-
Characterizing the oceanic ambient noise as recorded by the dense seismo-acoustic Kazakh network Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-25 Alexandr Smirnov; Marine De Carlo; Alexis Le Pichon; Nikolai M. Shapiro; Sergey Kulichkov
In this study, the dense seismo-acoustic network of the Institute of Geophysical Research (IGR), National Nuclear Centre of the Republic of Kazakhstan, is used to characterize the global ocean ambient noise. As the monitoring facilities are collocated, this allows for a joint seismo-acoustic analysis of oceanic ambient noise. Infrasonic and seismic data are processed using a correlation-based method
-
Wireline distributed acoustic sensing allows 4.2 km deep vertical seismic profiling of the Rotliegend 150 °C geothermal reservoir in the North German Basin Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-25 Jan Henninges; Evgeniia Martuganova; Manfred Stiller; Ben Norden; Charlotte M. Krawczyk
We performed so-far-unprecedented deep wireline vertical seismic profiling at the Groß Schönebeck site with the novel method of distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) to gain more detailed information on the structural setting and geometry of the geothermal reservoir, which is comprised of volcanic rocks and sediments of Lower Permian age. During the survey of 4 d only, we acquired data for 61 source positions
-
Contribution of gravity gliding in salt-bearing rift basins – A new experimental setup for simulating salt tectonics under the influence of sub-salt extension and tilting Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-25 Michael Warsitzka; Prokop Závada; Fabian Jähne-Klingberg; Piotr Krzywiec
Abstract. Basin-scale salt flow and the evolution of salt structures in rift basin is mainly driven by sub- and supra-salt faulting and sedimentary loading. Crustal extension is often accompanied and followed by thermal subsidence leading to tilting of the graben flanks, which might induce an additional basinward directed driver for salt tectonics. We designed a new experimental analog apparatus capable
-
Looking beyond kinematics: 3D thermo-mechanical modelling reveals the dynamic of transform margins Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-25 Anthony Jourdon; Charlie Kergaravat; Guillaume Duclaux; Caroline Huguen
Abstract. Transform margins represent ~30 % of the non-convergent margins worldwide. Their formation and evolution have long been addressed through kinematic models that do not account for the mechanical behaviour of the lithosphere. In this study, we use high resolution 3D numerical thermo-mechanical modelling to simulate and investigate the evolution of the intra-continental strain localization under
-
Integrated land and water-borne geophysical surveys shed light on the sudden drying of large karst lakes in southern Mexico Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-24 Matthias Bücker; Adrián Flores Orozco; Jakob Gallistl; Matthias Steiner; Lukas Aigner; Johannes Hoppenbrock; Ruth Glebe; Wendy Morales Barrera; Carlos Pita de la Paz; César Emilio García García; José Alberto Razo Pérez; Johannes Buckel; Andreas Hördt; Antje Schwalb; Liseth Pérez
Karst water resources play an important role in drinking water supply but are highly vulnerable to even slight changes in climate. Thus, solid and spatially dense geological information is needed to model the response of karst hydrological systems to such changes. Additionally, environmental information archived in lake sediments can be used to understand past climate effects on karst water systems
-
Crustal structure of southeast Australia from teleseismic receiver functions Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-24 Mohammed Bello; David G. Cornwell; Nicholas Rawlinson; Anya M. Reading; Othaniel K. Likkason
In an effort to improve our understanding of the seismic character of the crust beneath southeast Australia and how it relates to the tectonic evolution of the region, we analyse teleseismic earthquakes recorded by 24 temporary and 8 permanent broadband stations using the receiver function method. Due to the proximity of the temporary stations to Bass Strait, only 13 of these stations yielded usable
-
Sparse 3D reflection seismic survey for deep-targeting iron oxide deposits and their host rocks, Ludvika Mines, Sweden Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-24 Alireza Malehmir; Magdalena Markovic; Paul Marsden; Alba Gil; Stefan Buske; Lukasz Sito; Emma Bäckström; Martiya Sadeghi; Stefan Luth
Many metallic mineral deposits have sufficient physical property contrasts, particularly density, to be detectable using seismic methods. These deposits are sometimes significant for our society and economic growth and can help to accelerate the energy transition towards decarbonization. However, their exploration at depth requires high-resolution and sensitive methods. Following a series of 2D seismic
-
Buoyancy versus shear forces in building orogenic wedges Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-23 Lorenzo G. Candioti; Thibault Duretz; Evangelos Moulas; Stefan M. Schmalholz
