Identification of latent faults using a radon test

González-Dı́ez, Alberto; Soto, Jesús; Gómez-Arozamena, José; Bonachea, Jaime; Martínez‐Díaz, J. J.; Cuesta, J.A.; Olague, I.; Remondo, Juan; Maroto, G. Fernández; Terán, J.R. Díaz de

doi:10.1016/j.geomorph.2008.12.020

Cited by 17 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 27 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…of 0.1-1.5 kBq•m -3 during annual campaigns, although through continuous monitoring natural peaks are up to 7.1 kBq•m -3 , and artificial peaks to 15.9 kBq•m -3 due to the anthropic closure of the cavities (Hoyos et al 1998;Poncela et al 2004;Lario et al 2005;Sainz et al 2007). The presence of Rn in groundwater was also recognized as significant, generally related to thermal springs and spas since González-Díez et al (2009) reported Rn concentrations in groundwater up to 0.8 kBq•m -3 , without a clear relationship with the lithology or tectonic structure in the bedrock exposed at the surface.…”

Section: Rn Concentrations In Karst Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon concentration in caves as a proxy for tectonic activity in The Cantabrian Mountains (Spain)

Ballesteros

Llana‐Fúnez

Meléndez-Asensio

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Radon (Rn) constitutes a good geochemical tracer for neotectonic activity in faults since associated fracturing near the surface favours fluid escape to the atmosphere. In this contribution, we measured the Rn concentration in the air inside karst caves to constraints the recent fault activity in the Cantabrian Mountains (N Spain). Rock formations exhumed during the uplifting of the Cantabrian Mountains record a long history of fracturing, which has the potential to connect deeper sources of Rn with the surface. In this regional study, we correlate Rn measurements with cave survey data and geological structures using a Geographic Information Systems. Thirty-four Rn average concentration was recorded by CR-39 detectors during 8 integrated months. The method is applied to the central part of the Cantabrian Mountains that is built on sedimentary and low-grade metamorphic rocks relatively poor in U. Dominant tectonic structures and Rn concentration are examined in 28 cavities. The concentration of Rn values is higher than 0.5 kBq·m-3 in caves developed preferably following fractures with the direction N30oW, being the concentration greater than 0.8 kBq·m-3 in cavities located less than 200±50 m from subvertical faults with such orientation. Rn anomalies point to relative high connectivity along subvertical fault zones NW-trending, preserving fracture connectivity in the most recent structures in the Cantabrian Mountains. Finally, in the study area there is a low but significant radioactive hazard which is associated to fault zones in a fractured rock massif. It contrasts with other active tectonic settings where the radioactive hazard may come from fault movements.

show abstract

Section: Rn Concentrations In Karst Cavesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Radon concentration in caves as a proxy for tectonic activity in The Cantabrian Mountains (Spain)

Ballesteros

Llana‐Fúnez

Meléndez-Asensio

et al. 2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Measurement of Rn concentration in soil gas has long been applied to detect tectonic faults (King et al, 1996). Increasingly, this method is widely used in fault study and particularly effective in determination of active faults as well as studies on earthquake (e.g., King, 1978;Al-Hilal & Al-Ali, 2010;Baubron et al, 2002;Font et al, 2008;Ghosh et al, 2009;González-Díez et al, 2009;Haerudin et al, 2013;Hauksson, 1981;Ioannides et al, 2003;Lombardi & Voltattorni, 2010;Papastefanou, 2010;Richon et al, 2010;Seminsky & Demberel, 2013;Utkin & Yurkov, 2010;Wakita et al, 1980;Walia et al, 2008;Wang et al, 2014).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Soil Gas Radon Measurement for Identifying Active Faults in Thua Thien Hue (Vietnam)

