Set Of Faults Research Articles

Seismogenic depth and seismic coupling estimation in the transition zone between Alps, Dinarides and Pannonian Basin for the new Slovenian seismic hazard model

Abstract. Seismogenic depth and seismic coupling are important inputs into seismic hazard estimates. Although the importance of seismic coupling is often overlooked, it significantly impacts seismic hazard results. We present an estimation of upper and lower seismogenic depth and expected hypocentral depth and seismic coupling in the transition zone between the Alps, Dinarides and Pannonian Basin, characterized by a complex deformation pattern, highly variable crustal thickness, and moderate seismic hazard, supporting the development of the 2021 seismic hazard model of Slovenia. The hazard model was based on three seismic source models: area source model, fault source model and smoothed seismicity (point) source model. We estimated the lower seismogenic depth using seismological and geological data and compared them. The seismological estimate was based on two regional earthquake catalogues prepared for this study. In the area source model, estimates of lower seismogenic depth from seismological data are deeper or equal to the ones derived from geological data, except in one case. In the fault source model, we analysed each fault individually and chose seismological lower depth estimates in 12 among 89 faults as more representative. The seismogenic thickness for each individual fault source was determined for seismic coupling determination. The seismic coupling was assessed by two approaches, i.e. we chose the most trusted value from the literature, and the value determined for each fault individually by using the approach based on the updated regional fault and earthquake data sets. The final estimate of seismic coupling ranges from 0.77 to 0.38. We compared the tectonic moment rate based on long-term slip rate using different values of seismic coupling with the seismic moment rate obtained from the earthquake catalogue. The analysis is done for the whole area, as well as for the individual area zones. The analysis of N–S components of estimated slip for the largest faults in the area of west Slovenia shows that the regional geological and geodetic shortening rates are comparable. The total activity rate of three global seismic source models is compared, which gives up to a 10 % difference. Our results contribute to a better understanding of the seismic activity in the region. The presented approach for seismic coupling estimation can be applied in cases where the total slip rate is given instead of its seismic part and can be used at regional or national level. The approach is also suitable for the cross-border harmonization of the European seismic hazard modelling data.

Improved Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients for Compressors and Pumps Fault Diagnosis with Deep Learning Models

Compressors and pumps are machines frequently used in petroleum and chemical industries for fluid transportation through flow systems to keep industrial processes running permanently. As their failure can produce costly disruption, developing fault detection and diagnosis tools is essential for accurately detecting and diagnosing faults. This research proposes a bi-dimensional representation of the vibration signal corresponding to the Mel Frequency Cepstral Coefficients (MFCC) and their first two derivatives as features. The pseudo-periodic nature of the fault signature in rotating machines is exploited to put forward an efficient and accurate patch-wise fault classification method. This approach enables the classification of 13 combined types of faults in a multi-stage centrifugal pump and 17 faults in a reciprocating compressor. Classification is performed using the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) network, the bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) neural network, and the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN). Accurate classification over 99% is attained, showing that the proposed feature extraction procedure correctly classifies a large set of faults simultaneously appearing in such rotating machines.

Structural architecture and maturity of Val d’Agri faults, Italy: Inferences from natural and induced seismicity

The Val d’Agri Basin is a Quaternary sedimentary basin topping multiple tectonic units of the southern Apennines fold-and-thrust belt and a giant oilfield within deeper Apulian Platform carbonates. This basin is bounded by the seismically active East Agri (EAFS) and Monti della Maddalena (MMFS) extensional fault systems. The reservoir rocks are sealed and separated from shallower thrust sheets by a clay-rich and overpressured mélange. The role of this mélange during fault evolution at shallow crustal levels is widely debated and perhaps underestimated. Here, through multi-scale structural analyses and U–Pb dating of syn-tectonic calcite mineralizations, we gain new insights into the Val d’Agri fault system architecture, their structural maturity, and their relations with both natural and induced seismicity. Consistent with present-day NE-SW crustal stretching, the macro-scale structural architecture of both EAFS and MMFS is controlled by NW-SE and NE-SW fault sets, which displaced and in part re-sheared inherited pre- and syn-orogenic structures. The lack of evident clustering of meso-scale faults and the radial pattern of related slickenlines suggest that polygonal-like faulting occurred, particularly along the EAFS, due to lateral spreading of the Irpinia mélange in the subsurface. Structural data show that the MMFS is characterized by a higher structural maturity (slip longevity), with calcite U–Pb ages indicating the onset of long-lasting extensional tectonics in Early-Middle Miocene time. The original results are discussed in terms of seismotectonic setting of the study area, emphasizing the role played by both the thickness and spatial distribution of plastic mélange in modulating fluid pressure and seismic faulting.

