Development model of vertical stratification for the strike-slip fault in the Ordos Basin and its significance
摘要
Investigations of strike-slip faults within cratonic basins reveal distinct vertical stratification, contrasting markedly with large-scale strike-slip faults in tectonically active regions. The underlying causes and geological implications of this phenomenon remain inadequately understood. This study employs high-resolution 3D seismic data to analyze the vertical stratification of strike-slip faults in the Ordos Basin, focusing on their manifestations, controlling factors, developmental patterns, and geological significance. Results indicate that vertical stratification in the Ordos Basin is characterized by the superposition of faults with ENE, NW, and NNE (near N-S) orientations, as well as the stratification of individual faults. The former exhibits a conjugate fault system dominated by one fault group, while the latter features multiple superimposed flower structures with multiphase kinematic transitions. This stratification results from multiphase fault activity, reflecting the tendency of brittle fault deformation to nucleate and propagate at shallow depths under horizontal tectonic stress in stable cratonic regions. The identified “stratification-multistage-shallow nucleation” developmental pattern of cratonic strike-slip faults effectively records multistage changes in the regional tectonic stress field and influences stratified hydrocarbon distribution. This pattern provides new insights into intracontinental tectonic deformation mechanisms and seismic activity in stable regions.