Mining seismicity, gas outburst and the sig-nificance of their relationship in the study of physics of earthquake source

This paper presents an overview of mining seismicity, gas outburst and their origin. The internal relation of mining seismicity and gas outburst in the dynamic process is studied on the basis of the fact that these disasters sometimes occur simultaneously. The examples show a close relationship between mining seismicity and gas outburst in high gassy coal mines. It is proposed that strong mine shocks plus the response of low value and delay time are early warning signals. The mechanism of the relationship between mining seismicity and gas outburst is analyzed by using the location of mining shocks, focus mechanism, cause of mining shocks and conditions of gas outburst. The trigger action of gas fluid on mining shocks, especially the effect of the anomalous property of supercritical fluid on the preparation and occurrence of mining shocks is discussed. According to the similarity between mining-induced earthquakes and tectonic earthquakes in terms of mechanism, the significance of the above results in the study of physics of earthquake source is also discussed.

Earthquake source parameters of the 2009 M_W7.8 Fiordland (New Zealand) earthquake from L-band InSAR observations

The 2009 M W 7.8 Fiordland （New Zealand） earthquake is the largest to have occurred in New Zealand since the 1931 M W 7.8 Hawke’s Bay earthquake, 1 000 km to the northwest. In this paper two tracks of ALOS PALSAR interferograms （one ascending and one descending） are used to determine fault geometry and slip distribution of this large earthquake. Modeling the event as dislocation in an elastic half-space suggests that the earthquake resulted from slip on a SSW-NNE orientated thrust fault that is associated with the subduction between the Pacific and Australian Plates, with oblique displacement of up to 6.3 m. This finding is consistent with the preliminary studies undertaken by the USGS using seismic data.

The plate contact geometry investigation based on earthquake source parameters at the Burma arc subduction zone

Accurately characterizing the threedimensional geometric contacts between the crust of the Chinese mainland and adjacent regions is important for understanding the dynamics of this part of Asia from the viewpoint of global plate systems. In this pa per, a method is introduced to investigate the geometric contacts between the Eurasian and Indian plates at the Burma arc sub duction zone using earthquake source parameters based on the Slabl.0 model of Hayes et al. （2009, 2010）. The distribution of earthquake focus depths positioned in 166 sections along the Burma Arc subduction zone boundary has been investigated. Linear plane fitting and curved surface fitting has been performed on each section. Threedimensional geometric contacts and the extent of subduction are defined quantitatively. Finally, the focal depth distribution is outlined for six typical sections along the Burma arc subduction zone, combining focal mechanisms with background knowledge of geologic structure. Possible dy namic interaction patterns are presented and discussed. This paper provides an elementary method for studying the geometric contact of the Chinese mainland crust with adjacent plates and serves as a global reference for dynamic interactions between plates and related geodynamic investigations.

Possible Multiple Sources of the Strong 1117 Po Plain Earthquake, Inferred from the Plio-Quaternary Evolution of the Northern Adriatic Area

The strongest documented seismic disaster ever occurred in the Po Plain area (January 3, 1117, M = 6.5) involved significant damage over a large zone. The genetic mechanism of such an event, most probably caused by more than one earthquake, is still an object of debate. Above all, the sources so far proposed cannot account for significant features of the observed macroseismic field. In this work, we suggest that the damage in the Verona zone was caused by the activation of a fault in the Lessini tectonic district, while damage in the central Po Plain may be related to a thrust fault located beneath the Giudicarie belt. The effects felt in northern Tuscany might derive from the seismic activation of the presumed SW-ward buried prolongation of the Giudicarie fault. The presence of such transpressional lithospheric discontinuity in the Adriatic domain since the upper Miocene and its reactivation (Pliocene-Pleistocene) as a thrust zone is mainly suggested by an accurate analysis of the observed deformation pattern in the central Mediterranean region. The proposed Giudicarie source may also help to explain the damage observed in the central Po Plain on December 25, 1222, which is not compatible with the seismic sources so far proposed.

Characteristics of fault rocks and paleo-earthquake source along the Koktokay-Ertai fault zone,Xinjiang,China

The Koktokay Ertai fault zone was developed on the basis of a former ductile shear zone (mylonite zone). The mylonites were formed in the brittle ductile transition zone at 10～15 km depth within the crust. The rocks had experienced multi period deformation processes, including ductile deformation, ductile instability and brittle seismic faulting which had gave rise to the formation of Koktokay Ertai fault zone and the development of pseudotachylytes. The pseudotachylytes are distributed within an area about 60 km in length and 300 m in width, which may represent the scale of the paleo earthquake source. The physical conditions of the paleo earthquake source was similar to those for the formation of the mylonites along this zone.

