Source parameters of March 10 and September 13, 2007, United Arab Emirates earthquakes

On March 10 and September 13, 2007 two earthquakes with moment magnitudes 3.66 and 3.94, respectively, occurred in the eastern part of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The two events were widely felt in the northern Emirates and Oman and were accompanied by a few aftershocks. Ground motions from these events were well recorded by the broadband stations of Dubai (UAE) and Oman seismological networks and provide an excellent opportunity to study the tectonic process and present day stress field acting in this area. In this study, we report the focal mechanisms of the two main shocks by two methods: first motion polarities and regional waveform moment tensor inversion. Our results indicate nearly pure normal faulting mechanisms with a slight strike slip component. We associated the fault plane trending NNE–SSW with a suggested fault along the extension of the faults bounded Bani Hamid area. The seismicity distribution between two earthquake sequences reveals a noticeable gap that may be a site of a future event. The source parameters (seismic moment, moment magnitude, fault radius, stress drop and displacement across the fault) were also estimated from displacement spectra. The moment magnitudes were very consistent with waveform inversion. The recent deployment of seismic networks in Dubai and Oman reveals tectonic activity in the northern Oman Mountains that was previously unknown. Continued observation and analysis will allow for characterization of seismicity and assessment of seismic hazard in the region.     

Assessment of failure mechanisms in deep longwall faces based on mining-induced seismicity

Failure mechanisms of the rock mass in the regions of maximum stress concentrations around a longwall face were assessed. In this respect, seismic events that result from changes in the stress field were analyzed to gain more knowledge about rock failure mechanisms in the proximity of the face area. A deep longwall mine developed at depths of about 3–3.5 km in South Africa was selected as a case study. Seismic moment tensor solutions were obtained for 32 seismic events with moment magnitudes in the range of 0.49 and 2.10. Through moment tensor decomposition, the dominant failure mechanisms were investigated by drawing focal mechanism plots. Further analysis was implemented by depicting the corresponding 3D radiation patterns of P-wave particle motions. Although the results cover various failure mechanisms, the dominant mechanisms are shear, implosional, and compressional failures. According to the results, most of the maximum principal stresses in the mine are compressive and oriented nearly vertical, which are in accordance with the gravitational collapses of the mined out areas. The results obtained from this research show that measuring and analyzing mining-induced seismicity can be a reliable measure to characterize the dominant failure mechanisms in a nondestructive manner and to provide a useful assessment of the stability of the longwall face in advance of extraction.     

Present Kinematic Regime and Recent Seismicity of Gulf Suez,Egypt

In this study we computed recent seismicity and present kinematic regime in the northern and middle zones of Gulf of Suez as inferred from moment tensor settlings and focal mechanism of local earthquakes that happened in this region. On 18 and 22 of July, 2014 two moderate size earthquakes of local magnitudes 4.2 and 4.1 struck the northern zone of Gulf of Suez near Suez City. These events are instrumentally recorded by Egyptian National Seismic Network (ENSN). The earthquakes have been felt at Suez City and greater Cairo metropolitan zone while no losses were reported. The source mechanism and source parameters of the calculated events were considered by the near-source waveform data listed at very broadband stations of ENSN and supported by the P-wave polarity data of short period stations. The new settling method and software used deem the action of the source time function, which has been ignored in most of the program series of the moment tensor settling analysis with near source seismograms. The obtained results from settling technique indicate that the estimated seismic moments of both earthquakes are 0.6621E + 15 and 0.4447E + 15 Nm conforming to a moment magnitude Mw 3.8 and 3.7 respectively. The fault plan settlings obtained from both settling technique and polarity of first-arrival indicate the dominance of normal faulting. We also evaluated the stress field in north and middle zones of Gulf of Suez using a multiple inverse method. The prime strain axis shows that the deformation is taken up mainly as stretching in the E–W and NE–SW direction.     

