No description available.

The depositional styles of sediment gravity currents depend, in part, on the relationship of flow magnitude to the scale of topographically controlled containment and range from unconfined lobes to fully contained deposits. Determining the degree of containment is important for understanding depositional processes, land to ocean sediment transfer and subsurface reservoir characterization/prediction. Depositional models of the fully contained (commonly referred to as 'ponded') end member have been developed (e.g. fill-and-spill model). However, fully contained deposits represent only a portion of deepwater deposits and little work has been done identifying and examining the degree of containment of the more complex, partially contained deposits in outcrop. Here, I document the sedimentological facies and stratigraphic architecture of the Zorrillo Unit, a partially contained system exposed at Cerro Solitario within the Upper Cretaceous Tres Pasos Formation of the Magallanes Basin. The evolution of partial containment at this outcrop is expressed as: 1) bypass in the proximal zone and flow stripping in the distal zone, 2) backstepping and blanketing of the outcrop, followed by 3) renewed bypass. The partially contained system at Cerro Solitario deviates from the widely used fill-and-spill model due to subtle relief. This record of infilling provides insight into the overall evolution of the depositional system. Within the Magallanes Basin, the partially contained and linked depocenters along the Chingue Clinoform represent the dying breaths of the Cerro Toro axial conglomerate channel system as the canyon-fed point source collapsed and choked off the sediment routing system out to the distal basin. / Master of Science / Subaqueous sediment gravity flows are responsible for moving large quantities of sediment from off the continent to the oceanic abyssal plain and the resulting deposits serve as some of the largest hydrocarbon reservoirs in the world. These deposits vary in a number of ways depending on numerous variables, including containment. Containment is related to how the sediment gravity flows interact with the seafloor topography. Models have been created describing at one end of the spectrum sediment gravity flows that have been fully contained (i.e., the fill-and-spill model) where the flows are trapped and not able to escape the confining topography. The other end of the spectrum is where flows do not experience any containment (unconfined lobes). There is a lack of work done addressing the middle ground of partial containment of sediment gravity flows and their resulting deposits. The Zorrillo Unit crops out at Cerro Solitario within the Late Cretaceous Magallanes Basin in southern Chile and offers a perfect location to study partially contained deposits. The architecture (the structure of the rocks) and facies (the character of the rocks) were identified. By characterizing and understanding the processes that created the partially contained outcrop, this outcrop can now be used as an analog for other similar depositional systems. Oil and gas companies use these outcrop analogs to aid in reservoir prediction for comparable deposition systems in the subsurface. Regionally, the context of the Zorrillo Unit within the Magallanes Basin is ambiguous and by characterizing it, details are added to this part of the basin’s history.

Mid-Tertiary metamorphic core complexes in the Basin and Range province of the western North American Cordillera are characterized by large-magnitude extensional deformation. Numerous models have been proposed for the kinematic evolution of these metamorphic core complexes. Such models generally invoke footwall isotatic rebound due to tectonic denudation, and the presence of a weak middle crust capable of flow at mid-crustal levels. In popular models of Cordilleran-style metamorphic core-complex development, initial extension occurs along a breakaway fault, which subsequently is deformed into a synform and abandoned in response to isostatic rebound, with new faults breaking forward in the dominant transport direction. In southeast Arizona, the Catalina and Pinaleño Mountains core complexes have been pointed to as type examples of this model. In this study, the “traditional” core-complex model is tested through analysis of field relations and geochronological age constraints, and by interpretation of seismic reflection profiles along a transect incorporating these core complexes. Elements of these linked core-complex systems, from southwest to northeast, include the Tucson Basin, the Santa Catalina-Rincon Mountains, the San Pedro trough, the Galiuro Mountains, the Sulphur Springs Valley, the Pinaleño Mountains, and the Safford Basin. A new digital compilation of geological data, across highly extended terranes, in conjunction with reprocessing and interpretation of a suite of industry 2-D seismic reflection profiles spanning nearly sub-parallel to regional extension, illuminate subsurface structural features related to Cenozoic crustal extension and provide new constraints on evolution of core complexes in southeast Arizona. The main objective is to develop a new kinematic model for mid-Tertiary extension and core complex evolution in southeast Arizona that incorporates new geological and geophysical observations. Geological and seismological data indicate that viable alternative models explain observations at least as well as previous core-complex models. In contrast to the “traditional” model often employed for these structures, our models suggest that the southwest- and northeast-dipping normal-fault systems on the flanks of the Galiuro Mountains extend to mid-crustal depths beneath the San Pedro trough and Sulphur-Springs Valley, respectively. In our interpretations and models, these oppositely vergent fault systems are not the breakaway faults for the Catalina and Pinaleño detachment systems.

