High-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time
Abstract Heterogeneous fault architecture affects crustal seismotectonics and fluid migration. When studying it, we commonly rely on static conceptual models that generally overlook the absolute time dimension of fault (re)activation. Heterogenous faults, however, represent the end-result of protrac...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86104-w |
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| author | Leonardo Del Sole Giulio Viola Luca Aldega Vincenzo Moretto Manuel Curzi Ruikai Xie Luigi Cantelli Gianluca Vignaroli |
| author_facet | Leonardo Del Sole Giulio Viola Luca Aldega Vincenzo Moretto Manuel Curzi Ruikai Xie Luigi Cantelli Gianluca Vignaroli |
| author_sort | Leonardo Del Sole |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Heterogeneous fault architecture affects crustal seismotectonics and fluid migration. When studying it, we commonly rely on static conceptual models that generally overlook the absolute time dimension of fault (re)activation. Heterogenous faults, however, represent the end-result of protracted, cumulative and intricate deformation histories. This may lead to inaccurate reconstructions of tectonic histories and flowed models of fault hydro-mechanical behavior. We adopt here a multitechnique approach building upon the examination of now juxtaposed but not coeval brittle structural facies (BSF), which offer multiscalar insights in the spatio-temporal-thermal fault evolution. Our approach is applied to the Carboneras Fault, unveiling a ~ 25 Myr-long polyphase structural and thermal evolution. This led to a complex fault architecture, where BSFs exhibit a stark heterogeneity in fault rock and permeability, ultimately generating very different space- and time-dependent fault hydro-mechanical behaviors. Therefore, fault architectures shall be seen as dynamic features from which to extrapolate time-integrated comprehensive fault models accounting for the entire deformed rock volume and fault life span. We demonstrate that high-resolution studies of fault architectures are required to elucidate modes of fault growth and evolution, decipher long-lived, polyphase tectonic and thermal histories, and understand the influence of heterogenous fault architecture on hydraulic compartmentalization and earthquake rupture dynamics. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-713069d7b99f4a87a4f5efe94fe6bd91 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj-art-713069d7b99f4a87a4f5efe94fe6bd912025-01-19T12:20:21ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-01-0115111210.1038/s41598-025-86104-wHigh-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and timeLeonardo Del Sole0Giulio Viola1Luca Aldega2Vincenzo Moretto3Manuel Curzi4Ruikai Xie5Luigi Cantelli6Gianluca Vignaroli7Dipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Università di BolognaDipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Università di BolognaDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di RomaDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di RomaDipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Sapienza Università di RomaGeological Survey of NorwayDipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Università di BolognaDipartimento di Scienze Biologiche, Geologiche ed Ambientali, Università di BolognaAbstract Heterogeneous fault architecture affects crustal seismotectonics and fluid migration. When studying it, we commonly rely on static conceptual models that generally overlook the absolute time dimension of fault (re)activation. Heterogenous faults, however, represent the end-result of protracted, cumulative and intricate deformation histories. This may lead to inaccurate reconstructions of tectonic histories and flowed models of fault hydro-mechanical behavior. We adopt here a multitechnique approach building upon the examination of now juxtaposed but not coeval brittle structural facies (BSF), which offer multiscalar insights in the spatio-temporal-thermal fault evolution. Our approach is applied to the Carboneras Fault, unveiling a ~ 25 Myr-long polyphase structural and thermal evolution. This led to a complex fault architecture, where BSFs exhibit a stark heterogeneity in fault rock and permeability, ultimately generating very different space- and time-dependent fault hydro-mechanical behaviors. Therefore, fault architectures shall be seen as dynamic features from which to extrapolate time-integrated comprehensive fault models accounting for the entire deformed rock volume and fault life span. We demonstrate that high-resolution studies of fault architectures are required to elucidate modes of fault growth and evolution, decipher long-lived, polyphase tectonic and thermal histories, and understand the influence of heterogenous fault architecture on hydraulic compartmentalization and earthquake rupture dynamics.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86104-w |
| spellingShingle | Leonardo Del Sole Giulio Viola Luca Aldega Vincenzo Moretto Manuel Curzi Ruikai Xie Luigi Cantelli Gianluca Vignaroli High-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time Scientific Reports |
| title | High-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time |
| title_full | High-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time |
| title_fullStr | High-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time |
| title_full_unstemmed | High-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time |
| title_short | High-resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time |
| title_sort | high resolution investigations of fault architecture in space and time |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-86104-w |
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