Hydraulic Fracturing-induced Seismicity at the Hot Dry Rock Site of the Gonghe Basin in China

Hot dry rock is becoming an important clean energy source. Enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) hold great promise for the potential to make a contribution to the energy inventory. However, one controversial issue associated with EGS is the impact of induced seismicity. In August 2019, a hydraulic stimulation experiment took place at the hot dry rock site of the Gonghe Basin in Qinghai, China. Earthquakes of different magnitudes of 2 or less occurred during the hydraulic stimulation. Correlations between hydraulic stimulation and seismic risk are still under discussion. Here, we analyze the hydraulic stimulation test and microseismic activity. We quantify the evolution of several parameters to explore the correlations between hydraulic stimulation and induced seismicity, including hydraulic parameters, microseismic events, b-value and statistical forecasting of event magnitudes. The results show that large-magnitude microseismic events have an upward trend with an increase of the total fluid volume. The variation of the b-value with time indicates that the stimulation experiment induces small amounts of seismicity. Forecasted magnitudes of events can guide operational decisions with respect to induced seismicity during hydraulic fracturing operations, thus providing the basis for risk assessment of hot dry rock exploitation.     

A Relative Moment Tensor Inversion Technique Applied to Seismicity Induced by Mining

Summary. Studies of source mechanisms of mining-induced seismic events play an important role in understanding the various modes of failure observed around underground excavations and enable the geometry of likely planes of failure to be determined. These planes can be mapped using conventional techniques, for example, geological fracture mapping. However, such an approach is often problematical due to limited access to the site and/or poor exposures (if any) of the failure plane. An added difficulty is that planes of failure often do not follow faults of geological origin, but are related to the geometry of the advancing stope face. For example, the development of face-parallel shear zones ahead of deep-level stope faces. In such cases, the stresses induced by mining dominate over the geological structure in the critical region close to the stope face. Seismic methods therefore have the potential of being a practical method of studying the development of seismic shear zones underground.Slip on such a failure plane generates a three dimensional elastic wave that propagates through the rockmass, carrying a wealth of information regarding the source rupture process. The ground motions caused by the passage of the wave can be recorded by arrays of sensitive instruments called seismometers. These sets of recordings (seismograms) provide the basic data that seismologists use to study these elastic waves as they propagate through the Earth. Conventional seismic analyses provide scalar measurements of the rupture size and intensity. However, through a process known as moment tensor inversion (MTI), the seismograms recorded from a seismic event can be used to calculate a moment tensor that describes the three dimensional nature of the source mechanism. Interpretation of the moment tensor gives insight into whether the rockmass failed in tension, compression or shear and indicates the direction of movement and the failure plane.Moment tensor solutions computed using conventional MTI methods are sensitive to noise and may be biased due to systematic errors in the measurements. The primary objective of this study was to develop a robust MTI method to estimate the moment tensors of clusters of seismic events recorded in the underground environment. To achieve this, three hybrid MTI methods were developed by the author. These methods involve different iterative weighting schemes designed to enhance the accuracy of the computed moment tensors by decreasing the effect of outliers (data points whose residuals lie far from the mean or median error). The additional information required for hybrid methods is obtained by considering a spatial cluster of seismic events and assuming that the waves generated by each event in the cluster follow a similar path through the rockmass and allowing a common ray-path to be assumed. Hence the unknown effect of the heterogeneous rockmass on the waveform is similar for all the events in the cluster.The final objective was to determine whether the techniques developed could be successfully applied to real data. The hybrid MTI methods using the median and the weighted mean correction were applied to a cluster of 10 events, having remarkably similar waveforms, recorded at Oryx Gold Mine. For comparative purposes, the more conventional absolute method was also applied. The solutions computed using the hybrid MTI with a median correction displayed a distinct improvement after the iterative residual correction procedure was applied, in contrast to the solutions obtained from the absolute method. The radiation patterns and fault-plane solutions from the hybrid method showed a high degree of similarity, and were probably more accurate reflections of reality. These observations are very encouraging and point towards the potential for using the hybrid MTI method with a median correction as a standard processing tool for mine seismicity.The implications of this work are that a robust method for calculating the focal mechanisms of clusters of seismic events induced by mining activities has been developed. Regular application will lead to a better understanding of rock fracture processes and to improved safety underground.     

