Assessing The Role of Pull-Apart Basins - Sutrisno
Assessing The Role of Pull-Apart Basins - Sutrisno
Assessing The Role of Pull-Apart Basins - Sutrisno
Geothermal Congress 2019
Den Haag, The Netherlands, 11‐14 June 2019
Assessing the role of pull-apart basins for high-temperature geothermal
resources in transcurrent tectonic setting: Sumatra and California compared
Lukman Sutrisno 1, Damien Bonte 1, Yunus Daud 2, Jeroen Smit 1, Fred Beekman 1,
Jan Diederik Van Wees 1,3, Widodo Purwanto 2
1
Utrecht University, Utrecht, the Netherlands
2
Universitas Indonesian, Jakarta, Indonesia
3
TNO, Utrecht, the Netherlands
Keywords: Sumatran Arc, Gulf of California, pull- some can be also created by leaching in hydrothermal
apart basin, volcanic geothermal system alteration processes or diagenesis (Bogie et al., 2015).
In fact, the overriding plate is composed by several 2014). Those features tend to resist subduction and
microcontinents which amalgamated during Palaeozoic create inward deflection of the trench from regular arc
and Mesozoic (Barber and Crow, 2003). Geologic shape (Figure 2). Seismic tomographic model shows
inheritances from each tectonic blocks in form of pre- that the subducted ridge also formed tearing in the slab
existing basement structures, and sutures bring in the (Hall and Spakman, 2015), separating step subduction
heterogeneities in overriding plate, which strongly dip angle in the south and more gentle dip angle in the
affect much younger structures, such as the Sumatran north. This slab tearing has significant impact in
Fault. magmatism below and within the overriding plate
(Koulakov et al., 2016), while the differences in
subduction dip angle responsible for different volcanic
(A) arc location with respect to the Sumatran Fault (Figure
2).
EB
subduction. Sieh and Natawidjaja (2000) suggests there beneath Sumatra from seismic tomography disapprove
is no relationship between young volcanoes and the previous interpretation (Hall and Spakman, 2015),
fault based on random distribution of the volcanoes while show that the shifting of volcanism is related to
with respect to surface fault traces. However, other more gentle subduction sip angle. Volcanic centres
authors (Bellier and Sebrier, 1994; McCarthy and have isolated distribution on top of thrust-fold belt of
Elders, 1997; Muraoka et al., 2010) proposed the Pre-Tertiary basements and Tertiary formations. This
interplay between volcanism and magmatism, and setting implies that most of geothermal systems occur
strike-slip faulting. Together, the strike-slip fault in the flank of volcanic centres with limited influence
system and its subsidiary structures, and Quaternary from Sumatran Fault, except in the northern end of this
volcanic centres form distinct elevated morphology domain where the volcanism shifts back toward the
along most of the western half of the island known as Sumatran Fault and strongly controlled by conjugate
Bukit Barisan range. fault system within strike-slip setting.
2.2 Tectono-volcanic subdivision of Sumatran Arc Toba Caldera dominates the central domain. Tearing in
Based on the spatial relationship between the Sumatran the slab act as window which for mantle upward flow,
Fault System and Quaternary volcanic centres it is leads to voluminous magmatism in the base of
proposed to divide Sumatran Arc or Bukit Barisan lithosphere, as well as within the crust, as indicated by
range into three domains (Sutrisno et al., 2019, geophysical model (Koulakov et al., 2016) and
manuscript in preparation). This tectono-volcanic petrologic data (Gasparon and Varne, 1995). The
subdivision (Figure 3) resembles three structural regional uplift around Toba Caldera may also
domains of Sumatran Fault proposed by Sieh and associated with thermal expansion of shallow
Natawidjaja (2000). Volcanic-related geothermal accumulation of magma beneath the region. In this
systems occur in each tectono-volcanic domain have domain geothermal systems are associated with
distinct plays, therefore proposed subdivision is resurgence volcanism around the caldera margins.
essential for further geothermal system
Coexistence of Quaternary volcanic centres and its
characterization.
extrusive rocks with the Sumatran Fault System marks
the southern domain. Some volcanic centres, both
(A) active and inactive, are located close to, main strike slip
fault strands, transtensional, or transpressional area
between segments of the Sumatran Fault. This spatial
proximity between the regional fault zone and
volcanism influences the geothermal systems within.
