Search Results (75)

On 22 July 2020, an Mw 6.4 earthquake occurred in Nima County in the Qiangtang Terrane of the central Tibetan Plateau. This event, caused by normal faulting, remains controversial in terms of its rupture process and causative fault due to the complex tectonics of the region. In this study, we analyzed the coseismic and postseismic deformation using differential interferometric synthetic aperture radar (D-InSAR). The coseismic slip distribution was independently estimated through InSAR inversion and teleseismic waveform analysis, while the afterslip distribution was inferred from postseismic deformation. Coulomb stress failure analysis was conducted to assess the potential seismic hazard. Our results showed a maximum line-of-sight (LOS) coseismic deformation of about 29 cm away from the satellite, with quasi-vertical subsidence peaking at 35 cm. Four distinct deformation zones were observed in the quasi-east–west direction. Coseismic deformation and slip models based on InSAR and teleseismic data indicate that the Nima earthquake ruptured the West Yibu Chaka fault. The seismogenic fault had a strike of 26°, an eastward dip of 43°, and a rake of −87.28°, with rupture patches at depths of 3–13 km and a maximum slip of 1.1 m. Postseismic deformation showed cumulative LOS displacement of up to 0.05 m. Afterslip was concentrated in the up-dip and down-dip areas of the coseismic rupture zone, reaching a maximum of 0.11 m. Afterslip was also observed along the East Yibu Caka fault. Coulomb stress modeling indicates an increased seismic risk between the Yibu Caka fault and the Jiangai Zangbu fault, highlighting the vulnerability of the region to future seismic activity. Full article

The Mw 7.0 Dingri earthquake, which occurred on 7 January 2025, occurred at the southern end of the Xainza-Dinggyê Fault Zone within the South Tibet Rift (STR) system, in the Dengmecuo graben. It is the largest normal-faulting event in the region recorded by modern instruments. Using Sentinel-1A and Lutan SAR data combined with strong-motion records, we derived the coseismic surface deformation and slip distribution. InSAR interferograms and displacement vectors confirm a typical normal-faulting pattern. The slip model, based on an elastic half-space assumption, identifies the Dengmecuo Fault as the source fault, with an average strike of ~187° and a dip of ~55°. The rupture was concentrated within the upper 10 km, with a maximum slip of 4–5 m at ~5 km depth, extending to the surface with ~3 m vertical displacement. Partial rupture (≤2 m) in the southern segment (5–10 km depth) did not reach the surface, likely due to lacustrine deposits or possible post-seismic stress release. The rupture bottom intersects the fault plane of the South Tibet Detachment System (STDS), suggesting a restraining effect on coseismic rupture propagation. Considering stress transfer along the Main Himalayan Thrust (MHT), we propose that the 2025 Dingri earthquake is closely associated with stress transfer following the 2015 Gorkha earthquake in the lower Himalayas. Full article

On 7 January 2025, at Beijing time, an M_w7.1 earthquake occurred in Dingri County, Shigatse, Tibet. To accurately determine the fault that caused this earthquake and understand the source mechanism, this study utilized Differential Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (DInSAR) technology to process Sentinel-A data, obtaining the line-of-sight (LOS) co-seismic deformation field for this earthquake. This deformation field was used as constraint data to invert the geometric parameters and slip distribution of the fault. The co-seismic deformation field indicates that the main characteristics of the earthquake-affected area are vertical deformation and east-west extension, with maximum deformation amounts of 1.6 m and 1.0 m for the ascending and descending tracks, respectively. A Bayesian method based on sequential Monte Carlo sampling was employed to invert the position and geometric parameters of the fault, and on this basis, the slip distribution was inverted using the steepest descent method. The inversion results show that the fault has a strike of 189.2°, a dip angle of 40.6°, and is classified as a westward-dipping normal fault, with a rupture length of 20 km, a maximum slip of approximately 4.6 m, and an average slip angle of about −82.81°. This indicates that the earthquake predominantly involved normal faulting with a small amount of left–lateral strike–slip, corresponding to a moment magnitude of M_w7.1, suggesting that the fault responsible for the earthquake was the northern segment of the DMCF (Deng Me Cuo Fault). The slip distribution results obtained from the finite fault model inversion show that this earthquake led to a significant increase in Coulomb stress at both ends of the fault and in the northeastern–southwestern region, with stress loading far exceeding the earthquake triggering threshold of 0.03 MPa. Through analysis, we believe that this Dingri earthquake occurred at the intersection of a “Y”-shaped structural feature where stress concentration is likely, which may be a primary reason for the frequent occurrence of moderate to strong earthquakes in this area. Full article

