Abstract
In this study, we present structural, fracture orientation and fracture density (FD) data in order to quantify the deformation pattern of a damage zone that form around the slip plane of a large scale thrust fault which is located on the Ionian zone (External Hellenides) in northwestern Greece. Structural analysis showed at least two major deformation stages as indicated by the presence of refolding, backthrusting and break-back faulting. The fracture orientation analysis revealed three main fracture systems, a dominant conjugate fracture system which is perpendicular to the transport direction (NW-to NNW trending sets), a conjugate fracture system trending parallel to the transport direction (ENE-trending conjugate sets) and a third diagonal conjugate fracture system (WNW and NNE trending sets). Resulting fracture density distance diagrams display a decrease of total fracture density away from the studied fault, which is largely heterogeneous and irregular on both footwall and hanging wall. The conjugate fracture system trending perpendicular to the transport direction has the dominant contribution to the accumulation of total fracture density. Based on these results we suggest that the observed heterogeneous and irregular distribution of fracture density fashioned during the second deformation stage and is attributed to the formation of backthrusts and break-back thrust faults.
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