A mechanism for strain relaxation of barre granite: Opening of microfractures

Summary Strain relaxation in the Barre Granite and surrounding metasediments in Vermont, was measured by overcoring strain gauge rosettes bonded to outcrop surfaces. The average maximum expansion upon relieving 15.2 cm diameter cores trends N55°W, while the average maximum expansion of 7.6 cm diameter cores coaxial with 15.2 cm cores trends N70°W. The maximum strain relief of the internal overcores is normal to the microfracture fabric. Therefore, the mechanism of strain relaxation is attributed to the opening of microfractures either parallel to the rift direction of the Barre Granite or parallel to the foliation of the metasediment. The lack of parallelism between the normal to the rift plane and the maximum expansion of the initial overcore suggests an extenrally applied strain superimeposed on the strain caused by opening of microfractures.Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory Contribution No. 2455.     

Magnetic field near the outcrop of an almost horizontal conductive sheet

The magnetic field components are studied near the outcrop of an almost horizontal (elongated) conductive sheet when an electric dipole lies far away from the outcrop but close to the sheet. The results have been applied to the case of the transmission of seismic electric signals (SES) by considering the current aspects on the orientation of the maximum principal stress with respect to the fault. Assuming that the latter orientation coincides with that of the emitting dipole source, it seems likely that the SES are accompanied by magnetic field variations with prominent B_Z component. These variations become detectable near the outcrop only for strong earthquakes (with M6.5) at epicentral distances of the order of 100 km.     

Spatial variation of crustal strain in the Kachchh region,India: Implication on the Bhuj earthquake of 2001

The Kachchh province of Western India is a major seismic domain in an intraplate set-up. This seismic zone is located in a rift basin, which was developed during the early Jurassic break-up of the Gondwanaland. The crustal strain determined from the GPS velocity data of post-seismic time period following the 2001 Bhuj earthquake indicates a maximum strain rate of ∼266 × 10⁻⁹ per year along N013°. Focal mechanism solutions of the main event of 26 January 2001 and the aftershocks show that the maximum principal stress axis is close to this high strain direction. Maximum shear strain rate determined from the GPS data of the area has similar orientation. The unusually high strain rate is comparable in magnitude to the continental rift systems. The partitioning of the regional NE–SW horizontal stress (S_Hmax) by the pre-existing EW-striking boundary fault developed the strike–slip components parallel to the regional faults, the normal components perpendicular to the faults, NE-striking conjugate Riedel shear fractures and tension fractures. The partitioned normal component of the stress is considered to be the major cause for compression across the regional EW faults and development of the second-order conjugate shear fractures striking NE–SW and NW–SE. The NE-striking transverse faults parallel to the anti-Riedel shear planes have become critical under these conditions. These anti-Riedel planes are interpreted to be critical for the seismicity of the Kachchh region. The high strain rate in this area of low to moderate surface heat flow is responsible for deeper position of the brittle–ductile transition and development of deep seated seismic events in this intraplate region.     

交叉断层的交替活动与块体运动的实验研究

通过物理模拟证明交叉断层上会交替地发生失稳事件。两条交叉的断层在活动中既相互促进 ,又相互制约 ,即一条断层既可能使另一条断层发生闭锁而积累应变 ,又可能触发其错动。每条断层的位移速率、总位移量以及失稳事件数与断层方向和主压应力轴的夹角有关。各断层段的位移有时体现为断层围限块体的平移运动 ,而有时则体现为块体的旋转运动。发生在不同部位的失稳事件影响范围不同 ,在正应力较大的断层上失稳事件影响范围大。涉及交叉断层的较大失稳事件发生前常出现前兆性小事件。交叉断层的交替活动实际上由变形场中块体的运动所控制     

基于GPS的精河M_S6.6地震前地壳变形动态特征研究

利用2013~2017年3期GPS观测资料,获得精河6.6级地震前震中附近区域水平运动速率、主应变率、面膨胀率及最大剪应变率,并结合区域构造背景分析该区域变形动态特征。结果表明:震前震中附近区域速度场速率逐渐增大,发震断裂两盘构造运动速率不均,震中附近区域GPS测点的速率和运动方向存在差异,反应了地壳应变能量积累。震中区域主压应变率变化反映出应力调整过程,沿断层走向的张压转换的形变高梯度带、最大剪应变梯度带可为地震预测提供参考。     

