Shapes of Echelon Veins with Complementary Pressure Solution Seams Provide Clues About the Stiffness of Limestone and the Remote Stresses

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

Shapes of Echelon Veins with Complementary Pressure Solution Seams Provide Clues About the Stiffness of Limestone and the Remote Stresses SHAPES OF ECHELON VEINS WITH COMPLEMENTARY PRESSURE SOLUTION SEAMS PROVIDE CLUES ABOUT THE STIFFNESS OF LIMESTONE AND THE REMOTE STRESSES Solomon Seyum and David D. Pollard Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 e-mail: [email protected] spacing requires less pressure solution seam Abstract displacement for straight vein propagation than larger vein spacing. With a vein spacing of 8 mm, the A 2-D mechanical model shows the effect that limestone stiffness needs to be 3 GPa and admit 0.3 mm geometries, limestone material properties, boundary of pressure solution seam displacement. In contrast, a conditions, and pressure solution seam displacements 19 GPa limestone stiffness (u = 0.1 mm) produces have on echelon fracture propagation and vein shape. s straight vein propagation when vein spacing is 5 mm. We present a range and combination of geologically We observe most vein spacing to be less than the crack substantiated values for these physical parameters to geometries that we model, therefore suggesting that the reproduce the geometries of echelon veins observed in limestone could have been stiffer than 20 GPa. the field. Particularly, triangular vein shapes and straight vein traces angled to the remote maximum principal compressive stress direction. Keywords: A complete description of echelon vein and pressure Echelon veins, pressure solution seams, fracture solution seam formation reveals that limestone stiffness, mechanics, limestone stiffness, stress, finite element pressure solution seam displacement, and vein model, elasticity, Raplee Anticline, Comb Monocline interaction, in terms of vein length, vein spacing, and vein-array angle, are significant parameters. For veins Introduction in a left-stepping geometry oriented clockwise from the Arrays of echelon veins with complementary �! direction, straight vein propagation requires a ! echelon pressure solution seams are common features specific amount of seam displacement. Displacement of in limestone rocks (Figure 1). Here, the term “array” the pressure solution seam is a function of the limestone refers to the linear arrangement of echelon veins and stiffness. We find that for cracks at 0° (in line with �!), ! pressure solution seams; connecting vein or pressure E must be relatively soft with a value of 1.5 GPa. solution seam midpoints approximates a straight line Cracks that are at 10° (� = 35°) to the �! direction, E ! when viewed at the decimeter to meter scale. Their can be much stiffer (19 GPa). systematic distribution in the stratigraphy encourages Echelon veins angled to the remote maximum structural geologists to relate the formation of these principal compression direction are more likely to structures to a tectonic stress state (e.g. Jackson, 1991; propagate in their own plane than veins oriented Roering, 1968; Wiltschko et al., 2009); similar to the parallel to the maximum compression direction when stress state inferences made for the formation of joint they are coupled with pressure solution seams. This sets (Mynatt et al., 2009). For joints, the relationships implies that for the formation of veins in echelon between driving stresses and joint opening and joint arrays, such as those identified at the eastern propagation are well known (Pollard and Segall, 1987), Monument Upwarp, pressure solution seam and are based on the analytical solutions of linear displacements can cause veins to be straight and angled elastic fracture mechanics (Sneddon and Lowengrub, to the remote maximum principal compressive 1969). However, the physical mechanism for the direction. These results explain the common opening and propagation of echelon veins in an array interpretation of �! bisecting the acute angle between ! with pressure solution seams is largely unknown. With conjugate array sets to cause their synchronous the exception of a few studies known to the authors that formation using the method that explicitly relates consider the physical causes of echelon vein formation deformation (displacements and strain) to the causative (Chau and Wang, 2001; Fleck, 1991; Mandal, 1995; forces as functions of the material properties. Olson and Pollard, 1991; Rogers and Bird, 1987; Zhang Small vein spacing provides clues about limestone and Sanderson, 2002 pp. 171-174), the widely accepted stiffness. Limestone stiffness can be greater for straight hypothesis in structural geology for their formation is propagation of veins with smaller spacing. Smaller vein based on simple shear kinematics (Bons et al., 2012; Stanford Rock Fracture Project Vol. 25, 2014 D-1 