A 2D Hele-Shaw cell was built to study microfracture nucleation, growth, and network formation during internal fluid production. Fluid is slowly produced into a low permeability solid, which leads to a local fluid pressure increase that controls the nucleation of microfractures that grow and then connect to create flow pathways. This process occurs during the primary migration of hydrocarbons in source

We investigate 3-D thermal and rheological structures of the lithosphere beneath Northeast China using detailed P- and S-wave velocity models following mineral physics as well as geothermal methods. Small-scale temperature changes and thermal lithosphere thickness variations between different tectonic blocks are revealed. Our results show that strong lateral heterogeneities exist in the lithospheric

The formation of fold-thrust belts is driven by compressive stresses caused by crustal tectonics, gravity, or a combination of both. The formation mechanism of a single compressive stress component has been thoroughly investigated by laboratory experiments and field observations. It is yet less well established how fold-thrust systems deform under multiple compressional stresses. The formation of the

The Philippine Sea plate is an integral part of the east Asian plate mosaic but its past motions can only be reconstructed from paleomagnetic data. Moreover, because the plate is largely submarine, few fully-oriented paleomagnetic data are available. International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expedition 352 cored at four sites on the Izu-Bonin forearc, penetrating ∼1170 m of forearc igneous crust

In response to the craton destruction, the North China Craton (NCC) underwent the Early Cretaceous extensional tectonics. During this period, the eastern NCC has also experienced numerous plutonism, volcanism, and extensional structures. Particularly, half-graben or graben, Early Cretaceous extensional domes, metamorphic core complex, and syn-kinematic plutons are widespread throughout the NCC and

The coastal area along the Nankai Trough, western Japan, has been repeatedly hit by catastrophic tsunamis. The largest known earthquake, the 1707 CE Hoei earthquake (Mw 8.7), ruptured the plate interface along the entire trough. We present evidence for even larger tsunamis from boulders scattered on the landward side of the Hashigui-iwa dacite intrusion (the HID intrusion), Kushimoto, Japan, which

The morpho-tectonic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau is controlled by complicated interactions between tectonic uplift and surface erosion. The Gangdese batholith in the southern Lhasa terrane is a key orogenic belt for exploring the complicated morpho-tectonic evolution of the Tibetan Plateau. In this contribution, we apply apatite fission track (AFT) thermochronology to constrain the thermo-tectonic

Paleostress inversion of 141 outcrop-scale faults across the eastern flank of the southern Central Range of Taiwan where leveling and GPS data suggest a steep gradient in rock uplift rates yields two main kinematic phases of deformation. Phase 1 consists of 93 normal faults that generally dip moderately northeast whereas phase 2 consists of 48 strike-slip faults that generally dip steeply west-northwest

The 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo earthquake occurred on the left-lateral Kunlun Pass-Jiangcuo fault (KPJF) located within the Bayan Har block, Tibetan Plateau, caused an ∼165-km-long surface rupture and widespread ground deformation. This earthquake was well recorded by SAR images and our near-field GPS network during the coseismic and postseismic periods, providing a rare opportunity to shed light on the seismic

Abstract not available

The Trans-Himadri Detachment Fault (T-HDF) of the Kumaon region of western Himalaya, a north-easterly steeply dipping discrete brittle/semi-brittle fault, had previously been regarded as a strand of the South Tibetan Detachment System (STDS). Yet, elsewhere in the Himalaya, the STDS is defined as a diffuse, ductile low-angle normal-sense shear zone. This aspect of the STDS remained conjectural and

We combine quartz textural analysis with Titanium-in-quartz (TitaniQ) geothermometry to investigate the late stages of deformation in mylonitic rocks from the Sucuru dike swarm in the Borborema Province. The wide range in TitaniQ temperatures (>340 to 740 °C) closely related to grain sizes are attributed to inefficient Ti resetting during bulging (BLG) and subgrain rotation (SGR) recrystallization

In this study, we present a high-resolution, 3-D S wave velocity (Vs) model of the crust and uppermost mantle beneath the Liaodong area at the northeast margin of the North China Craton (NCC). We build the model based on ambient noise tomography. Ambient noise data were obtained from both permanent stations and two new broad-band station profiles covering the Dandong-Tongliao (NCISP-10) and Baishan-Kuandian

The final collisional orogenesis in accretionary orogens is crucial for reconstructing the whole orogenic circle and understanding the material and energy recycling along convergent margins. However, it is always not straightforward to be addressed, particularly when the final suturing following the ocean closure occurred softly, for instance, the Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). In this study,

In the middle of the Mediterranean, the partly still active Apennines subduction system has been usually defined using tomographic images and available shear wave splitting measurements. In this paper we describe the new seismic anisotropy dataset for Central Italy, the region where the transition between Northern and Southern Apennines occurs. The new measurements show NW-SE fast polarisation directions