震源区能量积累和释放过程的熵模型基本特征

在地震活动区的局部地壳地震活动性很大程度上是随机的,但在某些情况下,小的地方震的震级时间序列却具有确定性的分量,此分量很可能与一个大地震的成核有关。当小地震事件中最大的事件变小,最小的事件变大,并且它们的差别不断地减小,这个分量在地震记录上就表现为由震级的两个反向实时趋势产生的所谓能量楔。在一个大的成核事件的震源区,利用相图法,笔者依据非线性动力学已经解释了地震过程的演化和小震的大小分布。模拟地震过程的这种新的处理方法和数学模型已经被应用于来自世界各地区的大批地震目录数据,特别是中国的地震数据。     

The present-day active deformation in the central and northern parts of the Gulf of Suez area,Egypt, from earthquake focal mechanism data

The average seismic strain rate is estimated for the seismotectonic zone of the northern/central parts of the Gulf of Suez. The principal strain rate tensor and velocity tensor were derived from a combination of earthquake focal mechanisms data and seismic moment of small-sized earthquakes covering a time span of 13 years (1992–2004). A total of 17 focal mechanism solutions have been used in the calculation of the moment tensor summation. The local magnitudes (MLs) of these events range from 2.8 to 4.7. The analysis indicates that the dominant mode of deformation in the central and northern parts of the Gulf of Suez is extension at a rate of 0.008 mm/year in N28°E direction and a small crustal thinning of 0.0034 mm/year. This low level of strain means that this zone experienced a little seismic deformation. There is also a right lateral shear motion along the ESE–WNW direction. This strain pattern is consistent with the predominant NW–SE normal faulting and ESE–WNW dextral transtensive faults in this zone. Comparing the results obtained from both stress and strain tensors, we find that the orientations of the principal axes of both tensors have the same direction with a small difference between them. Both tensors show a predominantly extensional domain. The nearly good correspondence between principal stress and strain orientations in the area suggests that the tectonic strength is relatively uniform for this crustal volume.     

岩体破裂矩张量反演方法及其应用

地震及岩体失稳破裂过程中,破裂机制、震源参数及破裂能量等信息均可通过矩张量方法求解,文中详细介绍了矩张量基本理论,对比分析了绝对矩张量反演法、相对矩张量反演法、混合型矩张量反演法等3种常用方法的优缺点。在详细归纳、总结国内外相关文献的基础上,就水压致裂、采矿及深埋隧道等工程领域综述了矩张量反演理论在岩体工程中的应用现状,并结合其在德国黑林根矿区微震事件震源机制分析中的应用实例,表明通过矩张量反演获取的震源机制解及震源参数等信息,在岩体工程灾害预警及防治、水压致裂过程监测和控制等领域具有重要作用。最后分析了影响矩张量反演精度的因素及应用于岩体工程领域时存在的不足,包括定位精度低、波形识别及处理困难等问题,并对其在采矿、石油等岩体工程领域的应用前景、改进措施及需进一步研究的问题等进行了探讨,为矩张量反演方法的推广应用提供重要的参考。     

Earthquake activity related to seismic cycles in a model for a heterogeneous strike-slip fault

We investigate the evolution of seismicity within large earthquake cycles in a model of a discrete strike-slip fault in elastic solid. The model dynamics is governed by realistic boundary conditions consisting of constant velocity motion of regions around the fault, static/kinetic friction and dislocation creep along the fault, and 3D elastic stress transfer. The fault consists of brittle parts which fail during earthquakes and undergo small creep deformation between events, and aseismic creep cells which are characterized by high ongoing creep motion. This mixture of brittle and creep cells is found to generate realistic aftershock sequences which follow the modified Omori law and scale with the mainshock size. Furthermore, we find that the distribution of interevent times of the simulated earthquakes is in good agreement with observations. The temporal occurrence, however, is magnitude-dependent; in particular, the small events are clustered in time, whereas the largest earthquakes occur quasiperiodically. Averaging the seismicity before several large earthquakes, we observe an increase of activity and a broadening scaling range of magnitudes when the time of the next mainshock is approached. These results are characteristics of a critical point behavior. The presence of critical point dynamics is further supported by the evolution of the stress field in the model, which is compatible with the observation of accelerating moment release in natural fault systems.     

