Morphological and microtectonic analysis of Quaternary deformation from Puná and Santa Clara Islands, Gulf of Guayaquil, Ecuador (South America)

This paper presents the neotectonic study of Santa Clara and Puná Islands sited in the Gulf of Guayaquil eastern part. Both islands are located on the south-western segment of the fault zone bounding to the east the North Andean Block. Fault motion and morphostructural analysis were carried out from Pleistocene age terrain. A two step deformation characterises the South Puná tectonics. The first step involves the Zambapala Cordillera uplift that post-dates Pleistocene sediments and pre-dates a marine terrace correlated with the M.I.S. 11 or 13 (440–550 ka). The second step is the formation of a pull-apart that shows evidence of 2.9 km dextral offset since the M.I.S. 11 or 13, giving an offset mean rate of 5.3 to 6.6 mm/yr. This rate is higher than the one calculated on the Pallatanga Fault northeast of the study area, in the Western Andean Cordillera, suggesting that deformation is split in different fault segments from the Gulf of Guayaquil to the continent. The Zambapala Cordillera uplift and transpression deformation requires a compressive event that may have been induced by the subduction process during the early Pleistocene.     

Migrating pingos in the permafrost region of the Tibetan Plateau, China and their hazard along the Golmud–Lhasa railway

Most pingos in the permafrost region of the high northern Tibetan Plateau form along active fault zones and many change position annually along the zones and thus appear to migrate. The fault zones conduct geothermal heat, which thins permafrost, and control cool to hot springs in the region. They maintain ground-water circulation through broken rock in an open system to supply water for pingo growth during the winter in overlying fluvial and lacustrian deposits. Springs remain after the pingos thaw in the summer. Fault movement, earthquakes and man's activities cause the water pathways supplying pingos to shift and consequently the pingos migrate.

The hazard posed to the new Golmud–Lhasa railway across the plateau by migrating pingos is restricted to active fault zones, but is serious, as these zones are common and generate large earthquakes. Pingos have damaged the highway and the oil pipeline adjacent to the railway since 2001. One caused tilting and breaking of a bridge pier and destroyed a highway bridge across the Chumaerhe fault. Another has already caused minor damage to a new railway bridge. Furthermore, the construction of a bridge pier in the North Wuli fault zone in July–August 2003 created a conduit for a new spring, which created a pingo during the following winter. Measures taken to drain the ground-water via a tunnel worked well and prevented damage before the railway tracks were laid. However, pier vibrations from subsequent train motion disrupted the drain and led to new springs, which may induce further pingo growth beneath the bridge.

The migrating pingos result from active fault movement promoting artesian ground-water circulation and changing water pathways under the seasonal temperature variations in the permafrost region. They pose a serious hazard to railway construction, which, in turn can further disturb the ground-water conduits and affect pingo migration.     

Effects of low- to high-angle normal faults on sedimentary architectures in the Eocene Wenchang Formation,Enping Sag,Pearl River Mouth Basin,South China Sea

The effects of low- to high-angle (>30°) normal faults on sedimentary architectural units in the Eocene Wenchang Formation, Enping Sag, Pearl River Mouth Basin (PRMB), South China Sea were investigated utilising a high-quality 3D seismic data set and restored paleogeomorphology. It has been shown that sequence stratigraphic units and sedimentary architecture are significantly controlled by the low- to high-angle normal faults. The Wenchang Formation, a second-order sequence, can be subdivided into two para-second-sequences (the Lower and Upper Wenchang sequences, E₂W^L and E₂W^U) and seven third-order sequences (from base to top: SQ1～SQ7). The low-angle fault confined sequence architecture of the Wenchang Formation is mainly characterised by lateral stacking with the ratio of the vertical subsidence (V) to horizontal slip (H) being reduced from 1/2 for E₂W^L to 1/6 for E₂W^U. In contrast, the high-angle fault confined sequence is characterised by vertical stacking with the ratio of V/H close to 1 for sequences SQ1 to SQ7. In the 3D seismic area, the features of sediment-dispersal pattern were interpreted based on an integrated analysis of paleogeomorphology, seismic reflection characteristics, stratal thickness distribution and multiple attribute clustering. The results show that the large-scale fan delta, belt-shape lacustrine deposit and bird-foot braided delta systems mainly developed in the low-angle fault confined sequences, whereas small-scale fan delta, rhombus-shaped lacustrine deposit and lobe-shaped braided delta systems inherited tectono-sedimentary architectures in the high-angle fault confined sequences.     