Preliminary Study on the Correlation between Intensity Isoseismals and the Seismic Source Process of the Wenchuan Earthquake in Sichuan,China

The M_S8.0 Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan caused heavy casualties and serious economic loss because of damage to engineering structures in high earthquake intensity regions. Earthquake intensity, especially in the near source region, as a macroscopic description of distribution of strong ground motions certain correlations with the earthquake source process, such as rupture directivity and the hanging-wall effect of the near-fault ground motions of this earthquake. In this article some qualitative analyses are carried out. The conclusion of this study may be useful for emergence response and rescue after earthquakes, when the strong ground motion recordings and the intensity distribution are not available immediately.

The K Method for Estimating Earthquake Activity Parameters and Effect of the Boundary Uncertainty of the Source Region:Discussion on the Seismic Zoning Method

Two aspects of a new method,which can be used for seismic zoning,are introduced in this paper.On the one hand,the approach to estimate b value and annual activity rate proposed by Kijko and Sellevoll needs to use the earthquake catalogue.The existing earthquake catalogue contains both historical and recent instrumental data sets and it is inadequate to use only one part.Combining the large number of historical events with recent complete records and taking the magnitude uncertainty into account,Kijko’s method gives the maximum likelihood estimation of b value and annual activity rate,which might be more realistic.On the other hand,this method considers the source zone boundary uncertainty in seismic hazard analysis,which means the earthquake activity rate across a boundary of a source zone changes smoothly instead of abruptly and avoids too large a gradient in the calculated results.

Study on Fine Crustal Structure of the Sanhe-Pinggu Earthquake (M8.0) Region by Deep Seismic Reflection Profiling

Two near-vertical deep seismic reflection profiles (140km-long, 24-fold) were completed in the 1679 Sanhe-Pinggu earthquake (M8.0) region. The profiles ran through the Xiadian fault and the Ershilichangshan fault. The profiling result shows that the crust in this region is divided into the upper crust, the lower crust and the crust-mantle transitional zone by two powerful laminated reflectors: one at the two-way travel-time of about 7.0s (21km), the other at about 11.0～12.5s (33～37km). Crustal structure varies significantly in vertical direction. The shallow part is characterized by obvious stratification, multilayers and complexity. The upper crust on the whole features reflection “transparency”, while the lower crust features distinct reflectivity. Crustal structure also varies a lot in the lateral direction. The main fracture in this region is the deep fault under the Xiadian fault. This deep fault is steeply inclined (nearly vertical), and is supposed to be the causative fault of the Sanhe-Pinggu M8.0 earthquake. The two profiles respectively reveal the existence of local strong reflectivity in the lower crust and the lower part of the upper crust, which is assumed to be a dike or rock mass formed by the upwelling and cooling down of materials from the upper mantle. Magmatic activity in this part brought about differences in regional stress distribution, which then gave rise to the formation of the deep fault. That is supposed to be the deep structural setting for the Sanhe-Pinggu M8.0 earthquake.

Rupture behavior of the 2017 M_(W)6.6 Poso earthquake in Sulawesi,Indonesia

On May 29, 2017, the MW6.6 Poso earthquake occurred in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, causing moderate damages. The mainshock rupture and primary aftershock cluster occurred in the active Palolo-Sausu tectonic zone, and some aftershocks also took place around the Tokararu fault. However, the rupture mechanism of this earthquake and its relation to regional tectonics are not clear. In this study, the rupture process of the Poso mainshock is estimated by finite-fault waveform inversion, which is constrained by teleseismic bodies and surface waves. The rupture propagates upward unilaterally in a southwest-dipping moderate-angle(~34°) normal fault beneath Tokorondo Mountains, with a notable~15% initial moment release at the first 4 s of the ~12 s rupture duration. The average and peak slip are0.5 m and 1.5 m, respectively. The rupture velocity is relatively slow(less than 2.5 km/s), and the Coulomb stress changes due to the mainshock are obtained using the inverted coseismic slip.

Studies on seismic source

During the period of 1999~2002, the Chinese seismologists made a serious of developments in the study on seismic sources including observations, experiments and theory. In the field of observation, the methods of the accuracy location of earthquake sources, the inversion of seismic moment tensor and the mechanism of earthquake source are improved and developed. A lot of important earthquake events are studied by using these methods. The rupture processes of these events are inverted and investigated combined with the local stress fields and the tectonic moment by using the measurements of surface deformation. In the fields of experiments and theory, many developments are obtained in cause of seismic formation, condition of stress and tectonics, dynamics of earthquake rupture, rock fracture and nucleation of strong earthquakes.

