Normal fault growth influenced by basement fabrics: The importance of preferential nucleation from pre‐existing structures

Reactivation of pre‐existing intra‐basement structures can influence the evolution of rift basins, yet the detailed kinematic relationship between these structures and overlying rift‐related faults remains poorly understood. Understanding the kinematic as well as geometric relationship between intra‐basement structures and rift‐related fault networks is important, with the extension direction in many rifted provinces typically thought to lie normal to fault strike. We here investigate this problem using a borehole‐constrained, 3D seismic reflection dataset from the Taranaki Basin, offshore New Zealand. Excellent imaging of intra‐basement structures and a relatively weakly deformed, stratigraphically simple sedimentary cover allow us to: (a) identify a range of interaction styles between intra‐basement structures and overlying, Plio‐Pleistocene rift‐related normal faults; and (b) examine the cover fault kinematics associated with each interaction style. Some of the normal faults parallel and are physically connected to intra‐basement reflections, which are interpreted as mylonitic reverse faults formed during Mesozoic subduction and basement terrane accretion. These geometric relationships indicate pre‐existing intra‐basement structures locally controlled the position and attitude of Plio‐Pleistocene rift‐related normal faults. However, through detailed 3D kinematic analysis of selected normal faults, we show that: (a) normal faults only nucleated above intra‐basement structures that experienced late Miocene compressional reactivation, (b) despite playing an important role during subsequent rifting, intra‐basement structures have not been significantly extensionally reactivated, and (c) preferential nucleation and propagation of normal faults within late Miocene reverse faults and folds appears to be the key genetic relationship between contractionally reactivated intra‐basement structures and rift‐related normal faults. Our analysis shows that km‐scale, intra‐basement structures can control the nucleation and development of newly formed, rift‐related normal faults, most likely due to a local perturbation of the regional stress field. Because of this, simply inverting fault strike for causal extension direction may be incorrect, especially in provinces where pre‐existing, intra‐basement structures occur. We also show that a detailed kinematic analysis is key to deciphering the temporal as well as simply the spatial or geometric relationship between structures developed at multiple structural levels.     

Basin filling evolution of the central basins of Mallorca since the Pliocene

A new compilation of data from 436 drill cores using decompaction and backstripping techniques was used to reconstruct the basin filling history from the Pliocene until the present day in the Palma, Inca and Sa Pobla Basins on the island of Mallorca (Spain). Calcareous rocks dominate the source area and provide a limited amount of clastic input to the basins that has resulted in an average accumulation rate of between 5 and 20 m/Ma during the last 5.3 Ma. Carbonate sediment production dominated the basin filling history during early‐mid Pliocene, but during the Quaternary, the sedimentation processes in the Palma Basin were probably enhanced by an evolution in the drainage network that increased the sediment supply and the accumulated thickness caused by stream capture. However, the maximum sedimentation rate filling the depocentres of the three basins has been decreasing since the Pliocene, showing that not only the catchment transport efficiency but also the relative sea level have been controlling the sediment accumulation in these carbonate basins. The isopach cross‐sections support the idea that a palaeorelief was generated during the Messinian sea level drop and that heterogeneities were filled in from the Pliocene to the Quaternary. We conclude that the central basins of Mallorca were filled heterogeneously due to tectonic and geomorphic processes that controlled sediment transport and production, resulting in different average sedimentation thicknesses that decreased since the Pliocene as the accommodation space became filled and the relative sea level dropped.     

Extensional fault and fold growth: Impact on accommodation evolution and sedimentary infill

Extensional faults and folds exert a fundamental control on the location, thickness and partitioning of sedimentary deposits on rift basins. The connection between the mode of extensional fault reactivation, resulting fault shape and extensional fold growth is well‐established. The impact of folding on accommodation evolution and growth package architecture, however, has received little attention; particularly the role‐played by fault‐perpendicular (transverse) folding. We study a multiphase rift basin with km‐scale fault displacements using a large high‐quality 3D seismic data set from the Fingerdjupet Subbasin in the southwestern Barents Sea. We link growth package architecture to timing and mode of fault reactivation. Dip linkage of deep and shallow fault segments resulted in ramp‐flat‐ramp fault geometry, above which fault‐parallel fault‐bend folds developed. The folds limited the accommodation near their causal faults, leading to deposition within a fault‐bend synclinal growth basin further into the hangingwall. Continued fold growth led to truncation of strata near the crest of the fault‐bend anticline before shortcut faulting bypassed the ramp‐flat‐ramp structure and ended folding. Accommodation along the fault‐parallel axis is controlled by the transverse folds, the location and size of which depends on the degree of linkage in the fault network and the accumulated displacement on causal faults. We construct transverse fold trajectories by tracing transverse fold hinges through space and time to highlight the positions of maximum and minimum accommodation and potential sediment entry points to hangingwall growth basins. The length and shape of the constructed trajectories relate to the displacement on their parent faults, duration of fault activity, timing of transverse basin infill, fault linkage and strain localization. We emphasize that the considerable wavelength, amplitudes and potential periclinal geometry of extensional folds make them viable targets for CO₂ storage or hydrocarbon exploration in rift basins.     

