Prediction of normal-fault geometries - a sensitivity analysis

Several workers have developed cross section balancing schemes for extensional structures. Using these geometric models, structural interpreters can predict normal-fault geometries at depth by specifying the shape of a folded bed in the hanging wall of a normal fault; the deformation mechanism that accommodates the folding, the footwall counterpart of the folded hanging-wall bed, and the dip and location of the fault segment between the hanging-wall and footwall beds. Sensitivity analysis shows that reasonable uncertainties in the fold shape near the normal fault, the deformation mechanism, the footwall correlation, and the fault dip produce large uncertainties in the predicted fault geometry. Reasonable uncertainties in the fold shape far from the normal fault and the fault location, however, produce only small uncertainties in the predicted fault geometry. -from Authors