Transform Fault Research Articles

Shallow anatomy of hydrothermal systems controlled by the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault System and the Andean Transverse Faults: Geophysical imaging of fluid pathways and practical implications for geothermal exploration

We combined geoelectric and seismic ambient noise methods to image the shallow depth (<30 m) distribution of thermal waters in two fault-controlled hydrothermal systems located in southern Chile. The bedrock depth was constrained with seismics, while hotsprings and mapped faults were imaged by low-electrical-resistivity domains (<160 Ωm) defined with electrical resistivity tomographies (ERT). The distribution and shape of low-resistivity-domains suggest that thermal fluids follow complex pathways, including deep vertical conduits hosted in fractured rock and shallow horizontal bodies hosted in sediments. These results indicate that the studied hydrothermal systems are at least twice longer within the sediments than the superficial area covered by hotsprings.

Peculiarities of the Tectonomagmatic Processes in the Interaction Area between the Icelandic Plume and the Bight Transform Fault (North Atlantic)

Peculiarities of the Tectonomagmatic Processes in the Interaction Area between the Icelandic Plume and the Bight Transform Fault (North Atlantic)

Hydrodynamic model for independent cold and thermo-mineral twin springs in a stratified continental karst aquifer, Camou, Arbailles Massif, Pyrénées, France

The Camou springs (Arbailles Massif, French Western Pyrenees) display an unusual close association of a typically cold karstic spring that drains the Urgonian western limb of the Arbailles, and a thermo-mineral spring (33.5°C; salinity 17.7 g/L). The latter gains its mineralization at the contact of Triassic evaporites mainly through a deep loop in the Apanicé syncline. The fast upflow of this deep water occurs at the cross of large active lines (the North-Pyrenean thrust located at depth, and the Saison transverse fault). Cave diving in the nearby Maddalen Cave allowed reaching the phreatic passage at the origin of the cold spring, which however also crosses the thermal body in the third sump (S3). Both water bodies are separated by a sharp thermocline. 6 pressure-temperature dataloggers were placed in both water bodies along the thermocline for 6 months. The dataloggers located downstream on either side of the thermocline show at the beginning of flood first a rise of the thermal body, then an invasion of the whole phreatic passage by the cold floodwater, controlled by head pressure changes in the karst aquifer. From observation of these mechanisms, we deduce a hydrodynamic model with a warm plume rising into the cold aquifer, without significant mixing. Such independence of water bodies is explained by the decrease of turbulent rate at the interface, due to the sharp density gradient. The relative absence of mixing does not actually require independent “watertight” routes, both water bodies can thus coexist even in the same conduit. This model locally implies the existence of unknown secondary passages close to the spring, which allow an independent draining of each water body toward separate outlets during low stage. Such type of stratified aquifer linked to density differences is common in coastal karst (Florida, French Calanques…), in the continental evaporite karst (Schlotten of the Harz in Germany, Kungur karst in Ural…), but remains poorly identified in continental carbonate karst areas, mainly because of the difficulty of access. Together with the Mescla spring in French Alpes-Maritimes, the Camou twin springs discharging in the same porch are an outstanding example, allowing a direct study of the stratification and the dynamic of highly contrasted water bodies.

Assessing the potential for reservoir induced seismicity from the Bisri dam project in Lebanon

Reservoir induced seismicity has been observed in multiple cases around the world. The Bisri dam project, planned to be constructed in the Bisri Valley in Lebanon, has overlooked the concerns for safety raised by experts, which puts thousands of people and various structures at risk. In this paper, we study the potential for reservoir induced seismicity from this project. We use a two-dimensional poroelastic model where fluid flow and solid deformation are coupled to estimate the change in Coulomb Failure Stress (CFS) and the rate of seismicity (R). The high permeability damage zone of the Bisri fault lies directly beneath the proposed reservoir, which allows the pore pressure to diffuse into deeper levels, decreasing the effective normal stress, destabilizing the fault, and increasing the seismicity rate. Our results show that the increase in the rate of seismicity remains decades after the initial impoundment indicating a high risk for protracted seismicity. Moreover, the activation of the Bisri fault can cause the reactivation of the Roum fault, which is a major and active branch of the Dead Sea Transform Fault that hosted the epicenters of recent and major seismic events in the region. Hence, the risk for induced seismicity from the Bisri project should be taken into consideration very seriously by the authorities.

