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THE SIGNIFICANCE OF DIFFRACTION IN THE INVESTIGATION OF FAULTS *
Author(s) -
KREY THEODOR
Publication year - 1961
Publication title -
geophysical prospecting
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.735
H-Index - 79
eISSN - 1365-2478
pISSN - 0016-8025
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2478.1961.tb01691.x
Subject(s) - classification of discontinuities , diffraction , geology , reflection (computer programming) , seismology , fault (geology) , interpretation (philosophy) , oscillation (cell signaling) , horizon , facies , geometry , optics , paleontology , physics , mathematics , chemistry , computer science , mathematical analysis , biochemistry , structural basin , programming language
A bstract Seismic reflection records taken across faults frequently show an overlapping of reflections from the displaced blocks. It is demonstrated that diffraction of seismic waves is a cause and the effect may be used in interpretation. Overlapping is increased if a seismic profile crosses a fault at an acute angle. Plotted dips will be inaccurate unless diffraction is taken into account. Further, the diffraction oscillation pattern will also be obtained if a reflection horizon terminates for a reason other than faulting, for example, at a wedgeout or reef edge, or at a sudden change of facies. The facts developed are demonstrated by practical examples in which attention is directed to the approximations involved in plotting the boundaries of discontinuities.