Architecture of interacting deformation band fault zones in siliciclastic rocks and its influence on geomechanical property distribution

Spatial organization of strain-hardening zones and the adjacent damage zones associated with faulting of porous siliciclastic rocks influence the across-strike variation of geomechanical properties. The across-fault geomechanical property distribution is expected to change when fault zones of distinct orientations interact. We performed outcrop-scale structural analysis along scanlines trending perpendicular to fault strike to constrain the extent of fault zones oriented dominantly along NE-SW and NW-SE. Young's Modulus (E) and P-wave velocity (Vp) measurements on deformation bands (DBs) and host rocks along such scanlines are further utilized to better characterize the fault zones. The selected outcrop exposes Cretaceous siliciclastic rocks in Rio do Peixe Basin, NE Brazil. In this study, Vp measurements coupled with detailed structural investigation have been integrated with grain size analysis for the first time. We observe that DBs oriented parallel to the major fault sets show grain size reduction along with higher E and Vp relative to the adjacent host rocks, indicating cataclasis and strain-hardening. The expected variation of geomechanical properties across the relatively late-stage NE-SW-trending fault zones gets obscured at sites of intense interaction with the early formed NW-SE-striking fault zones. In such areas, E of DBs consistently increases with proximity to the NW-SE-oriented fault zones revealing that the structural position of pre-existing fault zones mostly controls the geomechanical property distribution at sites of intense fault interaction. Similarly, we observe a direct relationship between Vp and grain size of the host rocks across the late-stage faults where there is relatively less fault interaction. However, this relationship does not exist within zones of intense fault interaction. As DBs are prevalent mostly in coarse-grained rocks, Vp in coarse-grained host rocks increases with proximity to the constrained fault zones. An integrated approach adopted in our study is crucial in delineating the effects of fault interaction on the distribution of geomechanical properties.

Crustal structure of the southern Lower Yangtze region and its geological implications: a deep reflection seismic profile

Abstract The southern part of the Lower Yangtze Region, located in the area bounded by the Jiangnan and Dabie orogenic belts, is characterized by a complex fault structure and unique magmatism, and is one of the key areas in regional tectonic evolution and magmatism. In this study the authors used a 45-km-long deep reflection seismic profile to study the crustal structure of the southern Lower Yangtze Region. The results show that the crust in the study area is ∼31.5–33.6 km thick, with the Huaining Basin as the thinnest part. A detachment surface at a depth of around 12 km divides the crust into the upper and lower crust, act as a key tectonic decoupling layer. Two sets of thrust nappe faults with opposite tendencies have horizontally developed above the detachment surface, with the Huaining Basin as the centre. A typical wedge-shaped structure has developed below the Qianshan Basin, suggesting that two sets of thrust nappe faults may have formed in the same dynamic system. The reflection patterns of the lower crust on both sides of the profile exhibit a monoclinic feature with opposite tendencies, while the lower part of the Huaining Basin exhibits an arcuate upward-arch feature. A prominent ductile shear zone in the lower crust has developed on the west side of the Huaining Basin, which can provide a favourable channel for magma migration. The results of this study deepen our understanding of the deep structure of the Lower Yangtze Region, and provide important constraint data for research on dynamic mechanisms.

Research on Demagnetization Fault Diagnosis Method of Mine Cutting Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor

To give timely and accurate diagnosis in the early stage of demagnetization failure for effective control and treatment, based on wavelet packet analysis, principal component analysis (PCA) dimensionality reduction, and least squares support vector machine(LSSVM), the extraction of features and the classification of demagnetization faults are completed. Since it is difficult to collect real data sets of demagnetization faults in practice, a two-dimensional finite element simulation model of permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) under uniform demagnetization and partial demagnetization faults is established based on the Maxwell simulation platform. The wavelet packet analysis is used to extract the demagnetization feature of the A-phase current of the PMSM. Based on PCA dimensionality reduction, the dimensionality reduction of fault features is realized. The LSSVM is used to identify the fault and complete the fault classification. The simulation results show that the method has a high classification accuracy rate for demagnetization faults.

