strain localization. The mechanism triggering fault reactivation in a carbonate field is the increase of shear stresses with pore-pressure reduction, due to the decrease of the absolute horizontal stress, which leads to an expanded Mohr's circle and mechanical failure, consistent with the predictions of previous poroelastic models. Two scenarios for fault and damage-zone permeability development are explored: (1) large permeability enhancement of a sealing fault upon reactivation, and (2) fault and damage zone permeability development governed by effective mean stress. In the first scenario, the fault becomes highly permeable to across- and along-fault fluid transport, removing local pore pressure highs/lows arising from the presence of the initially sealing fault. In the second scenario, reactivation induces small permeability enhancement in the fault and parts of damage zones, followed by small post-reactivation permeability reduction. Such permeability changes do not appear to change the original flow capacity of the fault or modify the fluid flow velocity fields dramatically.     

Discussion on initial mechanism of the Tan-Lu fault zone北大核心CSCD

The Dabie and Sulu orogens between the North China and the Yangtze cratons were left-laterally offset about 4(H) km along the NE-striking Tan-Lu Fault Zone. The fault zone terminates abruptly at the southeastern corner of the Dabie Orogen, suggesting unique origin of the fault zone which remains controversial. Structures in the Zhangbaling Croup and Feidong Complex in the Zhangbaling Uplift formed in a flat-lying ductile detachment zone with a shear sense of top to the SSW. Whereas, the Tan-Lu shear zone in the l.ujiang area exhibits as a sinistral ductile shear zone. Thus, the Tan-Lu Fault Zone in the east of the Dabie Orogen experienced two phases of deformation. The first phase deformation exhibits as sinistral ductile shear belts, the sinistral ductile shear zone was then involved in the NK-SW trending tightly folds and thrusts deformation. The Susong Complex and Zhangbaling Group in the Dabie Orogens exhibit as exhumation structures. According previous muscovite 4'Ar/,>Ar ages and deformation of syn-collisional folds and thrusts, we propose an indentation-induced continent-Tearing model for the initialization the Tan-Lu Fault Zone.     

Rock pulverization and localization of a strike-slip fault zone in dolomite rocks (Salzach–Ennstal–Mariazell–Puchberg fault,Austria)

Detailed investigations of dolomite fault rocks, formed at shallow crustal depths along the Salzach–Ennstal–Mariazell–Puchberg (SEMP) fault system in the Northern Calcareous Alps, revealed new insights into cataclasite formation. The examined Miocene, sinistral strike-slip faults reveal grain size reduction of dolomite host rocks by tensile microfracturing at a large range of scales, producing rock fragments of centimetre to micrometre sizes. In situ fracturing leads to grain size reduction down to grain sizes <25 μm, producing mosaic breccias and fault rocks which have previously been described as “initial/embryonic” and “intermediate” cataclasites. At all scales, grain fragments display little to no rotation and no or minor evidence of shear deformation. The observed microstructures are similar to those previously described in studies on pulverized rocks. Microstructural investigations of cataclasites and mosaic breccias revealed aggregations of small dolomite grains (<50 μm) that accumulated on top of large fragments or as infillings of V-shaped voids between larger grains and show constant polarity throughout the investigated samples. Fabrics indicate deposition in formerly open pore space and subsequent polyphase cementation. The newly described tectonic geopetal fabrics (geopetal-particle-aggregates, GPA) prove that these faults temporarily passed through a stage of extremely high porosity/permeability prior to partial cementation.     

U–Pb–Hf zircon study of two mylonitic granite complexes in the Talas-Fergana fault zone,Kyrgyzstan, and Ar–Ar age of deformations along the fault

