Tectonic modelling laboratory

DomůObservatoriesTectonic modelling laboratory

Most geodynamic processes take place over long geological time scales of millions of years and occur in large depths hidden from direct observation methods. These processes are mainly driven by plate motion under various aspects of convergent, divergent and strike-slip motion.

Laboratory analogue modelling offers an approach to simulate these processes on convenient temporal and spatial scales. Complex natural prototypes are simplified and scaled down to controlled laboratory conditions such that geometries, rheologies and boundary conditions can be appropriately defined. This procedure allows us to observe and record deformation patterns and the development of various tectonic, magmatic and sedimentary phenomena. Analog modelling results can provide important data about aspects of economical and social impact. The evolution and reconstruction of geological systems are relevant for exploration purposes in hydrocarbon industry, geothermal energy resources and storage sites for waste as well as for evaluating seismic and volcanic hazards in populated regions.

We particularly focus on the investigation of orogens on a crustal scale, salt tectonic processes in rift basins and fold-and-thrust-belts, magmatic plumbing systems, the ascent of magmatic dykes and shear zone development. Our laboratory infrastructure consists of a number of modelling devices to simulate tectonic shortening and extension, pure and simple shear strain, magmatic intrusions and eruptions as well as sediment deposition systems. To record deformation and strain patterns, our laboratory is equipped with modern strain quantification techniques such as a 3D digital image correlation system and anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility generated by magnetic particles aligned in the deformed material.

CONTACT

Prokop Závada

Ondřej Krýza

Laboratory infrastructure

Modelling devices

  • Convergence box 2D including step motor and heating plate
  • Convergence box 3D including step motor, heating plate (80×60 cm) and top heating box
  • Convergence box 3D (40 x 60 cm)
  • Extensional box including 3 step motors
  • Magma intrusion box including fluid injector
  • Water tank with sediment flushing system and seismic shaking device
  • Biaxial, pure shear box

 

Monitoring devices

  • 3D stereoscopic camera system by LaVision GmbH including Davis 10 software to perform digital image correlation
  • Digital cameras Nikon D800
  • Microsoft Kinect 3.0 for recording 3D surface structures
  • Accelerometer

 

Software

  • Davis 10 by LaVision GmbH
  • Python OpenPIV
  • Matlab (PIVlab, MatPIV)
  • Structure from motion

 

Analog materials

  • Silicone putty (Korasilon)
  • Gelatine
  • Plaster of Paris
  • Paraffine wax
  • Quartz sand
  • Glass microspheres
  • Sillicate Cenospheres (Fillite)
  • Gypsum powder
  • Wheat flour
Projects
Publications

