Striking Faults Research Articles

Coseismic displacement fields and the slip mechanism of the 2021 Mw 6.7 Hovsgol earthquake in Mongolia constrained by Sentinel-1 and ALOS-2 InSAR

ABSTRACT On 11 January 2021, an Mw 6.7 earthquake, which involved a complex rupture mechanism, occurred in Lake Hovsgol, Mongolia. This study measured the earthquake’s 3-D coseismic surface displacement fields using interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) pairs of three radar look directions: Sentinel-1B from the descending path and Advanced Land Observing Satellite-2 from the ascending and descending paths. The three DInSARs showed that the maximum coseismic surface displacement appeared east of the Northern Hovsgol Fault (NHF), where the displacement components were 18 cm, 5 cm, and 33 cm in the east–west, north–south, and up–down directions, respectively (precision: 1.7 cm, 20.4 cm, and 5.2 cm). However, the 3-D displacements indicated that although the earthquake induced a combination of normal faulting with strike slip motions, the displacements in the north–south direction had very large uncertainty owing to the similar geometry of the InSARs in the descending path. Later, we performed inversions of the DInSAR-measured coseismic surface displacement fields in the line-of-sight direction, which assumes a fault plane’s uniform and distributed slips in analyzing the slip mechanism. We conducted slip distribution estimations on the ruptured fault plane in accordance with the optimal fault geometry and source parameters determined by the uniform slip model. Investigations revealed that, with a correlation of 95.3%, the simulated displacements from the best-fitted distributed slip model were consistent with the observed displacements from DInSARs. Besides, our slip distribution model showed two distinctive slip patches, which include differences in their magnitudes and directions on the fault plane. We also observed ruptured faults experiencing a predominant right-lateral strike slip with a significant dip slip, according to the slip distribution, which caused two distinct slips due to the dramatic bending of the fault strike. Then, by analyzing the Coulomb stress change, our findings proposed that the seismic risk potential of active faults in the Hovsgol Basin increased after the earthquake. Overall, the great potential of multi-track DInSAR observations in the identification of complex slip mechanisms was demonstrated.

Characteristics of azimuthal anisotropy in SE Tibetan plateau and its relationship with the background of block structure

The southeastern Tibetan Plateau, which includes the Tibetan Plateau, Yangtze Block, and Cathaysia Block, is geotectonically situated in the compound part of the Tethys-Himalayan tectonic domain and the Peninsular Pacific tectonic domain. It is one of the critical regions for studying the scientific problems of plateau material lateral escape, lithosphere deformation, geotectonic properties of blocks, and deep dynamics. In this study, we use ambient noise data recorded by 401 broadband stations to obtain high-resolution short-period (T = 4–32 s) Rayleigh wave azimuthally anisotropic phase velocity maps. These could provide fresh clues for an in-depth understanding of the crust-mantle velocity structure, deformation mechanism, and geotectonic evolution in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. Within the Simao block, the strikes of the faults and the orientations of the principal compressive stress of the stress field both generally coincide with the fast-wave polarization direction (FPD). The FPD near the Lancangjiang fault zone in the west is in the NE-SW direction, near the Wuliangshan fault zone in the center is near the NS direction, and near the Red River fault zone in the east is the NW-SE direction. We estimate that the compressive stress in the southwest direction of the Tibetan Plateau material has a controlling effect on the crustal deformation of the Simao block, which is likewise blocked by the Lincang granite belt, resulting in strong tectonic deformation. The FPD of the crust in the middle Red River fault zone is NS direction, significantly different from the fault strike. Combining with the seismic activity and GPS results, the depth of 8 km below the surface of the middle Red River fault is completely locked, and we conclude that the anisotropy of the upper crust of the middle part of the Red River fault zone is related to the action of the regional tectonic stress field. Taking into account geochemical and thermochemical results, we speculate that the complex tectonic stress at the junction of the blocks leads to prominent regional characteristics of the FPDs of azimuthal anisotropy in the crust, suggesting that the Shizong-Mile fault zone may be the western boundary between the Yangtze block and the Cathaysia block.