The Mesozoic structural evolution of the Gorgon Platform,North Carnarvon Basin,Australia

The Gorgon Platform is located on the southeastern edge of the Exmouth Plateau in the North Carnarvon Basin, North West Shelf, Australia. A structural analysis using three-dimensional (3D) seismic data has revealed four major sets of extensional faults, namely, (1) the Exmouth Plateau extensional fault system, (2) the basin bounding fault system (Exmouth Plateau–Gorgon Platform Boundary Fault), (3) an intra-rift fault system in the graben between the Exmouth Plateau and the Gorgon Platform and (4) an intra-rift fault system within the graben between the Exmouth Plateau and the Exmouth Sub-basin. Fault throw-length analyses imply that the initial fault segments, which formed the Exmouth Plateau–Gorgon Platform Boundary Fault (EG Boundary Fault), were subsequently connected vertically and laterally by both soft- and hard-linked structures. These major extensional fault systems were controlled by three different extensional events during the Early and Middle Jurassic, Late Jurassic and Early Cretaceous, and illustrate the strong role of structural inheritance in determining fault orientation and linkage. The Lower and Middle Jurassic and Upper Jurassic to Lower Cretaceous syn-kinematic sequences are separated by unconformities.     

走滑断裂古地震探槽选址范例

探槽选址直接决定了古地震研究的质量,且理想探槽位置具有稀缺性。在收集82篇国内外走滑断裂古地震研究论文的基础上,分析了长序列古地震探槽选址和同震位移探槽选址的构造地貌共性特征。长序列古地震探槽一般布设在断塞塘、拉分盆地、小型湖盆、闸门脊汇水一侧及比较平缓的冲洪积扇或大型冲洪积扇末端等地貌位置。这些地貌位置的共同特征是位于连续的、较高沉积速率的沉积环境,且通常富集14C测年物质。在探槽选址的过程中,不仅要对现今沉积环境,也要对其古地理环境进行评价。然而以发掘古地震同震位移为目的的探槽选址则不同,成功的研究点往往较频繁发生侵蚀和下切事件,其中冲沟是最常见的地貌标志。探槽布设以垂直和平行探槽为主,采取逐次掘进或相间平行排列的方式开挖。由于理想探槽位置的稀缺性,所以在这些优质的探槽点一定要开展长期详细地深入研究,最大限度获得古地震事件的长序列,同时也要注意新技术和新方法的应用。     

华北地块中部新构造运动

由于印度板块持续向北运动,引起青藏高原的挤出,并于中新世末引起华北地块的向东挤出。大约在7.3 Ma,太行山西侧渭河盆地唐县面首先解体,继而向北、向东发展;到5 Ma左右,太行山东麓断裂带的右行走滑,导致华北中部唐县面全面解体,形成多个太行山内部山间盆地,以及太行山西侧山西地堑系。这些断陷盆地的断陷幅度各不相同,太行山西侧山西地堑系断陷幅度较大,太行山内部山间盆地断陷幅度较小,太行山东部的渤海湾盆地断陷活动不明显。伴随着盆地的形成,太行山相对进入快速隆升阶段。山西地堑系控盆断裂以及太行山东麓断裂带第四纪以来仍存在明显活动,切割并控制第四系,局部在地表形成地裂缝。华北地块中部的应力场恢复以及深部构造分析表明,深部地幔上涌对浅部伸展构造的形成具有重要的影响,深部构造演变与浅部构造演变具有高度的一致性和耦合性。太行山东部渤海湾盆地自中新世以来就进入拗陷阶段,断裂活动弱,构造演化与西侧差异较大,表明这期构造运动动力源于西侧,太行山东麓断裂带作为两侧差异演变的边界,调节着两侧的差异构造活动。     