A new apatite (U-Th)/He (AHe) dataset from subvertical transects collected in the Teton and Gallatin Ranges in the Teton-Yellowstone region provides insight for the slip history and length of the Teton fault. Along the northernmost segment of the Teton fault, inverse thermal history modeling of AHe data from Eagles Rest Peak yield a ~9 Ma age for onset of fault slip. This age supports previous interpretations that Mount Moran may be the true center of the Teton fault. This refined interpretation coupled with lengthdisplacement fault scaling analysis and previous estimates of total fault displacement (~6 km) indicates that the Teton fault may extend 50-90 km north of Mount Moran. However, this new data precludes the possibility that the Teton and East Gallatin faults represent the same structure. Yet, because these systems share a similar structure trend and initial slip ages (13 Ma and 16 Ma, respectively), they may still be related at a larger scale. To the south, the Teewinot transect yields the oldest onset age of ~32 Ma, however a >500 m vertical data gap in this transect leads us to cautiously interpret the results of this model, particularly as this age conflicts with four other transects along-strike.

Cette thèse vise à étudier les propriétés thermo-poro-mécaniques de roches de faille, à partir de l'analyse structurale et microstructurale d'une faille aujourd'hui à l'affleurement et à partir d'expériences menées en laboratoire, en vue de déterminer les processus qui contrôlent l'efficacité de deux mécanismes responsables de d'affaiblissement cosismiques : la pressurisation thermique et le mécanisme d'affaiblissement par drainage. L'étude de terrain a été conduite sur deux affleurements appartenant à une faille décrochante potentiellement active appartenant au système de failles du Chugoku occidental (Japon) : la faille d'Usukidani. Le travail expérimental a quant à lui été mené dans le laboratoire de déformation des roches de l'Université de Kyoto. Les résultats majeurs de ce travail sont exposés ci-dessous. <br /> Les propriétés hydrologiques et poro-élastiques de la gouge et de la brèche de la faille d'Usukidani ont été determinées à partir d'échantillons prélevés sur le terrain. Ces données hydrauliques ont ensuite été utilisées dans un modèle numérique afin d'évaluer l'importance du phénomène de pressurisation thermique dans le cas d'un glissement cosismique le long de la zone de glissement principale et le long de zones de glissement secondaires. Les résultats de cette modélisation suggèrent que le mécanisme de pressurisation thermique n'est efficace que si la rupture reste localisée le long des zones de glissement contenant de la gouge, avec comme facteur de contrôle l'épaisseur de cette zone de glissement. <br /> Afin d'identifier les processus dynamiques particulaires responsables de l'affaiblissement cosismique dans la zone de glissement, plusieurs essais de friction ont été menés sur une machine à cisaillement annulaire. Ces expériences ont été conduites à des vitesses cosismiques (équivalentes à 0,09, 0,9 et 1,3 m/s) en conditions humides ou conditions sèches. Les données obtenues montrent que quelles que soient les conditions d'humidité initiales, les failles simulées montrent toutes un affaiblissement lors du déplacement. Un examen détaillé des microstructures des gouges cisaillées obtenues une fois l'équilibre frictionnel atteint permet de définir deux types de microstructures impliquant deux régimes de déformation : un régime de déformation par roulement avec la formation d'agrégats argileux, et un régime de déformation par glissement avec la formation d'une zone de cisaillement complexe localisée à l'interface gouge-éponte. L'affaiblissement observé lors des expériences semble être lié à une diminution de la proportion de grains roulants par rapport à celle de grains glissants, et semble être favorisé par le développement des agrégats argileux, lesquels sont contrôlés par la teneur en eau.<br /> A partir d'un modèle numérique (P2 FEM) et des données de contrainte cisaillante obtenues lors des essais de friction, il a été possible de calculer l'évolution de la température de la gouge en fonction du déplacement. Les résultats suggèrent que la distance dc pourrait représenter la distance nécessaire à une faille pour produire et diffuser assez de chaleur afin de casser les ponts d'eau capillaire (forces d'adhésion) et ainsi permettre à l'eau contenue dans la gouge d'être libérée. Ce mécanisme est appelé mécanisme d'affaiblissement par drainage.

