Vein geometry and hydrostatics during Yellowknife mineralisation

1978 ◽  
Vol 15 (10) ◽  
pp. 1653-1660 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Kerrich ◽  
I. Allison
Keyword(s):  
Principal Stress ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Horizontal Stress ◽  
Maximum Principal Stress ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Stress Regime ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Vertical Arrays

Three vein systems with distinct geometry and time relations are located within major ductile shear zones at Yellowknife. En échelon arrays of centimetre width quartz veins initiated at ~45° to the shear zone boundaries and normal to the schistosity during initial translation on the structures. These geometrical relations conform to the simple shear model of Ramsay and Graham. Orientation of the maximum principal stress was ~45° to the 70° dipping shear zone boundaries, implying that the horizontal stress in the crust was greater than the vertical stress.Gold-bearing quartz veins of metre dimensions are disposed parallel to the schistosity, cross cutting early veins. This geometry requires the stress regime to switch from the former orientation such that the maximum principal stress is parallel to the schistosity, and the effective stress normal to the schistosity is tensile. The change of stress orientation is attributed to transient high fluid pressure which generated hydraulic fracturing and correspondingly high values of permeability. Under these conditions the shear zones act as conduits for massive fluid discharge; quartz and gold were precipitated from solutions cooling along a temperature–pressure (TP) gradient. Crustal vertical stress was greater than horizontal stress.Late stage lenticular gold-bearing quartz veins of metre dimensions were emplaced as vertical arrays within the shear zones, oriented normal to schistosity. These tension fractures formed when the stress regime reverted to the ambient conditions for stage 1 veining during a second episode of displacement on the shear zones. Consideration of the kinetics of intergranular diffusion, with reference to the required transport distances of gold into a lode deposit, implies that long-range diffusive transport of gold into veins was not significant.

The influence of dikes on auriferous shear zone development within granitoid intrusions: the Bourlamaque pluton, Val-d'Or district, Abitibi greenstone belt

1993 ◽  
Vol 30 (9) ◽  
pp. 1924-1933 ◽  
Author(s):  
Abdelhay Belkabir ◽  
François Robert ◽  
L. Vu ◽  
C. Hubert
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Slip Direction ◽  
Principal Stresses ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Profound Influence ◽  
Complex Shear ◽  
Zone Development ◽  
Granitoid Intrusions ◽  
Geometry And Kinematics

Shear-zone-related gold–quartz veins in granitoid intrusions are commonly intimately associated with mafic dikes, which may have a profound influence on the localization, orientation, and kinematics of auriferous shear zones. The Bourlamaque pluton of the Val-d'Or district contains several economic auriferous shear zones, most of which follow and overprint diorite dikes. Mineralization in all deposits consists of quartz–tourmaline–pyrite veins in reverse- oblique orientation with a significant range of strike, dip, and slip direction. The geometry and kinematics of shear zone and vein array within the pluton is more complex than the simple conjugate pattern predicted for a deforming homogeneous intrusion. The stress tensor determined from the auriferous shear zones within the pluton indicates the same northerly-directed compression recorded by similar shear zones outside the pluton. This indicates that the complex shear zone and vein pattern within the pluton reflects the influence of diorite dikes, which acted as weak layers that were activated during subsequent deformation, showing the importance of layer anisotropy in auriferous shear zone development.The plunges of orebodies bear simple geometric relationships to the slip direction along a host shear zone: these are generally perpendicular to, or in some cases parallel to, the slip direction. Knowledge of the slip directions along activated dikes would therefore allow prediction of the possible plunge(s) of orebodies at early stages of exploration programs. Slip direction along an activated layer is controlled by the orientation of the layer with respect to the stress field and by the relative magnitudes of the three principal stresses. Using techniques developed for analysis of fault slip data, both parameters can be determined, provided there is a sufficient database, and slip direction can be predicted for activated layers of any orientations.

