Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Contemporary stress field in and around a gold mine area adjacent to the Bohai Sea, China, and its seismological implications

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Bulletin of Engineering Geology and the Environment Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The contemporary stress field in and around a gold mine area (GMA) and its seismological implications were investigated based on overcoring stress measurements and focal mechanism solutions. The results indicate that the stress level of the GMA appears to be relatively high, and stress states are characterized by reverse and strike-slip faulting stress regimes, which vary somewhat with depth. The stress field is governed by the maximum horizontal stress, which is well oriented along the WNW–ESE or approximately E-W directions, revealing a uniform stress direction. This dominant stress orientation is identical to the regional tectonic stress field interpreted by various independent geological indicators, and the stress field is mainly caused by the combined actions of far-field, near-field, and local forces. The stress conditions suggest that this region is in the subcritical equilibrium state, so frictional sliding probably occurs along the pre-existing and cohesionless faults that are optimally oriented to the stress field. Moreover, the ratio of the maximum shear stress to the effective mean principal stress (μm) values of 0.3 to 0.5 can be used as the lower and upper critical bounds for future geodynamic-related prediction analysis in and around the GMA and other possible regions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Fig. 8
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
Fig. 11
Fig. 12
Fig. 13

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Anderson EM (1951) The dynamics of faulting and dyke formation with application to Britain. Oliver and Boyd, Edinburgh

  • Boatwright J, Cocco M (1996) Frictional constraints on crustal faulting. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 101:13895–13909

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brown ET, Hoek E (1978) Trends in relationships between measured in-situ stresses and depth. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15:211–215

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Byerlee J (1978) Friction of Rocks Pure Appl Geophys 116:615–626

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Cai MF, He MC, Liu DY (2002) Rock mechanics and engineering. Science Press, Beijing

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai MF, Ji D, Guo QF (2013) Study of rockburst prediction based on in-situ stress measurement and theory of energy accumulation caused by mining disturbance. Chinese J Rock Mech Eng 32:1973–1980

    Google Scholar 

  • Cai MF, Li P, Tan WH, Ren FH (2021) Key engineering technologies to achieve green, intelligent, and sustainable development of deep metal mines in China. Engineering. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eng.2021.07.010

  • Carpenter BM, Marone C, Saffer DM (2011) Weakness of the San Andreas Fault revealed by samples from the active fault zone. Nat Geoence 4:251–254

    Google Scholar 

  • Chang CD, Lee JB, Kang TS (2010) Interaction between regional stress state and faults: complementary analysis of borehole in situ stress and earthquake focal mechanism in southeastern Korea. Tectonophysics 485:164–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Deng YH (2002) A review of the petroleum exploration course in Bohai Sea. China Offshore Oil Gas 16:98–101

    Google Scholar 

  • Ding JM, Liang GP, Guo QL (1986) Stress measurements in deep boreholes in the Bohai coastal area of Shandong province: determination of the orientation of the principal stress. J Seismol 1:1–9

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong XG, Zhou CY, Hua AJ (1999) The analysis on focal mechanism solutions of recent minor earthquakes in Bohai straits and its vicinity. Inl Earthq 13:7–16

    Google Scholar 

  • Dong XG, Zhou GY (2000) Circumstance of recent tectonic stress of Yanshan-Bobai Seismic Zone. South China J Seismol 20:16–23

    Google Scholar 

  • Duncan Fama ME, Pender MJ (1980) Analysis of the hollow inclusion technique for measuring in situ rock stress. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 17:137–146

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng C, Zhang P, Qin X et al (2015) Near-surface stress measurements in the Longmenshan fault belt after the 2008 Wenchuan Ms8.0 earthquake. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 77:358–377

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Feng CJ, Qi BS, Wang XS et al (2019) Study of fault activity risk in typical strong seismic regions in northern China by in-situ stress measurements and the influence on the Xiong’an New Area. Earth Sci Front 26:170–190

    Google Scholar 

  • Feng CJ, Zhang P, Sun WF, Tan CX (2014) The application of in situ stress measuring and real-time monitoring results to analyzing the fault activity hazard at Ming tombs borehole in Changping District, Beijing. Acta Geosci Sin 35:345–354

    Google Scholar 

  • Guo P, Santosh M, Li S (2013) Geodynamics of gold metallogeny in the Shandong Province, NE China: an integrated geological, geophysical and geochemical perspective. Gondwana Res 24:1172–1202