Geometry and evolution of polygonal fault systems under a regionally anisotropic stress field: Insights from 3D seismic analysis of the Qiongdongnan Basin, NW South China Sea

AbstractPolygonal fault systems (PFS) are developed in many sedimentary basins, and their formation, growth, and ultimate geometry have been widely studied. The geometry and growth of PFS forming under the influence of regionally anisotropic stresses, however, are poorly understood, despite the fact these structures may serve as key paleo‐stress indicators that can help reconstruct the tectonic and stress history of their host basins. We here use high‐quality 3D seismic reflection data and quantitative fault analysis to determine the geometry and evolution of a PFS in the Qiongdongnan Basin (NW South China Sea), and its possible relationship with the geological and stress history of the basin. The PFS is dominated by two intersecting NNW‐to‐N‐ and E‐striking fault sets, which initiated in the Early Miocene. The dominant fault strike at the structural level at which the faults nucleated and where strain is greatest (i.e., Lower Miocene) is close to NW–SE. However, at the top and bottom of the PFS tier faults strike NNW–SSE, thereby defining a very slight vertical, clockwise rotation of strike. Based on the observation that the host rock is flat‐lying, it is unlikely that basin‐tilting perturbed (i.e., δ2 ≠ δ3) the otherwise radially isotropic stress field that typically characterize PFS. Likewise, diapirs that punctuate the host rock and that are spatially related to the PFS appear not to control fault geometry. We instead infer that the PFS geometry reflects a combination of local isotropic and regional, extension‐related tectonics stress affecting the Qiongdongnan Basin during the Early Oligocene to Middle Miocene. Regional studies suggest that during this time, extensional stresses in eastern Qiongdongnan Basin rotated clockwise from roughly NNW to N; we noticed the rotation of strike of the PFS, within which the vertical change in fault strike being relatively minor. Our study determines the timing of polygonal fault growth within the Qiongdongnan Basin and the associated geometry, highlighting the key role played by regional and local stresses.

Submarine fluid flow system feeding methane emission in the northern South China Sea

AbstractSubmarine fluid flow system can transport methane into ocean. However, its evolution is not fully understood, particularly methane migration through the gas hydrate stability zone (GHSZ) in deep‐water settings. Here, we used 3D seismic and well‐logging data to show the currently active fluid flow system in the northern South China Sea. It was interpreted to have two parts and they together feed intermittent methane emission. Three gas clouds have been seismically imaged beneath the base of gas hydrate stability zone (BGHSZ) and a set of new faults can be identified within them. Twenty‐eight seismic pipes were found to penetrate three vertically stacked mass transport deposits (MTDs) above the gas clouds. Log‐seismic correlation shows that the seismic reflections in the pipe represent MTD sediment, bulk carbonate and gas hydrate‐ or free gas‐bearing sediments. We interpreted faults and pipes as the main migration conduits below and above the BGHSZ respectively. The MTD within the GHSZ could seal the underlying free gas transported by faults and thus overpressure built up at the base prior to the occurrences of the pipes and the fracturing through the overlying sedimentary succession. Subsequently, focused fluid flow entered the GHSZ, with the methane probably bypassing the GHSZ before pore clogging of gas hydrates occurred. Additionally, mapping of high‐amplitude reflections surrounding the upper portion of gas clouds reveals the relict free gas associated with three paleo‐GHSZ bases. Episodic emplacements of new MTDs repeatedly caused the upward shifts of the BGHSZ and the resultant gas hydrate dissociation, contributing to methane emission. We proposed that the occurrences of MTDs may facilitate methane emission by intermittently trapping methane and inducing gas hydrate dissociation in deep‐water settings.

Fusing joint distribution and adversarial networks: A new transfer learning method for intelligent fault diagnosis

As integral components within rotating machinery, bearings and gears pose a critical challenge in fault diagnosis. Presently, data-driven fault diagnosis stands out as a viable approach. However, real-world operational variations readily induce domain shifts, complicating transfer learning and diminishing the diagnostic efficacy of models. The process of re-labeling the fault categories of model demands substantial time and financial resources. Consequently, to surmount these challenges, this study introduces a novel unsupervised transfer learning framework that leverages the amalgamation of joint distribution and adversarial networks for diagnosing faults in bearings and gears within rotating machinery.The joint adaptation network facilitates the learning of the transfer network by aligning the joint distribution across multiple specific domain layers. This alignment is achieved through the application of joint maximum mean discrepancy (JMMD) within the joint network. Simultaneously, the adversarial network employs a domain classifier to minimize the domain classification loss, treating it as the difference in domain distribution to mitigate domain shift effectively. The integration of these two methodologies accomplishes domain alignment, reduces model training time, and enhances the accuracy and stability of the diagnostic model.Validation of the proposed model framework is conducted using four sets of bearing faults and six sets of gear faults. The results confirm the superior accuracy and stability of the new model framework in addressing bearing and gear faults within the realm of rotating machinery.

