Fault reactivation in brittle?viscous wrench systems?dynamically scaled analogue models and application to the Rhine?Bresse transfer zone

Ustaszewski, Kamil; Schumacher, Markus E.; Schmid, Stefan M.; Nieuwland, D.A.

doi:10.1016/j.quascirev.2004.03.015

Cited by 38 publications

(60 citation statements)

References 29 publications

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“…This decoupling has been used as an argument for still ongoing dé-collement tectonics. However, stress decoupling between basement and cover does not necessarily imply ongoing thinskinned tectonics, a postulate, which contrasts with recent work providing arguments for currently ongoing thick-skinned reactivation of basement faults (Meyer et al 1994;Lopes Cardozo & Granet 2003;Giamboni et al 2004a;Ustaszewski et al 2005a).…”

Section: Seismicity and Recent Displacement Ratescontrasting

confidence: 64%

“…The coeval latest Pliocene to recent dextrally transpressive reactivation of the ENE-trending faults of the Rhine-Bresse Transfer Zone, as inferred from the present work, however, is hitherto supported almost exclusively by geological evidence (Meyer et al 1994;Giamboni et al 2004a;Ustaszewski et al 2005a). The seismotectonic evidence supporting the reactivation of such ENE-trending faults is scarce in the area west of Basel, at least partly due to the lack of a dense network of permanent stations on French territory.…”

Section: Kinematic Framework Of Neotectonic Activity In the Southern Urgsupporting

confidence: 41%

“…In view of the evidence provided in favour of thick-skinned tectonics we do not regard such decoupling between basement and cover as a solid argument for presently ongoing thin-skinned tectonics. Dynamically scaled sand-silicone models have demonstrated that low displacement rates along basement strike-slip faults also favour mechanical decoupling between basement and cover across a viscous weak décollement layer (Ustaszewski et al 2005a). Given the low displacement rates that prevailed since the latest Pliocene, decoupling is also expected in a thick-skinned scenario according to these experiments.…”

Section: Comparison Of Paleostress Measurements With Data On the Presmentioning

confidence: 64%

“…during a late stage or after the formation of the thin-skinned Jura belt, a postulate which is by now supported by abundant evidence (e.g. Becker 2000; Giamboni et al 2004a,b;Ustaszewski et al 2005a;Ustaszewski & Schmid 2006).…”

Section: Research Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…An ENE-trending small anticline, identified in a seismic section presented by Ustaszewski et al (2005a, their fig. 3), is located immediately W of the compressive splays of the Ferrette fault.…”

Section: Kinematic Framework Of Neotectonic Activity In the Southern Urgmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Latest Pliocene to recent thick-skinned tectonics at the Upper Rhine Graben – Jura Mountains junction

2007

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The southernmost Upper Rhine Graben and adjacent Jura experienced basement-rooted shortening that occurred after the deposition of the Pliocene fluvial "Sundgau gravels". Folds affecting the base of these gravels systematically trend NE to ENE. Combined evidence from reflection seismic lines and contour maps of the base-Tertiary and base-Pliocene levels indicates that these folds probably formed by thick-skinned reactivation of both NNE-SSW and WSW-ENE-striking faults. This thick-skinned shortening is NW-SE oriented, i.e. parallel to the maximum horizontal stresses inferred from seismotectonics. NNE-SSW-striking faults (paralleling the Upper Rhine Graben) have been reactivated in sinistral strike-slip mode. However, dextrally transpressive reactivation of the WSW-ENE-trending faults that belong to the Rhine-Bresse Transfer Zone is interpreted to predominate.Deflections of recent river courses around the crests of en-échelon-aligned surface anticlines suggest that the deformation is ongoing at present.Retro-deformation of the folds affecting the base of the Sundgau gravels indicates horizontal displacement rates of about 0.05 mm/a. This corresponds to a minimum strain rate in the order of 2·10 -16 s -1 , given the maximum time span of 2.9 Ma for this deformation, i.e. the biostratigraphically determined minimum age of the gravels. A change from thin-skinned tectonics, that prevailed during the main phase of Jura folding, to very probably still ongoing thick-skinned tectonics is inferred to have occurred in the Late Pliocene. We speculate that this change might be linked to the incipient inversion of Permo-Carboniferous troughs within the Alpine foreland in general. This inversion in dextrally transpressive or purely compressive mode along a WNW-ESE-trending basement fault, that is part of the Rhine-Bresse Transfer Zone, which in turn was prestructured during the formation of the Permo-Carboniferous troughs, could have triggered the 1356 Basel earthquake.