Unraveling tectonic inversion and wrench deformation in the Eastern Cordillera (Northern Andes) with paleomagnetic and AMS data

Complex orogenic belts typically display internal variations in deformational style, as is the case of the northern Eastern Cordillera of Colombia, which changed abruptly into a regional strike-slip system in the NNW-striking Santander Massif. We report paleomagnetic data, anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data, and magnetic mineralogy from 47 sites distributed in the northern Eastern Cordillera and Santander Massif to investigate and compare: (1) variations in the intensity of the deformation, (2) magnitude and sense of vertical axes rotations, and (3) the character and effect of strike-slip displacements along the Bucaramanga fault and NE-striking transverse faults within the Santander Massif. Rock magnetic experiments show that hematite is the principal magnetization carrier in all these rocks. Rocks of the axial zone of the Eastern Cordillera show intermediate magnetic fabrics. Magnetic fabrics of rocks from the Santander Massif, and the western flank of the Eastern Cordillera, are uniformly oblate with preservation of sedimentary fabrics. Directions of the ChRM from sites in the Eastern Cordillera (30 accepted of 35 sites) are interpreted to indicate that the axial zone has not been rotated, whereas sites located along the western flank of the northern Eastern Cordillera yield data suggesting clockwise rotations, which increase in magnitude up to 90° in areas bounded by NE-striking transverse faults. In the Santander Massif (9 accepted of 12 sites) data suggest a mix of counterclockwise rotations (~30°) and clockwise rotations of ~40°. The inferred clockwise vertical-axis rotations in the northern Eastern Cordillera and Santander Massif of up to 45° are interpreted to be related to tectonic inversion of pre-existing Mesozoic age normal faults during the Neogene as right-lateral faults. Our corrected paleomagnetic inclination data are interpreted to support the hypothesis of northward translation of the studied tectonic elements during the Middle Jurassic to earliest Cretaceous time.

Multi-scale flow structure of a strike-slip tectonic setting: A self-similar model for the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault System and the Andean Transverse Faults, Southern Andes (39–40°S)

The flow structure of a brittle crustal volume is defined by the multi-scale geometric and hydraulic properties of its fracture meshes. The length density distribution n(L,l) and the transmissivity distribution K(L,l) control the hydrologic scaling, where l is fracture length and L is the system size. The flow structure might display at most three key hydrologic scales: the connection scale, above which flow is focused in few critical paths; the channeling scale, above which flow is distributed in several paths; and the homogenization scale, above which permeability approaches a constant value. According to these scales, the hydrological structure could be distributed or clustered, thus having a clear impact in geothermal exploration campaigns and reservoir modeling. In this work, we determine the multi-scale flow structure for the Liquiñe-Ofqui Fault System (LOFS) and the Andean Transverse Faults (ATF) in the Southern Andes, by establishing the hydrologic scaling they follow. Using fractal statistics, we integrated geological data at the regional, meso‑ and micro-scale, including image analysis from X-ray microtomography. Our results suggest a self-similar, dense network with n(L,l)∼l−a and a = 2.6–2.9, from the regional scale where the LOFS and ATF interact to the meso‑ and micro-scale within highly fractured areas of the LOFS. Scaling models are constrained by the length distribution, and other power-law functions reflecting the geometric arrangement of fractures, as well as the spatial distribution of superficial geothermal occurrences. Thus, we expect the hydrologic scaling to depend on the transmissivity distribution. Lognormal transmissivity distribution yields a permeability increase with scale, from the connection to the homogenization scales; whereas power-law transmissivity distribution yields a permeability increase from the connection scale without a limiting value. Approximations of the connection scale are around 10−3–100 m; the channeling scale, around 100–104 m; and if the homogenization scale exists, it should be equal or greater than 103–104 m. Finally, the results presented here could to define the internal architecture of fracture meshes in fault-controlled fluid flow, and be used to select an appropriate hydrologic model according to the analyzed scale. Therefore, these findings must be taken into consideration in future geothermal prospecting, modeling and exploitation.