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haimson BC (1978) The hydrofracturing stress measuring method and recent field results. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 15:167–178

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Haimson BC, Lee MY, Song I (2003) Shallow hydraulic fracturing measurements in Korea support tectonic and seismic indicators of regional stress. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:1243–1256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Heidbach O, Tingay M, Barth A et al (2010) Global crustal stress pattern based on the World Stress Map database release 2008. Tectonophysics 482:3–15

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hu FF, Fan HR, Jiang XH et al (2013) Fluid inclusions at different depths in the Sanshandao gold deposit, Jiaodong Peninsula, China. Geofluids 13:528–541

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ikeda R, Iio Y, Omura K (2001) In situ stress measurements in NIED boreholes in and around the fault zone near the 1995 Hyogo-ken Nanbu earthquake, Japan. Isl Arc 10:252–260

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jaeger JC, Cook NGW, Zimmerman R (1979) Fundamentals of rock mechanics. Chapman and Hall Press, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Jun MS, Jeon JS, Che IY (1999) Earthquake mechanism of Korean Peninsula. Earthq Eng Soc Korea 3:58–63

    Google Scholar 

  • Li FQ, Sun SZ, Li LQ (1982) In-situ stress measurements in North China and Tancheng-Lujiang fault zone. Chinese J Rock Mech Eng 1:73–86

    Google Scholar 

  • Li GQ, Yan DT, Zhuang XG, et al (2019a) Implications of the pore pressure and in situ stress for the coalbed methane exploration in the southern Junggar Basin, China. Eng Geol 262:105305

  • Li P, Cai M (2018) Distribution law of in situ stress field and regional stress field assessments in the Jiaodong Peninsula, China. J Asian Earth Sci 166:66–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Cai MF (2021) Challenges and new insights for exploitation of deep underground metal mineral resources. Trans Nonferrous Met Soc China 31:3478–3505. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1003-6326(21)65744-8

  • Li P, Cai MF, Guo QF, Miao SJ (2018) Characteristics and implications of stress state in a gold mine in Ludong area, China. Int J Miner Metall Mater 25:1363–1372

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Cai MF, Guo QF, Miao SJ (2019b) In situ stress state of the northwest region of the Jiaodong Peninsula, China from overcoring stress measurements in three gold mines. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52:4497–4507

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Cai MF, Miao SJ, Guo QF (2019c) New insights into the current stress field around the Yishu fault zone, eastern China. Rock Mech Rock Eng 52:4133–4145

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Guo QF, Liu HT, Jiang XQ (2017a) Characteristics of current in-situ stress field and stress accumulation in Shandong region. Chinese J Rock Mech Eng 36:2220–2231

    Google Scholar 

  • Li P, Ren FH, Cai MF et al (2019d) Present-day stress state and fault stability analysis in the capital area of China constrained by in situ stress measurements and focal mechanism solutions. J Asian Earth Sci 185:104007

  • Li P, Wu Y, Cai M (2021) Implications of in-situ stress measurement in mining engineering. In: IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. IOP Publishing, p 12140

  • Li X, Wang J, Zeng Z, Dai Q (2017b) Spatial variations of current tectonic stress field and its relationship to the structure and rheology of lithosphere around the Bohai Sea, North China. J Asian Earth Sci 139:83–94

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Li XC, Fan HR, Santosh M et al (2013) Hydrothermal alteration associated with Mesozoic granite-hosted gold mineralization at the Sanshandao deposit, Jiaodong gold province, China. Ore Geol Rev 53:403–421

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Liao CT, Zhang CS, Wu ML et al (2003) Stress change near the Kunlun fault before and after the Ms 8.1 Kunlun earthquake. Geophys Res Lett 30:2027–2030

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Lin ZW, Zhao XF, Xiong L, Zhu ZX (2019) In-situ trace element analysis characteristics of pyrite in Sanshandao gold deposit in Jiaodong Peninsula: implications for ore genesis. Adv Earth Sci 34:399–413

    Google Scholar 

  • Liu XH, Fang YR, Cai DE et al (1987) Frictional coefficients of fault gouges from six fault zones in China. North East Seismol Res 3:23–26

    Google Scholar 

  • Ma JC, Tian Y, Liu C et al (2018) P-wave tomography of Northeast Asia: constraints on the western Pacific plate subduction and mantle dynamics. Phys Earth Planet Inter 274:105–126

