A comprehensive approach to the 3D geological modelling of sedimentary basins: example of Latvia, the central part of the Baltic Basin

Abstract

This paper presents a semi-automatic approach adapted to the modelling of the geological structure of sedimentary basins. The modelling approach is based on developing the algorithm of the main geological processes so that the geometrical relationship is automatically defined between model elements. The algorithm is based on the assumption that sedimentary basins are formed as a result of the repeated sequence of sedimentation, faulting and erosion. This approach allows of successful modelling of the geological structure of the sedimentary basins with limited data coverage: stratigraphic intervals from well logs describing the thicknesses of sedimentary strata and a limited amount of structural data. Sedimentary layers are handled by modelling assuming non-eroded thickness distribution and using geometrical adjustment from the known fault displacements. As a result geometrical relationships of the model layers are deduced automatically in the presence of unconformities.An application of this methodology, a 3D geological model of Latvia, the central part of the Baltic Basin, is presented. The results show that this model is geologically reasonable for achieving the structural and stratigraphic concepts.

Nitrate vulnerability of karst aquifers and associated groundwater-dependent ecosystems in the Baltic region

“…It was assumed that the groundwater in the D 3 pl aquifer would flow to the nearest location where this aquitard was outcropping at the sub-Quaternary surface. The distribution of the aquitard was modelled according to the methodology by Popovs et al (2015). The location of the hypothetical groundwater water divide was estimated by constructing a Voronoi diagram from the nodal points of the linearly interpolated intersection between the surface of the aquitard and the land surface.…”

“…Sites such as Kazu Leja, where NO 3 − contamination could be found in the D 3 pl aquifer in Latvia, were identified in a 0.25 km grid resolution based on the geological model. The modelled D 3 am surface (Popovs et al 2015) that approximately coincides with an aquitard surface at the base of the D 3 pl aquifer was cropped by the sub-Quaternary surface elevation model. As the next step groundwater discharge sites from the D 3 pl aquifer identified were within a 0.75 by 0.75 km window, the lowest point of the land surface (LĢIA 2018) was below the D 3 am surface.…”

High-resolution 3D geological model of the bauxite-bearing area Crvene Stijene (Jajce, Bosnia and Herzegovina) and its application in ongoing research and mining

“…-the meth od ol ogy of con struct ing a 3D geo log i cal model based on var i ous in put data (Mal let 1992(Mal let , 1997(Mal let , 2002de Kemp, 1999de Kemp, , 2000Husson and Mugnier, 2003;Lemon and Jones, 2003;Maxelon and Mancktelow, 2005;Sprague and de Kemp, 2005;Dhont et al, 2005;de Kemp et al, 2006;Zhu et al, 2006;Frank et al, 2007;Caumon et al, 2009;Zanchi et al, 2009); -mod el ling of re gional geo log i cal struc tures (Ledru, 2001 and ref er ences therein; Courrioux et al, 2001;Galera et al, 2003;Wu et al, 2005;Zanchi et al, 2009;Snidero et al, 2011;Popovs et al, 2015); -mod el ling of lo cal struc tures and/or min eral de pos its (Fernán dez et al, 2004;Kaufmann and Mar tin, 2008;Wycisk et al, 2009;Schetsellar, 2013;Vanneschi et al, 2014, Martin-Izard et al, 2015Basson et al, 2016).…”