An improved gravity method to horizontal tectonic stresses and its applications in Tibet

It is significant for identifying mass movement patterns to invert horizontal tectonic stresses at different depths underneath Tibet.In recent years,a large number of achievements focusing on two-dimensional tectonic stresses have been obtained from gravity data.However,three-dimensional tectonic stresses in Tibet are still unknown or debatable.Therefore,in the present study an improved method to multilayer horizontal tectonic stresses using gravity observations is developed.The inverted multilayer horizontal tectonic stresses are in agreement with those from previous studies.In addition,rich tectonic structure and development can be revealed from the inverted multilayer horizontal tectonic stresses:(1)the distribution of horizontal tectonic stresses at various depths shows strong correlation with that of the tectonic elements,where major faults and earthquake epicenters are corresponding with stress highs and the stable basins are consistent with stress lows.(2)the mass movement patterns of whole Tibet present clockwise,and the material movement directions in the west and east are approximately southnorth and east-west,respectively.(3)in eastern Tibet,the eastward materials caused by the south-north extrusion between Indian and Eurasian plates are divided into two parts by the stable Sichuan Block,one flowing nearly southeast and the other moving almost northeast.The inverted multilayer horizontal tectonic stresses may provide direct evidences for mass movement patterns in Tibet.

Hydrocarbon migration in fracture-cave systems of carbonate reservoirs under tectonic stresses: A mechanism study

The fracture-cave systems of carbonate reservoirs have almost stored 30% of recoverable oil and gasaround the world. However, it is still doubtful about the mechanism of hydrocarbon migration in thefracture-cave systems. In this work, deducing from the Eshelby’ solution, we derived the equation tocalculate the bulk strain of elliptic cylinder caves applied by stresses. Calculated results indicate that thebulk strain of caves negatively increases with the radius ratio of the elliptic cave axials under fixedstresses. In the case of the effective horizontal stress increasing from 30 MPa to 80 MPa, the bulk straindifference of a cave could be up to 0.5%. It may result in 0.4% of the total cave volume of fluid transportingthrough the fracture-cave systems within such a stress cycle. Since the tectonic stresses transform in acyclic way, the volumetric ratio of new-to-old fluid in a cave would increase with the number of stresscycles. As a result, we proposed that the periodic fluid flow induced by cyclic tectonic stresses could be animportant mechanism for hydrocarbon migration in the fracture-cave systems of carbonate reservoirs.

Tensile Fractures and in situ Stress Measurement Data Constraints on Cretaceous-Present Tectonic Stress Field Evolution of the Tanlu Fault Zone in Shandong Province,North China Craton

Tectonic stress fields are the key drivers of tectonic events and the evolution of regional structures.The tectonic stress field evolution of the Tanlu fault zone in Shandong Province,located in the east of the North China Craton(NCC),may have preserved records of the NCC’s tectonic history.Borehole television survey and hydraulic fracturing were conducted to analyze the paleo and present tectonic stress fields.Three groups of tensile fractures were identified via borehole television,their azimuths being NNW-SSE,NW-SE and NE-SW,representing multiple stages of tectonic events.Hydraulic fracturing data indicates that the study region is experiencing NEE-SWW-oriented compression and nearly-N-Soriented extension,in accordance with strike-slip and compression.Since the Cretaceous,the orientation of the extensional stress has evolved counterclockwise and sequentially from nearly-NW-SE-oriented to NE-SW-oriented and even nearly N-S-oriented,the stress state having transitioned from strike-slip-extension to strike-slip-compression,in association with the rotating and oblique subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the NCC,with the participation of the Indian Plate.