Seismic moment tensor for intermediate depth earthquakes at regional distances in Southern Spain

A method has been developed to obtain the seismic moment tensor components by linear inversion of P waves recorded at regional distance for intermediate depth earthquakes. The seismic moment tensor is separated into double couple (DC) and compensated linear vector dipole (CLVD) parts. The method has been applied to four earthquakes (64<h<95 km) which occurred in the Malaga region (southern Spain). Solutions for the 1987 event show a percentage of CLVD of 20% with a short source time function and DC part corresponding to vertical motion. For the 1989, 1990 and 1992 earthquakes, percentages of CLVD between 0% and 6% have been found. Comparison with the results obtained in a previous study [Buforn et al., J. Seismol. 1 (1997) 113] by modelling of P waves using a DC model, shows that the use of a more general representation of the source (seismic moment tensor) gives a fit of data for the 1987 event.     

基于矩张量反演的传感器校准方法应用和对比

矩张量反演理论是研究深部岩体破裂机制的有效手段,而监测台站/传感器校准对获取准确的矩张量结果十分重要。为求得更加准确的校准系数和矩张量结果,提出一种新的传感器校准方法——搜索校准法。将该方法和监测网校准法分别应用于加利福尼亚州北部的Geysers地热田微震监测数据中,并综合考虑不同震源机制参数、预设校准系数、噪声添加方式及噪声水平等因素的影响,进行两种校准方法有效性对比的理论计算和模拟分析。结果表明：两种校准方法均可通过微震监测数据获得稳定的校准系数,且校准后的震源成分及应力状态分布均更加集中;所有模拟工况下,两种校准方法均可有效降低矩张量反演误差;低噪声条件下,两种方法对应的矩张量反演误差较小且十分接近;混合噪声和高噪声条件下,搜索校准法的准确性和稳定性多优于监测网校准法;进而优选出Geysers地热田微震监测数据更加可靠的矩张量结果。研究思路和结论为微地震矩张量研究提供了进一步指导。     

花岗岩巴西劈裂试验的矩张量反演研究

为了研究岩石张拉破坏的过程和机制,首先通过模拟计算,验证了加权反演法在进行巴西劈裂试验矩张量求解方面的优越性;其次基于花岗岩的巴西劈裂试验,进行声发射监测、事件定位及矩张量反演,并分析标准反演法和加权反演法对应矩张量结果的差别;使用聚类分析K均值算法对矩张量结果进行分簇研究。研究结果表明：模拟计算中加权反演法可以降低巴西劈裂试验矩张量反演误差;室内花岗岩巴西劈裂试验中,加权反演法较大程度地优化了声发射事件的剪切成分以及压/拉应力轴的分布,使得反演结果更加合理。针对加权反演结果,所有事件可分成3簇,同簇内事件的破裂类型、应力状态、破裂机制、辐射模式等均相近;不同簇中的事件在时空上交叉分布,试验后期在圆盘东?西方向上具有较为明显张拉特性的事件骤增,于圆盘中心附近聚集并占据主导,最终导致试样的宏观破裂。研究结果解释了花岗岩巴西劈裂试验的破裂过程和破裂机制,为岩石力学行为研究提供进一步指导。     

4D modelling of fault reactivation using complete paleostress tensors from the Cooper–Eromanga Basin,Australia

Determining fault activity through time has typically utilised high-resolution seismic data to identify stratigraphic thickness changes or displacement vs distance plots; however, this approach is not possible in regions with low-resolution seismic data. We present a new approach for determining fault reactivation (tensile and shear) through time by integrating three-dimensional seismic data, geomechanical modelling and complete paleostress tensors from calcite twin stress inversion. The Cooper–Eromanga Basin is used as a case study to model the stress conditions present during six tectonic events that have affected the basin and, in doing so, constrain the effective paleostress magnitudes through time. Results show that the likelihood of dilation and shear reactivation of individual fault sets varies through time, with N–S- and E–W-striking faults likely to have been open to fluid flow after the critical moment in the hydrocarbon system. These results have substantial implications for hydrocarbon migration pathway models and structural and stratigraphic models for the Cooper–Eromanga Basin. This approach would benefit other provinces with low-resolution seismic data preventing fault growth analysis, or in regions where hydrocarbon migration pathways are poorly defined.     