3D Visualization of geological structures using Python: the case study of the Palomeque sheets (SE, Spain)

ABSTRACT The goal of this paper is the construction of computerized 3D visualization of geological structures. Several Python applications have been used to adapt the paper map-based geological classical information to numerical geological maps represented in HTML files. The models include a map with the stratigraphic and structural contacts and symbols, five serial vertical sections, and a geological block diagram, all with real topography. This block diagram made with 2D figures allows a 3D visualization. Palomeque area (Murcia region, southeastern Spain) has been used as a key-case. This area consists of a deformed Upper Cretaceous to Oligocene succession belonging to the Internal Zone Malaguide Complex. The main structure consists of two thrust-fold sheets forming an imbricate system, also affected by a set of strike-slip faults with a sinistral regime. The constructed maps show a good agreement with the published classical geological maps and cross-sections demonstrating the benefits of using these Python applications.

Late Quaternary deformation in the western extension of the North Anatolian Fault (North Evia, Greece): Insights from very high-resolution seismic data (WATER surveys)

Since the Pliocene, rift basins have developed in the North Evia region at the south-western extension of the North Anatolian Fault. North Evia, therefore, is a key area for investigating Plio-Quaternary deformation within the diffuse Anatolian-Aegean–Eurasian plate boundary. In this study, we present a detailed map of offshore faults in the North Evia region based on three seismic reflection surveys: an airgun (2004) and two very high-resolution Sparker (2017 and 2021) single-channel surveys. Careful and systematic interpretation of these datasets revealed i) the identification of a new basin (Skiathos Basin) located at the western extension of the North Anatolian Fault and ii) two main fault sets striking oblique to the active N–S-directed extension. The seismicity analysis of the study area reveals pure strike-slip displacements along faults previously identified as normal. The NW–SE-striking faults bordering the North Evia Gulf rift are characterised by left-lateral displacements, and the NE–SW faults present dextral focal mechanisms, following the kinematic character of the North Anatolian Fault. We show that dextral strike-slip deformation recently occurred (in the late Quaternary) in the south-western extension of the North Anatolian Fault, suggesting the significant role of this fault system in the complex structural development of the North Evia region.

The Earthquake of 13 April 1850 near Ston, Croatia: Macroseismic Analyses

Abstract The earthquake that occurred near the city of Ston, Croatia, on 13 April 1850 is, together with the one from 1996, the strongest known event in the northwest part of the Dubrovnik epicentral area. This is the region with the highest seismic hazard in Croatia with a rich history of damaging earthquakes. Although listed in the relevant catalogs, this earthquake has never been addressed by a dedicated study. Herewith, we present analyses of a wealth of newly found material related to the damage and postearthquake actions of the authorities of the Province of Dalmatia, then a part of the Austrian Empire. We were able to estimate intensity at five localities, with a further six where the data were sufficient only to constrain the minimum intensity value. By far, most of the data refer to Ston and Dubrovnik. Intensity data points were inverted for the source parameters by two different methods, each of which yielded similar results. The focus is macroseismically located about 7 km east-southeast from Ston, at a depth of 9 km. Estimated epicentral intensity of 8.2 on the European macroseismic scale is equivalent to macroseismic local magnitude MmL=6.0 or the moment magnitude Mmw=5.9. The location of focus and the epicentral intensity are practically identical to those of the Ston–Slano earthquake of 1996. This is why we propose that these two earthquakes share the same composite seismogenic source consisting of a set of imbricated mostly reverse faults related to the basal thrust of the Dalmatian tectonic unit. The reliable location and quantification of the 1850 earthquake should contribute to a better understanding of the active dynamics of the set of large seismogenic faults in the Dubrovnik epicentral area.