Lisle, 2013; and many others), as introduced by Ramsay (1967), that describes the motions of cracks as passive markers; or, imaginary lines that rotate. To appropriately relate observed, systematic, deformation structures in rock to the regional tectonic stresses, a physical mechanism of formation for a single, representative structure should be understood. The deformation criterion should include a geologically appropriate constitutive relationship between applied stresses and the resulting strain that, with other geologic constraints, would reproduce the observed geometries. The constitutive relationship satisfies Newton’s laws of motion, such as static equilibrium of forces and conservation of momentum. These physical laws apply to deformation of rocks in the Earth’s crust, and are applied here to describe the formation of echelon veins with complementary pressure solution seams in limestone. Studies of echelon veins that use mechanics include Rogers and Bird (1987), Fleck (1991), Olson and Pollard (1991), Mandal (1995), Ramsay and Lisle (2000 pp. 766-768), and Chau and Wang (2001). All of these studies use 2-D models. Ramsay and Lisle (2000 pp. 766-768) use a finite element model to show how strain is deflected in a narrow zone of softer, elastic material relative to the stiffer surrounding material as a way to infer the orientation of potential initial echelon fractures. Rogers and Bird (1987) illustrate the complexity of stress distributions at crack tips for a Figure 1. Conjugate arrays of left-stepping and geometrically irregular set of echelon cracks using a right-stepping echelon veins, with boundary element model (isotropic, linear elastic complementary pressure solution seams, on the material) to reproduce echelon dike geometries. Chau top surface of the McKim Limestone at the and Wang (2001) describe interactions between echelon northern end of Raplee Anticline. cracks and the limits on straight crack growth patterns using an analytical solution to solve for the critical mechanical responses of echelon cracks to applied ratios of crack size and crack spacing for a variety of forces. The model input values are varied within the boundary configurations. Mandal (1995) provides an range of geologically appropriate values in order to analytical solution for the stress field in an elastic produce crack shapes (crack surface displacements) that material containing cracks to show how echelon crack most closely approximate vein shapes measured in the spacing, or mechanical interaction of neighboring crack field. Since vein surface displacements and the remote tips, affects the direction of infinitesimal crack stresses are explicitly related an interpretation of the propagation. Fleck (1991), using dislocation theory, and regional tectonic setting at the time echelon veins and Olson and Pollard (1991), using a boundary element pressure solution seams formed is defensible. model, show that the crack surface displacements can Some of the terminology used in this paper is be calculated given the stiffness of the material, and explained here. “Fracture” is used when referring to the similar to Chau and Wang (2001) and Mandal (1995), separation of rock to form two surfaces without any show that crack propagation is a function of the near-tip specification to relative motion of those surfaces stress field and the near-tip stress field is perturbed by beyond initial opening. The term “joint” refers to purely neighboring cracks. opening mode fractures identified in the field. “Vein” is We use a commercial finite element software to a term used for a fracture that has been filled with calculate displacements on crack surfaces and stresses mineral precipitates. The term “crack” is used when near crack tips to show how the resulting crack shape is referring to a discrete, material discontinuity in the a function of the initial crack orientation, the crack mechanical models and consists of two surfaces and length and spacing, the boundary conditions, and the two tips. Cracks in the models are compared to veins amount of displacement at model seams. Using observed in the field. “Pressure solution seam” refers to elasticity, we record the values to illustrate the simplest the field-identification of a two-dimensional trace in Stanford Rock Fracture Project Vol. 25, 2014 D-2 limestone along which we infer rock has been dissolved propagation is perpendicular to the direction of greatest and transported in solution. A “seam” refers to the extensional strain; forming sigmoidal vein shapes. mechanical model representation of a pressure solution More recent kinematic models have included normal seam. components of homogeneous strain across shear zones This is a mechanical study of echelon vein and (transtension and transpression) to explain smaller vein- pressure solution seam arrays in its simplest form. First, array angles (Kelly et al., 1998; Peacock and we introduce past kinematic