Contrasts in 2-D and 3-D system behaviour in the modelling of compositionally originating LLSVPs and a mantle featuring dynamically obtained plates

SUMMARY More than two decades of systematic investigation has made steady progress towards generating plate-like surface behaviour in models of vigorous mantle convection. Accordingly, properties required to obtain dynamic plates from mantle convection have become widely recognized and used in both 2-D and 3-D geometries. Improving our understanding of the properties required to obtain durable (or replenishable) deep mantle features with LLSVP-like characteristics has received interest for a period with similar longevity. Investigation ultimately focuses on discovering the properties able to produce the presence of a detached pair of 3-D features, distinct from the ambient mantle. Here, we assume the large low shear-wave velocity provinces (LLSVPs) have a chemical origin by incorporating a compositionally anomalous and intrinsically dense (CAID) mantle component comprising 2–3.5 per cent of the total mantle volume. The feedback between plate formation and the presence of a CAID mantle component is investigated in both 2-D and 3-D spherical geometries. We explore the impact of both an intrinsic contrast in density and viscosity for the CAID component, with the objective of finding system parameter values that encourage the formation of a pair of LLSVP-like assemblages and a surface that exhibits the principle features of terrestrial plate tectonics; including recognizable and narrowly focused divergent, convergent and (in 3-D) transform plate boundaries that separate 8–16 distinct plate interiors. We present the results of nine 2-D and 11 3-D calculations and show that for some of the cases examined, a pair of CAID material provinces can be freely obtained in 2-D cases while maintaining a surface characterized by plate-like behaviour. However, specifying the same system parameters in the 3-D model does not readily yield a pair of enduring provinces for any values of the parameters investigated. Moreover, the inclusion of the CAID component in the mantle can affect the global geotherm so that in comparison to the surface behaviour obtained for the initial condition isochemical model, the surface behaviour of the cases incorporating the dense component are less exemplary of plate tectonics. In general, CAID material components that are 3.75–5 per cent denser than the surrounding mantle (at surface temperatures), and up to a factor of 100 times greater in intrinsic viscosity, form layers populated by voids, or nodes connected by tendril-like ridges that reach across the core–mantle boundary (CMB), rather than distinct piles resembling LLSVPs. Due to its inherently heavy and stiff character, in equilibrated systems, we find the CAID material becomes especially hot so that the temperature-dependence of its density and viscosity results in reduced distinction between the intrinsically dense assemblages and the ambient mantle. Accordingly, the CAID material forms masses on the CMB that are relatively less dense (0.625–1.5 per cent) and viscous than the adjacent mantle material, in comparison to the percentage differences obtained at common temperatures. We find that by adjusting our yield stress model to account for the influence of the CAID material on the geotherm, a highly satisfactory plate-like surface can be re-attained, however, the formation of a pair of LLSVP-shaped masses remains elusive.

Creep-dilatancy development at a transform plate boundary

How tectonic plates slip slowly and episodically along their boundaries, is a major, open question in earthquake science. Here, we use offshore in-situ sediment pore-pressure acquired in the proximity of the active offshore Main Marmara Fault and onshore geodetic time-series data set from a single GPS station to demonstrate the pore-pressure/deformation coupling during a 10-month slow-slip event. We show that pore pressure fluctuations are the expression of hydro-mechanical process affecting the deep seismogenic zone and indicate that small disturbances in geodetic data may have important meaning in terms of transient deformations. These results have major implications in understanding the spatial impact of slow-slip processes and their role in earthquake cycles. We demonstrate that piezometers measuring along a transform fault can help define the time scale regulating the coupling between slow-slip events and earthquake nucleation process.

