Lithological Boundaries Research Articles

Tectonic Control of Aseismic Creep and Potential for Induced Seismicity Along the West Valley Fault in Southeastern Metro Manila, Philippines

Vertical creep along 15 ground ruptures within a 15 km long and 1.5 km wide zone has been occurring along the southeastern part of Metro Manila. Though the unusually high rates of vertical slip point to excessive groundwater withdrawal as the trigger, the evidence presented herein indicates that these may not be simple irregular subsidence fissures. Tectonic control of creep along these traces is suggested by the following: the occurrence of some of these ground ruptures along pre-existing scarps that coincide with topographic and lithologic boundaries, the left-stepping en echelon pattern of surface rupturing, and the distribution of the creeping zone within the dilational gap of the dextral strike-slip West Valley Fault (WVF). Furthermore, interpretation of an exposure across one of the creeping faults indicates reactivation by creep of a pre-existing tectonic fault zone. The paleoseismic evidence also suggests that the pre-creep slips are coseismic and dominantly strike-slip. Recognizing the occurrence of coseismic slip preceding aseismic creep is a primary consideration in assessing the potential of the WVF’s creeping segment and its adjacent segments in generating earthquakes. Tighter groundwater extraction regulations may be necessary to avoid exacerbating the effects of vertical ground deformation and the occurrence of induced seismicity.

Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian stratigraphic correlation and its geological implications in the northwestern Sichuan Basin: insights from phosphorus, isotopes, and small shelly fossils

The characteristics of elements, isotopes, and small shelly fossils were investigated for Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian stratigraphy division and to discuss their geological implications in the northwestern Sichuan Basin. The results reveal that small shelly fossils can be detected in the high-phosphorous section, with the concentration of phosphorus mainly ranging from 2% to 8%, suggesting that this interval belongs to the Early Cambrian, which is also consistent with the carbon isotopic composition results. In addition, the Early Cambrian is denudated in the Sichuan Basin due to tectonic movement, and the characteristics of some isotopes and small shell fossils are different from those in other basins. It can be proposed that P content can support the recognition of lithological boundaries, and the high phosphorus content can be used as a reference to identify the top and bottom boundaries of the Maidiping Formation in the study area. According to the elemental compositions in the Ediacaran Dengying Formation, the variations in Si, Al, Fe, and K contents are similar in the platform area and rift area, suggesting that the third and fourth member of the Dengying Formation are also developed in the Deyang–Anyue Rift. The results suggest that both the Deng-4 member and Maidiping Formation feature contemporaneous deposition of different facies in the northwestern Sichuan Basin. The strata consist of shale intercalated with thin carbonate rock deposits in the Deyang–Anyue Rift, while carbonate rock deposits in the platform. The Deyang–Anyue Rift expanded gradually in the Late Ediacaran and eventually filled in the Early Cambrian. The data in this study illustrate that elemental compositions, isotopes, and small shelly fossils can be combined to correlate the Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian strata and provide new evidence for Deyang–Anyue Rift evolution. The results offer some new insights for deep oil and gas exploration in the Sichuan Basin and for the tectonic–depositional–environmental–biological synergistic evolution in the Late Ediacaran to Early Cambrian transition.

Newly Discovered NE-Striking Dextral Strike-Slip Holocene Active Caimashui Fault in the Central Part of the Sichuan-Yunnan Block and Its Tectonic Significance