Papers

  • Jiang, Y. D., Schulmann, K., Sun, M., Weinberg, R. F., Štípská, P., Li, P. F., Zhang, J., Chopin, F., Wang, S., Xia, X.P., & Xiao, W. J. (2019). Structural and geochronological constraints on Devonian suprasubduction tectonic switching and Permian collisional dynamics in the Chinese Altai, Central Asia. Tectonics, 38(1), 253-280, doi: 10.1029/2018TC005231
  • Kratinova, Z., Machek, M., & Kusbach, V., 2010a. Fabric transpositions in granite plutons—An insight from non-scaled analogue modelling. Journal of the Geological Society of India, 75(1), 267-277, doi: 10.1007/s12594-010-0014-z
  • Kratinová, Z., Závada, P., Hrouda, F., & Schulmann, K., 2006. Non-scaled analogue modelling of AMS development during viscous flow: a simulation on diapir-like structures. Tectonophysics, 418(1-2), 51-61, doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2005.12.013
  • Krýza, O., Lexa, O., Schulmann, K., Guy, A., Gapais, D., Cosgrove, J., & Xiao, W. (2021). Oroclinal buckling and associated lithospheric-scale material flow–insights from physical modelling: Implication for the Mongol-Hingan orocline. Tectonophysics, 800, 228712, doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2020.228712
  • Krýza, O., Závada, P., & Lexa, O., 2019. Advanced strain and mass transfer analysis in crustal-scale oroclinal buckling and detachment folding analogue models. Tectonophysics, 764, 88-109. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2019.05.001.
  • Kusbach, V. K., Machek, M., Roxerová, Z., Racek, M., & Silva, P. F., 2019. Localization effect on AMS fabric revealed by microstructural evidence across small-scale shear zone in marble. Sci Rep 9, 17483, doi: 10.1038/s41598-019-53794-y
  • Lehmann, J., Schulmann, K., Lexa, O., Závada, P., Štípská, P., Hasalová, P., Belyanin, G., & Corsini, M., 2017. Detachment folding of partially molten crust in accretionary orogens: A new magma-enhanced vertical mass and heat transfer mechanism: Lithosphere, v. 9, no. 6, p. 889–909, doi: 10.1130/L670.1
  • Machek, M., Závada, P., Roxerová, Z., Petrovský, E., Špičák, A., & Kusbach, V., 2019. Crystal mush flow in small concentrically expanded pluton (Castle Crags pluton; Klamath Mountains, CA, USA). Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 20, 1954– 1974, doi: 10.1029/2018GC008018
  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Jähne-Klingberg, F., & Krzywiec, P., 2021. Contribution of gravity gliding in salt-bearing rift basins – a new experimental setup for simulating salt tectonics under the influence of sub-salt extension and tilting, Solid Earth, 12, 1987–2020, doi: 10.5194/se-12-1987-2021
  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Krýza, O., Pohlenz, A., & Rosenau, M., 2021. Ring-shear test data of quartz sand – silicate cenospheres mixtures used for analogue experiments at the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague. V. 1. GFZ Data Services. doi: 10.5880/fidgeo.2021.024
  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Pohlenz, A., & Rosenau, M., 2018. Ring-shear test data of quartz sand used for analogue experiments in the laboratory of the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague. GFZ Data Services. doi: 10.5880/GFZ.4.1.2019.008
  • Závada, P., Dědeček, P., Lexa, J., & Keller, G., 2015. Devils Tower (Wyoming, USA): A lava coulée emplaced into a maar-diatreme volcano?: Geosphere, v. 11, no. 2, p. 354–375, doi: 10.1130/GES01166.1
  • Závada, P., Dědeček, P., Mach, K., Lexa, O. & Potužák, M., 2011. Emplacement dynamics of phonolite magma into maar-diatreme structures – correlation of field, thermal modeling and AMS analogue modeling data, Journal Of Volcanology And Geothermal Research 201(1-4), 210–226, doi: 10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2010.07.012
  • Závada, P., Kratinová, Z., Kusbach, V., & Schulmann, K., 2009. Internal fabric development in complex lava domes. Tectonophysics, 466(1-2), 101-113. doi: 10.1016/j.tecto.2008.07.005

Conference contributions

  • Martin, S., Kavanagh, J., Závada, P., Galland, O., & Biggin, A., 2018. Plaster and Magnets: An experimental study tracking fluid flow and surface deformation during magma intrusion in the crust. In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts (p. 15352).
  • Mirzaei, M., Závada, P., Kratinová, Z., & Machek, M., 2016. Internal fabrics in magmatic plutons emplaced in extended brittle crust – insight from analogue models with AMS (Anisotropy of Magnetic Susceptibility), In EGU General Assembly Conference Abstracts, EGU2016-17559-1, doi: 10.13140/RG.2.1.4398.6322
  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Jähne-Klingberg, F., & Krzywiec, P., 2021. A new experimental approach to assess the influence of gravity gliding on salt tectonics in rift basins, EGU General Assembly 2021, online, 19–30 Apr 2021, EGU21-4659, doi: 10.5194/egusphere-egu21-4659, 2021
  • Warsitzka, M.,  Závada, P., Jähne-Klingberg, F., & Krzywiec, P., 2021. A new analogue modelling approach integrating the effects of tectonic extension and gravity gliding on salt tectonics in rift basins, GeoMod 2021, September 19-23, Doorn, The Netherlands.
  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Jähne-Klingberg, F., and Krzywiec, P., 2021. Gravity gliding vs. gravity spreading – A new experimental apparatus to model salt tectonics in extensional basins, AAPG Europe workshop: Evaporite Process and Systems: Integrating Perspectives, Salzburg, Austria.

Data publications

  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Jähne-Klingberg, F., & Krzywiec, P., 2021. Analog laboratory experiments of gravity gliding in salt-bearing rift basins. PANGAEA, doi: 10.1594/PANGAEA.931848
  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Krýza, O., Pohlenz, A., & Rosenau, M., 2021. Ring-shear test data of quartz sand – silicate cenospheres mixtures used for analogue experiments at the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague. V. 1. GFZ Data Services. doi: 10.5880/fidgeo.2021.024
  • Warsitzka, M., Závada, P., Pohlenz, A., & Rosenau, M., 2018. Ring-shear test data of quartz sand used for analogue experiments in the laboratory of the Institute of Geophysics of the Czech Academy of Science, Prague. GFZ Data Services. doi: 10.5880/GFZ.4.1.2019.008

Theses