The Relationship between Fluid Flow, Structures, and Depositional Architecture in Sedimentary Rocks: An Example-Based Overview

Figure 13

Schematic illustration of the examples of controls on fluid flow in sedimentary rocks presented herein, using iron oxide precipitates (orange) as indicator of palaeofluid flow. The fluid flow controls are divided into six groups based upon the main control: (i) host rock properties and depositional architecture, as shown in Figure 3; (ii) geological structures as conduits or barriers, as shown in Figures 4, 5 and 6; (iii) anisotropy in fracture populations, as shown in Figure 7; (iv) geometry and connectivity, as shown in Figure 8; (v) kinematics and interaction, as shown in Figures 9 and 11; (vi) hybrid depositional-structural conduit networks, as shown in Figure 12. All of these controls may also interact with each other, as illustrated in the top left corner.