Fractures and faults across intrusion-induced forced folds: a georesource perspective

Intruding magma can create space by uplift and elastic bending of the overburden, which locally fractures the deforming volume and produces flat-topped or dome-like forced folds. Here, I map such fracture networks and quantify their geometry and connectivity across a range of natural and modelled intrusion-induced forced folds. I show that there is a positive relationship between forced fold length and amplitude, and all fracture networks comprise traces, with variable lengths and orientations, that are more intense and denser where fold curvature is greatest. Fracture length populations are typically best described by power-law distributions, but some fit better to log-normal or exponential distributions. Connectivity of fracture networks is low and generally increases with folding, but resurfacing by eruptive products can disrupt this trend. My work supports previous analyses of forced folds and fractures, suggesting that we can use the fracture characteristics of exposed forced folds to predict that of buried forced folds. Due to their geometry and fracture network, intrusion-induced forced folds make ideal fluid traps. As these forced folds are common in many volcanic settings and sedimentary basins, we should consider their potential as exploration targets for water, magmatic-related mineral and metal deposits, and particularly CO₂ storage.