An overview of strains in the Sevier thin-skinned thrust belt, Idaho and Wyoming, USA (latitude 42° N)

ABSTRACT Calcite twinning analysis across the central, unbuttressed portion of the Sevier thin-skin thrust belt, using Cambrian–Cretaceous limestones (n = 121) and synorogenic calcite veins (n = 31), records a complex strain history for the Sevier belt, Idaho and Wyoming, USA. Plots of fabric types (layer-parallel shortening, layer-normal shortening, etc.), shortening and extension axes for the Paris thrust (west, oldest, n = 11), Meade thrust (n = 46), Crawford thrust (n = 15), Absaroka thrust (n = 55), Darby thrust (n = 13), Lander Peak klippe (n = 5), eastern Prospect thrust (n = 6), and distal Cretaceous foreland (n = 3) reveal a W-E layer-parallel shortening strain only in the Prospect thrust and distal foreland. Calcite twinning strains in all western, internal thrust sheets are complex mixes of layer-parallel (LPS), layer-normal (LNS), and non-plane strains in limestones and synorogenic calcite veins. This complex strain fabric is best interpreted as the result of oblique convergence to the west and repeated eastward overthrusting by the Paris thrust.

The Saint-Ursanne earthquakes of 2000 revisited: evidence for active shallow thrust-faulting in the Jura fold-and-thrust belt

The interpretation of seismotectonic processes within the uppermost few kilometers of the Earth’s crust has proven challenging due to the often significant uncertainties in hypocenter locations and focal mechanisms of shallow seismicity. Here, we revisit the shallow seismic sequence of Saint-Ursanne of March and April 2000 and apply advanced seismological analyses to reduce these uncertainties. The sequence, consisting of five earthquakes of which the largest one reached a local magnitude (ML) of 3.2, occurred in the vicinity of two critical sites, the Mont Terri rock laboratory and Haute-Sorne, which is currently evaluated as a possible site for the development of a deep geothermal project. Template matching analysis for the period 2000–2021, including data from mini arrays installed in the region since 2014, suggests that the source of the 2000 sequence has not been persistently active ever since. Forward modelling of synthetic waveforms points to a very shallow source, between 0 and 1 km depth, and the focal mechanism analysis indicates a low-angle, NNW-dipping, thrust mechanism. These results combined with geological data suggest that the sequence is likely related to a backthrust fault located within the sedimentary cover and shed new light on the hosting lithology and source kinematics of the Saint-Ursanne sequence. Together with two other more recent shallow thrust faulting earthquakes near Grenchen and Neuchâtel in the north-central portion of the Jura fold-and-thrust belt (FTB), these new findings provide new insights into the present-day seismotectonic processes of the Jura FTB of northern Switzerland and suggest that the Jura FTB is still undergoing seismically active contraction at rates likely < 0.5 mm/yr. The shallow focal depths provide indications that this low-rate contraction in the NE portion of the Jura FTB is at least partly accommodated within the sedimentary cover and possibly decoupled from the basement.

The 2020 Mw 6.0 Jiashi Earthquake: Coinvolvement of Thin-Skinned Thrusting and Basement Shortening in Shaping the Keping-Tage Fold-and-Thrust Belt in Southwestern Tian Shan

The Keping-tage fold-and-thrust belt in southwest Tian Shan is seismically active, yet the most well-recorded earthquakes occurred south of the mountain front. The lack of large earthquakes beneath the fold-and-thrust belt thus hinders our understanding of the orogenic process to the north. The 2020 Mw 6.0 Jiashi earthquake is an important event with surface deformation in the fold-and-thrust belt well illuminated by Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar, providing an opportunity to study the present-day kinematics of the thrust front through the analysis of satellite measurements of surface deformations. Here, we employ the surface deformation and relocated aftershocks to investigate the fault-slip distribution associated to this event. Further added by an analysis of Coulomb stress changes, we derive a fault model involving slips on a shallow, low-angle (∼10°) north-dipping thrust fault as well as on a left-lateral tear fault and a high-angle south-dipping reverse fault in mid-crust. Aftershocks at depth reflect the basement-involved shortening activated by a thin-skinned thrust faulting event. In addition, this earthquake uplifted the southernmost mountain front with relatively low topography, indicating the basin-ward propagation of the southwest Tian Shan.

