Highland Boundary Fault Zone: Tectonic implications of the Aberfoyle earthquake sequence of 2003

The Highland Boundary Fault Zone (HBFZ) is one of the major faulted tectonic boundaries in Great Britain. Historically, seismicity has occurred in this zone around the town of Comrie. But an earthquake sequence that occurred in 2003 near the village of Aberfoyle (M_L 1.3–3.2) was the first significant activity to be recorded in the HBFZ since the installation of modern seismograph networks in the 1970s. This study describes detailed analysis of these data. The waveform signals of the events were almost identical and by applying a cross-correlation technique combined with multiple event location, the alignment of the events was found to be WSW–ENE. This alignment matches one of the nodal planes determined by joint focal mechanism analysis. The fault plane dips to the northwest, and shows oblique sinistral strike–slip with normal movement. The orientation of the event alignment matches the direction and orientation of observed features in the HBFZ. Hence, it is concluded that the WSW–ENE striking nodal plane was the causative fault that is associated with the HBFZ. The orientation of maximum compressional stress is rotated from the regional average expected due to the Mid-Atlantic ridge-push force. This rotation is possibly explained by stresses due to postglacial rebound. Smaller events in the sequence were used as empirical Green's functions and deconvolved from the larger events to determine source time functions. The corresponding corner frequencies matched results from spectral fitting, showing that the events were of relatively low stress drop.     

论浙江东部早白垩世中期断陷事件和断陷岩套

早白垩世中期中国东南部发生过一次断陷事件,并形成一事件地层单元——断陷岩套。叙述了断陷岩套的形成机理、特征和类型,并利用事件地层单元同时性原理,论证了建组剖面"塘上组"的层位与永康群下部馆头组相同,而非高居永康群之上的"新构造亚层";也论证了嵊县三界一带的所谓"大爽组二段"应为馆头组。这两个断陷岩套中所含生物群证实:事件地层学原理所得的关于其层位与时代的结论是正确的。     

S和S-L型构造岩的显微组构与渗透性能的声学识别

为了解断裂与流体渗透的动态关系,针对S和S-L型构造岩及其原岩,采用超声波实验方法测算岩石的波速和衰减,经过与孔隙度等微孔隙结构参数的对比和相关分析,研究认为:S-构造岩和(S-L)-构造岩具有明显的各向异性,在平行面理方向上,波速和品质因子较大,渗透性最强,是最佳的流体运移方向;在垂直面理方向上,波速和品质因子较小且通常小于原岩的,封闭性最强,是最佳的封闭流体方向。波速和品质因子分别与孔隙度具有负线性关系,与气柱高度、突破压力等表征岩石封闭性能的参数具有正相关关系。张性角砾岩的波速和品质因子小于原岩的,而渗透性增强,并无明显的各向异性。     

U–Pb zircon dating of post-obduction volcanic-arc granitoids and a granulite-facies xenolith from New Caledonia. Inference on Southwest Pacific geodynamic models

In New Caledonia, the occurrence of one of the World’s largest and best-exposed subduction/obduction complex is a key point for the understanding of the geodynamic evolution of the whole Southwest Pacific region. Within the ophiolite, pre-and post-obduction granitoids intrude the ultramafic allochthon and provide new time constraints for the understanding of obduction processes. At 27.4 Ma, a new East-dipping subduction generated the active margin magmatism along the western coast of the island (Saint-Louis massif). At 24.3 Ma, the eastward shift of the magma activity and slightly different geochemical features (Koum-Borindi massif) was either related to the older slab break-off; or alternatively, due to the eastward migration of the mantle wedge following the collision of the eastern margin of the Low Howe rise. Finally, the occurrence of a granulite-facies xenolith in the Koum-Borindi massif with comparable 24.5 Ma U–Pb zircon age and isotopic features (initial ε_Nd = 5.1) suggests that these evolved magmas were generated within the lithospheric mantle beneath a continental crust of normal thickness. Geochronological evidence for continuous convergence during the Oligocene infers an East-dipping Eocene-Oligocene subduction/obduction system to have existed in the Southwest Pacific from the d’Entrecasteaux zone to the North Island of New Zealand.     

