Field-based description of near-surface crustal deformation in a high-strain shear zone; A Case study in southern Kyushu, Japan

Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Koji; Terusawa, Shuji*; Goto, Akira*; Nishiyama, Nariaki; Nakajima, Toru; Ishihara, Takanori; Hakoiwa, Hiroaki

Island Arc, 33(1), p.e12516_1 - e12516_16, 2024/02

https://doi.org/10.1111/iar.12516

To investigate the geological evidence of near-surface crustal deformations in a high-strain shear zone that has been geodetically identified but not associated with clear tectonic landforms, a fieldwork was conducted in E-W trending southern Kyushu high-strain shear zone, Japan. According to our study, an investigation based on the slip data from minor faults and the occurrences of fracture zones could help to identify a concealed fault that is small in terms of size to record tectonic landforms but can trigger large earthquakes.

Efficient detection of methane seepage using a vehicle-mounted cavity ring-down spectroscopy analyzer

Niwa, Masakazu; Shimo, Michito*; Shimada, Koji; Goto, Akira

JAEA-Research 2022-004, 38 Pages, 2022/06

JAEA-Research-2022-004.pdf:2.86MB
JAEA-Research-2022-004-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:0.41MB

Methane (CH) seepage to the surface in the early stage of hydrocarbon exploration has attracted increasing attention. Also, detection of CH-rich fluid emission can be applied to reconnaissance surveys for safety management in geological disposal of radioactive waste because high-temperature fluids that come from slab dehydration along a subduction zone are often rich in CH. These fluids likely migrate along faults and fractures. In this study, we employed a portable analyzer that used a wavelength-scanned cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) with high accuracy (in ppb levels) and short measurement intervals (1 s). An on-vehicle measurement that employed the CRDS system was performed in the Hongu area in southeast Kii Peninsula, Japan, which included CH-bearing hot springs (Kawayu and Yunomine). The measurement near the hot springs detected a clear CH anomaly (2 ppm) that exceeded the background concentration. The estimation of CH diffusion in air based on the Gaussian plume model corresponded to the result of the on-vehicle measurement. This study confirmed that the method using the vehicle-mounted CRDS analyzer can help in quickly and easily identifying CH-bearing fluid emissions at the surface. Additionally, directions for use of the analyzer were summarized in this report.

Infrared images of outcrops around the Kawayu hot springs, Hongucho, Tanabe City, Wakayama Prefecture

Shimada, Koji; Goto, Akira; Niwa, Masakazu; Shimo, Michito*

Chishitsugaku Zasshi, 127(10), p.I - II, 2021/10

AA2021-0095.pdf:1.35MB

https://doi.org/10.5575/geosoc.2021.0021

Continuous leaking point of high-temperature fluid (liquid/gas) from underground can be easily grasped by infrared images. We show images confirmed by a FLIR C5 camera that can simultaneously obtain an infrared image and a visible light image at the outcrops of Kawayu Onsen that naturally spring along the river. Outcrops and river surface temperature rise due to hot springs that leaking from riverbanks and riverbeds, rock temperature rise around cracks where gas containing high-concentration methane leaks with hot springs, abandoned fluid pathway due to construction of the bank and damming river for hot spring river bath in winter can be confirmed at a glance. Infrared images may be useful for quick identification of hot fluid leaking points from underground.

A Catalog showing distribution and features of lineaments and related landforms in an active shear zone with unclear fault displacement topography; An Example of an active left-lateral shear zone in southern Kyushu Island, southwest Japan (Contract research)

Goto, Akira; Sasaki, Akimichi*; Komatsu, Tetsuya; Miwa, Atsushi*; Terusawa, Shuji*; Kagohara, Kyoko*; Shimada, Koji

JAEA-Research 2020-013, 88 Pages, 2020/11

JAEA-Research-2020-013.pdf:22.86MB
JAEA-Research-2020-013-appendix(CD-ROM).zip:0.18MB

Improvement of the investigation techniques to identify active faults is important for the implementation of geological disposal projects from the viewpoint of avoiding locations where permeability increases due to fault displacement. Generally, the existence of active faults is confirmed by aerial photography interpretation of fault displacement topography, which is a topographical trace of fault movement, and on-site geological surveys. However, the investigation method for cases where the topographical traces are unclear is not sufficiently developed. Therefore, to improve existing topographical methods, this study deciphered lineaments up to the rank of poorly defined features, which are almost neglected in general active fault research. The investigation area is one of the geodetic strain concentration zone, called the southern Kyushu shear zone, where the seismogenic faults of the 1997 Kagoshima northwest earthquakes are concealed. We conducted aerial photography interpretation of 62 sheets of 1/25,000 topographic maps, and obtained 1,327 lineaments. Distribution density, direction and length of lineaments were also investigated with topographic and geologic information. As a result, it was clarified that the east-west lineaments in the south Kyushu shear zone predominate in the western part, and the lineaments are densely distributed in the aftershock distribution area of the Kagoshima northwest earthquake. Along with these results, we have compiled a catalog of typical 13 lineaments based on combinations of clarity, direction, length and geomorphic characters of lineaments.

Research plan on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of radioactive waste (Scientific program for fiscal year 2020)

Ishimaru, Tsuneari; Ogata, Nobuhisa; Shimada, Koji; Kokubu, Yoko; Niwa, Masakazu; Asamori, Koichi; Watanabe, Takahiro; Sueoka, Shigeru; Komatsu, Tetsuya; Yokoyama, Tatsunori; et al.

