Articles | Volume 12, issue 7
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1497-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1497-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
06 Jul 2021
Research article |
| 06 Jul 2021
| 06 Jul 2021
Four-dimensional tracer flow reconstruction in fractured rock through borehole ground-penetrating radar (GPR) monitoring
Peter-Lasse Giertzuch
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Joseph Doetsch
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Lufthansa Industry Solutions, Raunheim, Germany
Alexis Shakas
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Mohammadreza Jalali
Department of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology, RWTH Aachen, Aachen, Germany
Bernard Brixel
Geological Institute, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
Hansruedi Maurer
Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Raphael Burchartz, Timo Seemann, Garri Gaus, Lisa Winhausen, Mohammadreza Jalali, Brian Mutuma Mbui, Sebastian Grohmann, Linda Burnaz, Marlise Colling Cassel, Jochen Erbacher, Ralf Littke, and Florian Amann
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-579, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-579, 2025
This preprint is open for discussion and under review for Solid Earth (SE).
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In Germany, claystones are studied for their suitability as host-rocks for the disposal of high-level radioactive waste. The MATURITY project systematically investigates how gradual burial affects key barrier properties in the Lower Jurassic Amaltheenton Formation of the Lower Saxony Basin (Germany). Understanding these changes helps assess claystone suitability for long-term waste isolation, improving site selection for deep geological repositories.
Peter Achtziger-Zupančič, Alberto Ceccato, Alba Simona Zappone, Giacomo Pozzi, Alexis Shakas, Florian Amann, Whitney Maria Behr, Daniel Escallon Botero, Domenico Giardini, Marian Hertrich, Mohammadreza Jalali, Xiaodong Ma, Men-Andrin Meier, Julian Osten, Stefan Wiemer, and Massimo Cocco
Solid Earth, 15, 1087–1112, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1087-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1087-2024, 2024
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We detail the selection and characterization of a fault zone for earthquake experiments in the Fault Activation and Earthquake Ruptures (FEAR) project at the Bedretto Lab. FEAR, which studies earthquake processes, overcame data collection challenges near faults. The fault zone in Rotondo granite was selected based on geometry, monitorability, and hydro-mechanical properties. Remote sensing, borehole logging, and geological mapping were used to create a 3D model for precise monitoring.
Kathrin Behnen, Marian Hertrich, Hansruedi Maurer, Alexis Shakas, Kai Bröker, Claire Epiney, María Blanch Jover, and Domenico Giardini
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1919, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-1919, 2024
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Several crosshole seismic surveys in the undisturbed Rotondo granite are used to analyze the seismic anisotropy in the BedrettoLab in the Swiss alps. The P- and S1-waves show a clear trend of faster velocities in NE-SW direction and slower velocities perpendicular to it. This pattern describes a tilted transverse isotropic velocity model. The symmetry plane is mostly aligned with the direction of maximum stress but also the orientation of fractures are expected to influence the wave velocities.
Sebastian Hellmann, Melchior Grab, Cedric Patzer, Andreas Bauder, and Hansruedi Maurer
Solid Earth, 14, 805–821, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-805-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-805-2023, 2023
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Acoustic waves are suitable to analyse the physical properties of the subsurface. For this purpose, boreholes are quite useful to deploy a source and receivers in the target area to get a comprehensive high-resolution dataset. However, when conducting such experiments in a subsurface such as glaciers that continuously move, the boreholes get deformed. In our study, we therefore developed a method that allows an analysis of the ice while considering deformations.
Lisa Maria Ringel, Mohammadreza Jalali, and Peter Bayer
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 26, 6443–6455, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6443-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-26-6443-2022, 2022
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Fractured rocks host a class of aquifers that serve as major freshwater resources worldwide. This work is dedicated to resolving the three-dimensional hydraulic and structural properties of fractured rock. For this purpose, hydraulic tomography experiments at the Grimsel Test Site in Switzerland are utilized, and the discrete fracture network is inverted. The comparison of the inversion results with independent findings from other studies demonstrates the validity of the approach.
Lisa Winhausen, Kavan Khaledi, Mohammadreza Jalali, Janos L. Urai, and Florian Amann
Solid Earth, 13, 901–915, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-901-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-901-2022, 2022
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Triaxial compression tests at different effective stresses allow for analysing the deformation behaviour of Opalinus Clay, the potential host rock for nuclear waste in Switzerland. We conducted microstructural investigations of the deformed samples to relate the bulk hydro-mechanical behaviour to the processes on the microscale. Results show a transition from brittle- to more ductile-dominated deformation. We propose a non-linear failure envelop associated with the failure mode transition.
Xiaodong Ma, Marian Hertrich, Florian Amann, Kai Bröker, Nima Gholizadeh Doonechaly, Valentin Gischig, Rebecca Hochreutener, Philipp Kästli, Hannes Krietsch, Michèle Marti, Barbara Nägeli, Morteza Nejati, Anne Obermann, Katrin Plenkers, Antonio P. Rinaldi, Alexis Shakas, Linus Villiger, Quinn Wenning, Alba Zappone, Falko Bethmann, Raymi Castilla, Francisco Seberto, Peter Meier, Thomas Driesner, Simon Loew, Hansruedi Maurer, Martin O. Saar, Stefan Wiemer, and Domenico Giardini
Solid Earth, 13, 301–322, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-301-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-301-2022, 2022
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Questions on issues such as anthropogenic earthquakes and deep geothermal energy developments require a better understanding of the fractured rock. Experiments conducted at reduced scales but with higher-resolution observations can shed some light. To this end, the BedrettoLab was recently established in an existing tunnel in Ticino, Switzerland, with preliminary efforts to characterize realistic rock mass behavior at the hectometer scale.
