Je. Viruete et al., Two-dimensional geostatistical modeling and prediction of the fracture system in the Albala Granitic Pluton, SW Iberian Massif, Spain, J STRUC GEO, 23(12), 2001, pp. 2011-2023
We use a fracture index distribution method of geostatistical modelling and
prediction to characterize quantitatively the fracture system in two-dimen
sions (2D) in the Mina Ratones area, located in the Albala Granitic Pluton
(SW Iberian Massif). The fracture index (FI) is a quantitative estimate of
the fracture density in discrete domains. To validate the results of geosta
tistical modeling a detailed structural map of the area was also made on a
scale of 1:1000. The resulting grids, expressed as pixel-maps, describe the
continuous value of the FI in 2D for the whole Mina Ratones area. Based on
the modelled distribution of the FI and their correlation with mapped faul
ts, we distinguish two structural domains in the studied area: elongated ba
nds of fracture zones with high FI values and romboidal blocks located betw
een them with low FI values. The separation between both domains is gradual
. Though a threshold value of the FI that separate both structural domains
is not clearly defined, the fracture zones generally present FI > 1 and the
individualized blocks FI < 0.50. As a consequence, the obtained grid of th
e FI permits the quantitative structural classification of the granitic mas
sif in 2D and understanding fault zone architecture in the Mina Ratones are
a. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.