Recent  

Through analogue models and field observations, we investigate how inherited platform-basin geometries control strain localisation, style, and orientation of reactivated and new structures during inversion. Our study shows that the style of evolving thrusts and their changes along strike are controlled by pre-existing rheological discontinuities. The results of this study are relevant for understanding inversion structures in general and for the European eastern Southern Alps in particular.

Accretion during subduction, in which one tectonic plate moves under another, forms a wedge where sediments can be transformed into hydrocarbons. We utilised realistic computer models to investigate this, in particular, how accretion affects mobility in the wedge and found that the evolution of the wedge, and the thrusts it develops fundamentally control the thermal maturity of sediments. This can help us better understand the history of subduction and the formation of hydrocarbons in wedges.

Plane strain ductile deformation experiments on rock salt (halite) samples with variable siliciclastic content were conducted. While halite accomodates the strain by the formation of subgrains, deformation in the siliclastic domains was brittle. An increase in the siliclastic content leads to an increase in differential stress of the halite matrix. The results suggest that the barrier properties of rock salt is significantly reduced by larger content of siliciclastic material.

The Barents Shear Margin defines the border between the relatively shallow Barents Sea that is situated on a continental plate, and the deep ocean. This margin evolution history was probably influenced by plate tectonic reorganizations. From scaled experiments, we deducted several types of structures (faults, folds and sedimentary basins) that helps us to improve the understanding of the history of the opening of the North Atlantic.

Ciudad de México is built on a unique soil containing the clay-rich deposits of ancient lake Texcoco. Continuous, imperceptible shaking of these and deeper deposits by the traffic and other sources allows us to monitor changes in the subsurface seismic wave speed. Wave speed varies seasonally, likely due to temperature and rain effects; it temporarily drops after earthquakes, then starts to recover. Throughout the studied period, it increased on average, which may be related to soil compaction.

This paper presents a magnetic fabric and zircon U-Pb chronology study of the Buqu and Sowa Formations from the South Qiangtang Massif and the Shamuluo Formation from the BangongCo-Nujiang Suture Zone. The results include mineral petrology, rock magnetism, magnetic fabrics and zircon U-Pb dating. The results indicate that the tectonic rotation of the South Qiangtang Massif is related to the altered subduction polarity of the BangongCo-Nujiang Tethys Ocean.

The Pahtohavare Cu ± Au deposits in the Kiruna mining district have a dubious timing of formation and have not been contextualized in the scope of an up-to-date tectonic framework. Structural mapping was carried out to reveal the deposits are hosted in brittle structures that cut a non-cylindrical, SE-plunging anticline constrained to have formed during the late Svecokarelian orogeny. These results show Cu ± Au mineralization formed more than ca. 80 Myr iron oxide-apatite mineralization.

Pre- to syn-deformational melts initiate shear localization in the km-scale shear zone of the northwestern Ronda peridotite. The crystallization of interstitial pyroxenes and melt-rock reactions at pyroxene porphyroclasts form a highly mixed assemblage (> 60 % phase boundaries). Strain localization in the melt-effected area is controlled by the activation of a grain-size-sensitive deformation mechanism under constant stress.

The East African Rift System (EARS) is a major plate tectonic feature splitting the African continent apart. Understanding the tectonic processes involved is of great importance for societal and economic reasons (natural hazards, resources). Laboratory experiments allow us to simulate these large-scale processes, highlighting the impact of rotational plate motion on the overall development of the EARS, an insight relevant to our interpretation of other rift systems around the globe as well.

Fractures tend to dominate the mechanical and hydraulic properties of porous rock and impact the scattering characteristics of passing waves. Thus, understanding wave propagation in fractured porous rock will help to find a solution to geothermal, oil, and gas. This study takes into account the poroelastic effects of fractures in numerical modeling. Our results demonstrate the scattered waves from complex fracture system are strongly affected by the fractures for both P- and S-point sources.

We measured water distributions in deformed quartz by infrared spectroscopy mapping and used the results to discuss changes in water distribution resulting from textural development. Because of the grain size reduction process (dynamic recrystallization), water contents decrease from 40–1750 wt. ppm in host grains of ~500 µm to 100–510 wt. ppm in recrystallized regions composed of fine grains of ~10 µm. Our results indicate that water is released and homogenized by dynamic recrystallization.

Distributed Acoustic Sensing is applied to the micro-seismic monitoring of a geothermal plant. In this domain, the feasibility of managing the large flow of generated data and their suitability to monitor locally induced seismicity was yet to be assessed. The proposed monitoring system efficiently managed the acquisition, processing and saving of the data over a 6-month period. This testing period proved that the monitoring concept advantageously complements more classical monitoring networks.

We have studied fracturing of the bedrock at Åland Islands from bedrock outcrops and digital elevation models using multiple scales of observation. Using the results we can compare properties of the fractures of different sizes to find similarities and differences. E.g., we found that glacial erosion has probable effect on the study of larger bedrock structures. Furthermore, we collected data from 100 to 500 m long fractures which have previously been proven to be difficult to sample.

The article presents analysis of linear features identifiable on the digital elevation model of ground surface in Polish Carpathians. We consider these linear features as reflections of geological structures, such as faults. Linear features create a network which was analysed using topology statistics. This allows us to interpret how the network is complicated in different parts of Polish Carpathians, as well as to understand how very deep fault systems affect on the morphology of the mountains.

Using an experimental approach based on scaled sandbox models, this work aims to understand how salt above different fault blocks influences the geometry and evolution of the cover first during extension and then during shortening. The results show that inherited structures constrain contractional deformation. We show for the first time how depleted salt layers are reopened during contractional deformation, having direct implications for the subsurface exploration of natural resources.