The slip rates on the Xianshuihe-Xiaojiang fault system (XXFS) are crucial for understanding the strain partitioning and evaluating its seismic risk. Here, we establish a 3D viscoelastic FEM model incorporating the faults as contact discontinuities to gain a numerical image of the XXFS's continuous slip rate. The viscosity of Southeastern Tibet and the locking depth of the XXFS were investigated and

Knowledge regarding the origin of the arcuate belts located south of the Altyn Tagh Fault (ATF) is important for understanding the evolution of the ATF. Here, we conduct a detailed paleomagnetic rotation study on two halves of the Saishitengshan arcuate belt (SAB) in the northern Qaidam Basin to better understand the ATF evolution. Paleomagnetic results reveal an ~25° rotational difference between

Abstract not available

Geodetic monitoring and patterns of seismicity indicate that the Northern Branch of the North Anatolian Fault (NAF) absorbs the majority of the relative motion between the Eurasia and Anatolia plates along the northern Marmara Sea. Nonetheless, historical seismicity documents that the Central Branch of NAF is also hazardous, with earthquakes diffusely occurring in the southern Marmara Sea. In order

An Mw 7.4 left-lateral earthquake hit Maduo County in Qinghai province, China, on 21 May 2021. In this paper, we combined the 1-Hz global navigation satellite system (GNSS) displacement waveforms, GNSS static offsets and the three-dimensional (3D) co-seismic deformation field from the interferometric synthetic radar (InSAR) measurements to estimate the source kinematics of this event. Our results reveal

The Xianshuihe fault on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is one of the most active intracontinental faults worldwide. At least 16 strong earthquakes (M > 6.5) have occurred on this fault since 1327 CE. To reasonably assess the future seismic hazard of this fault region, it is essential to gain a comprehensive knowledge of the fault kinematics and stress state. In this study, we developed

The Calabrian Arc subduction complex, in the northern Ionian Sea, is facing directly the westward subducting Apulian Swell, a sliver of continental crust covered by about 8 km of Mesozoic and Tertiary carbonates. Deformation patterns of this southernmost foreland segment of the Adria plate, analized from marine geological/geophysical data include: 1) flexure/bending, under the load of the advancing

The Dianzhong Block (DZB) located on the southeastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau is an important tectonic zone characterized by the intense flow of crustal material. Although it is widely accepted that materials originating from the Tibetan Plateau migrate southeastward in the DZB and its vicinity, the flow mechanism and subsurface structures remain controversial. Here, we image the subsurface velocity

Normal faulting in orogens is usually associated with gravitational potential energy (GPE) due to elevation differences and contrasting material rheology between mountains and foreland areas. The 2008–2020 Yutian normal earthquake sequence in the West Kunlun Mountains has been closely studied over the last decade, but the mechanisms of normal faulting in the region are still an open question as both

Clast–cortex aggregates (CCAs) have been commonly reported in experimental and natural fault gouges. Here we discuss the formation process of CCAs and its mechanical implications, based on experimentally simulated fault gouges. We conducted low- to high-velocity rotary shear experiments on Ca-bentonite gouges at a normal stress of 1 MPa, slip rates of 0.01–1.31 m s−1, and ambient temperature and humidity

Over the past 50 years, a sequence of destructive earthquakes, such as the 1968 (Mw 7.2), 1996 Tonimi (Mw 7.9), and 2018 Palu (Mw 7.5) earthquakes, occurred on the Palu-Koro strike-slip fault and the Minahassa Megathrust, which caused catastrophic disasters in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. To explore the relationship between fault interaction and earthquake migration in this target area, we simulated

The topographic evolution of SE Tibet is essential for understanding the growth of this orogenic plateau margin and the mechanism of continental deformation in general. Stable isotopes have been used to construct the paleo-elevation of SE Tibet during the Cenozoic. However, this methodology's reliability for the region is controversial; the results require validation through other independent constraints

The Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), the most prominent tectonic boundary between the subducting Indian crust and the overthrusting Himalaya, occurs as a key structure dominating the active tectonics of the Himalaya. Previous studies indicate that the MHT forms a major buried ramp in the mid-crust, which with varying geometry and kinematics leads to a distinctive pattern of uplift along the Himalaya. However

Strong earthquakes occurring frequently in south Iceland are always characterized by intense aftershock activity. The aftershock sequences cause progressive damages to structures and considerable psychological strain on inhabitants as the threat of upcoming large earthquakes looms. In this study, we apply a Bayesian epidemiological spatiotemporal aftershock sequence (ETAS) clustering model to forecast