The Pamir is located on the northwestern margin of the Tibetan Plateau, which is an area of intense continental deformation and part of the famous India–Himalaya collision zone. The dominant structural deformation in the eastern Pamir is characterized by a 250 km long east–west extensional fault system, known as the Kongur Shan extensional system (KSES), which has developed a series of faults with different orientations and characteristics, resulting in highly complex structural deformation and lacking sufficient geodetic constraints. We collected Sentinel-1 SAR data from December 2016 to March 2023, obtained high-resolution ascending and descending LOS velocities and 3D deformation fields, and combined them with GPS data to constrain the current motion characteristics of the northeastern Pamirs for the first time. Based on the two-dimensional screw dislocation model and using the Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) inversion method, the kinematic parameters of the fault were calculated, revealing the fault kinematic characteristics in this region. Our results demonstrate that the present-day deformation of the KSES is dominated by nearly E–W extension, with maximum extensional motion concentrated in its central segment, reaching peak extension rates of ~7.59 mm/yr corresponding to the Kongur Shan. The right-lateral Muji fault at the northern end exhibits equivalent rates of extensional motion with a relatively shallow locking depth. The strike-slip rate along the Muji fault gradually increases from west to east, ranging approximately between 4 and 6 mm/yr, significantly influenced by the eastern normal fault. The Tahman fault (TKF) at the southernmost end of the KSES shows an extension rate of ~1.5 mm/yr accompanied by minor strike-slip motion. The Kashi anticline is approaching stability, while the Mushi anticline along the eastern Pamir frontal thrust (PFT) remains active with continuous uplift at ~2 mm/yr, indicating that deformation along the Tarim Basin–Tian Shan boundary has propagated southward from the South Tian Shan thrust (STST). Overall, this study demonstrates the effectiveness of integrated InSAR and GPS data in constraining contemporary deformation patterns along the northeastern Pamir margin, contributing to our understanding of the region’s tectonic characteristics. Full article

The Himalaya–Tibet region represents a complex region of active deformation related to the ongoing India–Eurasia convergence process. To provide additional constraints on the active processes shaping this region, we used a comprehensive dataset of GNSS and focal mechanisms data and derived crustal strain and stress fields. The results allow the detection of features such as the arc-parallel extension along the Himalayan Arc and the coexistence of strike-slip and normal faulting across Tibet. We discuss our findings concerning the relevant geodynamic models proposed in the literature. While earlier studies largely emphasized the role of either compressional or extensional processes, our findings suggest a more complex interaction between them. In general, our study highlights the critical role of both surface and deep processes in shaping the geodynamic processes. The alignment between tectonic stress and strain rate patterns indicates that the crust is highly elastic and influenced by present-day tectonics. Stress and strain orientations show a clockwise rotation at 31°N, reflecting deep control by the underthrusted Indian Plate. South of this boundary, compression is driven by basal drag from the underthrusting Indian Plate, while northward, escape tectonics dominate, resulting in eastward movement of the Tibetan Plateau. Localized stretching along the Himalaya is likely driven by the oblique convergence resulting from the India–Eurasia collision generating a transtensional regime over the Main Himalayan Thrust. In Tibet, stress variations appear mainly related to changes in the vertical axis, driven by topographically induced stresses linked to the uniform elevation of the plateau. From a broader perspective, these findings improve the understanding of driving crustal forces in the Himalaya–Tibet region and provide insights into how large-scale geodynamics drives surface deformation. Additionally, they contribute to the ongoing debate regarding the applicability of the stress–strain comparison and offer a more comprehensive framework for future research in similar tectonic settings worldwide. Full article