Active Faulting Pattern,Present-day Tectonic Stress Field and Block Kinematics in the East Tibetan Plateau

This paper examines major active faults and the present-day tectonic stress field in the East Tibetan Plateau by integrating available data from published literature and proposes a block kinematics model of the region. It shows that the East Tibetan Plateau is dominated by strike-slip and reverse faulting stress regimes and that the maximum horizontal stress is roughly consistent with the contemporary velocity field, except for the west Qinling range where it parallels the striking of the major strike-slip faults. Active tectonics in the East Tibetan Plateau is characterized by three faulting systems. The left-slip Kunlun-Qinling faulting system combines the east Kunlun fault zone, sinistral oblique reverse faults along the Minshan range and two major NEE-striking faults cutting the west Qinling range, which accommodates eastward motion, at 10--14 mm/a, of the Chuan-Qing block. The left-slip Xianshuihe faulting system accommodated clockwise rotation of the Chuan-Dian block. The Longmenshan thrust faulting system forms the eastern margin of the East Tibetan Plateau and has been propagated to the SW of the Sichuan basin. Crustal shortening across the Longmenshan range seems low （2-4 mm/a） and absorbed only a small part of the eastward motion of the Chuan-Qing block. Most of this eastward motion has been transmitted to South China, which is moving SEE-ward at 7-9 mm/a. It is suggested from geophysical data interpretation that the crust and lithosphere of the East Tibetan Plateau is considerably thickened and theologically layered. The upper crust seems to be decoupled from the lower crust through a decollement zone at a depth of 15-20 kin, which involved the Longmenshan fault belt and propagated eastward to the SW of the Sichuan basin. The Wenchuan earthquake was just formed at the bifurcated point of this decollement system. A rheological boundary should exist beneath the Longmenshan fault belt where the lower crust of the East Tibetan Plateau and the lithospheric mantle of the Yangze block are juxtaposed.

Changes of Late Mesozoic Tectonic Regimes around the Ordos Basin(North China)and their Geodynamic Implications

A synthesis is given in this paper on late Mesozoic deformation pattern in the zones around the Ordos Basin based on lithostratigraphic and structural analyses. A relative chronology of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress evolution was established from the field analyses of fault kinematics and constrained by stratigraphic contact relationships. The results show alternation of tectonic compressional and extensional regimes. The Ordos Basin and its surroundings were in weak N-S to NNE-SSW extension during the Early to Middle Jurassic, which reactivated E-W-trending basement fractures. The tectonic regime changed to a multi-directional compressional one during the Late Jurassic, which resulted in crustal shortening deformation along the marginal zones of the Ordos Basin. Then it changed to an extensional one during the Early Cretaceous, which rifted the western, northwestern and southeastern margins of the Ordos Basin. A NW-SE compression occurred during the Late Cretaceous and caused the termination of sedimentation and uplift of the Ordos Basin. This phased evolution of the late Mesozoic tectonic stress regimes and associated deformation pattern around the Ordos Basin best records the changes in regional geodynamic settings in East Asia, from the Early to Middle Jurassic post-orogenic extension following the Triassic collision between the North and South China Blocks, to the Late Jurassic multi-directional compressions produced by synchronous convergence of the three plates （the Siberian Plate to the north, Paleo-Pacific Plate to the east and Lhasa Block to the west） towards the East Asian continent. Early Cretaceous extension might be the response to collapse and lithospheric thinning of the North China Craton.

Contemporary tectonic stress field in China

The contemporary tectonic stress field in China is obtained on the basis of Chinese stress field database and Harvard CMT catalogue. Result of the inverted tectonic stresses shows that the maximum principal stress axis strikes nearly north-south direction in the west part of Tibet plateau, ENE direction in North China. In Central China, its strikes show a ra- diated pattern, i.e., NNE in north part and NNW in south part. The detailed stress field parameters of nearly whole China are given and can be used in geodynamic stress field simulation and earthquake prediction.

The Relationship between Fractures and Tectonic Stress Field in the Extra Low-Permeability Sandstone Reservoir at the South of Western Sichuan Depression

