Extensional Activity Research Articles

The characteristics of S-wave velocity and mineralization of the “Double Domes” structure in the eastern Tethys Himalaya

The Tethys Himalayan belt in the southern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau has been intruded by a large amount of leucogranite due to collisional orogeny. In addition, strong tectonic movements since the Cenozoic era have led to the formation of a series of dome structures accompanied by various types of mineralization. The Cuonadong Dome and Yalaxiangbo Dome, forming the “double dome” structure in the eastern part of the Tethys Himalayan Belt, are affected by different geological processes, resulting in differences in their deep structures and affecting the formation of polymetallic minerals. At present, geophysical research on the fine structure of the crust of the “double dome” structure is limited, making it difficult to fully understand the formation of different deep structures in the Tethys Himalayan dome belt. This hinders the progress of research on the genesis of dome structures and large-scale mineralization mechanisms in continental collisional environments. In this study, the ambient noise tomographic method was used to obtain the S-wave velocity structure of the upper crust of the Cuonadong Dome and the Yalaxiangbo Dome, and the following results were found: 1. there is a significant difference in the velocity structures of the two domes, with the core velocity structure of the Yalaxiangbo Dome showing an overall high velocity, extending downward for more than 9 km, while the core of the Cuonadong Dome exhibits low-velocity characteristics, with some high-velocity bodies occurring locally, which may be related to the later intrusion of leucogranite and extensional activity of the Cuona Rift. 2. There are significant differences in the S-wave velocities between the lead–zinc deposits and rare metal deposits in the study area; the lead–zinc deposits occur in basins and graben margins and have large variations in the S-wave velocity, which may be related to the involvement of basin brine in mineralization; below the tungsten–tin–beryllium deposits, the S-wave velocity exhibits high-velocity protrusions, with mineralization occurring at the front ends of the protrusions, which may be caused by crystallization differentiation of leucogranite. 3. The study area has abundant geothermal resources and obvious geothermal structural features. The low-velocity basin in the upper part of the upper crust is a heat storage layer, the low-velocity channel in the middle is a heat-conducting layer, and the lower part is a low-velocity heat source area that continuously supplies heat, forming a special geothermal structural model for the Cuonadong Dome and Yalaxiangbo Dome.

Faulting, sediment loading, and flow of underlying ductile units: A case study from the Western Ionian Basin Offshore Eastern Sicily

Tectono-stratigraphic analysis coupled with digital 3D surface modelling derived from high-resolution seismic profiles is performed along a narrow turbidite basin offshore E-Sicily in order to increase understanding on the processes that contributed to the shaping of the Western Ionian Basin. Seismic-reflector patterns of the identified Pliocene-Quaternary sequence point to syn-depositional deformation during the Pliocene associated with the simultaneous activity of regional faults and underlying ductile units. Long-wavelength sediment fanning results from the extensional activity of the Malta Escarpment faults. Conversely, internal reflector architecture and lateral terminations indicate localized subsidence associated with the growth of uprising structures in the easternmost part of the basin. Lateral shifting of basin depocenters is in line with withdrawal effects observed in basins floored by ductile units (salt or shale). 3D modelling of time-reference surfaces highlights sub-circular depressions associated with nearby structural culminations. This pattern is similar to salt-withdrawal minibasins commonly reported in evaporite-floored basins. Accordingly, salt migration/flow triggered by sediment loading, locally enhanced by fault activity, is proposed as the process controlling basin evolution during the Pliocene in the Western Ionian Domain. Nevertheless, the possibility of shale/mud tectonics as the ductile source of deformation cannot be discounted.

Extensional activity and development of skills in the perception of the participants of an Enactus team in Brazil

This chapter presents the results of a survey with students from an Enactus team who examined their perception regarding the following aspects experienced in the elaboration of a project to the participation in the Enactus Brazil National Meeting (Encontro Nacional Enactus Brasil – Eneb): development of competences and personal maturation/autonomy, engagement with the team, meaning and purpose, satisfaction with the Enactus methodology, development of entrepreneurial and leadership skills, and activities integration in the team with the extension and the Pedagogical Project of the Courses. The results point to a rich and beneficial experience, in the participants’ view, encompassing the personal, academic and professional scopes. The limitation of the study is recognized for covering a single team, which suggesting new studies covering all Enactus teams.

