Mechanical genesis of Henan (China) Yima thrust nappe structure

Abstract

Considering the serious coal and rock dynamic disasters around the main slip plane called F16 in the coal mining area) of Henan Yima (China) thrust nappe structure, the mechanical genesis of the Yima thrust nappe structure was studied comprehensively using geomechanics, fault mechanics, elastic mechanics, and Coulomb’s law of friction. First, using the centrifugal inertia force of Earth’s rotation as a source, a mechanical model of N-S compression superimposed with W-E reverse torsion was established to explain the formation of the early Yima coal basin and Jurassic Yima Group coal measures. Second, an equation for the ultimate stress in the forming stage of F16 was derived using the plastic slip-line field theory and the parabolic Mohr failure criterion. Moreover, the distribution of ultimate stress and the geometric characteristics of the fault profile were obtained using the field model parameters. Finally, the stress field of F16 and the mechanical genesis of the large-scale reverse thrust sheet were discussed based on elastic mechanics theory and Coulomb’s law of friction. The results show that the tectonic framework of the early Yima coal basin and the formation pattern of Jurassic Yima Group coal measures given by the model are consistent with the in-situ explorations. The geometric characteristics of the fault profile obtained by numerical calculation can better reflect the shape of F16 in its forming stage, and the mechanical genesis of the large-scale reverse thrust sheet also concurred with the field situations. Thus, this work can provide a foundation for further studies on the genesis of the thrust nappe structure, the mechanism of rock bursts induced by F16, and the characteristics of the residual stress field in the Yima mining area.

Keywords

mechanical genesis / thrust nappe structure / centrifugal inertia force / fault mechanics / slip-line field theory / Coulomb’s law of friction

References

[1] HeM-c, QianQ-huThe basis of deep rock mechanics [M], 2010, Beijing, Science Press: 310-318

[2] HeJ, DouL-m, CaoA-y, GongS-y, LvJ-wei. Rock burst induced by roof breakage and its prevention [J]. Journal of Central South University of Technology, 2012, 19(4): 1086-1091

[3] CaoD-y, SuS-jin. Evolution and occurrence characteristics of Yima coal basin [J]. Coal Geology and Exploration, 1988, 6: 11-7

[4] CaoD-y, GaoW-t, WangC-xian. The thrust and nappe tectonic zone along the southern margin of the coal-forming region of north China [J]. Journal of China University of Mining and Technology, 1992, 3(1): 103-113

[5] ChenC-s, CaoY-xing. The filling and deformation history of Cretaceous and Jurassic on Henan Yima basin [J]. Henan Geology, 1989, 7(3): 37-43

[6] ChenC-s, CaoY-xing. The thrust nappe structure of Henan Yima coalfield [J]. Henan Geology, 1991, 9(3): 31-6

[7] YinX, KomvopoulosK A. Slip-line plasticity analysis of abrasive wear of a smooth and soft surface sliding against a rough (fractal) and hard surface [J]. International Journal of Solids and Structures, 2012, 49(1): 121-31

[8] ZhaoL-h, YangFeng. Construction of improved rigid blocks failure mechanism for ultimate bearing capacity calculation based on slip-line field theory [J]. Journal of Central South University, 2013, 20(4): 1047-57

[9] NyeJ F. The flow of glaciers and ice-sheets as a problem in plasticity [J]. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London, 1951, 207(1091): 554-72

[10] CransW, MandlG, HaremboureJ. On the theory of growth faulting: A geomechanical delta model based on gravity sliding [J]. Journal of Petroleum Geology, 1980, 2(3): 265-307

[11] MandlG, ShippamG K. Mechanical model of thrust sheet gliding and imbrication [J]. Geological Society, London, special publication, 1981, 9: 79-98

[12] TapponnierP, MolnarP. Slip-line field theory and Large-scale continental tectonics [J]. Nature, 1976, 264: 319-324

[13] ChenQiang. Mechanical research on gravitational structure: Mechanical analysis of listric faults [J]. Seismology and Geology, 1986, 8(3): 11-21

