Advances in seismological methods for characterizing fault zone structure

Large earthquakes frequently occur along complex fault systems.Understanding seismic rupture and long-term fault evolution requires constraining the geometric and material properties of fault zone structures.We provide a comprehensive overview of recent advancements in seismological methods used to study fault zone structures,including seismic tomography,fault zone seismic wave analysis,and seismicity analysis.Observational conditions limit our current ability to fully characterize fault zones,for example,insufficient imaging resolution to discern small-scale anomalies,incomplete capture of crucial fault zone seismic waves,and limited precision in event location accuracy.Dense seismic arrays can overcome these limitations and enable more detailed investigations of fault zone structures.Moreover,we present new insights into the structure of the Anninghe-Xiaojiang fault zone in the southeastern margin of the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau based on data collected from a dense seismic array.We found that utilizing a dense seismic array can identify small-scale features within fault zones,aiding in the interpretation of fault zone geometry and material properties.

Shear wave velocity model using HVSR inversion beneath Bandar Lampung City

The horizontal-to-vertical spectral ratio(HVSR)method has been used to characterize site-effect parameters that are indispensable in seismic hazard and risk-reduction studies in urban areas and rapid land-use planning.This method is widely used because it is the cheapest and simplest geophysical method for the acquisition and processing stages.In subsequent developments,the HVSR method has been widely used to determine elastic rock parameters,particularly shear wave velocity(v_(S)),through the HVSR curve inversion process.Furthermore,the v_(S)structural model can be used to delineate the presence of complex geological structures,particularly faults and sedimentary basins.Bandar Lampung is a city in Lampung Province with many fault structures and groundwater basins to the south.There are 83 HVSR measurement points around Bandar Lampung for delineating the presence of fault structures and groundwater basins.We produced the HVSR curve from the measurement results and then performed an inversion process using the particle swarm optimization algorithm to obtain v_(S)for the depth profile.Subsequently,from this profile,we produced a two-dimensional(2D)lateral and vertical model.The mean v_(S)value was calculated from all the measurement points,and we found stiff soil layers reaching depths of approximately 5 m,with a value of v_(S)<330 m/s.A bedrock layer with a velocity exceeding 1250 m/s was visible at a depth of 100 m.Based on the 2D model,the v_(S)structure shows that the city of Bandar Lampung is divided into two zones,with a NW-SE boundary.The north-middle-eastern part of the city consists of harder rocks.This harder rock is characterized by extremely high v_(S)values,starting from a depth of 50 m.In contrast,the south-middle-west exhibits a low-moderate v_(S)anomaly associated with groundwater basins SW of the city.From the 2D v_(S)structural model,fault structures can be found along the city,characterized by a contrast of v_(S)values from low to medium and from medium to high.

Recent advances in imaging crustal fault zones: a review

Crustal faults usually have a fault core and surrounding regions of brittle damage, forming a low-velocity zone （LVZ） in the immediate vicinity of the main slip interface. The LVZ may amplify ground motion, influence rupture propagation, and hold important information of earthquake physics. A number of geophysical and geodetic methods have been developed to derive high-resolution structure of the LVZ. Here, I review a few recent approaches, including ambient noise cross-correlation on dense across-fault arrays and GPS recordings of fault-zone trapped waves. Despite the past efforts, many questions concerning the LVZ structure remain unclear, such as the depth extent of the LVZ. High-quality data from larger and denser arrays and new seismic imaging technique using larger portion of recorded waveforms, which are currently under active development, may be able to better resolve the LVZ structure. In addition, effects of the alongstrike segmentation and gradational velocity changes across the boundaries between the LVZ and the host rock on rupture propagation should be investigated by conducting comprehensive numerical experiments. Furthermore, high-quality active sources such as recently developed large-volume airgun arrays provide a powerful tool to continuously monitor temporal changes of fault-zone properties, and thus can advance our understanding of fault zone evolution.