A fault zone cause of large amplification and damage in Avcılar (west of Istanbul) during 1999 Izmit earthquake

Twenty seven buildings collapsed and 2076 buildings were heavily damaged during 17 August 1999 Izmit Earthquake in Avc?lar (west of Istanbul), which is nearly 100 km from the epicenter of the earthquake. The geology of Avc?lar consists of Upper Miocene poorly bounded conglomerate and sandstone (Çukurçe?me formation), claystone with sandstone and limestone interbedding (Güngören member) and limestone with sandstone and claystone interbedding (Bak?rköy formation). Lithological and geotechnical parameters of these formations in Avc?lar are not different from non damaged parts of the western Istanbul such as Zeytinburnu, Bak?rköy and Beylikdüzü, but these formations were cut by several faults in the damaged area. Collapsed and damaged buildings are located on this fault zone. Thus, cause of large amplification and damage in Avc?lar might be related with this fault zone because the fault zone behaves as a waveguide trapping seismic energy.     

The Magellan mound province in the Porcupine Basin

The Magellan mound province is one of the three known provinces of carbonate mounds or cold-water coral banks in the Porcupine Seabight, west of Ireland. It has been studied in detail using a large and varied data set: 2D and 3D seismic data, sidescan sonar imagery and video data collected during ROV deployment have been used to describe the mounds in terms of origin, growth processes and burial. The aim of this paper is to present the Magellan mounds and their setting in an integrated, holistic way. More than 1,000 densely spaced and mainly buried mounds have been identified in the area. They all seem to be rooted on one seismic reflection, suggesting a sudden mound start-up. Their size and spatial distribution characteristics are presented, together with the present-day appearance of the few mounds that reach the seabed. The underlying geology has been studied by means of fault analysis and numerical basin modelling in an attempt to identify possible hydrocarbon migration pathways below or in the surroundings of the Magellan mounds. Although conclusive evidence concerning the processes of mound initiation proves to be elusive, the results of both fault analysis and 2D numerical modelling failed to identify, with confidence, any direct pathways for focused hydrocarbon flow to the Magellan province. Diffuse seepage however may have taken place, as drainage area modelling suggests a possible link between mound position and structural features in the Hovland-Magellan area. During mound development and growth, the interplay of currents and sedimentation seems to have been the most important control. Mounds which could not keep pace with the sedimentation rates were buried, and on the few mounds which maintained growth, only a few corals survive at present.     

Improved earthquake locations in the Koyna-Warna seismic zone

In estimating the likelihood of an earthquake hazard for a seismically active region, information on the geometry of the potential source is important in quantifying the seismic hazard. The damage from an earthquake varies spatially and is governed by the fault geometry and lithology. As earthquake damage is amplified by guided seismic waves along fault zones, it is important to delineate the disposition of the fault zones by precisely determined hypocentral parameters. We used the double difference (DD) algorithm to relocate earthquakes in the Koyna-Warna seismic zone (KWSZ) region, with the P- and S-wave catalog data from relative arrival time pairs constituting the input. A significant improvement in the hypocentral estimates was achieved, with the epicentral errors <30 m and focal depth errors <75 m i.e. errors have been significantly reduced by an order of magnitude from the parameters determined by HYPO71. The earthquake activity defines three different fault segments. The seismogenic volume is shallower in the south by 3 km, with seismicity in the north extending to a depth of 11 km while in the south the deepest seismicity observed is at a depth of 8 km. By resolving the structure of seismicity in greater detail, we address the salient issues related to the seismotectonics of this region.     

黄骅坳陷港西断裂带流体包裹体的地球化学特征

通过对黄骅坳陷港西断裂带奥陶系灰岩和新近系沙河街组砂岩中11个钻井的岩心包裹体的特征,均一温度和组分等方面的分析,对其所反映的气体来源,形成环境,油气演化以及地质意义进行研究。研究区的包裹体均为次生成因包裹体,气液比在5%～10%之间,根据激光拉曼光谱技术分析组分主要为 H_2O,CO_2和 CH_4。利用均一温度,结合古地温和埋藏史,发现奥陶系灰岩和新近系沙河街组砂岩中包裹体中流体均捕获于新近纪。对氦同位素的分析发现包裹体中均有幔源氦的侵入,侵入的份额受到 NE 向港西断层和 NWW 向徐庄子断层的控制靠近断裂带的灰岩和砂岩中的包裹体含有还原性气体,由断层交汇中心向四周减少。包裹体中烷烃气的成熟度也与断层活动相关,具有从断层交汇中心向四周减小的相似特征。研究区内港西断层和徐庄子断层交汇处不仅是幔源气体上涌的有利通道,也是地热活动强烈的地区,有利于烷烃气的成熟。     