Evolutionary characteristics and key controlling factors of the volcanic rocks in the Lower Cretaceous Changling fault depression, Songliao Basin, China

The Songliao Basin is a large petroliferous basin located in Northeast Asia; the complex structure and volcanic filling are obstructions to the petroleum geological exploration of the Lower Cretaceous strata in the basin. Based on seismic, logging and lithologic data, this paper reveals the tectonic–stratigraphic characteristics of the Changling fault depression in the Songliao Basin, identifies the depression's volcanic rocks and summarizes their distribution patterns and changes, and finally analyzes the main factors controlling volcanic rock development combined with the regional tectonic background. The research shows the fault extension and subsidence caused the Changling fault depression to gradually evolve from an independent fault depression group to a connected large lake basin. The volcanic rocks in the fault depression are mainly “sill–like” volcanic lava and mounded volcaniclastic rocks, and their development can be divided into several stages. In the early Valanginian to Barremian, volcanic rocks show a large range of contiguous bedded and buninoid-structured rocks, which separate several small sedimentary sags; during the early Barremian to the late Aptian, volcanic rocks stopped developing; from the late Aptian to the late Albian, the volcanic rocks in the basin underwent multiple evolutionary periods, and their morphology gradually changed from mats and gentle mounds to high-angle cones and domes. Mantle upwelling caused by plate activity in Northeast Asia is the main driving force of extension and volcanic eruptions in the Songliao Basin, and the deep basement faults that formed by extensional activity control the magma upwelling channel, thus affecting the active periods, scale, morphology and distribution characteristics of volcanic rocks.

Knowledge of Agricultural Extension Agents with Climate Changes Phenomenon, And Their Implementation Level for Extensional Activities Which Related with It in Ninavah Governorate

objectives of this study were to: identify the knowledge of agricultural extension agents in climate changes phenomenon, Identify the relationship between the knowledge of agricultural extension agents and some factor, and Identify the implementation level of agricultural extension agents for extensional activities which related in climate changes phenomenon. Randomly sampling procedure was used in this study, The population consisted of 50% (106 Agricultural extension agents) of the total respondents (212 Agricultural extension agents) in Ninavah governorate. The data collected through questionnaire were analyzed through different statistical techniques. data set included 19 items and were measured for validity and quality by specialist at the Agricultural Extension Department, based on the evaluation process, three of the items were removed, 20 questionnaires were excluded after determining the data consistency (reliability coefficient was 0.82). In this research descriptive statistics such as percentages, mean values and frequency tables was applying to organize and analyze the data. The results show that Majority of them were had agricultural institute. Majority of the respondents were male. level knowledge of agricultural extension agents in climate changes phenomenon is medium with a tendency to low. result show that Educational level and Gender were the factors which significant effective on climate change knowledge of respondents. Also The results showed that the most extension activities carried out by the respondents are (The awareness of negative effects of the use excessive to irrigation water) and (The awareness of Planting drought-tolerant crops). according to previous results recommended It was The agricultural extension must prepare for the new challenges Resulting of climate change through training its staff and raising awareness programs, especially for categories which were their knowledge (middle and low) in field climate change to meet their knowledge needs revealed by the results of the study.
 

The Mid-Albian unconformity, a key to understand the geodynamics of the North Pyrenean Trough