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Mcgarr A, Gay NC (1978) State of stress in the Earth’s crust. Ann Rev Earth 6:405–436

  • Meng W, Chen Q, Zhao Z et al (2015) Characteristics and implications of the stress state in the Longmen Shan fault zone, eastern margin of the Tibetan Plateau. Tectonophysics 656:1–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Miao S, Wan L, Lai X, Wang S (2004) Relation analysis between in-situ stress field and geological tectonism in Sanshandao gold mine. Chinese J Rock Mech Eng 23:3996–3999

    Google Scholar 

  • Miao SJ, Cai MF, Guo QF, Huang ZJ (2016) Rock burst prediction based on in-situ stress and energy accumulation theory. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 83:86–94. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijrmms.2016.01.001

  • Moos D, Zoback MD (1990) Utilization of observations of well bore failure to constrain the orientation and magnitude of crustal stresses: application to continental, Deep Sea Drilling Project, and Ocean Drilling Program boreholes. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 95:9305–9325

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Morrow CA, Shi LQ, Byerlee JD (1982) Strain hardening and strength of clay-rich fault gouges. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 87:6771–6780

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Petit C, Fournier M (2005) Present-day velocity and stress fields of the Amurian Plate from thin-shell finite-element modelling. Geophys J Int 160:358–370

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Qu JH, Yang YY, Liu YG et al (2015) Causative structure of the 2013 Laizhou earthquake sequence. China Earthq Eng J 37:546–552

    Google Scholar 

  • Rajabi M, Tingay M, Heidbach O (2016) The present-day stress field of New South Wales, Australia. Aust J Earth Sci 63:1–21

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds SD, Hillis RR (2000) The in situ stress field of the Perth Basin, Australia. Geophys Res Lett 27:3421–3424

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saffer DM, Marone C (2003) Comparison of smectite- and illite-rich gouge frictional properties: application to the updip limit of the seismogenic zone along subduction megathrusts. Earth Planet Sci Lett 215:219–235

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Scholz CH (1998) Earthquakes and friction laws. Nature 391:37–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheorey PR (1994) A theory for in situ stresses in isotropic and transverseley isotropic rock. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci Geomech Abstr 31:23–34. https://doi.org/10.1016/0148-9062(94)92312-4

  • Sjöberg J, Christiansson R, Hudson JA (2003) ISRM suggested methods for rock stress estimation—part 2: overcoring methods. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:999–1010

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Song MC, Zhang JJ, Zhang PJ et al (2015) Discovery and tectonic-magmatic background of superlarge gold deposit in offshore of northern Sanshandao, Shandong peninsula, China. Acta Geol Sin 89:365–383

    Google Scholar 

  • Tanaka Y, Fujimori K, Otsuka S (1998) In-situ stress measurement and prediction of great earthquake. Earthquake 50:201–208

    Google Scholar 

  • Tian ZF (1995) Prediction of the failure phenomenon in the shallow part of the Earth’s crust by crustal stress measurement. Crustal Struct Crustal Stress 6:1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Townend J, Zoback MD (2004) Regional tectonic stress near the San Andreas fault in central and southern California. Geophys Res Lett 31:L15S11

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Townend J, Zoback MD (2000) How faulting keeps the crust strong. Geology 28:399–402

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Verberne BA, He C, Spiers CJ (2010) Frictional properties of sedimentary rocks and natural fault gouge from the Longmen Shan Fault Zone, Sichuan, China. Bull Seismol Soc Am 100:2767–2790

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CH, Song CK, Guo QL et al (2014) Stress build-up in the shallow crust before the Lushan Earthquake based on the in-situ stress measurements. Chinese J Geophys 57:102–114

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang CH, Song CK, Guo QL et al (2015) New insights into stress changes before and after the Wenchuan Earthquake using hydraulic fracturing measurements. Eng Geol 194:98–113

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang CH, Zhang YS, Guo QL, Zhao SG (2011) New integrated analysis method to analyze stress regime of engineering area. Chinese J Geotech Eng 33:1562–1568

    Google Scholar 

  • Wang Q, Zhang PZ, Freymueller JT et al (2001) Present-day crustal deformation in China constrained by global positioning system measurements. Science 294:574–577

