Geophysical Surveys of the San Andreas and Crystal Springs Reservoir System Including Seismic-Reflection Profiles and Swath Bathymetry, San Mateo County, California

2010 ◽  
Author(s):  
David P. Finlayson ◽  
Peter J. Triezenberg ◽  
Patrick E. Hart
Geophysics ◽  
2005 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. B53-B60 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tonglin Li ◽  
David W. Eaton

The Tuwu deposit is one of a series of recently discovered porphyry copper deposits in the eastern Tian Shan range of Xinjiang, China. Since its discovery in 1997, more than ten boreholes have been drilled and a suite of geophysical surveys has been acquired to delineate the deposit. As part of the geophysical program, a set of eight seismic reflection profiles was acquired in 2000, followed by a physical rock-property study in 2001. The ores are characterized by slightly higher density (Δρ ∼ 0.1 g/cm[Formula: see text]) and significantly higher P-wave velocity ([Formula: see text] ∼ 1.0–1.5 km/s) than the dioritic host rocks. The seismic surveys used 0.6- to 0.9-kg shallow dynamite sources, with a 24-channel end-on spread and offsets up to 350 m. The orebody and associated igneous layers dip steeply (>45°) toward the south, so careful processing of the seismic data was required. Weak reflections from stratigraphic contacts are visible on most of the profiles, including the top of the intrusion and the base of the orebody. Since the observed reflections include a significant out-of-plane component, we developed a simple 2.5D migration procedure. This method was applied to line drawings of the seismic profiles, providing the basis for delineation of the orebody in three dimensions. Synthetic seismic sections computed using the inferred bounding surfaces of the ore deposit are in reasonable agreement with observed reflections, even for along-strike lines not used to build the model. The ability to verify interpreted reflections using line intersections was critical to the development of our model. The results of this work indicate that seismic methods may be useful as an aid for mapping the flanks of shallow, moderately dipping porphyry copper orebodies and associated strata, particularly for defining the structure of deeper sections of the mineralized zones in advance of drilling.


Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 283
Author(s):  
Allan Audsley ◽  
Tom Bradwell ◽  
John Howe ◽  
John Baxter

Sub-seabed gas is commonly associated with seabed depressions known as pockmarks—the main venting sites for hydrocarbon gases to enter the water column. Sub-seabed gas accumulations are characterized by acoustically turbid or opaque zones in seismic reflection profiles, taking the form of gas blankets, curtains or plumes. How the migration of sub-seabed gas relates to the origin and distribution of pockmarks in nearshore and fjordic settings is not well understood. Using marine geophysical data from Loch Linnhe, a Scottish fjord, we show that shallow sub-seabed gas occurs predominantly within glaciomarine facies either as widespread blankets in basins or as isolated pockets. We use geospatial ‘hot-spot’ analysis conducted in ArcGIS to identify clusters of pockmarks and acoustic (sub-seabed) profile interpretation to identify the depth to gas front across the fjord. By combining these analyses, we find that the gas below most pockmarks in Loch Linnhe is between 1.4 m and 20 m deep. We anticipate that this work will help to understand the fate and mobility of sedimentary carbon in fjordic (marine) settings and advise offshore industry on the potential hazards posed by pockmarked seafloor regions even in nearshore settings.


Geosciences ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 117
Author(s):  
Maria Filomena Loreto ◽  
Camilla Palmiotto ◽  
Filippo Muccini ◽  
Valentina Ferrante ◽  
Nevio Zitellini

The southern part of Tyrrhenian back-arc basin (NW Sicily), formed due to the rifting and spreading processes in back-arc setting, is currently undergoing contractional tectonics. The analysis of seismic reflection profiles integrated with bathymetry, magnetic data and seismicity allowed us to map a widespread contractional tectonics structures, such as positive flower structures, anticlines and inverted normal faults, which deform the sedimentary sequence of the intra-slope basins. Two main tectonic phases have been recognised: (i) a Pliocene extensional phase, active during the opening of the Vavilov Basin, which was responsible for the formation of elongated basins bounded by faulted continental blocks and controlled by the tear of subducting lithosphere; (ii) a contractional phase related to the Africa-Eurasia convergence coeval with the opening of the Marsili Basin during the Quaternary time. The lithospheric tear occurred along the Drepano paleo-STEP (Subduction-Transform-Edge-Propagator) fault, where the upwelling of mantle, intruding the continental crust, formed a ridge. Since Pliocene, most of the contractional deformation has been focused along this ridge, becoming a good candidate for a future subduction initiation zone.


1983 ◽  
Vol 73 (6A) ◽  
pp. 1701-1720
Author(s):  
R. Feng ◽  
T. V. McEvilly

Abstract A seismic reflection profile crossing the San Andreas fault zone in central California was conducted in 1978. Results are complicated by the extreme lateral heterogeneity and low velocities in the fault zone. Other evidence for severe lateral velocity change across the fault zone lies in hypocenter bias and nodal plane distortion for earthquakes on the fault. Conventional interpretation and processing methods for reflection data are hard-pressed in this situation. Using the inverse ray method of May and Covey (1981), with an initial model derived from a variety of data and the impedance contrasts inferred from the preserved amplitude stacked section, an iterative inversion process yields a velocity model which, while clearly nonunique, is consistent with the various lines of evidence on the fault zone structure.


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