The Pyrenees are the result of the structural inversion of a rift of general direction N110E, established at the articulation of the European and Iberian plates. This rift was created by left-lateral transtension with severe crustal thinning during the latest Early Cretaceous and Mid-Cretaceous. Its inversion, which led to the uplifting of the Pyrenean chain, took place gradually, by transpression from east to west, during the Late Cretaceous followed by an Eocene collision. From historical fieldwork, this note mainly focuses on the rifting period at the scale of the Pyrenean domain. It clearly shows the fundamental role of the stratigraphic approach in structural interpretation. Although synchronous at the scale of the Pyrenees, the Cretaceous extension is more important in the western part of the chain, near the Bay of Biscay. It is therefore at this location, within the Tardets-Mauléon Basin, that the various stages of creation and evolution of the rift could be clearly recognized with, successively: (1) an epirogenic pre-rifting stage, during which the facies lines, submeridian during the Jurassic, gradually change into N110E during the Neocomian before giving way, in the Early Cretaceous (Barremian-Gargasian), to a moderate acceleration of subsidence and, consequently, to the gentle uplift of a southern and western margin, future High Primary Belt (also often called Axial Zone) and Landes Plateau, initiating the next stage; (2) a major, brittle, newly identified rifting stage in the Latest Aptian (Clansayesian) and Early Albian. It is characterized by the installation of elongated lows on the downthrown side of transverse N20 normal faults, active diapirism of the Triassic evaporites and central detachment of the post-Triassic cover. During the Mid-Albian, a major surface of stratigraphic unconformity, often associated to uplift, erosion, and local centripetal gliding of the basin borders, marks a new structural organization, a rapid mantle ascent and the end of this episode. Although obscured by the later Pyrenean compression, the reconstructed basin geometry is interpreted as a “pull-apart” basin associated to a modest left-lateral motion; (3) a late rifting stage characterized by the collapse of the internal zones by rapid mantle cooling. The erosion of the coeval uplift of the southern High Primary Belt and the Landes Plateau feeds the accumulation of the thick, deep and transgressive unconformable formation of the Black Flysch of Mid-Albian to Early Cenomanian age in a larger coalescing basin. Faulting associated with a simple NS distension is only active on the last major border faults; (4) finally, a post-rift stage of Late Cretaceous age illustrated by the establishment of a passively subsiding basin, devoid of major deformations and whose heterogeneity of the previous depocenters is gradually erased. The Pyrenean transpression, later and less marked than in the eastern and central Pyrenees, allowed the conservation of most of these Cretaceous transtensive structures. Within the Tardets-Mauléon Basin, the Pernes and Col d’Urdach sector, the only Pyrenean location where the Mid-cretaceous transtension led to a proven underwater mantle exhumation, illustrates from outcrops the various stages that have marked the history of the Pyrenean Trough. Towards the east, along the Internal Metamorphic Zone, the Lourdes-Bagnères, Baronnies, Ballongue, Aulus and Saint-Paul de Fenouillet-Boucheville Basins, or those, further north like the Camarade and Quillan Basins, successively examined, testify to the same sedimentary and structural evolution. As in the case of the Tardets-Mauléon Basin, we deal here again with “pull-apart” type basins established on a thinned crust, arranged in transtensive or locally transpressive relays and separated by zones of thicker crust and shallower facies successions. The Mid-Albian unconformity is always present, heralding a general drowning of the North Pyrenean Trough and cessation of the extensional activity. The Pyrenean deformation, however, constitutes an obstacle for a precise geodynamic reconstruction, in particular in the eastern and central Pyrénées. Towards the west and north-west, in the South Aquitaine, Parentis and Basque-Cantabrian Basins, where Pyrenean deformation has far less obscured the rifting events, a very comparable Cretaceous geodynamic evolution is observed thus strengthening the present interpretation.

Recent activity and paleoseismicity of an intraplate extensional fault: the Calamocha fault (Jiloca graben, central Iberian Chain)

The Calamocha fault is an 18-km-long, NNW–SSE striking pure normal fault that moves down the northern sector of the Jiloca graben with respect to the Neogene infill of the Calatayud basin (central Iberian Chain). Its structure and kinematics are characterized by means of detailed geological mapping, morphotectonic analysis and data recording at the outcrop scale. The Calamocha fault represents the inversion of a previous contractional fault zone under the recent tensional stress field (WSW–ENE trending σ3 trajectories). The extensional activity started during the Late Pliocene (ca. 3.8 Ma), accumulating a maximum net slip of 190–230 m (long-term slip rate of 0.05–0.06 mm/a). The palaeoseismological study of three artificial exposures near Calamocha town evidenced recurrent slip during the Late Pleistocene, which proves its active character. Analysis of faulted clastic alluvial units, dated by means of optically stimulated luminescence (OSL), reveals at least eight slip events since 145.9 ± 9.1 ka, the last one being younger than 13.8 ± 0.9 ka. Only a few events represent visible accumulated displacement on the main synthetic rupture surfaces; this allows a rough estimate of the short-term slip rate (during the Late Pleistocene) of about 0.1 mm/a, faster than the long-term rate. The Calamocha fault could potentially produce a characteristic earthquake (in the sense of Schwartz and Coppersmith, J Geophys Res 89:5681–5698, 1984) with moment magnitude Mw ≈ 6.7 ± 0.3 (Mw ≈ 6.9 ± 0.3 in a scenario of activation of the whole Calamocha–Daroca fault zone), average coseismic displacement of 0.5–1.3 m and average recurrence period under 15 ka.

