Tectonic interpretation of the connectivity of a multiscale fracture system in limestone
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Lei, Q
Wang, X
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This paper studies the statistics and tectonism of a multiscale natural fracture system in limestone. The fracture network exhibits a self-similar characteristic with a correlation between its power law length exponent a and fractal dimension D, i.e., a ≈ D + 1. Contradicting the scale-invariant connectivity of idealized self-similar systems, the percolation state of trace patterns mapped at different scales and localities of the study area varies significantly, from well to poorly connected. A tectonic interpretation based on a polyphase fracture network evolution history is proposed to explain this discrepancy. We present data to suggest that the driving force for fracture formation may be dissipated at the end of a tectonic event when the system becomes connected. However, the “effective” connectivity can successively be reduced by cementation of early fractures and reestablished by subsequent cracking, rendering a variable “apparent” connectivity that can be significantly above the percolation threshold.
Date Issued
2016-02-28
Date Acceptance
2016-02-08
Citation
Geophysical Research Letters, 2016, 43 (4), pp.1551-1558
ISSN
0094-8276
Publisher
Wiley
Start Page
1551
End Page
1558
Journal / Book Title
Geophysical Research Letters
Volume
43
Issue
4
Copyright Statement
©2016. American Geophysical Union.
All Rights Reserved.
All Rights Reserved.
Subjects
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
MD Multidisciplinary
Publication Status
Published