scholarly journals Neotectonic Activity in the Low-Strain Broken Foreland (Santa Bárbara System) of the North-Western Argentinean Andes (26°S)

Lithosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-25
Author(s):  
Ahmad Arnous ◽  
Martin Zeckra ◽  
Agostina Venerdini ◽  
Patricia Alvarado ◽  
Ramón Arrowsmith ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Sedimentary Basins ◽  
Santa Barbara ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
South Central ◽  
Refraction Tomography ◽  
Fault Scarps

Abstract Uplift in the broken Andean foreland of the Argentine Santa Bárbara System (SBS) is associated with the contractional reactivation of basement anisotropies, similar to those reported from the thick-skinned Cretaceous-Eocene Laramide province of North America. Fault scarps, deformed Quaternary deposits and landforms, disrupted drainage patterns, and medium-sized earthquakes within the SBS suggest that movement along these structures may be a recurring phenomenon, with yet to be defined repeat intervals and rupture lengths. In contrast to the Subandes thrust belt farther north, where eastward-migrating deformation has generated a well-defined thrust front, the SBS records spatiotemporally disparate deformation along structures that are only known to the first order. We present herein the results of geomorphic desktop analyses, structural field observations, and 2D electrical resistivity tomography and seismic-refraction tomography surveys and an interpretation of seismic reflection profiles across suspected fault scarps in the sedimentary basins adjacent to the Candelaria Range (CR) basement uplift, in the south-central part of the SBS. Our analysis in the CR piedmont areas reveals consistency between the results of near-surface electrical resistivity and seismic-refraction tomography surveys, the locations of prominent fault scarps, and structural geometries at greater depth imaged by seismic reflection data. We suggest that this deformation is driven by deep-seated blind thrusting beneath the CR and associated regional warping, while shortening involving Mesozoic and Cenozoic sedimentary strata in the adjacent basins was accommodated by layer-parallel folding and flexural-slip faults that cut through Quaternary landforms and deposits at the surface.

Foundation Evaluation of a Repeater Installation Building using Electrical Resistivity Tomography and Seismic Refraction Tomography

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 27-38
Author(s):  
B. Butchibabu ◽  
Prosanta K. Khan ◽  
P.C. Jha
Keyword(s):  
Electrical Resistivity ◽  
Electrical Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
P Wave ◽  
S Wave ◽  
Resistivity Tomography ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Refraction Tomography ◽  
Subsurface Layers ◽  
Geophysical Investigations

Geophysical investigations were carried out for evaluation of damage and to assess the possible causes for repeated occurrence of damage at one of the buildings constructed for oil pumping in the northern part of India. Electrical Resistivity Tomography (ERT) and Seismic Refraction Tomography (SRT) techniques were adopted for studying the subsurface of the area around the building with an objective of ascertaining the cause of damage. High resolution imaging was done using both the techniques in this investigation. ERT delineated the presence of low resistivity (2 ohm-m) water filled voids below the structures and mapped different subsurface layers such as sandy soil, clay and sandstone in the study area. SRT revealed P-wave velocity ( V P ) of the subsurface medium in the range of 400–3,400 m/s. Corresponding densities and S-wave velocities ( V S ) were determined based on Gardner's and Castagna's relationships. Subsequently, the V P , V S and the modulus values were used in estimating compressibility of soil and rock strata. Results showed near surface layers were characterized by high compressibility (26.673 × 10 −5 Pa −1 ), decreases with depth. This paper presents the details of the site, techniques used in the investigation and correlation of geophysical results with lithological information, and the subsequent analysis for understanding the distress in the subsurface of the study area.

Joint inversion of seismic refraction and resistivity data using layered models — Applications to groundwater investigation

Geophysics ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 80 (1) ◽  
pp. EN43-EN55 ◽  
Author(s):  
Niklas Juhojuntti ◽  
Jochen Kamm
Keyword(s):  
Case Studies ◽  
Joint Inversion ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
Sedimentary Basins ◽  
Groundwater Exploration ◽  
In Situ Tests ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Resistivity Data ◽  
Geotechnical Investigations