A fault location method based on polarization analysis for coal mine

A fault is a main cause for water inrush in coal mines. The detection of faults plays an important role in the prevention and governance of water inrush in coal mines. It is hard to determine the direction of seismic wave propagation under the condition of full space of mines, leading to difficulty in accurate fault detection. This paper compares and analyzes the polarization information extraction capability of time-domain polarization analysis, frequency-domain polarization analysis, and time-frequency (TF)-domain polarization analysis, and proposes a TF-domain polarization analysis-based method for locating faults in coal mines. Firstly, the polarization analysis of signals mixed in the time domain was carried out. The results of three kinds of polarization analysis show that the TF-domain polarization analysis can accurately determine the polarization direction of multi-type signals in the case of aliasing. Secondly, a time-space-domain high-order three-dimensional three-component numerical simulation experiment was conducted. The TF-domain polarization analysis was adopted to extract the polarization information of each geophone and locate the fault. The error of the predicted fault strike was 0.16°, and the distance deviation was about 2.03%. Finally, in-situ three-component seismic signals of coal mine were used to predict the location and strike of fault. The data from on-site actual drilling verified the effectiveness of the mine fault location method based on the TF-domain polarization analysis. The predicted fault strike is consistent with the drilling data, and the distance deviation is about 5.5%.

3-D azimuthal anisotropy structure reveals different deformation modes of the crust and upper mantle in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau

The tectonic evolution and deformation process of the southeastern Tibetan Plateau has been one of the focuses of the geoscience community in recent decades. However, the crustal and mantle deformation mechanism in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau is still under debate. Seismic anisotropy inferred from surface wave tomography could provide critical insights into the deformation mechanism of the Earth’s tectonosphere. Here, we constructed a 3-D azimuthal anisotropy velocity model with Rayleigh wave phase velocity dispersion data from 132 permanent stations to analyze the deformation modes in the southeastern Tibetan Plateau. In the upper crust, the azimuthal anisotropy near the main strike-slip faults exhibits strong magnitude with fast axis subparallel to the fault strike, which is consistent with the rigid block extrusion pattern. In the mid-lower crust, two low-velocity anomalies appeared beneath the Sonpan-Ganzi Terrane and Xiaojiang Fault zone with strong azimuthal anisotropy, which may indicate ductile deformation of the weak mid-lower crust. However, the two low-velocity anomalies are separated by a high-velocity barrier with weak azimuthal anisotropy in the inner zone of the Emeishan large igneous province. In the upper mantle, the anisotropy pattern is relatively simple in the rigid Yangtze Craton and mainly represents fossil anisotropy. In the southern part, the lithosphere thinned beneath the Indochina and Cathaysia Blocks, and the anisotropy is plausibly caused by the upwelling and lateral flows of upwelling hot asthenospheric materials.

Unravelling the impact of geological heterogeneities in the reservoir management. An integrated study of the deep-water Akpo field (Niger delta)

Geological and seismic data have been integrated to describe the impact of structural and sedimentological heterogeneities on fluid dynamics for one of the reservoirs (Reservoir X) of the Akpo field (deep offshore of Niger Delta). Akpo is a sinuous 4-way anticline formed because of strong deformation occurring within the over pressurized shales of the Akata Formation. Weak deformation may have started since 9 Ma; however, most of the strain associated with shortening was accumulated between ca 7 Ma and ca 3 Ma. The cumulative shortening has been estimated in the order of 4% (ca 400 m). From 3 Ma (during the latest stages of growth of the Akpo anticline) up to Present-day, the residual strain was taken up by oblique (right lateral strike-slip component) extensional faults, between 2 km and ca 15 km in length, organized into two main trends: N-dipping, ENE-WSW to NE-SW striking faults, and NNW-SSE striking faults mainly dipping to the east. These faults are segmented and have a maximum throw in the order of 70 m. Based on the architectural elements identified in this work, the Reservoir X of the Akpo field has been subdivided into three main intervals: a basal lobe (Interval 1a) and a related channel (Interval 1 b); two intermediate generations of meandering channels (Interval 2a and 2 b); and an upper and strongly erosional constructive channel (Interval 3). The 4D signal has been integrated to better understand the complex fluid flow within Reservoir X in time and space. The extensional faults play a role in baffling mainly in the central part of the field, where across-fault flow is likely to occur in correspondence with the spill points. Facies distribution and the nature of the contact between various reservoir intervals are also important because vertical and lateral communication between sand bodies can be complex. Levees or mud barriers can inhibit flow, impacting both efficiency of support between injectors and producers. On the other hand, sand-to-sand communication due to the strong erosional character of the contacts enhances dynamic connectivity between sands belonging to different reservoir intervals. As an example, even if sands belonging to Interval 3 totally erode (i.e. dynamically isolate) those of Interval 2 in the southern part of the field, in the northern sector the two reservoir intervals are in (vertical) communication as suggested by the 4D signal. A key result of this integrated work is that of documenting in detail the modes in which faults and sedimentary features impact fluid flow within and across reservoir intervals in a deep-water environment.