Induced stress and microseismicity in the 3000 Orebody, Mount Isa

Summary The 3000 Orebody is one of two orebodies in the Deep Copper Mine at Mount Isa, Australia. Owing to concerns about potential shaft pillar instabilities, an integrated seismic system was introduced to monitor seismic activity associated with pillar and country rock deformation. Coupled with numerical modelling of the stress regime, the system may assist in the characterization of rock mass damage resulting from mining, and perhaps the identification of near- and far-field geological structures that affect stope performance. A study was undertaken to quantify the seismicity and to determine potential applications of the seismic technology. The relation between geological structure and seismicity is strong, suggesting good prospects for the use of the system in the ground-control activities noted above. The induction of seismicity, which involves small magnitude events, is associated with reduction of normal stress on planes of weakness, suggesting that stress path may be an important factor in the level of seismicity observed in hard rock mines.     

Seismicity associated with mining

The virgin state of stress in the earth's crust is disturbed by mine excavations which result in stress concentrations in the rock. Rock emits seismic pulses when subjected to stresses approaching in value the strength of the rock. Mining gives rise to seismic activity ranging from microseismic events radiating 10⁻⁵ J (M - 6) to rockbursts or tremors radiating 10⁹ J (M5).

Rock failures in mines fall into four main categories: rockfalls, in which loosened rock falls mainly under its own weight; rockbursts which are violent failures of rock and may cause damage to excavations; bumps, which are violent failures, but which do not cause damage to the excavations; and outbursts in which the rapid release of gas causes rock to be ejected into the excavation. Microseismic activity is associated with all these four categories of rock failure.

Rockbursts and bumps occur in deep metalliferous mines in which thin tabular deposits in strong, brittle siliceous rocks of igneous or metamorphic origin are worked. The seismicity associated with mining appears to have many features in common with those natural earthquakes. However, the mechanics and dynamics of mining can be analysed relatively completely and the excavations provide access to the source region of the seismic events.

Comprehensive studies of rock deformation and fractures have been made on several gold mines of the Witwatersrand System. The gold-bearing reefs are mined at depths of down to more than 3 km below surface by stoping. This creates flat voids in the quartzitic strata extending laterally for distances of up to several kilometres with an initial excavated thickness of a metre. Geodetic-type measurements in tunnels and boreholes traversing the rock mass around these excavations have shown that the rock mass responds elastically over long periods of time to the extension of the boundaries of the excavations resulting from advancing the stope faces. Failure of the rock in the regions of maximum stress concentration near the edges of these excavations is an unavoidable concomitant of mining. It gives rise to new fracture planes closely parallel to the stope faces and to continuous seismic activity. The foci of seismic events with magnitudes from less than 0 to greater than 3 are found to occur mainly within tens of metres of the advancing stope faces. Diurnal and weekly distributions of seismic activity and of deformation show that the failure of the rock is time-dependent. The seismic radiation efficiency has been found to be of the order of 0.1%.

The seismicity is related to the spatial rate of energy release associated with the extension of the excavations and the incidence of seismic events and their magnitudes can be predicted statistically from calculated values of this quantity.     

