{"id":1333,"date":"2023-12-05T18:52:56","date_gmt":"2023-12-05T18:52:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/?post_type=chapter&#038;p=1333"},"modified":"2023-12-11T19:13:15","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T19:13:15","slug":"reactivation-of-pre-existing-structures","status":"publish","type":"chapter","link":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/chapter\/reactivation-of-pre-existing-structures\/","title":{"raw":"3.4 Reactivation of Pre-Existing Structures","rendered":"3.4 Reactivation of Pre-Existing Structures"},"content":{"raw":"<p style=\"padding-top: 7pt; ;;text-align: justify;\">Planar features such as foliation (e.g., schistosity, gneissic banding, mylonitic orientation), sedimentary bedding, and lithological contacts can be reactivated as fractures during brittle deformation events. Likewise, fractures formed under an older tectonic event with a specific stress field may undergo displacement when subjected to a younger tectonic event. This phenomenon, called reactivation, happens when the orientation of the older fractures, with respect to the newer stress field, is favorable for opening or shear.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"padding-top: 2pt; ;text-align: justify;\">The Mohr diagram shows that reactivation requires smaller stresses than those needed for the generation of new fractures. This happens because the cohesion of the rock along any previous structure, such as foliation (<i>C<\/i><sub><span class=\"s43\">f<\/span><\/sub>), is smaller than the one across the existing structure (<em>C<\/em>)(Figure 39). A smaller cohesion causes the failure envelope to move downward in the Mohr diagram, and the required stresses to reactivate the foliation will depend on the angle between this structure and <span class=\"s23\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s31\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span>; for specific values of differential stress, a range of foliation orientations can be reactivated by shear (Figure 39b). Fracture orientations may mimic the foliation orientation, and this is especially apparent when the foliation is folded (Manda et al., 2008; Fernandes et al., 2016b, among many others). Depending on the magnitude of the principal stresses and on the orientation of the foliation, reactivation can occur by shear, opening, or both.<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left;\"><img class=\" wp-image-1214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_046-250x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"509\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"figcaption-text\"><span class=\"h4\"><strong>Figure 39 -<\/strong> <\/span>Shear strength along the foliation (<i>C<\/i><sub><span class=\"s44\">f<\/span><\/sub><span class=\"s45\">) is smaller than that across foliation (<\/span><i>C<\/i>). Thus, fractures formed by reactivation along foliation (brown traces) require smaller stresses than fractures that cut across foliation. a) The foliation is approximately 30\u00b0 (2<span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span>= 60\u00b0) from <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span><span class=\"s44\">; <\/span><span class=\"s45\">this is the most favorable angle for reactivation because the required values of <\/span><span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> and <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>3<\/sub><\/span> are smallest at this angle. b) The angle between the foliation and <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> ranges from 20\u00b0 (2<em><span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span><\/em>= 40\u00b0 red point) up to 50\u00b0 (2<em><span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span><\/em>= 100\u00b0 green point); in this latter case the stresses, <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> and <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>3<\/sub><\/span>, required to reactivate the foliation as a fracture are larger. c) The foliation is perpendicular to <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span>; in this case, only across-foliation fractures will be formed. The scale of the axes is the same in each diagram for ease of reference to compare the Mohr circle sizes (based on Fossen, 2016).<\/p>\r\nThe reactivation of pre-existing fractures occurs more easily than reactivation along foliation because there is no cohesion (<i>C<\/i>) along fracture surfaces (Figure 40). The most readily reactivated fractures are those that make an angle <span class=\"s23\">\u03b8 <\/span>close to 30\u00b0 with <span class=\"s23\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s31\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> (Figure 40a). However, under larger differential stresses, a range of pre-existing fracture orientations will be reactivated by shear (Figure 40b). When the existing structures make a near-normal angle with a tensile <span class=\"s23\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s31\"><sub>3<\/sub><\/span>, the reactivation can occur by opening.\r\n<p style=\"text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left;\"><img class=\"wp-image-1215 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_047-300x100.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"621\" height=\"207\" \/><\/p>\r\n<p class=\"figcaption-text\"><strong>Figure 40 -<\/strong> <span class=\"s20\">Conditions required for reactivation of previous fracture surfaces. <\/span><span class=\"s2\">a) As the cohesion along an existing fracture (<\/span><span class=\"s27\">C<\/span><sub><span class=\"s44\">fr<\/span><\/sub><span class=\"s45\">) approaches zero, reactivation of existing fractures requires smaller differential stress. <\/span>b) When the differential stress is larger, a wide range of existing fractures making a variety of angles with <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> (2<span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span>ranges from 20\u00b0 to 120\u00b0 in the example) will be reactivated. In this example, the differential stress is also large enough to form new fractures (point F in the Mohr circle). The scale of the axes is the same in each diagram for ease of reference to compare the Mohr circle sizes (based on Fossen, 2016).<\/p>\r\n<p>The reactivation of pre-existing structures is a common phenomenon, mainly in rock terrains that have undergone a long geological evolution. Even small shear displacements caused by reactivation may increase fracture transmissivity <span class=\"p\">and influence the flow of groundwater. The implications of reactivation on flow are explained below in <a href=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/chapter\/3-5-expected-influence-of-reactivation-on-flow\/\">Section 3.5<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>","rendered":"<p style=\"padding-top: 7pt; ;;text-align: justify;\">Planar features such as foliation (e.g., schistosity, gneissic banding, mylonitic orientation), sedimentary bedding, and lithological contacts can be reactivated as fractures during brittle deformation events. Likewise, fractures formed under an older tectonic event with a specific stress field may undergo displacement when subjected to a younger tectonic event. This phenomenon, called reactivation, happens when the orientation of the older fractures, with respect to the newer stress field, is favorable for opening or shear.