The formation and distribution of fractures are controlled by paleotectonic stress field, and their preservative status and effects on development are dominated by the modern stress field. Since Triassic, it has experienced four tectonic movements and developed four sets of tectonic fractures in the extra low-permeability sandstone reservoir at the south of western Sichuan depression. The strikes of fractures are in the S-N, NE-SW, E-W, and NW-SE directions respectively. At the end of Triassic, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress field, for which the maximum principal stress direction was NW.SE, the fractures were well developed near the S-N faults and at the end of NE-SW faults, because of their stress concentration. At the end of Cretaceous, in the horizontal compression stress fields of the NE-SW direction, the stress was obviously lower near the NE-SW faults, thus, fractures mainly developed near the S-N faults. At the end of Neogene-Early Pleistocene, under the horizontal compression tectonic stress fields of E-W direction, stress concentrated near the NE-SW faults and fractures developed at these places, especially at the end of the NE-SE faults, the cross positions of NE-SW, and S-N faults. Therefore, fractures developed mostly near S-N faults and NE-SW faults. At the cross positions of the above two sets of faults, the degree of development of the fractures was the highest. Under the modern stress field of the NW-SE direction, the NW-SE fractures were mainly the seepage ones with tensional state, the best connectivity, the widest aperture, the highest permeability, and the minimum opening pressure.

Three dimensional tectonic stress field in North China

According to the latest data of geological structure, geophysics, in-situ stress measurement and focal mechanism,3-D tectonic stress field model in North China is built and 3-D tectonic stress field pattern of North China aresimulated by finite element method. Then the overall characteristics and regional specific feature of North Chinaare studied. Finally, the influences of the valid dynamic boundary conditions of North China Block, active faultsand the inhomogeneity of crustal medium on tectonic stress field of North China are investigated.

End Late Paleozoic tectonic stress field in the southern edge of Junggar Basin

This paper presents the end Late Paleozoic tectonic stress field in the southern edge of Junggar Basin by interpreting stress-response structures （dykes, folds, faults with slickenside and conjugate joints）. The direction of the maximum principal stress axes is interpreted to be NW-SE （about 325°）, and the accommodated motion among plates is assigned as the driving force of this tectonic stress field. The average value of the stress index Rt is about 2.09, which indicates a variation from strike-slip to compressive tectonic stress regime in the study area during the end Late Paleozoic period. The reconstruction of the tectonic field in the southern edge of Junggar Basin provides insights into the tectonic deformation processes around the southern Junggar Basin and contributes to the further understanding of basin evolution and tectonic settings during the culmination of the Paleo- zoic.

Evolution characteristics of Quaternary tectonic stress field in the north and east margin of Qinghai-Xizang plateau

By inversion of fault slip data for Quaternary tectonic stress field and the analysis of crustal deformation after lateTeriary. we explaincd the evolution of crustal dynamic about the north and east margin of Qinghai-Xizang (Tibet)plateau since Miocenc. From middle or late Miocene to early Pleistocene, the tectonic stress field was featured by amaximum principal compression which was coming from the collision of india Plate continued to the boundaryof the plateau. and was basically of reverse faulting type. Since the late period of early Pleistocene, Pleistocene continuedto push northward and the compressional deformation of the plateau interior increased continuously, meanwhile,N W-SE extension appeared on the east side of the plateau. This formed a favorable condition for the interior block offoe plateau to slide towards east and southeast, causing the faults surrounding the plateau to change from thrust tostrike-slip. -The contemporary tectonic stress field was formed from the late period of early Pleistocene and continuedto present. The direction of maximum principal compressional stress rotated clockwise with respect to the previoustectonic stress held. the stress field was mainly of strike-slip type.

The seismicity and tectonic stress field characteristics of the Longmenshan fault zone before the Wenchuan M_S8.0 earthquake

The seismicity of Longrnenshan fault zone and its vicinities before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake is studied. Based on the digital seismic waveform data observed from regional seismic networks and mobile stations, the focal mechanism solutions are determined. Our analysis results show that the seismicities of Longmenshan fault zone before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake were in stable state. No obvious phenomena of seismic activity intensifying appeared. According to focal mechanism solutions of some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake, the direction of principal compressive stress P-axis is WNW-ESE. The two hypocenter fault planes are NE-striking and NW-striking. The plane of NE direction is among N50°-70°E, the dip angles of fault planes are 60°-70° and it is very steep. The faultings of most earthquakes are dominantly characterized by dip-slip reverse and small part of faultings present strike-slip. The azimuths of principal compressive stress, the strikes of source fault planes and the dislocation types calculated from some small earthquakes before the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake are in accordance with that of the main shock. The average stress field of micro-rupture along the Longmenshan fault zone before the great earthquake is also consistent with that calculated from main shock. Zipingpu dam is located in the east side 20 km from the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. The activity increment of small earthquakes in the Zipingpu dam is in the period of water discharging. The source parameter results of the small earthquakes which occurred near the initial rupture area of the 12 May 2008 Wenchuan earthquake indicate that the focal depths are 5 to 14 km and the source parameters are identical with that of earthquake.