Recommended publications
  • Significance of Brittle Deformation in the Footwall
    Journal of Structural Geology 64 (2014) 79e98 Contents lists available at SciVerse ScienceDirect Journal of Structural Geology journal homepage: www.elsevier.com/locate/jsg Significance of brittle deformation in the footwall of the Alpine Fault, New Zealand: Smithy Creek Fault zone J.-E. Lund Snee a,*,1, V.G. Toy a, K. Gessner b a Geology Department, University of Otago, PO Box 56, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand b Western Australian Geothermal Centre of Excellence, The University of Western Australia, 35 Stirling Highway, Crawley, WA 6009, Australia article info abstract Article history: The Smithy Creek Fault represents a rare exposure of a brittle fault zone within Australian Plate rocks that Received 28 January 2013 constitute the footwall of the Alpine Fault zone in Westland, New Zealand. Outcrop mapping and Received in revised form paleostress analysis of the Smithy Creek Fault were conducted to characterize deformation and miner- 22 May 2013 alization in the footwall of the nearby Alpine Fault, and the timing of these processes relative to the Accepted 4 June 2013 modern tectonic regime. While unfavorably oriented, the dextral oblique Smithy Creek thrust has Available online 18 June 2013 kinematics compatible with slip in the current stress regime and offsets a basement unconformity beneath Holocene glaciofluvial sediments. A greater than 100 m wide damage zone and more than 8 m Keywords: Fault zone wide, extensively fractured fault core are consistent with total displacement on the kilometer scale. e Fluid flow Based on our observations we propose that an asymmetric damage zone containing quartz carbonate Hydrofracture echloriteeepidote veins is focused in the footwall.
    [Show full text]
  • Faults and Joints
    133 JOINTS Joints (also termed extensional fractures) are planes of separation on which no or undetectable shear displacement has taken place. The two walls of the resulting tiny opening typically remain in tight (matching) contact. Joints may result from regional tectonics (i.e. the compressive stresses in front of a mountain belt), folding (due to curvature of bedding), faulting, or internal stress release during uplift or cooling. They often form under high fluid pressure (i.e. low effective stress), perpendicular to the smallest principal stress. The aperture of a joint is the space between its two walls measured perpendicularly to the mean plane. Apertures can be open (resulting in permeability enhancement) or occluded by mineral cement (resulting in permeability reduction). A joint with a large aperture (> few mm) is a fissure. The mechanical layer thickness of the deforming rock controls joint growth. If present in sufficient number, open joints may provide adequate porosity and permeability such that an otherwise impermeable rock may become a productive fractured reservoir. In quarrying, the largest block size depends on joint frequency; abundant fractures are desirable for quarrying crushed rock and gravel. Joint sets and systems Joints are ubiquitous features of rock exposures and often form families of straight to curviplanar fractures typically perpendicular to the layer boundaries in sedimentary rocks. A set is a group of joints with similar orientation and morphology. Several sets usually occur at the same place with no apparent interaction, giving exposures a blocky or fragmented appearance. Two or more sets of joints present together in an exposure compose a joint system.
    [Show full text]
  • Pressure Solution and Hydraulic Fracturing by a Lastair Beach
    C H E M !C A L P R O C E S S E S IN D E F O R M A T IO N A T L O W M E T A M O R P H IC G R A D E S Pressure Solution and Hydraulic Fracturing by A lastair Beach Pressure solution has long been recognized as an im portant m echanism of de和rm ation, particularly in sedim entary rocks at low m etam orphic grade. G eologists have tended to study only the m ost easily m anaged aspect of pressure solution structures 一their geom etry as a record of rock deform ation. A t the sam e tim e the m ost co m m on pressure solution structures, such as stylolites in lim estones, clearly evolve th rough com plex chem ical processes, as do cleavage stripes and associa ted syntectonic veins w hich are abundant in terrigenous sedim entary rocks that have been d e form ed under lo w grade m etam orphic conditions. This review 和cusses on stripes and veins, draw ing together those concepts that need integrated study in o rd e r to r e a c h a b e t te r understanding a厂pressure solution. G eological Setting s m a lle r s c a le in s la t e s a n d t h e d e fin it io n o f c h e m ic a l a n d m ineralogical changes associated w ith cleavage developm ent Spaced cleavage stripes are the w idespread result of defor- (K nipe, 1982).