南京湖山地区大石碑断层性质及成因探讨

南京湖山地区大石碑断层位于大石碑向斜北西翼,在北东方向人工开采的剖面上表现为正断层性质。通过对大石碑 断层及其附近断层和节理的构造要素测量分析、构造应力场求解等研究,文章认为该断层以右行平移断层为主,兼有正断 层的性质。印支期该区在北西-南东方向挤压构造应力场作用下,形成北东方向的褶皱（宁镇山脉）、北西方向的右行平移 断层和北北西方向左行平移断层,其中北西方向的右行平移断层在北东方向的剖面上表现出正断层的假象,是断层效应的 一个典型教学实例。     

额济纳旗灰石山东北铌多金属矿床成矿规律及成因浅析

通过对灰石山东北铌多金属矿床地质特征综合分析表明,矿床的产出受地层和构造的双重制约。矿区的二叠系双堡塘组是矿源层,矿体具有明显的层位控制性;北东东向断裂构造提供了热液通道并进行了叠加改造;矿床成因类型属于沉积变质-热液叠加型。     

塔北隆起X型走滑断裂成因机制的新解释

塔里木盆地塔北隆起发育两组呈小角度相交(40°)的透入性X型走滑断裂,分别沿着NNE走向和NNW延伸。在对塔北哈拉哈塘地区三维地震资料解释的基础上,对走滑断层的几何展布特征以及断层的剖面变形特征进行研究;同时重点解析了RP6断裂和HA13断裂,分析比较NNW向与NNE向断层的变形及发育特征差异;结合盆地重磁资料以及周缘造山带的活动特征,对塔北隆起小角度的X型走滑断层的发育机制以及演化进行了分析。研究表明,塔北隆起走滑断层在垂向上具有明显的分层变形特征,分为三个构造层:震旦系-中寒武统下构造层(TH₃界面以下)、上寒武统-中奥陶统中构造层(TH₃-TO₃t界面)和上奥陶统-石炭系上构造层(TO₃t-TP界面)。断层在下构造层和中构造层中整体处于压扭环境,多发育正花状构造;上构造层中断层主要发育负花状构造或正断层,整体处于张扭环境。两组断裂比较,NNW向断裂活动性强,在各构造层中均有显著的断裂特征发育,垂向连通性强,发育先存基底断裂,而NE向断层主要发育在中构造层,在下构造层和上构造层中断层发育不明显。活动性分析表明,断层的形成与演化具有多期性,走滑断层的形成经历了三期主要活动:中寒武世末、中晚奥陶世和志留纪-石炭纪。塔北隆起X型走滑断裂的形成受到了NNW向基底断裂和薄弱带的控制,NNW向先存基底断裂带或薄弱带优先发育走滑断裂,基底断裂与主挤压应力方向的夹角小于45°-Φ/2,NNE断层的发育受NNW向先存断裂限制,最终形成小角度相交的X型断裂。     

西气东输管道工程中卫黄河穿越隧道场地工程地质条件评价

西气东输工程中卫黄河穿越隧道长1197.77m,高4.3m,宽5.6m。隧道入口高于黄河水位28m,出口高于黄河水位45m。隧道顶板高程为1130m。位于黄河水下100m。隧道场地围岩为寒武系磨盘井组灰绿色、银灰色浅变质中厚层细粒长石石英砂岩、千枚状板岩、绢云母化千枚岩。围岩为弱风化Ⅲ～Ⅳ类岩石。透水率为4～67Lu,纵波波速为500～3300m.s-1。BQ为300～400。变形模量为6.11～9.22GPa。泊松比（）0.14～0.24。内摩擦角（）为42.1～44.7。地下水为基岩裂隙水。含水层为寒武系浅变质岩,受大气降水渗入补给,单井涌水量为1.0～50m3.d-1。隧道轴线穿越区岩体较完整较破碎,未有全新活动断层。隧道位置选择和开挖深度设计是可行的。施工和长期运营是安全的。