The Sichuan-Yunnan block is a tectonically active region in China, with frequent large earthquakes occurring in and around it. Despite most earthquakes being concentrated along boundary faults, intraplate faults also have the potential to generate damaging earthquakes. Remote sensing makes it possible to identify these potential earthquake source faults. During an active fault investigation in the Liangshan area, a distinct lithological boundary named Caimashui fault was found. The geometric distribution and kinematic parameter of the fault is crucial for assessing seismic hazards and understanding the deformation pattern within the Sichuan-Yunnan block. The Caimashui fault is mapped with remote sensing interpretation, a field survey, and UAV measurement. Through trenching and Quaternary dating, the Late Quaternary active characteristics of the fault are studied. The fault is a Holocene active dextral strike-slip fault with a reverse component, exhibiting a dextral strike-slip rate of ~0.70 ± 0.11 mm/a. Paleoseismic investigation shows that the last surface rupture event of the Caimashui fault occurred later than 4150 ± 30a BP, with a magnitude of M ≥ 7.0. The fault may act as a secondary splitting fault, absorbing the deformation caused by various sinistral strike-slip rates of the boundary faults and the potential energy from the counterclockwise rotation of the Central Yunnan micro-block.

Assessing the relative activity of faulting along both flanks of the Ou Backbone Range, Tohoku Region, Japan, from fluvial geomorphic analyses

The Ou Backbone Range in the Tohoku Region of Japan is bounded on its both sides by two major active fault systems: the Western Fault Zone of Kitakami Lowland in the east and the Eastern Fault Zone of Yokote Basin in the west. Although these two systems are primary active fault systems in the region, information on their long-term activity characteristics is still quite limited. Therefore, we analyzed the normalized channel steepness indexes of river valleys trending perpendicular to the range front along both flanks of the Ou Backbone Range. Our results show that the eastern flank has gentler river valleys, whereas rivers along the northwestern flank are steeper. Our field investigation shows that knickpoints in this area are mostly related to local lithologic boundaries or are check dams along the valleys, thus the river systems are likely under steady-state conditions. Hence, the steeper river valleys in northwestern Ou Backbone Range indicate a higher uplift rate of the area. Because both fault systems are primarily dip-slip reverse faults and do not have significant variations in their subsurface geometry, the faster uplift suggests that the northern segment of the Eastern Fault Zone of Yokote Basin has a higher slip rate. This is consistent with results of previous studies, and the fact that the rupture of the 1896 Rikuu earthquake, the only historical surface-rupturing event in this region, was only limited along the northern segment of this fault system.

Integrated Geophysical Investigation for Potential Gold Mineralised Zone within Lower Part of Zuru Schist Belts, NW Nigeria

The study began with a reconnaissance survey that used high-resolution aeromagnetic data of the study area to identify suitable structure zones with the potential to trap mineral resources within the context of the gold exploration target. The findings of magnetic studies were followed up with detailed investigations using 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polorisation (IP) techniques to reveal further details about gold mineral zones and other lithological boundaries. The airborne magnetic data of sheet 118_Yelwa was obtained from the NGSA; these datasets were processed and analyzed using Oasis Montaj's first vertical derivative (FVD) and center for exploration targeting (CET) techniques. Results of FVD and CET grid anomalies show that regions of major magnetic structures (lineaments) are associated with granite gneiss, migmatitic augen gneiss, and medium to coarse-grained biotite when compared to the geological settings of the area. The zones of major structures obtained in this study coincided with previous magnetic studies of the area, located in the eastern parts of Ngaski, Yauri (Yelwa), Shanga, Agwara, as well as Magama's northwest region. Some of the regions for lineament (in the eastern part of Ngaski/Yauri) were investigated further with 2D ERT and IP detailed geophysical methods in a dipole-dipole configuration. The results of geoelectric techniques along profiles 1, 2, and 3 identified the major gold mineralisation potential zones, which were labeled A1, A2, and A3. These regions have low/high resistivity (1.6 to 459 Ωm/1889 to 7773 Ωm) and chargeability signatures (≥ 20 msec), and could thus be interpreted as potential target zones for metallic mineral exploration, particularly gold mineralisation. The regions are located in the northern Mararraba and southwest of the Jinsani areas of Kebbi State. The results of integrated geophysical methods have produced updated structural features of the regions, as well as a database containing precise locations, lateral lengths,...

