3D modeling of earthquake cycles of the Xianshuihe fault,southwestern China

We perform 3D modeling of earthquake generation of the Xianshuihe fault, southwestern China, which is a highly active strike-slip fault with a length of about 350 km, in order to understand earthquake cycles and segmentations for a long-term forecasting and earthquake nucleation process for a short-term forecasting. Historical earthquake data over the last 300 years indicates repeated periods of seismic activity, and migration of large earthquake along the fault during active seismic periods. To develop the 3D model of earthquake cycles along the Xianshuihe fault, we use a rate- and state-dependent friction law. After analyzing the result, we find that the earthquakes occur in the reoccurrence intervals of 400–500 years. Simulation result of slip velocity distribution along the fault at the depth of 10 km during 2694 years along the Xianshuihe fault indicates that since the third earthquake cycle, the fault has been divided into 3 parts. Some earthquake ruptures terminate at the bending part of the fault line, which may means the shape of the fault line controls how earthquake ruptures. The change of slip velocity and displacement at 10 km depth is more tremendous than the change of the shallow and deep part of the fault and the largest slip velocity occurs at the depth of 10 km which is the exact depth of the seismic zone where fast rupture occurs.     

青海玉树地区活动断裂与地震

青海玉树是巴颜喀拉地块西南边界上的典型历史强震区。最新的活动断裂遥感解译与地表调查结果表明,该区新构造期间主要发育清水河断裂带、玉树断裂带、阿布多断裂带和杂多断裂带4条NW向左旋走滑活动断裂带。其中,构成玉树—鲜水河—小江断裂系尾端构造的玉树活动断裂带是该区活动性最显著的岩石圈断裂。该断裂是由当江断裂、结古—结隆断裂和巴塘断裂3条斜接的主干断层和夹杂其间的多条次级断裂所共同构成的Z型左旋剪切张扭性变形带。它在上新世以来和晚第四纪期间的左旋走滑速率为4.0~5.4mm/a,调节了该区大部分的块体挤出与旋转变形,并构成该区大震活动的主要控震构造。历史强震梳理和古地震研究揭示,玉树主干走滑断裂带自约14530a BP以来至少发生了包括2010年地震在内的共11次大地震,原地重复间隔平均在千年以上,最长达近3000a。1738年玉树西北地震之后,玉树—甘孜断裂带的主干断层表现为平均间隔为50~100a的低频、串联式分段破裂过程,并且大震活动存在从东南向西北迁移的趋势。通过对玉树断裂未来大地震危险性进行综合地质判定认为,该区至少仍存在6段未来百年内大地震危险程度不同的地震空区,潜在的大地震震级为Mw6.6~7.3,其中危险性相对较高的段落主要是当江断裂带的当江—拉则段和结古—结隆断裂带上的结隆—叶卡诺段与桑卡—相古段。     

利用地震模拟技术研究逆断层的断点位置

在地震资料解释阶段,可根据解释结果进行正演模拟,以验证解释结果的可靠性,并通过模型正演方式了解地下波场的细微变化,提高解释精度。依据内蒙古鄂托克前旗沙章图矿区DF2逆断层的赋存形态,建立的地质模型,并围绕其逆断层的断点位置、埋深、地层速度等,对各种接收排列进行射线追踪实验。通过改变开动的道数、道距及偏移距,观察各种参数下射线追踪的分布情况及模拟时间剖面的面貌。正演结果表明利用射线模型追踪的模拟地震反射剖面与实际时间剖面完全吻合,其确定的逆断层断点位置及断面倾角合理。     

矿井断层构造复杂程度的GIS与熵值耦合评价研究

基于GIS与熵值耦合理论的矿井断层构造复杂程度的综合评价方法,建立了断层构造的非线性特征值、断层规模指数、煤层底板倾角指数、断层断距指数等与矿井构造复杂程度相关的评价指标体系。并以河南某矿为例,对矿井断层构造复杂程度进行多因素评价综合分区。结果显示:该矿井构造以中等和简单为主;在构造简单-中等区,构造对煤层开采基本无影响,而在构造复杂区,断层可导致水文地质条件变得较为复杂,影响煤层安全开采。     

Unraveling rift margin evolution and escarpment development ages along the Dead Sea fault using cosmogenic burial ages

The Dead Sea fault (DSF) is one of the most active plate boundaries in the world. Understanding the Quaternary history and sediments of the DSF requires investigation into the Neogene development of this plate boundary. DSF lateral motion preceded significant extension and rift morphology by ~ 10 Ma. Sediments of the Sedom Formation, dated here between 5.0 ± 0.5 Ma and 6.2_− 2.1^+ inf Ma, yielded extremely low ¹⁰Be concentrations and ²⁶Al is absent. These reflect the antiquity of the sediments, deposited in the Sedom Lagoon, which evolved in a subdued landscape and was connected to the Mediterranean Sea. The base of the overlying Amora Formation, deposited in the terminal Amora Lake which developed under increasing relief that promoted escarpment incision, was dated at 3.3_− 0.8^+ 0.9 Ma. Burial ages of fluvial sediments within caves (3.4 ± 0.2 Ma and 3.6 ± 0.4 Ma) represent the timing of initial incision. Initial DSF topography coincides with the earliest Red Sea MORB's and the East Anatolian fault initiation. These suggest a change in the relative Arabian–African plate motion. This change introduced the rifting component to the DSF followed by a significant subsidence, margin uplift, and a reorganization of relief and drainage pattern in the region resulting in the topographic framework observed today.     