Lisa Winhausen, Mohammadreza Jalali, and Florian Amann
Saf. Nucl. Waste Disposal, 1, 301–301, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-301-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/sand-1-301-2021, 2021
Gregory Church, Andreas Bauder, Melchior Grab, and Hansruedi Maurer
The Cryosphere, 15, 3975–3988, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3975-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3975-2021, 2021
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In this field study, we acquired a 3D radar survey over an active drainage network that transported meltwater through a Swiss glacier. We successfully imaged both englacial and subglacial pathways and were able to confirm long-standing glacier hydrology theory regarding meltwater pathways. The direction of these meltwater pathways directly impacts the glacier's velocity, and therefore more insightful field observations are needed in order to improve our understanding of this complex system.
Sebastian Hellmann, Melchior Grab, Johanna Kerch, Henning Löwe, Andreas Bauder, Ilka Weikusat, and Hansruedi Maurer
The Cryosphere, 15, 3507–3521, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3507-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-3507-2021, 2021
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In this study, we analyse whether ultrasonic measurements on ice core samples could be employed to derive information about the particular ice crystal orientation in these samples. We discuss if such ultrasonic scans of ice core samples could provide similarly detailed results as the established methods, which usually destroy the ice samples. Our geophysical approach is minimally invasive and could support the existing methods with additional and (semi-)continuous data points along the ice core.
Sebastian Hellmann, Johanna Kerch, Ilka Weikusat, Andreas Bauder, Melchior Grab, Guillaume Jouvet, Margit Schwikowski, and Hansruedi Maurer
The Cryosphere, 15, 677–694, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-677-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-15-677-2021, 2021
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We analyse the orientation of ice crystals in an Alpine glacier and compare this orientation with the ice flow direction. We found that the crystals orient in the direction of the largest stress which is in the flow direction in the upper parts of the glacier and in the vertical direction for deeper zones of the glacier. The grains cluster around this maximum stress direction, in particular four-point maxima, most likely as a result of recrystallisation under relatively warm conditions.
Gregory Church, Melchior Grab, Cédric Schmelzbach, Andreas Bauder, and Hansruedi Maurer
The Cryosphere, 14, 3269–3286, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3269-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-14-3269-2020, 2020
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In this field study, we repeated ground-penetrating radar measurements over an active englacial channel network that transports meltwater through the glacier. We successfully imaged the englacial meltwater pathway and were able to delimitate the channel's shape. Meltwater from the glacier can impact the glacier's dynamics if it reaches the ice–bed interface, and therefore monitoring these englacial drainage networks is important to understand how these networks behave throughout a season.
Hannes Krietsch, Valentin S. Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Keith F. Evans, Linus Villiger, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Simon Löw, and Florian Amann
Solid Earth, 11, 1699–1729, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1699-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1699-2020, 2020
Joseph Doetsch, Hannes Krietsch, Cedric Schmelzbach, Mohammadreza Jalali, Valentin Gischig, Linus Villiger, Florian Amann, and Hansruedi Maurer
Solid Earth, 11, 1441–1455, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1441-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1441-2020, 2020
Linus Villiger, Valentin Samuel Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Hannes Krietsch, Nathan Oliver Dutler, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Paul Antony Selvadurai, Arnaud Mignan, Katrin Plenkers, Domenico Giardini, Florian Amann, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 11, 627–655, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-627-2020, 2020
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Hydraulic stimulation summarizes fracture initiation and reactivation due to high-pressure fluid injection. Several borehole intervals covering intact rock and pre-existing fractures were targets for high-pressure fluid injections within a decameter-scale, crystalline rock volume. The observed induced seismicity strongly depends on the target geology. In addition, the severity of the induced seismicity per experiment counter correlates with the observed transmissivity enhancement.
Donald W. Vasco, Joseph Doetsch, and Ralf Brauchler
Hydrol. Earth Syst. Sci., 23, 4541–4560, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4541-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-23-4541-2019, 2019
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This paper presents the application of a new approach for calculating the path of a pressure transient in a heterogeneous porous medium containing a slightly compressible fluid. Unlike previous asymptotic approaches, the expressions for the path and travel time are valid in the presence of rapid variations in material properties. The technique is applied to both synthetic transient pressure variations from a test example and actual field data from a field experiment in Widen, Switzerland.
Nathan Dutler, Benoît Valley, Valentin Gischig, Linus Villiger, Hannes Krietsch, Joseph Doetsch, Bernard Brixel, Mohammadreza Jalali, and Florian Amann
Solid Earth, 10, 1877–1904, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1877-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1877-2019, 2019
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In this study, we present seismo-hydromechanical results from six hydraulic fracturing experiments executed in the framework of the In-situ Stimulation and Circulation (ISC) project. The well-characterized and extensively monitored target rock allows for the study of (1) the response of the rock mass, (2) the injection and pore pressure response, and (3) the geometry of newly created fractures and their interaction with the natural fracture network.
Lisbeth Langhammer, Melchior Grab, Andreas Bauder, and Hansruedi Maurer
The Cryosphere, 13, 2189–2202, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2189-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/tc-13-2189-2019, 2019
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We have developed a novel procedure for glacier thickness estimations that combines traditional glaciological modeling constraints with ground-truth data, for example, those obtained with ground-penetrating radar (GPR) measurements. This procedure is very useful for determining ice volume when only limited data are available. Furthermore, we outline a strategy for acquiring GPR data on glaciers, such that the cost/benefit ratio is optimized.