Structures, deformation history and dynamic background of the Qianyingzi Coal Mine in the Huaibei Coalfield, eastern China

The Qianyingzi Coal Mine is located in the west of the Suxian Mining District of the Huaibei Coalfield, eastern China. The study on structural development patterns and genetic mechanisms in this mine lays an important foundation for safe and efficiently underground mining, and is also the key to understanding the regional tectonic evolution. In this study, based on the analysis of three-dimensional seismic, drilling and underground measured data and regional tectonic correlation, the structures, evolution history and dynamic background of the Qianyingzi Coal Mine are discussed. The Carboniferous-Permian coal measure strata in the mine are generally a gentle syncline with a NNE-trending axis, and cut by a series of faults. The faults developed in this mine are mainly medium- and small-sized with a throw of less than 20 m, and the number of reverse faults is significantly greater than that of normal faults. The strikes of reverse and normal faults are both mainly NE, followed by NNE and nearly N‒S. According to the characteristics of structural geometry, tectonic association, fault property and cross-cutting relation, the structural deformation of coal measure strata in the Qianyingzi Coal Mine can be divided into five stages, and the corresponding tectonic stress fields are NWW‒SEE compressive stress, nearly E‒W compressive stress, NW‒SE compressive stress, nearly E‒W and NW‒SE extensional stresses, respectively. It developed the Fengjia Syncline with a NNE-trending axis in the first stage and nearly N‒S-striking reverse faults in the second stage, which were the results of foreland deformation and subsequent continent-continent collision during the convergence of the North China Craton and South China Plate in the Indosinian period. The NNE-striking reverse sinistral faults and NE-striking reverse faults developed in the third stage is related to the rapid oblique subduction of the Izanagi Plate toward the East Asian continental margin at the beginning of the Early Cretaceous in the western Pacific region. Later, the fourth and fifth stages of the nearly N‒S- and NE-SW-striking normal faults were developed under the backarc extensional background in eastern China during the Early Cretaceous. These new results can be used to guide the rational arrangement for underground mining and also provide a new understanding for regional tectonic evolution of the Huaibei Coalfield.

In-situ physical and elastic properties of Archaean basement granitoids in the Koyna seismogenic zone, western India from 3 km downhole geophysical well logs: Implications for water percolation at depth

The Koyna region in western India is characterized by recurrent artificial water reservoir triggered seismicity since the impoundment of the Shivaji Sagar lake in 1962. Physical and mechanical properties of the crystalline basement rock beneath the Koyna seismogenic zone are determined from the downhole geophysical logs in a 3 km research borehole. The borehole, KFD1, is located in the proximity of the Donichawadi fissure zone (DFZ), the surface manifestation of the fault associated with the 1967 M 6.3 Koyna earthquake. KFD1 penetrated 1247 m thick Deccan traps and continued 1767 m into the underlying granite-gneiss basement. Geophysical logs provide a rare opportunity to characterize the basement granitoids, which host the recurrent seismicity. Several major zones of anomalous physical and mechanical properties were delineated below a depth of 2 km from the analysis of downhole geophysical logs. High Poisson's ratio and high neutron porosity across anomalous zones imply the presence of water saturated rock. The analyses of Nuclear Magnetic Resonance log reveals the presences of clay bound and free fluid across these zones. Sharp decrease in dynamic Young's modulus with increasing Poisson's ratio imply the presence of fractures saturated with water. These hydraulically conductive fractures are potential locations for fault reactivation. Additionally, strike of major and minor fractures associated with the anomalous zones are compared with the strike of Donichawadi fault. High angle between strike of the major shear fractures in the anomalous zone and strike of the Donichawadi fault imply that borehole KFD1 may have either intersected subsidiaries of the main fault at multiple depths or a new hidden fault system.