Modern tectonic stress field in Southwest Yunnan, China

By means of inversion of fault slip data, the parameters of 20 tectonic stress tensors in Southwest Yunnan region are determined. Compared with the average stress field of the region obtained from focal mechanism solutions, the following characteristics of modern tectonic stress field in this region are obtained. From the west of Zhenyuan-Yingpanshan fault to the south of Longling fault zone, the maximum compressional stress is in NNE direction and the stress regime is mainly of strike-slip type. In Longling fault zone and the area north to it, the direction of maximum compressional stress is near-NS or NNW, the stress regime is of strike-slip type.

Determination of the direction and magnitude of recent tectonic stress in the Xianshuihe fault zone using fault slip data

In this article,a method to determine the complete stress tensor by use of fault slip data in combination with experimental parameters of rock mechanics is elucidated;the direction and magnitude of recent tectonic stress in the Xianshuihe fault zone are determined by this method from a great deal of active fault striae data observed in the fault zone and the envelope of rock fracture determined experimentally for rock samples collected from the fault zone;and the applicability of the method and reliability of calculation results are discussed.

Numerical calculations of tectonic stress field of Chinese mainland and its neighboring regions and their applications to explanation of seismic activity

This paper made a numerical simulation to the basic tectonic stress field of Chinese mainland and its neighboringregion using the visco-elasticity finite element model and the new published displacement rate result. Main contents include the simulation of maximum shear stress and its varying rate, the maximum shear strain and its varyingrate, the shear strain energy density and its varying rate. In view of the high inhomogeneous distribution characterof seismicity in space and time in Chinese mainland and its neighboring area, the normalized background energyvalue was given by means of normalized treatment to the earthquake energy release in the eastern and westernparts of Chinese mainland. And the comparison of the simulation result with the actual seismicity was made. Thefesults show that the simulation values can explain well the earthquake distribution character of Chinese mainlandand its neighboring area.

Numerical modeling of tectonic stress field and fault activity in North China

On the basis of a 3-dimension visco-elastic finite element model of lithosphere in North China, we numerically simulate the recent mutative figures of tectonic stress field. Annual change characteristics of stress field are： 1 ） Maximum principal tensile stress is about 3 -9 kPaa-1 and its azimuth lie in NNW-SSE. 2） Maximum principal compressive stress is about 1 - 6 kPaa-1 and its azimuth lie in NEE-SWW. 3 ） Maximum principal tensile stress is higher both in the west region and Liaoning Province. 4） Variation of tectonic stress field benefits fault movement in the west part and northeast part of North China. 5 ）Annual accumulative rates of Coulomb fracture stress in Tanlu fault belt have segmentation patterns： Jiashan-Guangji segment is the high- est （6 kPaa - 1 ） , Anshan-Liaodongwan segment is the second （5 kPaa - l ） , and others are relatively lower （ 3 - 4 kPaa-1 ）.