We developed a method for joint inversion of seismic refraction and resistivity data, using sharp-boundary models with few layers (typically three). We demonstrated the usefulness of the approach via examples from near-surface case studies involving shallow groundwater exploration and geotechnical investigations, although it should also be applicable to other types of layered environments, e.g., sedimentary basins. In our model parameterization, the layer boundaries were common for the resistivity and velocity distributions. Within the layers, only lateral variations in the material parameters (resistivity and velocity) were allowed, and we assumed no correlation between these. The inversion was performed using a nonlinear least-squares algorithm, using lateral smoothing to the layer boundaries and to the materialparameters. Depending on the subsurface conditions, the smoothing can be applied either to the depth of the layer boundaries or to the layer thicknesses. The forward responses and Jacobian for refraction seismics were calculated through ray tracing. The resistivity computations were performed with finite differences and a cell-to-layer transform for the Fréchet derivatives. Our method performed well in synthetic tests, and in the case studies, the layer boundaries were in good agreement with in situ tests and seismic reflection data, although minimum-structure inversion generally has a better data fit due to more freedom to introduce model heterogeneity. We further found that our joint inversion approach can provide more accurate thickness estimates for seismic hidden layers.

scholarly journals Geophysical investigations for stability and safety mitigation of regional crude-oil pipeline near abandoned coal mines

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-162
Author(s):  
B Butchibabu ◽  
Prosanta Kumar Khan ◽  
P C Jha
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Crude Oil ◽  
Seismic Refraction ◽  
High Resolution Imaging ◽  
Weak Zone ◽  
Near Surface ◽  
Oil Pipeline ◽  
Refraction Tomography ◽  
Geophysical Investigations ◽  
Resolution Imaging

Abstract This study aims for the protection of a crude-oil pipeline, buried at a shallow depth, against a probable environmental hazard and pilferage. Both surface and borehole geophysical techniques such as electrical resistivity tomography (ERT), ground penetrating radar (GPR), surface seismic refraction tomography (SRT), cross-hole seismic tomography (CST) and cross-hole seismic profiling (CSP) were used to map the vulnerable zones. Data were acquired using ERT, GPR and SRT along the pipeline for a length of 750 m, and across the pipeline for a length of 4096 m (over 16 profiles of ERT and SRT with a separation of 50 m) for high-resolution imaging of the near-surface features. Borehole techniques, based on six CSP and three CST, were carried out at potentially vulnerable locations up to a depth of 30 m to complement the surface mapping with high-resolution imaging of deeper features. The ERT results revealed the presence of voids or cavities below the pipeline. A major weak zone was identified at the central part of the study area extending significantly deep into the subsurface. CSP and CST results also confirmed the presence of weak zones below the pipeline. The integrated geophysical investigations helped to detect the old workings and a deformation zone in the overburden. These features near the pipeline produced instability leading to deformation in the overburden, and led to subsidence in close vicinity of the concerned area. The area for imminent subsidence, proposed based on the results of the present comprehensive geophysical investigations, was found critical for the pipeline.

scholarly journals Seismic reflection data reveal the 3D structure of the newly discovered Exmouth Dyke Swarm, offshore NW Australia

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Magee ◽  
Christopher A.-L. Jackson
Keyword(s):  
Seismic Reflection ◽  
Surface Deformation ◽  
3D Structure ◽  
Sedimentary Basins ◽  
Dyke Swarm ◽  
Normal Faults ◽  
Seismic Reflection Data ◽  
Reflection Data ◽  
Dyke Swarms ◽  
Nw Australia

Abstract. Dyke swarms are common on Earth and other planetary bodies, comprising arrays of dykes that can extend for 10's to 1000's of kilometres. The vast extent of such dyke swarms, and their rapid emplacement, means they can significantly influence a variety of planetary processes, including continental break-up, crustal extension, resource accumulation, and volcanism. Determining the mechanisms driving dyke swarm emplacement is thus critical to a range of Earth Science disciplines. However, unravelling dyke swarm emplacement mechanics relies on constraining their 3D structure, which is extremely difficult given we typically cannot access their subsurface geometry at a sufficiently high enough resolution. Here we use high-quality seismic reflection data to identify and examine the 3D geometry of the newly discovered Exmouth Dyke Swarm, and associated structures (i.e. dyke-induced normal faults and pit craters), in unprecedented detail. The latest Jurassic dyke swarm is located on the Gascoyne Margin offshore NW Australia and contains numerous dykes that are > 170 km long, potentially > 500 km long. The mapped dykes are distributed radially across a 39° arc centred on the Cuvier Margin; we infer this focal area marks the source of the dyke swarm, which was likely a mantle plume. We demonstrate seismic reflection data provides unique opportunities to map and quantify dyke swarms in 3D in sedimentary basins, which can allow us to: (i) recognise dyke swarms across continental margins worldwide and incorporate them into models of basin evolution and fluid flow; (ii) test previous models and hypotheses concerning the 3D structure of dyke swarms; (iii) reveal how dyke-induced normal faults and pit craters relate to dyking; and (iv) unravel how dyking translates into surface deformation.

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