Subsurface geometries of ancient faults mapped by high-resolution geophysical surveys use reflected seismic waves. Such surveys in southern Canada map faults which host significant gold or nickel deposits. Reflectors are considered to be brittle if upper-crustal, lava flows if folded or broken, and mid-crustal if mostly parallel. Steep fault zones possibly first formed in ocean settings when the lava erupted. Folding and horizontal shortening probably occurred during later mountain building.

The spatial correlation between the crustal magma reservoir and seismicity is crucial for investigating the dynamics of the Wudalianchi volcanic systems. A high-resolution 3-D shear-wave velocity crustal model reveals a distinct low-velocity body located at depths of ∼ 10–23 km below the Wudalianchi volcano. Together with the earthquake distribution, this provides new insights into the magmatic activity of the active Wudalianchi volcano.

The Wufeng–Longmaxi (WF-LMX) Formation is the most important shale gas play in China. Here, we present a feasible approach using nanoindentation to characterize the mechanical properties of the WF-LMX Formation. Mechanical properties varied synchronously with mineral and organic content across the vertical drilling profile, reflecting changes in lithology and sedimentary facies. The effect of shale constituents on micromechanics is essentially controlled by the sedimentary environment.

We used computer models to study how mountains formed by the collision of tectonic plates can later affect the breakup of these same plates. Our results show that in large, warm mountain belts, new faults form due to the orogen being  weak overall, while in smaller, colder belts, breakup follows old fault zones. Microcontinents that were accreted during collision can create new continental fragments during extension. These findings help explain how past geological events shape continent margins.

Geological storage of CO₂ has emerged again in recent years as a complement to reducing CO₂ emissions to the atmosphere. The Swedish government recently gave the task of further studying the potential for CO₂ storage within Swedish territory to the Geological Survey of Sweden. We report here on results from investigations on southern Gotland island. We find that we can map several geological formations of interest and that the rock is seismically anisotropic.

Carbonates can control how strong the Earth's crust is in places. They are often described in simple terms as calcite or dolomite, but they are more complicated. At the atomistic level different amounts of elements, like magnesium and calcium, are incorporated at different temperatures and at the microscopic level carbonates can have different internal structures which leads to differences in strength. We review 50 years of experimental data to provide new equations that describe this strength.