The 2021 Mw 7.4 Maduo earthquake ruptured the Jiangcuo fault, a secondary fault within the Bayan Har block, NE Tibetan Plateau, which attests that large earthquakes can occur on faults with very low slip rates. In this study, we use data from local seismic stations to explore the 3D velocity structure beneath the source region of the Maduo earthquake. Our results indicate that there is a distinct low-velocity

Indian Ocean geoid low, situated at the south of the Indian peninsula, is an intriguing feature. Hitherto, several interpretations have been put forth to explain the genesis and causative depths of the anomaly. In this work, we investigate the scaling spectral inversion approach utilizing gravity data to estimate the causative depth and nature of the source from this region. In practice, crustal or

To investigate the mechanism of tectonic tremor and the factors that influence its occurrence and fluctuations, we use seismic reflection data to map in detail a shear zone associated with the plate boundary fault in the Nankai accretionary prism, southwest Japan. The shear zone can be identified from its low seismic velocity and low reflection amplitude, which may signify the presence of high pore

The late Mesozoic to Cenozoic tectonothermal history of the basin-and-range system within the Cathaysia Block in the southeastern South China Block remains poorly constrained, despite its significance in the tectonic and topographic evolution of eastern China. Zircon and apatite fission-track thermochronometers were applied to reconstruct the cooling histories of NE-trending mountain ranges mantled

Late Mesozoic magmatism in eastern China was extensive and closely related to the subduction of the Paleo-Pacific plate, but genetic relationship between magmatism and subduction remains unclear. Cretaceous magmatic rocks distributed along the eastern coast of China can provide an opportunity to evaluate the influence of subduction on the evolution of the magmatism. Here, a combined study of whole-rock

We present a new 3D shear-wave velocity model and Moho map of Scandinavia, which is based on the inversion of the merged phase dispersion curves from ambient noise and earthquake-generated Rayleigh waves. A classic two step inversion scheme is used where first maps of phase velocities at different periods are derived, and then a 1D transdimensional Bayesian method is applied to determine the VSV-depth

We assemble the continuous waveform data recorded by 571 broadband temporary seismic stations from 2014 to 2015 in the northeastern (NE) margin of the Tibetan plateau and its surrounding regions. Rayleigh and Love wave phase velocity dispersion curves (T = 5–50 s) are obtained by the image transformation technique. Then the phase velocity dispersion data are used to jointly invert the 3-D shear wave

Low Strain Rate regions (LSRrs), i.e., areas undergoing tectonic deformation at rates of 1 mm/yr or less, often host important cities and highly vulnerable anthropogenic assets, and due to their subdued topography and relatively infrequent seismicity, are often considered low seismic hazard areas. Despite this, infrequent but high-magnitude earthquakes in such regions suggest that identifying active

The interactions between arc-continent collision and subduction zones are still poorly understood. Here, we use 2D seismic data to document upper plate deformational features and identify different structural styles along the New Guinea Trench, western Pacific, and discuss their broader significance. In the western section, normal faults and negative flower structures occur within the strata of the

A major goal in earthquake physics is to derive a constitutive framework for fault slip that captures the dependence of shear strength on fault rheology, sliding velocity, and pore-fluid pressure. In this study, we present H-MEC (Hydro-Mechanical Earthquake Cycles), a newly-developed two-phase flow numerical framework — which couples solid rock deformation and pervasive fluid flow — to simulate how

The structure of the southeastern Gulf of California rifted margin is only partly known because of the thick sedimentary cover of the continental shelf and coastal areas of Sinaloa and Nayarit. Here we report the subsurface structure and probable age of the Mazatlán basin, one of the largest buried basins, based on interpretation of reprocessed by multichannel 2D reflection seismic profiles and an

Seismicity and focal mechanisms within the NE-SW extending Usangu basin of the Western branch, north to northeast of the Rungwe Volcanic Province (RVP) southern Tanzania were determined from data recorded on temporary SEGMeNT and permanent AfricaArray seismic stations. The aim of the study has been to investigate stress regime and evaluates the role played by the Usangu basin in accommodating the relative

Earthquakes on faults in the brittle upper crust evoke sudden changes in pore fluid pressure as well as postseismic viscoelastic flow in the lower crust and lithospheric mantle but the relative importance of these processes during the postseismic phase has not been systematically studied. Here, we use two-dimensional finite-element models to investigate how pore fluid pressure changes and postseismic

Magnetic mineral assemblages record physical and chemical changes that occur during and after seismic events with large slips. For example, previous studies have reported that siderite, a common phase in carbonate rocks and a cement in noncarbonate rocks, breaks down to neoformed magnetite due to seismic friction or fluid related to earthquakes and high-velocity activities. Seismic magnetic mineral

While the cyclic nature of tectonic strain build-up and release is at least conceptually well understood (known as the earthquake cycle), it is not clear how variable the corresponding earthquake sizes and the time intervals between them are. Additional observations from past earthquakes are required to better constrain these aspects. In this context, we investigate the roughness of bedrock normal