Unravelling the fluid flow evolution and precipitation mechanisms recorded in calcite veins in relation to Pangea rifting–Newark Basin, USA

Calcite veins hosted in the Triassic Stockton, Lockatong and Passaic formations of the Newark Basin are investigated to reconstruct the fluid evolution. To constrain the parameters of calcite precipitation, a microthermometry study was carried, which reveals precipitation of calcite from a low to moderate saline H2O-NaCl fluid (0.4 to 13.2 wt% NaCl equiv.) under low to moderate hydrothermal (137 °C to 232 °C) conditions. This fluid composition is interpreted to reflect mixing between a deep basement-derived heated diluted fluid and relatively low to moderate saline diagenetic formation waters hosted in the different Triassic formations. Carbon and strontium isotope analysis on the vein calcites suggests that these elements are derived from the pre-Triassic basement and the sedimentary cover through fluid-rock interactions. The aforementioned geochemical findings are supported by Rare Earth Elements and Yttrium (REY) systematics and oxygen isotope data.The Late Triassic extensional activity and gravity-driven fluid flow mechanism facilitated the infiltration of meteoric waters to deeper lithostratigraphic units (i.e., Precambrian-Paleozoic basement-Triassic Stockton Formation) where they became heated. In response to the extensional tectonics, the deep-seated hydrothermal basement-derived diluted fluids migrated upward along the tectonic-related fractures and the major faults to upper shallow crustal levels. Here, the heated, diluted meteoric waters were mixed with low, moderately saline, and relatively cooler formation waters, leading to calcite precipitation. The pH increase is suggested to be a contributing factor in the precipitation of calcite.

A single extensional, diffuse, ductile fault zone in the Goriganga section, western Himalaya: Part of the upper South Tibetan Detachment System?

The Trans-Himadri Detachment Fault (T-HDF) of the Kumaon region of western Himalaya, a north-easterly steeply dipping discrete brittle/semi-brittle fault, had previously been regarded as a strand of the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS). Yet, elsewhere in the Himalaya, the STDS is defined as a diffuse, ductile low-angle normal-sense shear zone. This aspect of the STDS remained conjectural and was even refuted by various workers in the Goriganga valley in the Kumaon. We have systematically documented the STDS as a low-angle, northerly dipping, ductile, diffuse shear zone, with a true thickness of >5 km in this transect. In the present scenario, the shear zone is located only within the psammo-pelitic basal part of the Tethyan Sedimentary Sequence (TSS), and bypassed the rock units of the Greater Himalayan Sequence (GHS). Multiple grain-statistical parameters of mylonitized micaceous quartzites point to an anastomosing architecture which displays a single precursory damage zone and a wider core for the entire STDS shear zone. The 40Ar*/39Ar geochronology and oxygen isotope analysis of the micas in mylonites demonstrated that the STDS evolved in weak lithologies, between c.14–11 Ma, at ∼300–350 °C ambient temperature, at or immediately below the brittle-plastic transition depth in the quartzo-feldspathic continental crust.Consideration of similar range of optimum ages of cessation of the extensional activity and already published timings of the end of brittle motion of the STDS in adjacent regions suggests that this wide diffuse shear zone is a deeper counterpart of the brittle upper STDS. This is in sharp contrast to the exposures of the detachment elsewhere in the Himalaya, where diffuse zone demonstrably constitutes the lower branch of this detachment. This finding has potential implications on overall understanding of the deformation related to the STDS and late Miocene geodynamic evolution of the GHS in this region.

Source mechanism of the 2020 Mw 6.3 Nima earthquake derived from Bayesian inversions with InSAR observations: Insight into E-W extensional activity in the central Tibet