Abstract. Orogenic belts formed by collision are impressive manifestations of plate tectonics. Observations from orogenic belts, like the Western Alps, indicate an important involvement of the mantle lithosphere, significant burial and exhumation of continental and oceanic crustal rocks and the importance of the plate interface strength that can be modified, for example, by the presence of serpentinites
-
Timescales of chemical equilibrium between the convecting solid mantle and over- and underlying magma oceans Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-22 Daniela Paz Bolrão; Maxim D. Ballmer; Adrien Morison; Antoine B. Rozel; Patrick Sanan; Stéphane Labrosse; Paul J. Tackley
After accretion and formation, terrestrial planets go through at least one magma ocean episode. As the magma ocean crystallises, it creates the first layer of solid rocky mantle. Two different scenarios of magma ocean crystallisation involve that the solid mantle either (1) first appears at the core–mantle boundary and grows upwards or (2) appears at mid-mantle depth and grows in both directions. Regardless
-
Quartz dissolution associated with magnesium silicate hydrate cement precipitation Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-18 Lisa de Ruiter; Anette Eleonora Gunnæs; Dag Kristian Dysthe; Håkon Austrheim
Quartz has been replaced by magnesium silicate hydrate cement at the Feragen ultramafic body in south-east Norway. This occurs in deformed and recrystallized quartz grains deposited as glacial till covering part of the ultramafic body. Where the ultramafic body is exposed, weathering leads to high-pH (∼ 10), Mg-rich fluids. The dissolution rate of the quartz is about 3 orders of magnitude higher than
-
Experimental evidence that viscous shear zones generate periodic pore sheets Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-18 James Gilgannon; Marius Waldvogel; Thomas Poulet; Florian Fusseis; Alfons Berger; Auke Barnhoorn; Marco Herwegh
In experiments designed to understand deep shear zones, we show that periodic porous sheets emerge spontaneously during viscous creep and that they facilitate mass transfer. These findings challenge conventional expectations of how viscosity in solid rocks operates and provide quantitative data in favour of an alternative paradigm, that of the dynamic granular fluid pump model. On this basis, we argue
-
101 Geodynamic modelling: How to design, carry out, and interpret numerical studies Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-18 Iris van Zelst; Fabio Crameri; Adina E. Pusok; Anne Glerum; Juliane Dannberg; Cedric Thieulot
Abstract. Geodynamic modelling provides a powerful tool to investigate processes in the Earth's crust, mantle, and core that are not directly observable. However, numerical models are inherently subject to the assumptions and simplifications on which they are based. In order to use and review numerical modelling studies appropriately, one needs to be aware of the limitations of geodynamic modelling
-
The competition between fracture nucleation, propagation, and coalescence in dry and water-saturated crystalline rock Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-16 Jessica A. McBeck; Wenlu Zhu; François Renard
The continuum of behavior that emerges during fracture network development in crystalline rock may be categorized into three end-member modes: fracture nucleation, isolated fracture propagation, and fracture coalescence. These different modes of fracture growth produce fracture networks with distinctive geometric attributes, such as clustering and connectivity, that exert important controls on permeability
-
Interactions of plutons and detachments, comparison of Aegean and Tyrrhenian granitoids Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-16 Laurent Jolivet; Laurent Arbaret; Laetitia Le Pourhiet; Florent Cheval-Garabedian; Vincent Roche; Aurélien Rabillard; Loïc Labrousse
Abstract. Back-arc extension superimposed on mountain belts leads to distributed normal faults and shear zones, interacting with magma emplacement in the crust. The composition of granitic magmas emplaced at this stage often involves a component of crustal melting. The Miocene Aegean granitoids were emplaced in metamorphic core complexes (MCC) below crustal-scale low-angle extensional shear zones and
-
Regional centroid MT inversion of small to moderate earthquakes in the Alps using the dense AlpArray seismic network: challenges and seismotectonic insights Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-16 Gesa Maria Petersen; Simone Cesca; Sebastian Heimann; Peter Niemz; Torsten Dahm; Daniela Kühn; Jörn Kummerow; Thomas Plenefisch; the AlpArray Working Group,
Abstract. The Alpine mountains in central Europe are characterized by a heterogeneous crust accumulating different tectonic units and blocks in close proximity to sedimentary foreland basins. Centroid moment tensor inversion provides insight into the faulting mechanisms of earthquakes and related tectonic processes, but is significantly aggravated in such an environment. Thanks to the dense AlpArray
-