Indications of Deep Marine Fans in the Early Miocene Foredeep of Lower Austria: A Potential New Play

The petroleum province in Lower Austria resulted from the Alpine collision and the subsequent formation of the Vienna Basin. OMV is active in this area since its foundation in 1956. Several plays have been successfully tested and produced in this complex geological region. The main exploration focus is currently on the deep plays. However, this paper proposes a so far unrecognized and therefore undrilled play in a shallower level to broaden OMV's portfolio in Austria. Seismic re-interpretations of reprocessed 3D seismic data and structural reconstructions were used to review some of the existing plays and get novel ideas from improved understanding of processes. In the frontal accretion zone of the Alpine wedge, the Waschberg-Ždánice zone discoveries are limited to the frontal thrust unit and associated structures. The more internal parts of the thrust belt have only sparsely been drilled and are perceived not to have high-quality reservoir rocks. The detailed structural interpretations indicated that the foredeep axis during the Early Miocene was positioned in the thrust sheet located directly in front of the advancing Alpine wedge (comprising the eroding Rhenodanubian Flysch in its frontal part). Seismic amplitude anomalies can be interpreted to represent Lower Miocene basin floor and slope fans. Nearby wells did not penetrate these fans but drilled instead shale-dominated lithologies. Thus, the presence of potential sand-rich fans in front of the advancing alpine wedge is considered a potential new play in Lower Austria. Analogues are found in Upper Austria some 250 km to the West, where several large gas fields in Lower Miocene deposits located in front of the advancing Alpine wedge have been discovered by another operator. In that area the fans are only partly involved in the fold-thrust belt. In Lower Austria, these fans are located within the rear thrust sheet(s), providing a structural component to a mixed structural-stratigraphic trap. Two potential charge mechanism can be considered: a) biogenic gas charge from the organic matter of surrounding shales (like the Upper Austria analogues) or b) oil charge via the thrust fault planes from the Jurassic Mikulov Formation (the proven main source rock in the broader area). Our results add to the understanding of the Miocene structural-stratigraphic evolution of the Alpine collision zone. The definition of a potential new play may add significant value to OMV's upstream efforts in a very mature hydrocarbon province.

LITHOSTRATIGRAPHY OF THE NEWLY PROPOSED MIDDLE CRETACEOUS “BIBAI GROUP”, WESTERN SULAIMAN FOLD-THRUST BELT, PAKISTAN

The newly proposed Middle Cretaceous “Bibai Group”, named after the Bibai peak, is exposed in Kach-Ziarat, Spera Ragha-Chingun areas of the Western Sulaiman Fold-Thrust Belt, Pakistan. It comprises thick succession of the mafic volcanic rocks, volcanic conglomerate, mudstone and sandstone. The stratigraphic nomenclature proposed by previous workers was not clear enough, as they used different names for the succession, such as “Kahan Conglomerate Member” of the Mughal Kot Formation, “Parh-related volcanics” by considering it as part of the “Parh Group, “Bibai Formation” and “Bela Volcanic Group”, which were confusing and misleading. Also previous workers did not realize that the succession may be further classified into distinct mappable lithostratigraphic units and deserved the status of a “Group”. Therefore, we carefully examined and mapped the area and hereby propose the name “Bibai Group” for the overall volcanic and volcaniclastic succession of the Middle Cretaceous age. Based on distinct lithostratigraphic characters we further subdivided the “Group” into two lithostratigraphic units of formation rank, for which we propose the names “Chinjun Volcanics” and “Bibai Formation”. Also based on distinct lithostratigraphic characters we further propose to subdivide our “Babai Formation” into three lithostratigraphic units of member rank, which we named as the “Kahan Conglomerate Member”, “Ahmadun Member” and “Kach Mudstone Member”. In this paper we have defined and briefly described the Bibai Group, its constituent formations and their members. Also we examined and discussed the validity and status of the proposed subdivisions; e.g. formations and members, of the Bibai Group, and are fully satisfied that the proposed subdivisions are appropriate and comply with the Article 24 and 25 of the North American Stratigraphic Codes (2005) and that the previous nomenclatures are inconsistent, confusing and do not comply with the International Stratigraphic Codes.