UNCONVENTIONAL BOREHOLE BREAKOUT ROTATION ANALYSIS PROVIDES A QC TOOL FOR STRESS MODELS

2006 ◽  
Vol 46 (1) ◽  
pp. 307
Author(s):  
B.A. Camac ◽  
S.P. Hunt ◽  
P.J. Boult ◽  
M. Dillon
Keyword(s):  
Principal Stress ◽  
Input Data ◽  
Distinct Element ◽  
Maximum Principal Stress ◽  
Principal Stresses ◽  
Stress Regime ◽  
Seal Integrity ◽  
Borehole Breakout ◽  
Stress Models ◽  
Kupe Field

In distinct element (DEM) numerical stress modelling, the principal stress magnitudes and orientations are applied to the boundary of the 3D model. Due to data restrictions and typical depths of investigation, it is possible to have much uncertainty in the conventional methodologies used to constrain the regional principal stress magnitudes and orientations.A case study from the Kupe field in the Taranaki Basin, New Zealand is presented where the uncertainty in the input data made it difficult to determine which stress regime—a transitional normal/strike-slip or reverse/thrust—is active at reservoir depth (approximately 3,000 m). The magnitudes and orientation of the principal stresses were constrained using published techniques. A sensitivity analysis was applied to account for the uncertainty in the input data. A model of the Kupe field incorporating 18 major faults was subsequently loaded under both derived stressed regimes, using the calculated magnitudes.Borehole breakout analysis was used to acquire interpreted orientations of the maximum principal stress (Shmax). The work presented herein describes a different or unconventional approach to the general petroleum geomechanics methodology. Typically, the breakout data is averaged to get one data point per well location. Here, all breakout data is retained and displayed vertically. The data is actively used and the variations with depth can be seen to show how faults can generate local perturbations of the regional stress trajectory. These data are then used to compare the observed or field indications of the breakouts along the borehole with the modelled Shmax predicted by both end point DEM stress models. This comparison has provided additional confidence in the derived stress regime and the derived stress models for the Kupe field. The stress models are used to predict areas of enhanced hydrocarbon pooling and low seal integrity.

scholarly journals Switching deformation mode and mechanisms during subduction of continental crust: a case study from Alpine Corsica

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Giancarlo Molli ◽  
Luca Menegon ◽  
Alessandro Malasoma
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Continental Crust ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Deformation Mode ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Plastic Shear ◽  
Stick Slip ◽  
Brittle Ductile Transition

Abstract. The switching in deformation mode (from distributed to localized) and mechanisms (viscous versus frictional) represent a relevant issue in the frame of crustal deformation, being also connected with the concept of the brittle-ductile transition and seismogenesis. In subduction environment, switching in deformation mode and mechanisms may be inferred along the subduction interface, in a transition zone between the highly coupled (seismogenic zone) and decoupled deeper aseismic domain (stable slip). On the other hand, the role of brittle precursors in nucleating crystal-plastic shear zones has received more and more consideration being now recognized as fundamental in the localization of deformation and shear zone development, thus representing a case in which switching deformation mode and mechanisms interact and relate to each other. This contribution analyzes an example of a crystal plastic shear zone localized by brittle precursor formed within a host granitic-protomylonite during deformation in subduction-related environment. The studied structures, possibly formed by transient instability associated with fluctuations of pore fluid pressure and episodic strain rate variations may be considered as a small scale example of fault behaviour associated with a cycle of interseismic creep and coseismic rupture or a new analogue for episodic tremors and slow slip structures. Our case-study represents, therefore, a fossil example of association of fault structures related with stick-slip strain accomodation during subduction of continental crust.

scholarly journals Instability Control of Roadway Surrounding Rock in Close-Distance Coal Seam Groups under Repeated Mining

Energies ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (16) ◽  
pp. 5193
Author(s):  
Yu Xiong ◽  
Dezhong Kong ◽  
Zhanbo Cheng ◽  
Zhijie Wen ◽  
Zhenqian Ma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Coal Seam ◽  
Principal Stress ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Field Testing ◽  
Horizontal Stress ◽  
Maximum Principal Stress ◽  
Stability Control ◽  
Surrounding Rock ◽  
Roadway Stability ◽  
Close Distance

In order to solve the problems of roadway stability and easy instability under repeated mining of close-distance coal seam groups, the mechanism and control technology of surrounding rock instability under repeated mining were studied via indoor testing, field testing, physical similarity simulation experiment, and numerical simulation. The results show that the surrounding rock of roadway has low strength, low bearing capacity, and poor self-stabilization ability, and it is vulnerable to engineering disturbances and fragmentation. Affected by the disturbance under repeated mining, the roadway surrounding rock cracks are developed and the sensitivity is strong, and it is prone to large-scale loose and destroyed. The location of the roadway is unreasonable, and the maximum principal stress of the roadway is 3.1 times of the minimum principal stress, which is quite different. Thus, under a large horizontal stress, the surrounding rock undergoes long-range expansion deformation. On the basis of this research, the direction and emphasis of stability control of roadway surrounding rock under repeated mining of coal seam groups in close-distance are shown. A repair scheme (i.e., long bolt + high-strength anchor cable + U-shaped steel + grouting) is proposed, and reduces the risk of roadway instability.