Normal faults and conjugate strike-slip faults have been considered to play an important role in response to the extension deformation of central Tibet. On 22 July 2020, a Mw 6.3 earthquake struck the Nima county, central Tibet, in China, which provides a rare opportunity to get insights into how the normal faults in central Tibet accommodates the east-west extension caused by the Indian-Eurasian convergence. In this study, the Sentinel-1 images are collected to measure the coseismic deformation associated with this 2020 event and image its slip distribution. To mitigate the atmospheric phase effects, the generic atmospheric correction online service (GACOS) model is used to correct the coseismic inteferograms. The final coseismic deformation results show mainly negative displacement with a maximum value of ∼ 30 cm in the line of sight (LOS) direction. After that, a Bayesian inversion method is used to invert the fault model. Our results reveal the optimal seismogenic fault of this event with a strike angle of 31.3°, a dip angle of 51.6°, and show that its slip distribution is dominated by normal slip with a maximum value of 2.55 m at a depth of 4.79–9.53 km, which suggest it’s a blind normal rupture with high east-trending dip angle. The total released geodetic moment is, equivalent to Mw 6.3. In addition, we analyze the Coulomb stress change due to the 2008 Gaize and this 2020 Nima events, suggesting the 2020 event should not be triggered by the 2008 event. Finally, we estimate an interseismic slip rate of 4.7±1.2 mm/yr on the Yibug Caka-RigainPun Co (YCRC) fault with published global navigation satellite system (GNSS) measurements. Given that these high frequent normal slip events but a low crustal extension rate of 4.7±1.2 mm/yr in this region, we speculate that the asthenosphere material upwelling should be also a possible reason for E-W extensional activities in central Tibet.

Quantitative Analysis of Cenozoic Extension in the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea: Insight on Tectonic Control for Hydrocarbon Reservoir Accumulation and Formation

Cenozoic extension rates were calculated based on 20 seismic profiles across the Qiongdongnan Basin, South China Sea. The results confirmed that the Cenozoic rifting in the Qiongdongnan Basin exhibited multistage extension and spatiotemporal variation. In terms of the N–S striking seismic profiles, the structural forms of the northern and southern sags of the basin were characterized by narrow half grabens, while the structure at the center sag of the basin was characterized by wide and gentle grabens. The fault strikes in the west of the basin were mainly northeast–southwest trending, whereas those in the east of the basin changed from northeast–southwest trending to nearly east–west trending. The extension rate in the east sag was higher than that in the west area. The extension rate in the middle part was lower relative to the east and west sags. This was because the rifting was controlled by the distribution of the main boundary fault along the basin. Temporally, the Cenozoic extension could be divided into three periods: Eocene, Oligocene, and Miocene. The amount of stretching in the three extension stages was unevenly distributed in the entire basin. The maximum was mainly in the Oligocene Lingshui and Yacheng Formations. The Oligocene extension occurred in the entire basin, and the Eocene extension was limited to the Ledong and Changchang sags. Significant fault activity could be observed during the deposition period of the Yacheng and Lingshui Formations and could be attributed to strong extensional activity. The rifting tectonics controlled the distribution of source rocks and oil-generating window as well as hydrocarbon generation, reservoir formation, and accumulation.

Elemental geochemistry of the Middle Jurassic shales in the northern Qaidam Basin, northwestern China: Constraints for tectonics and paleoclimate

Abstract The elemental geochemical characteristics of mudstones/shales are good tracers for indicating the evolution of tectonics, paleoenvironment, and paleoclimate. Based on the continuous sampling of drilling cores from the Middle Jurassic Dameigou and Shimengou Formations in the northern Qaidam Basin, the major, trace, and rare earth elements of the 31 mudstones and shales were analyzed. The information on the evolution of tectonics, provenance, and paleoclimate during Middle Jurassic was also recovered. The results show that: (1) A couple of elements consisting of Sc, Y, V, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Th, and U are relatively enriched, indicating that the contents of siderophile and chalcophile elements are significantly high in the Middle Jurassic samples; (2) Changes in the chemical index of alteration, Ga/Rb, and K2O/Al2O3 ratios in the mudstone/shale samples suggest that the paleoclimate was changed from warm and humid in the early stage to cold and dry in the middle stage and to hot and arid in the late stage; (3) The Middle Jurassic provenance of the northern Qaidam Basin was predicted from upper crust and felsic rocks to the mixed felsic rocks and basic rocks; (4) The Middle Jurassic tectonic background was changed from passive continental margin to active continental margin and oceanic island arc. The paleoclimatic and paleogeographic evolution of northern Qaidam Basin were closely related to the surrounding paleo-oceanic and ancient plate activities. In the early stage of the Middle Jurassic, the extensional activity in the passive continental margin and the water vapor input was caused by the Tethys Ocean, resulting in a warm and humid paleoclimate. In the late stage of the Middle Jurassic, the tectonic background of the study area tended to be an oceanic island arc caused by compressive tectonic, which blocked the monsoon input and led to a hot and arid paleoclimate. The establishment of multiple geochemical profiles can provide a scientific basis for the climate changes in greenhouse–icehouses and source–sink systems of the Middle Jurassic in northwestern China.