First estimates of the principal directions of strains compared to those of stresses in seismic friuli,NE Italy

Three Cambridge wire strainmeters and a pair of horizontal-pendulum tiltmeters operate since 1978, in a cave in the northern Friuli seismic area. Straightforward considerations, based on the principles of continuum mechanics, permit a first estimate of the secular and seasonal variations of the cave strain rate tensor, under the assumption of homogeneous, constant-volume strain, together with an analysis of the effects on the tensor components of particular tiltmeter installation sites with respect to the orientation of both the strainmeters plane and the principal axes.The area lies at the complex intersection of NW-SE Dinaric rock structures and E-W Alpine ones. The latest period of strong seismic activity there started in mid-1976. The fault-plane solutions of the main shock revealed a direction of maximum compression perpendicular to the Alpine trend, but later in 1976 and 1977 such a direction seemed to have changed, having become perpendicular to the Dinaric trend.A plain analysis of the strain gauge data show that, from 1978 to 1981, the maximum shortening secular strain changed progressively from a SW bearing to a SSE one or even SE one. Hence, it would appear that by 1981 the direction of maximum compression had become Alpine again.In the same time interval, the principal axes of the five observed yearly seasonal strain rates maintained a Dinaric orientation similar to that of the geological structures around the cave.Finally the orientations of the secular strain acceleration principal axes appear to be nearly coaxial with those of the stress obtained from various 1977 fault-plane solutions, the compressional stress corresponding to extensional accelerations andvice-versa. Such observation suggests that the modifications of secular strain rates are related to the stress release connected with the seismic activity.     

横波各向异性在裂缝和应力分析中的应用

针对裂缝性和低孔低渗地层的横波各向异性特征,反演得到横波各向异性参数,研究了裂缝的发育程度、方位和有效性,并对低孔低渗地层的应力场分布状态和方位进行了综合评价;通过对反演得到的快、慢弯曲波形进行频散分析以及计算单极横波各向异性大小,确定了引起横波各向异性的原因,并结合常规测井资料、岩心及FMI成像资料对分析结果进行了验证和对比,最后对研究区8口典型井的横波各向异性进行了综合处理和评价,得到了该区的横波各向异性特征以及和总的应力场走向.结果表明,利用横波的各向异性参数可以有效的评价裂缝的发育程度、走向及有效性,并能准确的确定地应力分布状态和最大水平应力方位.     

Multicomponent observation of crustal activity in the DPRI 800 m borehole close to the Nojima Fault

Abstract An 800 m borehole was drilled near the Nojima Fault, on which a strike–slip larger then 1 m occurred during the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake ( M = 7.2). Crustal activity near the fault has been observed since May 1996 using a multicomponent instrument installed at the bottom of the borehole. Data of three components of strain, two components of tilt and temperature observed from May 1996 to December 1998 were analyzed. Long-term changes of strain and tilt show a north-east–south-west extension and southwards subsidence. As for the Earth tides and atmospheric effect, orientation of the principal axis of strain was mainly east-west and orientation of the maximum subsidence was mainly north-south. The observational data of strain had variations corresponding to a change in temperature at a depth of 800 m. The thermal expansion coefficient of the crust was calculated to be approximately 2.0 × 10⁻⁶/°K.     

利用GPS观测研究新疆伽师地区的水平变形特征

推导了利用位移场计算主应变、面膨胀、最大剪应变的公式，通过1998—2000年间的两次重复GPS观测结果，计算了新疆伽师强震活动区在1998～2000年间的水平主应变、面膨胀、最大剪应变等水平变形特征量的分布，分析了2003年发生在该地区的Ms6．8级地震与GPS观测计算的变形场特征量之间的分布关系。并从力学理论的角度对该地区的地质构造运动、局部形变特征与地震活动的关系进行了讨论，得出了一些有意义的结论和认识。     

Heterogeneous strain regime in the eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau and its tectonic implications