Florian Amann, Valentin Gischig, Keith Evans, Joseph Doetsch, Reza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Hannes Krietsch, Nathan Dutler, Linus Villiger, Bernard Brixel, Maria Klepikova, Anniina Kittilä, Claudio Madonna, Stefan Wiemer, Martin O. Saar, Simon Loew, Thomas Driesner, Hansruedi Maurer, and Domenico Giardini
Solid Earth, 9, 115–137, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-115-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-115-2018, 2018
Valentin Samuel Gischig, Joseph Doetsch, Hansruedi Maurer, Hannes Krietsch, Florian Amann, Keith Frederick Evans, Morteza Nejati, Mohammadreza Jalali, Benoît Valley, Anne Christine Obermann, Stefan Wiemer, and Domenico Giardini
Solid Earth, 9, 39–61, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-39-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-39-2018, 2018
Melchior Grab, Beatriz Quintal, Eva Caspari, Hansruedi Maurer, and Stewart Greenhalgh
Solid Earth, 8, 255–279, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-255-2017, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-8-255-2017, 2017
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Hot fluids and hydraulically conductive rock formations are essential for the accessibility of geothermal resources. We use numerical modeling techniques to investigate how seismic waves change their shape in presence of these factors. We demonstrate how to parameterize such models depending on the local geology and as a function of depth. Finally, we show how the attenuation, i.e. the energy loss of the wave, can be indicative for permeable rock fractures saturated with a fluid of specific type.
Related subject area
Subject area: Crustal structure and composition | Editorial team: Seismics, seismology, paleoseismology, geoelectrics, and electromagnetics | Discipline: Geophysics
Revisit of the Fennoscandian Shield along the UPPLAND seismic profile: competitive velocity models
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Advanced seismic characterization of a geothermal carbonate reservoir – insight into the structure and diagenesis of a reservoir in the German Molasse Basin
Electrical conductivity of anhydrous and hydrous gabbroic melt under high temperature and high pressure: implications for the high-conductivity anomalies in the mid-ocean ridge region
Formation and geophysical character of transitional crust at the passive continental margin around Walvis Ridge, Namibia
Utilisation of probabilistic magnetotelluric modelling to constrain magnetic data inversion: proof-of-concept and field application
Comparison of straight-ray and curved-ray surface wave tomography approaches in near-surface studies
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3D high-resolution seismic imaging of the iron oxide deposits in Ludvika (Sweden) using full-waveform inversion and reverse time migration
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Ambient seismic noise analysis of LARGE-N data for mineral exploration in the Central Erzgebirge, Germany
Surface-wave tomography for mineral exploration: a successful combination of passive and active data (Siilinjärvi phosphorus mine, Finland)
Imaging crustal structures through a passive seismic imaging approach in a mining area in Saxony, Germany
Reverse time migration (RTM) imaging of iron oxide deposits in the Ludvika mining area, Sweden
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Evolution of the Iberian Massif as deduced from its crustal thickness and geometry of a mid-crustal (Conrad) discontinuity
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Seismic imaging across fault systems in the Abitibi greenstone belt – an analysis of pre- and post-stack migration approaches in the Chibougamau area, Quebec, Canada
Wireline distributed acoustic sensing allows 4.2 km deep vertical seismic profiling of the Rotliegend 150 °C geothermal reservoir in the North German Basin
Sparse 3D reflection seismic survey for deep-targeting iron oxide deposits and their host rocks, Ludvika Mines, Sweden
Fault sealing and caprock integrity for CO2 storage: an in situ injection experiment
What can seismic noise tell us about the Alpine reactivation of the Iberian Massif? An example in the Iberian Central System
In situ hydromechanical responses during well drilling recorded by fiber-optic distributed strain sensing
Coherent diffraction imaging for enhanced fault and fracture network characterization
Seismic evidence for failed rifting in the Ligurian Basin, Western Alpine domain
Azimuth-, angle- and frequency-dependent seismic velocities of cracked rocks due to squirt flow
Characteristics of a fracture network surrounding a hydrothermally altered shear zone from geophysical borehole logs
Bayesian full-waveform inversion of tube waves to estimate fracture aperture and compliance
Correlation of core and downhole seismic velocities in high-pressure metamorphic rocks: a case study for the COSC-1 borehole, Sweden
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Large-scale electrical resistivity tomography in the Cheb Basin (Eger Rift) at an International Continental Drilling Program (ICDP) monitoring site to image fluid-related structures
Anisotropic P-wave travel-time tomography implementing Thomsen's weak approximation in TOMO3D
Full-waveform inversion of short-offset, band-limited seismic data in the Alboran Basin (SE Iberia)
Fault interpretation in seismic reflection data: an experiment analysing the impact of conceptual model anchoring and vertical exaggeration
Improving the quality of empirical Green's functions, obtained by cross-correlation of high-frequency ambient seismic noise
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Tomasz Janik, Raimo Lahtinen, Monika Bociarska, Piotr Środa, and Dariusz Wójcik
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-742, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2025-742, 2025
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The manuscript re-analyses seismic data from the UPPLAND profile in the Fennoscandian Shield, focusing on Vp and Vs velocity models. Significant differences between prior and present models emerge in the lower crust and mantle and in the Moho depth. The new model suggests Vp of 7.05–7.17 km/s in the lower crust and 8.05 km/s in the upper mantle, with Moho at 43–50 km. Two tectonic interpretations are proposed to explain these findings, emphasizing the complexities of seismic data interpretation.