Present-day tectonic stress in the East China Sea region and its possible origin

This paper analyzes bore-hole wall breakouts of the 5 wells located in southern part of the East China Sea regionwith logging sections deeper than 3 000 m and logging intervals longer than 1 000 m or even near 2 000 m. Bymaking a combined study of the breakout characteristics of these 5 wells and 11 other wells analyzed in Xu andWu (1997). it is inferred that the maximum horizontal principal compressive stress in the East China Sea 'region isgenerally in NE-SW direction, and the horizontal differential stress there is possibly weak. P- and T-axisorientations of focal mechanism of earthquakes occurred from 1977 to 1998 in the region of O kinawa trough andRyukyu Islands are investigated. p-axes of earthquakes in Okinawa trough are generally oriented NE-SW,coinciding with the trough stretching trend. while T-axes are nearly perpendicular to the trend. This indicates thatthe horizontal action of the Philippine Sea Plate to the East China Sea region is not pushing but pulling. A two dimensional finite element simulation is conducted to study the origin of the present-day tectonic stress in the EastChina Sea region. The result shows that the stress there is possibly attributable to both the strong northwestwardcompression in Taiwan region and the back-arc extension of the Ryukyu island arc. Less strong ear thquakes in theEast China Sea region is possibly related to the weak horizontal shear stress there.

Preliminary analysis on the tectonic stress level in the source region of Tangshan earthquake

The abundant data of focal mechanism solutions in Tangshan region, China, are inverted for the tectonic stress field. Combined with tectonophysical consideration, the magnitude of the three principal stresses, as well as their vertical variation under the average crustal rock property, in the source region of the 1976 Tangshan earthquake is estimated. The relationship between crustal stress and friction mc, pore pressure P0 and stress shape factor F is studied. The paper draws the conclusion that the vertical increasing rate of the maximum principal stress s is directly proportional to friction, and inversely to pore pressure P0 and stress shape factor F ; while the vertical increasing rate of the minimum principal tress s is directly proportional to pore pressure P0, inversely to friction mc and stress shape factor F. This study is a try to invert the data of focal mechanism solutions for the complete stress tensor.

The characteristics of tectonic stress field about strike slip earthquake－generating structure in the Chinese mainland

This paper is one of the series papers about the study on strike-slip earthquake-generating structure in the Chinese mainland. In the first part of this paper, based on the large amount of data from large earthquake investigation and the latest results of focal mechanism, the earthquake-generating structure in the Chinese mainland interior and its neighbouring region is discussed. It is concluded that the absolutely predominated earthquake, not only in number, but also in intensity, as well as in distributing area, is strike slip earthquake, and it is further stressed that the study on the strike slip earthquake-generating structure is significant for seismic risk analysis. In the second part, the characteristics of tectonic stress field about strike slip earthquake-generating structure and the compiled distribution outline of strike slip earthquake-generating fault, normal fault, and thrust fault in the Chinese mainland interior and its neighbouring region, in the light of stress characteristics of fault plane solutions, are also discussed.

Ambient tectonic shear stress field in Southern California and seismic hazard regions

ccording to the fracture mechanics rupture model of earthquakes put forward by us, several equations to compute tectonic ambient shear stress value τ0 have been derived [equations (1), (2), (3), (5)].τ0 values for intermediate and small earthquakes occurred in Chinese mainland and Southern California have been calculated by use of these equations. The results demonstrate that the level and distribution of τ0 are closely related to the location where large earthquakes will occur, i.e. the region with higher level of τ0 will be prone to occur large earthquakes and the region with lower level will usually occur small earthquakes. According to the spatial distribution of τ0 , the seismic hazard regions or the potential earthquake source regions can in some degree be determined. According to the variation of τ0 with time, the large earthquake occurrence time can be roughly estimated. According to the distribution of τ0 in Southern California and variation with time, three high stress level regions are determined, one (Goldfield area) of them is the present seismic hazard region.

Cretaceous-Early Eocene Tectonic Stress Field in China

The Cretaceous-early Eocene tectonic stress field in China was reconstructed using the data of 369 largeand medium-scale flexural folds and 157 joint sets. It was found that the maximum compressive principal stress axis in eastern China dips 32° NE (nearly horizontal), and strikes SW 212°, whereas that in western China dips 15° NE (also nearly horizontal) and trends SW 195°. The estimation of the dip angles of fold limbs and the palaeotectonic stress values indicates that there was a tendency of gradual weakening of tectonism from southwestern to northeastern China in the Cretaceous-early Eocene. At the depth of 2-3 km, the differential stress value changes from 183 MPa in Tibet to 100 MPa in North and East China.The authors consider that the tectonic stress of this period was related to the north-northeastward movement and push of the Indian-Australian plate.