Influence of inherited structural domains and their particular strain distributions on the Roer Valley graben evolution from inversion to extension Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-09 Jef Deckers; Bernd Rombaut; Koen Van Noten; Kris Vanneste
The influence of strain distribution inheritance within fault systems on repeated fault reactivation is far less understood than the process of repeated fault reactivation itself. By evaluating cross sections through a new 3D geological model, we demonstrate contrasts in strain distribution between different fault segments of the same fault system during its reverse reactivation and subsequent normal
-
Seismic monitoring of the Auckland Volcanic Field during New Zealand's COVID-19 lockdown Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-09 Kasper van Wijk; Calum J. Chamberlain; Thomas Lecocq; Koen Van Noten
The city of Auckland, New Zealand (Tāmaki Makaurau, Aotearoa), sits on top of an active volcanic field. Seismic stations in and around the city monitor activity of the Auckland Volcanic Field (AVF) and provide data to image its subsurface. The seismic sensors – some positioned at the surface and others in boreholes – are generally noisier during the day than during nighttime. For most stations, weekdays
-
An upward continuation method based on spherical harmonic analysis and its application in the calibration of satellite gravity gradiometry data Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-09 Qingliang Qu; Shengwen Yu; Guangbin Zhu; Xiaotao Chang; Miao Zhou; Wei Liu
Abstract. The ground gravity anomalies can be used to calibrate and validate the satellite gravity gradiometry data. In this study, an upward continuation method of ground gravity data based on spherical harmonic analysis is proposed, which can be applied to the calibration of satellite observations from the European Space Agency's Gravity Field and Steady-State Ocean Circulation Explorer (GOCE). Here
-
Fault sealing and caprock integrity for CO2 storage: an in situ injection experiment Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-05 Alba Zappone; Antonio Pio Rinaldi; Melchior Grab; Quinn C. Wenning; Clément Roques; Claudio Madonna; Anne C. Obermann; Stefano M. Bernasconi; Matthias S. Brennwald; Rolf Kipfer; Florian Soom; Paul Cook; Yves Guglielmi; Christophe Nussbaum; Domenico Giardini; Marco Mazzotti; Stefan Wiemer
The success of geological carbon storage depends on the assurance of permanent containment for injected carbon dioxide (CO2) in the storage formation at depth. One of the critical elements of the safekeeping of CO2 is the sealing capacity of the caprock overlying the storage formation despite faults and/or fractures, which may occur in it. In this work, we present an ongoing injection experiment performed
-
Very early identification of a bimodal frictional behavior during the post-seismic phase of the 2015 Mw8.3 Illapel, Chile, earthquake Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-05 Cedric Twardzik; Mathilde Vergnolle; Anthony Sladen; Louisa L. H. Tsang
Abstract. It is well-established that the post-seismic slip results from the combined contribution of seismic slip and aseismic slip. However, the partitioning between these two modes of slip remains unclear due to the difficulty to infer detailed and robust descriptions of how both evolve in space and time. This is particularly true just after a mainshock when both processes are expected to be the
-
Mechanical and hydraulic properties of the excavation damaged zone (EDZ) in the Opalinus Clay of the Mont Terri Rock Laboratory, Switzerland Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-05 Sina Hale; Xavier Ries; David Jaeggi; Philipp Blum
Abstract. Construction of cavities in the subsurface is always accompanied by excavation damage. Especially in the context of deep geological nuclear waste disposal, the evolving excavation damaged zone (EDZ) in the near field of emplacement tunnels is of utmost importance concerning safety aspects. As the EDZ differs from the intact host rock due to enhanced hydraulic transmissivity and altered geomechanical
-
Holocene surface rupturing earthquakes on the Dinaric Fault System, western Slovenia Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-05 Christoph Grützner; Simone Aschenbrenner; Petra Jamšek Rupnik; Klaus Reicherter; Nour Saifelislam; Blaž Vičič; Marko Vrabec; Julian Welte; Kamil Ustaszewski
Abstract. The Dinaric Fault System in western Slovenia, consisting of NW-SE trending, right-lateral strike-slip faults, accommodates the northward motion of Adria with respect to Eurasia. These active faults show a clear imprint in the morphology and some of them hosted moderate instrumental earthquakes. However, it is largely unknown if the faults also had strong earthquakes in the Late Quaternary
-
Basin inversion: Reactivated rift structures in the Ligurian Sea revealed by OBS Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-05 Martin Thorwart; Anke Dannowski; Ingo Grevemeyer; Dietrich Lange; Heidrun Kopp; Florian Petersen; Wayne Crawford; Anne Paul; the AlpArray Working Group,