A 2000 km long dextral Talas-Fergana strike–slip fault separates eastern terranes in the Kyrgyz Tien Shan from western terranes. The aim of this study was to constrain an age of dextral shearing in the central part of the fault utilizing Ar–Ar dating of micas. We also carried out a U–Pb–Hf zircon study of two different deformed granitoid complexes in the fault zone from which the micas for Ar dating were separated. Two samples of the oldest deformed Neoproterozoic granitoids in the area of study yielded U–Pb zircon SHRIMP ages 728 ± 11 Ma and 778 ± 11 Ma, characteristic for the Cryogenian Bolshoi Naryn Formation, and zircon grains analyzed for their Lu–Hf isotopic compositions yielded εHf(t) values from −11.43 to −16.73, and their calculated tHfc ages varied from 2.42 to 2.71 Ga. Thus varying Cryogenian ages and noticeable heterogeneity of Meso- to Paleoproterozoic crustal sources was established for mylonitic granites of the Bolshoi Naryn Formation. Two samples of mylonitized pegmatoidal granites of the Kyrgysh Complex yielded identical ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 279 ± 5 Ma corresponding to the main peak of Late-Paleozoic post-collisional magmatism in the Tien Shan (Seltmann et al., 2011), and zircon grains analyzed for their Lu–Hf isotopic compositions yielded εHf(t) values from −11.43 to −16.73, and calculated tHfc ages from 2.42 to 2.71 Ga indicating derivation from a Paleoproterozoic crustal source. Microstructural studies showed that ductile/brittle deformation of pegmatoidal granites of the Kyrgysh Complex occurred at temperatures of 300–400 °C and caused resetting of the K–Ar isotope system of primary muscovite. Deformation of mylonitized granites of the Bolshoi Naryn Formation occurred under high temperature conditions and resulted in protracted growth and recrystallization of micas. The oldest Ar–Ar muscovite age of 241 Ma with a well defined plateau from a pegmatoidal granite of the Kyrgysh Complex is considered as a “minimum” age of dextral motions along this section of the fault in the Triassic while younger ages varying from 227 Ma to 199 Ma with typical staircase patterns indicate protracted growth and recrystallization of micas during ductile deformations which continued until the end of the Triassic.     

Seismic reflection imaging of active faults and their tectonic behavior in the Northern Moroccan margin. Is the Nekor fault a pure strike-slip fault?

The study of 1000-km seismic reflection profiles, along the Northern Moroccan margin, allowed browsing new imaging in detail about the regional geological structures and their functioning. To achieve this goal, we elaborated a high-resolution depth model and a global tectonic sketch. The influence of recent tectonic activity is manifested by normal and strike-slip faults, trending mainly 70° N and 125° N. In this segment, the Nekor strike-slip fault seems to be connected to a secondary major fault system that changes direction from 30° N to 70° N, and changing behavior to left-lateral strike-slip fault with normal component. Analysis of local seismic activity recorded from 1990 to 2014 with moderate magnitudes activity shows alignments in clear superposition with the detected active faults in seismic reflection lines.     

Physical properties of fault zones within a granite body: Example of the Soultz-sous-Forêts geothermal site

In EGS projects, fault zones are considered as the structures controlling deep flow at the reservoir scale. Using a large set of petrophysical properties (porosity, density, permeability, thermal conductivity [TC]) measured on cores collected along the EPS-1 borehole, a model of fault zone is proposed to describe them. A fault zone is a complex structure, showing different parts with different kinds of deformations and/or materials that could explain chemical and physical processes observed during fluid-rock interactions. The different parts composing the fault zone are: (1) the fault core or gauge zone; (2) the damage zone; (3) and the protolith. They are usually heterogeneous and show different physical properties. The damage zone is a potential high permeability channel and could become the main pathway for fluids if secondary minerals seal the fault core. Porosity is the lowest within the protolith, between 0.5 and 1%, but can go up to 15% in the fault zone. Permeability ranges from 10^?20 m² in the fresh granite to, at least, 10^?15 m² in the fault core, and TC ranges from 2.5 W K^?1m^?1 to 3.7 W K^?1m^?1. Finally, variations in specific surface are set over two orders of magnitude. If the lowest values usually characterize the fresh granite far from fault zones, physical properties could show variations spread over their whole respective ranges within these fault zones.     

Was Himalayan normal faulting triggered by initiation of the Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust and development of the Lesser Himalayan duplex?

The Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust is a major orogen-scale fault that extends for more than 1,500 km along strike in the Himalayan fold-thrust belt. The fault can be traced along the Himalayan arc from Himachal Pradesh, India, in the west to eastern Bhutan. The fault is located within the Lesser Himalayan tectonostratigraphic zone, and it translated Paleoproterozoic Lesser Himalayan rocks more than 100 km toward the foreland. The Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust is always located in the proximal footwall of the Main Central thrust. Northern exposures (toward the hinterland) of the thrust sheet occur in the footwall of the Main Central thrust at the base of the high Himalaya, and southern exposures (toward the foreland) occur between the Main Boundary thrust and Greater Himalayan klippen. Although the metamorphic grade of rocks within the Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust sheet is not significantly different from that of Greater Himalayan rock in the hanging wall of the overlying Main Central thrust sheet, the tectonostratigraphic origin of the two different thrust sheets is markedly different. The Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust became active in early Miocene time and acted as the roof thrust for a duplex system within Lesser Himalayan rocks. The process of slip transfer from the Main Central thrust to the Ramgarh–Munsiari thrust in early Miocene time and subsequent development of the Lesser Himalayan duplex may have played a role in triggering normal faulting along the South Tibetan Detachment system.     