The recovery of reservoir paleo-pressure has been a key focus in hydrocarbon accumulation research. The evolution of paleo-pressure in carbonate reservoir rocks has long been a research challenge for researchers. Using the Tahe area in the Tarim Basin as a case study, this paper proposes an idea for studying the paleo-pressure evolution in carbonate rocks through fluid inclusions. A series of methods, including cathodoluminescence, fluid inclusion petrography, laser in situ U–Pb isotope dating, and microthermometry, were employed to determine the stages of hydrocarbon accumulation. Additionally, the paleo-pressure of oil inclusions from different stages has been restored, and the pressure evolution of the Ordovician carbonate reservoirs in the Tahe area was reconstructed. The study identifies four stages of oil charging in Ordovician carbonate reservoirs. The four oil-charging events occurred during the Caledonian (459–450 Ma), Hercynian (320–311 Ma), late Indosinian (227–213 Ma), and Yanshanian (134–117 Ma) periods. The overpressure evolution indicates that the Cambrian source rocks reached the first oil generation peak and started to expel hydrocarbons during the late Caledonian period. Oil mainly migrated vertically along strike-slip faults and accumulated in fracture-cavity karst reservoirs. At the same time, the reservoir pressure increased rapidly. Subsequent tectonic compression caused uplift and erosion, leading to the destruction of the oil reservoirs and a decrease in pressure. During the Hercynian period, hydrocarbons migrated and accumulated in reservoirs, leading to an increase in reservoir pressure. Subsequently, a slight formation uplift occurred, which caused a decrease in pressure. During the late Indosinian period, the third stage of oil accumulation led to an increase in reservoir pressure. Tectonic uplift during the Yanshanian period caused reservoir destruction and adjustment, resulting in a decrease in pressure. Reservoir pressure increased with oil charging during the Yanshanian period. Subsequently, a large number of faults developed in the study area, causing further destruction and re-adjustment of the oil reservoirs, which led to a decrease in pressure to the current state of normal pressure or weak overpressure. Full article

High-resolution topographic and geomorphic data are important basic data for the study of active structures. Here, multisource remote sensing data were used to reinterpret the active faults in the northern segment of the Red River Fault (China). First, we obtained airborne light detection and ranging (LiDAR) data, high-resolution GaoFen-7 (GF-7) remote sensing image data, and historical aerial photographs, and a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) was generated based on the airborne LiDAR data and GF-7 data. According to the remote sensing interpretation, the main active faults were identified. We subsequently verified the faults in the field and constrained the geographic locations. The current activity was confirmed to be dominantly normal faulting, with some dextral strike-slip components, and the latest active age was the Late Holocene. It reflects the coordination of structural deformation between the rotation of the secondary block and the sliding of the boundary fault within the Sichuan–Yunnan Block. The results show that airborne LiDAR and GF-7 remote sensing data have a great application value in providing high-resolution topographic and geomorphologic data for the study of active structures. The comprehensive application of multisource remote sensing data can greatly improve the reliability of active fault interpretations and provide a reference for follow-up research within the study area. Full article