Transient Fault Signal Identification of AT Traction Network Based on Improved HHT and LSTM Neural Network Algorithm

This paper aims to address the difficult to pinpoint fault cause of the full parallel AT traction power supply system with special structure. The fault characteristics are easily covered up, and high transition impedance only affects the singularity of the wavehead, making the traveling waves hard to identify. Moreover, the classification accuracy of the traditional time-frequency analysis method is not sufficiently high to distinguish precisely. In this paper, a fault classification method of traction network based on single-channel improved Hilbert–Huang transform and deep learning is proposed. This method extracts effective fault features directly from the original fault signals and classifies the fault types at the same time. The accuracy of data categorization is increased by directly applying the Hilbert–Huang transform to fault signals to extract transient fault features and produce one-dimensional feature data, which are analyzed by the time-frequency energy spectrum. Using the similarity recognition method of long-short-term memory neural network, the extracted high-frequency one-dimensional feature data are trained and tested to classify fault signals more accurately. In order to verify the effectiveness of this method, several kinds of short-circuit and lightning strike faults are continuously simulated and verified in this paper. Considering various fault conditions and factors, the proposed improved HHT+LSTM method is compared with the LSTM method for direct processing of the original signals. The improved HHT + LSTM classification algorithm achieves an accuracy of 99.99%.

3D Paleoseismology from iOS Lidar and Structure from Motion Photogrammetry: a case study on the Dog Valley fault, California

Measuring displacements of strike-slip paleoearthquakes from trenching excavations requires detailed 3D trenching excavations. Here a new methodology utilizing an iOS based laser scanner and structure-from-motion is used to reconstruct stratigraphy and trace a displaced fluvial channel sequence across the Dog Valley fault in Northeastern California. The Dog Valley fault is a left-lateral strike slip fault in the northern Walker Lane. The northern Walker Lane accommodates ~5-7 mm/yr of dextral shear; however, the relative rates of deformation and earthquake history of the fault have not been previously assessed. Here, we present geomorphic mapping observations and preliminary paleoseismic trenching results from the Dog Valley fault. Lidar data reveal a clear east-northeast striking fault trace that extends about ~25 km from the Prosser Creek drainage west of the Polaris Fault near Highway 89 to the northwest flank of Peavine Mountain. The main trace of the fault appears to project through Stampede dam. Youthful fault scarps are visible along much of the fault, with alternating northwest- and southeast-facing scarps. Clear lateral displacements are largely absent along the fault, however right-stepping fault strands, sidehill benches, linear valleys and ridges, and alternating scarp facing directions are all consistent with left-lateral strike slip displacement. Stratigraphic and structural relations exposed in the Dog Valley fault trench show clear truncations and tilting of bedded fluvial and peat deposits and provide evidence for the occurrence of two Holocene earthquakes: the most recent earthquake postdates ~8 ka, and an earlier earthquake is inferred to have occurred between 8491-8345 cal. ybp. Based on 3D excavations of a prominent channel margin, the most recent earthquake was associated with ~ 115 cm of left-lateral displacement, corresponding to an M6.7 earthquake.

Analysis of fault characteristics and oil and gas enrichment differences in the No. 2 structural belt, Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, East China