JAEA-Review 2020-010, 46 Pages, 2020/07

JAEA-Review-2020-010.pdf:1.89MB

This report is a plan of research and development (R&D) on geosphere stability for long-term isolation of high-level radioactive waste (HLW) in Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA), in fiscal year 2020. The objectives and contents in fiscal year 2020 are described in detail based on the JAEA 3rd Medium- and Long-term Plan (fiscal years 2015-2021). In addition, the background of this research is described from the necessity and the significance for site investigation and safety assessment, and the past progress. The plan framework is structured into the following categories: (1) Development and systematization of investigation techniques, (2) Development of models for long-term estimation and effective assessment, (3) Development of dating techniques.

Application of multiple inverse method to minor faults around the concealed active fault; An Example in the 1984 western Nagano earthquake region

Nishiyama, Nariaki; Nakajima, Toru; Goto, Akira*; Hakoiwa, Hiroaki; Nagata, Mitsuhiro; Shimada, Koji; Niwa, Masakazu

no journal, , 

Earthquakes of magnitude 6-7 class may occur in areas where active faults have not been detected. To reduce earthquake damage, it is important to understand the concealed active fault that generates such earthquakes, but there is little evidence to provide clues to this understanding. In this study, we collected data on striations observed in fractures by geological survey around the source area of the 1984 Western Nagano Earthquake, where the existence of a concealed active fault is known and conducted multiple inverse method. As a result, stress fields similar to the present stress field were detected in minor faults around the known concealed active fault. Some of the minor faults were recognized in Quaternary volcanic rocks, confirming that the minor faults were very recently active. This indicates that these minor faults may be part of the damage zone that develops around the concealed active fault and is expected to provide a clue to understanding a concealed active fault.

Stress fields affected minor faults around the concealed active fault based on geological survey; An Example in the 1984 Western Nagano Earthquake region

Nishiyama, Nariaki; Nakajima, Toru; Goto, Akira*; Abe, Noriaki; Hakoiwa, Hiroaki; Ishihara, Takanori; Nagata, Mitsuhiro*; Shimada, Koji; Niwa, Masakazu

no journal, , 

Visualization of a high-strain shear zone based on a field survey for minor faults; A Case study of southern Kyushu, Japan

Goto, Akira; Shimada, Koji; Niwa, Masakazu; Terusawa, Shuji*

no journal, , 

Owing to a nationwide GNSS network installed since mid-1990s, high-strain shear zone with a sinistral strike-slip was identified in southern Kyushu. There have had large earthquakes in this area such as the 1997 Northwestern Kagoshima Earthquake, however, any seismogenic faults associated with these earthquakes or active faults with strike-slip tectonic landforms had not been previously recognized at the surface. Mesoscale fault zones with clayey gouge and cataclasite are rare in the study area (northwestern Kagoshima (2216 km)). Instead, minor faults cutting bedding planes and deformation structures subparallel to the bedding, suggesting the formation clearly after the accretion of the Shimanto accretionary complex, are commonly observed. Slip directions can be examined from striations along the minor faults. Based on orientation data of these striations, we applied stress tensor inversion techniques to elucidate stress states. Our field survey revealed an occurrence of the E-W trending zone of 2 km wide showing a stress state consistent with the sinistral high-strain shear zone (NE-SW compression and NW-SE extension). This study can contribute to one of helpful approaches to examine potential future activities of faults (or shear zones) without clear tectonic landforms.

Visualization of crustal deformation in a high-strain shear zone by geodetic, geomorphologic, and geologic approaches

Niwa, Masakazu; Shimada, Koji; Watanabe, Tsuyoshi; Goto, Akira; Hiratsuka, Shinya

no journal, , 

As a case study to visualize crustal deformation induced by concealed faults and related structures, we applied integrated approaches of geodesy, geomorphology, and geology to a high-strain shear zone in southern Kyushu, Japan. Our GNSS observation for recent 4.7 years by a network composed of 10 stations revealed that locking depth and slip velocity of the deeper extension of the fault were estimated to be 8 km and left-lateral slip of 9 mm/year. In the geomorphological approach, concentration of E-W trend lineaments is identified in northwestern Kagoshima, near the center of the sinistral high-strain shear zone detected by the GNSS observation. The field survey showed that minor faults are common in the study area. Thus, we analyzed stress field estimated from slip data of the minor faults, and compared it with the stress field corresponding to the sinistral high-strain shear zone. The result of the analysis suggests that the subsurface deformation due to the sinistral high-strain shear zone is localized rather than dispersed.

Examination of modeling of Quaternary volcanic central conduit and radial dikes by topographic analysis using GIS software

Nishiyama, Nariaki*; Kawamura, Makoto; Umeda, Koji*; Goto, Akira; Niwa, Masakazu

no journal, , 

The authors assume that the topography of the mountain body reflects the actual distribution area of the dike, and we are developing a method to do the model the distribution area of the center conduit and radial dikes by topographical analysis of the mountain body using GIS software. In this study, we proposed a method that enables topographical analysis volcanoes whose activity history is not clear, conducted topographical analysis at each volcano, and modeled the distribution area of dikes. As a result, the analysis method used in this study made it possible to capture the features of the topography formed by the activity of the volcano without including the expert judgement. This makes it possible to compare the analysis results of this study with the geology, and this analysis results are considered to be useful information. In addition, the distribution tendency of the centroid of each altitude obtained in this study shows the results consistent with the wide-area stress field at the time of the eruption, and shows the validity of the analysis results.