In this thesis it is aimed to compile the Turkish strong-motion database for its efficient use in earthquake engineering and strong-motion seismology related studies. Within this context, the Turkish strong-motion database is homogenized in terms of basic earthquake source parameters (e.g. magnitude, style-of-faulting) as well as site classes and different source-to-site distance metrics. As part of this objective, empirical relationships for different magnitude scales are presented for further harmonization of the database. Data processing of the selected raw (unprocessed) strong-motion accelerograms that do not suffer from non-standard problems are realized. A comparative study is also conducted between the peak ground-motion values of Turkish strong-motion database with the estimations computed from different ground-motion prediction models. This way the regional differences of Turkish database are evaluated by making use of global prediction models. It is believed that the main products of this thesis will be of great use for reliable national seismic risk and hazard studies.

This dissertation analyzes the spatial distribution and kinematics of the Late Cenozoic Basin and Range (BR) and cross normal fault (CF) systems and their related graben basins around the Snake River Plain (SRP), and investigates the spatio-temporal patterns of lavas that were erupted by the migrating Yellowstone hotspot along the SRP, applying a diverse set of GIS-based spatial statistical techniques. The spatial distribution patterns of the normal fault systems, revealed by the Ripley's K-function, display clustered patterns that correlate with a high linear density, maximum azimuthal variation, and high box-counting fractal dimensions of the fault traces. The extension direction for normal faulting is determined along the major axis of the fractal dimension anisotropy ellipse measured by the modified Cantor dust method and the minor axis of the autocorrelation anisotropy ellipse measured by Ordinary Kriging, and across the linear directional mean (LDM) of the fault traces. Trajectories of the LDMs for the cross faults around each caldera define asymmetric sub-parabolic patterns similar to the reported parabolic distribution of the epicenters, and indicate sub-elliptical extension about each caldera that may mark the shape of hotspot’s thermal doming that formed each generation of cross faults. The decrease in the spatial density of the CFs as a function of distance from the axis of the track of the hotspot (SRP) also suggests the role of the hotspot for the formation of the cross faults. The parallelism of the trend of the exposures of the graben filling Sixmile Creek Formation with the LDM of their bounding cross faults indicates that the grabens were filled during or after the CF event. The global and local Moran’s I analyses of Neogene lava in each caldera along the SRP reveal a higher spatial autocorrelation and clustering of rhyolitic lava than the coeval basaltic lava in the same caldera. The alignment of the major axis of the standard deviational ellipses of lavas with the trend of the eastern SRP, and the successive spatial overlap of older lavas by progressively younger mafic lava, indicate the migration of the centers of eruption as the hotspot moved to the northeast.

