Mechanical controls on the spatial density of opening-mode fracture networks

Research Article| October 01, 1997 Mechanical controls on the spatial density of opening-mode fracture networks Carl E. Renshaw Carl E. Renshaw 1Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Carl E. Renshaw 1Department of Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03755 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1997) 25 (10): 923–926. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1997)025<0923:MCOTSD>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Carl E. Renshaw; Mechanical controls on the spatial density of opening-mode fracture networks. Geology 1997;; 25 (10): 923–926. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1997)025<0923:MCOTSD>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Understanding the controls on fracture density is critical to interpreting the geologic evolution, permeability, and mechanical properties of jointed rock. Analyses of fracture trace maps and seismic inversions reveal that near-surface fracture densities are generally less than ∼1–2 over a range in scale of 14 orders of magnitude. The observed densities are approximately an order of magnitude greater than the range typical of deeper (>500 m) formations and may indicate that surficial controls on fracture growth are different than those at depth. The development of greater densities at the surface may be limited by the significant decrease in effective elastic stiffness associated with fracture densities near unity. As fracture densities approach 1.0, additional strain accommodated by the fractures decreases the driving tension, limiting further fracture growth. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.