{"paper_id":"007f1535-b72a-43eb-aaf0-ca4bbfb8061d","body_text":"Stress in the Geneva Basin | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Stress in the Geneva Basin Jon Mosar, Sandra Borderie, Louis Hauvette, Adeline Marro This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-4957032/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 May, 2025 Read the published version in Swiss Journal of Geosciences → Version 1 posted 11 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract In this paper we explore the stress orientation and magnitudes of the Greater Geneva Basin in the detached Alpine Foreland in Switzerland and France. The interpretation is based on shallow earthquake focal mechanisms from strike-slip faults. The area of investigation comprises the westernmost Molasse Basin, the Vuache mountain range formed by the Vuache Fault Zone and the meridional thrusts and folds of the Haute Chaine Jura (Internal Jura). All these domains are detached along a main décollement in the Triassic Keuper Group evaporites and transported by some 30 km to the NW. The whole foreland is presently in a state of critical stress, considering the ongoing seismic activity, with hydrostatic fluid pressure conditions and an Andersonian stress setting. It is thus possible to derive locally the full stress tensor and analyze the stress state of known individual faults. The Mohr circle analysis and the distance to criticality demonstrate that the hydrostatic fluid pressure conditions allow seismic activity on optimally oriented vertical faults. Less optimally oriented faults require an additional raise in fluid pressure conditions. Differential stress values are in the range of 100-150MPa, and max horizontal stress values range up to 200MPa. Similar values are derived from 2D numerical mechanical analysis using limit analysis theory of the basin applied to a very weak décollement and steep reverse faults. In this approach different friction states were explored. The fact that not all faults are hydraulically conductive, despite favorable orientation, suggest that a valve pressure system and repeated sealing of the faults is a likely process operation in the area. This has profound consequences on fluid circulation models in geothermal systems. Geneva Basin stress faults tectonics Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Published Journal Publication published 28 May, 2025 Read the published version in Swiss Journal of Geosciences → Version 1 posted Editorial decision: Revision requested 13 Dec, 2024 Reviews received at journal 12 Dec, 2024 Reviews received at journal 01 Oct, 2024 Reviews received at journal 30 Sep, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 03 Sep, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 02 Sep, 2024 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Aug, 2024 Reviewers invited by journal 26 Aug, 2024 Editor assigned by journal 23 Aug, 2024 Submission checks completed at journal 23 Aug, 2024 First submitted to journal 22 Aug, 2024 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. 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Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {\"props\":{\"pageProps\":{\"initialData\":{\"identity\":\"rs-4957032\",\"acceptedTermsAndConditions\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"archivedVersions\":[],\"articleType\":\"Research Article\",\"associatedPublications\":[],\"authors\":[{\"id\":355100623,\"identity\":\"bae20e16-5717-40df-b805-78667dd8e006\",\"order_by\":0,\"name\":\"Jon Mosar\",\"email\":\"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAAx0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYBACxgYYix3ISrABMiSI1sJzAKgljQgtCCCRACSI0cLc3nuA6UZFnbz5zDdmDx4k3GPgn92AXwtjz7kE5pwzhw3n3M4xN0hIKGaQuHOAgJYZOQbMuW0HGGdI55hJJP5IYDAAu5Cwljr7GZJnzCQSEojXwpw4Q4KHWC09ZwwOA/2SPIMnrQykhUfiBgEthu09ho9zKupsZ7Af3ib5IyFBjn8GIS0NDAwHkAV48KsHAnmCKkbBKBgFo2AUAACavz3O9rPyGgAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"University of