Seismic‐stratigraphic constraints on the age of the Faroe Islands Basalt Group,Faroe–Shetland region,Northeast Atlantic Ocean

Lower Palaeogene extrusive igneous rocks of the Faroe Islands Basalt Group (FIBG) dominate the Faroese continental margin, with flood basalts created at the time of breakup and separation from East Greenland extending eastwards into the Faroe‐Shetland Basin. This volcanic succession was emplaced in connection with the opening of the NE Atlantic; however, consensus on the age and duration of volcanism remains lacking. On the Faroe Islands, the FIBG comprises four main basaltic formations (the pre‐breakup Lopra and Beinisvørð formations, and the syn‐breakup Malinstindur and Enni formations) locally separated by thin intrabasaltic sedimentary and/or volcaniclastic units. Offshore, the distribution of these formations remains ambiguous. We examine the stratigraphic framework of these rocks on the Faroese continental margin combining onshore (published) outcrop information with offshore seismic‐reflection and well data. Our results indicate that on seismic‐reflection profiles, the FIBG can be informally divided into lower and upper seismic‐stratigraphic packages separated by the strongly reflective A‐horizon. The Lower FIBG comprises the Lopra and Beinisvørð formations; the upper FIBG includes the Malinstindur and Enni formations. The strongly reflecting A‐horizon is a consequence of the contrast in properties of the overlying Malinstindur and underlying Beinisvørð formations. Onshore, the A‐horizon is an erosional surface, locally cutting down into the Beinisvørð Formation; offshore, we have correlated the A‐horizon with the Flett unconformity, a highly incised, subaerial unconformity, within the juxtaposed and interbedded sedimentary fill of the Faroe‐Shetland Basin. We refer to this key regional boundary as the A‐horizon/Flett unconformity. The formation of this unconformity represents the transition from the pre‐breakup to the syn‐breakup phase of ocean margin development in the Faroe–Shetland region. We examine the wider implications of this correlation considering existing stratigraphic models for the FIBG, discussing potential sources of uncertainty in the correlation of the lower Palaeogene succession across the Faroe–Shetland region, and implications for the age and duration of the volcanism.     

南海大洋钻探及海洋地质与地球物理前沿研究新突破

南海是西太平洋地区规模最大且具有代表性的边缘海盆地之一。经过近几十年的研究积累,尤其是通过实施5个国际大洋钻探航次(1999–2018年)与国家自然科学基金委“南海深海过程演变”重大研究计划(2011–2019年),我国科学家获得了大量宝贵的第一手资料,取得了一系列创新进展与重大突破,标志着南海海洋地质与地球物理研究正走向国际前沿。重要研究成果包括:(1)新提出南海是“板缘张裂”盆地,与经典的大西洋型陆缘模式不同;(2)大洋钻探首次获取了基底玄武岩样品,结合中国在南海首次深拖地磁测量实验,精确测定了南海海盆玄武岩年龄,揭示南海海盆从东向西分段扩张;(3)大洋钻探结果发现南海陆缘岩石圈减薄之初岩浆迅速出现,未发现缓慢破裂造成的蛇纹岩出露;(4)发现南海扩张结束后仍存在大量岩浆活动,可能受控于多种构造与地幔因素;(5)地球化学证据与地球动力学模拟都显示南海岩浆的形成受到周边俯冲带的影响。目前我国的海洋地球科学正在进入崭新的发展阶段,有望以南海为基点,开始拓展到周边大洋,通过主导大型研究计划以及建设我国大洋钻探平台,以提升我国在南海、西太平洋与印度洋海洋地质科学研究的实质性影响力与引领地位。     

变质作用、板块构造及超级大陆旋回

麻粒岩相超高温变质作用（GUHTM）主要发育于新太古代至寒武纪岩石中;推测在深部较年轻的,特别是新生代造山带岩石中也会有GUHTM存在。岩石中最初出现GUHTM记录意味着产生瞬时极高热流处的地球动力学发生了改变。许多GUHTM带可能发育于类似现代大陆弧后的构造背景中。在较热的地球上,超大陆及其裂解形成的循环组合,尤其是经岩石圈减薄的洋盆卷入到其外翻过程中可能产生比现代太平洋边缘更热的大陆弧后。中温榴辉岩 高压麻粒岩相变质作用（EHPGM）也是最先发现于新太古代岩石记录中,并发育于从元古宙至古生代岩石中。EHPGM带是对GUHTM带的补充,并经常认为是记录了从俯冲至碰撞造山作用的过程。在元古宙岩石记录中的蓝片岩明显记录了与现代俯冲作用相关的低热流梯度。以发育柯石英(±硬柱石)或金刚石为特征的硬柱石蓝片岩和榴辉岩（高压变质作用,HPM）及超高压变质岩（UHPM）主要是在显生宙形成。HPMUHPM记录了显生宙俯冲碰撞造山带早期碰撞过程中的低热流梯度及陆壳的深俯冲作用。尽管与直觉不同,在超级大陆聚敛期（Wilson旋回洋盆打开和关闭）的大陆地块增生过程,许多HPMUHPM带看来确实是通过小洋盆关闭而发育起来的,反映双重热体制的双重变质带仅发育于新太古代以来的岩石记录中。双重热体制是现代板块构造的特点,而双重变质作用则是板块构造在岩石记录中的特征性标志。尽管构造样式很可能不同,新太古代以来GUHTM和EHPGM带的发育证明“元古宙板块构造体制”的开始。以冷俯冲和大陆地壳深俯冲至地幔,以及其中的部分又从深达300 km处发生折返为标志,“元古宙板块构造体制”在新元古代进化为“现代板块构造体制”,这个转变可由岩石中的HPMUHPM证明。记录这种极端条件的变质带年龄是不一致的,而变质作用发生时间与各大陆岩石圈聚合到超级克拉通（如Superia/Sclavia）或超级大陆（如Nuna (Columbia), Rodinia, Gondwana, 和Pangea）的时间却是一致的。     

