Initiation and development of pull-apart basins with Riedel shear mechanism: insights from scaled clay experiments

Typical pull-apart structures were created in scaled clay experiments with a pure strike-slip geometry (Riedel type experiments). A clay slab represents the sedimentary cover above a strike-slip fault in the rigid basement. At an early stage of the development of the deformation zone, synthetic shear fractures (Riedel shears) within the clay slab display dilatational behaviour. With increasing basal displacement the Riedel shears rotate and open further, developing into long, narrow and deep troughs. The shear displacement and the low angle with the prescribed principal basal fault set them apart from tension gashes. At a more evolved stage, synthetic segments (Y-shears) parallel to the basal principal fault develop and accommodate progressive strike-slip deformation. The Y-shears connect the tips of adjacent troughs developed from the earlier Riedel shears, resulting in the typical rhomb-shaped structures characteristic for pull-apart basins. The Strait of Sicily rift zone, with major strike-slip systems being active from the Miocene to the Present, comprises pull-apart basins at different length scales, for which the structural record suggests development by a mechanism similar to that observed in our experiments.     

3D numerical modelling of fluid flow in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district: major crustal shear zones drain fluids from overpressured vein fields

Fluid flow patterns have been determined using oxygen isotope isopleths in the Val-d’Or orogenic gold district. 3D numerical modelling of fluid flow and oxygen isotope exchange in the vein field shows that the fluid flow patterns can be reproduced if the lower boundary of the model is permeable, which represents middle or lower crustal rocks that are infiltrated by a metamorphic fluid generated at deeper levels. This boundary condition implies that the major crustal faults so conspicuous in vein fields do not act as the only major channel for upward fluid flow. The upper model boundary is impermeable except along the trace of major crustal faults where fluids are allowed to drain out of the vein field. This upper impermeable boundary condition represents a low-permeability layer in the crust that separates the overpressured fluid from the overlying hydrostatic fluid pressure regime. We propose that the role of major crustal faults in overpressured vein fields, independent of tectonic setting, is to drain hydrothermal fluids out of the vein field along a breach across an impermeable layer higher in the crust and above the vein field. This breach is crucial to allow flow out of the vein field and accumulation of metals in the fractures, and this breach has major implications for exploration for mineral resources. We propose that tectonic events that cause episodic metamorphic dehydration create a short-lived pulse of metamorphic fluid to rise along zones of transient permeability. This results in a fluid wave that propagates upward carrying metals to the mineralized area. Earthquakes along crustal shear zones cause dilation near jogs that draw fluids and deposit metals in an interconnected network of subsidiary shear zones. Fluid flow is arrested by an impermeable barrier separating the hydrostatic and lithostatic fluid pressure regimes. Fluids flow through the evolving and interconnected network of shear zones and by advection through the rock matrix. Episodic breaches in the impermeable barrier along the crustal shear zones allow fluid flow out of the vein field.     

Compressibility and shear strength of a residual soil

A detailed study was performed to investigate the compressibility and the shear strength of a residual soil in Omdurman, Sudan. The soil resulted from weathering of sandstone and mudstone. The soil is classified as sandy clayey silt (MH-CH) and is generally partially saturated. Consolidation tests were performed to study the compressibility of the soil and UU, CIU and insitu tests (CPT and SPT) were performed to study the shear strength characteristics of the soil. The characteristics of this residual soil can generally be predicted using correlations proposed in the literature for transported soils. The soil is of low to medium compressibility and exhibits slight apparent overconsolidation behavior. The soil dilates during shear and shows no long term effective cohesion. Problems associated with open cuts in this soil are attributed to loss of strength upon saturation.     

小岩头滑坡稳定性分析

小岩头滑坡位于贵州省威宁县二(连浩特)河(口)高速公路K255 010~K255 240里程右侧,属一个大型古滑坡,发育于二叠系上统峨嵋山组玄武岩(P2β)地层中。在高速公路施工中对路堑进行深挖削坡,可能导致古滑坡中部、线路右侧斜坡失稳破坏,发生滑坡。因此,滑坡稳定性评价是重大工程地质问题之一。根据大量勘察试验资料,系统地揭示了滑坡的特征,分析了滑坡形成的控制因素、成因和形成机制,建立了滑坡体稳定性计算模型,利用反演计算法进行稳定性分析与评价,认为两滑体均处于滑动失稳状态。建议对滑坡体进行处理,采用排水、支挡、减压等措施进行整治。     

CCSD主孔1113~1600 m花岗质片麻岩单元的变形构造特征

中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)主孔2000m岩性剖面揭示了1113～1600m花岗质片麻岩段为地表北苏鲁超高压花岗质变质岩剪切构造叠覆岩片中的石湖镇构造岩片的花岗质片麻岩的下延部分。本单元之上下界线为韧性剪切带,内部发育小型韧性剪切变形,仅局部可见旋转碎斑体系等剪切指向标志,以SE向NW的逆冲剪切指向为主,其次为NW向SE的正滑剪切指向,并主要发育于较软弱夹层内,后者成为苏鲁地区存在伸展型穹隆构造的新证据;在1140～1280m岩性段内发育断续、较弱的拉伸线理,拉伸线理总体向SE倾伏,倾伏角为10～36°;花岗质片麻岩单元内部分石英以多晶石英条带的形式存在,花岗质片麻岩主要矿物长石基本没有动态重结晶现象,仅具较弱的形态拉长特征(X∶Z=2左右),总体面理倾向170°E,倾角平均20°,明显不同于其他岩性单元内的面理产状,可能主要代表折返变形之前的近东西向构造,而其他岩性单元受折返变形影响较大,其面理产状主要代表折返阶段形成的NE-NNE向构造;运用电子背散射(EBSD)技术进行石英组构分析并与费氏台测定对比,表明1113～1600m花岗质片麻岩单元经历了中—低温变形,局部残留有高温组构,剪切指向主要为SE向NW的逆冲,其中高温组构与中温组构均显示为SE向NW的逆冲剪切指向,反映折返早期与折返主期岩片的相对剪切方向一     

单一滑面边坡的非稳定蠕变模型分析

对单一滑面边坡的非稳定蠕变分析是边坡稳定性研究的基础。文中对岩质边坡单一滑面的流变变形机制进行了分析，提出了一种能较好反映这一变形机制的非稳定蠕变模型。特别是描述单一滑面边坡的非稳定蠕变破坏阶段，并对其稳定性进行了讨论。结合一些工程实例进行了对比验证，为滑坡灾害的预测和防治提供依据。     

Phillips模式的斜压不稳定的非线性饱和问题:能量情形

A conservation law for the Phillips model is derived. Using this law, the nonlinear saturation of purely baroclinic instability caused by the vertical velocity shear of the basic flow in the Phillips model-the case of energy-is studied within the context of Arnold's second stability theorem. Analytic upper bounds on the energy of wavy disturbances are obtained. For one unstable region in the parameter plane, the result here is a second-order correction in ε to Shepherd's; For another unstable region, the analytic upper bound on the energy of wavy disturbances offers an effective constraint on wavy (nonzonal) disturbances φ'i at any time.