Lateral and vertical changes of deformation style in the osen-røa thrust sheet,Oslo region

Changes in deformation style and amounts of shortening in the Osen-Røa thrust sheet of the Oslo Region occur vertically and laterally approaching the thrust front in the south. Deformation in the CambroMiddle Ordovician sequence passes laterally from closely spaced imbricates in the north (50–60% shortening), through triangle, pop-up and imbricate zones toward the south (20–37% shortening) to widely spaced zones of deformation (up to 20% shortening) approaching the thrust front. Changes in deformation style are attributed to changing boundary conditions across the Klekken thrust, declining end-of-orogenic forces and an increase in thickness of competent units in the Ordovician rocks to the south. Vertical changes in deformation style are attributed to the increasing percentage of competent units upward in the Cambro-Silurian sedimentary rocks. In the north, the accompanying decrease in shortening upwards requires a structurally necessary upper detachment horizon to separate folded late Middle Ordovician-Silurian sediments from imbricated early Cambro-Middle Ordovician sediments below; while southward in the Oslo area the upper detachment needs to be placed between Silurian and Cambro-Ordovician units. Finally, in Eiker, with less than 20% shortening, the whole CambroSilurian sequence appears to have deformed as a single unit. In the northern Oslo Region, the upper detachment probably has a backthrust sense of motion above an imbricate stack (passive roof duplex). Further south the upper detachment is probably directed toward the foreland.     

Biostratigraphy of the Tethyan cretaceous successions from northwestern Zagros fold–thrust belt,Kurdistan region,NE Iraq

Nineteen benthonic and planktonic foraminiferal zones and their subzones have been recognized in the Tethyan cretaceous successions along the four sections analyzed in the northwestern Zagros fold–thrust belt within the preforeland–foreland basin. A detailed micropaleontological investigation revealed eight benthonic zones from the Qamchuqa Formation (Barremian to Lower Early Cenomanian) including: the Choffatella decipiens interval zone, C. decipiens/Palorbitolina lenticularis total range zone, C. decipiens/Salpingoporella dinarica interval zone, Mesorbitolina texana total range zone, Mesorbitolina subconcava total range zone, Orbitolina qatarica total range zone, Orbitolina sefini total range zone, and the Orbitolina concava partial range zone. The Rotalipora cushmani total range zone was recorded in the Dokan Formation that overlies the Qamchuqa Formation of the Late Cenomanian age. The Gulneri Formation is represented only by the Whitnella archaeocretacea partial range zone/Heterohelix moremani total range subzone and indicates the Late Cenomanian/Early Turonian age. Six planktonic foraminiferal zones were recorded from the Kometan Formation, indicating the Late Cenomanian to Early Campanian age, and are represented by the R. cushmani/H. moremani subzone, Helvetotruncana helvetica total range zone, Marginotruncana sigali partial range zone, Dicarinella primitiva interval range zone, Dicarinella concavata interval zone, Dicarinella assymetrica total range zone, and Globotruncanita elevata partial range zone. Two planktonic foraminferal zones were recorded also and these are related to the Globotruncana (fornicata, stuartiformis, elevata, and ventricosa) assemblage zone, Globotruncana calcarata total range subzone, from the Shiranish Formation, Lower Late Campanian, while the second zone is nominated as the Globotruncana (arca, tricarinata, esnehensis, and bahijae) assemblage zone, Globotruncana gansseri interval subzone, and Globotruncana contusa total range zone of the Late Campanian to basal middle Maastrichtian age. The last zone is related to the Abathomphalus mayaroensis partial range zone (of Late Maastrichtian age) and occasionally intercalated with the Orbitoides–Loftusia benthic zones. An important hiatus, between the Qamchuqa and Kometan formations was proved and manifests Pre-Aruma unconformity, and is occasionally associated with the global Cenomanian–Turonian Oceanic Anoxic Euxinic Event, while the Maastrichtian red bed of the Shiranish Formations mostly points to Tethyan upper Cretaceous Oceanic Red Bed.