Exploring for structurally concealed Carlin-type mineralization: A case study from the northern Shoshone Range, Nevada, USA

This study integrates results from previous studies with new reconnaissance-scale mapping of rock types, structures, and hydrothermal alteration at Goat Ridge and Tenabo to provide a district-scale cross section and palinspastic restoration of an area in Nevada with high potential for Carlin-type mineralization in the footwall of a dismembered thrust fault. Reinterpretation of legacy drill data in light of recent advances in the understanding of Cenozoic normal faulting in the area with the expected stratigraphy of the Roberts Mountains autochthon allows for deciphering whether previous drill holes piercements of faults are the Roberts Mountains thrust or are tilted normal faults that down-dropped the deep-water siliciclastic rocks of Roberts Mountains allochthon onto the coeval carbonate rocks of the Roberts Mountains autochthon. A cross-sectional reconstruction shows that ∼11.1 km (120 %) of extension was accomplished along one set of faults that initiated at 60-70°and tilted 40°E. Previously underappreciated Mesozoic folds are present, which likely formed with horizontal fold hinges. Because of Cenozoic normal faulting and associated tilting, the hinge lines currently plunge at moderate angles and are offset as they step across each crosscutting fault. The anticlinal fold hinges produced the modern exposures of lower plate rocks in the range. The Eocene paleogeologic map that results from a plan-view structural restoration shows that the hinge lines of the original folds trended northwest-southeast in the southern half of the range but turned northward toward the northern end of the range.Mineralization in the range includes silver-dominated polymetallic veins/lodes, weak porphyry-type, Carlin-type, and siliciclastic-hosted gold deposits of uncertain origin. Porphyry-style and silver-dominated polymetallic vein mineralization is associated with ∼39–40 Ma granodiorites, with the silver-dominated polymetallic veins interpreted as the distal veins around weakly mineralized and/or deeply buried porphyry system(s), probably of the quartz monzonitic-granitic porphyry Mo-Cu subclass of porphyry molybdenum deposits. Crosscutting relationships demonstrate that at least one of “upper plate” gold deposits is Eocene, but a Miocene age cannot be ruled out for the other gold deposits.

Salt sheet extrusion and emplacement within the South-Central Pyrenean fold-and-thrust belt: the Les Avellanes Diapir case-of-study

ABSTRACT A detailed geological map of the Les Avellanes salt Diapir (South-Central Pyrenees, Spain) that includes both the diapir body and adjacent areas is presented to understand the diapir evolution and geometry. Structural, stratigraphical, and sedimentary data north and south of the diapir is used to infer the timing of its emplacement. The northern diapir boundary is characterized by a set of extensional faults oblique to the main Pyrenean trend, while the southern boundary is an extrusive salt sheet that overlays the late Eocene-early Oligocene sequence in three adjacent sub-basins. Salt extrusion occurred due to synorogenic folding. The topography created as salt extruded trapped the arrival of external sediments from the north, blocking the transport pathways southward. Low sedimentation rates southwards allowed for the lateral salt extrusion, advancing southwards from the feeder. The salt sheet emplacement was postdated by Oligocene conglomerates, indicating that the salt extrusion was a relatively quick event.

Reconstructing the stratigraphy and structure of the Alaşehir Graben (Western Anatolia): Evidence for a high-angle origin of the Alaşehir detachment fault and layer-parallel shortening during the Miocene time

Western Anatolia is a well-known continental extension province in the world. The most distinctive structural elements of the region are E-W trending grabens. The Alaşehir Graben forms the boundary between the northern and central parts of the Menderes Massif. It trends E-W from Ahmetli to Turgutlu and NW-SE from Salihli to Alaşehir. This paper documents the outcomes of fieldwork along the southern margin of the Alaşehir Graben between the Salihli and Alaşehir areas.
 
 The tectonostratigraphy of the southern margin of the Alaşehir Graben is divided into the footwall and hanging wall of the Alaşehir detachment fault. The footwall comprises the Bayındır and Bozdağ Nappes and the syn-extensional Salihli granitoid intruding the Bayındır Nappe. The hanging wall consists of the Çine Nappe and Neogene-Quaternary sedimentary rocks, and Miocene fills tectonically overlying the Çine Nappe, which is above the Alaşehir detachment fault in the Alaşehir area.
 