Fabio Cammarano, Henrique Berger Roisenberg, Alessio Conclave, Islam Fadel, and Mark van der Meijde
Solid Earth, 16, 135–154, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-135-2025, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-16-135-2025, 2025
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Sardinia and Corsica separated and have been drifting in the Mediterranean Sea for 35 Myr due to the retreat of the Ionian plate beneath the Tyrrhenian Sea. Using in-house and public data, we measured and interpreted receiver functions based on prior geophysical and petrological studies. Our findings indicate that the islands' ancient continental structure remains mostly unchanged. Alpine orogenesis about 50 million years ago influenced Corsica's crust, enriching it with water-bearing minerals.
Paola Montone, Simona Pierdominici, M. Teresa Mariucci, Francesco Mirabella, Marco Urbani, Assel Akimbekova, Lauro Chiaraluce, Wade Johnson, and Massimiliano Rinaldo Barchi
Solid Earth, 15, 1385–1406, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1385-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1385-2024, 2024
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The STAR project set out to drill six shallow holes and use geophysical logging to find the best depth for placing seismometers and strainmeters to image the upper crust, in particular the Alto Tiberina fault, Italy. These measurements give us a better idea of what the rocks are like, helping us connect what we know from the literature with what we find underground, giving solid information on rock properties, which helps us understand the first few hundred meters of the Earth's crust.
Akshay Kamath, Samuel Thiele, Moritz Kirsch, and Richard Gloaguen
EGUsphere, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3448, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2024-3448, 2024
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We developed a deep learning model that uses hyperspectral imaging data to predict key physical rock properties, specifically density, slowness, and gamma-ray values. Our model successfully learned to translate hyperspectral information into predicted physical properties. Tests on independent data gave accurate results, demonstrating the potential of hyperspectral data for mapping physical rock properties.
Quang Nguyen, Michal Malinowski, Stanisław Mazur, Sergiy Stovba, Małgorzata Ponikowska, and Christian Hübscher
Solid Earth, 15, 1029–1046, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1029-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1029-2024, 2024
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Our work demonstrates the following: (1) an efficient seismic data-processing strategy focused on suppressing shallow-water multiple reflections. (2) An improvement in the quality of legacy marine seismic data. (3) A seismic interpretation of sedimentary successions overlying the basement in the transition zone from the Precambrian to Paleozoic platforms. (4) The tectonic evolution of the Koszalin Fault and its relation to the Caledonian Deformation Front offshore Poland.
Farbod Khosro Anjom, Frank Adler, and Laura Valentina Socco
Solid Earth, 15, 367–386, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-367-2024, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-367-2024, 2024
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Most surface-wave techniques focus on estimating the S-wave velocity (VS) model and consider the P-wave velocity (VP) model as prior information in the inversion step. Here, we show the application of three surface-wave methods to estimate both VS and VP models. We apply the methods to the data from a hard-rock site that were acquired through the irregular source–receiver recording technique. We compare the outcomes and performances of the methods in detail.
Thilo Wrona, Indranil Pan, Rebecca E. Bell, Christopher A.-L. Jackson, Robert L. Gawthorpe, Haakon Fossen, Edoseghe E. Osagiede, and Sascha Brune
Solid Earth, 14, 1181–1195, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1181-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-1181-2023, 2023
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We need to understand where faults are to do the following: (1) assess their seismic hazard, (2) explore for natural resources and (3) store CO2 safely in the subsurface. Currently, we still map subsurface faults primarily by hand using seismic reflection data, i.e. acoustic images of the Earth. Mapping faults this way is difficult and time-consuming. Here, we show how to use deep learning to accelerate fault mapping and how to use networks or graphs to simplify fault analyses.
Sonja H. Wadas, Johanna F. Krumbholz, Vladimir Shipilin, Michael Krumbholz, David C. Tanner, and Hermann Buness
Solid Earth, 14, 871–908, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-871-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-871-2023, 2023
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The geothermal carbonate reservoir below Munich, Germany, is extremely heterogeneous because it is controlled by many factors like lithology, diagenesis, karstification, and tectonic deformation. We used a 3D seismic single- and multi-attribute analysis combined with well data and a neural-net-based lithology classification to obtain an improved reservoir concept outlining its structural and diagenetic evolution and to identify high-quality reservoir zones in the Munich area.
Mengqi Wang, Lidong Dai, Haiying Hu, Ziming Hu, Chenxin Jing, Chuanyu Yin, Song Luo, and Jinhua Lai
Solid Earth, 14, 847–858, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-847-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-847-2023, 2023
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This is the first time that the electrical conductivity of gabbroic melt was assessed at high temperature and high pressure. The dependence of electrical conductivity on the degree of depolymerization was also explored. Electrical conductivity of gabbroic melts can be employed to interpret high-conductivity anomalies in the Mohns Ridge of the Arctic Ocean. This is of widespread interest to potential readers in high-pressure rock physics, solid geophysics, and deep Earth science.
Gesa Franz, Marion Jegen, Max Moorkamp, Christian Berndt, and Wolfgang Rabbel
Solid Earth, 14, 237–259, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-237-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-237-2023, 2023
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Our study focuses on the correlation of two geophysical parameters (electrical resistivity and density) with geological units. We use this computer-aided correlation to improve interpretation of the Earth’s formation history along the Namibian coast and the associated formation of the South Atlantic Ocean. It helps to distinguish different types of sediment cover and varieties of oceanic crust, as well as to identify typical features associated with the breakup of continents.