Three-fifths of the Earth’s crust has been built at oceanic spreading centres in the last 160 million years. To explore crustal extension processes and the architecture of these constructive plate boundaries I have studied the oceanic rift in Iceland. Here the Mid Atlantic Ridge is anomalously elevated above sea level and thus easier to instrument. I have deployed and operated a dense network of seismometers in the remote volcanic highlands in central Iceland, and used the passive seismic data collected from this network to explore crustal structure and volcanic processes in the extensional rift zones. My analysis of persistent seismicity located in an intervening region between individual spreading segments, uniquely records the segmentation of plate spreading on the scale of individual volcanic systems. Precise location and characterisation of micro-earthquakes identifies a series of faults subparallel to the rift fabric, and source mechanisms define left-lateral strike-slip motion on these faults. This extremely high quality microseismic data reveals transform motion being accommodated by bookshelf faulting in a concentrated region between two such volcanic systems, providing evidence for the localisation of spreading in the discrete volcanic systems. While transform motion between spreading centres appears to be accommodated on a continuous basis, the extension of the brittle upper crust within the spreading centres occurs episodically during rifting events. Our local seismic network fortuitously recorded such a rifting episode in August 2014, during which the opening of a 5 metre wide dyke triggered a huge increase in seismicity across large areas of the rift zone. Stress-seismicity-rate modelling of this triggered seismicity, along with geodetic constraints on the deformation, provided a remarkable opportunity with which it was possible to prove the existence of stress-shadowing, a challenge which has eluded earthquake seismologists for decades. Using the excellent coverage of our extended seismic network I have also generated a new high resolution image of the regional crustal seismic structure using surface waves extracted from ambient seismic noise. The structure reveals low seismic velocities which are closely correlated with the volcanic rift zones, and faster wavespeeds in the older and non-volcanically active Tertiary crust. The strongest anomalies are seen in the north-west of the Vatnajökull icecap, at the location of thickest crust and inferred centre of the underlying mantle plume. Inversion for shear wave velocity structure shows high velocity-gradients in the top 10 km, defining a thickened extrusive upper crust in Iceland compared to standard oceanic crust, where it is normally 2–3 km thick. Below this, the shear wave velocity structure reveals a distinct low-velocity zone in the mid crust between 14–20 km depth, which is widespread across Iceland and shallows into the active volcanic rifts. This extensive feature suggests high mid-crustal temperatures and a high temperature-gradient between the extrusives of the upper crust and the intrusive mid-to-lower crust in Iceland.

Ma thèse se focalise sur l'étude des mécanismes qui ont conduit au soulèvement et à la construction du relief dans les Andes du Nord du Pérou. Dans cette région, la Cordillère Blanche forme les plus hauts sommets péruviens (> 6000 m) et constitue une anomalie à l'échelle des Andes. La morphologie de cette région des Andes est marquée par un pluton de forme atypique, allongé et à l'affleurement sur plus de 150 km. Ce pluton est bordé par une faille normale de plus de 200 km de long. La présence de cette faille normale majeure en contexte de subduction plane reste surprenante car ces zones de subduction planes semblent induire une augmentation du raccourcissement dans la plaque chevauchante. Mon travail a eu pour objectifs de caractériser les variations de l'état de contraintes régional, l'âge du soulèvement et de discuter les processus géodynamiques qui ont contribué à la formation du relief. Dans ce cadre, j'ai utilisé une approche pluridisciplinaire impliquant sur plusieurs échelles spatio-temporelles et comprenant à la fois de nouvelles données de terrain, leur analyse et leur modélisation.Mes données de microtectonique indiquent qu'il est possible de générer de l'extension au dessus d'une subduction plane à l'échelle régionale. Ces données sont en contradiction avec l'augmentation du raccourcissement classiquement attendue dans la plaque chevauchante. Mes nouvelles données de thermochronologie basse température et leur modélisation montrent une augmentation de l'exhumation induite par le soulèvement de la Cordillère Occidentale à 15 Ma. En les confrontant aux modèles précédents, je propose un soulèvement régional lié à l'aplatissement de la subduction et à la topographie dynamique associée.J'ai également étudié l'impact de l'arc Miocène sur le soulèvement à une échelle plus locale. Pour cela, j'ai compilé tous les âges de refroidissement du pluton disponibles dans la littérature. En parallèle, j'ai obtenu les premières données de profondeur de mise en place du batholite de la Cordillère Blanche. Cela m'a permis de proposer une structure du batholite en sills empilés puis basculés vers l'est. De plus, la modélisation des variations spatio-temporelle des taux d'érosion à partir des données de thermochronologie basse température indique une augmentation importante des taux d'érosion dans la Cordillère Blanche à partir de 2 Ma. L'arc Miocène ne semble donc pas contribuer significativement au soulèvement malgré sa probable contribution à l'épaississement de la lithosphère. En revanche, l'érosion glaciaire récente semble contribuer fortement à l'exhumation de la Cordillère Blanche et au basculement du batholite.Dans la dernière partie de ma thèse, pour quantifier l'importance de l'érosion dans la création du relief et le soulèvement, j'ai modélisé l'évolution du paysage de la région (FastScape). Mes modélisations numériques démontrent le rôle majeur de l'érosion et du rebond flexural associé dans la création du relief et les taux de soulèvement. Pour finir, basée sur les données de la littérature et celles apportées par mon travail de thèse, je propose un nouveau modèle pour expliquer la faille normale de la Cordillère Blanche dans son contexte régional. Ce modèle implique une faille normale d'extrado et l'érosion importante du mur de la faille. / My thesis focuses on the mechanisms that controlled the uplift and construction of the relief in the northern Peruvian Andes. In this area, the Cordillera Blanca forms the highest peaks in Peru (> 6000 m), which is a topographic anomaly across the Andes. The morphology of the Cordillera Blanca is marked by an elongated pluton, which outcrops over 150 km. In addition, this pluton is bordered by the largest normal fault from South America. The presence of this major normal fault in a flat-slab context remains surprising because flat slabs usually induce an increase of the shortening in the overriding plate. The aim of my work is to characterize the variations of the regional stress field, the age of the uplift and discuss the geodynamic processes that contributed to relief building. To address these issues, I used a multidisciplinary approach involving new field data, their analysis and modeling.My microtectonic dataset reveals regional extension above the Peruvian flat-slab. This data contradicts the expected increase of shortening in the overriding plate. Modeling my new thermochronologic data shows an increase in the exhumation rates induced by the uplift of the Cordillera Occidental since 15 Ma. I propose that the regional uplift relates to the flattening of the subduction and associated dynamic topography.To address the impact of the Miocene arc on the uplift at a more local scale, I compiled the cooling ages of the pluton available in the literature. In parallel, I obtained the first amphibole thermo-barometry data that constrains emplacement depth of the Cordillera Blanca batholith. Following these data, I propose that the batholith is structured in eastward-tilted sills. In addition, modeling of the space and time variations of erosion rates based on the inversion of thermochronologic data indicates that erosion rates significantly increased in the Cordillera Blanca since 2 Ma. The Miocene arc seems to insignificantly contribute to the local uplift despite its contribution to the thickening of the lithosphere. Thus, I suggest that the recent glacial erosion contributes to the exhumation of the Cordillera Blanca and subsequent tilting of the batholith.Then, I modeled the landscape evolution for the Cordillera Blanca region to quantify the contribution of erosion in the relief building and the uplift. My numerical models (FastScape) evidence the importance of erosion and associated flexural rebound in fostering relief building and the uplift rates.Finally, based on all available data, I propose a new regional model to explain the Cordillera Blanca normal fault. This model implies an extrado normal fault and erosion of the footwall.

