Subduction zone intermediate-depth seismicity: Insights from the structural analysis of Alpine high-pressure ophiolite-hosted pseudotachylyte (Corsica,France)

Pseudotachylyte in the Cima di Gratera ophiolite, Alpine Corsica, is distributed in the peridotite unit and in the overlying metagabbro unit and was formed under blueschist to eclogite metamorphic facies conditions, corresponding to a 60–90 km depth range. Peridotite pseudotachylyte is clustered in fault zones either beneath the tectonic contact with overlying metagabbros or at short distance from it. Fault zones are either parallel to the contact or make an angle of 55° to it. Displacement sense criteria associated with fault veins indicate top-to-the-west or top-to-the-northwest reverse senses. Cataclasite flanking most veins was formed before or coevally with frictional melting and likely mechanically weakened the peridotite, facilitating subsequent seismic rupture. In the basal part of the metagabbro unit, post-mylonitization pseudotachylyte can be distinguished from pre-mylonitization pseudotachylyte formed earlier. In the equant metagabbro above the mylonitic sole, only one episode of pseudotachylyte formation can be identified. Kinematics associated with metagabbro pseudotachylyte remain unknown. The geometry and kinematics of the pseudotachylyte veins from the peridotite unit and to a lesser extent from the metagabbro unit are similar to modern seismic ruptures of the upper parts of the Wadati-Benioff zones such as in the Pacific plate beneath NE Japan.     

First results of GPS measurements on the Ulaanbaatar geodynamic testing area

First results of the analysis of GPS measurement data obtained from 18 sites of two local networks in the vicinity of Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) for the period 2010–2015 have been presented. Horizontal velocity vectors are consistent with each other in the ITRF2014 system and with the velocities of the IGS permanent station ULAB. The sites move in the E–SE direction at a rate of 25–30 mm/yr, with the displacement azimuth averaging 105°. With respect to Eurasia, the vectors for most of the sites are slighly turned to the south, but they are still of SE orientation with the azimuth range of 130°–150° and magnitude values of 2–4 mm/yr. Relative horizontal velocities tend to decrease towards southeast that determines a zonal distribution of different type of relative strain patterns. The western part of the Ulaanbaatar network is characterized by the W–E oriented extension with the elongation rate ε₁ = 12–16 × 10^–8 yr^–1. The shortening NW–SE trending strain with calculated value ε₂ = 22.4 × 10^–8 yr^–1 characterizes the network’s eastern part. The highest values of the maximum shear strains (ε_max = 10–14 × 10^–8 yr^–1) form an extended area in the center of the testing ground, which is elongated in the northeastern direction, conformably with the strike of the major geologic structures. The strain distribution pattern of the Emeelt network located within the eponymous seismogenic structures is characterized by the crustal elongation (5 × 10^–6 yr^–1) trending SE–NW and less pronounced shortening in the SW–SE directions.The axial part of the fault crossing the network in the NW direction exhibits maximum deformations.     

阿尔泰—萨彦山的新构造运动和区域控震断裂的再活化

阿尔泰—萨彦山系和新构造结构的形成被认为是印度-欧亚板块碰撞带来的远程陆内变形的结果。在本次构造模型中,我们对地质、地震活动数据和地形资料进行了联合分析,认为中亚山带北部地形和地震活动的最大变化仅限于晚古生代区域断层的交叉地带。断层的交叉和接合处应被视为增加基底破碎程度、影响局部应力场变化和预先定位M≥5级的地震震源的最重要的构造因素之一。由此,结合Charysh Terekta和Kurai区域断层交叉带出现的氦和钙华,本次研究获得了发震前兆的一些判断规律。     

A three‐dimensional integral equation model for calculating poro‐ and thermoelastic stresses induced by cold water injection into a geothermal reservoir

Poro‐mechanical and thermo‐mechanical processes change the fracture aperture and thus affect the water flow pattern in the fracture during the cold water injection into enhanced geothermal systems (EGS). In addition, the stresses generated by these processes contribute to the phenomenon of reservoir seismicity. In this paper, we present a three‐dimensional (3D) partially coupled poro‐thermoelastic model to investigate the poroelastic and thermoelastic effects of cold water injection in EGS. In the model, the lubrication fluid flow and the convective heat transfer in the fracture are modeled by the finite element method, while the pore fluid diffusion and heat conductive transfer in the reservoir matrix are assumed to be 3D and modeled by the boundary integral equation method without the need to discretize the reservoir. The stresses at the fracture surface and in the reservoir matrix are obtained from the numerical model and can be used to assess the variation of in situ stress and induced seismicty with injection/extraction. Application of the model shows that rock cooling induces large tensile stresses and increases fracture conductivity, whereas the rock dilation caused by fluid leakoff decreases fracture aperture and increases compressive total stresses around the injection zone. However, increases in pore pressure reduce the effective stresses and can contribute to rock failure, fracture slip, and microseismic activity. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