Abstract. The northern margin of the Ligurian Basin shows notable seismicity at the Alpine front, including frequent magnitude 4 events. Seismicity decreases offshore towards the Basin centre and Corsica, revealing a diffuse distribution of low magnitude earthquakes. We analyse data of the amphibious AlpArray seismic network with focus on the offshore component, the AlpArray OBS network, consisting
-
U-Pb dating of middle Eocene-middle Pleistocene multiple tectonic pulses in the Alpine foreland Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-04 Luca Smeraglia; Nathan Looser; Olivier Fabbri; Flavien Choulet; Marcel Guillong; Stefano M. Bernasconi
Abstract. Foreland fold-and-thrust belts record long-lived tectonic-sedimentary activity, from passive margin sedimentation, flexuring, and further involvement into wedge accretion ahead of an advancing orogen. Therefore, dating fault activity is fundamental for plate movement reconstruction, resource exploration, or earthquake hazard assessment. Here, we report U-Pb ages of syntectonic calcite mineralizations
-
Paleozoic-Mesozoic thermal evolution along the East European Platform margin based on kerogen thermal maturity analysis combined with apatite and zircon low temperature thermochronology in NE Poland Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-04 Dariusz Botor; Stanisław Mazur; Aneta A. Anczkiewicz; István Dunkl; Jan Golonka
Abstract. The Phanerozoic tectono-thermal evolution of the SW slope of the East European Platform (EEP) in Poland is reconstructed by means of thermal maturity, low temperature thermochronometry and thermal modelling. We provide a set of new thermochronometric data and integrate stratigraphic and thermal maturity information to constrain the burial and thermal history of sediments. Apatite fission
-
Seismic evidence of the COVID-19 lockdown measures: a case study from eastern Sicily (Italy) Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-02 Andrea Cannata; Flavio Cannavò; Giuseppe Di Grazia; Marco Aliotta; Carmelo Cassisi; Raphael S. M. De Plaen; Stefano Gresta; Thomas Lecocq; Placido Montalto; Mariangela Sciotto
During the COVID-19 pandemic, most countries put in place social interventions, restricting the mobility of citizens, to slow the spread of the epidemic. Italy, the first European country severely impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak, applied a sequence of progressive restrictions to reduce human mobility from the end of February to mid-March 2020. Here, we analysed the seismic signatures of these lockdown
-
Crustal structure of the East-African Limpopo Margin, a strike-slip rifted corridor along the continental Mozambique Coastal Plain and North-Natal Valley Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-02 Mikael Evain; Philippe Schnürle; Angélique Leprêtre; Fanny Verrier; Louise Watremez; Joseph Offei Thompson; Philippe de Clarens; Daniel Aslanian; Maryline Moulin
Abstract. Deep seismic acquisitions and a new kinematic study recently highlighted the presence of continental crust in both the southern Mozambique's Coastal Plain (MCP) and further offshore in the North Natal Valley (NNV). Such findings falsify previous geodynamic scenarios based on the kinematic overlap between Antarctica and Africa plates, thus profoundly impacting our understanding East-Gondwana
-
Elastic anisotropies of rocks in a subduction and exhumation setting Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-02-01 Michael J. Schmidtke; Ruth Keppler; Jacek Kossak-Glowczewski; Nikolaus Froitzheim; Michael Stipp
Abstract. Subduction and exhumation are key processes in the formation of orogenic systems across the world, for example, in the European Alps. For geophysical investigations of these orogens, it is essential to understand the petrophysical properties of the rocks involved. These are the result of a complex interaction of mineral composition and rock fabric including mineral textures (i.e. crystallographic
-
The Piuquencillo fault system: a long-lived, Andean-transverse fault system and its relationship with magmatic and hydrothermal activity Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-29 José Piquer; Orlando Rivera; Gonzalo Yáñez; Nicolás Oyarzún
Lithospheric-scale fault systems control the large-scale permeability in the Earth's crust and lithospheric mantle, and its proper recognition is fundamental to understand the geometry and distribution of mineral deposits, volcanic and plutonic complexes and geothermal systems. However, their manifestations at the current surface can be very subtle, as in many cases they are oriented oblique to the
-
The preserved plume of the Caribbean Large Igneous Plateau revealed by 3D data-integrative models Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-29 Ángela María Gómez-García; Eline Le Breton; Magdalena Scheck-Wenderoth; Gaspar Monsalve; Denis Anikiev
Remnants of the Caribbean Large Igneous Plateau (C-LIP) are found as thicker than normal oceanic crust in the Caribbean Sea that formed during rapid pulses of magmatic activity at ∼91–88 and ∼76 Ma. Strong geochemical evidence supports the hypothesis that the C-LIP formed due to melting of the plume head of the Galápagos hotspot, which interacted with the Farallon (Proto-Caribbean) plate in the eastern
-