Defining the structure and evolution of multi-trend faults is critical for analyzing the accumulation of hydrocarbons in buried hills. Based on high-resolution seismic and drilling data, the structural characteristics and evolutionary mechanism of multi-trend faults were investigated in detail through the structural analysis theory and quantitative calculations of fault activity, allowing us to determine the implication that fault evolution exerts on hydrocarbon accumulation in the BZ19-6 buried hill. There are four kinds of strike faults developed on the buried hill: SN-, NNE-, NE–ENE-, and nearly EW-trending, which experienced the Mesozoic Indosinian, Yanshan, and Cenozoic Himalayan tectonic movements. During the Indosinian, the BZ19-6 was in a SN-oriented compressional setting, with active faults composed of SN-trending strike-slip faults (west branch of the Tanlu fault zone) and near EW-trending thrust faults (Zhang-peng fault zone). During the Yanshanian, the NNE-trending normal faults were formed under the WNW–ESE tensile stress field. Since the Himalayan period, the BZ19-6 buried hill has evolved into the rifting stage. In rifting stage Ⅰ, all of the multi-trend pre-existing faults were reactivated, and the EW-trending thrust faults became normal faults due to negative inversion. In rifting stage II, a large number of NE–ENE-trending normal faults were newly formed in the NW–SE-oriented extensional setting, which made the structure pattern more complicated. In rifting stage III, the buried hill entered the post-rift stage, with only part of the NNE- and NE–ENE-trending faults continuously active. Multi-trend faults are the result of the combination of various multi-phase stress fields and pre-existing structures, which have great influence on the formation of tectonic fractures and then control the distribution of high-quality reservoirs in buried hills. The fractures controlled by the NNE- and EW-trending faults have higher density and scale, and fractures controlled by NE–ENE trending faults have stronger connectivity and effectiveness. The superposition of multi-trend faults is the favorable distribution of high-quality reservoirs and the favorable accumulation area of hydrocarbon. Full article

Multiple types of reservoirs, including volatile oil reservoirs, condensate gas reservoirs, and dry gas reservoirs, have been discovered in ultra-deep layers buried at depths greater than 7500 m. Understanding the genetic types of natural gas is of utmost importance in evaluating oil and gas exploration potential. The cumulative proved reserves of the super deep layer in the Shuntuoguole low uplift area of the Tarim Basin exceed 1 × 10⁸ t (oil equivalent). The origin, source, and accumulation characteristics of natural gas still remain a subject of controversy. By analyzing the composition and carbon isotope of natural gas, a detailed investigation was conducted to examine the unique geochemical and reservoir formation characteristics of the Ordovician ultra-deep natural gas within different fault zones in the middle region of the Shuntuoguole low uplift. It was determined that most of the natural gas in this area is displaying a characteristic of wet gas with a drying coefficient ranging from 0.41 to 0.99. The carbon isotope composition of methane in the gas reservoir shows relatively light values, ranging from −49.4‰ to −42‰. The carbon and hydrogen isotopes of the components are distributed in a positive order. The natural gas is oil type gas, which is derived from marine sapropelic organic matter and has a good correspondence with the lower Yuertusi formation. The maturity of natural gas in Shunbei No. 1 and No. 5 fault zones is about 1.0%, which is the associated gas of normal crude oil, while the maturity of No. 4 and No. 8 fault zones is higher than 1.0%, which is the mixture of kerogen pyrolysis gas and crude oil pyrolysis gas. The variations in the drying coefficient and carbon isotope composition of the natural gas provide evidence for the migration patterns within the Shuntuoguole low uplift central region. It indicates that the Shunbei No. 5 and No. 8 fault zones have likely migrated from south to north, while the No. 4 fault zone has migrated from the middle to both the north and south sides. These migration patterns are primarily controlled by high and steep strike-slip faults, which facilitate the vertical migration of natural gas along fault planes. Consequently, the gas accumulates in fractured and vuggy reservoirs within the Ordovician formation. Full article

This study investigates the reservoir physical properties, present-day stress, hydraulic fracturing, and production capacity of No. 3 coal in the Shizhuang south block, Qinshui Basin. It analyzes the control of in situ stress on permeability and hydraulic fracturing, as well as the influence of geo-engineering parameters on coalbed methane (CBM) production capacity. Presently, the direction of maximum horizontal stress is northeast–southwest, with local variations. The stress magnitude increases with burial depth, while the stress gradient decreases. The stress field of strike-slip faults is dominant and vertically continuous. The stress field of normal faults is mostly found at depths greater than 800 m, whereas the stress field of reverse faults is typically found at depths shallower than 700 m. Permeability, ranging from 0.003 to 1.08 mD, is controlled by in situ stress and coal texture, both of which vary significantly with tectonics. Hydraulic fracturing design should consider variations in stress conditions, pre-existing fractures, depth, structural trends, and coal texture, rather than employing generic schemes. At greater depths, higher pumping rates and treatment pressures are required to reduce fracture complexity and enhance proppant filling efficiency. The Shizhuang south block is divided into five zones based on in situ stress characteristics. Zones III and IV exhibit favorable geological conditions, including high porosity, permeability, and gas content. These zones also benefit from shorter gas breakthrough times, relatively higher gas breakthrough pressures, lower daily water production, and a higher ratio of critical desorption pressure to initial reservoir pressure. Tailored fracturing fluid and proppant programs are proposed for different zones to optimize subsequent CBM development. Full article

