| Title | Seismic formation fluid pressure observations reveal high anisotropy of oceanic crust |
| |
| Author | Sun, T ; Davis,
E; Heesemann, M |
| Source | Geophysical Research Letters vol. 48, 2021 p. 1-12, https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL095347 |
| Image |  |
| Year | 2021 |
| Alt Series | Natural Resources Canada, Contribution Series 20210337 |
| Publisher | Wiley |
| Document | serial |
| Lang. | English |
| Media | paper; digital; on-line |
| File format | pdf |
| Province | Western offshore region; British Columbia |
| Lat/Long WENS | -130.0000 -123.0000 49.0000 48.0000 |
| Subjects | marine geology; Science and Technology; tectonics; offshore areas; boreholes; pore pressures; r waves; earthquakes; oceanic crust; anisotropy; seismic waves; seismicity |
| Illustrations | location maps; schematic diagrams; figures; plots; seismic cross-sections |
| Program | Public Safety Geoscience Assessing Earthquake Geohazards |
| Released | 2021 10 04 |
| Abstract | Fractures and faults in igneous oceanic crust affect hydrothermal circulation and hydration of the oceanic plates. Seismic observations have provided information about lithospheric fabrics, but direct
measurements of oceanic crust's elastic properties were not made. We report determinations of compressibility of the upper igneous crust (of 3.6 Ma) of the Fractures and faults in igneous oceanic crust affect hydrothermal circulation and hydration of
the oceanic plates. Seismic observations have provided information about lithospheric fabrics, but direct measurements of oceanic crust's elastic properties were not made. We report determinations of compressibility of the upper igneous crust (of 3.6
Ma) of the Juan de Fuca plate, using observed formation fluid pressure oscillations in sealed boreholes associated with passing surface waves from distant earthquakes. We determine an azimuthal variation of formation-matrix compressibility by a
factor of ?5, with the crust being most compressible in the plate-spreading direction across the structural fabric inherited from crustal creation. This is equivalent to a seismic compressional wave speed anisotropy of ?50%-60%, much greater than
that of standard seismic measurements (typically <20%). This likely reflects a previously unresolved degree of fracturing of the uppermost oceanic crust, consistent with existing observations that suggest a high degree of hydraulic permeability
anisotropy.
Juan de Fuca plate, using observed formation-fluid pressure oscillations in sealed boreholes associated with passing surface waves from distant earthquakes. We determine an azimuthal variation of formation-matrix compressibility by a
factor of ~5, with the crust being most compressible in the plate-spreading direction across the structural fabric inherited from crustal creation. This is equivalent to a seismic compressional wave speed anisotropy of ~50-60%, much greater than that
of standard seismic measurements (typically <20%). This likely reflects a previously unresolved degree of fracturing of the uppermost oceanic crust, consistent with existing observations that suggest a high degree of hydraulic permeability
anisotropy. |
| Summary | (Plain Language Summary, not published)
Hydrothermal circulation in the oceanic crust plays fundamental roles in the exchange of water, heat, and chemical constituents between the oceanic
hydrosphere and lithosphere, in the hydration of the crust and upper mantle, and in the support of the sub-seafloor microbial biosphere. Water is carried primarily in faults and fractures created at the time of seafloor spreading, and thus
constraints on their distribution and orientation are important. Such information has been provided by active-source seismic surveys, and results have shown that compressional wave speeds in the directions of spreading - thus across local faults and
fractures - are typically <20% lower than those along the structural fabric. Here we report more direct determinations of the anisotropy at the 3.6-Ma Juan de Fuca plate, using formation fluid pressure variations in sealed subseafloor boreholes
caused by seismic surface waves from distant earthquakes. These observations are sensitive to formation compressibility of the upper couple of hundreds of m of the igneous crust. The observed azimuthal variation in fluid pressurization reveals a
contrast in compressibility across vs. along the structural trend of roughly a factor of five, and a much higher degree of seismic anisotropy (>50%) than that determined from standard seismic velocity measurements. |
| GEOSCAN ID | 329001 |
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