Structural studies in active caldera geothermal systems. Reply to Comment on Estimating the depth and evolution of intrusions at resurgent calderas: Los Humeros (Mexico) by Norini and Groppelli (2020) Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-29 Stefano Urbani; Guido Giordano; Federico Lucci; Federico Rossetti; Valerio Acocella; Gerardo Carrasco-Núñez
Abstract. Structural studies in active caldera systems are widely used in geothermal exploration to reconstruct volcanological conceptual models. Active calderas are difficult settings to perform such studies mostly because of the highly dynamic environment, dominated by fast accumulation of primary and secondary volcanic deposits, the variable and transient rheology of the shallow volcanic pile, and
-
Sensing Earth and environment dynamics by telecommunication fiber-optic sensors: an urban experiment in Pennsylvania, USA Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-28 Tieyuan Zhu; Junzhu Shen; Eileen R. Martin
Continuous seismic monitoring of the Earth's near surface (top 100 m), especially with improved resolution and extent of data both in space and time, would yield more accurate insights about the effect of extreme-weather events (e.g., flooding or drought) and climate change on the Earth's surface and subsurface systems. However, continuous long-term seismic monitoring, especially in urban areas, remains
-
Extensional reactivation of the Penninic frontal thrust 3 Myr ago as evidenced by U–Pb dating on calcite in fault zone cataclasite Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-28 Antonin Bilau; Yann Rolland; Stéphane Schwartz; Nicolas Godeau; Abel Guihou; Pierre Deschamps; Benjamin Brigaud; Aurélie Noret; Thierry Dumont; Cécile Gautheron
In the Western Alps, the Penninic frontal thrust (PFT) is the main crustal-scale tectonic structure of the belt. This thrust transported the high-pressure metamorphosed internal units over the non-metamorphosed European margin during the Oligocene (34–29 Ma). Following the propagation of the compression toward the European foreland, the PFT was later reactivated as an extensional detachment associated
-
A systems-based approach to parameterise seismic hazard in regions with little historical or instrumental seismicity: active fault and seismogenic source databases for southern Malawi Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-27 Jack N. Williams; Hassan Mdala; Åke Fagereng; Luke N. J. Wedmore; Juliet Biggs; Zuze Dulanya; Patrick Chindandali; Felix Mphepo
Seismic hazard is commonly characterised using instrumental seismic records. However, these records are short relative to earthquake repeat times, and extrapolating to estimate seismic hazard can misrepresent the probable location, magnitude, and frequency of future large earthquakes. Although paleoseismology can address this challenge, this approach requires certain geomorphic setting, is resource
-
Distribution, microphysical properties, and tectonic controls of deformation bands in the Miocene subduction wedge (Whakataki Formation) of the Hikurangi subduction zone Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-25 Kathryn E. Elphick; Craig R. Sloss; Klaus Regenauer-Lieb; Christoph E. Schrank
We analyse deformation bands related to horizontal contraction with an intermittent period of horizontal extension in Miocene turbidites of the Whakataki Formation south of Castlepoint, Wairarapa, North Island, New Zealand. In the Whakataki Formation, three sets of cataclastic deformation bands are identified: (1) normal-sense compactional shear bands (CSBs), (2) reverse-sense CSBs, and (3) reverse-sense
-
Effect of normal stress on the frictional behavior of brucite: application to slow earthquakes at the subduction plate interface in the mantle wedge Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-25 Hanaya Okuda; Ikuo Katayama; Hiroshi Sakuma; Kenji Kawai
We report the results of friction experiments on brucite under both dry and wet conditions under various normal stresses (10–60 MPa). The final friction coefficients of brucite were determined to be 0.40 and 0.26 for the dry and wet cases, respectively, independent of the normal stress. Under dry conditions, velocity-weakening behavior was observed in all experiments at various normal stresses. Under
-
On the comparison of strain measurements from fibre optics with dense seismometer array at Etna volcano (Italy) Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-25 Gilda Currenti; Philippe Jousset; Rosalba Napoli; Charlotte Krawczyk; Michael Weber
Abstract. We demonstrate the capability of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) in recording volcano related dynamic strain at Etna (Italy). In summer 2019, we gathered DAS measurements from a 1.5 km long fibre in a shallow trench and seismic records from a conventional dense array comprising 26 broadband sensors deployed in Piano delle Concazze close to the summit area. The multifaceted style of Etna
-
Rock alteration at the post-Variscan nonconformity: implications for Carboniferous-Permian surface weathering versus burial diagenesis and paleoclimate evaluation Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-25 Fei Liang; Jun Niu; Adrian Linsel; Matthias Hinderer; Dirk Scheuvens; Rainer Petschick