    [Show full text]
  • The Role of Pressure Solution Seam and Joint Assemblages In
    THE ROLE OF PRESSURE SOLUTION SEAM AND JOINT ASSEMBLAGES IN THE FORMATION OF STRIKE-SLIP AND THRUST FAULTS IN A COMPRESSIVE TECTONIC SETTING; THE VARISCAN OF SOUTHWESTERN IRELAND Filippo Nenna and Atilla Aydin Department of Geological and Environmental Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305 e-mail: [email protected] scale such as strike-slip faults and thrust-cored folds in Abstract various stages of their development. In this study we focus on the initiation and development of strike-slip The Ross Sandstone in County Clare, Ireland, was faults by shearing of the initial JVs and PSSs and deformed by an approximately north-south compression formation of thrust faults by exploiting weak shale during the end-Carboniferous Variscan orogeny. horizons and the strike-parallel PSSs in the adjacent Orthogonal sets of fundamental structures form the sandstone intervals. initial assemblage; mutually abutting arrays of 170˚ Development of faults from shearing of initial oriented set 1 joints/veins (JVs) and approximately 75˚ fundamental structural elements with either opening or pressure solution seams (PSSs) that formed under the closing modes in a wide range of structural settings has same stress conditions. Orientations of set 2 (splay) JVs been extensively reported. Segall and Pollard (1983), and PSSs suggest a clockwise remote stress rotation of Martel and Pollard (1989) and Martel (1990) have about 35˚ responsible for the contemporaneous described strike-slip faults formed by shearing of shearing of the set 1 arrays. Prominent strike-slip faults thermal fractures in granitic rocks. Myers and Aydin are sub-parallel to set 1 JVs and form by the linkage of (2004) and Flodin and Aydin (2004) reported strike-slip en-echelon segments with broad damage zones faulting formed by shearing of joints formed by an responsible for strike-slip offsets of hundreds of metres.
    [Show full text]
  • Deformation in Moffat Shale Detachment Zones in the Western Part of the Scottish Southern Uplands
    This is a repository copy of Deformation in Moffat Shale detachment zones in the western part of the Scottish Southern Uplands. White Rose Research Online URL for this paper: http://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/1246/ Article: Needham, D.T. (2004) Deformation in Moffat Shale detachment zones in the western part of the Scottish Southern Uplands. Geological Magazine, 141 (4). pp. 441-453. ISSN 0016-7568 https://doi.org/10.1017/S0016756804009203 Reuse See Attached Takedown If you consider content in White Rose Research Online to be in breach of UK law, please notify us by emailing [email protected] including the URL of the record and the reason for the withdrawal request. [email protected] https://eprints.whiterose.ac.uk/ Geol. Mag. 141 (4), 2004, pp. 441–453. c 2004 Cambridge University Press 441 DOI: 10.1017/S0016756804009203 Printed in the United Kingdom Deformation in Moffat Shale detachment zones in the western part of the Scottish Southern Uplands D. T. NEEDHAM* Rock Deformation Research, School of Earth Sciences, The University, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK (Received 17 June 2003; accepted 23 February 2004) Abstract – A study of the decollement´ zones in the Moffat Shale Group in the Ordovician Northern Belt of the Southern Uplands of Scotland reveals a progressive sequence of deformation and increased channelization of fluid flow. The study concentrates on exposures of imbricated Moffat Shale on the western coast of the Rhins of Galloway. Initial deformation occurred in partially lithified sediments and involved stratal disruption and shearing of the shales. Deformation then became more localized in narrower fault zones characterized by polyphase hydrothermal fluid flow/veining events.