Caves serve as time capsules, preserving significant markers of tectonic activity and offering insights into geological history. Fault geometries and past activations found in caves can be correlated with known deformational events in the broader area, temporally delimiting the speleogenesis. More specifically, cave passage formation is suggested to be affected by the regional stress-field. The Asprorema Cave in Northern Greece is a typical example of a fracture guided cave, with passage geometry influenced by relative sidewall movements, revealing these discontinuities as faults. This study constructs the timeframe and conceptual model of speleogenesis in relation to tectonic events, geomorphological evolution and hydrological zones, and verifies its relation to the stress-field. Active tectonics, mineralogy and cave geomorphology are investigated. Results suggest syntectonic speleogenesis under phreatic and epiphreatic conditions. The absence of corrosion on fault slip surfaces implies recent activations post cave’s shift to the vadose zone. Structural analysis identifies three main neotectonic phases: NNW-SSE striking faults (oldest group of structures), NE-SW striking faults with dextral strike-slip movement (post-middle Miocene), and NE-SW striking normal faults indicating extensional stress-regime (Quartenary). The last two phases affect cave passage shape causing wall displacement, highlighting passage formation along discontinuities perpendicular to the horizontal minimum stress axis. Full article

During the 2021 La Palma strombolian and fissure eruption, two faults were identified that controlled the spatial distribution of earthquake hypocenters and effusive eruptive vents. One of these faults has a NW-SE trend (Tazacorte Fault: TZF) and the other one shows an ENE-WSW trend (Mazo Fault: MZF). Previous works on fault structural analysis in La Palma indicated that the eruption zone was compatible with an extensional tectonic strain ellipsoid which activated normal-strike-slip directional faults at the confluence of TZF and MZF. These fractures were activated during the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, determining the NW-SE and WSW-ENE spatial distribution of vents. Both faults were mapped in real time during the volcanic eruption from fieldwork and remote sensing imagery (aerial drone images). We have collected more than 300 fracture data associated with the effusive vents and post-eruption seismic creep. Since the affected area was densely inhabited, most of these fractures affect houses and infrastructures. Some of the houses affected by the TZF were damaged 9 months after the eruption, although they were not damaged during the eruption. Surprisingly, these houses already had repairs made to the same fractures since 1980, giving information of previous fault creep movement. During the 2021 Tajogaite eruption, shallow seismicity was spatially related to both faults, suggesting a seismic behavior instead of the precedent creep movement. However, the lack of seismicity after the eruption indicates that the faults went back to creep aseismic behavior, similarly to 1980. The mapping and monitoring of these faults (TZF and MZF) is relevant bearing in mind that they have been active since 1980 and the post-eruptive phase of the 2021 volcanic eruption, which has to be included in the land use planning in areas affected by the volcanic eruption and creep movement. Furthermore, both faults could act as seismogenic sources triggering volcanic earthquakes with potential high macroseismic intensities and mass movements. The data presented here show the importance of having this type of study before the onset of the eruption, thus allowing a better interpretation of seismic data during volcanic unrest. Full article