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-top: 2pt; ;text-align: justify;\">The Mohr diagram shows that reactivation requires smaller stresses than those needed for the generation of new fractures. This happens because the cohesion of the rock along any previous structure, such as foliation (<i>C<\/i><sub><span class=\"s43\">f<\/span><\/sub>), is smaller than the one across the existing structure (<em>C<\/em>)(Figure 39). A smaller cohesion causes the failure envelope to move downward in the Mohr diagram, and the required stresses to reactivate the foliation will depend on the angle between this structure and <span class=\"s23\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s31\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span>; for specific values of differential stress, a range of foliation orientations can be reactivated by shear (Figure 39b). Fracture orientations may mimic the foliation orientation, and this is especially apparent when the foliation is folded (Manda et al., 2008; Fernandes et al., 2016b, among many others). Depending on the magnitude of the principal stresses and on the orientation of the foliation, reactivation can occur by shear, opening, or both.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1214 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_046-250x300.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"424\" height=\"509\" srcset=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_046-250x300.png 250w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_046-65x78.png 65w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_046-225x270.png 225w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_046-350x419.png 350w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_046.png 494w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 424px) 100vw, 424px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"figcaption-text\"><span class=\"h4\"><strong>Figure 39 &#8211;<\/strong> <\/span>Shear strength along the foliation (<i>C<\/i><sub><span class=\"s44\">f<\/span><\/sub><span class=\"s45\">) is smaller than that across foliation (<\/span><i>C<\/i>). Thus, fractures formed by reactivation along foliation (brown traces) require smaller stresses than fractures that cut across foliation. a) The foliation is approximately 30\u00b0 (2<span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span>= 60\u00b0) from <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span><span class=\"s44\">; <\/span><span class=\"s45\">this is the most favorable angle for reactivation because the required values of <\/span><span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> and <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>3<\/sub><\/span> are smallest at this angle. b) The angle between the foliation and <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> ranges from 20\u00b0 (2<em><span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span><\/em>= 40\u00b0 red point) up to 50\u00b0 (2<em><span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span><\/em>= 100\u00b0 green point); in this latter case the stresses, <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> and <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>3<\/sub><\/span>, required to reactivate the foliation as a fracture are larger. c) The foliation is perpendicular to <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span>; in this case, only across-foliation fractures will be formed. The scale of the axes is the same in each diagram for ease of reference to compare the Mohr circle sizes (based on Fossen, 2016).<\/p>\n<p>The reactivation of pre-existing fractures occurs more easily than reactivation along foliation because there is no cohesion (<i>C<\/i>) along fracture surfaces (Figure 40). The most readily reactivated fractures are those that make an angle <span class=\"s23\">\u03b8 <\/span>close to 30\u00b0 with <span class=\"s23\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s31\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> (Figure 40a). However, under larger differential stresses, a range of pre-existing fracture orientations will be reactivated by shear (Figure 40b). When the existing structures make a near-normal angle with a tensile <span class=\"s23\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s31\"><sub>3<\/sub><\/span>, the reactivation can occur by opening.<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-indent: 0pt; text-align: left;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-1215 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_047-300x100.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"621\" height=\"207\" srcset=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_047-300x100.png 300w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_047-65x22.png 65w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_047-225x75.png 225w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_047-350x117.png 350w, https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/35\/2023\/12\/Image_047.png 573w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 621px) 100vw, 621px\" \/><\/p>\n<p class=\"figcaption-text\"><strong>Figure 40 &#8211;<\/strong> <span class=\"s20\">Conditions required for reactivation of previous fracture surfaces. <\/span><span class=\"s2\">a) As the cohesion along an existing fracture (<\/span><span class=\"s27\">C<\/span><sub><span class=\"s44\">fr<\/span><\/sub><span class=\"s45\">) approaches zero, reactivation of existing fractures requires smaller differential stress. <\/span>b) When the differential stress is larger, a wide range of existing fractures making a variety of angles with <span class=\"s25\"><em>\u03c3<\/em><\/span><span class=\"s32\"><sub>1<\/sub><\/span> (2<span class=\"s25\">\u03b8 <\/span>ranges from 20\u00b0 to 120\u00b0 in the example) will be reactivated. In this example, the differential stress is also large enough to form new fractures (point F in the Mohr circle). The scale of the axes is the same in each diagram for ease of reference to compare the Mohr circle sizes (based on Fossen, 2016).<\/p>\n<p>The reactivation of pre-existing structures is a common phenomenon, mainly in rock terrains that have undergone a long geological evolution. Even small shear displacements caused by reactivation may increase fracture transmissivity <span class=\"p\">and influence the flow of groundwater. The implications of reactivation on flow are explained below in <a href=\"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/chapter\/3-5-expected-influence-of-reactivation-on-flow\/\">Section 3.5<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":6,"menu_order":4,"template":"","meta":{"pb_show_title":"on","pb_short_title":"","pb_subtitle":"","pb_authors":[],"pb_section_license":""},"chapter-type":[],"contributor":[],"license":[],"class_list":["post-1333","chapter","type-chapter","status-publish","hentry"],"part":1174,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1333","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/chapter"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"version-history":[{"count":11,"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1333\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2141,"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1333\/revisions\/2141"}],"part":[{"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/parts\/1174"}],"metadata":[{"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapters\/1333\/metadata\/"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1333"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"chapter-type","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/pressbooks\/v2\/chapter-type?post=1333"},{"taxonomy":"contributor","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/contributor?post=1333"},{"taxonomy":"license","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/books.gw-project.org\/structural-geology-applied-to-fractured-aquifer-characterization\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/license?post=1333"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}