Seismic imaging of Caosiyao giant porphyry molybdenum deposit using ambient noise tomography

As a new emerging seismic method for delineating subsurface structure, the potential of ambient noise tomography is investigated for mineral deposit targeting at exploration scale. This passive seismic technique was used to image the subsurface 3-D shear-wave velocity of the Caosiyao porphyry molybdenum (Mo) deposit in the North China Craton. Intriguingly, the key structures of this giant porphyry mineral system down to the depth of 2 km are characterized by distinct shear-wave velocity anomalies, with ore deposition sites and fluid pathways (faults) characterized by distinct velocity lows, while fluid drivers (granites) generate velocity highs. The 3-D shear-wave velocity anomalies, along with seismic reflection profile and potential field data, allow us to delineate the deep-seated ore-controlling structures including fault systems, granitic plutons and even ore deposition sites under thickly covered sediments in the study area. The results suggest that the occurrence of the Caosiyao ore deposit is closely related to the huge amount of magma fluid intruding along the channel of Datong-Shangyi fault at a depth of gt;2 km. Our study demonstrates that the ambient noise tomography technique has the accuracy and resolution needed for mineral exploration targeting at deposit scale, with a relatively lower environmental impact as well as lower cost than active-source seismology.

Intraplate depth-dependent lithospheric stretching imaged by seismic reflection data

Geological and geophysical data coupled with numerical simulations have shown that lithospheric extension at passive margins may be classified into three end-member scenarios of pure shear, simple shear, and depth-dependent deformation. However, how lithospheric extension evolves in an intraplate setting remains enigmatic due to lack of reliable constraints on the deep lithospheric architecture. Here we use a seismic reflection profile across the ~800-km-wide Cretaceous intraplate extensional system of South China to illustrate depth-dependent kinematic decoupling of extension in a mechanically stratified lithosphere. The extension was initially distributed in magma-poor conditions as expressed by normal faulting in the upper crust and lower-crustal flow toward the rift axis. Necking of the crust and Moho uplift led to mantle shear-zone formation, lower-crustal flow toward the rift flanks, and deep mantle flow. We demonstrate that the extensional modes vary with decreasing mantle strength from magma-poor to magma-rich domains, as reflected in decreasing crust-mantle decoupling with increased Moho temperatures (TM), and the replacement of a two-layer (brittle vs ductile) mantle by a fully ductile mantle. These findings reveal a first-order lithospheric configuration of intraplate depth-dependent extension driven by far-field stresses attributable to slab retreat.

Geostatistical Seismic Inversion for Temperature and Salinity in the Madeira Abyssal Plain

A two-dimensional multichannel seismic reflection profile acquired in the Madeira Abyssal Plain during June 2016 was used in a modeling workflow comprising seismic oceanography processing, geostatistical inversion and Bayesian classification to predict the probability of occurrence of distinct water masses. The seismic section was processed to image in detail the fine scale structure of the water column using seismic oceanography. The processing sequence was developed to preserve, as much as possible, the relative seismic amplitudes of the data and enhance the shallow structure of the water column by effectively suppressing the direct arrival. The migrated seismic oceanography section shows an eddy at the expected Mediterranean Outflow Water depths, steeply dipping reflectors, which indicate the possible presence of frontal activity or secondary dipping eddy structures, and strong horizontal reflections between intermediate water masses suggestive of double diffuse processes. We then developed and applied an iterative geostatistical seismic oceanography inversion methodology to predict the spatial distribution of temperature and salinity. Due to the lack of contemporaneous direct measurements of temperature and salinity we used a global ocean model as spatial constraint during the inversion and nearby contemporaneous ARGO data to infer the expected statistical properties of both model parameters. After the inversion, Bayesian classification was applied to all temperature and salinity models inverted during the last iteration to predict the spatial distribution of three distinct water masses. A preliminary interpretation of these probabilistic models agrees with the expected ocean dynamics of the region.