First seismic record for intra-arc strike-slip tectonics along the Liquiñe-Ofqui fault zone at the obliquely convergent plate margin of the southern Andes

A temporal seismic network recorded local seismicity along a 130 km long segment of the transpressional dextral strike-slip Liquiñe-Ofqui fault zone (LOFZ) in southern Chile. Seventy five shallow crustal events with magnitudes up to M_w 3.8 and depths shallower than 25 km were observed in an 11-month period mainly occurring in different clusters. Those clusters are spatially related to the LOFZ, to the volcanoes Chaitén, Michinmahuida and Corcovado, and to active faulting on secondary faults. Further activity along the LOFZ is indicated by individual events located in direct vicinity of the surface expression of the LOFZ. Focal mechanisms were calculated using deviatoric moment tensor inversion of body wave amplitude spectra which mostly yield strike-slip mechanisms indicating a NE–SW direction of the P-axis for the LOFZ at this latitude. The seismic activity reveals the present-day activity of the fault zone. The recent M_w 6.2 event near Puerto Aysén, Southern Chile at 45.4°S on April 21, 2007 shows that the LOFZ is also capable of producing large magnitude earthquakes and therefore imposing significant seismic hazard to this region.     

用长周期体波反演地震矩张量及其实际意义

摘　 要　 介绍了地震矩张量的性质和用长周期体波反演地震矩张量的方法。用地震矩张量表 示震源‚能够使震源参数线性化‚从而实现由观测资料快速、简捷地反演出震源参数。     

Global strain rates in western to central Himalayas and their implications in seismic hazard assessment

The Himalayas has experienced varying rates of earthquake occurrence in the past in its seismo-tectonically distinguished segments which may be attributed to different physical processes of accumulation of stress and its release, and due diligence is required for its inclusion for working out the seismic hazard. The present paper intends to revisit the various earthquake occurrence models applied to Himalayas and examines it in the light of recent damaging earthquakes in Himalayan belt. Due to discordant seismicity of Himalayas, three types of regions have been considered to estimate larger return period events. The regions selected are (1) the North-West Himalayan Fold and Thrust Belt which is seismically very active, (2) the Garhwal Himalaya which has never experienced large earthquake although sufficient stress exists and (3) the Nepal region which is very seismically active region due to unlocked rupture and frequently experienced large earthquake events. The seismicity parameters have been revisited using two earthquake recurrence models namely constant seismicity and constant moment release. For constant moment release model, the strain rates have been derived from global strain rate model and are converted into seismic moment of earthquake events considering the geometry of the finite source and the rates being consumed fully by the contemporary seismicity. Probability of earthquake occurrence with time has been estimated for each region using both models and compared assuming Poissonian distribution. The results show that seismicity for North-West region is observed to be relatively less when estimated using constant seismicity model which implies that either the occupied accumulated stress is not being unconfined in the form of earthquakes or the compiled earthquake catalogue is insufficient. Similar trend has been observed for seismic gap area but with lesser difference reported from both methods. However, for the Nepal region, the estimated seismicity by the two methods has been found to be relatively less when estimated using constant moment release model which implies that in the Nepal region, accumulated strain is releasing in the form of large earthquake occurrence event. The partial release in second event of May 2015 of similar size shows that the physical process is trying to release the energy with large earthquake event. If it would have been in other regions like that of seismic gap region, the fault may not have released the energy and may be inviting even bigger event in future. It is, therefore, necessary to look into the seismicity from strain rates also for its due interpretation in terms of predicting the seismic hazard in various segments of Himalayas.     

Integration and magnitude homogenization of the Egyptian earthquake catalogue

The aim of the present work is to compile and update a catalogue of the instrumentally recorded earthquakes in Egypt, with uniform and homogeneous source parameters as required for the analysis of seismicity and seismic hazard assessment. This in turn requires a detailed analysis and comparison of the properties of different available sources, including the distribution of events with time, the magnitude completeness, and the scaling relations between different kinds of magnitude reported by different agencies. The observational data cover the time interval 1900–2004 and an area between 22°–33.5° N and 25°–36° E. The linear regressions between various magnitude types have been evaluated for different magnitude ranges. Using the best linear relationship determined for each available pair of magnitudes, as well as those identified between the magnitudes and the seismic moment, we convert the different magnitude types into moment magnitudes M _W, through a multi-step conversion process. Analysis of the catalogue completeness, based on the M _W thus estimated, allows us to identify two different time intervals with homogeneous properties. The first one (1900–1984) appears to be complete for M _W ≥ 4.5, while the second one (1985–2004) can be considered complete for magnitudes M _W ≥ 3.