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Section: Seismicity and Recent Displacement Ratescontrasting

confidence: 64%

Section: Kinematic Framework Of Neotectonic Activity In the Southern Urgsupporting

confidence: 41%

Section: Comparison Of Paleostress Measurements With Data On the Presmentioning

confidence: 64%

Section: Research Objectivesmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Kinematic Framework Of Neotectonic Activity In the Southern Urgmentioning

confidence: 99%

See 3 more Smart Citations

Latest Pliocene to recent thick-skinned tectonics at the Upper Rhine Graben – Jura Mountains junction

2007

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Pull‐Apart Basin in the Offshore Cauvery–Palar Basin, India

Dasgupta

2018

Atlas of Structural Geological Interpretation From Seismic Images

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Seismic source characterization of the Alpine foreland in the context of a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis by PEGASOS Expert Group 1 (EG1a)

Schmid

Slejko

2009

Swiss J. Geosci.

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Seismic source characterization is performed as part of the PEGASOS project for the assessment of the seismic hazard at the 4 sites of the Swiss Nuclear Power Plants. The analysis is performed according to the Level 4 procedures for expert elicitation defined in the guidelines of the US Nuclear Regulatory Committee whereby the quantification of uncertainties plays a crucial role. According to our analysis, which is one amongst four that were performed in the frame of PEGASOS, the most important epistemic uncertainty is related to the question as to weather basement-rooted faults at the margins of pre-existing Permo-Carboniferous troughs are prone for compressive or transpressive reactivation under the present-day stress field or not. The question after the present-day style of deformation in the Alpine foreland (thick-skinned versus thin-skinned) is closely related to this key question. Together with the consideration of uncertainties regarding the mapping of seismogenic zones and/or line sources alternative zonations are presented in form of a logic tree with 21 branches. Area sources play a predominant role in the working area located at the margin of a diffuse plate boundary.Earthquake recurrence relationships are discussed by taking into account a series of uncertainties. These concern the evaluation of b-values and the evaluation of a-values once the b-values were fixed. Both parameters in the Gutenberg-Richter law are based on non-perfect and incomplete catalogue data that were carefully analysed beforehand. Since PEGASOS demanded an analysis of annual probabilities down to one event in 10 7 years, the question after the value of the maximum possible earthquake magnitude M max and related error in M max estimates plays a crucial role. We estimate M max by using geological as well as statistical methods. M max = 6.9 cannot be excluded in most areas, in the Basel area M max = 7.3 is possible. Uncertainties in a, b and M max are again discussed in form of a logic tree, this time with 18 branches. Hence the final logic tree has 378 branches and represents the seismic source characterization input into PSHA that takes account of all uncertainties we are aware of.

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Fault reactivation in brittle?viscous wrench systems?dynamically scaled analogue models and application to the Rhine?Bresse transfer zone

Cited by 38 publications

References 29 publications

Latest Pliocene to recent thick-skinned tectonics at the Upper Rhine Graben – Jura Mountains junction

Latest Pliocene to recent thick-skinned tectonics at the Upper Rhine Graben – Jura Mountains junction

Pull‐Apart Basin in the Offshore Cauvery–Palar Basin, India

Seismic source characterization of the Alpine foreland in the context of a probabilistic seismic hazard analysis by PEGASOS Expert Group 1 (EG1a)

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