 Structural data show three types of master fault sets, including (i) the low-angle Alaşehir detachment fault, which is composed of cataclastic rocks; (ii) low-angle normal faults, which are devoid of any cataclastic rocks; and (iii) Plio-Quaternary high-angle normal faults cutting them. Two different low-angle normal faults were coeval and active during the Miocene, and low-angle normal faults were synthetic and antithetic faults of the Alaşehir detachment fault. Their initial position was high-angle and the original position had 55°-75° dip during the Miocene. In the Salihli and Alaşehir segments, several major fold geometries are defined in the footwall and hanging wall of the Alaşehir detachment fault. The fold axis is NE-trending and plunges mainly northeast in the Salihli segment in the footwall of the Alaşehir detachment fault. The other is ~ E–W-trending and plunges mainly west in the Alaşehir segment in the footwall and hanging wall of the Alaşehir detachment fault. They are associated with extensional structures formed by layer-parallel shortening during the Miocene. The Alaşehir detachment fault, as indicated by the difference in fold axes between the Salihli and Alaşehir segments, was cut and back-rotated by Plio-Quaternary high-angle normal faults and tilted to the south.

Exploring the Connection of XVI‐Century Major Historical Earthquakes in the Eastern Betic Cordillera, Spain: Insights From Viscoelastic Relaxation of the Lithosphere

AbstractUnderstanding the crustal fault interaction and connection between earthquakes in areas with slow tectonic deformation, such as Betic Cordillera (South Spain), is challenging. When seismic rates are low and large destructive earthquakes happen less frequently, it is necessary to resort to historical or paleoseismic records. This study investigates the postseismic viscoelastic relaxation mechanism as a potential explanation for the occurrence of three historical earthquakes (IEMSVIII‐IX) in the Eastern Betic Shear Zone during the XVI‐century, all of which occurred within a span of 13 years: 1518 Vera Mw6.2, 1522 Alhama de Almeria Mw6.5, and 1531 Baza Mw6.2 associated with the Palomares, Carboneras, and Baza faults, respectively. The results strongly suggest a sequential stress‐triggering connection between the three events. The northern NS‐oriented section of the Baza fault is found to have experienced a larger positive ΔCFS and, indeed, more prone to rupture in 1531. The study also examines whether the cumulative ΔCFS had influenced the occurrence of further significant earthquakes (≥Mw6.0) in the region. A triggering connection between the cascade and the 1658 Almeria Mw6.2 earthquake is suggested, whereas no indications of similar linkage to the 1674 Lorca Mw6.0 or the 1804 Dalias Mw6.4 events are found. The stress triggering impact of the cascade over nearby active faults is noteworthy. It is expected that this analysis could have future applications for studying other important historical events, and improving seismic hazard analysis in complex fault settings of the Betic Cordillera.

Continental subduction of Adria in the Apennines and relation with seismicity and hazard

The subduction of continental lithosphere is a complex process because the buoyancy of the crust is higher than the oceanic and should resist sinking into the mantle. Anyway, studies on the Alpine-Himalayan collision system indicate that a large portion of the continental crust is subducted, while some material is accreted in the orogens. The Apennine is a perfect case for studying how such processes evolve, thanks to high quality seismic images that illuminate a critical depth range not commonly resolved in many collisional settings. In this paper, we show the structure of the Apennines orogen, as jointly revealed by seismicity and deep structure from regional and teleseismic tomography and receiver function profiles. The westward subducting Adria lithosphere is well defined along the orogen showing a mid-crustal delamination. Seismicity within the underthrusting lower crust and velocity anomalies in the mantle wedge highlight how the subduction evolution is entangled with the liberation of fluids. The eclogitization of subducted material enhances the fluid release into the wedge, the delamination and retreat of the Adria plate. This delamination/subduction generates a coupled compression and extension system that migrates eastward following the retreat of the lithosphere, with broad sets of normal faults that invert or interfere with pre-existing compressional structures all over the roof plate. The sparseness and non-ubiquity of intermediate depth earthquakes along the subduction panel suggest that the brittle response of the subducting crust is governed by its different composition and fluid content. Therefore, the lower crust composition appears essential in conditioning the evolution of continental subduction.

