Genetic Mechanism and Linkage Evolution of Transtensional Fault Systems: A Case from Nanpu Sag of Bohai Bay Basin, China
0
Citation
35
Reference
10
Related Paper
Abstract:
The Nanpu Sag is a hydrocarbon-rich sag in the Bohai Bay Basin of China that underwent multiple structural deformation in the Cenozoic era, resulting in complex fault systems. Clear transtensional fault systems are present in a trapezoidal structural belt, and this setting is an ideal location to study the genesis and evolution of transtensional faults. Based on the interpretation of 3D seismic data, assembly of faults from coherent slices of seismic reflection surfaces, and analogue experiments, the geometry and kinematics of the structural belt in the Nanpu Sag were analyzed. Additionally, from the identification of structures, paleo-stress reconstruction, a model of the evolution of the trapezoidal structural belt was determined. This process requires the statistics of fault throw–displacement, variation of the formation thickness, and a specific analogue model. The results are as follows: (1) The Nanpu Sag has experienced different evolution stages, including a NW–SE extension stage in the Shahejie Formation, a N–S extending stage in the Dongying Formation, a thermal subsidence stage in the Guantao Formation, and a structural reactivation stage in the Minghuazhen Formation. (2) The direction of stress field intersected with a pre-existing strike-slip fault at a large angle for a long period, which firstly caused the fault to be separated, and then in the northern segment, the strike-slip faults reconnected with the newly generated normal faults, forming large-scale arc faults. These processes created displacement transfer through a relay ramp. (3) Analogue experiments show that the Cenozoic structural belt formed under the influence of pre-existing faults, stress field transformation, and a basal decollement layer. The simulation results are also useful for elucidating boundary conditions and fault properties, i.e., respective dynamic background and material properties.Keywords:
Linkage (software)
Research Article| January 01, 2004 Anatomy and evolution of a pull-apart basin, Stellarton, Nova Scotia John W.F. Waldron John W.F. Waldron 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information John W.F. Waldron 1Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E3, Canada Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 24 Dec 2002 Revision Received: 03 Jun 2003 Accepted: 09 Jun 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (2004) 116 (1-2): 109–127. https://doi.org/10.1130/B25312.1 Article history Received: 24 Dec 2002 Revision Received: 03 Jun 2003 Accepted: 09 Jun 2003 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation John W.F. Waldron; Anatomy and evolution of a pull-apart basin, Stellarton, Nova Scotia. GSA Bulletin 2004;; 116 (1-2): 109–127. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/B25312.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract The Stellarton Basin is a late Paleozoic pull-apart basin located close to the Meguma-Avalon terrane boundary in the Canadian Appalachians, at the stepover between the Cobequid and Hollow strike-slip faults. The basin contains ∼3 km of rapidly deposited Pennsylvanian clastic sedimentary rocks representing lacustrine and deltaic environments, extensively documented through coal-related mining and drilling. Coal seams and oil shales allow stratigraphic correlation within the basin, permitting reconstruction of basin subsidence and structural evolution. Coal seams represent approximately paleo–horizontal surfaces; thickness variations (corrected for tilt and compaction) in the most coal-rich part of the basin fill show that the south basin margin subsided rapidly during deposition, acting as a trap for coarse sediment and allowing coal-forming mires to develop in the north. Abundant soft- sediment deformation structures reflect synsedimentary tectonic activity. North-striking normal faults dissected the basin fill during and soon after deposition, early in the diagenetic history. Contouring of mine plans allows fault heaves to be identified and also shows that both coal seams and faults were folded by east- to northeast-trending folds, consistent with (1) an environment of deformation involving dextral strike-slip motion and (2) clockwise rotation of fault blocks during progressive strain. Later, north-northeast–striking contractional structures within the basin, and a positive flower structure at the northwest margin, probably represent a transition from transtension to transpression. The basin illustrates the role of rotational progressive strain in the reorientation of structures generated during transtension. It displays evidence for changes in tectonic style through time, from transtension to transpression, that may typify basins developed on major strike-slip faults. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.
