Simulation of seismicity due to fluid migration in a fault zone

Spatio-temporal variation of rupture activity is modelled assuming fluid migration in a narrow, porous fault zone formed along a vertical strike-slip fault in a semi-infinite elastic medium. The principle of the effective stress coupled to the Coulomb failure criterion introduces mechanical coupling between fault slip and the pore fluid. The fluid is assumed to flow out of a localized high-pressure fluid compartment in the fault at the onset of earthquake rupture. The duration of the earthquake sequence is assumed to be much shorter than the recurrence period of characteristic events on the fault. Both an earthquake swarm and a foreshock–main-shock sequence can be simulated by changing the relative magnitudes of the initial tectonic stress, pore fluid pressure, fracture strength and so on. When an inhomogeneity is introduced into the spatial distribution of fracture strength, high complexity is observed in the spatio-temporal variation of rupture activity. For example, the time interval between two successive events is highly irregular, and a relatively long quiescence of activity is sometimes observed in a foreshock–main-shock sequence. The quiescence is caused by the temporary arresting of rupture extension, due to an encounter with fault segments having locally high strengths. The frequency–magnitude statistics of intermediate-size events obey the Gutenberg–Richter relation. The calculations show the temporal variation of the b value during some foreshock sequences, and the degree of the change seems to depend on the statistical distribution of the fracture strength.     

A note on the relationship between dip-slip fault parameters and plate parameters in the two-dimensional modelling of preseismic deformation

Preseismic lithospheric deformation at a subduction zone can be modelled as dip-slip dislocation on an inclined fault or as flexure of a thin plate. Both these models predict a region of positive topography known as forebulge or outer rise. By matching the location and the magnitude of the forebulge, we derive useful relations between the dip-slip fault parameters and the plate parameters. In particular, we determine the width of a long dip-slip fault of given dip corresponding to a semi-infinite plate of given thickness. The displacement profiles of the two models are also compared.     

Mineralogy and physical nature of clay gouge

Fault gouges have been observed in the surface outcrops, in shallow excavations, and in deep (300 meters below the surface) tunnels and mines in fault zones. The 2-microns fractions in these fault gouges may compose a few percent to more than fifty percent of the total mass in the outcrops, and the mineralogy of the 2-microns fractions consists of a variety of clays (the common ones are montmorillonite, illite, kaolinite, chlorite, vermiculite and mixed-layer clays) and some quartz, feldspars, etc.Although we cannot yet conclude directly from the studies of gouges that similar gouges exist at depths where many large shallow earthquakes are generated, there is a strong possibility that they do, based on (1) available equilibrium data on various clays — for example, kaolinite has been found to exist at 4 kb and 375°C (±15°C) (Thompson, 1970) and montmorillonite + kaolite has been found to exist at 450°C and 4 kb (Velde, 1969); (2) the compatibility of laboratory velocity data in gouge (Wang et al., 1977) with those in a model for central California (Healy andPeake, 1975); (3) the capability of clays to undergo sudden earthquake-like displacements (Summers andByerlee, 1977); (4) the petrology of intrafault cataclastic rocks in old fault zones (Kasza, 1977); and (5) the compatibility of gouge mineralogy with the mineralogy of hydrothermal clay deposits.If clay gouges are indeed significant components of the fault zone at depth, then the mechanical properties of clays under confining pressures up to 4 kb are important in the behavior of faults. Very few experiments have been performed under such high pressures. But from the physical makeup of clays, we can infer that (1) the range of possible behavior includes stable sliding with vermiculite and montmorillonite (asByerlee andSummers, 1977, have proven) to stick-slip-like behavior with kaolinite, chlorite, etc.; (2) the absence or presence of water will greatly affect the strengths of gouges — it is possible that water may reduce the strength of gouge to a fairly small value.     

Transient creep and semibrittle behavior of crystalline rocks

We review transient creep and semibrittle behavior of crystalline solids. The results are expected to be pertinent to crystalline rocks undergoing deformation in the depth range 5 to 20 km, corresponding to depths of focus of many major earthquakes. Transient creep data for crystalline rocks at elevated temperatures are analyzed but are poorly understood because of lack of information on the deformation processes which, at low to moderate pressure, are likely to be semibrittle in nature. Activation energies for transient creep at high effective confining pressure are much higher than those found for atmospheric pressure tests in which thermally-activated microfracturing probably dominates the creep rate. Empirical transient creep equations are extrapolated at 200° to 600°C, stresses from 0.1 to 1.0 kbar, to times ranging from 3.17×10² to 3.17×10⁸ years. At the higher temperatures, appreciable transient creep strains may take place but the physical significance of the results is in question because the flow mechanisms have not been determined. The purpose of this paper is to stimulate careful research on this important topic.     

Kinetic shear resistance,fluid pressures and radiation efficiency during seismic faulting

Summary During earthquake faulting, radiation efficiency and the degree stress relief are critically dependent on the kinetic shear resistance. This is often assumed to stay constant during slip, but geological evidence suggests that for moderate or large shallow earthquakes it may decrease dramatically to near-zero values once slip is initiated, either by melt formation or by transient increases in fluid pressure on the fault plane. The latter, probably more common process may arise partly through an interaction between temperature and water pressure, and partly through dilatancy recovery as shear stress is relieved. If the fault remains undrained, stress relief should be absolute with seismic efficiency reaching high values, so that stress drops give a measure of the level of tectonic shear stress in fault zones. Supporting evidence comes from the observation that apparent stress is generally about half the stress drop.     

