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Constraining fault-zone hydrogeology through integrated hydrological and geoelectrical analysis

Hydrogéologie d’une zone faillée sous contrainte par analyses hydrogéologique et géoélectrique intégrées

Hidrogeología de una zona limitada por falla a través de un análisis integrado hidrológico y geoeléctrico

用水文和地电综合分析约束断裂带水文地质

Constrangimento hidrogeológico em zona de falha através de análise hidrológica e geoeléctrica integrada

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Abstract

The hydrogeologic influence of the Elkhorn fault in South Park, Colorado, USA, is examined through hydrologic data supplemented by electrical resistivity tomography and self-potential measurements. Water-level data indicate that groundwater flow is impeded by the fault on the spatial scale of tens of meters, but the lack of outcrop prevents interpretation of why the fault creates this hydrologic heterogeneity. By supplementing hydrologic and geologic data with geoelectrical measurements, further hydrogeologic interpretation is possible. Resistivity profiles and self-potential data are consistent with the interpretation of increased fracturing within 70 m of the fault. Further interpretation of the fault zone includes the possibility of a vertical groundwater flow component in a fractured and relatively high permeability damage zone and one or more relatively low permeability fault cores resulting in a conduit-barrier behavior of the fault zone at the meter to tens-of-meters scale. Calculated hydraulic heads from the self-potential data reveal additional complexity in permeability structure, including a steeper hydraulic gradient immediately west of the interpreted fault trace than suggested by the well data alone.

Résumé

L’incidence hydrogéologique de la faille Elkhorn dans South Park, Colorado, USA, est examinée à l’aide de données hydrogéologiques complétées par tomographie électrique et mesures de potentiel spontané. Les données piézométriques indiquent que l’écoulement de la nappe est perturbé à l’échelle spatiale d’une dizaine de mètres, mais l’absence d’affleurement empêche d’interpréter cette hétérogénéité hydrogéologique. En complétant les données hydrogéologiques par des mesures géoélectriques, on peut progresser dans l’interprétation. Les données des profils de résistivité et potentiel spontané s’accordent avec l’existence d’une fracturation croissante à 70 m de la faille. Une autre représentation de la zone faillée inclut l’existence d’une zone fracturée à perméabilité perturbée relativement forte, avec composante verticale possible de l’écoulement, et d’un ou plusieurs corps faillés de perméabilité faible formant barrière à l’échelle du mètre ou de la dizaine de mètres. Les charges hydrauliques déduites des mesures de potentiel spontané révèlent la complexité de la structure, avec, immédiatement à l’Ouest du tracé supposé de la faille, un gradient hydraulique plus élevé que celui suggéré par les seules données de forage.

Resumen

Se examina la influencia hidrogeológica de la falla de Elkhorn en South Park, Colorado, EEUU, a través de datos hidrológicos provistos por la tomografía de resistividad eléctrica y las medidas de potencial espontáneo. Los datos de nivel de agua indican que el flujo de aguas subterráneas se halla impedido por la falla a la escala espacial de decenas de metros, pero la falta de afloramiento impide la interpretación de porque la falla crea esta heterogeneidad hidrológica. Complementando los datos hidrológicos y geológicos con las medidas geoeléctricas, es posible una interpretación hidrogeológica ulterior. Los datos de perfilajes de resistividad y potencial espontáneo son consistentes con la interpretación de la fracturación incrementada dentro de los 70 metros de la falla. La interpretación ulterior de la zona de falla incluye la posibilidad de una componente de flujo vertical de aguas subterráneas en una zona de daño fracturada de relativamente alta permeabilidad y uno o más núcleos de falla de relativamente baja permeabilidad que resulta en un comportamiento de una barrera de conducto de la zona de falla a escala de metro a decenas de metros. Las cargas hidráulicas calculadas a partir de los datos de potencial espontáneo revelaron una complejidad adicional en la estructura de permeabilidad, incluyendo un gradiente hidráulico más abrupto inmediatamente al oeste de la traza interpretada de falla que el sugerido por solamente los datos de los pozos.