    [Show full text]
  • Structural Control of Uranium-Bearing Vein Deposits and Districts in the Conterminous United States
    Structural Control of Uranium-Bearing Vein Deposits and Districts in the Conterminous United States GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 455-G Prepared on behalf of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission Structural Control of Uranium-Bearing Vein Deposits and Districts in the Conterminous United States By FRANK W. OSTERWALD GEOLOGY OF URANIUM-BEARING VEINS IN THE CONTERMINOUS UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY PROFESSIONAL PAPER 455-G Prepared on behalf of the U.S. Atomic Energy Commission UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE, WASHINGTON : 1965 UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR STEWART L. UDALL, Secretary GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Thomas B. Nolan, Director For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Printing Office Washington, D.C. 20402 - Price 30 cents (paper cover) CONTENTS Page Abstract___________________________________ 121 Structural environment of uranium districts..__________ 134 Introduction.______________________________________ 121 Districts adjacent to large-scale structural features.- 136 Shape of uranium-bearing veins_____________________ 122 Districts in crystalline-rock masses.______________ 140 Internal structure of ore shoots within veins._________ 123 Districts with linked tension fractures between Structural control of deposits-___-__-__-_____-_.______ 123 large-scale faults or shear zones_______________ 141 Fractures and fracture zones_____________________ 123 Summary. ___________________-__--_-__--_-___--____ 142 Fractures cutting favorable host rocks..___.______- 130 Literature cited__________________________________ 144 ILLUSTRATIONS Page FIGUBE 44. Sketch showing structural characteristics of pitchblende-bearing veinlets between footwall and hanging wall seams, Carroll mine.______--_-_________________________________________-_____-____--_-----__------- 123 45-46. Photographs of 45. Brecciated fault contact between steeply dipping Paleozoic(?) limestone and granitic rocks of Cretace- ous(?) age, at Hoping No.
    [Show full text]
  • Middle-Upper Miocene Stratigraphy of the Velarde Graben, North-Central New Mexico: Tectonic and Paleogeographic Implications D
    New Mexico Geological Society Downloaded from: http://nmgs.nmt.edu/publications/guidebooks/55 Middle-Upper Miocene stratigraphy of the Velarde Graben, North-Central New Mexico: Tectonic and paleogeographic implications D. J. Koning, S. B. Aby, and N. Dunbar, 2004, pp. 359-373 in: Geology of the Taos Region, Brister, Brian; Bauer, Paul W.; Read, Adam S.; Lueth, Virgil W.; [eds.], New Mexico Geological Society 55th Annual Fall Field Conference Guidebook, 440 p. This is one of many related papers that were included in the 2004 NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebook. Annual NMGS Fall Field Conference Guidebooks Every fall since 1950, the New Mexico Geological Society (NMGS) has held an annual Fall Field Conference that explores some region of New Mexico (or surrounding states). Always well attended, these conferences provide a guidebook to participants. Besides detailed road logs, the guidebooks contain many well written, edited, and peer-reviewed geoscience papers. These books have set the national standard for geologic guidebooks and are an essential geologic reference for anyone working in or around New Mexico. Free Downloads NMGS has decided to make peer-reviewed papers from our Fall Field Conference guidebooks available for free download. Non-members will have access to guidebook papers two years after publication. Members have access to all papers. This is in keeping with our mission of promoting interest, research, and cooperation regarding geology in New Mexico. However, guidebook sales represent a significant proportion of our operating budget. Therefore, only research papers are available for download. Road logs, mini-papers, maps, stratigraphic charts, and other selected content are available only in the printed guidebooks.