The Aquitaine Basin is closely linked to the evolution of the Pyrenees, providing precious evidences of the early stages of the Pyrenean orogeny in the Late Cretaceous. Although the timing and geometry of the Early Cretaceous rifting stage is well constrained in the Pyrenees and surrounding north Pyrenean basins, the subsequent early inversion stage has resisted characterization. In this study, we

The seismic, geodetic, and tsunami observations are utilized to investigate the October 30th 2020 Samos, Greece earthquake. We adopt back projection (BP) and multi-point source (MPS) techniques to determine the rupture directivity and focal mechanism change of this event. Both methods reveal a unilateral rupture propagation to the west of the epicenter, and also resolve a changed focal mechanism. We

We investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of strain accommodation during multiphase rift evolution in the Shire Rift Zone (SRZ), East Africa. The NW-trending SRZ records a transition from magma-rich rifting phases (Permian-Early Jurassic: Rift-Phase 1 (RP1), and Late Jurassic-Cretaceous: Rift-Phase 2 (RP2)) to a magma-poor phase in the Cenozoic (ongoing: Rift-Phase 3 (RP3)). Our observations show

Inelastic off-fault deformation can lead to large tsunamigenesis in different tectonic settings. Here a mechanism for tsunami generation by strike-slip earthquakes that involves dynamic off-fault failure at restraining bends is presented. Dynamic rupture on a vertical strike-slip fault is modeled with undrained inelastic off-fault response incorporated by the Drucker-Prager yield criterion. I show

A rift basin developed in the Neoproterozoic Tarim Craton and it provides a key perspective for understanding the breakup of Rodinia. The rift-related successions with glacial deposits spanning ca. 200 m.y. in the North Tarim are studied through detrital zircon U-Pb dating and seismic interpretation. A total of 1503 ages from 11 samples are reported and two kinds of age distribution patterns are recognized

We investigate the evolution of the Gulf of Aden from rift initiation to the development of active oceanic spreading center by means of 2D thermo-mechanical numerical models, in which the formation of oceanic crust and serpentinite due to the hydration of the uprising mantle peridotite has been implemented. Our analysis highlights that evolution of the models is characterized by four main tectonic

The Paleo-Asian Ocean eventually closed along the Solonker Suture Zone during the Late Permian and Early Triassic, before the collision between the Siberian Craton and the North China Craton (NCC) formed the eastern Central Asian Orogenic Belt (CAOB). In this paper, Magnetotelluric (MT) profile data across the south-eastern CAOB and the northern margin of the NCC are explored to image the two-dimensional

Whether the central metamorphic belt of the Qiangtang terrane in the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau should be attributed to a suture zone, is still heavily debated, due to inadequate deep structure constraints. Using the data collected from 16 stations in the northern part of the Hi-Climb profile and 16 broadband seismic stations recently arranged in the northern part of Gaize County, this study developed a

We extracted tectonic crustal deformation caused by the interplate coupling between the Pacific and North American plates from GNSS time series data at land-based stations in the Tohoku district, northeastern Japan, during the period from 21 March 1996 to 7 March 2011. Next, we estimated the spatiotemporal distributions of the slip deficit rates between the two plates prior to the 2011 Tohoku-oki earthquake

In order to tackle the relationship between the exhumed Taiwan Orogeny and the associated sediment routing systems, new results from zircon fission track (ZFT) dating, calcareous nannofossil biostratigraphy, and the occurrence of the diagnostic magnetic mineral pyrrhotite in modern and ancient syn-orogenic sediments from pro-foreland basins in western Taiwan are reported. The ZFT age spectra of modern

The Cretaceous extensional province of the South China Block (SCB), and the decratonization-induced extension in the North China Block (NCB), were both controlled by the Late Mesozoic subduction of the Izanagi/Paleo-Pacific Plate. Different from the metamorphic core complexes exhuming deep crustal rocks of the NCB, extension of the SCB is expressed by numerous half-graben basins and detachment of upper-middle

The Gulf of Trieste (GT), northeastern Adriatic, sits at the rigid edge of the Adria microplate representing the foreland of the adjoining Meso-Cenozoic External Dinarides and Southeastern Alps. The Adria-Eurasia plate boundary extends along the GT eastern coastline, depicted by the Karst Thrust, outer ramp of the SW-verging Dinarides. This separates the Cretaceous-Paleogene carbonates outcropping

The Youjiang Basin (YB) on the southwestern margin of the Yangtze Craton (YC) contains >200 Triassic or Cretaceous gold deposits, but deep dynamic processes contributing to large-scale gold accumulation remain unknown. Based on a south–north trending linear broadband seismic array, we obtained the crust and mantle structure beneath the YB and southwestern YC by P-wave and S-wave receiver functions