Nova scotia
Nova (rocket)
Cite
Citations (51)
Transtension
Echelon formation
Cite
Citations (98)
Based on a large number of data of core, log and seism, and by the newest methods of sedimentology, this paper clarified the characteristics of sedimentology of Shahezi Formation in Western Fault Basins Belt of North Songliao Basin. There are fan delta depositional systems, lacustrine and lake-floor fan systems and also volcanic facies developed in the fault basins. Fan delta depositional system were developed along the margin fault; toward the basin, lacustrine system was developed, and deep lake facies were developed very well; and in the deep lake area near the fan delta, lake floor fan was developed. These kinds of characteristics of sedimentology reveal the favorable conditions of source rock, reservoir and seal rock and the favorable potential of oil and gas exploration.
Cite
Citations (1)
We discussed a few questions about the relationship between the tectonic kinematic process and the reservoir formation in northern margin of Qaidam basin.Through our research we believed that the dynamic mechanism of basin-mountain coupling system was the most important factor of the oil and gas accumulations in the Mesozoic-Cenozoic Era.The fault blocks of the northern margin of Qaidam basin were uplifted in Yanshan Period and early Himalayan Period.But the speeds were different because of their different tectonic location and nature.The fault block which uplifted slowly gradually turned into the down-warped block fault depression.Fault zones around the Qaidam basin were uplifted and thrusted into the basin in the late Himalayan Period,leading to the folding and faulting of the Cenozoic strata.But these structural characteristics were exactly conducive to hydrocarbon accumulation.
Tectonic uplift
Cite
Citations (4)
Abstract An account is given of the structural setting of the various Neogene sedimentary basins of western Greece. Compressional basins are attributable to foreland loading by the Alpine fold and thrust belt of the Outer Hellenides, and to active subduction in the adjacent western Hellenic arc. Late extensional basins are related to N‐S crustal extension in the Aegean marginal basin and, in western Greece, are superimposed on the earlier compressional structures. The local seismicity provides evidence that the main E‐W‐trending basin‐bounding faults of the extensional basins form a linked system that includes NW‐SE‐ and NE‐SW‐trending transfer zones of transtension. The transfer zones are themselves the sites of small extensional basins.
Transtension
Neogene
Back-arc basin
Tectonic subsidence
Cite
Citations (55)
Transtension
Transform fault
Cite
Citations (39)
Transtension
Pull apart basin
Cite
Citations (12)
Research Article| November 01, 1994 Structure of the Hanmer strike-slip basin, Hope fault, New Zealand RAY A. WOOD; RAY A. WOOD 1Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd., P.O. Box 1320, Wellington, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JARG R. PETTINGA; JARG R. PETTINGA 2Department of Geology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar STEPHEN BANNISTER; STEPHEN BANNISTER 1Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd., P.O. Box 1320, Wellington, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. LAMARCHE; G. LAMARCHE 1Institute of Geological and Nuclear Sciences Ltd., P.O. Box 1320, Wellington, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar TIMOTHY J. McMORRAN TIMOTHY J. McMORRAN 2Department of Geology, University of Canterbury, Christchurch, New Zealand Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1994) 106 (11): 1459–1473. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1994)106<1459:SOTHSS>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation RAY A. WOOD, JARG R. PETTINGA, STEPHEN BANNISTER, G. LAMARCHE, TIMOTHY J. McMORRAN; Structure of the Hanmer strike-slip basin, Hope fault, New Zealand. GSA Bulletin 1994;; 106 (11): 1459–1473. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1994)106<1459:SOTHSS>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Hanmer basin (10 x 20 km), located in northern South Island, New Zealand, is evolving where two major segments of the dextral strike-slip Hope fault are projected to converge across a 6- to 7-km-wide releasing step-over. The structural geometry and development of Hanmer basin does not conform to traditional pull-apart basin models.The respective fault segments do not overlap but are indirectly linked along the southwest margin of the basin by an oblique normal fault. The Hope River segment terminates in an array of oblique normal faults along the northwestern basin range front, and east-west-striking normal faults on the west Hanmer Plain. Faulted Holocene alluvial-fan surfaces indicate west Hanmer basin is actively subsiding evolving under north-south extension. The Conway segment along the southeastern margin of the basin terminates in a complex series of active fault traces, small pop-up ridges, and graben depressions. Early basin-fill sediments of Pleistocene age are being folded, elevated, and dissected as the eastern part of Hanmer basin is progressively