Study on the Cause of Complex Spatial Distribution of the Tangshan Earthquake Sequence

By analyzing higher-accuracy location data of the Tangshan earthquake sequence,a clear distribution pattern of three aftershock belts in the NE,NWW,and NW directions of has been obtained.The analysis reveals three rupture planes of strong events of MS7.8,MS7.1 and MS6.9 in the sequence.It indicates that the complex pattern is closely related to the earthquake source,and the NE-,NWW-and NW-trending regional fault zones,which have been revealed by the research of the pre-seismicity anomaly.In summary,the source is located in the junction of the three fault zones,and the rupture planes of the three strong events located in the source can be regarded as the locked segments on the three fault zones.On these grounds,the paper explains the complexity of the source and epicentral distribution of aftershocks.

A Study on the Characteristics of the Yutian,Xinjiang M_S7.3 Earthquake,February 12,2014

The February 12, 2014, Ms7. 3, earthquake in Yutian, Xinjiang, China, occurred as a result of shallow strike-slip faulting in the tectonicaUy complex region of the northern Tibetan Plateau, with a depth of 17kin. This earthquake occurred several hundred kilometers north of the convergent India-Eurasia plate boundary. The epicenter location of the Yutian earthquake, 36. 1° N, 82. 5° E, is ll0km north of Yutian County, Hotan Prefecture. A large number of aftershocks from ML2. 0 to ML3. 0 occurred until 12：00 o＇clock, February 23, 2014 and the largest aftershock, Ms5. 7, occurred at 17：24 μm. , February 12, 2014. The b and h value of Yutian sequence are 0.70 and 1.29, respectively. The waiting time method reveals that the strong aftershocks above ML 4. 5 comply with a linear relationship, which is consistent with the characteristics of a mainshock-aftershock sequence. Furthermore, we calculate the source parameters and analyze the rupture process based on the empirical relationships for the Yutian earthquake, and the results indicate a frictional undershoot behavior in the dynamic source process of the Yutian earthquake, which is also in agreement with the lower and similar b values compared with the 2008 Ms 7.3 Yutian earthquake and the 2012 Ms 6. 2 Yutian earthquake.

Characteristics of Far-field Seismic Radiated Energy from the Five Earthquakes with MS≥5. 0 in the Earthquake Swarm Sequence of 2013,MS5. 8,Qianguo,Jilin Province,China

The Qianguo Ms5. 8 earthquake swarm of 2013 occurred in Qianguo, Jilin Province, China. There are five earthquakes with Ms ≥5. 0 in the Qianguo earthquake swarm, with magnitudes of Ms 5. 5, Ms 5. 0, Ms 5. 3, Ms 5. 8 and Ms 5. 0. In this study, the far-field seismic radiated energy characteristics of the earthquakes are compared based on the source spectrum and the ground motion spectrum of the earthquake swarm. The ground motion spectrum of the five earthquakes at Changchun seismic station （CN2）, which is the national standard station, is first investigated with the recorded ground motions, and then the far-field seismic radiated energy is calculated and combined with the relationships of the source spectrum to describe the variable characteristics of the Qianguo earthquake swarm. Research results indicate that the second earthquake （No. 2） with Ms5. 0 is the key event of the earthquake swarm, which occurred on October 31, the same day following the first Ms5. 5 earthquake （No.l）. In fact, the magnitude of event No. 2 decreased compared to event No.l, which did not agree with its large far-field seismic radiated energy. It needs to be pointed out that event No. 2 was the turning point event of the Qianguo earthquake swarm, as being a significant transition before the largest Ms5. 8 earthquake.

The experimental investigation of microcracks nucleation in typical tectonics

he evolution and nucleation of microcracks in typical tectonics are investigated in the experiment of fracture of marble specimen. The change of state during nucleation of microcracks is observed. The controlling effect of tectonics on evolution of microcracks is analyzed by using thc damage mechanics theory. These characteristics can be analogized to kilometer meters as the first effect of earthquake precursors. These studies may be helpful to interpret-the foreshock or general foreshock in the moderate or short stage before strong earthquakes. The other physical precursors are second or third effect. The local density of microcracks increasing abruptly may be helpful to interpret the phenomenon that part precursor records appear catastrophic jump. The part out of nucleation where some microcracks heal and the density change reversibly may be helpful to interpret the phenomenon that some precursors records appear reverse change. The area difference of microcracks accumulation and evolution in different part of typital tectonics is studied. This difference may be helpful to interpret the characteristics (including the area) of earthquake preparation of diffcrent tectonics, and further to interpret the difference of the precursors beween plate edge and intraplate. These differences may be introduced by the scholars with different points of view as to discuss about the existence of precursors before earthquakes. However, when the precursor records are studied, one must notice the geology background in different areas.