Abstract. A nonconformity refers to a hiatal surface located between metamorphic or igneous rocks and overlying sedimentary or volcanic rocks. Those surfaces are key features to understand the relations among climate, lithosphere and tectonic movements during ancient time. In this study, the petrological, mineralogical, and geochemical characteristics of Variscan basement rock and its overlying Permian
-
Analysis of deformation bands associated with the Trachyte Mesa intrusion, Henry Mountains, Utah: implications for reservoir connectivity and fluid flow around sill intrusions Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-20 Penelope I. R. Wilson; Robert W. Wilson; David J. Sanderson; Ian Jarvis; Kenneth J. W. McCaffrey
Shallow-level igneous intrusions are a common feature of many sedimentary basins, and there is increased recognition of the syn-emplacement deformation structures in the host rock that help to accommodate this magma addition. However, the sub-seismic structure and reservoir-scale implications of igneous intrusions remain poorly understood. The Trachyte Mesa intrusion is a small (∼1.5 km2), NE–SW trending
-
Effects of basal drag on subduction dynamics from 2D numerical models Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-20 Lior Suchoy; Saskia Goes; Benjamin Maunder; Fanny Garel; Rhodri Davies
Subducting slabs are an important driver of plate motions, yet the relative importance of different forces in governing subduction motions and styles remains incompletely understood. Basal drag has been proposed to be a minor contributor to subduction forcing because of the lack of correlation between plate size and velocity in observed and reconstructed plate motions. Furthermore, in single subduction
-
Reproducing pyroclastic density current deposits of the 79 CE eruption of the Somma–Vesuvius volcano using the box-model approach Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-20 Alessandro Tadini; Andrea Bevilacqua; Augusto Neri; Raffaello Cioni; Giovanni Biagioli; Mattia de'Michieli Vitturi; Tomaso Esposti Ongaro
We use PyBox, a new numerical implementation of the box-model approach, to reproduce pyroclastic density current (PDC) deposits from the Somma–Vesuvius volcano (Italy). Our simplified model assumes inertial flow front dynamics and mass deposition equations and axisymmetric conditions inside circular sectors. Tephra volume and density and total grain size distribution of EU3pf and EU4b/c, two well-studied
-
Application of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) fabrics to determine the kinematics of active tectonics: Examples from the Betic Cordillera, Spain and the northern Apennines, Italy Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-20 David J. Anastasio; Frank J. Pazzaglia; Josep M. Parés; Kenneth P. Kodama; Claudio Berti; James A. Fisher; Alessandro Montanari; Lorraine K. Carnes
Abstract. The anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) technique provides an effective way to measure fabrics and in the process, interpret the kinematics of actively deforming orogens. We collected rock fabric data of alluvial fan sediments surrounding the Sierra Nevada massif, Spain, and a broader range of Cenozoic sediments and rocks across the northern Apennine foreland, Italy, to explore the
-
Strain to Ground Motion Conversion of DAS Data for Earthquake Magnitude and Stress Drop Determination Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-18 Itzhak Lior; Anthony Sladen; Diego Mercerat; Jean-Paul Ampuero; Diane Rivet; Serge Sambolian
Abstract. The use of Distributed Acoustic Sensing (DAS) presents unique advantages for earthquake monitoring compared with standard seismic networks: spatially dense measurements adapted for harsh environments and designed for remote operation. However, the ability to determine earthquake source parameters using DAS is yet to be fully established. In particular, resolving the magnitude and stress drop
-
Hydrocarbon accumulation in basins with multiple phases of extension and inversion: examples from the Western Desert (Egypt) and the western Black Sea Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-14 William Bosworth; Gábor Tari
Folds associated with inverted extensional faults are important exploration targets in many basins across our planet. A common cause for failure to trap hydrocarbons in inversion structures is crestal breaching or erosion of top seal. The likelihood of failure increases as the intensity of inversion grows. Inversion also decreases the amount of overburden, which can adversely affect maturation of source
-
Characterization of discontinuities in potential reservoir rocks for geothermal applications in the Rhine-Ruhr metropolitan area (Germany) Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-13 Martin Balcewicz; Benedikt Ahrens; Kevin Lippert; Erik H. Saenger