Holocene rockfalls in the southern Negev Desert,Israel and their relation to Dead Sea fault earthquakes

Rockfall ages in tectonically active regions provide information regarding frequency and magnitude of earthquakes. In the hyper-arid environment of the Dead Sea fault (DSF), southern Israel, rockfalls are most probably triggered by earthquakes. We dated rockfalls along the western margin of the DSF using terrestrial cosmogenic nuclides (TCN). At each rockfall site, samples were collected from simultaneously exposed conjugate boulders and cliff surfaces. Such conjugate samples initially had identical pre-fall (“inherited”) TCN concentrations. After boulder detachment, these surfaces were dosed by different production rates due to differences in post-fall shielding and geometry. However, in our study area, pre-rockfall inheritance and post-rockfall production rates of TCN cannot be evaluated. Therefore, we developed a numerical approach and demonstrated a way to overcome the above-mentioned problems. This approach can be applied in other settings where rockfalls cannot be dated by simple exposure dating. Results suggest rockfall ages between 3.6 ± 0.8 and 4.7 ± 0.7 ka. OSL ages of sediment accumulated behind the boulders range between 0.6 ± 0.1 and 3.4 ± 1.4 ka and support the TCN results. Our ages agree with dated earthquakes determined in paleoseismic studies along the entire length of the DSF and support the observation of intensive earthquake activity around 4–5 ka.     

Extensional deformation structures within a convergent orogen: The Val di Lima low-angle normal fault system (Northern Apennines,Italy)

A low-angle extensional fault system affecting the non metamorphic rocks of the carbonate dominated Tuscan succession is exposed in the Lima valley (Northern Apennines, Italy). This fault system affects the right-side-up limb of a kilometric-scale recumbent isoclinal anticline and is, in turn, affected by superimposed folding and late-tectonic high-angle extensional faulting.The architecture of the low-angle fault system has been investigated through detailed structural mapping and damage zone characterization. Pressure-depth conditions and paleofluid evolution of the fault system have been studied through microstructural, mineralogical, petrographic, fluid inclusion and stable isotope analyses. Our results show that the low-angle fault system was active during exhumation of the Tuscan succession at about 180°C and 5 km depth, with the involvement of low-salinity fluids. Within this temperature - depth framework, the fault zone architecture shows important differences related to the different lithologies involved in the fault system and to the role played by the fluids during deformation. In places, footwall overpressuring influenced active deformation mechanisms and favored shear strain localization.Our observations indicate that extensional structures affected the central sector of the Northern Apennines thrust wedge during the orogenic contractional history, modifying the fluid circulation through the upper crust and influencing its mechanical behavior.     

祁连山造山作用与岩石圈地幔的特型结构构造

本文探讨了祁连山地壳增厚与造山机制。提出新生代以来,由于印度地块向北推进,其延迟的远程效应使祁连地块内4条断裂再次活动,特别是23 Ma以来,分阶段的活动使上地壳缩短了30%,40 km厚的祁连地壳增加到57km厚;并通过柴达木地块下地壳物质的挤入,使祁连地块地壳厚度增加到现今的60~74 km;地壳质量基本平衡表明其下部地壳物质横向迁移较小,即走滑断裂带走的地壳物质较少。依据INDEPTH-V新的宽频地震调查成果,提出祁连地块下岩石圈地幔的复杂结构,南部来的昆仑岩石圈地幔(双层结构)与北部向南俯冲的阿拉善地块下的亚洲岩石圈地幔在祁连地块深部相碰撞,而柴达木—祁连岩石圈地幔则被保存在昆仑岩石圈与亚洲岩石圈地幔碰撞带之上,共形成一倒三角汇聚区;在柴北缘与中祁连北缘岩石圈地幔各出现一条北倾和南倾的正转换震相,可能是老俯冲带残存岩片的显示;在祁连地块岩石圈地幔的两端地壳底部还出现有"双"莫霍"现象",地表见有多条榴辉岩带。以上结果构成了高原最具特色的构造区。     

汶川地震断裂带科学钻探项目WFSD-4孔定向钻进技术应用

介绍了汶川地震断裂带科学钻探项目四号孔定向钻进的施工情况,包括定向钻孔的设计、造斜工具的选择、定向方法、钻孔轨迹控制以及无线随钻定向钻进施工、利用钻具组合进行定向钻进施工、侧钻绕障和定向钻进效果。     

汶川地震断裂带科学钻探项目WFSD-4孔钻探施工概况和关键技术

介绍了汶川地震断裂带科学钻探项目WFSD-4孔钻探施工概况及采用的关键技术,包括螺杆马达-液动锤-长半合管取心钻进技术、偏心扩孔取心技术、防冲蚀取心钻头技术、大斜度定向钻进技术、活动套管技术、新型钻井液体系和新型深孔取心钻机等。