The eastern margin of Tibetan Plateau is one of the most active zones of tectonic deformation and seismicity in China. To monitor strain buildup and benefit seismic risk assessment, we constructed 14 survey-mode global position system(GPS) stations throughout the northwest of Longmenshan fault. A new GPS field over 1999–2011 is derived from measurements of the newly built and pre-existing stations in this region. Sequentially,two strain rate fields, one preceding and the other following the 2008 MW7.9 Wenchuan earthquake, are obtained using the Gausian weighting approach. Strain field over1999–2007 shows distinct strain partitioning prior to the2008 MW7.9 Wenchuan earthquake, with compression spreading over around Longmenshan area. Strain field derived from the two measurements in 2009 and 2011 shows that the area around Longmenshan continues to be under striking compression, as the pattern preceding the Wenchuan earthquake, implying a causative factor of the sequent of 2013 MW6.7 Lushan earthquake. Our GPSderived dilatation shows that both the Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes occurred within the domain of pronounced contraction. The GPS velocities demonstrate that the Longriba fault underwent slight motion with the faultnormal and-parallel rates at 1.0 ± 2.5 mm and 0.3 ± 2.2 mm/a; the Longmenshan fault displayed slow activity, with a fault-normal rate at 0.8 ± 2.5 mm/a, and a fault-parallel rate at 1.8 ± 1.7 mm/a. Longriba fault is on a par with Longmenshan fault in strain partitioning to accommodate the southeastward motion of eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Integrated analysis of principal strain tensors, mean principal stress, and fast directions of mantle anisotropy shows that west of Sichuan is characterized as mechanically strong crust-mantle coupling.     

Aftershocks of the San Marcos earthquake of April 25, 1989 (M S =6.9) and some implications for the Acapulco-San Marcos,Mexico, seismic potential

Aftershock activity following the April 25, 1989 (M _S =6.9) earthquake near San Marcos, Guerrero, Mexico, was monitored by a temporary network installed twelve hours after the mainshock and remaining in operation for one week. Of the 350 events recorded by this temporary array, 103 were selected for further analysis in order to determine spatial characteristics of the aftershock activity. An aftershock area of approximately 780 km² is delimited by the best quality locations. The area of highest aftershock density lies inside an area delimited by the aftershocks of the latest large event in the region in 1957 (M _S =7.5) and it partially overlaps the zone of maximum intensity of the earlier 1907 (M _S =7.7) shock. Aftershocks also appear to cluster close to the mainshock hypocenter. This clustering agrees with the zone of maximum slip during the mainshock, as previously determined from strong motion records. A low angle Benioff zone is defined by the aftershock hypocenters with a slight tendency for the slab to follow a subhorizontal trajectory after a 110 km distance from the trench axis, a feature which has been observed in the neighboring Guerrero Gap. A composite focal mechanism for events close to the mainshock which also coincides with the zone of largest aftershock density, indicates a thrust fault similar to the mainshock fault plane solution.The San Marcos event took place in an area which could be considered as a mature seismic gap. Due to the manner in which strain release has been observed to previously occur, the occurrence of a major event, overlapping both the neighboring Guerrero Gap and the San Marcos Gap segments of the Mexican thrust, cannot be overlooked.     

腾冲火山区的GPS形变特征

利用腾冲火山区2003和2004年2次测量所得的GPS数据,计算了59条测线的水平长度变化.对任意相邻的3个测点和3条测线组成的51个三角形,分别进行了地壳形变的反演计算,得出每个三角形的主应变和主方向,进而确定每个三角形的面膨胀量和最大剪应变.对整个测量区域作等值线图,可以看出有3个最大值的区域,分别位于马站－曲石(G05)附近;腾冲(G20)－热海(G13)附近,以及五合(G15)－团田(G18)附近.这3个区域与3个具有最大相对地热梯度的区域相一致,也与低速异常体所在的区域相一致.因此可能就是地下岩浆房存在的区域.为了确定岩浆活动性,利用Mogi模型的计算公式,对腾冲－热海附近的区域进行了反演,认为等效源的位置在腾冲的西南方向,岩浆活动量约为8×105m3/年,与以前用精密水准测量的垂直形变所反演的结果处于同样的量级.     