How a strong low-angle normal fault formed: The Whipple detachment, southeastern California

2019 ◽  
Vol 132 (9-10) ◽  
pp. 1817-1828 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gary J. Axen
Keyword(s):  
Principal Stress ◽  
Maximum Shear Stress ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Normal Fault ◽  
Maximum Principal Stress ◽  
Detachment Fault ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Tectonic Model ◽  
Stress Rotation

Abstract Many low-angle normal faults (dip ≤30°) accommodate tens of kilometers of crustal extension, but their mechanics remain contentious. Most models for low-angle normal fault slip assume vertical maximum principal stress σ1, leading many authors to conclude that low-angle normal faults are poorly oriented in the stress field (≥60° from σ1) and weak (low friction). In contrast, models for low-angle normal fault formation in isotropic rocks typically assume Coulomb failure and require inclined σ1 (no misorientation). Here, a data-based, mechanical-tectonic model is presented for formation of the Whipple detachment fault, southeastern California. The model honors local and regional geologic and tectonic history and laboratory friction measurements. The Whipple detachment fault formed progressively in the brittle-plastic transition by linking of “minidetachments,” which are small-scale analogs (meters to kilometers in length) in the upper footwall. Minidetachments followed mylonitic anisotropy along planes of maximum shear stress (45° from the maximum principal stress), not Coulomb fractures. They evolved from mylonitic flow to cataclasis and frictional slip at 300–400 °C and ∼9.5 km depth, while fluid pressure fell from lithostatic to hydrostatic levels. Minidetachment friction was presumably high (0.6–0.85), based upon formation of quartzofeldspathic cataclasite and pseudotachylyte. Similar mechanics are inferred for both the minidetachments and the Whipple detachment fault, driven by high differential stress (∼150–160 MPa). A Mohr construction is presented with the fault dip as the main free parameter. Using “Byerlee friction” (0.6–0.85) on the minidetachments and the Whipple detachment fault, and internal friction (1.0–1.7) on newly formed Reidel shears, the initial fault dips are calculated at 16°–26°, with σ1 plunging ∼61°–71° northeast. Linked minidetachments probably were not well aligned, and slip on the evolving Whipple detachment fault probably contributed to fault smoothing, by off-fault fracturing and cataclasis, and to formation of the fault core and fractured damage zone. Stress rotation may have occurred only within the mylonitic shear zone, but asymmetric tectonic forces applied to the brittle crust probably caused gradual rotation of σ1 above it as a result of: (1) the upward force applied to the base of marginal North America by buoyant asthenosphere upwelling into an opening slab-free window and/or (2) basal, top-to-the-NE shear traction due to midcrustal mylonitic flow during tectonic exhumation of the Orocopia Schist. The mechanical-tectonic model probably applies directly to low-angle normal faults of the lower Colorado River extensional corridor, and aspects of the model (e.g., significance of anisotropy, stress rotation) likely apply to formation of other strong low-angle normal faults.

scholarly journals Tectonic pressure gradients during viscous creep drive fluid flow and brittle failure at the base of the seismogenic zone

Geology ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Luca Menegon ◽  
Åke Fagereng
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Brittle Failure ◽  
Failure Modes ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Elevated Pressure ◽  
Hydraulic Gradient ◽  
Seismogenic Zone ◽  
Viscous Shear ◽  
Host Rocks

Fluid-pressure cycles are commonly invoked to explain alternating frictional and viscous deformation at the base of the seismogenic crust. However, the stress conditions and geological environment of fluid-pressure cycling are unclear. We address this problem by detailed structural investigation of a vein-bearing shear zone at Sagelvvatn, northern Norwegian Caledonides. In this dominantly viscous shear zone, synkinematic quartz veins locally crosscut mylonitic fabric at a high angle and are rotated and folded with the same sense of shear as the mylonite. Chlorite thermometry indicates that both veining and mylonitization occurred at ~315–400 °C. The vein-filled fractures are interpreted as episodically triggered by viscous creep in the mylonite, where quartz piezometry and brittle failure modes are consistent with low (18–44 MPa) differential stress. The Sagelvvatn shear zone is a stretching shear zone, where elevated pressure drives a hydraulic gradient that expels fluids from the shear zone to the host rocks. In low-permeability shear zones, this hydraulic gradient facilitates buildup of pore-fluid pressure until the hydrofracture criterion is reached and tensile fractures open. We propose that hydraulic gradients established by local and cyclic pressure variations during viscous creep can drive episodic fluid escape and result in brittle-viscous fault slip at the base of the seismogenic crust.