There are great differences in oil and gas enrichment at different locations in petroliferous basins, and faults are an important factor affecting the differential enrichment of oil and gas. In this paper, taking the No. 2 structure in the Nanpu Sag, Bohai Bay Basin, East China, as an example, based on the analysis of fault geometry and kinematics characteristics, the determination of oil source faults, the analysis of fault trap origin and effectiveness, and the analysis of fault caprock combinations are carried out to study the differences and mechanisms of oil and gas enrichment east and west of the Nanpu No. 2 structure. The results show that the fault-source contact relationship affects the direction of oil and gas migration. The No. 2 structure in the Nanpu Sag has a dual-source hydrocarbon supply. The western structure supplies hydrocarbons from the north and east, with oil and gas migrating along the direction parallel and perpendicular to the fault strike. The east structure supplies hydrocarbons from the south and north, with oil and gas migrating along the direction perpendicular to the fault strike. The effectiveness of fault traps affects the scale of oil and gas accumulation. Most of the traps of the Nanpu No. 2 structure formed before hydrocarbon expulsion, which are all effective traps and are conducive to oil and gas accumulation. The relationship between fault and caprock determines the vertical accumulation layers of oil and gas: The faulted thickness of the east structure is large, the fault is vertically closed, and oil and gas are enriched mainly in the deep layer. The faulted thickness of the west structure is small, and oil and gas are enriched in both deep and shallow layers.

Induced seismicity in the Groningen gas field – arrest of ruptures by fault plane irregularities

AbstractFrom dynamic rupture simulations, we reveal under which conditions a rupture in the Groningen gas field stops along fault dip or along fault strike after it starts on a fault in the reservoir. The simulations focus on the capabilities of fault plane irregularities to arrest ruptures. Such irregularities can be recognised in sandstone outcrops. Fault planes in the Groningen field, extracted from the 3D seismic data by seismic attribute extraction methods, show similar irregularities. A detailed surface of a major fault plane in the field indicates that steps and jogs of tenths of metres are possible. Although these irregularities are close to seismic resolution and could be partially artificial, we investigated their effect on rupture arrest.For typical current stresses in the Groningen field, jogs and steps of this length scale are found to be remarkably effective to stop ruptures in the reservoir. Also, a significant increase in the fault dip along fault strike can stop these ruptures but a kink in the fault under a constant fault dip not.Including non-planar fault features and pressure diffusion in the Carboniferous, the simulations in this paper follow trends of previous simulations in the literature using 2D planar faults. In particular, the horizontal stress in this formation and the strength of the Carboniferous fault zone are important for rupture propagation. If the fault would have been reactivated in the Neogene or Quaternary and poorly healed in clay-rich parts, rupture propagation into the Carboniferous can only be prevented by jogs of sufficient size and lateral continuity under the present estimate of the horizontal field stress.

Автоматизированное картографирование разрывных нарушений в районе перешейка Поясок (Сахалин) по данным дистанционного зондирования

Automated mapping of disturbances in the earth’s crust allows you to quickly identify areas of development of dangerous geological processes, and to determine the measures that should be taken to organize the safe operation of extended linear structures (roads and railways, pipelines, power lines) that run through areas with difficult natural conditions. The main trigger mechanism causing the activation of dangerous geological processes is displacements in zones of active faults in the earth’s crust. Monitoring the state of fault zones and timely detection of manifestations of hazardous processes are urgent tasks for ensuring the sustainable development of regional infrastructure. The area of the Poyasok isthmus (Sakhalin Island) was chosen as the object of research, along the territory of which there are automobile and railway roads, power lines, and the main pipeline of the Sakhalin-2 project was laid along the isthmus coast. Lineament analysis of space images and SRTM data using the LEFA software package by binary morphological erosion method to highlight boundaries, as well as made selection long lines by performing mathematical operations using Canny algorithms, with subsequent Hough transformations, were carried out to identify faults of research territory. The obtained intermediate data were processed using the tools of the QGIS software package and made it possible to compile a map of disjunctive disturbances for the area under study. Lineament analysis made it possible to identify faults that bound the block megastructure of the Poyasok isthmus from the north and south. The saddle of Poyasok isthmus separates the large Central Sakhalin and South Sakhalin segments of the Hokkaido-Sakhalin system of island uplifts. Structures of the Central-Kamyshovy and South-Kamyshovy lifted megablocks (3 orders) in the West-Sakhalin Mountains adjoin directly to the saddle. The southern part of the Central-Kamyshovy mega-uplift is represented by a series of uplifts separated by narrow depressions bounded by faults. The number of uplifts increases with the distance to the north from the Poyasok isthmus. The northern part of the South-Kamyshovy mega-uplift is divided by faults of the northern-east strike into block structures. The obtained data are suitable for performing detailed seismic zoning.

