DGMK/ÖGEW-Frühjahrstagung 2007, Fachbereich Aufsuchung und Gewinnung, Celle

Paleostress Analysis Applied to Fault-Slip Data from the Southern Margin of

the Central European Basin System (CEBS)
J. Sippel*, M. Scheck-Wenderoth*, K. Reicherter**, S. Mazur***, *GFZ Potsdam,
**RWTH Aachen, ***University of Wroclaw, Poland

Abstract
We investigate the paleostress fields which controlled the post-Variscan evolution of the
Central European Basin System (CEBS). Therefore, field studies are carried out in the
marginal areas of the CEBS where Late Palaeozoic and Mesozoic rocks of the basin fill are
present in outcrops bearing the imprints of several deformation phases that affected the
basin system since the latest Carboniferous.
Field studies including structural analysis, measurement of fault-slip data and careful
collection of kinematic indicators provide the data base for this study. In the case of
polyphase tectonics, the chronology of successive events is deduced and the total fault
population from each site is qualitatively divided into different subsets, each being consistent
with one specific stress regime. Since the stratigraphy and evolution of the CEBS are well
known, temporal and spatial correlations of paleostress orientations are possible.
Beside cross-cutting relationships derived from outcrops, we apply different graphical and
numerical methods to separate the faults into homogeneous subsets. Depending on (1) the
nature of faults (i.e. neoformed or reactivated), (2) the distribution of fault-slip data and (3)
the deformation style, the deviatoric stress tensor is calculated for each subset using either
the Numeric Dynamic Analysis (Spang, 1972; Sperner et al., 1993) or the Multiple Inverse
Method (Yamaji 2000). The results are obtained in terms of a reduced stress tensor,
consisting of (1) the orientations of the three principal stress axes σ1, σ2 and σ3 with σ1≥σ2≥σ3
and (2) the ratio of principal stress differences, R=(σ2−σ3)/(σ1−σ3) with 1≥Φ≥0.

Introduction
The Central European Basin System (CEBS) covers an area extending from the southern
North Sea across Denmark, The Netherlands and northern Germany to Poland (Fig. 1).
Studies that investigate the structural evolution of the CEBS on a basin scale (Scheck-
Wenderoth & Lamarche, 2005) or on the scale of sub-basins (e.g. Clausen & Pedersen,
1999; Scheck & Bayer, 1999; Hansen et al., 2000; Baldschuhn et al., 2001; Scheck et al.,
2002a,b; Evans et al., 2003; Lamarche, et al. 2003) argue for a recurrent change of the
stress field through time in this area. Whereas the present day stress field of the CEBS is
well known (Roth & Fleckenstein, 2001), studies on the evolution of paleostresses in
northwestern Europe are limited to certain regions or time-slices (e.g. Vandycke, 1997, 2002;
Lamarche et al., 1999, 2002).
For this study we analyse the structural pattern, in particular mesoscale faults, from outcrops
distributed along the southern margin of the CEBS. Tectonic stress, regardless if recent or
paleostress cannot be measured directly but must be derived from strain. We use
slickensides that document the movement along fault planes (in many cases even the sense
of movement) as kinematic indicators (Doblas, 1998). A fault-slip datum is composed of fault
orientation (dip direction, dip), slip orientation (azimuth, plunge), and the sense of slip
(reverse, normal, dextral, or sinistral). Knowing the fault-slip attitudes of numerous faults, it is
possible to calculate the reduced stress tensor which consists of (1) the orientations of the

DGMK-Tagungsbericht 2007-1, ISBN 978-3-936418-65-1

three principal stress axes σ1, σ2, and σ3 with σ1≥σ2≥σ3 and (2) the ratio of principal stress
differences R = (σ2-σ3) / (σ1-σ3) (e.g. Angelier, 1979, 1984; Etchecopar et al. 1981). Relating
fault kinematics to stress states implies that all faults considered have slipped in response to
the same deviatoric stress. For this reason, heterogeneous fault-slip data must be separated
into homogeneous subsets before stress inversion. If field information on kinematically
inconsistent structures is insufficient we use the graphical P-B-T method (Sperner et al.,
1993) and the numerical Multiple Inverse Method (Yamaji, 2000) for separation of faults and
stress states. A diligent separation of inconsistent subsets is an essential for data from the
CEBS that experienced several deformation phases.