The importance of research into clean and renewable energy solutions has increased over the last decade. Geothermal energy provision is proven to meet both conditions. Therefore, conceptual models for deep geothermal applications were developed for different field sites regarding different local conditions. In Bavaria, Germany, geothermal applications were successfully carried out in carbonate horizons
-
An Analytical Framework for Stress Shadow Analysis During Hydraulic Fracturing – Applied to the Bakken Formation, Saskatchewan, Canada Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-13 Mostafa Gorjian; Sepidehalsadat Hendi; Christopher D. Hawkes
Abstract. This paper presents selected results of a broader research project pertaining to the hydraulic fracturing of oil reservoirs hosted in the siltstones and fine grained sandstones of the Bakken Formation in southeast Saskatchewan, Canada. The Bakken Formation contains significant volumes of hydrocarbon, but large-scale hydraulic fracturing is required to achieve economic production rates. The
-
4D Tracer Flow Reconstruction in Fractured Rock through Borehole GPR Monitoring Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-13 Peter-Lasse Giertzuch; Joseph Doetsch; Alexis Shakas; Mohammadreza Jalali; Bernard Brixel; Hansruedi Maurer
Abstract. Two borehole ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted during saline tracer injection experiments in fully-saturated crystalline rock at the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland. The saline tracer is characterized by an increased electrical conductivity in comparison to formation water. It was injected under steady state flow conditions into the rock mass that features sub-mm fracture
-
Monitoring surface deformation of deep salt mining in Vauvert (France), combining InSAR and leveling data for multi-source inversion Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-12 Séverine Liora Furst; Samuel Doucet; Philippe Vernant; Cédric Champollion; Jean-Louis Carme
The salt mining industrial exploitation located in Vauvert (France) has been injecting water at high pressure into wells to dissolve salt layers at depth. The extracted brine has been used in the chemical industry for more than 30 years, inducing a subsidence of the surface. Yearly leveling surveys have monitored the deformation since 1996. This dataset is supplemented by synthetic aperture radar (SAR)
-
Mapping and evaluating kinematics and stress/strain field at active faults and fissures: a comparison between field and drone data at NE Rift, Mt Etna (Italy) Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-12 Alessandro Tibaldi; Noemi Corti; Emanuela De Beni; Fabio Luca Bonali; Susanna Falsaperla; Horst Langer; Marco Neri; Massimo Cantarero; Danilo Reitano; Luca Fallati
Abstract. We collected drone data to quantify the kinematics at extensional fractures and normal faults, integrated this information with seismological data to reconstruct the stress field, and critically compared the results with previous fieldwork to assess the best practice. As key site, we analysed a sector of the North-East Rift of Mt Etna, an area affected by continuous ground deformation linked
-
Simulating permeability reduction by clay mineral nanopores in a tight sandstone by combining computer X-ray microtomography and focussed ion beam scanning electron microscopy imaging Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-11 Arne Jacob; Markus Peltz; Sina Hale; Frieder Enzmann; Olga Moravcova; Laurence N. Warr; Georg Grathoff; Philipp Blum; Michael Kersten
Computer X-ray microtomography (µXCT) represents a powerful tool for investigating the physical properties of porous rocks. While calculated porosities determined by this method typically match experimental measurements, computed permeabilities are often overestimated by more than 1 order of magnitude. This effect increases towards smaller pore sizes, as shown in this study, in which nanostructural
-
Equivalent continuum-based upscaling of flow in discrete fracture networks: The fracture-and-pipe model Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-08 Maximilian O. Kottwitz; Anton A. Popov; Steffen Abe; Boris J. P. Kaus
Abstract. Predicting effective permeabilities of fractured rock masses is a key component of reservoir modelling. This is often realized with the discrete fracture network (DFN) method, where single-phase incompressible fluid flow is modelled in discrete representations of individual fractures in a network. Depending on the overall number of fractures, this can result in significant computational costs
-
Complex rift patterns, a result of interacting crustal and mantle weaknesses, or multiphase rifting? Insights from analogue models Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2021-01-08 Frank Zwaan; Pauline Chenin; Duncan Erratt; Gianreto Manatschal; Guido Schreurs
Abstract. During lithospheric extension, localization of deformation often occurs along structural weaknesses inherited from previous tectonic phases. Such weaknesses may occur in both the crust and mantle, but the combined effects of these weaknesses on rift evolution remains poorly understood. Here we present a series of 3D brittle-viscous analogue models to test the interaction between differently
-
