Tectonics and geodynamics

Tectonic movements including folding, faulting, fault block and isostatic movements are the drivers of the many processes on the Earth’s surface. Beyond question, the most tectonically active regions are tectonic plate boundaries associated with earthquakes, volcanism, post-volcanic activity, and active fault block movements. Pacific “Ring of Fire”, Alpine-Himalayan belt stretching from Portugal to India, East African Rift, Cameroon volcanic line, and Iceland are among them. 

Meantime there are plenty of evidences of recent tectonic movements in many “stable” and “sub-stable” regions in Europe (like Ardennes, Massif Central, Rhine Valley, or Scottish Highlands), North America (like New Madrid and Wabash Valley Zones, The Appalachians, or Quebec), Australia, Indochina etc. Of course, in these areas there are no volcanoes, and earthquakes are not so common there. However, tectonic movements continue to have a huge impact on the local geosystems, activating landslides and rockfalls, changing physical properties of rocks and soils, reshaping coastlines and streams, and effecting groundwater regime. Wide range of karst landforms (including sinkholes and ground collapse), mud volcanoes and hot springs are structurally (tectonically) controlled.

The most of deformations as well as earthquakes epicenters are localized on the fault zones which have different configuration and kinematic. The active faults with the seismicity, tectonic block movements and fractured rocks so characteristic of them, may pose a direct risk to urban areas, tunnels, and mines. 

Zesmill’s team of geologists, geomorphologists, geophysicists and surveyors are dedicated to serving the needs of our clients in the following areas. 

Tectonic movement assessment

• quantification of recent tectonic movements using radar imaging (InSAR, DInSAR methods) and precise geodetic measurements
• assessment of neotectonic movements using geomorphic, geologic, geophysical methods
• assessment and prognosis of coastal landform changes corresponding with tectonic and isostatic movements
• determination of sea and lake level changes during historic and pre-historic time
• tectonic, neotectonic, fault block, fault, fracture zones, coastal tectonic mapping
• identifying of surface subsidence potential caused by neotectonic movements.

Fault (fault line) assessment

• identification of fault zones using geologic, geomorphic, geophysical, and remote sensing methods
• morphotectonic and lineament analysis of satellite and aerial images
• determination of fault types, kinematic, and characteristics
• fault activity assessment (and measuring, if possible)
• assessment of landslide, rock fall, sinkhole, karst suffosion hazards in fault zones
• permanent and periodic geodetic, geophysical, and hydrogeological monitoring of fault zones.

Fault and fracture zone studying is also of paramount importance to the understanding of subsidence hazards involve either the ground collapse in mining and oil-and-gas producing regions. 

For these purposes, Zesmill’s team uses a wide array of methods and tools including:

• geologic — structural mapping, stratigraphic, lithologic, and tectonic studies including desk based studies, field mapping and drilling,
• geomorphologic — morphometric and DEM analysis, landform mapping, coastline dynamic analysis, river and marine terrace deformation assessment, stream gradient analysis, quantification of denudation and accumulation levels etc.
• geophysical — electrical resistivity tomography; self or spontaneous potential prospecting; gravity and micro-gravity surveying
• remote sensing — SAR interferometry, photogrammetry, multi-temporal imagery analysis, morphotectonic and lineament analysis
• surveying — local geodetic network establishing; precise horizontal and vertical geodetic measurements using double frequency GPS/GNSS and total stations; precision leveling.