Integrated Geophysical Investigation for Potential Gold Mineralised Zone within Lower Part of Zuru Schist Belts, NW Nigeria

The study began with a reconnaissance survey that used high-resolution aeromagnetic data of the study area to identify suitable structure zones with the potential to trap mineral resources within the context of the gold exploration target. The findings of magnetic studies were followed up with detailed investigations using 2D electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) and induced polorisation (IP) techniques to reveal further details about gold mineral zones and other lithological boundaries. The airborne magnetic data of sheet 118_Yelwa was obtained from the NGSA; these datasets were processed and analyzed using Oasis Montaj's first vertical derivative (FVD) and center for exploration targeting (CET) techniques. Results of FVD and CET grid anomalies show that regions of major magnetic structures (lineaments) are associated with granite gneiss, migmatitic augen gneiss, and medium to coarse-grained biotite when compared to the geological settings of the area. The zones of major structures obtained in this study coincided with previous magnetic studies of the area, located in the eastern parts of Ngaski, Yauri (Yelwa), Shanga, Agwara, as well as Magama's northwest region. Some of the regions for lineament (in the eastern part of Ngaski/Yauri) were investigated further with 2D ERT and IP detailed geophysical methods in a dipole-dipole configuration. The results of geoelectric techniques along profiles 1, 2, and 3 identified the major gold mineralisation potential zones, which were labeled A1, A2, and A3. These regions have low/high resistivity (1.6 to 459 Ωm/1889 to 7773 Ωm) and chargeability signatures (≥ 20 msec), and could thus be interpreted as potential target zones for metallic mineral exploration, particularly gold mineralisation. The regions are located in the northern Mararraba and southwest of the Jinsani areas of Kebbi State. The results of integrated geophysical methods have produced updated structural features of the regions, as well as a database containing precise locations, lateral lengths,...

Cover collapse sinkhole formation is delayed in time and uncorrelated to distance from quarry in a long-term study of a karst basin

Collapse sinkholes are problematic for the hazards they bring to property, infrastructure, and human life but the prediction of their formation in time and space remains elusive. We make use of long-term data gathered in a small, highly monitored, hydrologically constrained basin; Primrose Creek, Bucks County, Pennsylvania, USA, to examine the relation between groundwater extraction, precipitation, terrain position, and cover collapse sinkhole development. The selected site is unique as a natural laboratory to explore induced sinkhole processes in that it is a clearly demarcated topographic basin with geological structural and lithologic boundaries; the stressor is extreme, has been plainly identified, and effectively captures all upstream runoff and groundwater; the groundwater withdrawals and water-level elevations have been closely monitored over a period of 20 years; and the general record of land conditions goes back more than a century. We evaluated the history of a carbonate-rock quarry, its development and expansion over many decades, as well as associated precipitation and ground-water level data, and cover collapse sinkhole occurrence within the basin. Interception of discrete high conductivity zones in the Paleozoic carbonate rocks by quarry expansion was an important factor in propagating collapse occurrence. Collapses occurred mainly, though not exclusively, along drainageways and at lithologic boundaries. They formed in time-based clusters with delay of up to several years. Surprisingly, distance of collapse formation from the pumping area was not directly correlated with time elapsed; i.e., collapses did not begin to form close to the quarry, and then later form farther away. Monitoring wells were unsuccessful in delineating the pumping zone of influence although some documented water table decline and response to weather and anthropogenic events. This comprehensive study shows that in order to successfully monitor and control impacts from quarry dewatering in Paleozoic carbonate rocks it is critical to 1) develop a detailed conceptual model of groundwater pathways, 2) try to avoid excavating into high permeability zones, 3) clearly document karst features when exposed, and 4) carefully site a suitable number of monitoring wells and collect data at short intervals.

