Contemporary stress state in the Zhao–Ping metallogenic belt, eastern China, and its correlation to regional geological tectonics

Abstract In this article, the contemporary stress state of the Zhao–Ping metallogenic belt in eastern China was revealed using overcoring and hydraulic fracturing stress data, the relation between the stress field and geological tectonics was discussed, and the stability of regional faults under the present-day stress environment was evaluated. The results indicate that the stress level is considerably high, and the distribution of stress intensity is uneven. The stress regime is primarily characterized by σ H > σ v > σ h . The σ H orientation is well-oriented in the WNW–ESE, which is roughly identical to other stress indicators. Moreover, the σ H direction reflected by joint strikes and inferred based on the fault characteristics agrees fairly with the identified stress orientation. The modern stress field basically inherited the tectonic stress field of the Yanshanian and Himalayan periods but is principally dominated by the Himalayan period. Additionally, the calculated µ m ranges from 0.2 to 0.7, indicating that the possibility of shallow faults across this area being reactivated and experiencing shear failure is small overall under the current stress conditions. µ m = 0.2 and 0.5 are suggested as the lower and upper limits for predicting and analyzing future fault activity in the area, respectively.