The relationship of the oil and gas fields of the Forecarpathian region with the regional faults system and deep structure

The oil and gas fields of Forecarpathian oil and gas region are compared with the structure of earth’s crust and regional faults. Most of the oil and gas condensate fields are localized in Borislav-Pokutia nappe over Precarpathian Fault zone. The majority of gas fields are located in under thrusting zone of the Sambir fault, which is a gently dipping detachment connected with the Forecarpathian fault and other faults of autochthonous basement. The regional gravity low of Carpathian Foredeep is also limited from northeast by the Sambir fault and from the southwest by the Uzhok fault. The Forecarpathian fault tends to the central part of gravity low. Transverse Tyachev-Nadvorna fault displaces the gravity low and delimits the oil and gas condensate fields. Velocity model along the wide-angle reflection and refraction PANCAKE profile shows a deep (25 km) sedimentary trough under the Carpathian Orogen. The Forecarpathian fault coincides with a jump of the Moho under the trough. Along the RomUkrSeis profile under Carpathian Orogen there were revealed a sedimentary trough as deep as 15 km and a low-velocity domain under the trough. From northeast, the trough is limited by the Forecarpathian fault, which goes up to the keel structure of the Moho discontinuity. Structure of the trough under Carpathian Orogen reflects development of East European Platform margin. The earliest stage of the formation of Baltica paleocontinent passive margin is seen in the structure of the trough’s lower part. Autochthonous basement under Borislav-Pokutsky and Skiba nappes includes a Riphean Massif limited by the Krakovets, Forecarpathian and Uzhok faults. The oil and gas condensate fields are located above the Riphean Massif.&#x0D; The purpose of this article is to analyze the fault system and the structure of the earth’s crust in the Forecarpathian oil and gas region, as well as their relationship with the distribution of oil and gas deposits, taking into account new WARR profiles and other geological and geophysical data.

Lower crust structures and dynamics of southern California revealed by first P and PmP traveltime data

The lower crust plays an important role in coupling the upper mantle force to the brittle upper crust at transform plate boundary regions. Yet, the tomographic resolution in the lower crust is typically much lower than the upper crust, given that most earthquakes take place at seismogenic depths. Here, we present a new P-wave velocity model of the entire crust in southern California by jointly inverting arrival times of first P and Moho reflected PmP waves. A total of 29,512 robust PmP arrivals are picked by a new semi-automatic workflow, forming the largest earthquake-sourced PmP dataset in southern California to date. Such abundant PmP arrivals remarkably improve the resolution of middle and lower crust in tomographic imaging. Our final velocity model reveals prominent low-velocity anomalies beneath the Eastern California Shear Zone (ECSZ) and south of the Coso Volcanic Field (CVF) in the lower crust. We attribute the low velocities beneath the ECSZ to deep fluid concentration which not only triggers major crustal earthquakes but may also contribute to the long-term development of the shear zone. While the low-velocity anomaly south of the CVF may imply the deep magma source of the CVF is located to its south.

Statistical Analysis of Small Faults in Rotated Blocks of Crust Near the Húsavík‐Flatey Transform Fault, Northern Iceland

AbstractThe dextral Húsavík‐Flatey fault, in northern Iceland, provides a unique opportunity to observe an oceanic transform fault on land. Structural and paleomagnetic measurements from lavas and dikes on Flateyjarskagi peninsula indicate that rocks adjacent to the fault have rotated clockwise more than 100°. We examine the effect of this rotation on the orientations of small faults that developed in rocks adjacent to the transform fault. We also use patterns in small‐scale data to build on models of the style of deformation surrounding the fault. We apply statistical tools including spatial regressions to structural data to estimate the amount of distributed shearing around the transform fault, and to predict the orientations of rotated structures. Some small faults are consistent with predicted rotations, while others are consistent with the modern kinematics, suggesting that they postdate block rotation. This protracted temporal history for small faults complicates paleostress interpretations from rocks adjacent to the Húsavík‐Flatey fault. Previous studies assumed the small faults formed in their modern orientations and attributed their variability to stress variations, whereas we identify populations of faults that have likely rotated to their present‐day attitudes.

Development of an Artificial Intelligence-Based Support Technology for Urethral and Ureteral Stricture Surgery.

