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MA Gongzheng, LU Hailong, LU Jing'an, HOU Guiting, GONG Yuehua. 2020. Polygonal fault in marine sediments and its impact on gas hydrate occurrence[J]. Geology in China, 47(1): 1-13. doi: 10.12029/gc20200101
Citation: MA Gongzheng, LU Hailong, LU Jing'an, HOU Guiting, GONG Yuehua. 2020. Polygonal fault in marine sediments and its impact on gas hydrate occurrence[J]. Geology in China, 47(1): 1-13. doi: 10.12029/gc20200101
shu

Polygonal fault in marine sediments and its impact on gas hydrate occurrence

  • 1.

    School of Earth and Space Sciences, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

  • 2.

    Beijing International Center for Gas Hydrate, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

  • 3.

    College of Engineering, Peking University, Beijing 100871, China

  • 4.

    Guangzhou Marine Geological Survey, China Geological Survey, Guangzhou 510075, Guangdong, China

    • Fund Project: Supported by China Geological Survey Project (No. DD20190234) and National Key R & D Plan (No. 2017YFC0307603)
More Information
  • Author Bio: MA Gongzheng, male, born in 1990, doctor candidate, majors in structures in shallow marine sediments; Email: 1601110593@pku.edu.cn
  • Corresponding author: LU Hailong, male, born in 1964, professor, supervisor of doctor candidates, majors in gas hydrate related research; E-mail:hlu@pku.edu.cn 
Received Date:  29 June 2019
Revised Date:  06 January 2020
Publish Date:  25 February 2020
    Abstract

  • Polygonal faults are non-tectonic small stratabound extensional faults generally developed in the fine-grained sediments with numerous fault planes and small offset. The fault planes are arranged in irregular polygonal shape in plan view, and occur as extensional faults with similar or opposite inclinations in profile view. The geometry of the polygonal faults is considered to be affected by formation mechanisms, such as density inversion, syneresis and shear failure. The prominent indicator of density inversion is the wave-like surface between horizons. The prominent indicators of syneresis are listric fault planes and growth sequences, and the furrows on the seafloor and the micro-fractures in the sediment samples make up the evidence. The occurrence of polygonal faults improves the permeability of fine-grained sediments, which can provide vertical pathways for gas and fluid migration. The conductivity of listric faults induced by syneresis is inferred to be better than that of straight faults. As a product of shallow gas and fluid migration, the occurrence area of gas hydrate is possibly dominated by polygonal faults. Deep polygonal faults provide pathways of gas and fluid migration for gas hydrate, and shallow polygonal faults provide reservoir spaces for gas hydrate.

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