New 3D fault model for eastern Flanders (Belgium) providing insights on the major deformation phases in the region since the late Paleozoic

A new 3D fault model was created for the Upper Paleozoic to Cenozoic subsurface in eastern Flanders (Belgium). The model was based on the integration of 2D seismic interpretations, borehole and gravimetric data, as well as coal mining and topographic maps. Four major tectonic phases, taking place during the latest Paleozoic, Jurassic, Late Cretaceous and Cenozoic, shaped the fault network. The latest Paleozoic phase was transpressional and expressed by local folding of the Carboniferous strata underneath the base Permian unconformity. The largest anticlines were asymmetric, with amplitudes of up to 500 m and SSW-NNE oriented axal planes. The subsequent Jurassic phase caused normal faulting across the area, resulting in the development of the northeast-dipping, western border fault systems of the Campine Basin and Roer Valley Graben. Fault strikes were predominantly WNW-ESE to NNW-SSE. Both fault directions were most likely inherited from early Carboniferous and older tectonic phases. Jurassic fault reactivation explains the activity along fault populations with different orientations as well as the linkage of these faults into long (>10 km) systems, despite displaying generally relatively small vertical throws (<500 m). Soft-linked boundaries (accommodation zones) between Jurassic fault domains are located on top of the largest latest Paleozoic transpressional anticlines.The Late Cretaceous major tectonic phase was compressional and involved inversion of the Roer Valley Graben with subsequent subsidence and carbonate deposition in the flanking Campine Block.During the Cenozoic extensional phase, most normal faults that developed were rooted in Jurassic faults and therefore displayed similar WNW-ESE to NNW-SSE strikes. Cenozoic extension was, however, weaker than Jurassic extension; Cenozoic fault numbers, lengths and vertical throws were smaller than during the Jurassic phase. Also during the Cenozoic phase, faulting was more localized onto the pre-existing Roer Valley Graben border fault system compared to the more diffuse Jurassic faulting. The Cenozoic faults were generally planar, whereas some of its Jurassic roots near and in the border fault system of the Roer Valley Graben were listric.

Source rupture characteristics of the September 5, 2022 Luding MS 6.8 earthquake at the Xianshuihe fault zone in southwest China

On September 5, 2022, at Beijing time 12:52 p.m., an MS 6.8 earthquake struck Luding County, Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province. The epicenter of the earthquake was at the intersection of the Sichuan-Yunnan, Bayankala, and South China blocks. The tectonic background is extremely complex, and strong earthquakes occur frequently. Based on a predetermined focal location and focal mechanism solution for the earthquake, we reversed the focal depth and rupture process of the earthquake by fitting the teleseismic P and SH waves recorded by the global seismic network. The results show that the focal depth is 16 ​km, with the main rupture having a length of about 45 ​km near the epicenter, with a maximum displacement of 1.02 ​m. Although the rupture mainly propagates from the north–northwest (NNW) to the south–southeast (SSE) along the fault strike, there is a small-scale rupture slip zone at shallow depths in the north–northeast (NNE) direction along the epicenter of the seismogenic fault. This rupture image corresponds to the cluster distribution of aftershocks in the NNW and SSE directions starting from the epicenter, corresponding to the distribution of recorded landslides. The earthquake occurred on the Moxi fault, located in the southeastern section of the Xianshuihe fault. The major tectonic feature in this area is the southeastward movement of the Chuandian block relative to the Bayanhar block.