摘要

根据水文数据并辅以电阻率层析成像和自然电位测量, 研究了位于美国克罗拉多州South Park 的Elkhorn断裂的水文地质效应。水位数据显示, 地下水流为数十米规模的断裂所阻, 但因缺少露头, 难以解释该断裂是如何造成水文非均质性的。通过地电测量对水文和地质数据进行补充, 使得进一步的水文地质解译成为可能。电阻率剖面和自然电位数据与断裂70米内破裂增强的解译一致。对该断裂带的进一步解译有 : 可能有一股存在于某一渗透性较高破碎带中的垂向地下水流, 及一个或多个渗透性较低断层核心所造成的米至数十米尺度的阻水断裂带。由自然电位数据算得的水位揭示出更为复杂的渗透性结构, 如在紧邻解译出的断层迹线的西侧, 发现其水力梯度比单凭井数据解释出来的更陡。

Resumo

É analisada a influência hidrogeológica da falha Elkhorn em South Park, Colorado, EUA, através de dados hidrológicos complementados por tomografia de resistividade eléctrica e por medições de potencial espontâneo. Dados de nível de água indicam que o fluxo das águas subterrâneas é dificultado pela falha numa escala espacial de dezenas de metros, mas a falta de afloramento impede a interpretação do modo como a falha cria essa heterogeneidade hidrológica. Complementando os dados geológicos e hidrológicos com medições geoeléctricas, é possível apoiar uma interpretação hidrogeológica. Perfis de resistividade e dados de potencial espontâneo são consistentes com a interpretação de um aumento da fracturação numa extensão lateral de 70 metros partir da falha. Além disso, a interpretação da zona de falha inclui a possibilidade de uma componente vertical de fluxo de águas subterrâneas numa zona fracturada e de esmagamento com relativamente elevada permeabilidade e um ou mais núcleos da falha de relativa baixa permeabilidade, resultando num comportamento barreira-condutiva da zona de falha à escala métrica a dezenas de metros. Potenciais hidráulicos calculados a partir de dados de potencial espontâneo revelam complexidade adicional na permeabilidade da estrutura, incluindo um acentuado gradiente hidráulico imediatamente a oeste do lineamento interpretado da falha, o que é sugerido também, por si só, pelos dados dos furos.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded under National Science Foundation grant EAR610027 to S. Ge and J.S. Caine. Additional field support was graciously provided by the American Water Resources Association Richard Herbert Memorial Scholarship, the Colorado Ground-Water Association Harlan Erker Memorial Scholarship, the Department of Geological Sciences at the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the U.S. Geological Survey Minerals and Toxics Programs. The authors thank J. Medema for allowing access to the well site and M. McHugh for providing borehole data. Additional thanks are extended to B. Minsley and A. Manning for their valuable comments on the early draft of this paper, and to R. van Balen and J. Turner for their helpful reviews.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geological Sciences, University of Colorado at Boulder, 2200 Colorado Ave, CB 399, Boulder, CO, 80309, USA

    Lyndsay B. Ball & Shemin Ge

  2. US Geological Survey, Box 25046, MS 964, Denver, CO, 80225, USA

    Lyndsay B. Ball & Jonathan Saul Caine

  3. Department of Geophysics, Colorado School of Mines, 1500 Illinois Street, Golden, CO, 80401, USA

    André Revil

  4. INSU-CNRS LGIT UMR 5559, Université de Savoie, Equipe Volcan, Domaine Universitaire, 73376, Le Bourget-du-Lac Cedex, France

    André Revil

  5. M2C, UMR 6143, CNRS, Laboratoire Morphodynamique Continentale et Côtière, Université de Rouen, 76821, Mont Saint Aignan Cedex, France

    Abderrahim Jardani

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  1. Lyndsay B. Ball
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Correspondence to Lyndsay B. Ball.

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Ball, L.B., Ge, S., Caine, J.S. et al. Constraining fault-zone hydrogeology through integrated hydrological and geoelectrical analysis. Hydrogeol J 18, 1057–1067 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10040-010-0587-z

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