Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Society of Exploration Geophysicists
Résumé : Read More: http://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/geo2015-0411.1
International audience
Understanding the role of the unsaturated zone in aquifer recharge and contaminant attenuation processes is a major challenge for the protection and management of karstic water resources. We present the potential of the magnetic resonance soundings (MRS) geophysical method for characterizing the vadose zone of karst aquifers composed of epikarst and infiltration layers. To investigate the hydraulic functioning of the Durzon karst system located on the Larzac plateau (southern France), we used the MRS method at 16 sites. The MRS results have been compared with available geologic information and to core water content measurements. The remarkable spatial variability of the MRS response observed in the study area makes it possible to determine ranges of water storage properties in relation to the lithology of the investigated carbonate formations (dolomite, marly, and siliceous limestone). All soundings found either constant or increasing MRS water content with depth, which demonstrates that the infiltration zone might be the major water storage entity for permanent water storage, with important consequences for recharge quality and quantity. These results show the feasibility and potential of the MRS method for the characterization of the karst unsaturated zone and for understanding the vertical distribution of water content, which impacts the overall functioning of karst systems.Read More: http://library.seg.org/doi/10.1190/geo2015-0411.1
ISSN: 0016-8033

hal-01412654
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01412654
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01412654/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01412654/file/mazilli2016.pdf
DOI : 10.1190/GEO2015-0411.1

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : We present comparative field studies in folded areas (Southern France. Moroccan Western Atlas and Abruzzo, Italy) giving new insights into fracture distribution within folded rocks of the shallow brittle crust. We show that the curvature in folds formed in brittle mechanical units is usually accommodated by multiple "dip-domain boundaries" (appearing as curvature discontinuities at fold scale) corresponding to relatively narrow and dense fracture zones, striking parallel or slightly oblique to the fold axis. They separate "dip-domains" where curvature is absent or moderate. It is shown that the dip-domain boundaries (which are obvious in the case of kink folds or box-fold anticlines) are currently present as multiple subtle hinges even when the curvature appears continuous at first sight. The nature of dip-domain boundaries is studied, they often cut through the whole thickness of the mechanical units Their internal structure varies, and a non-exhaustive typology is proposed For each type, an interpretative kinematic scenario shows how the dip-domain boundaries could initiate and develop. We suggest two kinds of origins (1) they could correspond to the reactivation of inherited, along-strike fracture zones (opening-mode fracture concentrations such as big joints, fracture corridors. Inherited faults, etc), (2) they could be created as mechanical instabilities during the fold formation (syn-folding origin), in particular through small reverse faults. In both cases, early zones of weakness localize the dip-domain boundaries, and control the Increase in curvature in association with increasing fracture density within the boundary. Because they represent well-defined vertically and axially persistent sub-seismic fracture zones generally limited to the thickness of the folded unit, dip-domain boundaries could enhance the axial permeability of folded and fractured reservoirs.
ISSN: 0191-8141

hal-00512651
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00512651
DOI : 10.1016/j.jsg.2010.03.002

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Several studies, both theoretical and experimental, show that sedimentary rocks have fractal pore-grain interface. The real rocks are 3-d structures with highly tortuous and often fractal pore spaces. Before attempting simulation of this daunting geometry, we present here, as a preliminary study, a simpler 2-d version. In this paper, a computer simulated 2-d sedimentary rock structure is generated by the relaxed bidisperse ballistic deposition model. Grains of two different sizes are dropped ballistically on a linear substrate. By changing the fraction of the two types of particles, the porosity of the rock structure can be tuned. The structure undergoes compaction through the relaxation of possible unstable overhangs. The micro structure of the pore space is investigated. The pore mass and the rock-pore interface show a fractal behaviour with the same fractal dimension indicating that the pore volume is a fractal. Our simulation results indicate that the process of compaction of grains during the deposition process seems to erase the dependency of the fractal dimension on the grain size distribution. The two point density correlation is measured for the pore space. It shows anisotropy which is an outcome of the growth rule. X-ray tomography of two-dimensional sections of real sedimentary rocks obtained from Mallorca Island is subjected to the same study and the results compared with those obtained from simulation. The simulation results agree qualitatively with the real rock sample. We also study diffusion on the pore space. Diffusion is found to be anomalous as is expected in fractal spaces. It also bears the signature of anisotropy of the structure. Diffusion studies on the real rock sample could not yield conclusive results as the system size is not large enough.
ISSN: 0926-9851

hal-00761818
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00761818
DOI : 10.1016/j.jappgeo.2012.09.002