The Río Grío–Pancrudo Fault Zone (central Iberian Chain, Spain): recent extensional activity revealed by drainage reversal

AbstractThe NNW–SSE-trending extensional Río Grío–Pancrudo Fault Zone is a large-scale structure that obliquely cuts the Neogene NW–SE Calatayud Basin. Its negative inversion during the Neogene–Quaternary extension gave rise to structural and geomorphological rearrangement of the basin margin. Geological mapping has allowed two right-relayed fault segments to be distinguished, whose recent extensional activity has been mainly characterized using a deformed planation surface (Fundamental Erosion Surface (FES) 3; 3.5 Ma) as a geomorphic marker. Normal slip along the Río Grío–Lanzuela Fault Segment has induced hanging-wall tilting, subsequent drainage reversal at the Güeimil valley after the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition, as well as morphological scarps and surficial ruptures in Pleistocene materials. In this sector, an offset of FES3 indicates a total throw ofc. 240 m, resulting in a slip rate of 0.07 mm a–1, while retrodeformation of hanging-wall tilting affecting a younger piedmont surface allows the calculation of a minimum throw in the range of 140–220 m after the Pliocene–Pleistocene transition, with a minimum slip rate of 0.07–0.11 mm a–1. For the late Pleistocene period, vertical displacement ofc. 20 m of a sedimentary level dated to 66.6 ± 6.5 ka yields a slip rate approaching 0.30–0.36 mm a–1. At the Cucalón–Pancrudo Fault Segment, the offset of FES3 allows the calculation of a maximum vertical slip of 300 m for the last 3.5 Ma, and hence a net slip rate close to 0.09 mm a–1. Totallingc. 88 km in length, the Río Grío–Pancrudo Fault Zone could be the largest recent macrostructure in the Iberian Chain, probably active, with the corresponding undeniable seismogenic potential.

Landscape response to tectonics in sonora river basin (NW Mexico) using topographic and stream profile analysis

Rivers are key elements of the landscape sensitive to changes in the rate of rock uplift. For the case where rock uplift is rapid, rivers experience a drop of their base-level leading to the formation of a knickpoint that propagates through the fluvial network. Such response is expected in extensional settings where rivers incise across the fault scarp direction. The NW portion of the state of Sonora (NW Mexico), belongs to the Basin and Range province where the extensional activity produced the arrangement of mountain ranges with NNW to SSE orientation. The extension started in the Late Oligocene and continued in the Miocene; however, when the landscape responded to the tectonic activity across the river basin remains unknown. The basin morphometry and knickpoint propagation ages are used to explore evidence of the first extensional activity traced back from the modern landscape of the Sonora river basin (SRB). The results of basins morphometric analysis indicate that the landscape steepness is high at the northeastern, central and southern portion of the SRB. Such trend is in agreement with the estimated ages of knickpoint retreat that range from ~19 to ~10 Ma. The results obtained in this study indicate that the landscape of the SRB has been affected by many phases of tectonic events, probably occurred in the Pliocene and Quaternary, and the landscape has not reached the equilibrium.

Post-orogenic topographic evolution of the Dabie orogen, Eastern China: Insights from apatite and zircon (U-Th)/He thermochronology

This paper presents an approach to improve the previously proposed 2-D topography modeling (Ding et al., 2019) that is primarily based on inversion of low-temperature thermochronological data. The new approach requires thermochronological data from both horizontal transect and vertical profiles to yield a more comprehensive modeling of topographic evolution. This modeling allows for (1) reconstruction of paleotopography evolution and (2) calculation of spatial distribution of paleo-geothermal gradients over time; therefore, it is possible to deduce more reliable exhumation histories even for non-steady state topographic evolution. The deduced exhumation histories are used to re-evaluate the topography modeling results. This approach when applied to the Dabie orogen in Eastern China suggests an uneven topographic evolution along the Xishui-Lu'an section and comparable exhumation histories for the Meichuan, the Tianzhushan, the Mingtangshan and the Tiantangzhai vertical profiles since the Late Cretaceous. The modeling results suggest that the location of the highest elevation in the NE-SW transect has been almost identical for the last 80 Ma although the elevation of the peak has reduced by ~3.3 km over the same period. The elevation reduction in the NE segment during 70–40 Ma is caused by extensional activity of the Xiaotian-Mozitan fault. The elevation reduction in the SW segment during 50–30 Ma is probably related to climate change, where the Paleogene topography change in the Dabie orogen played an important role introducing humid and warm air from the Pacific Ocean.

