Architecture of Fault Zones in Carbonates

E. A. H. Michie1, T. J. Haines1, D. Healy1, G. I. Alsop1, J. Neilson1, N. E. Timms2 1 School of Geosciences, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, AB24 3UE, UK 2 Department of Applied Geology, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia e.michie@abdn.ac.uk

Introduction
Fault zone architectures are highly complex. A generalised model will not be applicable for every fault, due to variable external factors influencing faulting. The fault zone architecture of each individual fault therefore needs to be modelled separately. Maltese faults do not conform to the traditional fault core - damage zone - protolith model. They show a complex architecture with different intensities of damage within the fault zone. A new model for these Maltese faults is outlined in this poster.

Geological Setting
Malta is located in an extensional basin created in the foreland of the Sicilian Apennine-Maghrebian fold and thrust belt, with a N-S stretching direction (Pedley et al., 1976; Dart et al., 1993). The carbonates on Malta range from chalky foram-rich mud facies to packstone grain facies, deposited on a homoclinal ramp. The faults have propagated and evolved differently in the two main carbonates (mudand grain- dominated facies), primarily due to their different inherent properties.

0.75 m Displacement

5.1 m Displacement

7 m Displacement

11.7 m Displacement

Segmentation of the fault at the grain- mud boundary. Could be due to bifurcation of the fault.

Splay of the fault at the grain-mud dominated boundary.

Bound fault zone with more slip surfaces accommodating the stress in the mud dominated carbonate facies. Intensity of fractures across the 7 m fault in the MGL2 (mud dominated)
60 50

One slip surface in the grain dominated facies, splaying into several slip surfaces in the mud dominated carbonates. Intensity of fractures across the 11.7 m fault in mud- and grain- dominated facies
60 50

Circular Scan Lines across the faults

Intensity: n/4r Fracture area in a volume of rock. Mean total trace length of fractures per unit area. Density: Fractures per unit area. Mean number of trace centres per unit area. Mean Trace Length: (n/m)r/2
(Mauldon et al., 2001)
60 50

Intensity of fractures across the 5.1 m fault in 2 different mud- dominated facies

m/2r2

Open dots - n intersections. Black dots - m endpoints.

intensity m-1

intensity m-1

40

intensity m-1

MGL3 (mud dominated)

40

40

Il Mara Member (grain dominated) LGL (mud dominated)

30

MGL2 (mud dominated)

30

30

20

20

20

10

10

10

MGL (mud dominated)

Red Lines: Main (bounding) faults. Black Lines: Subsidiary faults

0 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20 22.5 25 27.5 30 32.5 35 37.5 40 42.5

0 0 2.5 5 7.5 10 12.5 15 17.5 20 22.5 25 27.5 30

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65

Distance Along Transect (m)

Distance Along transect (m)

Distance Along Transect (m)

Density of fractures across the 25 m fault in mud- and grain- dominated facies
900 800

Alterations to the model:

At higher displacements (figures to the left) more slip surfaces are created in grain dominated facies. A threshold therefore occurs between 11.7 m (one slip surface) and 25 m to critically introduce more slip surfaces to accommodate the increased displacement.

700

600

Density m-2

500

Il Mara Member (grain dominated) MGL (mud dominated)

IDDZ intensely deformed damage zone. WDDZ weakly deformed damage zone.

400

300

Summary
A new model for the Maltese faults is proposed in this poster. The fault zones observed show a paired slip surface architecture. This cannot be thought of as a relay zone or bifurcation of the fault, due to the pattern of deformation within/surrounding the fault zone (see right). This bounded fault architectural model could have a significant influence on the petrophysical signature of the zone, controlling the sealing/conduit potential of the faults.
Intensity/density plot of fractures across the relay zone

200

100

0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55

Distance Along Transect (m)

References
Dart, C. J., Bosence, D. W. J., McClay, K. R., 1993. Stratigraphy and structure of the Maltese Graben System. Journal of the Geological Society, Vol. 150, p. 1153-1166. Felix, R., 1973. Oligo-Micene stratigraphy of Malta and Gozo. Meded. Landbouwhogeschool Wageningen 73-20, 1 103. Mauldon, M., Dunne, W. M., Rohrbaugh Jr, M. M., 2001. Circular scanlines and circular windows: new tools for characterizing the geometry of fracture traces. Journal of Structural Geology, Vol. 23, p. 247-258. Pedley, H. M., 1975. The Oligo-Micocene sediments of the Maltese islands. PhD thesis, University of Hull. Pedley, H.M., House, M. R., Waugh, B., 1976. The geology of Malta and Gozo. Proceedings of the Geologists Association, Vol. 87, No. 3, p. 325-341. Pedley, H. M., 1992. Geological Map of the Maltese Islands, Oil Exploration Directorate Office of the Prime Minister Valletta, Malta.

Hanging Wall Block width in mud and grain dominated carbonates

18

Width of hanging wall block (m)

16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 0 5 10 15 20 25 30

mud dominated grain dominated

Displacement (m)