Jérémie Giraud, Hoël Seillé, Mark D. Lindsay, Gerhard Visser, Vitaliy Ogarko, and Mark W. Jessell
Solid Earth, 14, 43–68, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-43-2023, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-14-43-2023, 2023
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We propose and apply a workflow to combine the modelling and interpretation of magnetic anomalies and resistivity anomalies to better image the basement. We test the method on a synthetic case study and apply it to real world data from the Cloncurry area (Queensland, Australia), which is prospective for economic minerals. Results suggest a new interpretation of the composition and structure towards to east of the profile that we modelled.
Mohammadkarim Karimpour, Evert Slob, and Laura Valentina Socco
Solid Earth, 13, 1569–1583, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1569-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1569-2022, 2022
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Near-surface characterisation is of great importance. Surface wave tomography (SWT) is a powerful tool to model the subsurface. In this work we compare straight-ray and curved-ray SWT at near-surface scale. We apply both approaches to four datasets and compare the results in terms of the quality of the final model and the computational cost. We show that in the case of high data coverage, straight-ray SWT can produce similar results to curved-ray SWT but with less computational cost.
Evgeniia Martuganova, Manfred Stiller, Ben Norden, Jan Henninges, and Charlotte M. Krawczyk
Solid Earth, 13, 1291–1307, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1291-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1291-2022, 2022
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We demonstrate the applicability of vertical seismic profiling (VSP) acquired using wireline distributed acoustic sensing (DAS) technology for deep geothermal reservoir imaging and characterization. Borehole DAS data provide critical input for seismic interpretation and help assess small-scale geological structures. This case study can be used as a basis for detailed structural exploration of geothermal reservoirs and provide insightful information for geothermal exploration projects.
Brij Singh, Michał Malinowski, Andrzej Górszczyk, Alireza Malehmir, Stefan Buske, Łukasz Sito, and Paul Marsden
Solid Earth, 13, 1065–1085, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1065-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-1065-2022, 2022
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Fast depletion of shallower deposits is pushing the mining industry to look for cutting-edge technologies for deep mineral targeting. We demonstrated a joint workflow including two state-of-the-art technologies: full-waveform inversion and reverse time migration. We produced Earth images with significant details which can help with better estimation of areas with high mineralisation, better mine planning and safety measures.
Felix Hloušek, Michal Malinowski, Lena Bräunig, Stefan Buske, Alireza Malehmir, Magdalena Markovic, Lukasz Sito, Paul Marsden, and Emma Bäckström
Solid Earth, 13, 917–934, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-917-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-917-2022, 2022
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Methods for mineral exploration play an important role within the EU. Exploration must be environmentally friendly, cost effective, and feasible in populated areas. Seismic methods have the potential to deliver detailed images of mineral deposits but suffer from these demands. We show the results for a sparse 3D seismic dataset acquired in Sweden. The 3D depth image allows us to track the known mineralizations beyond the known extent and gives new insights into the geometry of the deposit.
Robert Jackisch, Björn H. Heincke, Robert Zimmermann, Erik V. Sørensen, Markku Pirttijärvi, Moritz Kirsch, Heikki Salmirinne, Stefanie Lode, Urpo Kuronen, and Richard Gloaguen
Solid Earth, 13, 793–825, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-793-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-793-2022, 2022
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We integrate UAS-based magnetic and multispectral data with legacy exploration data of a Ni–Cu–PGE prospect on Disko Island, West Greenland. The basalt unit has a complex magnetization, and we use a constrained 3D magnetic vector inversion to estimate magnetic properties and spatial dimensions of the target unit. Our 3D modelling reveals a horizontal sheet and a strong remanent magnetization component. We highlight the advantage of UAS use in rugged and remote terrain.
Trond Ryberg, Moritz Kirsch, Christian Haberland, Raimon Tolosana-Delgado, Andrea Viezzoli, and Richard Gloaguen
Solid Earth, 13, 519–533, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-519-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-519-2022, 2022
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Novel methods for mineral exploration play an important role in future resource exploration. The methods have to be environmentally friendly, socially accepted and cost effective by integrating multidisciplinary methodologies. We investigate the potential of passive, ambient noise tomography combined with 3D airborne electromagnetics for mineral exploration in Geyer, Germany. We show that the combination of the two geophysical data sets has promising potential for future mineral exploration.
Chiara Colombero, Myrto Papadopoulou, Tuomas Kauti, Pietari Skyttä, Emilia Koivisto, Mikko Savolainen, and Laura Valentina Socco
Solid Earth, 13, 417–429, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-417-2022, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-13-417-2022, 2022
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Passive-source surface waves may be exploited in mineral exploration for deeper investigations. We propose a semi-automatic workflow for their processing. The geological interpretation of the results obtained at a mineral site (Siilinjärvi phosphorus mine) shows large potentialities and effectiveness of the proposed workflow.
Hossein Hassani, Felix Hloušek, Stefan Buske, and Olaf Wallner
Solid Earth, 12, 2703–2715, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2703-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-2703-2021, 2021
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Passive seismic imaging methods use natural earthquakes as seismic sources, while in active seismic imaging methods, artificial sources (e.g. explosives) are used to generate seismic waves. We imaged some structures related to a major fault plane through a passive seismic imaging approach using microearthquakes with magnitudes smaller than 0.9 (Mw). These structures have not been illuminated by a previously conducted 3D active seismic survey due to their large dip angles.
Yinshuai Ding and Alireza Malehmir
Solid Earth, 12, 1707–1718, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1707-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1707-2021, 2021
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In this article, we investigate the potential of reverse time migration (RTM) for deep targeting iron oxide deposits and the possible AVO effect that is potentially seen in the common image gathers from this migration algorithm. The results are promising and help to delineate the deposits and host rock structures using a 2D dataset from the Ludvika mines of central Sweden.