2021年3月24日新疆拜城MS 5.4地震总结

系统梳理2021年3月24日新疆拜城M_S 5.4地震前地震活动异常特征、地球物理观测异常以及区域构造情况,结果如下：①地震活动：震前存在地震平静、高频、带状分布等异常;②地球物理观测：出现5项异常,其中形变3项,电磁2项,且形变异常对于该地震具有预测意义;③综合方法：地震发生前,震中附近存在多参数概率谱异常。拜城M_S 5.4地震发生在库车坳陷西南部,震源机制解显示为走滑型破裂。该序列类型为前震—主震—余震型,主震前存在前震活动,余震较少,序列活动呈持续衰减特征。综合分析认为,拜城M_S 5.4地震前异常较多,其中地震活动相关异常为后续中强地震的预测提供了有效依据。     

Earthquake ground motion modeling of induced seismicity in the Groningen gas field

A physics‐based numerical approach is used to characterize earthquake ground motion due to induced seismicity in the Groningen gas field and to improve empirical ground motion models for seismic hazard and risk assessment. To this end, a large‐scale (20 km × 20 km) heterogeneous 3D seismic wave propagation model for the Groningen area is constructed, based on the significant bulk of available geological, geophysical, geotechnical, and seismological data. Results of physics‐based numerical simulations are validated against the ground motion recordings of the January 8, 2018, M_L 3.4 Zeerijp earthquake. Taking advantage of suitable models of slip time functions at the seismic source and of the detailed geophysical model, the numerical simulations are found to reproduce accurately the observed features of ground motions at epicentral distances less than 10 km, in a broad frequency range, up to about 8 Hz. A sensitivity analysis is also addressed to discuss the impact of 3D underground geological features, the stochastic variability of seismic velocities and the frequency dependence of the quality factor. Amongst others, results point out some key features related to 3D seismic wave propagation, such as the magnitude and distance dependence of site amplification functions, that may be relevant to the improvement of the empirical models for earthquake ground motion prediction.     

长江三峡及邻近区地震活动性研究

本文从大陆地壳受力屈曲失稳的观点出发，较系统地研究了长江三峡及邻区地震活动的空间图象、应力场、区带划分及时间涨落规律。分析结果表明，三峡及邻区地震活动归属于长江中下游地震区西部网络，位于川鄂边境、江汉洞庭和南秦岭地震小区的交接部位，主要涉及安康－房县、新华－咸丰、远安、南漳－荆门、钟祥等区域性的地震带，区内以北东向和北北西向两组断裂构成主要地震构造网络。地震活动的时间进程分析表明，未来２０年内仍处在可能有较强地震应变释放的时段，其主体活动区在川鄂边境地震小区。     

晚更新世末期仙女山断裂带和天阳坪断裂带活动的最新证据

依据野外槽探实测的仙女山断裂带和天阳坪断裂带的地质剖面，通过研究断层堆积与构造岩、新老构造岩变形、断层破裂及其几何特征、断层充填物采样年代鉴定等，获得了两断裂带晚更新世末期活动和古地震的最新证据。结果表明：天阳坪断裂带南支在１８２００±１２００年至１６９０±７６０年之间曾发生２～４次中强震，仙女山断裂带中段（都镇湾断裂）在２９０００±１３００年至大约１万年之间曾发生４次中强震。     

利用历史有感地震目录（M≥3（1／2））研究华北地区地震活动性特征

对新编的华北地区历史有感地震目录（３（１／２）≤Ｍ＜４（１／２））的精度和可信度进行了讨论。认为该地震目录从１４８４年后的记载率较高，它的发震时间、震中位置和震级的精度基本可以满足研究历史地震活动性的需要。它与中国地震目录（Ｍ≥４（３／４））比较，补充了相当数量的３（１／２）≤Ｍ≤４（１／２）的地震。利用历史有感地震目录分析了华北北部部分６级以上的历史地震，结果表明，这些地震在强震发生前具有明显的空区、条带、地震活动性增强、平静等前兆特征，同时，也显示了某些强＊发生前的前震活动和主震之后起伏的强余震活动。