Spring water inflow is distinct at Pah Tempe Hot Springs (also known as Dixie Hot Springs) situated within the damage zone of the Hurricane Fault in Timpoweap Canyon in Hurricane, Utah. Excising of the footwall by the Virgin River has created Timpoweap Canyon and allowed an unusual opportunity to study the spring inflow in relation to the fault damage zone. While correlation of these springs with the damage zone and visible fracture patterns on the canyon wall has been made, no subsurface faulting has been imaged to verify connection to these visible fractures and spring inflows (Nelson et al., 2009). The stream was logged and contoured to note the varying locations of spring water inflows in contrast with unsaturated Virgin River water. Seismic surveys were conducted and subsurface profiles made to locate offsets and faults. Photogrammetry was conducted and a three-dimensional model of the canyon and cliff wall was created to facilitate remote fracture mapping of this wallSubsurface features correlate to fractures, spring water inflow locations, and surface faults mapped by Biek (2002). This suggests that faulting and fracturing from the Hurricane Fault provides subsurface conduits for these thermal waters to rise. In one area in the stream, thermal inflow correlates with both subsurface offsets and major surface fractures. Numerous correlations between just spring water entry and subsurface offsets or surface fractures are also found. Fracture and fault density is atypical at Pah Tempe as these features do not diminish with distance from the main strand of the fault. This has led to the Sevier Orogeny accounting for creating the observed fracture conduits at Pah Tempe. Fractures in the canyon wall at Pah Tempe open west to east. This is indicative of the maximum horizontal compressive stress of southern Utah being north to south (Zoback and Zoback, 2015). Therefore the spring inflow at Pah Tempe is likely a result of the damage from the Hurricane Fault creating conduits for spring water to rise, rather than the Sevier Orogeny.