New approach for the digital reconstruction of complex mine faults and its application in mining

Visualization of complex geological structures can technically support the accurate prediction and prevention of coal mine disasters.This study proposed a new digital reconstruction method to visualize geological structures based on establishing a virtual model in the digital twin system.This methodology for the digital reconstruction of complex fault structures comprises the following four aspects:(1)collection and fdelity of multi-physical feld data of the fault structures,(2)the transmission of multi-physical feld data,(3)the normalization of multi-physical feld data,and(4)digital model reconstruction of fault structures.The key scientifc issues of this methodology to be resolved include in situ fdelity of multi-feld data and normalized programming of multi-source data.In addition,according to the geological background and conditions in Da’anshan coal mine in western Beijing,China,a preliminary attempt is made to reconstruct a digital model of fault and fold structures using the methodology proposed in this study.

Fractal Characteristics of Fault Structures and Their Use for Mapping Ore-prospecting Potential in the Qitianling Area, Southern Hunan Province, China

Quantitative analyses of the spatial distribution of fault structures can provide a theoretical basis for forecasting prospective ore deposits. Characteristics and complexity of fault structure distribution in the Qitianling area, Southern Hunan Province, China, were quantitatively calculated and appraised by fractal and multifractal methods to evaluate the relation between fault structures and ore-prospecting potential. The results show that the lengths of faults can be modeled as multifractals. Multifractal spectra evidently reflect the characteristics of the scaling of fault structures. The box- counting dimension value （D） of fault structures is equal to 1.656, as indicates complexity of the spatial distribution of faults and favorable structural conditions for the formation of ore deposits. Moreover, the D values of sub-regions were calculated and isopleths of their fractal dimension values were plotted accordingly. Overlay analyses of isopleths of fractal dimension values and distributions of known ore deposits show that areas with the larger fractal dimension values of fault structures have more ore deposits. This spatial coupling relationship between D values and ore deposits can be used to forecast and explore other ore deposits. On the basis of complexity theory for ore-forming systems, three exploration targets with high D values were delineated as prospective ore deposits.

Electrical Structure and Fault Features of Crust and Upper Mantle beneath the Western Margin of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau:Evidence from the Magnetotelluric Survey along Zhada-Quanshui Lake Profile

The magnetotelluric （MT） survey along the Zhada （札达）-Quanshui （泉水） Lake profile on the western margin of the Qinghai （青海）-Tibet plateau shows that the study area is divided into three tectonic provinces by the Yalung Tsangpo and Bangong （班公）-Nujiang （怒江） sutures. From south to north these are the Himalayan terrane, Gangdise terrane, and Qiangtang （羌塘） terrane. For the study area, there are widespread high-conductivity layers in the mid and lower crust, the top layers of which fluctuate intensively. The high-conductivity layer within the Gangdise terrane is deeper than those within the Qiangtang terrane and the Himalaya terrane, and the deepest high-conductivity layer is to the south of the Bangong-Nujiang suture. The top surface of the high-conductivity layer in the south of the Bangong-Nujiang suture is about 20 km lower than that in the north of it. The high-conductivity layer within the Gangdise terrane dips toward north and there are two high-conductivity layers within the crust of the southern Qiangtang terrane. In the upper crust along the profile, there are groups of lateral electrical gradient zones or distortion zones of different scales and occurrence indicating the distribution of faults and sutures along the profile. According to the electrical structure, the structural characteristics and space distribution of the Yalung Tsangpo suture, Bangong.Nujiang suture, and the major faults of Longmucuo （龙木错） and Geerzangbu are inferred.