Cavernous weathering,dynamical instability and self‐organization

Cavernous weathering may be conceptualized as a self‐reinforcing process, characterized by positive feedback within the weathering system. A morphometric study of caverns in the Valley of Fire State Park, Nevada, USA, demonstrates the applicability of a dynamically unstable, or conditionally unstable, model of cavernous weathering systems. Outcrop surfaces displaying caverns tend to show increasing fragmentation of the surface in the early stages of cavernous weathering, succeeded by convergent evolution of the surface in which caverns tend to grow and coalesce. A paradoxical relationship exists between the weathering system output at the scale of individual forms and the outcrop scale: caverns tend toward minimum interior surface area by developing a spheroidal form, yet the outcrop surface tends toward maximum exposed surface area by increasing the degree of fragmentation of the surface. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

GPS观测得到的1998～2003年中国大陆地壳应变

利用1998年9月至2003年9月底中国地壳运动观测网络基准站与基本站GPS观测所获得的多期水平位移结果, 计算了由观测站组成的各三角形的应变。 鉴于量级不大的应变时空变化的复杂性, 试图用统计的方法分析基本网观测得到的2001年11月14日昆仑山口西M_S8.1大地震前后的应变。 此次地震前中国大陆, 特别是中国大陆西部变形有加剧过程, 且中国大陆西部最大剪应变方向总体上保持稳定。 这表明, 此次大地震前有明显的应变能积累; 而在震中附近2000～2001年地震前应变速率很低, 出现闭锁或成核现象。 由最接近震中三角形计算得到的最大剪应变方向确定地震断层走向为N89.3°E。 震后2002年的变形仍然较大, 但2002～2003年中国大陆, 特别是东部, 变形最小。     

Determining Subsurface Fracture Characteristics from the Azimuthal Square Array Resistivity Survey at Igarra, Nigeria

Fractures are deformations in rocks with discontinuity. They are important in a number of ways. Their presence significantly influences the strength and engineering properties as well as the hydraulic characteristics of rocks. Fractures may extend to the surface where they are observed and studied at outcrops. On the other hand, they may terminate in the subsurface or may be covered by overburden which makes them impossible to be studied and characterized at the ground surface. There has been an increasing interest in the location and characterization of fractures by earth scientists, engineers and other scientists, both at the surface and the subsurface. However, the unavailability or inaccessibility of good outcrops makes it imperative to develop methods and tools for studying fractures in the subsurface. Geophysical methods such as the resistivity methods have been very useful in this regard. The Azimuthal Square Array Resistivity Survey was used in this project to locate and characterize subsurface fractures in the crystalline rocks at Igarra. Results from the analysis and interpretation of the field data showed that the dominant fracture strike orientation is in the NNW–SSE direction. This compares well with the results of surface geologic mapping data which gave the general fracture strike orientation as N–S; however, the major large and extensive fractures are striking NNW–SSE. This information is very useful in modeling groundwater flow and contaminant transport; planning proper waste management programs as well as the Environmental Impact Assessment analysis for the study area. This study once more illustrates the satisfactory use of non-invasive geophysical methods in characterizing fractures in the subsurface especially where quality outcrops are not available or inaccessible.     

Analysis of central western Europe deformation using GPS and seismic data

The kinematic field of central western Europe is characterized by relatively small movements (around 1–2 mm/year) and diffuse seismicity with earthquakes occurring mostly in the shallow crust (within 15 km), prevalently concentrated along the Alps and the European Cenozoic Rift System (ECRIS). In order to study and constrain the current crustal kinematic field we reconstructed the velocity and the strain field using permanent GPS stations, belonging to different networks (AGNES, EUREF, REGAL, RGP). The 2D strain rate tensor has been calculated using the method of least-squares collocation. Our results show that the area of maximum compression is located along the Alpine chain, where maximum values of 7 ± 2 nstrain/year are found, while maximum extension is measured between the Armorican Massif and the Massif Central, where values of 4 ± 2 nstrain/year are reached.The earthquakes with M > 3.0, have been used to estimate the seismic strain rates, while the style of the seismic deformation was reconstructed from the fault plane solutions (FPS) available from the literature. Relatively high values of seismic strain rates (around 10 nstrain/year) are measured along the Alpine Chain and the ECRIS. Results obtained by geodetic and seismic data are quite in agreement and reflect the different tectonic evolution of the geological features characterizing the area of study. The orientation of the compressional geodetic and seismic strain axes are NW-SE in most of the area of study, on account of the action of plate boundary forces. A rotation of the same axes to N-S direction along the eastern Alps, possibly related to the Adria convergence, is found.     

