Author(s)

Djedi S. Widarto^1*, Tedi Yudistira², Jun-Ichi Nishida³, Ikuo Katsura⁴, Eddy Z. Gaffar⁵, Susumu Nishimura⁴

¹Upstream Technology Center, PT Pertamina (Persero), Jakarta, Indonesia.
²Department of Geophysical Engineering, Bandung Institute of Technology, Bandung, Indonesia.
³Faculty of Literary, Ohtani University, Kyoto, Japan.
⁴Kyoto Institute of Natural History, Kyoto, Japan.
⁵Research Centre for Geotechnology—LIPI, Bandung, Indonesia.

We have imaged rock density distribution beneath Liwa fracture zone in the southern part of the the Sumatran Fault Zone by modelling and inverting Bouguer gravity data in two-and three-dimensional environments, respectively. The purpose of this study is aimed to figure out the subsurface distribution of rock densities associated with subsurface basement structure representing the evidence of trans-tensional tectonic product in the SF. In the gravity modeling, to eliminate distortions to the measured gravity values before modelling and inverting the data, Bouguer anomalies obtained in field measurements are reduced to the horizontal plane of z = +800 m as a representation of the average elevation in Liwa. For the inversion, we used algorithm implementing depth-and minimum volume weighting parameters in order to obtain a smooth model with better vertical resolution. The two-dimensional models show clearly surface topography of the basement rocks and the presence of normal faults. The reduced Bouguer anomaly of +800 m elevation shows the presence of structural lineaments extending primarily in a northwest-southeast direction, parallel to Sumatran Fault Zone and older graben faults showing a negative flower structure. From the three-dimensional inversion, the model illustrates an increase of density contrast, lower values being found near the surface and higher values in the deeper parts. The lower density contrast of 0.15 to 0.3 g/cm³ found in the rock groups at depths of 2 km and less is characteristic of relatively homogeneous and poorly compacted rocks. Rocks with moderate to high density contrast (>1.0 g/cm³) are recognized at depths of over 2 km. This model suggests a change of basement morphology as a function of depth, and delineates structural lineaments extending in northwest-southeast direction. This study supports the previous thought that Liwa area is underlain by graben structures, formed by trans-tensional tectonic events. Higher-density Tertiary volcanic breccia and lower-density Quaternary volcanic products of the Ranau Formation form the basement rocks and the overlying younger sediments, respectively.

Gravity Imaging, Rock Density, Fracture Zone, 2D Modeling, 3D Inversion, Density Contrast

Widarto, D. , Yudistira, T. , Nishida, J. , Katsura, I. , Gaffar, E. and Nishimura, S. (2016) Imaging Rock Density Distribution beneath Liwa Fracture Zone in the Southern Part of the Great Sumatran Fault System, Indonesia. International Journal of Geosciences, 7, 598-614. doi: 10.4236/ijg.2016.74046.