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang SH, Cai MF, Miao SJ, Ouyang ZH (2003) Results and their analysis of in situ stress measurement in Sanshandao gold mine. China Min Mag 12:46–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Williams JDO, Fellgett MW, Quinn MF (2016) Carbon dioxide storage in the Captain Sandstone aquifer: determination of in situ stresses and fault-stability analysis. Pet Geosci 22:211–222

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wu F, Chen B, Zou QL, et al (2019) Range estimation of horizontal stress of deep rock based on Mohr-Coulomb criterion. Results Phys 12:2107–2111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rinp.2019.02.061

  • Yang KF, Zhu JT, Cheng SH et al (2017) Structural controls of the Sanshandao gold deposit in the northwestern Jiaodong District, China. Geotecton Metallog 41:272–282

    Google Scholar 

  • Yang S, Huang L, Xie F et al (2014) Quantitative analysis of the shallow crustal tectonic stress field in China mainland based on in situ stress data. J Asian Earth Sci 85:154–162

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yang SX, Yao R, Cui XF et al (2012) Analysis of the characteristics of measured stress in Chinese mainland and its active blocks and north-south seismic belt. Chinese J Geophys 55:4207–4217

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zang A, Stephansson O (2010) Stress field of the Earth’s crust. Springer, Netherlands, Berlin, Berlin

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang B, Bai XD, Liu C (2014) Preliminary analysis of Ms 4. 6 earthquake sequence in Laizhou in Shandong on November 23rd, 2013. J Inst Disaster Prev 16:46–52

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhang L, He C (2013) Frictional properties of natural gouges from Longmenshan fault zone ruptured during the Wenchuan Mw7.9 earthquake. Tectonophysics 594:149–164

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang P, Meng Z, Jiang S, Chen X (2020) Characteristics of in-situ stress distribution in Zhengzhuang region, southern Qinshui basin, China and its stress path during depletion. Eng Geol 264:105413

  • Zhang Y, Zhang J (2017) Lithology-dependent minimum horizontal stress and in-situ stress estimate. Tectonophysics 703–704:1–8

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zhang ZL, Teng YC (1989) Mechanical features and seismogenic processes of continent-marginal earthquakes around Bohai Bay. Chinese J Geophys 32:470–477

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou CY, Zhou HP, Dong XG et al (1992) Analysis on recent stress background in Shandong province. Earthquake 4:54–61

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhou GF, Lv GX, Deng J et al (2008) Study on the fluid inclusions characteristics of the Sanshandao gold deposit, Shandong province, China and its geological significance. Geoscience 22:24–33

    Google Scholar 

  • Zhu G, Hu W, Song L, Liu B (2015) Quaternary activity along the Tan-Lu fault zone in the Bohai Bay, East China: evidence from seismic profiles. J Asian Earth Sci 114:5–17

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback MD (2007) Reservoir geomechanics. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback MD, Apel R, Baumgärtner J et al (1993) Upper-crustal strength inferred from stress measurements to 6 km depth in the KTB borehole. Nature 365:633–635

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback MD, Barton CA, Brudy M et al (2003) Determination of stress orientation and magnitude in deep wells. Int J Rock Mech Min Sci 40:1049–1076

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback MD, Townend J (2001) Implications of hydrostatic pore pressures and high crustal strength for the deformation of intraplate lithosphere. Tectonophysics 336:19–30

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zoback MD, Tsukahara H, Hickman S (1980) Stress measurements at depth in the vicinity of the San Andreas Fault: implications for the magnitude of shear stress at depth. J Geophys Res Solid Earth 85:6157–6173

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Funding

This research is financially supported by the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation (No. 2021M700388), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (No. FRF-TP-20-041A1), and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. U2034206).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Civil and Resource Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Peng Li, Qi-feng Guo & Mei-feng Cai

  2. Key Laboratory of High-Efficient Mining and Safety of Metal Mines (Ministry of Education of China), University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Peng Li, Qi-feng Guo & Mei-feng Cai

  3. Beijing Key Laboratory of Urban Underground Space Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China

    Peng Li, Qi-feng Guo & Mei-feng Cai

Authors
  1. Peng Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Qi-feng Guo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mei-feng Cai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Peng Li.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The authors declare no competing interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Li, P., Guo, Qf. & Cai, Mf. Contemporary stress field in and around a gold mine area adjacent to the Bohai Sea, China, and its seismological implications. Bull Eng Geol Environ 81, 86 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02593-3

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10064-022-02593-3

Keywords

Search

Navigation