Brittle Deformation

(Fracturing and Faulting)

 Types of Fractures

1- Extension Fractures

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2- Shear Fractures

(Also Mode I, II, and III fractures)

Extension Fractures
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 σ2
σ1
Shear Fractures

σ3
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 Rule of Thumb (1)

Extension fractures are oriented normal

to the least principal stress axis (σ3)

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Rule of Thumb (2)

Shear fractures form in two conjugate sets.

σ1 : bisects the acute angle between these two sets. λ3
σ2 : is parallel to the line of intersection of these two sets. λ2
σ3 : bisects the obtuse angle between these two sets. λ1

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Extension Fractures

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 ADEL R. MOUSTAFA 2004
Shear Fractures

Types of Faults
Dip-slip Faults Strike-slip Faults Oblique-slip Faults
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For nomenclature of these

faults use:
Normal OR Reverse (or thrust)

+
Right-lateral OR Left-lateral
(start with the name of the
smaller component)

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 Thrust Fault
Normal Fault
Types of Faults

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 ADEL R. MOUSTAFA 2004
Strike-slip Fault (Right-lateral)

Fault Identification on Seismic Sections

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 Fault Identification on Seismic Sections

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Low-angle segments of faults are reflective and appear like horizons

Stress Orientations for 3 Types of Faults

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Normal Faults Thrust Faults Strike-slip Faults

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 Thrust Tectonics

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Thrusting leads to shortening of the earth

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Shortening %

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 Shortening of the Canadian Rockies

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β~ 0.5

Price and Mountjoy, 1970

Stress orientation for thrust faulting

σ1 : Horizontal
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(perpendicular to
faults)
σ2 : Horizontal
(parallel to faults)
σ3 : Vertical

Thrusts usually develop with 30° angle of dip.

Exceptions:
1- Thrusts coinciding with bedding surfaces (flat segments of ramp-flat system)
2- High-angle reverse faults associated with wrench structures
3- Detachment surfaces

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Thrust Terminology

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Hanging Wall Anticlines

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 Thrust Terminology

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Out-of-the syncline thrusts

Thrust Terminology

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Isolated Splay Diverging Splay Connecting Splay

Rejoining Splay Horse Termination Splays

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 Thrust Terminology

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Tear Faults

Thrust Terminology

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Ramp-Flat Thrust Geometry

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Thrust Terminology

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Thrust Ramps

Thrust-related Folds

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Fault-bend Folds, Palmyra fold Belt

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Salel & Seguret, 1994

Fault-bend Folds, Palmyra fold Belt

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Salel & Seguret, 1994

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 Thrust Systems

ƒ Imbricate Fans

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Leading imbricate fan
Trailing imbricate fan
ƒ Thrust Duplexes
Hinterland dipping duplex
Foreland dipping duplex
Antiformal stack

Thrust Systems

Hinterland dipping duplex

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Leading imbricate fan

Antiformal stack

Trailing imbricate fan

Imbricate Fans
Foreland dipping duplex

Boyer and Elliott, 1982 Thrust Duplexes

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 Hinterland dipping duplex
Thrust
Duplexes

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 ADEL R. MOUSTAFA 2004
Hinterland dipping duplex

Foreland dipping duplex

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Youngest horse # 5. Formations within horses may be right side up (A) or overturned (B).

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 ADEL R. MOUSTAFA 2004
Foreland dipping duplex

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Hinterland dipping duplex of Mount Crandell and Lewis thrusts folded

at a later stage

Boyer and Elliott, 1982

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Dundonnell Antiformal Stack

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Elliott and Johnson, 1980

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