The Dihedral Angle and Intersection Processes of a Conjugate Strike-Slip Fault System in the Tarim Basin, NW China

Recent studies, focused on dihedral angles and intersection processes, have increased understandings of conjugate fault mechanisms. We present new 3-D seismic data and microstructural core analysis in a case study of a large conjugate strike-slip fault system from the intracratonic Tarim Basin, NW China. Within our study area, ＂X＂ type NE and NW trending faults occur within Cambrian- Ordovician carbonates. The dihedral angles of these conjugate faults have narrow ranges, 19~ to 62~ in the Cambrian and 26~ to 51~ in the Ordovician, and their modes are 42~ and 44~ respectively. These data are significantly different from the ~60~ predicted by the Coulomb fracture criterion. It is concluded that： （1） The dihedral angles of the conjugate faults were not controlled by confining pressure, which was low and associated with shallow burial; （2） As dihedral angles were not controlled by pressure they can be used to determine the shortening direction during faulting; （3） Sequential slip may have played an important role in forming conjugate fault intersections; （4） The conjugate fault system of the Tarim basin initiated as rhombic joints; these subsequently developed into sequentially active ＂X＂ type conjugate faults; followed by preferential development of the NW-trending faults; then reactivation of the NE trending faults. This intact rhombic conjugate fault system presents new insights into mechanisms of dihedral angle development, with particular relevance to intracratonic basins.

Convex-up Style of Deformation within Grabens in Regions of Incomplete Crossing Conjugate Normal Faults: A Numerical Simulation Investigation and Case Study

Crossing conjugate normal faults(CCNFs)are extensively developed in many hydrocarbon-producing basins,generally existing in the form of incomplete CCNFs.Nevertheless,the effect of the non-conjugate zone of the CCNFs on the conjugate relay zone post late tectonic action has not been previously studied.We use 3D elastic-plastic modeling to investigate the influence of incomplete(i.e.,partially intersecting)CCNFs on the pattern of deformation of strata in the intersection region.A series of model simulations were performed to examine the effects of horizontal tectonic extension,fault size,and fault depth on the deformation of conjugate relay zones of incomplete CCNFs.Our analyses yielded the following results.(1)The model of incomplete conjugation predicts a convex-up style of deformation in the conjugate graben region superimposed on overall subsidence under applied horizontal tectonic extension.(2)The degree of convex-up deformation of the conjugate graben depends on the influence of the non-conjugate zone on the conjugate relay zone,which varies with the amount of horizontal tectonic extension,fault size,and fault burial depth.(3)Our results indicate that incomplete CCNFs can form convex-up deformation,similar to that in the Nanpu Sag area and provide a sound understanding of hydrocarbon migration and accumulation.

Study on the crustal stress fi eld of the Tengchong volcanic area using composite focal mechanism method

We calculated the crustal stress field using the composite focal mechanism method based on the P-wave initial motion polarity data of the Tengchong volcanic area from January 2011 to April 2019 obtained from the Bulletin of Seismological Observations of Chinese stations.The magnitude range of earthquakes used in this study is 0–4,and their magnitudes are mainly approximately 1.0.To investigate the infl uence of the source location on the stress fi eld and obtain reliable stress fi elds of the study area,we applied the double-diff erence algorithm to relocate the seismic events,obtaining more accurate and reliable relative positions of seismic events with a clearer seismic belt.On the basis of relocation results,the study on the stress fi eld along the fault zone was conducted,and the infl uence of seismic event position on the stress fi eld was analyzed.Results show that,fi rst,the current stress regime in the shallow crust of the Tengchong volcanic area is strike-slip faulting,the orientation of the principal compressive stress axis is NE–SW,the orientation of the principal extension stress axis is SE–NW,the principal compressive and extension stress axes are nearly horizontal,and the dip angle of intermediate principal stress axis is relatively large.This reflects that the volcanic and seismic activities in the Tengchong volcanic area are mainly controlled by the collision and squeezing eff ect of the Indian–Eurasian plate.It also refl ects that the current tensile action caused by deep magma activity has little infl uence on the shallow crustal stress field.Second,the stress field along fault zones reveals that there exist local stress fi elds,such as the thrust stress regime at the strike-slip fault terminal area,which is consistent with the compressional area at the intersection of conjugate strike-slip faults indicated by previous study.Third,the stress fi eld results are consistent,regardless of using the original location in the bulletin or the relocated location,indicating that the infl uence of the event location error can be neglected when there are suffi cient data and refl ecting the stability of the composite focal mechanism method.The findings can serve as a reference for investigating geological structure movement,seismic activities,and volcanic activities in the Tengchong volcanic area.

Cenozoic tectonic evolution of regional fault systems in the SE Tibetan Plateau

The SE Tibetan Plateau,tectonically situated in the eastern India-Eurasia oblique convergence zone,has experienced multiple stages of deformation since the Cenozoic.Three major tectonic boundaries—the Ailaoshan-Red River,ChongshanLincang-Inthanon,and Gaoligong-Mogok shear zones—delineate the first-order tectonic framework in this region.The most striking structural features in the block interiors are a series of NW-and NE-trending fault systems,such as the Dayingjiang,Longlin-Ruili,Nantinghe,Red River,Weixi-Qiaohou,and Lancang-Genma faults,which have conjugate geometric relationships.In this study,we review these structures’geometric and kinematic characteristics and deformation histories.A synthesis of existing geological observations,geomorphological analyses,and chronological data reveals three major Cenozoic tectonothermal events,including crustal shortening,strike-slip shearing,and kinematic reversal.The boundary structures controlled the tectonic extrusion of plateau material during the early Oligocene-early Miocene.In the mid-late Miocene,NW-and NE-trending fault systems mostly experienced diachronous slip-sense inversions.The onset and spatial trend of regional kinematic reversal are constrained by existing chronologic data.Together with geophysical and geodetic observations,the activity and geodynamic drivers of the major fault systems and regional deformation styles are explored,revealing that the SE Tibetan Plateau underwent a transition from discrete(lateral block extrusion)to diffuse deformation in the mid-late Miocene.The intracontinental crustal deformation and its coupling with dynamic processes at depth during the plateau growth are discussed in the context of the IndiaEurasia convergence.