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
Seismic anisotropy of the south Iberian upper mantle is investigated using shear-wave splitting of SKS phases. We analyzed teleseismic events recorded by sixteen permanent broadband stations installed on the southern Iberian Peninsula and in northern Africa, and we determined fast polarization directions phi, and delay times delta t between fast and slow components. The area of investigation extends across two important geological structures in the Variscan Iberian Peninsula: the Variscan Iberian Massif in its center, and the Gibraltar arc in the Southeast, that represents the most westerly Alpine belt in the western Mediterranean. Shear-wave splitting measurements from stations in the Betic domain show homogeneous ENE-WSW fast directions nearly parallel to the trend of the mountain belt, and smooth spatial variations. Stations in the North, toward the southern part of the Variscan Iberian Massif show homogeneous fast directions however trending NS to NE-SW, different from those recorded in the Betic. These observations may reflect a post-Hercynian (Variscan) deformation of the Ossa-Morena zone, related to the main stages in the tectonic evolution of this part, namely transpressional stage, transtensional stage and shortening episode, or a deformation related to the posterior Alpine orogeny. Along the Gibraltar arc, we observe a smoothly varying phi trend changing from ENE-WSW in the Eastern Betics to NS in the area of Gibraltar and Ceuta, following more or less the general trend of the mountain belt around the Alboran Sea, and the coastline. Since a similar rotation is also visible in results from Pn anisotropy, this suggests that the anisotropy is vertically coherent starting from just below the Moho. Comparing the anisotropy pattern expected from various geodynamic models with the observed SKS splitting suggests that the anisotropy is best explained by a model of slab rollback, rather than by delamination models.
ISSN: 0012-821X

hal-00412175
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412175
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412175/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00412175/file/Buontempo_SKS_gibraltar_EPSL2008_hal.pdf
DOI : 10.1016/j.epsl.2008.06.024

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Annual report
We present here the results of CRS reprocessing of a 3D real dataset acquired in 2001 on the Tournemire site in France, which is an experimental site for the Institut de Radioprotection et de Sûreté Nucléaire (IRSN) to test geophysical imaging process in the context of geological nuclear waste storage. The main objective was to evaluate the ability of the methodology to recognize, in the carbonate cover of the experimental site clay layer, the prolongation of weak vertical-displacement faults seen in a tunnel within that clay layer. Previous seismic processing using the conventional common midpoint (CMP) approach did not provide satisfactory results in this cover, although the fault has beenrecognized in the carbonates underlying the clay layer. An original strategy was elaborated to define the best-possible parameters of the 3D Common-Reflection-Surface (CRS) stack. The procedure in- cluded refining the velocity search along a velocity guide, using a first CRS stack as the base of a subsequent curvature-parameter search, or a parameter smoothing before stacking. An optimal ap- proach was elaborated on a subset of the data, and furthermore applied to the whole dataset. The resulting image shows improved event continuity in the carbonate cover, which allowed for horizon picking after depth migration, as well as the estimation of post-stack geometrical attributes, such as coherency. The processing indicates a zone of degraded quality of reflection events lying in the N-S direction, above the known fault zone within the underlying formations. Such feature corresponds to an alteration zone at the earth surface. Further investigation at a higher resolution scale is planned to confirm whether this zone could be a spot of possible leakage
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00857376