Figure 3:
Tectono-volcanic 3. INTRA-ARC PULL-APART BASIN AND
subdivision of the VOLCANIC GEOTHERMAL SYSTEM ALONG
Sumatran Arc in map SUMATRAN ARC
(A) and schematic All but one intra-arc pull-apart basins which are
diagram (B) discussed in this paper are located in the southern
domain. Summary of 14 studied intra-arc pull-apart
basins is presented in Table 1.
MSTZ. These structures are continuous to back-arc strike-slip faults, raise uncertainty whether it is really
basins as reported by Pulunggono et al (1992). The pull-apart basin, or collapse caldera which latter
Sumatran Fault is slightly deflected when it intersects intersected by strike-slip faulting. Sarulla is in other
these WNW-ESE oriented structures, creates fault extreme side as its L/W is 12, indicates that this pull-
bending or step-over. Pull-apart basin is then created apart basin is very narrow and extensively stretched.
when the step-over is dextral. This extreme L/W may be also
NW-SE cross basinal fault (not so G. Sekincau (77 km2); Geothermal systems in the flank of G. Sekincau; several
Gravity Distal, interlayered with
Suwoh 11 7 1.6 90 2200 obvious, indicated by river several smaller monogenetic domes in 15 Suwoh and Sekincau systems along basin margins (Suwoh) may be controlled
(EBT KE, 2017) aluvial deposits
channel) the south by monogenetic domes
Uncertain whether it is pull-apart N/A Dilute warmsprings along the lake shoreline in the slope
Ranau 10 12 0.8 125 N/A basin or collapse caldera
G. Seminung (23 km2) 7 (covered by lake)
Talaga Ranau
of G. Seminung; likely controlled by volcano
Somepart are covered by Few warmsprings along NW border faults; maybe distal
Talang Kemang 31 6 5.2 174 N/A - G. Kabaa (86 km2) 35 Quternary volcaniclastics
Kabaa
outflow from G. Kabaa
Lake Diatas and Lake Dibawah Geothermal systems are controlled by volcanism;
Gunung Talang 10 5 2 71 N/A may be separated by cross-basinal G. Talang (68 km2) 5 Central-medial G.Talang-Bukitkili circulates outside the basin with minimum influence from
fault the basinal faults
N/A
Singkarak 23 7 3.3 108 N/A - - - (covered by lake)
Singkarak Dilute warmsprings
Sarulla systems (Namora- Except Silangkitan which is controlled basin's border fault,
97 (excl. Gravity Namora-i-Langit complex (40 km2), Somepart are covered by
Sarulla 42 3 14 2200 (Hickman et al., 2004)
Very narrow pull-apart systems
Sibualbuali 80 km2)
5 Quternary volcaniclastics
i-Langit, Silangkitan, all systems are mainly controlled by volcanism around the
Sibualbuali) Donotasik, Sibualbuali) basin
MT
Tarutung 7 3 2.3 28 1300 (Niasari et al., 2015)
- G. Martimbang (10 km2) 5 Mainly aluvial deposits Sipoholon Dilute warmsprings
Kutacane 76 9 8 500 N/A Located in the Northern Domain G. Kembar (43 km2) 14 Aluvial deposits Gunung Kembar Dilute warmsprings as distal outflow from G. Kembar
Occurrence of these splay structures also cause the 3.2 Cross-basinal fault and dual depocenters
tendency of pull-apart basins to be wider toward its SE- Cross-basinal faults are observed in several pull-apart
ends. It is observed clearly in Hululais, Sungai Penuh basins. In Ulubelu, NW-SE cross-basinal fault acts as
and Muaralabuh (Table 1). The width of those basins permeable pathway for geothermal convective flow and
range from 3 km in its NW end, then widen up to 7-10 intersected by several productive wells. In Suwoh same
km in the SE end. Considering irregularity of its shape, structure is interpreted from a river flows inside the
it is difficult to apply shape classification proposed by basin. In Gunung Talang, cross-basinal fault separates
Mann et al (1983) to describe studied pull-apart basin. two depression lakes.