Study on fault-controlled hydrocarbon migration and accumulation process and models in Zhu I Depression

Through the analysis of the faults and their internal structure in Zhu I Depression,it is found that the internal structure of the late fault is obviously segmented vertically.It develops unitary structure(simple fault plane)in shallow layers,binary structure(induced fracture zone in hanging wall and sliding fracture zone in footwall)in middle,layers and ternary structure(induced fracture zone in hanging wall and sliding fracture zone in middle,and induced fracture zone in footwall)in deep layers.Because the induced fracture zone is a high porosity and permeability zone,and the sliding fracture zone is a low porosity and ultra-low permeability zone,the late fault in middle layers has the character of"transporting while sealing".The late fault can transport hydrocarbon by its induced fracture zone in the side of the hanging wall and seal hydrocarbon by its sliding fracture zone in the side of the footwall.In deep layers,the late fault has the character of"dual-transportation",induced fracture zones in both sides of hanging wall and footwall can transport hydrocarbon.The early fault that only developed in the deep layers is presumed to be unitary structure,which plays a completely sealing role in the process of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation due to inactivity during the hydrocarbon filling period.Controlled by hydrocarbon source,early/late faults,sand bodies and traps,two reservoir-forming models of"inverted L"and"stereo-spiral"can be proposed in middle layers,while two reservoir-forming models of"cross fault"and"lateral fault sealing"are developed in the deep layers of Zhu I Depression.

Internal structures and high-velocity frictional properties of Longmenshan fault zone at Shenxigou activated during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake

This paper reports internal structures of a wide fault zone at Shenxigou,Dujiangyan,Sichuan province,China,and high-velocity frictional properties of the fault gouge collected near the coseismic slip zone during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake.Vertical offset and horizontal displacement at the trench site were 2.8 m（NW side up）and 4.8 m（right-lateral）,respectively.The fault zone formed in Triassic sandstone,siltstone,and shale about 500 m away from the Yingxiu-Beichuan fault,a major fault in the Longmenshan fault system.A trench survey across the coseismic fault,and observations of outcrops and drill cores down to a depth of 57 m revealed that the fault zone consists of fault gouge and fault breccia of about0.5 and 250-300 m in widths,respectively,and that the fault strikes N62°E and dips 68° to NW.Quaternary conglomerates were recovered beneath the fault in the drilling,so that the fault moved at least 55 m along the coseismic slip zone,experiencing about 18 events of similar sizes.The fault core is composed of grayish gouge（GG） and blackish gouge（BG） with very complex slip-zone structures.BG contains low-crystalline graphite of about 30 %.High-velocity friction experiments were conducted at normal stresses of 0.6-2.1 MPa and slip rates of 0.1-2.1 m/s.Both GG and BG exhibit dramatic slip weakening at constant high slip rates that can be described as an exponential decay from peak friction coefficient lpto steadystate friction coefficient lssover a slip-weakening distance Dc.Deformation of GG and BG is characterized by overlapped slip-zone structures and development of sharp slickenside surfaces,respectively.Comparison of our data with those reported for other outcrops indicates that the high-velocity frictional properties of the Longmenshan fault zones are quite uniform and the high-velocity weakening must have promoted dynamic rupture propagation during the Wenchuan earthquake.

Characteristics of fault zones and their control on remaining oil distribution at the fault edge: a case study from the northern Xingshugang Anticline in the Daqing Oilfield, China