阳江MS4.9级地震影响场与发震构造关系讨论

2004年9月17日02时31分广东省阳江市发生MS 4.9级地震,造成14个镇的57个行政村共1620多间房屋(主要为老旧民房)遭受轻微破坏,受影响居民21195户,经济损失2300多万元。震后进行了地震影响场调查,绘制了这次地震的等震线分布图,并对其发震构造进行了分析探讨。     

遵化新太古代豆荚状铬铁矿变形特征、变形机制及其大洋地幔扩张运移的指示意义

豆荚状铬铁矿是蛇绿岩套地幔构造岩中特征的矿产,其矿石发育丰富的岩浆活动-高温变形结构构造类型,豆荚状铬铁矿高温下仍具有稳定的物理化学特性,对认识大洋上地幔扩张、横向运移具有重要指示意义。在对遵化新太古代豆荚状铬铁矿显微构造的深入研究基础上,通过对比分析豆荚状铬铁矿结构构造特征(岩浆活动、低温变形),提出高温变形结构及其特征(拉长网孔结构、条带状、糜棱状结构等)。借鉴现代洋中脊及弧后盆地扩张的构造模型,提出华北新太古代豆荚状铬铁矿扩张中心形成后的显微构造演化序列,豆荚状铬铁矿变形机制的研究,可以提供认识早期大洋上地幔动力学过程的新线索。     

大陆克拉通早期构造演化历史探讨:以华北为例

大陆早期构造演化的研究一直是大陆地质学研究的焦点问题.在华北克拉通基底构造1∶200万编图研究基础上, 本文开展基底断裂边界、构造样式及后期叠加关系的研究, 借鉴比较大地构造理论, 对华北克拉通基底重新进行了构造区划.结合标志性构造单元及其时代、同位素年龄数据库的综合研究, 提出华北早期构造格局演化及其重大构造热事件.华北克拉通基底主要由大面积的新太古代TTG杂岩及表壳岩系组成, 新太古代涉及活动陆缘环境的大规模陆壳增生及不同微陆块的碰撞聚合过程, 造成新太古代末期陆壳迅速增生和克拉通化.古元古代初期开始伸展裂解和早期盖层发育阶段, 古元古代晚期发生微陆块碰撞缝合, 形成超级克拉通, 并在克拉通西北边缘发生强烈改造作用.1.84Ga前后, 华北克拉通经历最强烈的一次伸展裂解过程, 从超级克拉通裂解, 开始了独立的构造演化, 在伸展构造背景下, 克拉通基底被强烈隆升冷却, 经历风化剥蚀, 发育沉积盖层.以上构造格局及其构造热事件提供了早期超级大陆再造研究的构造制约条件.      

东营凹陷砂岩透镜体油气成藏机理及有利区预测

近几年济阳坳陷的勘探实践表明, 对岩性油藏的含油性差异、成藏机理尚认识不清, 这制约了隐蔽油气藏的进一步勘探.在东营凹陷145个砂岩透镜体油藏含油性统计分析的基础上, 结合典型透镜体油藏详细解剖和核磁共振物理模拟实验结果综合研究后发现: 砂岩透镜体圈闭形成时的构造和沉积环境、围岩生排烃条件、砂体储集条件是其成藏的主控因素.只有围岩(源岩) 进入供烃门限后, 其与砂体界面处的毛管压力差、烃浓度梯度产生的扩散力和膨胀力3者之和大于砂体中过剩的水向外渗滤遇到的阻力, 即成藏动力大于成藏阻力时, 砂岩透镜体才能成藏.当砂体沉积环境、围岩生排烃条件、砂体自身储集条件3方面均满足一定条件时, 圈闭才具备形成砂岩透镜体油藏的条件, 并且上述3方面条件越优越, 圈闭含油性就越好.用此方法对东营凹陷下第三系沙三中亚段砂岩透镜体油藏的分布进行了预测.