Analysis of gravity source moment inversion. Part II: Usinga priori information about the source

The method of moment inversion, based on the approximation of the gravity anomaly by thetruncated series obtained from its multipole expansion, uses, implicitly,a priori information about the anomalous body. The series truncation imposes a regularizing condition on the equipotential surfaces (produced by the anomalous body), allowing the unique determination of some moments and linear combinations of moments that are the coefficients of the basis functions in the multipole expansion series. These moments define a class of equivalent distributions of mass. The equivalence criterion is based on the misfit between the observations and the field produced by the series truncated at a prefixed maximum order for the moments. The estimates of the moments of the equivalent distribution are shown to compose the stationary solution of a system of first-order linear differential equations for which uniqueness and asymptotic stability are guaranteed. Specifically for the series retaining moments up to second order, the implicita priori information introduced requires that the source have finite volume, be sufficiently distant from the measurement plane and that its spatial distribution of mass present three orthogonal planes of symmetry intersecting at the center of mass. Subject to these hypotheses, it is possible to estimate uniquely and simultaneously the total excess of mass, the position of the center of mass and the directions of the three principal axes of the anomalous body.     

Evidence for induced seismicity in the vicinity of Fierza reservoir,Northern Albania

The reservoir of Fierza on the Drini River, Northern Albania, is Albania's largest reservoir and it is one of the world's largest reservoirs of high dams (reservoir volume at maximum water level, 2.8 * 10⁹ m³; dam height, 167 m and dam capacity 8 * 10⁶ m³). We compare pre-and postimpounding seismicity of the area surrounding the Fierza reservoir. An increase of seismic microactivity was observed after the impounding of the reservoir. More than 300 microearthquakes, occurred in the immediate vicinity of the main body of the reservoir, with local magnitude ranging between 1.3 and 3.6. A significant change of theb value in the magnitude-frequency relationship was observed. One swarm of microtremors occurred in the northern part of the reservoir on April 4–5, 1981, where an alteration of the tensor of natural tectonic stresses is revealed. The theoretical additional stress and displacement induced by water-load in the bank of the reservoir were estimated for four cross-profiles of the reservoir area and the maximum values resulted near the location of the above swarm.     

基于GNSS资料分析漾濞MS6.4地震前应变时空演变特征

基于云南省内及邻区2009—2020年GNSS观测数据解算结果,在各个测点时间序列和速度场的基础上,采用克里金插值方法估计区域应变率场;以连续基准站时间序列为约束,获取漾濞M_S6.4地震近场区域的块体应变时间序列。分析发现:漾濞地震发生在前期最大剪应变高值区以及面应变高梯度带的张压转换区,发震的时间处于区域应变积累速率逐渐降低的过程之后。震中近场区域均以NW向断层的右旋走滑应变积累为主,且大多呈现持续增强趋势,与漾濞地震的发震断层走向及其破裂特征一致。震前震区东部块体出现了短期应变趋势转折及反向加速的异常现象,反映了应力-应变积累在接近临界破裂状态时的非线性调整。     

Mechanical analysis of en echelon structure and its significance of controlling earthquakes

The paper deals with the mechanical origin and rules ofen echelon folds and their secondary fractures by means of elastic stability theory and nonlinear fracture criterion. Obtains the quantitative relations amongen echelon angles ofen echelon folds, ratios of boundary stresses anden echelon pitches of shear zone under an action of general boundary forces (tension shear, pure shear or compression shear). As an applied example, the paper researches the displacement field, stress field, distortion energy distribution, state of secondary fractures and energy released by fracturing ofen echelon fold structure developed at the east foot of Taihang Mountain. The results of research show that maximum principal (compressive) stresses, maximum shear stresses, high value area of distortion energy are in the nuclear parts ofen echelon folds. In these parts compressive fractures were easily developed in approximately parallel with fold axis. So it is verified that the secondary fracture ofen echelon folds is a mechanism controlling a strong earthquake.