On the internal structure and mechanics of large strike-slip fault zones: field observations of the Carboneras fault in southeastern Spain

Deciphering the internal structure of large fault zones is fundamental if a proper understanding is to be gained of their mechanical, hydrological and seismological properties. To this end, new detailed mapping and microstructural observations of the excellently exposed Carboneras fault zone in southeastern Spain have been used to elucidate both the internal arrangement of fault products and their likely mechanical properties. The fault is a 40 km offset strike-slip fault, which constitutes part of the Africa–Iberia plate boundary. The zone of faulting is 1 km in width not including the associated damage zone surrounding the fault. It is composed of continuous strands of phyllosilicate-rich fault gouge that bound lenses of variably broken-up protolith. This arrangement provides a number of fluid flow and fluid sealing possibilities within the fault zone. The gouge strands exhibit distributed deformation and are inferred to have strain hardening and/or velocity hardening characteristics. Also included in the fault zone are blocks of dolomite that contain thin (<1 cm thick) fault planes inferred to have been produced by strain weakening/velocity weakening behaviour. These fault planes have a predominantly R₁ Riedel shear orientation and are arranged in an en echelon pattern. A conceptual model of this type of wide fault zone is proposed which contrasts with previous narrow fault zone models. The observed structural and inferred mechanical characteristics of the Carboneras fault zone are compared to seismological observations of the San Andreas fault around Parkfield, CA. Similarities suggest that the Carboneras fault structure may be a useful analogue for this portion of the San Andreas fault at depth.     

四川理塘地区花岗闪长岩特征及其增生楔弧岩浆活动

【研究目的】通过查明理塘地区拉扎嘎山花岗闪长岩的年龄、地球化学特征,探讨花岗闪长岩形成的时代、成因及构造背景,为研究甘孜—理塘洋盆俯冲增生构造演化过程提供依据。【研究方法】选取甘孜—理塘蛇绿混杂岩带俯冲增生楔内花岗闪长岩,系统开展岩相学、LA-ICP-MS锆石U-Pb年代学和岩石地球化学研究。【研究结果】花岗闪长岩含有大量的角闪石、黑云母等铁镁矿物,局部见大量的闪长质包体和围岩捕掳体。岩体形成于晚三叠世（（207.2±1.5） Ma）,岩石属I型钙碱性准铝质花岗岩类,具富集大离子亲石元素Rb、Ba、K、Th、U,亏损高场强元素Nb、Ta、P、Zr、Ti,显示轻稀土富集、重稀土亏损的右倾式配分模式,具有Eu的负异常,是典型的火山弧型花岗岩。【结论】结合区域地质资料及本文研究成果,认为四川理塘地区拉扎嘎山花岗闪长岩与甘孜—理塘洋向西俯冲致使中咱地块东缘增生楔不断扩大密切相关,是增生楔杂岩熔融成不同类型岩浆混合的产物。创新点：四川理塘地区拉扎嘎山花岗岩形成于晚三叠世,具典型的火山弧型花岗岩地球化学特征,形成于甘孜—理塘洋西向俯冲致使增生楔杂岩熔融,为甘孜—理塘洋俯冲增生构造演化提供了新的证据。     

Insights from numerical modeling on the hydrodynamics of non-radial flow in faulted media

The objective of this work is to explore the use of flow dimensions as a tool for characterizing hydraulic conditions in faulted media. Transient flow is numerically simulated in synthetic vertically-faulted reservoirs. Analysis of the obtained time series following the Generalized Radial Flow (GRF) model displays combined radial and fractional signals with a flow dimension n=1.5$n=1.5$. Investigating the transient geometry of the frontal equipotential surface shows that fractional flow occurrence is due to abnormal fault diffusion as a consequence of water supply from the matrix under specific conditions. An original hydrodynamical explanation for fractional flow in vertically faulted media is suggested, along with a reinterpretation of the bilinear regime. It is shown that the GRF theory remains valid in such discontinuum as the fundamental relationship between n and the cross-flow area is satisfied. These results provide insights in the use of the flow dimension as a hydraulic diagnostic tool in faulted media.     

Distribution of crustal extension and regional basin architecture of the Albertine rift system, East Africa

By applying a kinematic and flexural model for the extensional deformation of the lithosphere, and using a recently available EROS Data Center topography DEM of Africa in conjunction with new and previous gravity data from Lakes Albert, Edward and George, we have determined the distribution, amplitude, and style of deformation responsible for the formation of the Albertine rift system, East Africa. Further, we have been able to approximate the three-dimensional architecture of the Albertine rift basin by analyzing a series of profiles across and along the rift system for which we also estimate the flexural strength of the rifted continental lithosphere and its along-strike variation. Previous modeling studies of the Lake Albert basin either overestimated the flexural strength of the extended lithosphere and/or underestimated the crustal extension. The single most important factor that compromised the success of these modeling efforts was the assumption that crustal extension was limited to the present-day distribution of the rift lakes. The style of deformation appears to have changed with time, beginning with a regionally distributed brittle deformation across the region that lead progressively to the preferential growth and development of the major border faults and antithetic/synthetic faults within the collapsed hangingwall block. Minor fault reactivation within the footwall block appears to be related to the release of bending stresses associated by the flexural uplift of the rift flank topography. By simultaneously matching the observed and modeled topography and free-air gravity across the Albertine rift system, we have determined a cumulative extension ranging from 6 to 16 km with the maximum extension occurring in the central and northern segments of the basin. Crustal extension is not constrained to the lake proper, but extends significantly to the east within the hangingwall block. Effective elastic thickness, T_e, varies between 24 and 30 km and is unrelated to either the amount of extension or the maximum sediment thickness. The variation of T_e relates possibly to small changes in crustal thickness, heterogeneities in crustal composition, and/or variations in radiogenic crustal heat production. Maximum sediment thickness is predicted to be 4.6 km and occurs within the central region of Lake Albert. Low bulk sediment densities, correlating with the location of major lake deltas, may be indicative of present-day sediment overpressures. Our results show that basin geometry is strongly dependent on the cumulative (and distribution) of lithospheric extension and the flexural rigidity of the lithosphere. Thus, in order to determine the total amount of extension responsible for the formation of a basin system, it is necessary to independently constrain the flexural strength of the lithosphere both during and after extension. Conversely, in order to determine the rigidity of extended lithosphere using the stratigraphy and/or geometry of rift basins and passive margins, it is necessary to independently constrain the cumulative extension of the lithosphere.     