SEISMICITY of the CRIMEAN-BLACK SEA REGION in 2016–2017

A review of the seismicity of the Crimean-Black Sea region was carried out according to seismic monitoring data by a regional network of digital stations. In total, in 2016–2017, the network of Crimean stations registered 148 earthquakes in the range of energy classes Kп=3.5–13.1, most of which are representative only in a small area near the coast of Crimea. 2016 was characterized by increased seismic activity in the region compared to previous years. The total released seismic energy is ~ 16 times the average annual value over the past 10 years. The greatest activation of seismic processes was observed in the area of the Black Sea depression. There were three earthquakes here: June 28, July 22, and October 15 with the maximum energy class, respectively, with Kп=10.9, 11.6, and 13.1 (Mw=4.1, 4.3, and 5.1) with uplift movement in the sources. In the central part of the region near the Southern coast of Crimea on May 13, there was a tangible earthquake with Mw=3.6 and an observed intensity of I=4–5 points in the city of Alushta. Focal mechanism – strike-slip. In 2017, the seismicity of the region was at the background level with local activation of seismotectonic structures in the form of a series of weak shocks with Kп=5.6–7.1 in the center of the Kerch Peninsula. The foci of the Kerch earthquakes are confined to the upper part of the earth's crust of the intersection zone of the N–W and N–E striking faults that are active at the present stage. The development of the seismic process in the region is considered according to the temporary change in the total released energy and the Benioff schedule.

STRONG and FELT EARTHQUAKES of the TURKMEN-KHORASAN MOUNTAINS in 2017

In 2017, the strongest earthquakes over the past two decades occurred in the central and southeastern Kopetdag – on April 5 with KR=14.3, MwGCMT=6.0 and on May 13 with KR=13.4, MwGCMT=5.7. The April 5 earthquake was also the strongest during the entire seismic history of a zone with a radius of 45 km from the epicenter. Both events were felt in the settlements of Iran, Turkmenistan, Afghanistan and other countries. The maximum shaking intensity was recorded in the nearest settlements of Iran – I=6 in the city of Torbet Jam during the earthquake on April 5 and I=7 in the city of Bojnurd during the event on May 13. For the earthquake of April 5, located in the contact zone of the southeastern Kopetdag with Binalud mountains, an isoseist map is constructed, on the basis of which the northwestern orientation of the isoseists are determined, coinciding with the strike of the nearest faults, of the aftershock cloud and of one of the nodal planes of the focal mechanism. At the same time, a southwest dip of the aftershock cloud is found, which does not correspond to the northeast dip of the nodal plane chosen as the active one. This discrepancy apparently indicates the complex structure of the fault zone, with areas of dip in different directions or with two parallel faults, which planes are dipping to the northeast and southwest. For the earthquake of May 13, 2017 in the central Kopetdag, which was preceded by a three-month seismic calm, the calm zone boundaries are defined, the spatial and temporal features of the aftershock process are studied. According to the determined equation of macroseismic effect propagation, the intensity at the epicenter of the May 13, 2017 earthquake is obtained – I0=7–8. This estimate is confirmed by the 7-point shaking intensity in Bojnurd (=24 km).

Three-dimensional deformation velocity field and kinematic characteristic of the middle and east parts of Haiyuan fault zone from InSAR and GPS observations

Three-dimensional deformation velocity field can reveal fine characteristics of surface deformation, and provide data support for the research on crustal motion mechanism and seismic hazard. In this study, the ascending and descending InSAR deformation velocity fields in the middle and east parts of Haiyuan fault zone are firstly obtained with Sentinel-1A data and SBAS InSAR technology. Then, by combining with GPS observations, the three-dimensional deformation velocity field is extracted and analyzed. Finally, the locking depths and deep slip rates at different locations are inverted by using the classical two-dimensional screw dislocation model, and the maximum shear-strain rate is investigated. The results indicate that there are significant differences in the InSAR deformation velocity field between both sides of the middle and east parts of Haiyuan fault zone. The east–west deformation velocity field clearly reveals the left-lateral strike-slip characteristic of the fault zone. The northward movement gradually changes to southward movement from northwest to southeast. The vertical deformation velocity field displays significant differences on both sides of the section between MMSF and the middle of LHSF, and the middle and eastern of HYE fault. For LHSF, the locking depth and deep slip rate are 9.7 km and 4.9 mm/a; for HYW fault, they gradually decrease from west to east, with the locking depths of 6.4 km, 3.6 km and 3.2 km, respectively, and the deep slip rates of 5.5 mm/a, 4.2 mm/a and 3.8 mm/a, respectively; for HYM fault, they are 7 km and 4.7 mm/a; for HYE fault, they are 5.8 km and 3.6 mm/a. There are two obvious extreme regions of maximum shear-strain rate along the fault strike. This study can provide a reference for investigating the mechanism of regional uplift and extension and seismic hazard.