The size of pull-apart basins varies from less than 30 The basins with observed or interpreted cross-basinal
km2 to as large as 500 km2, with average areal extent fault consistently have small L/W value. It is in
is 140 km2. Depth of those basins ranges from 800 m agreement with Van Wijk et al (2017) who based on
to more than 2000 m, although available data are very numerical modelling concluded that elongated pull-
limited to know exactly the overall depth range. More apart basin with large L/W is less likely to form cross-
than half of those basin have length to width ratio (L/W) basinal fault which connect the tip of two over-stepping
much larger than 3, the general value for L/W for pull- master faults.
apart basin as proposed by Aydin and Nur (1982).
Therefore, most of the pull-apart basin have elongated In Muaralabuh, conceptual model contrained by wells
shape resembles rhomboidal to stretched rhomboid in and confirmed by gravity anomalies indicate the
classification of Mann et al (1983). The most extreme occurrence of two sub basins separated by horst in
cases are Ranau and Sarulla. between (Mussofan et al., 2018). This is in agreement
with results from analogue modelling for transtensional
Ranau has L/W much less than 3. This value and its setting with master faults are slightly oblique to
peculiar shape, as it is too perpendicular to master transcurrent movement (Wu et al., 2009).
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Sutrisno et al.
Conversely, clay rich units tend to form impermeable As situated within the pull-apart basin, thermal
cores within intersecting faults (Rowland and Sibson, anomalies in both Cerro Prieto and Salton Sea are due
2004 after Caine et al., 1996). This may explain absence to elevated heat flow induced by crustal thinning in
of thermal manifestation in the middle of the clay rich active transtensional setting (Prol-Ledesma et al., 2016;
basin as it lacks of vertical permeable conduits. Kaspereit et al., 2016). On top the thinning of the crust
is followed by subsidence and rapid sedimentation of
The interior within the pull-apart basin is important as continental sediments, while in the bottom extended
it creates compartmentalization within the basin. Cross- crust is intruded by gabbroic magma (Lachenbruch et
basinal fault can act as permeable pathway as in al., 1985). Volcanic centres and extrusive domes in the
Ulubelu, or may act as compartment, as it separates vicinity of those pull-apart basins hardly affect the
eastern (Srirejo) and western geothermal system geothermal systems in both Cerro Prieto and Salton
(Kalibata) in Suwoh basin. Basement high or horst in Sea.
Muaralabuh provides permeability for fault-controlled
circulating hydrothermal fluids, bounded by eastern
and western sub-basins which are somehow tight.
(A)
(A)
(B)
(B)
Figure 5: A. Facies model (Williams and McBirney,
1979) and the likelihood of fault permeability
(modified from Rowland and Sibson, 2004); B.
Conceptual model of pull-apart basins, nearby
volcanic centres and thermal manifestation; red
represents monogenetic domes; Kx, Ky, and Kz
are permeability in three cardinal axis Figure 6: A. Tectonic setting of Gulf of California and
location of pull-apart basins and geothermal
4. COMPARISON TO GULF OF CALIFORNIA field (Kaspereit et al, 2016); Salton Sea (1),
In California, linkage between the opening of Gulf of Cerro Prieto (2), and Las Tres Virgenes (3); B.
California in the south and transition to transform plate Conceptual model of Salton Sea (Karpereit et al,
boundary in the north are accommodated by series of 2016), Cerro Prieto (Prol-Ledesma et al., 2016),
NW-SE strike-slip faults, and subsequently creates and Las Tres Virgenes geothermal system (Prol-
pull-apart basins between step-over of those faults Ledesma et al., 2016), yellow triangle is volcanic
(Figure 6A). At least three known geothermal systems centres; note that in Salton Sea and Cerro Prieto
occur within this tectonic setting. Salton Sea and Cerro geothermal systems are contained within pull-
Prieto are located in the northern end of the gulf, while apart basin, while Les Tres Virgenes shows
Las Tres Virgenes is in the central part of Baja typical volcanic geothermal system
California Peninsula, situated in the western side of one
of the NW-SE transform fault series. Although the size of individual pull-apart basin in
Sumatra and Gulf of California is comparable, contrast
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