Slip distributions on intersecting normal faults

Maerten, Laurent; Willemse, Emanuel J.M.; Pollard, David D.; Rawnsley, Keith

doi:10.1016/s0191-8141(98)00122-9

Cited by 128 publications

(69 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…After the point of intersection both the main fault and splay fault steadily decrease in throw before reaching null values at their isolated fault tips. This is consistent with results of Maerten et al (1999), who observe and model similar throw profiles for splays along normal faults in both plan view and cross section.…”

Section: Splayssupporting

confidence: 92%

Fault interactions and reactivation within a normal-fault network at Milne Point, Alaska

Nixon¹,

Sanderson²,

Dee³

et al. 2014

Bulletin

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A normal-fault network from Milne Point, Alaska, is investigated focusing on characterizing geometry, displacement, strain, and different fault interactions. The network, constrained from threedimensional seismic reflection data, comprises two generations of faults: Cenozoic north-northeast-trending faults and Jurassic west-northwest-trending faults, which highly compartmentalize Upper Triassic to Lower Cretaceous reservoirs. The west-northwest-trending faults are influenced by a similarly oriented underlying structural grain. This influence is characterized by increases in throw on several faults, strain localization, reorientation of faults and an increase in linkage maturity.Reconstructing fault plane geometries and mapping spatial variations in throw identified key characteristic features in their interactions and reactivation of pre-existing structures. Faults are divided into isolated, abutting, and splaying faults. Isolated faults exhibit a range of displacement profiles depending on the degree of restriction at fault tips. Fault splays accommodate step-like decreases in throw along larger main faults with a throw maximum at the intersection with the main fault. Throw profiles of abutting faults are divided into two groups: early stage abutting faults with throw minima at both the isolated and abutting tips, and developed abutting faults with throw maxima near the abutting tip.Developed abutting faults accumulate throw after initial abutment, locally reactivating and transferring throw onto the preexisting fault. Two abutting faults can link kinematically by Stephen Dee is a senior structural geologist at BP, working in the Integrated Subsurface Description and Modelling team and consulting on structural and geomechanics projects. He has a Ph.D. from the University of Southampton and specializes in fault and fracture interpretation, geomechanical modeling, and seal analysis.

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Section: Splayssupporting

confidence: 92%

Fault interactions and reactivation within a normal-fault network at Milne Point, Alaska

Nixon¹,

Sanderson²,

Dee³

et al. 2014

Bulletin

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“…The orientation of faults depends mainly on the stress field, whereas their location is partly controlled by the mechanical properties of the host rock and its existing weaknesses. Normal faults consist of linked segments whose mechanical interaction depends on various factors such as segment shapes and aspect ratios, rock properties and friction, and the controlling stress fields [3,12,[37][38][39][40][41].…”

Section: Geometry Of Normal Faults and Tension Fracturesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brittle tectonics of the Thingvellir and Hengill volcanic systems, Southwest Iceland: field studies and numerical modeling

Friese

2008

Geodinamica Acta

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This paper focuses on field studies and numerical models of fracture development in the area of the Hengill Central Volcano and its northern fissure swarm containing the Thingvellir Graben, in Southwest Iceland. Apart from additional field data on normal faults, a new detailed map of the Holocene fractures in the Thingvellir Graben is presented and used as a basis for numerical models on normal fault development. Field observations and models yield four basic results. First, hyaloclastite mountains in the area ("soft mechanical inclusions") tend to deflect or arrest propagating tension fractures and normal faults. Second, fractures with an en echelon arrangement and an overlapping configuration develop shear stress shadows and tend to prevent the linking up into larger fault segments. Third, fractures with an en echelon arrangement and underlapping configuration develop shear stress concentrations between nearby tips resulting in development of transverse shear faults (transfer fault). Fourth, colinear normal fault segments concentrate tensile stresses at their tips and encourage tip-to-tip growth into larger segments.

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“…The numerical experiments described above have been compared with published data on slip distributions [Maerten et al, 1999]. However, the value of most published slip distributions is limited, as the papers rarely contain information on both the slip distribution and the striation rake.…”

Section: Field Observations and Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore a field investigation was initiated to evaluate how the model results might compare to natural faults. The goal was to use quantitative field observations on slip distribution and orientation to test the fault mechanical interaction theory for intersecting normal faults [Maerten et al, 1999]. A field area located at Chimney Rock, Utah, has been chosen because it is located in a simple geologic setting and the Chimney Rock fault array is well exposed.…”

Section: Field Observations and Modelsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The perturbation of normal stress is not considered. This condition should be considered a first approximation that will nonetheless capture some of the principal effects of mechanical interaction [Willemse et al, 1996;Maerten, 1999]. The general idea is that where the stress perturbation from slip on one fault produces shear stress on its neighbor, it will tend to enhance or decrease slip, depending on the sign of the shear stress, and it will produce oblique slip if the shear stress is not directed downdip.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Variation in slip on intersecting normal faults: Implications for paleostress inversion

Maerten¹

2000

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. Numerical models based on linear elasticity theory predict asymmetric slip distribution with a steep slip gradient near the line of intersection of intersecting normal faults. They also predict a discrepancy between the direction of slip on the fault plane and the direction of resolved shear stress. Both variations in slip magnitude and direction are due to mechanical interaction between the faults with intersecting patterns. These interactions cause local perturbations of the shear stress field acting on the plane of the adjacent fault. Field observations from the Chimney Rock area of central Utah show that slickensides on normal faults cutting the Navajo Sandstone change rake away from the expected downdip direction as the intersection line with adjacent faults is approached. The sense and magnitude of this change in orientation are similar to those computed by using the numerical models. The good correspondence between field observations and theoretical results from this paper not only provides insight into the mechanics of intersecting faults, but suggests that care is required when using standard inverse methods to compute paleostresses from slickenside data. The slickenside orientation near intersection lines will generally not be in the direction of the remote maximum shear stress as resolved on the fault plane. A parameter study of this change in orientation provides helpful results for evaluating field data prior to a paleostress analysis.

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Slip distributions on intersecting normal faults

Cited by 128 publications

References 31 publications

Fault interactions and reactivation within a normal-fault network at Milne Point, Alaska

Fault interactions and reactivation within a normal-fault network at Milne Point, Alaska

Brittle tectonics of the Thingvellir and Hengill volcanic systems, Southwest Iceland: field studies and numerical modeling

Variation in slip on intersecting normal faults: Implications for paleostress inversion

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