    [Show full text]
  • Fracture Cleavage'' in the Duluth Complex, Northeastern Minnesota
    Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on August 9, 2013 Geological Society of America Bulletin ''Fracture cleavage'' in the Duluth Complex, northeastern Minnesota M. E. FOSTER and P. J. HUDLESTON Geological Society of America Bulletin 1986;97, no. 1;85-96 doi: 10.1130/0016-7606(1986)97<85:FCITDC>2.0.CO;2 Email alerting services click www.gsapubs.org/cgi/alerts to receive free e-mail alerts when new articles cite this article Subscribe click www.gsapubs.org/subscriptions/ to subscribe to Geological Society of America Bulletin Permission request click http://www.geosociety.org/pubs/copyrt.htm#gsa to contact GSA Copyright not claimed on content prepared wholly by U.S. government employees within scope of their employment. Individual scientists are hereby granted permission, without fees or further requests to GSA, to use a single figure, a single table, and/or a brief paragraph of text in subsequent works and to make unlimited copies of items in GSA's journals for noncommercial use in classrooms to further education and science. This file may not be posted to any Web site, but authors may post the abstracts only of their articles on their own or their organization's Web site providing the posting includes a reference to the article's full citation. GSA provides this and other forums for the presentation of diverse opinions and positions by scientists worldwide, regardless of their race, citizenship, gender, religion, or political viewpoint. Opinions presented in this publication do not reflect official positions of the Society. Notes Geological Society of America Downloaded from gsabulletin.gsapubs.org on August 9, 2013 "Fracture cleavage" in the Duluth Complex, northeastern Minnesota M.
    [Show full text]
  • Accommodation of Penetrative Strain During Deformation Above a Ductile Décollement
    University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences of 2016 Accommodation of penetrative strain during deformation above a ductile décollement Bailey A. Lathrop Caroline M. Burberry Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/geosciencefacpub Part of the Earth Sciences Commons This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Papers in the Earth and Atmospheric Sciences by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Accommodation of penetrative strain during deformation above a ductile décollement Bailey A. Lathrop* and Caroline M. Burberry* DEPARTMENT OF EARTH AND ATMOSPHERIC SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF NEBRASKA-LINCOLN, 214 BESSEY HALL, LINCOLN, NEBRASKA 68588, USA ABSTRACT The accommodation of shortening by penetrative strain is widely considered as an important process during contraction, but the distribu- tion and magnitude of penetrative strain in a contractional system with a ductile décollement are not well understood. Penetrative strain constitutes the proportion of the total shortening across an orogen that is not accommodated by the development of macroscale structures, such as folds and thrusts. In order to create a framework for understanding penetrative strain in a brittle system above a ductile décollement, eight analog models, each with the same initial configuration, were shortened to different amounts in a deformation apparatus. Models consisted of a silicon polymer base layer overlain by three fine-grained sand layers. A grid was imprinted on the surface to track penetra- tive strain during shortening.
    [Show full text]
  • Clay Veins: Their Occurrence, Characteristics, and Support
    Bureau of Mines Report of Investigations/ 1987 Clay Veins: Their Occurrence, Characteristics, and Support By Frank E. Chase and James P. Ulery UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Report of Investigations 9060 Clay Veins: Their Occurrence, Characteristics, and Support By Frank E. Chase and James P. Ulery UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR Donald Paul Hodel, Secretary BUREAU OF MINES Robert C. Horton, Director Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data : Chase, Frank E. Clay veins : their occurrence, characteristics, and support. (Report of investigations/United States Department of the Interior, Bureau of Mines ; 9060) Bibliography: p. 18-19. Supt. of Docs. no.: I 28.23: 9060. 1. Ground control (Mining) 2. Clay veins. 3. Coal mines and mining-Safety measures. I. Ulery, J. P. (James P.) 11. Title. 