Fault controlled geometries by inherited tectonic texture at the southern end of the East African Rift System in the Makgadikgadi Basin, northeastern Botswana

One of the three narrow rift belts that mark the southern end of the East African Rift System (EARS) intersects the Makgadikgadi Basin of northeastern Botswana. Although tectonic activity in the region is known to have influenced the evolution of these pans, the interrelationship between shoreline geometry, fault strikes, and the intersection of the underlying tectonic terranes has yet to be fully realized. We analyzed faults and subsurface structures in the region of the pans using a field investigation in combination with satellite imagery and geophysical data, to constrain the influence that the regional tectonic regime has had on the formation of the present-day pan geometry. We find that pan shorelines are controlled by the intersection of three preferred fault orientations which can be understood in the context of the “older” terranes they overlie, namely the Magondi Belt and the Limpopo Belt. We propose that the pronounced curvature of the southern Magondi Belt has influenced the eastward curvature of the rift-related faults and was likely produced by the impingement of the developing fold belt on the Zimbabwe Craton. Furthermore, limited focal mechanism solutions data from earthquakes north and south of the pans suggests a change in regional extension direction from NW-SE to NE-SW. Determining the relationship between these fault orientations and the underlying tectonic terrains is an important step in understanding the formation of the Makgadikgadi Basin, and more broadly the current tectonic regime of Botswana. The evidence of fault-controlled shorelines within an evaporitic environment may also have implications for regional groundwater activity.

Insights on the active Southern Matese Fault system through geological, geochemical, and geophysical investigations of the CO2 gas vent in the Solopaca area (southern Apennines, Italy)

The south-eastern sector of the Matese Massif (southern Apennines, Italy) includes several nonvolcanic gas (mainly CO2) vents. The gas emissions in the northern part (Ciorlano-Ailano sector) have been associated with the Southern Matese Fault system, whereas a similar relationship is not evident in the southern part (Telese-Solopaca sector). Hence, we investigated the latter area (hills north of Solopaca town) through a multidisciplinary study of the principal CO2-degassing vent (Santantuono spring). The main goal is to reconstruct the structural architecture of the area and study the role of the fault array in conveying the gas migration to the surface. In particular, an integrated approach that combines structural and stratigraphic investigations with CO2 flux and geoelectrical surveys is proposed to shed light on the relationships between near-surface faults and gas rising. The main results from the geological-structural investigation suggest that thrust faults are the oldest structures, mainly verging to NNW, crosscut by high-angle N-S and younger NW-SE normal faults. This understanding is supported by the results of the CO2 flux survey, which records the highest flux values in correspondence with the mapped young normal faults, especially at their intersections. Moreover, the hypothesized tectonic and stratigraphic structure at depth is entirely consistent with the 3D geoelectrical model of the survey area provided by a 3D electrical resistivity tomography investigation, which also identifies the main NW-SE striking fault as the preferential pathway for gas migration. Finally, we suggest that the reconstructed NW-SE faults are the prolongation of the active Southern Matese Fault system bounding the SW Matese Massif margin defined by different segments with dominant normal kinematics and several gas vents.

The Usage of GIS Tools on Vintage Aerogeophysical Data for Simple and Fast Processing with a Focus on Fault Interpretation: An Austrian Case Study

The reuse of vintage datasets which were acquired in the 20th century can pose challenges for modern geophysical modeling due to missing detailed preprocessing information, significant uncertainties, or lack of precise tracking, etc. Nevertheless, they are often the only available datasets in a target region. We explore here the potential of such vintage airborne geophysical datasets (magnetics, AEM, radiometrics) to detect the location and dip direction of geological faults, using a non-modeling interpretation approach based on multiple GIS tools. We apply our approach in a geologically well-known region where four different types of faults are mapped. The applicability of the tools used in this study depend on the geological setting of each fault and is evaluated based on the comparison with geological and—where available—with modeling data. In general, the GIS tools, especially used on a combination of datasets, show reliable results concerning the location and strike of faults, and even seem to be able to predict the dip direction of a fault.