Most major oil zones in the Daqing Oilfield have reached a later,high water cut stage,but oil recovery is still only approximately 35%,and 50%of reserves remain to be recovered.The remaining oil is primarily distributed at the edge of faults,in poor sand bodies,and in insufficiently injected and produced areas.Therefore,the edge of faults is a major target for remaining oil enrichment and potential tapping.Based on the dynamic change of production from development wells determined by the injection-recovery relationship at the edge of faults,we analyzed the control of structural features of faults on remaining oil enrichment at the edge.Our results show that the macroscopic structural features and their geometric relationship with sand bodies controlled remaining oil enrichment zones like the edges of NNE-striking faults,the footwalls of antithetic faults,the hard linkage segments（two faults had linked together with each other to form a bigger through-going fault）,the tips of faults,and the oblique anticlines of soft linkages.Fault edges formed two types of forward microamplitude structures：（1） the tilted uplift of footwalls controlled by inverse fault sections and（2） the hanging-wall horizontal anticlines controlled by synthetic fault points.The remaining oil distribution was controlled by microamplitude structures.Consequently,such zones as the tilted uplift of the footwall of the NNW-striking antithetic faults with a fault throw larger than 40 m,the hard linkage segments,the tips of faults,and the oblique anticlines of soft linkage were favorable for tapping the remaining oil potential.Multi-target directional drilling was used for remaining oil development at fault edges.Reasonable fault spacing was determined on the basis of fault combinations and width of the shattered zone.Well core and log data revealed that the width of the shattered zone on the side of the fault core was less than 15 m in general;therefore,the distance from a fault to the development target should be larger than 15 m.Vertically segmented growth faults should take the separation of the lateral overlap of faults into account.Therefore,the safe distance of remaining oil well deployment at the fault edge should be larger than the sum of the width of shattered zone in faults and the separation of growth faults by vertical segmentation.

Dynamic Analysis of Deformational Structures of the Xianniishan Fault Zone in the Three Gorges of the Yangtze River

Field investigation and laboratory work reveal that inhomogeneity of the deformation of the Xiannushan fault is mainly characterized by lateral zonation, longitudinal segmentation and downward stratification. Based on these results, a 3-D deformational structure model of the fault was established and its geometrical and kinematic characteristics in two main deformational stages i.e. the main Yanshanian and Himalayan were discussed. The directions of principal and the differential stresses in these two stages were determined by using conjugate joints, striations of fault planes and microstructures of the fault zone. The direction of σI is N-S in direction with differential stresses of 150-250 MPa in the Yanshanian, and N70E with a differential stress ranging from 80-120 MPa in the Himalayan.

Characteristics of fault structures in the south coastal zone of Taizhou based on aeromagnetic data

The south coastal of Taizhou lies on the magmatic rock belt along the southeast coast of China,which has a complex regional geological structures,intense tectonic movement,and frequent magmatic activities.On the basis of the latest aeromagnetic data,combined with regional geology,gravity,and magnetic susceptibility information,integrated interpretation of the regional aeromagnetic anomalies and their refl ected faults was completed.According to the block features in diff erent zones of the reduction to the pole aeromagnetic data,the magnetic field characteristics and relationship with the structure division were described in detail.The different characteristics of the magnetic field are the concentrated reflection of tectonic movements,magmatic activities,and stratigraphic distributions;the fault structure,especially deep and large fault structures,was inferred and studied.The fault structures were mainly distributed in the NE,NNE,and NW directions,with approximately equal spacing between them.The magnetic anomaly is mainly characterized by the boundary,gradient zones,and beaded anomalies in a different magnetic field.The faults are not only important tectonic boundaries in this region but also tectonic belts that control the distribution of mineralization.Under the interaction of these faults,they form the basic structural pattern of the east-west zone and the north-south block.The NE faults have the largest scale and obviously control the diff erent magnetic fi elds and magmatic activities.The results can provide a reference for further study of the distribution and activity characteristics of magmatic rocks in the coastal zone.

Numerical simulation of the floor water-inrush in working face influenced by fault structure

Used numerical simulation method to study the floor water-inrush mechanism in working face which was influenced by fault structure, and set up many kinds of models and performs numerical calculation by fully using large finite element soft-ANSYS and element birth-death method. The results show that the more high the underground water pressure, the more big the floor displacement and possibility of water-inrush; the floor which has fault structure is more prone to water-inrush than the floor which not has fault structure, the floor which has multi-groups cracks is more prone to water-inrush than the floor which has single-group cracks. The numerical simulation result forecasts the water-inrush in working face preferably.