PurposeThis paper proposes a technological system that uses artificial intelligence to recognize and guide the operator to the exact stenosis area during endoscopic surgery in patients with urethral or ureteral strictures. The aim of this technological solution was to increase surgical efficiency.MethodsThe proposed system utilizes the ResNet-50 algorithm, an artificial intelligence technology, and analyzes images entering the endoscope during surgery to detect the stenosis location accurately and provide intraoperative clinical assistance. The ResNet-50 algorithm was chosen to facilitate accurate detection of the stenosis site.ResultsThe high recognition accuracy of the system was confirmed by an average final sensitivity value of 0.96. Since sensitivity is a measure of the probability of a true-positive test, this finding confirms that the system provided accurate guidance to the stenosis area when used for support in actual surgery.ConclusionsThe proposed method supports surgery for patients with urethral or ureteral strictures by applying the ResNet-50 algorithm. The system analyzes images entering the endoscope during surgery and accurately detects stenosis, thereby assisting in surgery. In future research, we intend to provide both conservative and flexible boundaries of the strictures.

Some Features of Seismicity in Bulqiza-Macukull Fault Zone During This Century

During two decades of this century, the Albanian and its surrounding seismicity is dominated by high values. One active fault zone, determined on the foci and energy of earthquakes is Bulqiza-Macukull zone. On August 11, 2018 a moderate Ms5.2 earthquake sequence burst in the Bulqiza-Macukull tectonic fault zone. The main shock was located 8 km northwest of Bulqiza town and was felt over a larger area of northern, central and southern Albania. The Bulqiza-Macukull tectonic segment is exposed on the ground at a length of about 35 km, according to the SE-NW direction. The database of this study, composed of 305 seismic events with ML&gt;1.0 is characterized by tectonic earthquakes activity in this fault zone. The focal mechanisms solution of the moderate earthquake indicate stress regime in this zone. The analysis of main aspects of seismicity during this century provides us correct interpretations of seismotectonics, geodynamic phenomena of the Earth's crust. The Bulqiza-Macukull transversal fault zone presents a threat to the nearby urban and hydropower areas.

Seismological and Ground Deformation Study of the Ionian Islands (W. Greece) during 2014–2018, a Period of Intense Seismic Activity

Seismicity in the Ionian Sea (W. Greece) is mainly generated along the Cephalonia–Lefkada Transform Fault Zone (CLTFZ) in the central Ionian, and on the northwestern termination of the Hellenic subduction margin in the south. Joint pre-, co- and post-seismic ground deformation and seismological analysis is performed at the broad Ionian area, aiming to homogeneously study the spatiotemporal evolution of the activity prior to and after the occurrence of strong (M &gt; 6) earthquakes during the period of 2014–2018. The 2014 Cephalonia earthquakes (Mw6.1 and Mw5.9) were generated on a faulting system adjacent to CLTFZ, causing local ground deformation. The post-seismic sequence is coupled in space and time with the 2015 Lefkada earthquake (Mw6.4), which occurred on the Lefkada segment of the CLTFZ. Co-seismic displacement was recorded in the broader area. Seismicity was concentrated along the CLTFZ, while its temporal evolution lasted for several months. The 2018 Zakynthos earthquake (Mw6.7) caused regional deformation and alterations on the near-velocity field, with the seismicity rate remaining above background levels until the end of 2021. In the northern Ionian, convergence between the Apulian platform and the Hellenic foreland occurs, exhibiting low seismicity. Seismic hazard assessment revealed high PGA and PGV expected values in the central Ionian.