111. Series: Report of investigations (United States. Bureau of Mines) ; 9060. TN23.U43 86-600245 CONTENTS Page Abstract ....................................................................... Introduction................................................................... Clay vein origins .............................................................. Clay vein occurrences.......................................................... Depositional setting and interpretations ....................................... Clay vein composition.......................................................... Coalbed and roof rock characteristics .......................................... Roof support..................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Stylolites: a Review
    Stylolites: a review Toussaint R.1,2,3*, Aharonov E.4, Koehn, D.5, Gratier, J.-P.6, Ebner, M.7, Baud, P.1, Rolland, A.1, and Renard, F.6,8 1Institut de Physique du Globe de Strasbourg, CNRS, University of Strasbourg, 5 rue Descartes, F- 67084 Strasbourg Cedex, France. Phone : +33 673142994. email : [email protected] 2 International Associate Laboratory D-FFRACT, Deformation, Flow and Fracture of Disordered Materials, France-Norway. 3SFF PoreLab, The Njord Centre, Department of Physics, University of Oslo, Norway. 4Institute of Earth Sciences, The Hebrew University, Jerusalem, 91904, Israel 5School of Geographical and Earth Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK 6University Grenoble Alpes, ISTerre, Univ. Savoie Mont Blanc, CNRS, IRD, IFSTTAR, 38000 Grenoble, France 7OMV Exploration & Production GmbH Trabrennstrasse 6-8, 1020 Vienna, Austria 8 The Njord Centre,PGP, Department of Geosciences, University of Oslo, Norway *corresponding author Highlights: . Stylolite formation depends on rock composition and structure, stress and fluids. Stylolite geometry, fractal and self-affine properties, network structure, are investigated. The experiments and physics-based numerical models for their formation are reviewed. Stylolites can be used as markers of strain, paleostress orientation and magnitude. Stylolites impact transport properties, as function of maturity and flow direction. Abstract Stylolites are ubiquitous geo-patterns observed in rocks in the upper crust, from geological reservoirs in sedimentary rocks to deformation zones, in folds, faults, and shear zones. These rough surfaces play a major role in the dissolution of rocks around stressed contacts, the transport of dissolved material and the precipitation in surrounding pores. Consequently, they 1 play an active role in the evolution of rock microstructures and rheological properties in the Earth’s crust.
    [Show full text]
  • U. S. Department of Agriculture Technical Release No
    U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TECHNICAL RELEASE NO. 41 SO1 L CONSERVATION SERVICE GEOLOGY &INEERING DIVISION MARCH 1969 U. S. Department of Agriculture Technical Release No. 41 Soil Conservation Service Geology Engineering Division March 1969 GRAPHICAL SOLUTIONS OF GEOLOGIC PROBLEMS D. H. Hixson Geologist GRAPHICAL SOLUTIONS OF GEOLOGIC PROBLEMS Contents Page Introduction Scope Orthographic Projections Depth to a Dipping Bed Determine True Dip from One Apparent Dip and the Strike Determine True Dip from Two Apparent Dip Measurements at Same Point Three Point Problem Problems Involving Points, Lines, and Planes Problems Involving Points and Lines Shortest Distance between Two Non-Parallel, Non-Intersecting Lines Distance from a Point to a Plane Determine the Line of Intersection of Two Oblique Planes Displacement of a Vertical Fault Displacement of an Inclined Fault Stereographic Projection True Dip from Two Apparent Dips Apparent Dip from True Dip Line of Intersection of Two Oblique Planes Rotation of a Bed Rotation of a Fault Poles Rotation of a Bed Rotation of a Fault Vertical Drill Holes Inclined Drill Holes Combination Orthographic and Stereographic Technique References Figures Fig. 1 Orthographic Projection Fig. 2 Orthographic Projection Fig. 3 True Dip from Apparent Dip and Strike Fig. 4 True Dip from Two Apparent Dips Fig. 5 True Dip from Two Apparent Dips Fig. 6 True Dip from Two Apparent Dips Fig. 7 Three Point Problem Fig. 8 Three Point Problem Page Fig. Distance from a Point to a Line 17 Fig. Shortest Distance between Two Lines 19 Fig. Distance from a Point to a Plane 21 Fig. Nomenclature of Fault Displacement 23 Fig.
    [Show full text]