Fault geometrical model of Dujiangyan section in Longmenshan fault zone

The focal mechanism solution on the seismic fault plane can reflect the geometric and kinematic characteristics of faults, and it is an important way to further study the fine structure of fault plane. From the focal mechanism solution of the earthquakes around the Dujiangyan fault in Longmenshan fault zone, we derived the average dip angle of Dujiangyan fault is 45.1° based on the seismic moment tensor theory. In order to refine the fault geometry structure, this paper decomposed it into multiple sub-fault planes along the length and width of the fault plane and forms a number of models A13, B13, A23 a, A23 b, A23 c, B23 a,B23 b and B23 c, then calculated the sub-fault’s dip of each model. In order to clarify exactly which one of the fault models is closest to the real fault model, the fault slip was carried out for each model in turn, then compared the surface displacement of each model with GPS observations. The results show that B23 c model with high dip in shallow and small dip in deep is the best model, the lengths of each subfault of Dujiangyan fault from south to north are 33 km, 21 km and 46 km, respectively. When the depth of the fault bottom is about 11 km, the dip angles are 70.56°, 67.41° and 45.55°.When the depth of the fault bottom is about 30 km, The fault dip angles are 44.55°, 29.18° and 44.25°.

Fault Tolerant Suffix Trees

Classical algorithms and data structures assume that the underlying memory is reliable,and the data remain safe during or after processing.However,the assumption is perilous as several studies have shown that large and inexpensive memories are vulnerable to bit flips.Thus,the correctness of output of a classical algorithm can be threatened by a few memory faults.Fault tolerant data structures and resilient algorithms are developed to tolerate a limited number of faults and provide a correct output based on the uncorrupted part of the data.Suffix tree is one of the important data structures that has widespread applications including substring search,super string problem and data compression.The fault tolerant version of the suffix tree presented in the literature uses complex techniques of encodable and decodable error-correcting codes,blocked data structures and fault-resistant tries.In this work,we use the natural approach of data replication to develop a fault tolerant suffix tree based on the faulty memory random access machine model.The proposed data structure stores copies of the indices to sustain memory faults injected by an adversary.We develop a resilient version of the Ukkonen’s algorithm for constructing the fault tolerant suffix tree and derive an upper bound on the number of corrupt suffixes.

Characteristics and origin of continental marginal fault depressions under the background of preexisting subduction continental margin,northern South China Sea,China

Based on the new seismic and drilling data and the recent related research results,this paper systematically analyzes the diversity and complexity of evolution process of crustal lithosphere structure and basin structure in the Pearl River Mouth Basin on the northern margin of the South China Sea.Three types of detachment faults of different structural levels exist:crust-mantle detachment,inter-crust detachment and upper crust detachment.It is considered that different types of extensional detachment control different subbasin structures.Many fault depressions controlled by upper crust detachment faults have been found in the Zhu I Depression located in the proximal zone.These detachment faults are usually reformed by magma emplacement or controlled by preexisting faults.Baiyun-Liwan Sag located in the hyperextension area shows different characteristics of internal structure.The Baiyun main sag with relative weak magmatism transformation is a wide-deep fault depression,which is controlled by crust-mantle detachment system.Extensive magmatism occurred in the eastern and southwest fault steps of the Baiyun Sag after Middle Eocene,and the crust ductile extensional deformation resulted in wide-shallow fault depression controlled by the upper crust detachment fault.Based on the classical lithosphere extensional breaking and basin tectonic evolution in the Atlantic margin,it is believed that the magmatic activities and pre-existing structures in the Mesozoic subduction continental margin background are important controlling factors for the diversified continental margin faulted structures in the northern South China Sea.