Dinaric up-thrusts in the Pliocene evolution of the Central Apennines thrust belt of Italy: the Montagna dei Fiori structure

Several orogenic belts exhibit regional-scale anticlines characterized by prominent faults in their crestal/forelimb zone. These faults are also a common feature in the Neogene fold-and-thrust belt of the Apennines, where they have been contrastingly interpreted as younger-on-older thrust faults, large-scale strike-slip faults, and pre- or syn-thrusting normal faults. In this study, we analysed a NW–SE-trending fault (Montagna dei Fiori Fault) that affects the hinge-zone/forelimb of the Montagna dei Fiori Anticline. This fold is the outermost exposed contractional structure within the Pliocene–Quaternary antiformal stack of the outer Central Apennines. The integration of stratigraphic and structural data collected during a field geological survey enabled us to reconstruct a multiphase reactivation and deformation along the Montagna dei Fiori Fault. From the novel field data, a different interpretation for the evolution of the Montagna dei Fiori Fault is proposed. The fault originated as a Late Cretaceous – middle Miocene, NE-dipping, Dinaric up-thrust and was later reactivated, displaced and rotated during Pliocene Apennine thrusting and related folding, until assuming a present-day SW-dipping attitude with an apparent normal fault character. This newly proposed Dinaric origin of the Montagna dei Fiori structure is compared with an analogous subsurface example of a Palaeogene–Quaternary structure imaged by seismic reflection profile in the Adriatic foreland. The outcome of this combined field and subsurface investigation provides new elements to unravel the complex evolution of the Apennine thrust belt that developed at the expense of a previously deformed foreland, ahead of the advancing Dinaric chain.

Seismic imaging of dolerite sills and volcanic vents in the Central Karoo, South Africa: implications for shale gas potential

The Karoo Basin of South Africa covers an area of 700 000 km2 and has been identified as a possible shale gas reserve. Any evaluation of the shale gas potential of the basin must consider the widespread dolerite dykes and sills. These intrusions were emplaced into the Karoo Supergroup and are well dated at around 183 Ma. Their intrusion triggered the explosive releases of gas in the basin, marked on surface by breccia pipes and hydrothermal vents. This outpouring of gas has been proposed as a significant contributor to global climate change. Research into the three-dimensional interconnected structure of these dolerite sills and dykes and their interaction with the hydrocarbon rich layers in the lower part of the Karoo Supergroup has been limited to localized observations of outcrop, magnetic data, legacy seismic data (from the 1970s) and well core. Here we present an interpreted 65 km long higher-resolution 2D seismic reflection profile across the Karoo Basin, approximately 100 km southeast of Trompsburg. These data were collected in the 1990s and at the time deeper structures along the line interpreted. In this study we focus on the top 0.6 to 2 seconds TWT of the data. The seismic line images the interconnected and cross cutting nature of the dolerite dykes and sills along the profile. We also report possible evidence of a gas escape structure (approximately 2.5 km in diameter at surface) emerging near the edge of a dolerite sill in close proximity to the Whitehill Formation, which is the main target for shale gas exploration. This suggests that gas vents in the eastern Karoo Basin close to Lesotho are due to the release of gas from the carbonaceous shales of the Ecca Group. This is similar to breccia pipes mapped on surface in the western part of the Karoo Basin. This seismic section highlights why dolerite sills and dykes must be considered when evaluating the shale gas potential of the Karoo Basin. We propose that better characterization of the Karoo Basin subsurface by seismic and magnetic studies is necessary prior to any efforts to calculate shale gas reserves.

Test on the Reliability of the Subsurface Fault Geometry Estimated by Deformed River Terraces Along the Bailang River, North Front of the Qilian Shan (North West China)

The subsurface fault geometry is the base for understanding a process of crust deformation and mountain building. Based on kinematic models for fault-related folds, a geomorphic method is recently applied to estimate the subsurface fault geometry, while the validation on its reliability is lacking. In this study, we surveyed a suit of river terrace surfaces across an active fold at the north front of the Qilian Shan. According to the deformation geometry of the terraces, the fold deformation is interpreted by a listric fault fold model, and based on this kinematic model, the fault geometry underlying the fold is estimated. In comparison between the estimated fault geometry and a seismic reflection profile, we found that the decollement depth and the back thrust are highly consistent with each other. Although some small fault bends or internal shearing cannot be estimated solely by the terrace deformation, the overall fault geometry is successfully revealed by the terrace deformation. Using this fault geometry and the terrace dating results, the region deformation kinematics are re-evaluated, which suggest that the dip slip (in a rate of 1.8 ± 0.4 mm/a) along the decollement is mainly accommodated by two structures, one is the blind-back-thrust fault within the piggy basin in a dip-slip rate of 0.9 ± 0.3 mm/a and another is the thrust and fold at the west portion of the Yumu Shan range.