inverted and destroyed by north-south contraction.The north margin of the basin is defined by a series of topographic steps caused by normal faulting outside of the area of the releasing step-over. These normal faults we interpret to reflect large-scale upper crustal collapse of the hanging-wall side of the Hope fault.New seismic reflection data and geologic mapping reveal a persistent longitudinal and lateral asymmetry to basin development. Four seismic stratigraphic sequences identified in the eastern sector of the basin thicken and are tilted southward, with insequence lateral onlaps occurring to the north and east, and also onto basement near the fault-controlled basin margins. The basin depocenter currently contains >1000 m of sediment adjacent to the south margin and is disrupted by faulting only at depth. In the western part of the basin, the sediment fill is thinner (<500 m) and is intensely faulted across the entire basin width.Today the rate of basin deepening under transtension at the western end is matched by its progressive inversion and destruction under transpression in the eastern sector, with the oldest basin fill now being recycled. We propose a hybrid model for Hanmer strike-slip basin, one in which geometric elements of a fault-wedge basin (downward and upward tipped, spindle-shaped ends) are combined with those of a pull-apart basin (step-over region between the major fault segments). We also conclude that changes in fault geometry (releasing and restraining bends and step-overs) at a variety of scales and over short distances control the development of the extensile and contractile parts of the basin and three-dimensional basin asymmetry. Strain partitioning is complex and cannot be related simply to local reorientation of the regional stress field. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.
Icon
Cite
Citations (78)
Over the last 20 years, the Great Sumatran Fault (GSF) has been studied on land, but we have very little information about its offshore extension NW of Sumatra and its link with the West Andaman Fault to the north. The problem is further complicated by its vicinity to the volcanic arc. Here we present detailed analyses of the offshore extension of the GSF based on recently acquired high‐resolution bathymetry, multichannel seismic reflection data and some old single channel seismic reflection data. Our findings demonstrate that the branches of the GSF near Banda Aceh proceed further northwestward producing two 15–20 km wide adjacent basins. The southwestern transpressional Breueh basin is 1–2 km deep and has a flower structure with a push‐up ridge in the center, suggesting the presence of an active strike‐slip fault. The presence of strike‐slip earthquakes beneath this basin further suggests that one active branch of the GSF passes through this basin. The northeastern transtensional Weh basin is up to 3.4 km deep and the absence of recent sediments on the basin floor suggests that the basin is very young. The presence of a chain of volcanoes in the center of the basin suggests that the Sumatran volcanic arc passes through this basin. The anomalous depth of the Weh basin might be a site of early back‐arc spreading or may have resulted from pull‐apart extension. We examine all these new observations in the light of plate motion, local deformation and possible seismic risk.
Transtension
Pull apart basin
Cite
Citations (44)
Abstract The Walker Lane is a zone of distributed transtension where normal faults are overprinted by strike‐slip motion. We use two newly acquired, high‐resolution seismic reflection profiles and a reprocessed Consortium for Continental Reflection Profiling (COCORP) deep crustal reflection profile to assess the subsurface geometry of the Holocene‐active, transtensional Warm Springs Valley fault zone (WSVFZ) near Reno, Nevada, USA. Our multiscale observations extend to 12 km depth and suggest that the WSVFZ is more complex in the subsurface than implied by late Pleistocene surface fault traces. Two 4‐km‐long high‐resolution profiles image to a depth of ∼2 km and reveal moderately dipping reflections and truncations, some of which project to mapped scarps formed in late Pleistocene surfaces. The shallow lines are collocated with COCORP profile NV 08 along ∼40°N latitude. Reanalysis of the COCORP data reveals previously unidentified coherent reflections to a depth of ∼12 km and a previously mapped ∼30° west‐dipping fault at 8–12 km. From these seismic profiles, the WSVFZ is not a simple, subvertical fault zone extending through the entire seismogenic crust. Instead, the reflections are consistent with a zone of steeply and moderately dipping faults that simplify and steepen with depth before intersecting a mid‐crustal, low‐angle (∼25–30°) fault. The complex fault geometry of the WSVFZ implies that crustal shear is accommodated by a mix of dipping and subvertical faults in the transtensional northern Walker Lane. If so, transtensional fault zones may present challenges to paleoseismic and geodetic studies and require careful treatment when included in seismic hazard analyses.
Transtension
Echelon formation
Upper crust
Cite
Citations (2)