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Fractal analysis of the evolution of a fracture network in a granite outcrop, SE Korea

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Abstract

Kinematical and fractal analyses were conducted on a fracture network in a well-exposed granite outcrop in SE Korea. The objective of this study is to examine the temporal and spatial evolution of the fracture network. From the orientation and abutting relationships of fracture sets, six fracturing events and their relative ages were established, several of which included strike-slip reactivations of earlier formed fractures. These events may be correlated with the Cenozoic to Recent evolution of the Yangsan Fault and surrounding areas. 2-D box counting analyses were performed on maps of the fracture network at the six stages of its evolution. For the earliest event D = 1.11, and represents a clustered development of fractures. Event 2 leads to a large increase of D = 1.51, with subsequent events producing a gradual increase up to 1.55 after the final event. This stabilization of the fractal dimension involved a change from the widespread development of new fractures (event 2) to the greater importance of reactivation of existing fractures, with only localized development of new fractures, usually as tip and linkage damage around pre-existing fractures. Fracture density was greatest for the event 2 fractures and increased only gradually after that. This pattern is similar to that of the fractal dimension and a good linear correlation was found between these two parameters. Although fractal dimensions and density show little change during the late stages of deformation, the fracture connectivity continued to increase due to the formation of local secondary fractures developed during reactivation of earlier formed fractures.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geological Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea

    Seung-Ik Park

  2. Department of Earth Environmental Sciences, Pukyong National University, Busan, 608-737, Republic of Korea

    Young-Seog Kim

  3. Mineral Resource Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon, 305-350, Republic of Korea

    Chung-Ryul Ryoo

  4. School of Civil Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton, Southampton, SO17 1BJ, UK

    David J. Sanderson

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  1. Seung-Ik Park
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Correspondence to Young-Seog Kim.

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Park, SI., Kim, YS., Ryoo, CR. et al. Fractal analysis of the evolution of a fracture network in a granite outcrop, SE Korea. Geosci J 14, 201–215 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-010-0019-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12303-010-0019-z

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