Basement interface structural characteristics beneath Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area in Xinjiang, China

The seismic data obtained from high resolution seismic refraction profile in Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area in Xinjiang, China were further processed with ray hit analysis method and more complete basement interface structural characteristics beneath Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area were determined. The results show that there are two clear basement interfaces at the upper crust in Jiashi strong earthquake swarm area. The first one with buried depth ranging from 2.6 km to 3.3 km presents integral and continuous structure, and it appears an inclined plane interface and smoothly rises up toward Tianshan Mountain. The second basement interface with buried depth from 8.5 km to 11.8 km, is the antiquated crystalline basement of Tarim basin. Near the post number of 37 km, the buried depth of the crystalline basement changed abruptly by 2.5 km, which maybe result from an ultra crystalline basement fault. If taking this fault as a boundary, the crystalline basement could be divided into two parts, i.e. the southwestern segment with buried depth about 11.5 km, and the northeastern segment with buried depth approxi-mately from 8.5 km to 9.0 km. That is to say, in each segment, the buried depth changes not too much. The northeast segment rises up as a whole and upheaves slightly from southwest to northeast, which reflects the upper crustal deformation characteristics under the special tectonic background at the northwestern edge of Tarim basin.

Preliminary Study on Cenozoic Group and Fault Activity in the Sea Area Near the Yangtze River Mouth

By shallow seismic prospecting, the Cenozoic Group in the sea area near the Yangtze River Mouth can be divided into five seismic sequences. They correspond to the Quaternary, Pliocene, Upper Miocene, Lower Miocene and Eocene respectively. The Quaternary System covers all the detecting area. The Tertiary System overlaps and thins out from NE to SW. The sedimentary basement mainly consists of volcanic rock (J 3) and acidic rock (r 3 5). Paleogene or Late Cretaceous basins are not found there. The faults that have been detected are all normal faults. They can be divided into three groups (NE, NW, near EW) by their trend. The NE and NW trending faults are predominant, and agree with aeromagnetic anomaly. Their length and displacement are larger than that of the EW trending faults. The activity of the NE trending faults is different in different segments. The SW segment is a Quaternary fault, the middle segment is a Neogene fault, The NE is Paleogene. But the segment of the NW trending fault is not obvious. The average vertical displacement rate is about 0 015mm/a.

New Recognition about Faulted Structures in Tarim Basin

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Geometric Structure and Tectonic Activities of Wanquan Fault,Hebei Province

Based on detailed investigations and prospecting,this paper describes the geometrical characteristics and tectonic activities of Wanquan fault in northwest of Beijing. This fault strikes mainly northeast or northeast to north,dipping southeast,and extends over a length of 15km. It is a major geological and geomorphological margin,controlling the neotectonic movement in this region. On the southeast side of Wanquan fault are the Late Quaternary unconsolidated deposits,forming a basin or deposition; but on the other side is Mesozoic volcano debris,forming lower-mountains and hills. Wanquan fault is a mid- to-high-angle normal fault dipping southeast. This fault was more active in the Quaternary. Since the middle-late part of the alate Pleistocene,the average rate with vertical slip of a single fault is over 0. 03 ～ 0. 3mm /a,but the fault has multiple slipping surfaces,and a total rate with vertical slip will be estimated.

Tectono-paleogeographic study of the Early Cretaceous in the Songliao Basin

Based on first-hand material from the geological exploration of petroleum,we made a detailed study of the tectonic development in the Early Cretaceous and the distribution of basement rifts in the Songliao Basin.The sedimentary characteristics of this epoch and the tectono-paleogeography of the basin were expounded.The results show that in its early stages,the Songliao Basin was characterized by a detached faulted basin in which mainly lake facies developed among mountains.It became gradually one lake during the late stages of the Early Cretaceous.During this period,the fault activity in the Songliao Basin changed from a turbulent to a quiet development,the water area from small separated lakes to one large lake,in which the sedimentary facies were divided into asymmetric eastern and western parts.In the basin a volcanic clastic rock-alluvial fan system developed and a fan delta-lake-small delta-river system was mainly deposired.Our research also shows that the basement rifts not only controlled the distribution of fault depressions and the tectonic development in the Early Cretaceous,but had also an effect on the orientation of sedimentation,source area and river system,which determine the tectonopaleogeography of the Early Cretaceous.