Implications to basin evolution from the interpretation of superficial and buried geological features from remote sensing and magnetic data sets, Lower and Middle Benue Trough, Nigeria

The Lower and Middle Benue Trough is an intra-continental rifted basin with most rocks concealed by thick sediments and vegetation. Geological field mapping is very difficult resulting in high uncertainties. Remote sensing and geophysical techniques can assist in refining lithological boundaries and detecting buried geological features such as intrusive bodies, which can be very useful in interpreting the structural history of a basin. The main aim of our study is to re-process and interpret aeromagnetic and multispectral satellite datasets to understand the evolution of the Benue Trough. We used high-resolution aeromagnetic data and, Landsat 8 and ASTER data sets to interpret surface and near-surface lithologies, particularly igneous bodies, within the Benue Trough, Nigeria, with the aim of better constraining the basin evolution in time and space. A matched bandpass filter was applied to the aeromagnetic data to separate shallow/near-surface (residual) anomalies from deep (regional) anomalies. The result of the residual anomaly was further filtered by derivative-based filters to delineate surface/near-surface igneous bodies. The satellite remote sensing datasets were processed and enhanced, and diagnostic mineral spectral signatures related to geology were interpreted. A spectral angle mapping (SAM) supervised classification was used to map various lithologies and their boundaries. The delineated igneous bodies (volcanic rocks, plugs, dykes, bosses, and sills) are concentrated along the SE margin of the Trough where they intruded along a major NE-SW trend; but changes in the intrusion style are interpreted to relate to specific stages in the basin history. We suggest that the initial magma emplacement was controlled by structures mostly along the SE margin of an asymmetric basin, but the rifting locus later migrated towards the centre of the present basin.

Three-Dimensional Geologic Modeling of the Kiruna Mining District, Sweden: Insights into the Crustal Architecture and Structural Controls on Iron Oxide-Apatite Mineralization

Abstract To support economic decisions and exploration targeting, as well as to understand processes controlling the mineralization, three-dimensional structural and lithological boundary models of the Kiruna mining district have been built using surface (outcrop observations and measurements) and subsurface (drill hole data and mine wall mapping) data. Rule-based hybrid implicit-explicit modeling techniques were used to create district-scale models of areas with high disproportion in data resolution characterized by dense, clustered, and distant data spacing. Densely sampled areas were integrated with established conceptual studies using geologic conditions and the addition of synthetic data, leading to variably constrained surfaces that facilitate the visualization, interpretation, and further integration of the geologic models. This modeling approach proved to be efficient in integrating local, frequently sampled areas with district-scale, sparsely sampled regions. Dominantly S-plunging lineation on N-S–trending fracture planes, characteristic fracture mineral-fill, and weak rock mass at the ore contact indicated by poor core orientation quality and rock quality description suggest that ore-parallel fractures in the Kiirunavaara area were more commonly reactivated. Slight variation in the angular relationship of fracture sets situated in different fault-bound blocks suggests that strain accommodation across the orebodies was uneven. The location of brittle faults identified in drill core, deposit-scale structural analysis, and aeromagnetic geophysical maps indicate a close relationship between fault locations and the iron oxide-apatite mineralization, suggesting that uneven stress accommodation and proximity of conjugate fault sets played an important role in juxtaposing blocks from different crustal depths and controls the location of the iron oxide-apatite orebodies.

Reactive transport modeling of organic carbon degradation in marine methane hydrate systems

Natural methane hydrate has often been observed in sand layers that contain no particulate organic carbon (POC), but are surrounded by organic-rich, fine-grained marine muds. In this paper, we develop a reactive transport model (RTM) of a microbially-mediated set of POC degradation reactions, including hydrolysis of POC driven by extracellular enzymes, fermentation of the resulting high-molecular weight dissolved organic carbon (HMW-DOC), and methanogenesis that consumes low-molecular weight dissolved organic carbon (LMW-DOC). These processes are mediated by two groups of microbes, fermenters and methanogens that are heterogeneously distributed in different lithologies, with the largest numbers of microbes in the large pores of coarse-grained layers. We find that the RTM can reproduce methane hydrate occurrences observed in two different geological environments, at Walker Ridge Site 313-H (Gulf of Mexico) and IODP Site U1325 (Cascadia Margin). We also find that microbes can degrade POC even if they are physically separated, as extracellular enzymes and DOC can diffuse away from where they are produced by microbes. Microbial activity is highest at relatively early times after burial at shallow depths and near lithological boundaries, where concentration gradients transport solutes to intervals that contain the most microbes.

