Lyell Collection
Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Lyell Centre  |   Lyell Collection  |   Subscriptions   |   Geological Society  |   Email alerts  |   Online bookshop  |   Help

Keywords:
Author:
Advanced search>>
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow References
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow Request Permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Marchal, D.
Right arrow Articles by van den Driessche, J.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
GeoRef
Right arrow GeoRef Citation
Geological Society, London, Special Publications; 1998; v. 147; p. 51-70;
DOI: 10.1144/GSL.SP.1998.147.01.04
© 1998 Geological Society of London

Fault Array Mapping, Geometry and Evolution

Space and time propagation processes of normal faults

D. Marchal1, M. Guiraud2, T. Rives3 & J. van den Driessche3,*

1 GES, University Nancy I, BP239, 54506 Vandoeuvre-Lès-Nancy cedex, France
2 UMR-CNRS No. 5561, Centre des Sciences de la Terre, 6 bvd Gabriel, 21000 Dijon, France
3 Elf-Aquitaine (Production), CSTJF, Av. Larribau, 64018 Pau cedex, France
* Geosciences Rennes, University Rennes I, 35042 Rennes cedex, France

Studies of normal fault development in space and time by X-ray tomography imaged analogue modelling suggest that different processes occur during the propagation of these faults. The conceptual model proposed distinguishes two types of propagation: horizontal and vertical. Examination of horizontal propagation reveals two separate levels of organization. Firstly, an isolated fault segment develops, alternately over time, by radial propagation and by linkage with secondary fault segments (tip faults) arising at the end of the main fault segment (parent fault). These are arranged either in an en echelon or stepwise pattern. Secondly, isolated faults evolve by linkage. Two isolated faults connect up via a relay fault area which arises in the relay zone of the two isolated faults. The relay faults develop by radial propagation and link with the two major faults. Undulating fault traces result from propagation by tip-to-parent fault segment linkage or isolated-to-isolated fault linkage. Upward and downward vertical propagation are identified and exhibit equivalent propagation processes to those involved in horizontal propagation. Space-time sequences combining horizontal and vertical propagations over time suggest that the evolution of normal faults observed in space also reflects their evolution over time.