Fig. 1: The depth to top pre-Permian illustrates the major structural elements of the Central
European Basin System (Scheck-Wenderoth & Lamarche, 2005).

Methods
The P-B-T method (PBT) is a kinematic analysis that in the strict sense yields strain axes
rather than stress axes (Turner, 1953; Sperner et al., 1993): For each individual fault-slip
datum, theoretical contraction (P), neutral (B), and extension axis (T) are constructed in a
lower-hemisphere plot (Fig. 2). According to the Mohr-Coulomb fracture criterion, the method
adopts a defined fracture angle Θ between P and the fault plane (we use Θ=30°). After PBT
calculation for all faults of an outcrop, kinematically inconsistent faults can be separated by
clusters of strain axes in the plot. After data separation, the reduced stress tensor is
calculated for each homogeneous subset applying the Numeric Dynamic Analysis (NDA;
Sperner et. al., 1993) which is based on the assumption that σ1, σ2, and σ3 lie in those
directions where the strain axes P, B, and T, respectively, concentrate.

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Fig. 2: P-B-T method applied to one fault-slip datum. The contraction axis P and the
extension axis T lie in a plane given by the shear plane normal and the slip line. P is
constructed with a distance of Θ=30° from the slip line in a direction opposite to that indicated
by the slip line arrow. The neutral B axis lies within the fault plane; P, B, and T are mutually
perpendicular.

We additionally apply the Multiple Inverse Method (MIM; Yamaji, 2000). MIM is a
modification of the Direct Inverse Method (Angelier, 1979) assuming that slip is parallel to the
maximum resolved shear stress; it is specially developed to identify all significant stress
states inherent in a heterogeneous fault-slip data set. The whole data set is divided into k-
element subsets (we use k=4) to which the inverse technique is applied. The reduced stress
tensor for each artificial k-fault-subset is plotted with σ1 and σ3 in two lower-hemisphere plots
and the stress ratio R colour coded (Fig. 3). Significant stress states can be identified as
clusters of agreeing symbols in the plot.

Fig. 3: MIM applied to fault-slip data from Lienen quarry (Upper Cretaceous limestones,
Osning Thrust area). Stress states calculated for all 4-fault-subsets created from the whole
data set of 35 faults. σ1 axes are plotted in the left and σ3 axes in the right stereonet (lower
hemisphere, equal-area plots). Symbols’ heads represent the directions of stress axes; the
tail of a σ1 symbol indicates the direction and plunge angle of the corresponding σ3 axis, and
vice versa. The value of R is expressed by the colour of each symbol.

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Results
Both techniques, the combined usage of PBT and NDA on the one and MIM on the other
hand, allow an unambiguous separation of heterogeneous data sets. In most cases the
results of both techniques are the same, not only in terms of separation but also in terms of
subsequent stress calculation.
From Upper Cretaceous rocks located along the southern margin of the NW German basin
we can derive a stress state corresponding to NNE-SSW compression which can clearly be
assigned to the Late Cretaceous inversion phase. This stress state can also be inferred from
Upper Jurassic, Middle Triassic, and Upper Carboniferous rocks throughout the entire
southern margin of the CEBS. Local deviations from this general trend can be found in Upper
Cretaceous rocks where uprising salt or the influence of a major zone of structural weakness
could be hold responsible for faulting. At many locations, the inversion phase is followed by a
weaker NNE-SSW extensional phase. Stress states that preceded the Late Cretaceous
inversion do not show such a directional consistency throughout the basin. Their temporal
classification is the main aspect of our current and future work.

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