Distributed faulting following normal earthquakes: reassessment and updating of scaling relations Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-29 Maria Francesca Ferrario; Franz Livio
Abstract. Coseismic surface faulting is a significant source of hazard for critical plants and distributive infrastructures; it may occur either on the primary fault, or as distributed rupture on nearby faults. Hazard assessment for distributed faulting is based on empirical relations which, in the case of normal faults, were derived almost 15 years ago on a dataset of US earthquakes. We collect additional
-
Seismic gaps and intraplate seismicity around Rodrigues Ridge (Indian Ocean) from time domain array analysis Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-23 Manvendra Singh; Georg Rümpker
Rodrigues Ridge connects the Réunion hotspot track with the Central Indian Ridge (CIR) and has been suggested to represent the surface expression of a sub-lithospheric flow channel. From global earthquake catalogues, the seismicity in the region has been associated mainly with events related to the fracture zones at the CIR. However, some segments of the CIR appear void of seismic events. Here, we
-
On a new robust workflow for the statistical and spatial analysis of fracture data collected with scanlines (or the importance of stationarity) Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-23 Andrea Bistacchi; Silvia Mittempergher; Mattia Martinelli; Fabrizio Storti
We present an innovative workflow for the statistical analysis of fracture data collected along scanlines, composed of two major stages, each one with alternative options. A prerequisite in our analysis is the assessment of stationarity of the dataset, which is motivated by statistical and geological considerations. Calculating statistics on non-stationary data can be statistically meaningless, and
-
Analysing stress field conditions of the Colima Volcanic Complex (Mexico) by integrating finite-element modelling (FEM) simulations and geological data Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-23 Silvia Massaro; Roberto Sulpizio; Gianluca Norini; Gianluca Groppelli; Antonio Costa; Lucia Capra; Giacomo Lo Zupone; Michele Porfido; Andrea Gabrieli
In recent decades, finite-element modelling (FEM) has become a very popular tool in volcanological studies and has even been used to describe complex system geometries by accounting for multiple reservoirs, topography, and heterogeneous distribution of host rock mechanical properties. In spite of this, the influence of geological information on numerical simulations is still poorly considered. In this
-
Comment on “Estimating the depth and evolution of intrusions at resurgent calderas: Los Humeros (Mexico)” by Urbani et al. (2020) Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-23 Gianluca Norini; Gianluca Groppelli
A multiple shallow-seated magmatic intrusion model has been proposed by Urbani et al. (2020) for the resurgence of the Los Potreros caldera floor, in the Los Humeros volcanic complex (LHVC). This model predicts (1) the occurrence of localized bulges in the otherwise undeformed caldera floor, and (2) that the faults corresponding to different bulges exhibit different spatial and temporal evolution.
-
What can seismic noise tell us about the Alpine reactivation of the Iberian Massif? An example in the Iberian Central System Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-18 Juvenal Andrés; Puy Ayarza; Martin Schimmel; Imma Palomeras; Mario Ruiz; Ramon Carbonell
The Iberian Central System, formed after the Alpine reactivation of the Variscan Iberian Massif, features maximum altitudes of 2500 m. It is surrounded by two foreland basins with contrasting elevation: the Duero Basin to the north, located at 750–800 m, and the Tajo Basin to the south, lying at 450–500 m. The deep crustal structure of this mountain range seems to be characterized by the existence
-
In situ hydromechanical responses during well drilling recorded by fiber-optic distributed strain sensing Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-17 Yi Zhang; Xinglin Lei; Tsutomu Hashimoto; Ziqiu Xue
Drilling fluid infiltration during well drilling may induce pore pressure and strain perturbations in neighbored reservoir formations. In this study, we report that such small strain changes (∼20 µε) have been in situ monitored using fiber-optic distributed strain sensing (DSS) in two observation wells with different distances (approximately 3 and 9 m) from the new drilled wellbore in a shallow water
-
Coupled dynamics and evolution of primordial and recycled heterogeneity in Earth's lower mantle Solid Earth (IF 2.921) Pub Date : 2020-12-16 Anna Johanna Pia Gülcher; Maxim Dyonis Ballmer; Paul James Tackley
Abstract. The nature of compositional heterogeneity in Earth’s lower mantle remains a long-standing puzzle that can inform about the long-term thermochemical evolution and dynamics of our planet. Here, we use global-scale 2D models of thermochemical mantle convection to investigate the coupled evolution and mixing of (intrinsically-dense) recycled and (intrinsically-strong) primordial heterogeneity
Contents have been reproduced by permission of the publishers.