scholarly journals Multiple fluid migration events and REE+Th mineralisation during Alpine metamorphism in the Sopron micaschist from the Eastern-Alps (Sopron area, Western Hungary)

2020 ◽  
Vol 150 (1) ◽  
pp. 45
Author(s):  
Kálmán Török
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Host Rock ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Mineral Chemistry ◽  
Eastern Alps ◽  
Aqueous Fluid ◽  
Fluid Migration ◽  
Two Phase ◽  
Quartz Veins ◽  
Alpine Metamorphism

Four fluid migration events were recorded during the Alpine metamorphism in the Sopron micaschist from the Grob gneiss series of the Lower Austroalpine Unit of the Eastern Alps near Sopron, using mineral chemistry data, geothermo-barometry and fluid inclusion studies.1. Tourmaline mineralisation in quartz veins and to some extent in the host rock. Similar mineral compositions in the quartz-tourmaline veins and in the host rock show equilibrium between fluid and the host rock. Geothermo-barometry gives 560-610oC temperature and 950-1230 MPa pressure for the formation of quartz-tourmaline veins which is the same as the determined P-T peak (T=560 and 600°C p= 840-1230 MPa).2. Fluids causing Mg-metasomatism in the shear zones. The result of this fluid invasion was the formation of leucophyllite in the shear zones and Mg-enrichment of some minerals (chlorite, muscovite, garnet) in the close vicinity of the shear zone. The effect of this fluid was confined to the shear zones and the neighbouring host rock.3. The rock was infiltrated along the shear zones and quartz veins with CO2-bearing hypersaline fluids during retrograde metamorphism. The presence of this fluid is evidenced by secondary CO2 inclusions and hypersaline aqueous fluid inclusions ± CO2. The aqueous fluid had high concentrations of Na, Ca, Fe, Al, Cl and contained moderate amounts of Mg, Zn, Ti, K, Mn, S and P. This fluid was the carrier of the REE and Th and locally precipitated florencite, monazite, allanite, apatite, thorite and thorianite in the shear zone. Traces of this mineralisation are found in quartz-tourmaline veins, postdating the tourmaline mineralisation.4. Late retrograde metamorphic fluid represented by two phase (liquid+vapor) aqueous inclusions of the NaCl-CaCl2-H2O system with total salinity between 25 and 28.5% and homogenisation temperatures between 229.6 and 322oC

scholarly journals Control of Shear-Zone-Induced Pressure Fluctuations on Gold Endowment: The Giant El Callao District, Guiana Shield, Venezuela

Minerals ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (10) ◽  
pp. 430 ◽  
Author(s):  
German Velásquez ◽  
Stefano Salvi ◽  
Luc Siebenaller ◽  
Didier Béziat ◽  
Daniel Carrizo
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Pressure Fluctuations ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Fluid Phase ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Guiana Shield ◽  
Vein System ◽  
Transition Strain ◽  
Zone Development ◽  
Gold Bearing

The El Callao district, with a total endowment of more than 2000 t Au, is considered to be the most prolific gold resource in Venezuela. Mineralization is hosted by a vein system that is genetically associated with the El Callao transpressional shear zone. This vein system consists of a network of interconnected quartz–albite–ankerite veins enveloping a large number of metabasaltic fragments that host gold-bearing pyrites. Based on detailed mineralogical, microstructural, and fluid inclusion studies, a pressure-temperature pathway was established for the evolution of the mineralizing fluid during shear-zone development and exhumation. This path is characterized by repeated episodes of fluid pressure fluctuation from lithostatic (higher than 1.6 kbar) to near-hydrostatic values (<0.4 kbar), recorded throughout the transition from the quasi-plastic to frictional deformation cortical domains. Each successive pressure drop induced boiling of the hydrothermal fluid, with the resulting fluid phase separation controlling: (i) pyrite and invisible gold crystallization, which occurred during ductile and ductile-brittle transition strain conditions, and (ii) primary gold remobilization with consequent native-refined gold precipitation, occurring mainly under brittle conditions. The metallogenic framework that was proposed for the El Callao shear zone can be used as a vector to explore and characterize other mineralized shear zones in the Guiana Shield and analogous orogenic systems worldwide.