GEOLOGY AND STRATIGRAPHY OF HOD (ARTVİN) REGION, EASTERN PONTIDES, NE TURKEY

This study reports a revised geological map and a stratigraphic section of the Hod region. It represents a synthesis of new data and earlier work. New results gathered from field geological mapping and petrographic investigation have clarified the lithological boundaries, textural characteristics, the stratigraphical relationships between various rock formations and spatial distribution and behavior of structural elements. Hod region, located in the eastern part of the eastern Pontides (Artvin district), comprises Jurassic to Cretaceous volcanic and sedimentary sequences with a roughly north-north-east trending, steeply east dipping stratigraphy. These lithological units are Liassic Berta Formation, Dogger Kırgülü Formation and Hızarlıdere Formation, Malm-Lower Cretaceous Öğdem Formation and İnanlı Member, Lower Cretaceous Aşağımaden Formation, Turonian Çatak Formation, Santonian Kızılkaya Formation and Santonian-Campanian Evliyatepe Formation. Among these formations, intermediate to felsic volcanic and volcanosedimentary rocks of Kızılkaya Formation are significant as they host several volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) and epithermal deposits throughout eastern Pontides. Hod Maden Au-Cu deposit which represents one of the highest-grade gold and copper discoveries made globally in recent years is also located in Hod region. Therefore, the revised geological map and stratigraphy presented here are important contributions to the regional geology and essential tools for exploration geologists working in the region.

Assessment of reservoir heterogeneities and hydrocarbon potential zones using wavelet-based fractal and multifractal analysis of geophysical logs of Cambay basin, India

The scaling behaviour of physical properties of the earth's subsurface e.g. porosity, permeability, density, etc significantly influence reservoir characteristics. The characterization of the parameters, by analysing nonlinear geophysical logs using the application of linear and traditional empirical relations, is very tedious, complicated, and yields less accurate results. In this perspective, wavelet-based fractals and multifractals techniques provide effective insights into local and global characteristics of heterogeneity of reservoir parameters. The results from the numerical experiment on simulated synthetic data reveal that the wavelet-based fractal and multifractals are more useful to delineate the shorter fluctuations in signal and heterogeneities of the reservoir. The scaling exponent and fractal density, a component of fractal analysis, have been estimated for each sample from power law relationship that facilitates the understanding of the local characteristics of the subsurface formation. On the other hand, the multifractal spectrum, a generalization curve of the hurst exponents, provides the global nature of heterogeneities corresponding to reservoir parameters. We analyse gamma ray, density, and neutron logs of three wells (well-204, 203, and 172) of the Limbodara oil field of Cambay Basin, India. The fractal density curve of gamma ray log is found like the low-pass filtered version of the original signal, and map the lithologies by clustering their similar values while the scaling exponent curve on either side of 0.5 of scaling exponent demarcates the lithological boundaries at the intersection points. The scaling exponent curve highlights the finer variations embedded in the signal and is feasible to enhance the thin layers of the reservoir. The multifractal spectrum of gamma-ray logs across three wells encompasses three major formations emphasizing that the Kalol formation exhibits higher degree of heterogeneity than other formations (Tarapur and Olpad). The multifractal spectrum of neutron and gas corrected log for each well of Kalol formation shows the greater influence on well-203 and lowest influence on well-172, indicating the effective hydrocarbon bearing zones of the former well than the latter. This evidence that an increase in lithological heterogeneity enhances the quality of hydrocarbon reservoir as well as reduces the multifractality of porosity logs.