Nikita Afonin, Elena Kozlovskaya, Suvi Heinonen, and Stefan Buske
Solid Earth, 12, 1563–1579, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1563-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1563-2021, 2021
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In our study, we show the results of a passive seismic interferometry application for mapping the uppermost crust in the area of active mineral exploration in northern Finland. The obtained velocity models agree well with geological data and complement the results of reflection seismic data interpretation.
Puy Ayarza, José Ramón Martínez Catalán, Ana Martínez García, Juan Alcalde, Juvenal Andrés, José Fernando Simancas, Immaculada Palomeras, David Martí, Irene DeFelipe, Chris Juhlin, and Ramón Carbonell
Solid Earth, 12, 1515–1547, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1515-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1515-2021, 2021
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Vertical incidence seismic profiling on the Iberian Massif images a mid-crustal-scale discontinuity at the top of the reflective lower crust. This feature shows that upper- and lower-crustal reflections merge into it, suggesting that it has often behaved as a detachment. The orogen-scale extension of this discontinuity, present in Gondwanan and Avalonian affinity terranes into the Iberian Massif, demonstrates its relevance, leading us to interpret it as the Conrad discontinuity.
Irene Bianchi, Elmer Ruigrok, Anne Obermann, and Edi Kissling
Solid Earth, 12, 1185–1196, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1185-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1185-2021, 2021
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The European Alps formed during collision between the European and Adriatic plates and are one of the most studied orogens for understanding the dynamics of mountain building. In the Eastern Alps, the contact between the colliding plates is still a matter of debate. We have used the records from distant earthquakes to highlight the geometries of the crust–mantle boundary in the Eastern Alpine area; our results suggest a complex and faulted internal crustal structure beneath the higher crests.
Saeid Cheraghi, Alireza Malehmir, Mostafa Naghizadeh, David Snyder, Lucie Mathieu, and Pierre Bedeaux
Solid Earth, 12, 1143–1164, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1143-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-1143-2021, 2021
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High-resolution seismic profiles in 2D are acquired in the north and south of the Chibougamau area, Quebec, Canada located in the northeast of the Abitibi Greenstone belt. The area mostly includes volcanic rocks, and both profiles cross over several fault zones. The seismic method is acquired to image the subsurface down to depth of 12 km. The main aim of this study is to image major fault zones and the geological formations connected to those faults to investigate metal endowment in the area.
Jan Henninges, Evgeniia Martuganova, Manfred Stiller, Ben Norden, and Charlotte M. Krawczyk
Solid Earth, 12, 521–537, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-521-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-521-2021, 2021
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We performed a seismic survey in two 4.3 km deep geothermal research wells using the novel method of distributed acoustic sensing and wireline cables. The characteristics of the acquired data, methods for data processing and quality improvement, and interpretations on the geometry and structure of the sedimentary and volcanic reservoir rocks are presented. The method enables measurements at high temperatures and reduced cost compared to conventional sensors.
Alireza Malehmir, Magdalena Markovic, Paul Marsden, Alba Gil, Stefan Buske, Lukasz Sito, Emma Bäckström, Martiya Sadeghi, and Stefan Luth
Solid Earth, 12, 483–502, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-483-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-483-2021, 2021
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A smooth transition toward decarbonization demands access to more minerals of critical importance. Europe has a good geology for many of these mineral deposits, but at a depth requiring sensitive, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective methods for their exploration. In this context, we present a sparse 3D seismic dataset that allowed identification of potential iron oxide resources at depth and helped to characterise key geological structures and a historical tailing in central Sweden.
Alba Zappone, Antonio Pio Rinaldi, Melchior Grab, Quinn C. Wenning, Clément Roques, Claudio Madonna, Anne C. Obermann, Stefano M. Bernasconi, Matthias S. Brennwald, Rolf Kipfer, Florian Soom, Paul Cook, Yves Guglielmi, Christophe Nussbaum, Domenico Giardini, Marco Mazzotti, and Stefan Wiemer
Solid Earth, 12, 319–343, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-319-2021, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-12-319-2021, 2021
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The success of the geological storage of carbon dioxide is linked to the availability at depth of a capable reservoir and an impermeable caprock. The sealing capacity of the caprock is a key parameter for long-term CO2 containment. Faults crosscutting the caprock might represent preferential pathways for CO2 to escape. A decameter-scale experiment on injection in a fault, monitored by an integrated network of multiparamerter sensors, sheds light on the mobility of fluids within the fault.
Juvenal Andrés, Puy Ayarza, Martin Schimmel, Imma Palomeras, Mario Ruiz, and Ramon Carbonell
Solid Earth, 11, 2499–2513, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2499-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2499-2020, 2020
Yi Zhang, Xinglin Lei, Tsutomu Hashimoto, and Ziqiu Xue
Solid Earth, 11, 2487–2497, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2487-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-2487-2020, 2020
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Spatially continuous strain responses in two monitoring wells induced by a well-drilling process were monitored using high-resolution fiber-optic distributed strain sensing (DSS). The modeling results suggest that the strain polarities and magnitudes along the wellbores may be indicative of the layered-permeability structure or heterogeneous formation damage. The performance and value of DSS as a novel hydrogeophysical tool for in situ subsurface monitoring are emphasized.
Benjamin Schwarz and Charlotte M. Krawczyk
Solid Earth, 11, 1891–1907, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1891-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-1891-2020, 2020
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Intricate fault and fracture networks cut through the upper crust, and their detailed delineation and characterization play an important role in the Earth sciences. While conventional geophysical sounding techniques only provide indirect means of detection, we present scale-spanning field data examples, in which coherent diffraction imaging – a framework inspired by optics and visual perception – enables the direct imaging of these crustal features at an unprecedented spatial resolution.