Analysis of the role of branching angle in the dynamic rupture process on a 3-D branching fault system

The fault branching phenomenon,which may heavily influence the patterns of rupture propagation in fault systems,is one of the geometric complexities of fault systems that is widely observed in nature.In this study,we investigate the effect of the branching angle on the rupture inclination and the interaction between branch planes in two-fork branching fault systems by numerical simulation and theoretical analysis based on Mohr’s circle.A friction law dependent on normal stress is used,and special attention is paid to studying how ruptures on the upper and lower branch planes affect the stress and rupture on each other separately.The results show that the two branch planes affect each other in different patterns and that the intensity of the effect changes with the branching angle.The rupture of the lower branch plane has a negative effect on the rupture of the upper branch plane in the case of a small branching angle but has almost no negative effect in the case of a large branching angle.The rupture of the upper branch plane,however,suppresses the rupture of the lower branch plane regardless of whether the branching angle is large or small.

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.

Experimental Research on the Low Frequency Wave That Radiates into the Air before the Failure of Rock

Experiments on sonic transmission show that a slabstone can directly transmit part of the energy of a wave excited by knocking or by a transducer into the air. The other part of the wave energy can generate the normal mode of vibration on the slabstone and excite measurable acoustic signals in the air. The dominant frequency is related to the size of the slabstone. These results indicate that the acoustic emission (AE) in rock also displays similar behavior if the source is shallow. It is demonstrated that with the nucleation and propagation of cracks, the dominant frequency of the radiated wave will be lower. When the frequency becomes very low, the wave can be transmitted through the rock into the air and be received by a microphone. According to the theory of similarity of size, there will be low-frequency waves before strong earthquakes because of nucleation of cracks, which can be received by special low-frequency transducers or infrasonic detectors. Before earthquakes, the mechanism of precursors could be very complicated. They might be produced by plastic creep or attributed to liquids but not brittle fracture in most cases. So the periods of the produced waves will be longer. This perhaps accounts for the lack of foreshocks before many strong earthquakes.

Steadiness and stop of brittle fracture driven by the forces in different distances

Based on the principle of fracture mechanics, the stop criterion of brittle fracture is proposed and the equation of minimal crack stop is given. By using the zero frequency Green function, the steadiness and stop of brittle fracture driven by the concentrated force and simple distributed forces in different locales are analyzed. The critical loading, unsteady boundary line and location of stop points under some typical conditions are calculated. The steady growth caused by the near forces is significant in interpreting the creep and the forming of some tectonics. Whereas the unsteady propagation caused by the forces in different distances from the crack is significant in interpreting the occurring and stop of earthquakes. It is suggested that the strong earthquakes may be the result of compound of the near-field and far-field forces. The results of this paper are also valuable for investigation of the mechanism of induced earthquake.

Types of focal mechanism solutions and parameter consistency of the sub-blocks in Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces

Based on P- and S-wave amplitudes and some clear initial P-wave motion data, we calculated focal mechanism solutions of 928 M≥2.5 earthquakes （1994-2005） in four sub-blocks of Sichuan and Yunnan Provinces, namely Sichuan-Qinghai, Yajiang, Central Sichuan and Central Yunnan blocks. Combining these calculation results with those of the focal mechanism solutions of moderately strong earthquakes, we analyzed the stress field characteristics and dislocation types of seismogenic faults that are distributed in the four sub-blocks. The orientation of principal compressive stress for each block is： EW in Sichuan-Qinghai, ESE or SE in Yajiang, Central Sichuan and Central Yunnan blocks. Based on a great deal of focal mechanism data, we designed a program and calculated the directions of the principal stress tensors, σ1, σ2 and σ3, for the four blocks. Meanwhile, we estimated the difference （also referred to as consistency parameter θ^- ） between the force axis direction of focal mechanism solution and the direction of the mean stress tensor of each block. Then we further analyzed the variation of θ^- versus time and the dislocation types of seismogenic faults. Through determination of focal mechanism solutions for each block, we present information on the variation in θ^- value and dislocation types of seismogenic faults.

Fault－weakening effect of reservoir temperature of hot spring and its influence on seismic activities

In this paper, the reservoir temperatures of 14 hot spring samples collected from the northern segment of theRed River Fault are calculated by using the mixing-model of SiO2-geothermometer. Based on the features ofreservoir temperatures and densities of hot springs, the northern segment of the Red River Fault is furtherdivided into 4 sub-segments. The influence of weakening effect of water on seismic activities is discussed fromthe view point of fault-weakening effect of water. It is suggested that the difference in seismic activity between various sub-segments is principally caused by the difference in intensity of the fault-weakening effect ofwater of these sub-segments. The Eryuan sub-segment where the reservoir temperatures are high and the hotsprings are dense corresponds to a slipped region, however, the Jianchuan and Midu sub-segments where thereservoir temperatures are lower and the hot springs are fewer as well as the Dan sub-segment where the hotspring are very few all correspond to locked regions. It is suggested that Dan sub-segment is the riskiest region for strong earthquake preparation, while the possibility for strong earthquake preparation is very little inthe Eryuan sub-segment.