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

Figure 2

(a) Example of a fracture network from the field at Ras ir Raheb, Malta. (b) Topological characterization of the example shown in (a), using topological nomenclature proposed by Sanderson and Nixon [44]. We differentiate between different types of nodes and branches. Nodes are classified as isolated nodes (I-nodes), abutting or splaying nodes (Y-nodes), or as crossing nodes (X-nodes). Branches are classified as isolated (I-I), partly connected (I-C), or fully connected (C-C). (c) Network showing only the connecting nodes. (d) Illustration of the connecting node frequency (connecting nodes/m²) of the fracture network.