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Fracture mechanics model of a fault termination zone

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  25 March 2011

A. RABINOVITCH ,
M. FRIEDMAN  and
D. BAHAT
A. RABINOVITCH*
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, The Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
M. FRIEDMAN
Affiliation:
Department of Physics, Nuclear Research Center Negev, Beer Sheva, P. O. Box 9001, Israel
D. BAHAT
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Mineralogy, The Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
*
†Author for correspondence: avinoam@bgu.ac.il
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Abstract

A fault termination zone from Middle Eocene chalks near Beer Sheva, Israel, is analysed via a fracture mechanical technique. The zone consists of the end of the primary fault, three secondary faults and joints associated with these structures. We demonstrate that the shape of the first secondary fault can be obtained from theoretical fracture mechanical calculations. This shape also enables us to obtain the set of conditions which induced the observed structures. The technique reveals the relative importance of the different variables that appear in the theory. The most significant parameters in determining the shape of the first secondary fault are the vertical dimension of the primary fault, the ratio of the two horizontal differential stresses and the initiation angle of the secondary fault. Results indicate that the fault termination zone was created under an almost pure shear load. The true lateral displacement of the primary fault is unknown; hence, exact calculation of the stresses leading to the secondary fault is hardly possible. However, an estimation, based on a partial conversion of this displacement to an uplift, yields σ1 and σ3 values at initiation of between 3.8 and 7.6 MPa and 3.65 and 7.3 MPa, respectively.

Keywords

faultfracturetermination zone
Type
Original Articles
Information
Geological Magazine , Volume 149 , Issue 1 , January 2012 , pp. 56 - 66
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2011

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