Rectangular harmonic analysis for gravity field representation by fusing ground gravity and airborne gravity gradient tensor data: A case study in Vinton salt dome, USA

Gravity and Gravity Gradient Tensor (GGT) surveys are commonly used to investigate mineral deposits, oil and gas reservoirs, etc. However, the different kinds of discrete observations with unknown noises are usually irregularly and unevenly spaced. Therefore, the practical observations need to be self-consistently and reliably fused and then the regularly distributed grid data of desired physical quantity can be predicted by the data fusion method. Rectangular Harmonic Analysis (RHA) is one of efficient and easy-to-implement methods for data processing, gravity field representation and so on. Combining ground gravity and airborne GGT data to determine RHA coefficients is beneficial for improving the reliability of complete wavelength components of the gravity field. In this study, we employ the modified RHA method to recover the gravity field by fusing ground gravity and airborne GGT data sets. Through a series of tests with synthetic data, we discuss the option of maximum RHA order, data sampling spaces and performances by using different simulated data sets assemble to represent the gravity field under different practical conditions. The synthetic tests show that the RHA can effectively extract the coherent signals as far as possible from the different data sets and guarantees better fitness between the predicted gravity and GGT data to observed data. Finally, we apply the RHA method to practical ground gravity and airborne GGT data sets over the Vinton salt dome, Louisiana, USA, to represent and predict the gravity and GGT data sets at different altitudes over the study region. As an example of geological application, the predicted GGT data sets are employed to interpret the lithological boundaries with density contrasts beneath the study area.

LATE GLACIAL PALAEOENVIRONMENT AND DEVELOPMENT OF PROGLACIAL LAKES ON THE NORTHERN COAST OF THE SAMBIAN (KALININGRAD) PENINSULA<a href="#FN1"><sup>1</sup></a>

Comprehensive investigations of the northern coast of the Sambian (Kaliningrad) Peninsula, that included geomorphological survey, lithostratigraphic description of the section logs, diatom, botanical and LOI analyses, radiocarbon dating, and GNSS survey relating lithological boundaries and sampling levels to the sea level and determining terrace elevations, were performed. New data on the regional palaeogeographic settings of the Late Glacial period and the stages of development of the large proglacial basin, the Baltic Ice Lake (BIL) were obtained. It has been established that after the degradation of the last glaciation, erosional (subaquatic) processes prevailed in the coastal area, while in the interval of 14–13 cal kyr BP subaerial conditions established at the study site, and tree-moss phytocenoses formed during the Allerød warming. At the end of the warming period there was a shallow, isolated lake, with decreasing depth. During the Younger Dryas oscillation, ca. 12 000 cal kyr BP, the area was flooded by waters of a vast freshwater, ultra-oligotrophic basin with high content of suspended fine mineral particles. The conditions of a shallow bay of the BIL sheltered from the main basin by a moraine ridge at least 4–5 m high, are suggested for this period. The lake drainage took place around 11 660 cal kyr BP. Since then, no accumulation or alternating accumulation and erosion conditions prevailed in the study site until the late Holocene. The obtained results allow us to speak about two stages of flooding of the northern coast of the Sambia Peninsula during the Late Glacial, possibly caused by the BIL transgressions. The occurrence of BIL deposits in the northern part of the Sambia Peninsula above sea level suggests that the Late Glacial basin level in the study area may have exceeded the present sea level.