四川理塘甲洼组地层时代与环境演化

川西理塘甲洼盆地中的甲洼组是一套厚度在300m左右的松散状河湖相沉积物。磁性地层结果表明,B/M界线位于剖面中部157.0m处,剖面底部记录了奥尔都维正极性亚时。对比Cande和Kent的极性年表,理塘甲洼组的始沉积年代约为2.10MaBP,结束于0.10MaBP.孢粉记录显示该地经历亚高山针叶林植被→高山草甸植被的演变过程,沉积环境经历了河湖相→冲积相的转变过程。      

理塘MS5.1和杂多MS6.2地震热红外亮温异常分析

利用相对功率谱方法对风云卫星热红外亮温数据进行处理, 发现理塘M_S5.1和杂多M_S6.2地震前存在明显的前兆异常。 异常时空演化特征为2016年8月12日在嘉黎—察隅断裂带、 怒江断裂带和澜沧江断裂带开始出现亮温功率谱高值聚集现象, 随后幅值和面积逐渐增大, 持续至9月1日异常面积和幅度达到最大值, 然后逐渐减弱, 2016年9月21日后基本恢复正常, 异常持续近40天。 异常结束后, 分别于9月23日和10月17日在异常区域内发生理塘M_S5.1和杂多M_S6.2地震。 两次地震震中区域平均相对功率谱值时序曲线与异常区域时间演化过程类似, 地震发生在平均相对功率谱值恢复正常背景值之后。     

断层活动性评价中关于测年资料的引用

断层活动性评价是研究区域构造稳定性的基础,它直接影响到水工建筑物本身的抗震安全。目前,对于断层活动性评价较常用的方法就是有关断层样品的年龄测试,这是比较直观的定量方法之一。但由于测年方法有多种,同一样品用不同的测年方法测得的结果有时偏差很大,哪种结果更为可靠始终是众多学者所关心的问题。本文对在水利水电工程断层活动性评价中关于断层年龄引用方面存在的一些问题进行探讨,并结合溪洛渡工程对研究区的马边盐津断裂、莲峰断裂和金阳断裂进行了断裂活动性分析与评价。     

Deformation and fault activity in space and time in high-resolution numerical models of doubly vergent thrust wedges

A discrete-element model is used to investigate the manner in which deformation and fault activity change in space and time during the development of a doubly vergent thrust wedge in the upper crust. Deformation is a result of shortening at a subduction slot in the base of the model, a configuration which produces a dynamic backstop within the cohesionless, frictional cover material. A series of experiments with differing basal (decollement) friction are performed. The distinct manners in which thrust wedges grow, and the variability of fault development and activity in space and time, are then examined. Both predicted large-scale wedge geometries and individual fault-fold structures are similar to those observed in sandbox models, and show the complex manner in which shortening is accommodated and localized during the development of the thrust wedge. When compared to a sandbox model with similar boundary conditions, model results are strikingly similar. In all cases, deformation initiates above the subduction slot with the formation of an axial zone; the wedge is then developed by displacement on a retro-wedge thrust and propagation of deformation into the pro-wedge region. Models with low coefficients of basal friction typically develop wide, shallow wedges with distributed, spaced deformation and rather symmetric, box-like structures; whereas those with high coefficients of basal friction develop narrower, steeper wedges, consisting of a series of stacked, pro-wedge thrust sheets, and a high-displacement retro-wedge thrust. In general, fault initiation and linkage is extremely complex in our models, with several smaller faults operating until linkage occurs to form a major through-going structure. Of particular interest is the observation that many of the faults do not develop at the basal decollement and propagate upwards through the cover but rather initiate at high levels in the cover and propagate/link downwards with other, deeper structures. Results also indicate the utility of the discrete-element approach in modelling large-displacement, complex deformation of geological materials.     

紫坪铺库区断层分布规律统计分析

定量描述地质构造的分布规律对诸如核废料地质处置、边坡稳定性分析、采矿工程以及水利水电工程都具有十分重要的意义。本文根据紫坪铺水库工程区域地质图,通过提取断层信息的方法,获得了断层分布图。对紫坪铺水利枢纽工程库区内尺度跨越3个数量级、共126条断层进行了统计分析,获得了断层长度-数量间的幂律关系,即N(r)~r-D。并通过分段线性拟合的方法,计算了幂指数的值。发现当断层长度r2.5km时,幂指数D=0.32;而当断层长度r2.5km时,幂指数D=1.58。该幂律关系对推演更小或更大规模断层分布具有重要意义。     

位场场源边界识别新技术及其在山西古构造带与断裂探测中的应用研究

给出了位场场源边界识别的最新技术,利用斜导数法、斜导数水平梯度法及theta图法对山西境内古裂陷带和古拼接带及山西地堑系主要断裂构造进行了边界位置识别研究,并与常规水平梯度法进行对比分析。对理论模型和山西实际资料的边界识别结果表明:这些新技术的识别效果都优于传统水平梯度法,能获得更丰富的地质信息。