Timing of megakinks and related structures: Constraints from the Devonian Bunga‐Wapengo Basin,Mimosa Rocks National Park,New South Wales

The Bunga beds are bounded by faults adjacent to which are fanglomerates that form part of an early Late Devonian volcanic rift basin. Some cross‐faults acted as precursors for later regional deformation that kinked the Ordovician basement and gently folded the basin sediments in a northwest‐southeast direction. Details of the faulted junction at Picnic Point and orientation of cleavage microstructures in the fanglomerates support the dating of the north‐south regional F₂ deformation as Middle Devonian or older and the northwest‐southeast F₃ kinking as post‐early Late Devonian.     

三叠纪嘉陵江期华蓥山同沉积断层的沉积、储层响应

对于断裂带在地质历史时期活动特点的认识,因多期次、不同活动性质的叠加改造而难以确定。以四川盆地南部嘉陵江组为例,通过三叠纪嘉陵江期华蓥山断裂带两侧的沉积、储层的研究发现沉积、储层响应与断面倾向南东、东侧下降的观点矛盾。主要表现为:在非浅滩化的嘉三期,紧邻断裂带西北侧的下降盘地层异常增厚;浅滩化的嘉一晚期—嘉二1期,东南侧的泸州古隆起地区颗粒岩累计厚度较西北侧增厚;另外,断层东南侧的颗粒岩发育早期岩溶型储层,而在西北侧这类储层欠发育。结果表明在三叠纪嘉陵江期华蓥山断裂带的断面倾向北西,为西侧下降的同沉积正断层。     

青藏高原东缘中更新世伸展作用及其新构造意义

基于区域TM遥感影像资料解译和野外构造地貌调查以及晚第四纪沉积物光释光测年分析,论述了青藏高原东缘复杂地貌边界带晚第四纪伸展构造及其构造地貌特征。结果显示,伸展构造主要见于下列几个构造带:沿南北走向的安宁河谷地、大凉山构造带、若尔盖盆地、岷江断裂带等。其典型的地貌特征表现为充填晚第四纪沉积物的狭窄河谷。根据盆地沉积物的地层时代和年龄推断,正断作用主要发生在中更新世时期,大约起始于早更新世末期(1.2～0.9Ma),结束于中更新世晚期(100～200ka)。晚更新世以来,构造体制转化为走滑—逆冲机制。青藏东缘中更新世伸展构造作用可能与该地貌边界带晚新生代造山后的高原垮塌有关。     

俯冲带地震诱发机制:研究进展综述

俯冲带作为地球循环体系的关键部位,具有构造活跃、地震多发以及地质条件复杂等特征。基于震源位置,俯冲带地震既可划分为板间和板内地震,也可分为浅源、中源和深源地震。俯冲带内的浅源地震包括板间地震和浅源板内地震,而中源和深源地震皆属于板内地震。在地球浅部,温度与压力低,浅源地震是由岩石发生脆性破裂或沿着先存断层发生不稳定摩擦滑移造成的。随着深度增加,温度和压力的增加使得流行于浅部的脆性和摩擦行为在无水条件下被强烈抑制,岩石从而表现为可抑制地震的韧性行为,使得中-深源地震的诱发机制有别于常规的脆性行为。随着研究的逐渐深入,人们了解到中源地震的诱发机制主要是脱水或与流体相关的致脆以及塑性剪切失稳,而深源地震的成因主要是相变致裂。然而,中-深源地震很可能是两种或两种以上机制共同作用的结果。例如,在中源深度既可能是流体相关的致脆导致脱水源区的脆性围岩产生地震,亦可能是脱水的蛇纹岩本身可能在流体孔隙压的作用下作粘滑滑移,而前者比后者更为重要。孕震带宽度大于"反裂隙模型"预测的亚稳态橄榄石冷核宽度的深源地震可能是由第一阶段的相变致裂和第二阶段的塑性剪切失稳诱发,而孕震带的实际宽度与预测宽度相当的深源地震则可能仅由相变致裂引起。只要过渡带内名义无水矿物中的结构水能释放出来,脱水致脆同样可能触发一些深源地震;而塑性剪切失稳不仅能在中-深源地震触发后的扩展阶段起着主导作用,而且还能单独触发一些中-深源地震,因此能够解释大多数反复发生的中-深源地震活动。     

Structural style in a young flexure-induced oblique extensional system,north-western Bonaparte Basin,Australia

In the north-western Bonaparte Basin (North West Shelf of Australia) Neogene to Recent flexure-induced extension superimposed obliquely over the Mesozoic rift structures. Thus, the area offers a good opportunity to investigate the dynamics and architecture of oblique extension fault systems. Analysis of basin-scale 2D and 3D seismic data along the Vulcan sub-basin shows that Neogene deformation produced a new set of extensional, en échelon faults, at places accompanied by the reactivation of the Mesozoic faults. The pre-existing Mesozoic structures strongly control the distribution of the Neogene-Recent deformation, both at regional and local scales. Main controls on the Neogene-Recent fault style, density and segmentation/linkage include: (1) the orientation of the underlying Mesozoic structures, (2) the obliqueness of the younger extension relative to the rift-inherited faults, and (3) the proximity to the Timor Trough. Three types of vertical relationships have been observed between Mesozoic and Neogene-Recent faults. Hard linkages seems to develop when both fault systems trend parallel, therefore increasing risks for trap integrity. It is suggested that the orientation of maximum horizontal stress (S_Hmax) relative to the Mesozoic faults, forming hydrocarbon traps, is critical for their potential seal/leak behaviour. Stratigraphic growth across the faults indicates that main fault activity occurred during the Plio-Pleistocene, which corresponds to the timing of tectonic loading on Timor Island and the development of lithospheric flexure. Synchronism of normal faulting with flexural bending suggests that extensional deformation on the descending Australian margin accompanied the formation of the Timor Trough.