Dip angles of active faults from the surface to the seismogenic zone inferred from a 2D numerical analysis of visco-elasto-plastic models: a case study for the Osaka Plain

The geometries (i.e., dip angles) of active faults from the surface to the seismogenic zone are the most important factors used to evaluate earthquake ground motion, which is crucial for seismic hazard assessments in urban areas. In Osaka, a metropolitan city in Japan, there are several active faults (e.g., the Uemachi and Ikoma faults), which are inferred from the topography, the attitude of active faults in surface trenches, the seismic reflection profile at shallow depths (less than 2 km), and the three-dimensional distribution of the Quaternary sedimentary layers. The Uemachi and Ikoma faults are N–S-striking fault systems with total lengths of 42 km and 38 km, respectively, with the former being located ~ 12 km west of the latter; however, the geometries of each of the active faults within the seismogenic zone are not clear. In this study, to examine the geometries of the Uemachi and Ikoma faults from the surface to the seismogenic zone, we analyze the development of the geological structures of sedimentary layers based on numerical simulations of a two-dimensional visco-elasto-plastic body under a horizontal compressive stress field, including preexisting high-strained weak zones (i.e., faults) and surface sedimentation processes, and evaluate the relationship between the observed geological structures of the Quaternary sediments (i.e., the Osaka Group) in the Osaka Plain and the model results. As a result, we propose geometries of the Uemachi and Ikoma faults from the surface to the seismogenic zone. When the friction coefficient of the faults is ~ 0.5, the dip angles of the Uemachi and Ikoma faults near the surface are ~ 30°–40° and the Uemachi fault has a downward convex curve at the bottom of the seismogenic zone, but does not converge to the Ikoma fault. Based on the analysis in this study, the dip angle of the Uemachi fault zone is estimated to be approximately 30°–40°, which is lower than that estimated in the previous studies. If the active fault has a low angle, the width of the fault plane is long, and thus the estimated seismic moment will be large.

Travel-time tomography imaging the Ecuadorian subduction, north of the Mw 7.8 Pedernales earthquake

<p>The Ecuadorian subduction regularly hosts large earthquakes. Among them, the Mw 8.8 1906 earthquake is the 7th biggest known event. Following the recent 2016 Mw 7.8 Pedernales earthquake, a large deployment of onshore/offshore seismological stations, in addition to the permanent seismological/geodetical network, revealed a complex slip behavior including the presence  of  seismic and aseismic slip.</p><p>During the geophysical experiment HIPER, in march 2020, 47 Ocean Bottom Seismometers (OBS), were densely deployed along a 93-km-long trench-perpendicular profile, recording airgun shots (4990 cu.inch.) performed by R/V Atalante to obtain a high-resolution P-wave velocity image. The profile was located north of the 2016 Pedernales rupture zone passing through an area experiencing aseismic slip and a region of contrasted geodetic interseismic coupling.    </p><p>We used the traveltime tomography code « tomo2d » (Korenaga et al., 2000) to invert first arrivals and reflected phases recorded by our OBS.  A joint 2D-seismic-reflection profile was acquired (abstract by L. Schenini) and provides details on the oceanic basement topography and on Vp velocities in shallow sedimentary layers.</p><p>Regarding the structural complexity in the region, we decided to start the inversion  using an a priori 2D velocity model. Several geophysical experiments have already been conducted offshore-onshore Ecuador (SISTEUR, 2000 ; SALIERI, 2001 and ESMERALDAS, 2005). Compilation of velocity models from tomographic images were used to build two a priori 1D Vp velocity models for both the Nazca oceanic crust and the forearc seismic structure. A 2D a priori Vp velocity model was built by merging the results of the two localized inversions using a selection of OBS on each side of the trench.</p><p>We obtain the crustal structure of the upper and subducting plates down to 20 km depth. Beneath the trench, a ~30-km-wide low-Vp anomaly is observed at lithospheric scale. This velocity is 10% lower than the typical Vp values observed for hydrated Pacific-type oceanic crust near the trench (Grevemeyer et al., 2018). Recorded PmP phases will allow us to further constrain the crustal thickness. While we observe PmP phases in areas of low-Vp, the Moho reflectivity weakens and even disappears from the coincident MCS line. This intriguing observation could highlight processes, such as the presence of fluids or serpentinization, that need to be identified and better understood.</p>