Magnetic fabric and geomorphic characteristic of Neotectonic activity along strike direction of North Almora Thrust, Kumaun Lesser Himalaya, India

Structurally, the North Almora Thrust (NAT), is placed in the northern proximity of the Almora Nappe (AN) in the Kumaun Lesser Himalaya. The NAT is characterized by the presence of a zone of mylonitic rocks of basal Saryu Formation (1800 ± 100 Ma) in the hanging wall and the metasedimentaries of Inner Lesser Himalayan rocks as the footwall block. The NAT has been dextrally offset by two estabilished major faults i.e. Saryu River Fault (SRF) in Saryu Valley and Dwarahat-Chaukhutia Fault (DCF) in Ramganga valley. In present study, we identified four new faults, based on field study, geomorphic landform and magnetic fabric analysis. These faults are N–S trending Pancheshwar Fault, NE–SW Rameshwer Fault, NNE-SSW trending Kosi Fault, and NNE-SSW trending Gagas Fault (GF). Our results show that the zone is bound by cross cutting relation with NAT and these fault zones are comparatively more active than other regions. Furthermore, we suggest that the steep and NW–SE orientation of magnetic foliation within the NAT zone is a result of NE–SW oriented progressive regional compression. The magnetic foliations represent the unseen internal foliations in the rocks developed due to preferred alignment of magnetic minerals and can be found through the Anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) study. Variation in the alignment of the field and magnetic foliations are developed due to superimposed brittle deformation along the faults over the pre-existing field foliations. Magnetic foliations represent the impact of last stage deformation and significant to find brittle deformation and finite strain in the rocks of the study area. The lowering of anisotropy (Pj) away from the fault zone represents distribution of strain across the NAT zone. AMS fabric confirms the presence of faults developed across the NAT zone and also explains the deformation pattern along these faults. The geomorphic anomalies and steepness changes across the NAT zone are correlated with active deformation along the NAT and associated transverse faults.

Detrital zircon provenance of the Cretaceous–Neogene East Coast Basin reveals changing tectonic conditions and drainage reorganization along the Pacific margin of Zealandia

Abstract The Upper Cretaceous–Pliocene strata of New Zealand record ~100 m.y. of Zealandia's evolution, including development of the Hikurangi convergent margin and Alpine transform plate boundary. A comprehensive, new detrital zircon U-Pb data set (8315 analyses from 61 samples) was generated along a ~700 km transect of the East Coast Basin of New Zealand. Age distributions were analyzed and interpreted in terms of published data available for Cambrian–Cretaceous igneous and metasedimentary source terranes using a Monte Carlo mixture modeling approach. Results indicate a widespread Early Cretaceous transition in sediment source from the Gondwana interior to the Median Batholith magmatic arc prior to Late Cretaceous rifting from Antarctica. Submergence of Zealandia during a Late Cretaceous–Paleogene drift phase led to major drainage reorganization and the influx of Eastern Province sediment to the East Coast Basin. A long-lived sediment conduit that transported extraregional Western Province detritus to the south-central East Coast Basin may have developed along a structural precursor to the Alpine Fault. Marked Neogene increase of Upper Jurassic–Lower Cretaceous Torlesse Composite Terrane sediment to the central East Coast Basin resulted from exhumation of the Axial Ranges, convergence along the Hikurangi subduction margin, and concurrent development of the Alpine Fault. Concurrent influx of contemporaneous Neogene zircon in the northern East Coast Basin indicated the onset of subduction-related volcanism of the Northland–Coromandel Volcanic Arc. Middle Miocene–Pliocene exhumation and dextral translation of the Nelson region along the Alpine Fault resulted in the eastward routing of Western Province sediment to the central East Coast Basin. Finally, topography developed across the plate boundary and ultimately partitioned continental drainage of Zealandia, such that sediment from the Murihiku, Caples, and Rakaia Terranes in the Otago region was routed to the southern extent of the East Coast Basin. These results illuminate the evolution of the Zealandia continental drainage divide in response to the initiation of the Pacific-Australian plate boundary and demonstrate the power of mixture modeling and large data sets for deciphering sediment routing in dynamic tectonic environments.

