Acoustic characteristics of rocks from the SWIR hydrothermal fields

JIE Tianyu; ZHOU Jianping; TAO Chunhui; WANG Hanchuang; LI Qianyu; WU Tao; LIU Long

doi:10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2024.01.001

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Journal of Marine Sciences ›› 2024, Vol. 42 ›› Issue (1) : 1-12. DOI: 10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2024.01.001

Acoustic characteristics of rocks from the SWIR hydrothermal fields

JIE Tianyu ¹^,² ,
ZHOU Jianping ¹^,²^,³^,^* ,
TAO Chunhui ¹^,² ,
WANG Hanchuang ¹^,² ,
LI Qianyu ¹^,²^,⁴ ,
WU Tao ¹^,² ,
LIU Long ⁵

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Abstract

The hydrothermal fields of the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR) have the potential to develop large scale sulfide deposits, and the SWIR sulfide mineral resource evaluation is currently underway. Measurement and analysis of petrophysical characteristics such as P-wave velocity of sulfides and different host rocks are the basis for processing and interpretation of near-bottom seismic exploration data. Through the systematic measurement of the physical properties of sulfides and host rocks in the SWIR hydrothermal areas, we have analyzed the characteristics of rock P-wave velocity variation and its influencing factors by combining rock physical properties (including density, porosity, P-wave velocity) and minerals. The results show that the P-wave velocity of SWIR rocks is influenced by the rock skeleton minerals, pore space and confining pressure. Due to the overall small porosity of the rocks, the effect on P-wave velocity is not significant, but the increase of the confining pressure gradually closes the rock microfractures and pores, and the P-wave velocity varies non-linearly exponentially. The alteration causes the change of mineral composition, which is the most critical factor affecting the P-wave velocity of the confining rocks. The results of single physical parameter measurements may have multiple solutions, and the joint measurement of multiple physical parameters such as wave velocity, density, magnetic and electrical properties is beneficial for lithological differentiation. The research results help identifying sulfides and host rocks, and provide important support for the seismic exploration of polymetallic sulfides in the Southwest Indian Ocean contract area of China.

Key words

Southwest Indian Ridge / deep-sea hydrothermal fields / rock acoustic properties / petrophysical measurements / P-wave velocity

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JIE Tianyu , ZHOU Jianping , TAO Chunhui , et al . Acoustic characteristics of rocks from the SWIR hydrothermal fields[J]. Journal of Marine Sciences. 2024, 42(1): 1-12 https://doi.org/10.3969/j.issn.1001-909X.2024.01.001

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Abstract

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Cited in this article [1] Abstract

在超慢速扩张的洋中脊区域，广泛发育的拆离断层将幔源橄榄岩大规模拆离到海底表面，上升出露的橄榄岩发生蛇纹岩化作用，极大地降低了岩石强度，促进了拆离断层的持续滑动，形成独特的光滑地形。本文利用快速拉格朗日连续介质分析法模拟研究蛇纹岩化作用对超慢速洋中脊拆离断层发育的影响。通过对比有蛇纹岩化作用和无蛇纹岩化作用下拆离断层发育的生命周期和力学差异，发现在蛇纹岩化作用下，岩石圈生成断层所需要应力降低了40%，导致断层下盘极易产生与原断层倾向相反的新断层；蛇纹岩化导致断层滑动摩擦力减小，有利于断层的持续滑动。理解蛇纹岩化作用和断层发育的关系对认识超慢速洋脊段末端的扩张机制具有重要意义。

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