Anke Dannowski, Heidrun Kopp, Ingo Grevemeyer, Dietrich Lange, Martin Thorwart, Jörg Bialas, and Martin Wollatz-Vogt
Solid Earth, 11, 873–887, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-873-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-873-2020, 2020
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The Ligurian Sea opened ~30–15 Ma during the SE migration of the Calabrian subduction zone. Seismic travel time tomography reveals the absence of oceanic crust, documenting that the extension of continental lithosphere stopped before seafloor spreading initiated. The extension led to extreme crustal thinning and possibly exhumed mantle accompanied by syn-rift sedimentation. Our new interpretation of the crust's nature is important for plate reconstruction modelling related to the Alpine orogen.
Yury Alkhimenkov, Eva Caspari, Simon Lissa, and Beatriz Quintal
Solid Earth, 11, 855–871, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-855-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-855-2020, 2020
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We perform a three-dimensional numerical study of the fluid–solid deformation at the pore scale. We show that seismic wave velocities exhibit strong azimuth-, angle- and frequency-dependent behavior due to squirt flow between interconnected cracks. We conclude that the overall anisotropy mainly increases due to squirt flow, but in some specific planes it can locally decrease as well as increase, depending on the material properties.
Eva Caspari, Andrew Greenwood, Ludovic Baron, Daniel Egli, Enea Toschini, Kaiyan Hu, and Klaus Holliger
Solid Earth, 11, 829–854, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-829-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-829-2020, 2020
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A shallow borehole was drilled to explore the petrophysical and hydraulic characteristics of a hydrothermally active fault in the crystalline Aar massif of the Alps. A key objective of studying surficial features of this kind is to establish analogies with natural and deep-seated engineered hydrothermal systems. A wide range of geophysical borehole logs was acquired, which revealed a complex fracture network in the damage zone of the fault and a related compartmentalized hydraulic behavior.
Jürg Hunziker, Andrew Greenwood, Shohei Minato, Nicolás Daniel Barbosa, Eva Caspari, and Klaus Holliger
Solid Earth, 11, 657–668, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-657-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-657-2020, 2020
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The characterization of fractures is crucial for a wide range of pertinent applications, such as geothermal energy production, hydrocarbon exploration, CO2 sequestration, and nuclear waste disposal. We estimate fracture parameters based on waves that travel along boreholes (tube waves) using a stochastic optimization approach.
Felix Kästner, Simona Pierdominici, Judith Elger, Alba Zappone, Jochem Kück, and Christian Berndt
Solid Earth, 11, 607–626, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-607-2020, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-11-607-2020, 2020
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Knowledge about physical properties at depth is crucial to image and understand structures linked with orogenic processes. We examined seismic velocities from core and downhole data from the COSC-1 borehole, Sweden, and calibrated our results with laboratory measurements on core samples. Despite a strong mismatch between the core and downhole velocities due to microcracks, mafic units are resolved at all scales, while at sample scale, strong seismic anisotropy correlates with the rock foliation.
Ines Dumke and Christian Berndt
Solid Earth, 10, 1989–2000, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1989-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1989-2019, 2019
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Knowing the velocity with which seismic waves travel through the top of the crust is important both for identifying anomalies, e.g. the presence of resources, and for geophysical data evaluation. Traditionally this has been done by using empirical functions. Here, we use machine learning to derive better seismic velocity estimates for the crust below the oceans. In most cases this methods performs better than empirical averages.
Tobias Nickschick, Christina Flechsig, Jan Mrlina, Frank Oppermann, Felix Löbig, and Thomas Günther
Solid Earth, 10, 1951–1969, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1951-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1951-2019, 2019
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An active CO2 degassing site in the western Eger Rift, Czech Republic, was investigated with a 6.5 km long geophysical survey using a specific large-scale geoelectrical setup, supported by shallow geoelectrical surveys and gravity measurements. The experiment reveals unusually low resistivities in the sediments and basement below the degassing area of less than 10 Ω and provides a base for a custom geological model of the area for a future 400 m deep research drilling in this area.
Adrià Meléndez, Clara Estela Jiménez, Valentí Sallarès, and César R. Ranero
Solid Earth, 10, 1857–1876, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1857-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1857-2019, 2019
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A new code for anisotropic travel-time tomography is presented. We describe the equations governing the anisotropic ray propagation algorithm and the modified inversion solver. We study the sensitivity of two medium parameterizations and compare four inversion strategies on a canonical model. This code can provide better understanding of the Earth's subsurface in the rather common geological contexts in which seismic velocity displays a weak dependency on the polar angle of ray propagation.
Clàudia Gras, Daniel Dagnino, Clara Estela Jiménez-Tejero, Adrià Meléndez, Valentí Sallarès, and César R. Ranero
Solid Earth, 10, 1833–1855, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1833-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1833-2019, 2019
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We present a workflow that combines different geophysical techniques, showing that a detailed seismic velocity model can be obtained even for non-optimal data sets, i.e. relatively short-offset, band-limited streamer data recorded in deep water. This fact has an important implication for the Marine seismic community, suggesting that many of the existing data sets should be revisited and analysed with new techniques to enhance our understanding of the subsurface, as in the Alboran Basin case.
