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The AAPG/Datapages Combined Publications Database
AAPG Bulletin
Abstract
AAPG Bulletin, V.
2010. The American Association of Petroleum Geologists. All rights reserved.
DOI:10.1306/01051009164
Analog modeling of divergent and convergent transfer
zones
in listric normal
fault
systems
zones
in listric normal
fault
systems
Shamik Bose,1 Shankar Mitra2
1ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Suite 710, Norman, Oklahoma 73019; [email protected]
2ConocoPhillips School of Geology and Geophysics, University of Oklahoma, 100 East Boyd Street, Suite 710, Norman, Oklahoma 73019; [email protected]
ABSTRACT
Transfer
zones
are common features in passive margins such as the Gulf of Mexico, where deformation between adjacent listric normal faults is accommodated by the formation of complex secondary
fault
systems. Two common types of transfer
zones
are (1) convergent, with the main faults dipping toward each other, and (2) divergent, with the main faults dipping away from each other. Analog clay models are developed for both convergent and divergent transfer
zones
with the faults approaching each other, offset by 90, and overlapping each other. During extension, the structures initiate as symmetric grabens and later transform into asymmetric half grabens. The main
fault
and associated synthetic faults form a narrow zone of deformation, whereas the antithetic faults develop into a broader zone constituting evenly spaced discrete
fault
segments. Orientations, lengths, densities, and sizes of connected
fault
clusters vary with the type of transfer zone, structural position relative to the
fault
offsets, and total extension. The experiments show that the antithetic faults in convergent transfer
zones
and synthetic faults in divergent transfer
zones
tend to be more consistent in orientation and connect easily. Synthetic faults in convergent transfer
zones
and antithetic faults in divergent transfer
zones
change orientation along strike toward the transfer zone.
Fault
connectivity in approaching transfer
zones
is generally higher than in normal offset or overlapping configurations. The analog models provide important insights on the geometry of
fault
patterns and possible fluid-migration pathways within transfer
zones
.
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