Xuan¹,

Duong²,

Chinh³

et al. 2020

GEP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

The solid-state nuclear track detectors have long been applied to assess the activity of tectonic faults. We measured the Radon (R n) concentration in soil gas on 09 profiles with a total of 245 measurement points in Thua Thien Hue area (Vietnam). Measurement results show that the Rn concentration in soil gas ranges from ~10 Bq/m 3 to 144,570 Bq/m 3. There is a clear difference in the Rn concentration on the granite rock of Dai Loc complex compared to the remaining rocks. The calculated background value and anomaly threshold of Rn concentration on the granite rock of Dai Loc complex and on the remaining rocks are 33,488 Bq/m 3 , 82,839 Bq/m 3 and 5313 Bq/m 3 , 24,850 Bq/m 3 respectively. Spatial distribution of Rn concentration in soil gas reflects the existence of faults since Rn concentration increases at the points above or near fault lines. The level of expression of fault activity is assessed by radon activity index (K Rn), which is calculated by the ratio of anomaly value to background value of Rn concentration. According to K Rn , in Thua Thien Hue area, only the Dakrong-Hue fault shows a strong expression of activity with high and very high K Rn (the maximum K Rn = 27.21). The Truong Son, Huu Trach River, Ta Trach River and Bo River fault zones do not show clear activity with low and medium K Rn. There is no Rn anomaly value recorded on the Rao Trang fault, demonstrating that it is likely to be inactive at present. The study results indicate that the Rn concentration in soil gas is a strong evidence of the existence of faults or tectonic fracture zones as the Rn concentration always increases at the points above or near the fault line.

show abstract

“…The elevation of radon (Rn) concentration in soil gas is known to be associated with and locate active faults (King et al, 1996;King, 1978;Al-Hilal and Al-Ali, 2010;Amponsah et al, 2008;Asumadu-Sakyi et al, 2010;Baubron et al, 2002;Burton et al, 2004;Font et al, 2008;González-Díez et al, 2009;Haerudin et al, 2013;Ioannides et al, 2003;Israel and Bjornsson, 1967;Lombardi and Voltattorni, 2010;Papastefanou, 2010;Seminsky and Demberel, 2013;Swakon et al, 2004;Tanner, 1980;Utkin and Yurkov, 2010;Walia et al, 2008). Since then, soil radon gas geochemistry is considered as a quantitative method to study active faults.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Study on active tectonic faults using soil radon gas method in Viet Nam

et al. 2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

This paper presents the results of soil radon gas measurement in three areas, including Thac Ba and Song Tranh 2 hydropower plants, and the planned locations of the nuclear power plants Ninh Thuan 1&2 using solid-state nuclear track detectors (SSNTD) with the aim of clarifying the activity of tectonic faults in these areas. The activity of tectonic faults was assessed through radon activity index KRn (the ratio between anomaly and threshold), which was divided into 5 levels as follows ultra-high (K Rn > 10), high (10≥K Rn > 5), high (5≥K Rn > 3), medium (3≥K Rn > 2) and low (K Rn ≤2). Soil radon gas measurement results showed that in the radon gas concentrations in the Thac Ba hydropower plant area ranged from 72 Bq/m 3 to 273.133 Bq/m 3 and maximum radon activity index KRn reached 9.75 (high level). High K Rn indexes show Chay River fault active in recent time and the sub-meridian distribution of Rn anomalies suggested a right-slip motion of the fault. Rn concentrations in the Ninh Thuan 1&2 areas ranged from 6 Bq/m 3 to 52.627 Bq/m 3 , however, the K Rn indexes were mostly low (K Rn ≤3) and the highest value was only 3.42, suggesting that expression of activity of the tectonic faults in this region is not clear, even no expression of fault activity. In the Song Tranh 2 hydropower plant and adjacent areas, radon concentrations ranged from 29 Bq/m 3 to 77.729 Bq/m 3 and maximum K Rn index was 20.16 (ultra-high level). The faults having clearer activity expression are Hung Nhuong -Ta Vy, Song Tra Bong and some high order faults, especially the northwest -southeast segments of these faults or their intersections with the northwest -southeast faults. In addition, the high values K Rn in the mentioned intersections can be evidenced for the activeness of northwest -southeast faults at the present time. The studies on active faults using soil radon gas method were performed in areas with very different geological and structural features, but the results are well consistent with the results of previous investigations obtained by other methods. It confirmed the effectiveness and capability of soil radon gas geochemistry applying to study active tectonic faults.

show abstract

Identification of latent faults using a radon test

Cited by 17 publications

References 27 publications

Radon concentration in caves as a proxy for tectonic activity in The Cantabrian Mountains (Spain)

Radon concentration in caves as a proxy for tectonic activity in The Cantabrian Mountains (Spain)

Soil Gas Radon Measurement for Identifying Active Faults in Thua Thien Hue (Vietnam)

Study on active tectonic faults using soil radon gas method in Viet Nam

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About