Juan Alcalde, Clare E. Bond, Gareth Johnson, Armelle Kloppenburg, Oriol Ferrer, Rebecca Bell, and Puy Ayarza
Solid Earth, 10, 1651–1662, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1651-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1651-2019, 2019
Nikita Afonin, Elena Kozlovskaya, Jouni Nevalainen, and Janne Narkilahti
Solid Earth, 10, 1621–1634, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1621-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1621-2019, 2019
Carla Patricia Bárbara, Patricia Cabello, Alexandre Bouche, Ingrid Aarnes, Carlos Gordillo, Oriol Ferrer, Maria Roma, and Pau Arbués
Solid Earth, 10, 1597–1619, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1597-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1597-2019, 2019
Timothy R. H. Davies, Maurice J. McSaveney, and Natalya V. Reznichenko
Solid Earth, 10, 1385–1395, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1385-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-1385-2019, 2019
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Griffith (1921) assumed that energy used to create new surface area by breaking intact rock immediately becomes surface energy which is not available for further breakage. Our lab data disprove this assumption; we created much more new surface area, 90 % on submicron fragments, than the energy involved should allow. As technology allows ever smaller fragments to be measured, continued use of the Griffith assumption will lead to incorrect energy budgets for earthquakes and rock avalanches.
Ben Mather and Javier Fullea
Solid Earth, 10, 839–850, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-839-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-839-2019, 2019
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The temperature in the crust can be constrained by the Curie depth, which is often interpreted as the 580 °C isotherm. We cast the estimation of Curie depth, from maps of the magnetic anomaly, within a Bayesian framework to properly quantify its uncertainty across the British Isles. We find that uncertainty increases considerably for deeper Curie depths, which demonstrates that generally this method is only reliable in hotter regions, such as Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Andrzej Górszczyk, Stéphane Operto, Laure Schenini, and Yasuhiro Yamada
Solid Earth, 10, 765–784, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-765-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-765-2019, 2019
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In order to broaden our knowledge about the deep lithosphere using seismic methods, we develop leading-edge imaging workflows integrating different types of data. Here we exploit the complementary information carried by seismic wavefields, which are fundamentally different in terms of acquisition setting. We cast this information into our processing workflow and build a detailed model of the subduction zone, which is subject to further geological interpretation.
Miłosz Mężyk, Michał Malinowski, and Stanisław Mazur
Solid Earth, 10, 683–696, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-683-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-683-2019, 2019
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The Precambrian East European Craton is one of the most important building blocks of the European plate. Unlike in Scandinavia, its crystalline crust in Poland is concealed beneath younger sediments. Reprocessing of ca. 950 km regional reflection seismic profiles acquired during shale gas exploration in NE Poland revealed reflectivity patterns interpreted as signs of Svekofennian orogeny, proving a similar mechanism of Paleoproterozoic crustal formation across the Baltic Sea.
Anke Dannowski, Heidrun Kopp, Frauke Klingelhoefer, Dirk Klaeschen, Marc-André Gutscher, Anne Krabbenhoeft, David Dellong, Marzia Rovere, David Graindorge, Cord Papenberg, and Ingo Klaucke
Solid Earth, 10, 447–462, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-447-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-447-2019, 2019
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The nature of the Ionian Sea crust has been the subject of scientific debate for more than 30 years. Seismic data, recorded on ocean bottom instruments, have been analysed and support the interpretation of the Ionian Abyssal Plain as a remnant of the Tethys oceanic lithosphere with the Malta Escarpment as a transform margin and a Tethys opening in the NNW–SSE direction.
Martin Staněk and Yves Géraud
Solid Earth, 10, 251–274, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-251-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-251-2019, 2019
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Granite is suitable to host geothermal wells or disposals of hazardous waste and in these cases the rock porosity and permeability are critical. Our detailed porosity and permeability data on variously deformed Lipnice granite yield a span of 5 orders of magnitude in permeability between the least and the most deformed facies. To facilitate the estimation of porosity and permeability in similar settings, we provide optical and chemical data on the characteristic minerals of each facies.
David Marti, Ignacio Marzan, Jana Sachsenhausen, Joaquina Alvarez-Marrón, Mario Ruiz, Montse Torne, Manuela Mendes, and Ramon Carbonell
Solid Earth, 10, 177–192, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-177-2019, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-10-177-2019, 2019
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A detailed knowledge of the very shallow subsurface has become of crucial interest for modern society, especially if it hosts critical surface infrastructures such as temporary waste storage sites. The use of indirect methods to characterize the internal structure of the subsurface has been successfully applied, based on the 3-D distribution of seismic velocities and well-log data, which are of great interest for civil engineering companies.
Alessandro Lechmann, David Mair, Akitaka Ariga, Tomoko Ariga, Antonio Ereditato, Ryuichi Nishiyama, Ciro Pistillo, Paola Scampoli, Fritz Schlunegger, and Mykhailo Vladymyrov
Solid Earth, 9, 1517–1533, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-1517-2018, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-9-1517-2018, 2018
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Muon tomography is a technology, similar to X-ray tomography, to image the interior of an object, including geologically interesting ones. In this work, we examined the influence of rock composition on the physical measurements, and the possible error that is made by assuming a too-simplistic rock model. We performed numerical simulations for a more realistic rock model and found that beyond 300 m of rock, the composition starts to play a significant role and has to be accounted for.
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Short summary
Two time-lapse borehole ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted during saline tracer experiments in weakly fractured crystalline rock with sub-millimeter fractures apertures, targeting electrical conductivity changes. The combination of time-lapse reflection and transmission GPR surveys from different boreholes allowed monitoring the tracer flow and reconstructing the flow path and its temporal evolution in 3D and provided a realistic visualization of the hydrological processes.
Two time-lapse borehole ground penetrating radar (GPR) surveys were conducted during saline...