Antithetic fault linkages in a deep water fold and thrust belt

Deep water fold and thrust belts consist of both forethrusts and backthrusts that can link along strike to form continuous folds in the overburden. The interaction of faults of opposing dip are termed ‘antithetic thrust fault linkages’ and share the common feature of a switch in vergence of overlying hangingwall anticlines. Using three-dimensional seismic data, on the toe-of-slope of the Niger Delta, linkages are classified into three distinct structural styles. This preliminary classification is based on the vertical extent of faulting within a transfer zones relative to the branch line of the antithetic faults. The stratigraphic level of the lateral tip of the fault, the shape of lateral tip region of a fault plane and the stratal deformation within the transfer zones is also distinctive in each type of fault linkage. A Type 1 linkage comprises faults that overlap exclusively above the level of the branch line. A ‘pop-up’ structure forms within the transfer zone with sediments below remaining planar. The lower tip lines of faults climb stratigraphically towards the linkage zone creating asymmetric, upward-tapering lateral tip regions. In Type 2 linkages fault overlap occurs lower than the level of the branch line such that lateral fault tips are located within the footwall of the counterpart fault. Faulting is thus limited to the deeper section within the transfer zone and creates unfaulted, symmetric, bell-shaped folds in the overburden. Upper tip lines of faults lose elevation within the transfer zone creating asymmetric, downwards-tapering lateral tip regions. In Type 3 linkages both faults continue above and below the branch line within the transfer zone resulting in cross-cutting fault relationships. Horizon continuity across the folds, through the transfer zones, varies significantly with depth and with the type of fault intersection.     

Active tectonic influence on the evolution of drainage and landscape: Geomorphic signatures from frontal and hinterland areas along the Northwestern Himalaya, India

The Kangra Re-entrant in the NW Himalaya is one of the most seismically active regions, falling into Seismic Zone V along the Himalaya. In 1905 the area experienced one of the great Himalayan earthquakes with magnitude 7.8. The frontal fault system – the Himalayan Frontal Thrust (HFT) associated with the foreland fold – Janauri Anticline, along with other major as well as secondary hinterland thrust faults, provides an ideal site to study the ongoing tectonic activity which has influenced the evolution of drainage and landscape in the region. The present study suggests that the flat-uplifted surface in the central portion of the Janauri Anticline represents the paleo-exit of the Sutlej River. It is suggested that initially when the tectonic activity propagated southward along the HFT the Janauri Anticline grew along two separate fault segments (north and south faults), the gap between these two fault and the related folds allowed the Sutlej River to flow across this area. Later, the radial propagation of the faults towards each other resulted in an interaction of the fault tips, which caused the rapid uplift of the area. Rapid uplift resulted in the disruption and longitudinal deflection of the Sutlej river channel. Fluvial deposits on the flat surface suggest that an earlier fluvial system flowed across this area in the recent past. Geomorphic signatures, like the sharp mountain fronts along the HFT in some places, as well as along various hinterland subordinate faults like the Nalagarh Thrust (NaT), the Barsar Thrust (BaT) and the Jawalamukhi Thrust (JMT); the change in the channel pattern, marked by a tight incised meander of the Beas channel upstream of the JMT indicate active tectonic movements in the area. The prominent V-shaped valleys of the Beas and Sutlej rivers, flowing across the thrust fronts, with Vf values ranging from <1.0–1.5 are also suggestive of ongoing tectonic activity along major and hinterland faults. This suggests that not only is the HFT system active, but also the other major and secondary hinterland faults, viz. the MBT, MCT, SnT, NaT, BaT, and the JMT can be shown to have undergone recent tectonic displacement.