Shallow submarine mud volcano in the northern Tyrrhenian sea, Italy

Submarine methane emissions in the Tuscan Archipelago have been studied since the 1960s, both for economic and research purposes. Offshore gas seepage is mainly concentrated southward and westward of Elba island, along N–S faults related to recent extensional activity in the Tuscan shelf and N–S trending positive magnetic anomalies, which have been interpreted as serpentinites associated with ophiolitic rocks due to their very high magnetic susceptibility.This study focuses on the gas chemistry of a new emission site corresponding to a shallow water mud volcano in the Scoglio d’Affrica area. The Scoglio d’Affrica seep has a gas composition typical of mud volcanoes, with methane as the prevalent component (95 vol%) and minor gases which include carbon dioxide, nitrogen and trace amounts of helium. The combined stable C and H isotope composition of CH4 (δ13C and δ2H) and the enrichment in heavy carbon isotopes of CO2, highlight a prevalent secondary microbial origin for these fluids (δ13C~−35.8‰ vs VPDB; δ2H~−166‰ vs VSMOW; δ13CCO2 up to + 21.7‰ vs VPDB). Thus, in spite of the occurrence of positive magnetic anomalies, a possible abiotic origin of methane is excluded. Moreover, the gas from the mud volcano is extremely depleted in 3He and presents typical 3He/4He ratios of a geological setting in which radiogenic crustal helium is strongly predominant. A photo-mosaic of the mud volcano is also reported. A possible connection with other submarine methane emissions in the Tuscan Archipelago is limited to emissions located few kilometers from the Scoglio d’Affrica area. Recent emissions in the area suggest that gases similar in composition from distinct reservoirs, find their way to the surface from Eocene deposits in different time intervals and through different faults and fractures, placed along the Elba-Pianosa ridge.

Stress evolution during the megathrust earthquake cycle and its role in triggering extensional deformation in subduction zones

Great (moment magnitude Mw ∼8.0 and larger) subduction megathrust earthquakes are commonly followed by increased rates of normal faulting seismicity. Extensional activity within the subducting slab is amplified when megathrust slip propagates close to the trench, and forearc extension is triggered by the largest magnitude (Mw 8.5 and larger) events. To better understand these observations, we develop an earthquake cycle model with a realistic slab geometry and stresses that are in balance with plate interface slip and bulk viscous relaxation. The modeled stresses represent perturbations to the long-term background tectonic stress field. The steady-state inter-seismic earthquake cycle stresses are compressive and their magnitudes depend on the interface locking configuration, from 25 MPa for a fully locked seismogenic zone to 5 MPa for discrete asperities on an otherwise unlocked plate interface. The co-seismic slip and corresponding co-seismic stress changes are similar in these models, independent of the locking configuration. The co-seismic stress change magnitudes are up to 5 MPa. This implies that the earthquake cycle stresses after the mainshock would still be compressive in the case of a continuous seismogenic zone, but would be widely reset to zero in the case of discrete asperities. Models with co-seismic slip confined to shallow depths produce tensional stress changes in the slab and the forearc near the trench, whereas events rupturing the base of the seismogenic zone produce tensional stress changes limited to region immediately surrounding the rupture. The locations of normal faulting aftershocks generally correlate well with the tensional co-seismic stress changes greater than 1 MPa. Following the mainshock, rapid afterslip occurring down-dip of the megathrust rupture expands the region of relative extension, but reduces its magnitude and does not promote additional normal faulting events. Bulk viscous relaxation does little to the state of stress in the elastic parts of the model. Continued plate convergence across a re-locked interface returns the system to the pre-earthquake state of compression.