Multiscale structural analyses of Mesozoic shallow-water carbonates, Viggiano Mt., southern Italy

The high-angle faults bounding the High Agri Valley Basin eastwards are well-exposed at the Viggiano Mt., southern Italy. There, these faults crosscut Mesozoic shallow-water carbonates and permit the multiscale analyses of fault and fracture geometry and distribution. Aiming at assessing the control exerted by carbonate lithofacies and scales of observation, we combine field and digital structural analyses to compute the values of 1D and 2D fracture density and intensity, and the dimensional properties of single fault and fracture sets. As a result, from outcrop to reservoir scales we document a scale-variant geometry of faults and fractures, and the great variation of both fracture density and intensity among the studied carbonate lithofacies. Furthermore, we compute a P21 dimensional scaling factor of ca. 20 for over 3 order magnitude, whereas inconsistent results are achieved for the P20 values. Not considering the control exerted by the single carbonate lithofacies, at a reservoir scale we document that the small-scale faults greatly impact the computed P21 values.

Active subduction and strain partitioning in western Myanmar revealed by a dense survey GNSS network

The active tectonics of the Myanmar (formerly Burma) microplate in central Myanmar are caused by the oblique collision between the Sunda and Eurasia plates to the east and the Indian plate to the west. The kinematics of this plate boundary zone remain a subject of controversy, due in part to limited geodetic and seismic observations in the region. Here, we report 41 new and 67 updated survey-mode and continuous Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) velocities spanning central and western Myanmar, between 15 – 23°N and 93 – 98°E. For the first time, our network allows us to directly observe the occurrence of active convergence along the central Rakhine coast in a manner consistent with active subduction and kinematic coupling of the megathrust, at a rate of 15 – 20 mm/yr. The data also establish a nearly constant strike-slip rate of 20 – 23 mm/yr along the entire length of the Sagaing fault. Using an elastic block-modeling approach, we examine several proposed models for the partitioning of oblique convergence into strike-slip and thrust motion across the Indo-Myanmar Ranges and the Myanmar Central Basin. We find evidence for shortening perpendicular to local topography throughout the Indo-Myanmar Ranges, indicating active convergence and nearly complete strain partitioning between thrust and transform faults north of 19°N, and estimate a rate of moment-deficit accumulation along the megathrust of 0.8−1.5×1019 N m/yr, equivalent to one MW 9.0 earthquake every 250 to 450 years, assuming all elastic strain is released seismically. We also find that a relatively small set of major active crustal faults can explain much of the data, though the data cannot resolve smaller faults that may be active at rates lower than a few mm/yr. Our results have important implications for earthquake and tsunami preparedness across the region, and indicate areas for future study where the geodetic observations remain ambiguous about ongoing fault activity and seismic hazard, particularly within the densely populated Ayeyarwady Delta region and along the southern Rakhine coast.

Deformation Sequence and Paleofluids in Carbonate Buckle Folds Under Transpression (Pag Anticline, External Dinarides, Croatia)

AbstractContractional deformation structures at the front of transpressional orogens display complex three‐dimensional geometries deviating from the interpretative templates commonly applied in thrust belts. Accordingly, detailed constraints on deformation patterns and associated paleofluid circulation are desirable, especially for fracture geometry and permeability predictive purposes. The Pag anticline, which is located in the Dinaric fold and thrust belt, provides an appropriate field site for studying fold‐ and fault‐related deformation structures in a transpressive setting. We performed a multiscale structural analysis together with petrographic and stable isotope characterization of the deformation‐related calcite cements. Structural mapping suggests that the Pag anticline is a detachment fold developed mainly by buckling, since large‐scale thrust faults are absent. Fold tightening in a transpressive setting produced a complex deformational structure including two sets of N‐S right‐lateral and E‐W left‐lateral late‐stage strike‐slip fault sets trending oblique to the NW‐SE fold axis. The pre‐folding deformation pattern includes incipient normal faults likely related to the forebulge stage, veins and stylolites coherent with NE‐SW layer parallel shortening contraction in a strike‐slip regime, and metric to decametric scale conjugate thrusts coherent with layer parallel shortening in a compressive regime. Buckle folding preceded propagation of a series of accommodation structures during fold tightening. Petrographic and isotopic data indicate meteoric alteration of the Cretaceous platform carbonates in the prefolding stage, likely due to forebulge subaerial exposure. Layer parallel shortening and early syn‐folding veins involved formational fluids resulting from mixed marine and meteoric fluids during folding at shallow burial conditions. Eventually, meteoric fluid infiltrated again along strike‐slip faults, acting as cross‐formational conduits in the postfolding stage.