Determination of principal stress magnitudes using calcite twins and rock mechanics data

Abstract

This paper proposes a new method for determining principal stress magnitudes, based on the use of the deviatoric stress tensor determined from computer inversion of calcite twin data. Additional evaluation of the vertical stress (weight of overburden) or of the mean stress is enough to calculate the complete stress tensor. We emphasize that the best reasoning consists of combining calcite twin analysis with rock mechanics data (failure/friction criteria), because the determination of the six parameters of the absolute stress tensor is overconstrained.