Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system

Faults commonly form loci for high fluid flux in sedimentary basins, where fluids, rocks and deformation processes frequently interact. Here, we elucidate the interaction of fluid flow, diagenesis and deformation near basin-bounding faults in sedimentary basins through a study in the vicinity (0–3.5...

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Published in:Journal of Structural Geology
Main Authors: Salomon, Eric, Rotevatn, Atle, Kristensen, Thomas Berg, Grundvåg, Sten-Andreas, Henstra, Gijs Allard
Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2021
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10037/23130
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104463
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author Salomon, Eric
Rotevatn, Atle
Kristensen, Thomas Berg
Grundvåg, Sten-Andreas
Henstra, Gijs Allard
author_facet Salomon, Eric
Rotevatn, Atle
Kristensen, Thomas Berg
Grundvåg, Sten-Andreas
Henstra, Gijs Allard
author_sort Salomon, Eric
collection University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive
container_start_page 104463
container_title Journal of Structural Geology
container_volume 153
description Faults commonly form loci for high fluid flux in sedimentary basins, where fluids, rocks and deformation processes frequently interact. Here, we elucidate the interaction of fluid flow, diagenesis and deformation near basin-bounding faults in sedimentary basins through a study in the vicinity (0–3.5 km) of the Dombjerg Fault in the NE Greenland rift system. Due to fault-controlled fluid circulation, fault-proximal syn-rift clastics underwent pervasive calcite cementation, whereas uncemented clastics at some distance from the fault remained highly porous and friable. Correspondingly, two distinct deformation regimes developed to accommodate continued deformation: discrete brittle fractures formed in calcite cemented rocks, whereas cataclastic deformation bands formed in uncemented deposits. We show that low-permeable deformation bands forming in highly porous rocks were associated with localized host rock alteration, and chemical reduction of porosity along bands. In rocks with cementation-induced low porosity, brittle fractures created new pathways for fluids, but were subsequently filled with calcite. Occasionally, veins comprise multiple generations of microcrystalline calcite, likely precipitated from rapidly super-saturated fluids injected into the fractures. This suggests cemented deposits sealed uncemented compartments, where fluid overpressure developed. We conclude that compartmentalized flow regimes may form in fault-bounded basins, which has wide implications for assessments of potential carbon storage, hydrocarbon, groundwater, and geothermal sites
format Article in Journal/Newspaper
genre Arctic
Greenland
genre_facet Arctic
Greenland
geographic Dombjerg
Greenland
geographic_facet Dombjerg
Greenland
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institution Open Polar
language English
long_lat ENVELOPE(-20.800,-20.800,74.550,74.550)
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op_doi https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104463
op_relation Journal of Structural Geology
Norges forskningsråd: 228107
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/PETROSENTR/228107/Norway/Research Centre for Arctic Petroleum Exploration/ARCEx/
FRIDAID 1950678
doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104463
https://hdl.handle.net/10037/23130
op_rights openAccess
Copyright 2021 The Author(s)
publishDate 2021
publisher Elsevier
record_format openpolar
spelling ftunivtroemsoe:oai:munin.uit.no:10037/23130 2025-04-13T14:11:30+00:00 Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system Salomon, Eric Rotevatn, Atle Kristensen, Thomas Berg Grundvåg, Sten-Andreas Henstra, Gijs Allard 2021-10-14 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/23130 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104463 eng eng Elsevier Journal of Structural Geology Norges forskningsråd: 228107 info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/RCN/PETROSENTR/228107/Norway/Research Centre for Arctic Petroleum Exploration/ARCEx/ FRIDAID 1950678 doi:10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104463 https://hdl.handle.net/10037/23130 openAccess Copyright 2021 The Author(s) VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450 VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450 Journal article Tidsskriftartikkel Peer reviewed publishedVersion 2021 ftunivtroemsoe https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104463 2025-03-14T05:17:55Z Faults commonly form loci for high fluid flux in sedimentary basins, where fluids, rocks and deformation processes frequently interact. Here, we elucidate the interaction of fluid flow, diagenesis and deformation near basin-bounding faults in sedimentary basins through a study in the vicinity (0–3.5 km) of the Dombjerg Fault in the NE Greenland rift system. Due to fault-controlled fluid circulation, fault-proximal syn-rift clastics underwent pervasive calcite cementation, whereas uncemented clastics at some distance from the fault remained highly porous and friable. Correspondingly, two distinct deformation regimes developed to accommodate continued deformation: discrete brittle fractures formed in calcite cemented rocks, whereas cataclastic deformation bands formed in uncemented deposits. We show that low-permeable deformation bands forming in highly porous rocks were associated with localized host rock alteration, and chemical reduction of porosity along bands. In rocks with cementation-induced low porosity, brittle fractures created new pathways for fluids, but were subsequently filled with calcite. Occasionally, veins comprise multiple generations of microcrystalline calcite, likely precipitated from rapidly super-saturated fluids injected into the fractures. This suggests cemented deposits sealed uncemented compartments, where fluid overpressure developed. We conclude that compartmentalized flow regimes may form in fault-bounded basins, which has wide implications for assessments of potential carbon storage, hydrocarbon, groundwater, and geothermal sites Article in Journal/Newspaper Arctic Greenland University of Tromsø: Munin Open Research Archive Dombjerg ENVELOPE(-20.800,-20.800,74.550,74.550) Greenland Journal of Structural Geology 153 104463
spellingShingle VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450
VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450
Salomon, Eric
Rotevatn, Atle
Kristensen, Thomas Berg
Grundvåg, Sten-Andreas
Henstra, Gijs Allard
Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system
title Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system
title_full Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system
title_fullStr Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system
title_full_unstemmed Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system
title_short Microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – The Dombjerg Fault, NE Greenland rift system
title_sort microstructure and fluid flow in the vicinity of basin bounding faults in rifts – the dombjerg fault, ne greenland rift system
topic VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450
VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450
topic_facet VDP::Mathematics and natural science: 400::Geosciences: 450
VDP::Matematikk og Naturvitenskap: 400::Geofag: 450
url https://hdl.handle.net/10037/23130
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2021.104463