hal-00857376
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00857376

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : Geophysical Journal International, v. 173, n. 2, p. 473-482, 2008. http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.03718.x
International audience
The western Provence in southern France is an intraplate low deforming region, cut by large sinistral strike-slip faults as the Nîmes Fault. The deformation rate of this fault was estimated at 0.1 mm yr−1 from geological and morphological observations. Nevertheless, some large earthquakes occurred in this area in historical times inducing well-documented partial destructions on the roman monument 'Pont-du-Gard'. In order to investigate if this area is seismically active, we installed a temporary seismological network of 14 stations between the cities of Nîmes and Avignon for a 1-yr period (2002 July–2003 June). We recorded and located a total amount of 80 earthquakes of magnitude Ml smaller than 2.8, and of 153 quarry blasts. The seismic event locations are interpreted in terms of regional tectonics as well as of geometry at depth of the Nîmes Fault and of possible seismic activity of the Roquemaure Fault. At the beginning of 2002 September, a catastrophic storm occurred in the same area with cumulated precipitations at 600 mm in 28 hr, causing casualties and major inundations and damages. We identified a clear and sudden increase of the seismic activity as an immediate consequence of this exceptional meteorological phenomenon. We interpret this rainfall triggering of earthquakes as the response of the crust to an abrupt vertical loading. The geological context of this zone is characterized by the presence of sedimentary basins and of an important karstic network in a calcareous environment allowing the retention of a third of the total rainwater volume during few weeks after the catastrophic storm. Month by month inversion of the seismic wave velocities for only the first 1-km thick layer of the crust allows investigating the influence of the stored water. A clear decrease of both P- and S-velocities, and an increase of the Vp/Vs ratio are evidenced. The variations obtained are at 2, 6 and 4.5 per cent for P-, S-velocities and Vp/Vs ratio, respectively. These variations are discussed in confront of previous studies and can be directly related to the known water volume.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-00407884
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00407884
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00407884v2/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00407884/file/rigoGJI2008.pdf
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2008.03718.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
The interpretation of coseismic surface deformation measurements through inversion techniques is of major importance to understand the mechanical behaviour of a seismic fault. Dense geodetic data sets in the vicinity of the ruptured fault provide unique constraints on detailed fault geometry and slip distribution at depth, making them complementary to seismological data. Bam earthquake (Mw 6.6, 2003 December 26) induced surface deformation has been precisely mapped by Envisat ASAR interferometry and by subpixel correlation techniques applied to Spot-5 and ASAR amplitude images. These oblique and horizontal estimations of deformation have been completed with one levelling profile along the main road crossing the rupture from west to east. We process these data (separately and jointly) in a two-step inversion technique, within the elastic half-space theory framework. Our objective is to determine the dislocation model at depth that satisfies simultaneously all the geodetic constraints. Also, we estimate the relative contribution of each geodetic data set to this inversion process.We first use a stochastic direct approach called neighbourhood algorithm in order to estimate the average characteristics of the rupture, and their relative uncertainty. Constraining in this way the geometry of the ruptured fault, we then linearize the inverse problem and compute the slip distribution on the fault using a standard weighted least-square technique, assuming the solution is smooth to some degree. At each step, we discuss the optimal models, their stability as well as the relative influence of each data set on the derived models parameters. Our preferred model reveals a shallow dislocation on a quasi-vertical fault, slightly dipping towards east. The slip vector has a strike-slip component as high as 2 m, while the dip-slip component seems negligible.However, the estimation of the resolution matrices emphasizes the fact that the details of deep fault slip distribution remain out of the scope of this ill-conditioned inverse problem. Yet, our preferred model suggests a main dislocation limited at depth between 1 and 6 km. By contrast, the aftershocks observed in the months following the earthquake are located just beneath the estimated main shock.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-00314173
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00314173
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00314173/document
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00314173/file/GJI-2007-169-849-briole.pdf
DOI : 10.1111/j.1365-246X.2007.03358.x

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Oxford University Press (OUP)
Résumé : International audience
Ash flow tuffs, or ignimbrites have been recently proposed to be a good material for palaeointensity determination. In this paper, we present a multidisciplinary study, combining geochronology, petrology, rock magnetism and palaeomagnetism, carried out on Oligocene to Early Miocene ignimbrites and related flows from the southern part of the Sierra Madre Occidental. Two new 40Ar/39Ar ages were determined for ignimbrites; 20.4 ± 0.2 Ma (the youngest age obtained so far in this area) and 29.2 ± 0.5 Ma. Density measurements, as a proxy for welding, proved to be extremely useful to estimate the emplacement temperature and the origin of the magnetizations carried by the ignimbrites. After alternating field and thermal demagnetizations, the mean palaeomagnetic pole (Lat = 66.8°N; Long = 180.5°E; Kappa = 142; A95 = 6.3°), calculated for the period 28-31 Ma, is in close agreement with our only Miocene determination. Comparison with the North America Synthetic Apparent Polar Path indicates a net counter-clockwise vertical axis rotation of about 10 ± 4° compared to stable North America, which occurred likely during the last extensional episode in the Late Miocene (ca. 12-9 Ma). Palaeointensity estimates, obtained with the Thellier-Coe method, are mainly questionable and should not be used for global interpretation. Therefore, these ignimbrites are not a viable material for reliable palaeointensity determinations.
ISSN: 0956-540X

hal-00854457
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00854457
DOI : 10.1093/gji/ggt079