Heterogeneity‐Driven Localization and Weakening in Scaly Clays From a Fossil Accretionary Prism

AbstractIn accretionary prisms, scaly clays structure might be the result of strain localization and weakening or strain delocalization and hardening. Therefore, it is not clear how they influence the mechanical behavior of the accretionary prism. Here, we investigate the effect of rock fabric on the mechanical properties of scaly clays sampled from a fossil accretionary prism in a range of pressure‐temperature conditions typical of burial within accretionary prisms. We performed triaxial experiments using a direct shear configuration on samples in which the natural scaly clay fabric and natural lithological boundaries were preserved, at confining pressures of 10–120 MPa and temperatures of 25–150°C. Samples with homogeneous composition and natural scaly fabrics display strain hardening behavior at all tested conditions. Shearing at high P‐T displays lower strength with respect to shearing at low P‐T. The samples containing a lithological contact display strain hardening at low P‐T and weakening at high P‐T conditions. After the experiments, the homogeneous samples show a distributed foliation and short, discontinuous shear surfaces at the contacts with the sample holder, while the samples including a contact developed a through‐going shear zone composed of a series of en‐echelon shear surfaces. A reduced smectite and water content is observed in the post‐deformation samples, suggesting that weakening may correlate with water release during dehydration reactions of clay minerals at 150°C. This shows how both dehydration reactions at high P‐T conditions and strain localization along lithological boundaries promote brittle behavior within scaly clays in subduction zones accretionary prisms.

Evidence of active tectonic activity in Muong Te area illuminated by geomorphic analysis

Muong Te area is located in the northwest part of the Da River valley is seismically active with numerous recent earthquakes and associated geohazard as the consequences of tectonic collisions between the Indian plate and the Eurasian plate. The most dominant lineament system alogate in NW - SE trending which is about several kilometer to several ten kilometer. However, there has been little research regarding neotectonics deformation in this area. This study compiles remote sensing images observation data with new extracted geomorphic indices of the fluvial network to illustrate deformation patterns and potential active movements in the Muong Te. Previous study noticed that although river channels occupy a small part of the land surface, a longitudinal river profile is a more sensitive indicator of rock uplift rate than other morphological properties (Whipple et al. 2007; Dinh et al. 2019). Relationship between faults and geomorphology is quantified using 12.5 - m ALOS DEM to extract channel and basin metrics including drainage basin normalized steepness index (ksn) is greater than 200 (m0.9), and knickpoints of modeled river longitudinal profiles. The results of the normalized steepness index also show that several knickpoints arise locally from lithological boundaries of different erodibility; however, many high values of ksn the river were truncated by the NW - SE lineamets system which is suggesting that Da River fault system seem to be active. The results proposed that the strike - slip and normal motions alternated because of a permutation of σ1/σ2 under the same extensional stress regime of σ3 in the northeast - southwest direction. The existence of the active tectonics in the area might pose many geological hazards and it threat to regional habitants.

LITHOLOGY AND RESERVOIR IDENTIFICATION IN THE “EL” WELL, EAST JAVA USING SEISMIC INVERSION

The acoustic impedance inversion seismic method, carried out at the "EL" well in East Java,provides a description of the physical properties of subsurface rocks. This method involves identifying rocklayers, lithology types, porosity values, the presence of hydrocarbons, and fluids in the target zone usingboth well data and integrated seismic data. The data processing included the cross-plotting of acousticimpedance (AI) with gamma ray logs, porosity logs, and resistivity logs. We integrated seismic and welldata, picked horizons, and created AI inversion models. The based model inversion technique was used tocompare the synthetic model with the seismic data, aiming to obtain an AI value that closely represents theactual model. AI seismic inversion effectively separates lithological boundaries vertically and laterally,based on the selected picking horizon and created model. To enhance understanding of the lithology andhydrocarbon prospect zone in the study area, a cross-plot analysis was used to correlate the seismic inversionmodel. The results reveal that the study area represents a hydrocarbon prospect zone, with reservoir rocksconsist of coral and foram at a depth range of 2320 - 2430 ft.