Undrained loading in basal shear zones modulates the slow-to-fast transition of giant creeping rockslides

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Federico Agliardi ◽  
Marco M. Scuderi ◽  
Nicoletta Fusi ◽  
Cristiano Collettini
Keyword(s):  
Pore Pressure ◽  
Shear Zone ◽  
Laboratory Experiments ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
In Situ Monitoring ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Full Spectrum ◽  
Basal Shear

&lt;p&gt;Giant rockslides creep for centuries and then can fail catastrophically posing major threats to society. There is growing evidence that creeping landslides are widespread worldwide and extremely sensitive to hydrological forcing, especially in climate change scenarios. Rockslide creep is the results of progressive rock failure processes, leading to rock damage accumulation, permeability enhancement and strain localization within basal shear zones similar to tectonic faults. As shear zone accumulate strain, they become thicker and less permeable, favoring the development of perched aquifers. Since then, the creep behavior of mature rockslides becomes dominated by hydro-mechanical interaction with external triggers, e.g. rainfall and snowmelt. However, the mechanisms regulating the slow-to-fast transition toward their catastrophic collapse remain elusive, and statistical and simplified mathematical models used for collapse prediction are usually unable to account for the full spectrum of observed slip behaviors.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Here we couple laboratory experiments on natural rockslide shear zone material, sampled from high quality drillcores, and in situ observations (groundwater level and surface displacement) to investigate the mechanism of rockslide response to short-term pore pressure variations within basal shear zones at the Spriana rockslide (Italy). Using a biaxial apparatus within a pressure vessel, we characterized the strength and permeability of the phyllosilicate-rich shear zone material at in situ stress, as well as the rate and state frictional properties for shear rates typical of the slow-to-fast transition of real rockslides. Then we carried out non-conventional pore pressure-step creep experiments, in which shear stress is maintained at subcritical levels and pore pressure is increased stepwise while monitoring shear zone slip and dilatancy until runaway failure.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;Our results, that are quantitatively consistent with in situ monitoring observations, provide a scale-independent demonstration that short-term pore pressure variations originate a full spectrum of creep styles, modulated by slip-induced undrained conditions. Shear zones respond to fluid pressure increments by impulsive acceleration and dilatancy, causing spontaneous deceleration followed by sustained steady-rate creep. Increasing fluid pressure results in high creep rates and eventual collapse. Laboratory experiments quantitatively capture the in situ behavior of giant rockslides, providing physically-based basis to improve forecasting models for giant mature rockslides in crystalline rocks.&lt;/p&gt;

scholarly journals New Insight into the Genetic Mechanism of Shear Zone Type Gold Deposits from Muping-Rushan Metallogenic Belt (Jiaodong Peninsula of Eastern China)

Minerals ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 775
Author(s):  
Nannan Cheng ◽  
Quanlin Hou ◽  
Mengyan Shi ◽  
Miao He ◽  
Qing Liu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Shear Zone ◽  
Gold Mineralization ◽  
Electron Backscatter Diffraction ◽  
Eastern China ◽  
Fluid Pressure ◽  
Shear Zones ◽  
Gold Deposits ◽  
Genetic Mechanism ◽  
Forming Process ◽  
Middle Crust

Most gold deposits are genetically controlled by shear zones, which are called shear zone type gold deposits (SZTGD). A better understanding of kinematics of shear zones and its constraint on the ore-forming process is critical to reveal the genetic mechanism of the SZTGD and favorable to mineral exploration. By conducting detailed structural analysis including field and microscopic observations and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) and fractal dimension analysis in the Muping-Rushan shear zone (MR) as well as several gold deposits, the kinematic characteristics of the MR are well recognized and the metallogenic process of the SZTGD are discussed. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) petrology, geometry, kinematics, macro- and micro-structures imply that the MR has experienced a progressive shearing history exhumed via middle crust to subsurface level under the NW-SE extensional regime from late Jurassic to early Cretaceous; (2) in the MR, gold may precipitate both in the brittle fractures at middle crust level and brittle deformation part at shallow crust level during the stress-chemical process and (3) comparison of gold deposits between the MR and other areas show that the SZTGD has a uniform metallogenic mechanism, which is from (multi-stage) pluton emplacement, hydrothermal fluid action, shearing action, brittle fracturing, sudden reduction of fluid pressure, flash vaporization to (gold) mineralization.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document