[14] MourguesR, CobboldP R. Sandbox experiments on gravitational spreading and gliding in the presence of fluid overpressures [J]. Journal of Structural Geology, 2006, 28(5): 887-901

[15] XuQ, DongX-jun. Genetic types of large-scale landslides induced by Wenchuan Earthquake [J]. Earth Science-Journal of China University of Geosciences, 2011, 36(6): 1134-1142

[16] MaR-y, PengJ-b, MenY-m, PanA-fang. A study on mechanical mechanism on development of thrust fault [J]. Journal of Northwest University (Natural Science Edition), 2003, 33(2): 196-200

[17] Di DomenicaA, TurtuA, SatolliS, CalamitaF. Relationships between thrusts and normal faults in curved belts: New insight in the inversion tectonics of the Central-Northern Apennines (Italy) [J]. Journal of Structural Geology, 2012, 42: 104-17

[18] ZhengY, ZhangJ, WangT. Puzzles and the maximum-effective-moment (MEM) criterion in structural geology [J]. Journal of Structural Geology, 2011, 33(9): 1394-1405

[19] TongH. Comment and some questions on “puzzles and the maximum effective moment (MEM) criterion in structural geology” [J]. Journal of Structural Geology, 2012, 36(0): 81-84

[20] LisleR J, WalkerR J. The estimation of fault slip from map data: The separation-pitch diagram [J]. Tectonophysics, 2013, 583: 158-63

[21] LiS-guangIntroduction to geomechanics [M], 1979, Beijing, Science Press: 125-131

[22] WuZ-han. New evidence for correlation between global tectonic movement and Earth’s rotation [J]. Journal of Geomechanics, 1995, 1(3): 46-54

[23] ChenX-z, LiY-e, WangH-x, GuoX-yun. The enhancement of seismicity before the 2004 M_w9.0 Indonesia Sumatra earthquake and its relation to the earth rotation [J]. Chinese Journal of Geophysics, 2013, 56(1): 79-90

[24] MaL-h, HanY-b, YinZ-qiang. Progress on variable earth rotation rate and geophysical phenomena [J]. Progress in Geophysics, 2004, 19(4): 968-974

[25] MilyukovV K, KravchyukV K, MironovA P, LatyninaL A. Deformation processes in the lithosphere related to the nonuniformity of the Earth’s rotation [J]. Physics of the Solid Earth, 2011, 47(3): 96-109

[26] MilyukovV, MironovA, KravchyukV, AmorusoA, CrescentiniL. Global deformations of the Eurasian plate and variations of the Earth rotation rate [J]. Journal of Geodynamics, 2013, 67: 97-105

[27] ZharovV E, GambisD. Atmospheric tides and rotation of the Earth [J]. Journal of Geodesy, 1996, 70: 321-326

[28] YangX-xiang. The numerical estimation of earth expanding [J]. Crustal Deformation and Earthquake, 1999, 19(4): 80-5

[29] OwenH G. Has the earth increased in size? [C]. New concepts in global tectonics, 1992, Lubbock, USA, Texas Technology University Press: 289-296

[30] GliksonA Y. Asteroid/comet impact connections of precambrian episodes: Re-emergence of the catastrophic paradigm in earth science [J]. Earth Science Frontiers (China University of Geosciences, Beijing), 1997, 4(3/4): 23-46

[31] WangH-zhen. Speculations on earth’s rhythms and continental dynamics [J]. Earth Science Frontiers (China University of Geosciences, Beijing), 1997, 4(3/4): 1-12

[32] WellsJ W. Coral Growth and geochronometry [J]. Nature, 1963, 197(4871): 948-950

[33] PannellaG. Palenotological evidence on the Earth’s rotational history since early Precambrian [J]. Astrophysics and Space Science, 1972, 16(2): 212-237

[34] CaiM-f, HeM-c, LiuD-yanRock mechanics and engineering [M], 2002, Beijing, Science Press: 219-226

[35] RamsayJ G. Shear zone geometry: A review [J]. Journal of Structural Geology, 1980, 2(1/2): 83-99

[36] ByerleeJ D. Friction of rocks [J]. Pure and Applied Geophysics, 1978, 116(4/5): 615-626