Controls on the Stratiform Copper Mineralization in the Western Syncline, Upper Peninsula, Michigan

The Western Syncline hosts reduced-facies, or Kupferschiefer-type, sedimentary rock-hosted stratiform Cu deposits (SSC) in the lowermost meters of the Nonesuch Formation, which is part of a thick section of clastic sedimentary rocks that comprise the upper fill of the Mesoproterozoic Midcontinent Rift of North America. Located in the Porcupine Mountains Cu district in Upper Peninsula, Michigan, these blind deposits were discovered in 1956, but are not yet developed, although recent renewed interest may result in near-term production. The deposits are distinguished by their relatively undeformed nature and lack of superposed hydrothermal events. Prior to lithification, chalcocite mineralization replaced diagenetic pyrite within two discrete tabular, albeit discontinuous, potential orebodies referred to as the lower Cu-bearing sequence (LCBS) and the upper Cu-bearing sequence (UCBS). The Top Cu Zone transgresses lithologic boundaries, suggesting that a limited volume of Cu-bearing fluids moved vertically upwards through the unlithified stratigraphy, since reductant pyritic rocks above this zone are essentially barren of Cu. The total Cu inventory that has a reasonable expectation of economic extraction is 3678 M lbs. of Cu with 15.3 M oz. of byproduct Ag. When a cutoff grade of 0.9% Cu over a minimum thickness of 2 m is applied to justify an underground room-and-pillar mine, the LCBS and UCBS are not continuous over the Western Syncline. Sedimentology is the first-order control of potential ore and its continuity; dark-gray shales and siltstones deposited under low-energy, anoxic conditions are preferred host rocks, whose thickness must be >2 m to be potential ore since host-rock thickness determines economic viability of extraction. Furthermore, stratigraphy influences the time constraints on mineralization as the lithification process impedes vertical permeability and thus the flow of Cu-bearing fluids upward through the unlithified section. Syn-sedimentary tectonic movements, likely along pre-existing buried faults, are a third-order control as the thickness of host rocks is enhanced under such conditions. Therefore, an understanding of the depositional and tectonic history throughout the Western Syncline is fundamental to understanding the limits of possible economic exploitation and to optimizing ore extraction.

Mapping subsurface geological structures in the Birimian Supergroup, Ghana using airborne magnetic and radiometric data: Implications for gold exploration

Rarity of outcrops is a typical feature of considerable parts of the Birimian Supergroup in Ghana as a result of deep weathering which leads to the formation of thick surficial cover and laterization. This hampers the precise mapping of lithological boundaries and mafic dykes. These boundaries are tectonic contacts that may have the potential to host orogenic gold deposits. This study aims to map these subsurface geological features using regional airborne geophysical data. Derivatives of magnetic data such as analytic signal, vertical derivative, horizontal gradient and the ternary map of the radiometric data were employed to interpret subsurface geology. The general correlation of the magnetic and radiometric maps with the existing geological map confirms their suitability as geological mapping tools. Tectonostratigraphic contacts of several geological domains within the Birimian Supergroup were delineated. These zones host world-class gold deposits and are potential corridors to focus exploration activities to ensure efficient fund utilisation and minimisation of exploration risks. Additionally, SSE-NNW, WSW-ENE and WNW-ESE trending dolerite dyke swarms were outlined.

Tracking supercritical geothermal fluid distribution from continuous seismic monitoring

Continuous seismic monitoring could play a pivotal role in deep geothermal energy exploration. We monitored seismicity near geothermal production areas of the Kuju volcanic complex with a dense seismic network and automated event detection. Most events were shallow (less than 3 km below sea level) and distributed along a boundary between regions of high and low resistivity and S-wave velocity, interpreted as a lithological boundary or related fracture zone. Deeper events located on top of subvertical conductors may reflect fracturing associated with magmatic fluid intrusion. A correlation may exist between seismicity and heavy rainfall three days prior to increased pore pressure in pre-existing fractures. Our findings support the presence of supercritical geothermal fluids and demonstrate the importance of continuous seismic monitoring in supercritical geothermal energy exploration.