Geometric complexities of a fault system have a significant impact on the rupture behavior of the fault. The 2021 Mw7.4 Maduo earthquake occurred on a multi-segmented complex sinistral fault in the interior of the Bayan-Har block in the northern Tibetan Plateau. Here, we integrate centimeter-resolution surface rupture zones and Sentinel-2 optical displacement fields to accurately determine the geometric parameters of the causative fault in detail. An adaptive quadtree down-sampling method for interferograms was employed to enhance the reliability of the coseismic slip model inversion for interferograms. The optimal coseismic slip model indicated a complex non-planar structure with varying strike and dip angles. The largest slip of ~6 m, at a depth of ~7 km, occurred near a 6 km-wide stepover (a geometric complexity area) to the east of the epicenter, which occurred at the transition zone from sub-shear to super-shear rupture suggested by seismological studies. Optical and SAR displacement fields consistently indicated the local minimization of effective normal stress on releasing stepovers, which facilitated rupture through them. Moreover, connecting intermediate structures contributes to maintaining the rupture propagation through wide stepovers and may even facilitate the transition from subshear to supershear. Our study provides more evidence of the reactivation of a branched fault at the western end during the mainshock, which was previously under-appreciated. Furthermore, we found that a strong asymmetry in slip depth, stress drop, and rupture velocity east and west of the epicenter was coupled with variations in geometric and structural characteristics of fault segments along the strike. Our findings highlight the sensitivity of rupture behaviors to small-scale details of fault geometry. Full article

There is a magmatic lull period in the East Kunlun orogen (EKO) during the Jurassic to the Cretaceous. However, due to the lack of records of magmatic activity restricts our understanding of the late Mesozoic magmatic-tectonic evolution of the EKO. Herein, an integrated study of geochronology, whole-rock geochemistry and Sr-Nd isotopes were conducted for the Cretaceous mafic dykes in the EKO, Northern Tibet Plateau, to reveal their petrogenesis and geodynamic implications. LA-ICP-MS Zircon U-Pb dating reveals that the studied mafic dykes comprising diabase and diabase porphyry emplaced at ca. 80.9 ± 0.8 Ma. The Cretaceous mafic dykes have low contents of SiO₂ (46.36 wt.%~47.40 wt.%) but high contents of MgO (6.79 wt.%~7.38 wt.%), TiO₂ (1.91 wt.%~2.13 wt.%), Nb (12.4~18.3 ppm) and Nb/U ratio (31~39), resembling Nb-enriched mafic dykes. They exhibit chondrite-normalized rare earth element (REE) and primitive mantle-normalized trace element patterns, remarkably similar but not identical to the oceanic island basalts (OIB). The moderate REE fractionation ((La/Yb)_N = 3.55~5.37), weak negative Eu anomalies (δEu = 0.87~0.97) and relative enrichment of Rb, Ba, K, as well as high contents of Cr and Ni and slightly depleted Sr-Nd isotopes (εNd(t) = −0.18~1.33), suggest that the studied dykes originate from a partial melting of spinel lherzolite and a little of garnet which was previously modified by subducted sediments. Combined with other evidence, we propose that the studied Cretaceous Nb-enriched mafic dykes in the Northern Tibet Plateau were formed in the intraplate setting, which may be a partial melting of the enriched mantle in the lower lithosphere caused by the activity of the East Kunlun strike-slip fault. Full article

The Princess Elizabeth Land landscape in East Antarctica was shaped by a complex process, involving the supercontinent’s breakup and convergence cycle. However, the lack of geological knowledge about the subglacial bedrock has made it challenging to understand this process. Our study aimed to investigate the structural characteristics of the subglacial bedrock in the Mount Brown region, utilizing airborne geophysical data collected from the China Antarctic Scientific Expedition in 2015–2017. We reconstructed bedrock density contrast and magnetic susceptibility models by leveraging Tikhonov regularized gravity and magnetic inversions. The deep bedrock in the inland direction exhibited different physical properties, indicating the presence of distinct basement sources. The east–west discontinuity of bedrock changed in the inland areas, suggesting the possibility of large fault structures or amalgamation belts. We also identified several normal faults in the western sedimentary basin, intersected by the southwest section of these survey lines. Furthermore, lithologic separators and sinistral strike-slip faults may exist in the northeast section, demarcating the boundary between Princess Elizabeth Land and Knox Valley. Our study provides new insights into the subglacial geological structure in this region, highlighting the violent impact of the I-A-A-S (Indo-Australo-Antarctic Suture) on the subglacial basement composition. Additionally, by identifying and describing different bedrock types, our study redefines the potential contribution of this region to the paleocontinent splicing process and East Antarctic basement remodeling. Full article