Extensional fault-related folding of the North West shelf, Western Australia

The occurrence of fault-related folds in extensional settings has been gaining increased recognition during the past 20 yr. Passive margins and rift basins often present intriguing structural complexities that are potential sites for the development of extensional fault–related folds. Fault-related folds are important anticlinal traps for hydrocarbon exploration, and understanding their evolution is critical for derisking the timing of trap formation and hydrocarbon generation. This study presents folds from three areas across the North West shelf (NWS) of Western Australia and aims to determine their relationship to associated extensional faults. A series of kinematic forward models are presented as well as detailed structural and stratigraphic interpretation of folding at the three locations. The models suggest each of the three examples have formed under extension that impacted the region during the Mesozoic. The modeling also highlights different characteristics of folding that are caused by fault geometry (ramp–flat) and a propagating fault tip (trishear) that can be used as diagnostic features to distinguish different fold mechanisms. Historical exploration across the NWS has targeted a relatively small number of these anticlinal traps, some of which have been successful (e.g., Marina-1 well, Petrel subbasin) and some have not (e.g., Candace-1, Sholl Island fault anticline). This paper suggests that the prospectivity of anticlinal structures should be more carefully assessed to determine whether or not they are related to extensional activity and hence likely to have formed prior to the bulk of the hydrocarbon charge. Similar structures undoubtedly exist in other basins that have experienced repeated extension.

Chapter 18 Tonian–Cryogenian rifting and Cambrian–Early Devonian platformal to foreland basin development outside the Caledonide orogen

Abstract Different parts of a Tonian–Early Devonian sedimentary succession, covering Proterozoic crystalline basement, occur along the erosional front to the Caledonide orogen, as outliers and coastal strips on land, and as more continuous strata in offshore areas. Rift-related Tonian–Cryogenian siliciclastic sedimentation preceded the break-up of the supercontinent Rodinia, the birth of Baltica and surrounding oceanic realms during the Ediacaran, and a marine transgression across Baltica during the Cambrian. An Ediacaran alkaline and carbonatite intrusive complex in central Sweden formed in connection with the extensional activity. Subsequently, during the Cambrian–Early Devonian, Baltica drifted northwards in the southern hemisphere to the equator, and six different lithofacies associations containing both siliciclastic and carbonate sedimentation were deposited in platformal shelf and Caledonian foreland basin settings. Bentonites in Ordovician and early Silurian successions were coupled to closure of the surrounding oceanic realms. Tectonic processes during the Caledonian orogeny around the margins to Baltica, the distance to different crustal components in this continent and climatic changes steered variations in lithofacies. Resultant fluctuations in sea-level gave rise to hiatuses and palaeo-karsts. Uranium and other metals in kerogen-rich black shales (Cambrian–Early Ordovician), hydrocarbons, stratabound Pb–Zn sulphide deposits in Cambrian (–Ediacaran?) sandstone, and limestone constitute the main resources.

3-D shear wave velocity structure in the shallow crust of the Tanlu fault zone in Lujiang, Anhui, and adjacent areas, and its tectonic implications

The Tan-Lu fault zone is a large NNE-trending fault zone in eastern China. Investigations of the structures of the fault zone and its surrounding areas have attracted much attention. In this study, we used dense-array ambient noise tomography to construct a three-dimensional shear wave velocity model of shallow crust in an area about 80km × 70km in Lujiang, Anhui Province, eastern China. For approximately one month we collected continuous ambient noise signals recorded by 90 short-period seismographs in the region, and obtained the short-period Rayleigh wave empirical Green's functions between stations by the cross-correlation method; we also extracted 0.5–8 s fundamental mode Rayleigh wave group velocity and phase velocity dispersion curves. Based on the direct surface wave tomography method, we jointly inverted the group velocity and phase velocity dispersion data of all paths and obtained the 3-D shear wave velocity structure in the depth range of 0–5 km. The results revealed important geological structural features of the study area. In the north region, the sedimentary center of the Hefei Basin — the southwestern part of the Chaohu Lake — shows a significant low-velocity anomaly to a depth of at least 5 km. The southwestern and southeastern regions of the array are the eastern margin of the Dabie orogenic belt and the intrusion area of Luzong volcanic rocks, respectively, and both show obvious high-speed anomalies; the sedimentary area within the Tan-Lu fault zone (about 10 km wide) shows low-velocity anomalies. However, the volcanic rock intrusion area in the fault zone is shown as high velocity. Our shallow crustal imaging results reflect the characteristics of different structures in the study area, especially the high-speed intrusive rocks in the Tan-Lu fault zone, which were probably partially derived from the magmatic activity of Luzong volcanic basin. From the Late Cretaceous to Early Tertiary, the Tan-Lu fault zone was in a period of extensional activity; the special stress environment and the fractured fault zone morphology provided conditions for magma in the Luzong volcanic basin to intrude into the Tan-Lu fault zone in the west. Our 3-D model can also provide important information for deep resource exploration and earthquake strong ground motion simulation.