Characterisation of interactions between a pre-existing polygonal fault system and sandstone intrusions and the determination of paleo-stresses in the Faroe-Shetland basin

Detailed analysis of 3D seismic data shows how hundreds of large scale conical sandstone intrusions interact with a polygonal fault network in the Faroe-Shetland basin. The intrusions were injected upwards during the Late Miocene through polygonally faulted claystones of Eocene–Oligocene age. Three types of interactions are recognized: (1) intrusions that are unaffected by polygonal faults, (2) intrusions partially or fully intruded into fault planes, and (3) intrusions arrested by polygonal faults. Type 2 intrusions are generally thinner, taller and wider, whereas those unaffected by faults are thicker and characterized by low dips of intrusive limbs (wings). It was found that Type 2 intrusions preferentially intruded into faults striking NW–SE, whereas Type 3 intrusions were arrested by faults striking NE–SW. Comparison of structural data and simple mechanical predictions allows paleostresses to be reconstructed at the time of intrusion. We have established that the basin was undergoing anisotropic horizontal stresses at the time of intrusions in which σH and σh were oriented N145°E and N055°E, respectively. Intrusion depth, polygonal fault dips and strikes have been used to quantify paleostress intensity and to give a σH/σV ratio close to 0.95 and a σh/σH ratio of 0.8. These ratios support the conclusion that sandstone intrusion emplacement occurred just after a Mid-Late Miocene SSE–NNW (N145°E) compressional phase when the compression direction had decreased in intensity and became smaller than lithostatic stress (σv).