Fungal Diversity in Sediments From Deep-Sea Extreme Ecosystems: Insights Into Low- and High-Temperature Hydrothermal Vents, and an Oxygen Minimum Zone in the Southern Gulf of California, Mexico

Deep-sea sediments are vast microbial habitats that cover almost two-thirds of the planet’s surface. Particularly, sediments in hydrothermal vents and oxygen minimum zones (OMZ) represent emblematic, and poorly understood extreme niches that pose strong selective pressures to life, representing untapped reservoirs of a unique microbial diversity. Nonetheless, the mycobiota in these systems remains relatively unknown. Here, we explored fungal diversity and community structure in deep-sea sediments collected from low- and high-temperature vent systems (Pescadero Basin, Pescadero Transform Fault, and Alarcón Rise) and an OMZ (Alfonso Basin) in the southern Gulf of California, by using high-throughput Illumina sequencing of the ITS1 region. We identified 102 fungal amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), principally affiliated to the Ascomycota and Basidiomycota. Our results also evidenced a high proportion of widely distributed, uncultured phylotypes (e.g., unknown clades closely related to the Basidiomycota such asFungisp. 18 and 19 formerly reported from deep-sea), evidencing the copious occurrence of novel fungal lineages with limited distribution to deep-sea sediments. Overall, the largest number of ASVs was recovered from high-temperature vent systems, corroborating these as diversity hotspots. In addition, clustering patterns across samples and the FUNGuild analysis revealed characteristic assemblages in each ecosystem, which could be linked to site-specific processes. This study provides baseline data paving the way for a better understanding of deep-sea fungal diversity, evidencing its potential importance in ecosystem functioning.

Mapping the complexity of transform margins

Abstract Transform margins are a function of the pre-existing crustal architecture (pre-transform) and the interplay of syn- and post-transform geodynamic processes. We use a suite of geospatial databases to investigate four transform margins: East Africa (Davie Deformational Zone, DDZ), Equatorial Africa, and the South African and Falkland (Malvinas) margins (Agulhas–Falkland Fracture Zone, AFFZ). The East African margin is the most complex of the four. This is a consequence of Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous transform motion affecting highly heterogeneous crust, and post-transform deformation that varies along the margin. Equatorial Africa most closely adheres to traditional definitions of ‘transform margins’, but actually comprises two principal transform systems – the Romanche and St Pauls, dictated by the pre-transform distribution of mobile belts and West African craton. All four margins are spatially associated with volcanism, and each exhibits narrow uplifts associated with transpression or transtension. But the causal relationship of these features with transform processes differ. Volcanism along the East African margin is pre- and post-transform. Syn-transform volcanism on the AFFZ is spatially limited, with the AFFZ possibly acting as a conduit for magmatism rather than as a causal driver. Transform margins are varied and complex and require an understanding of pre-, syn- and post-transform geodynamics.

Structure of Spreading Segments of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the Arkhangelsky and Bogdanov Transform Faults, Equatorial Atlantic

Structure of Spreading Segments of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge between the Arkhangelsky and Bogdanov Transform Faults, Equatorial Atlantic

Structural interpretation of 2D seismic reflection data of the Khabour Formation in the Upper West Euphrates, western Iraq

The seismic reflection method has a primary role in petroleum exploration. This research is a structural interpretation study of the 2D seismic reflection survey carried out in the Upper West Euphrates (Khan Al-Baghdadi area), which is located in the western part of Iraq, Al-Anbar governorate. The two objectives of this research are to interpret Base Akkas/Top Khabour reflector and to define potential hydrocarbon traps in the surveyed area. Based on the synthetic seismogram of Akk_3 well near the study area, the Akkas/Top Khabour reflector was identified on the seismic section. Also, the Silurian Akkas Hot_shale reflector was identified and followed up, which represents the source and seal rocks of the Paleozoic petroleum system in the Western Desert of Iraq. Time, velocity, depth, and isopach maps were drawn for Base Akkas/Top Khabour reflector and showed the presence of two anticline structures trending east-west and located on the west side of the study area. The first is termed as (A), represented by Tulul structure, and the second is termed as (B). The maps show the increase in time toward the eastern side of the study area. The general slope of the reflectors is toward the southeast of the study area, while the increase of the thickness of the Formation is gradual to the southwest as well as the northwest of the study area. The study area was affected by three transversal faults. Generally, the faults have northeast-southwest trends. The Ordovician Khabour sands are the primary reservoir in the study area. They are interpreted to be present throughout Akkas Field as gas/condensate accumulation located 100 km to the west of the study area.