Fribourg\",\"correspondingAuthor\":true,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Jon\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Mosar\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":355100624,\"identity\":\"d80adee7-86ac-4524-87df-da122edd929c\",\"order_by\":1,\"name\":\"Sandra Borderie\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"University of Fribourg\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Sandra\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Borderie\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":355100625,\"identity\":\"49069f0d-e0fa-4659-a3a3-f773f39e8253\",\"order_by\":2,\"name\":\"Louis Hauvette\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"Hydro-Géo Environnement Sàrl\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Louis\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Hauvette\",\"suffix\":\"\"},{\"id\":355100626,\"identity\":\"a933147d-f69f-4e0e-8e44-d8c3ed78ec1f\",\"order_by\":3,\"name\":\"Adeline Marro\",\"email\":\"\",\"orcid\":\"\",\"institution\":\"University of Fribourg\",\"correspondingAuthor\":false,\"prefix\":\"\",\"firstName\":\"Adeline\",\"middleName\":\"\",\"lastName\":\"Marro\",\"suffix\":\"\"}],\"badges\":[],\"createdAt\":\"2024-08-22 09:53:53\",\"currentVersionCode\":1,\"declarations\":\"\",\"doi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4957032/v1\",\"doiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4957032/v1\",\"draftVersion\":[],\"editorialEvents\":[{\"content\":\"https://doi.org/10.1186/s00015-025-00482-x\",\"type\":\"published\",\"date\":\"2025-05-28T15:56:56+00:00\"}],\"editorialNote\":\"\",\"failedWorkflow\":false,\"files\":[{\"id\":83782756,\"identity\":\"dac731a1-6d5a-4a10-83d3-e3c0552027b3\",\"added_by\":\"auto\",\"created_at\":\"2025-06-02 16:03:04\",\"extension\":\"pdf\",\"order_by\":1,\"title\":\"\",\"display\":\"\",\"copyAsset\":false,\"role\":\"manuscript-pdf\",\"size\":2692362,\"visible\":true,\"origin\":\"\",\"legend\":\"\",\"description\":\"\",\"filename\":\"MosarEarthquakesandstressintheGenevaBasin.pdf\",\"url\":\"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-4957032/v1_covered_dac85e65-553b-4cbd-8ba9-d465d287201c.pdf\"}],\"financialInterests\":\"No competing interests reported.\",\"formattedTitle\":\"Stress in the Geneva Basin\",\"fulltext\":[],\"fulltextSource\":\"\",\"fullText\":\"\",\"funders\":[],\"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow\":false,\"hasManuscriptDocX\":false,\"hasOptedInToPreprint\":true,\"hasPassedJournalQc\":\"\",\"hasAnyPriority\":false,\"hideJournal\":false,\"highlight\":\"\",\"institution\":\"\",\"isAcceptedByJournal\":true,\"isAuthorSuppliedPdf\":true,\"isDeskRejected\":\"\",\"isHiddenFromSearch\":false,\"isInQc\":false,\"isInWorkflow\":false,\"isPdf\":true,\"isPdfUpToDate\":true,\"isWithdrawnOrRetracted\":false,\"journal\":{\"display\":true,\"email\":\"info@researchsquare.com\",\"identity\":\"swiss-journal-of-geosciences\",\"isNatureJournal\":false,\"hasQc\":true,\"allowDirectSubmit\":false,\"externalIdentity\":\"sjge\",\"sideBox\":\"Learn more about [Swiss Journal of Geosciences](https://sjg.springeropen.com)\",\"snPcode\":\"15\",\"submissionUrl\":\"https://submission.nature.com/new-submission/15/3\",\"title\":\"Swiss Journal of Geosciences\",\"twitterHandle\":\"\",\"acdcEnabled\":true,\"dfaEnabled\":true,\"editorialSystem\":\"stoa\",\"reportingPortfolio\":\"Springer Open\",\"inReviewEnabled\":true,\"inReviewRevisionsEnabled\":true},\"keywords\":\"Geneva Basin, stress, faults, tectonics\",\"lastPublishedDoi\":\"10.21203/rs.3.rs-4957032/v1\",\"lastPublishedDoiUrl\":\"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-4957032/v1\",\"license\":{\"name\":\"CC BY 4.0\",\"url\":\"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/\"},\"manuscriptAbstract\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eIn this paper we explore the stress orientation and magnitudes of the Greater Geneva Basin in the detached Alpine Foreland in Switzerland and France. The interpretation is based on shallow earthquake focal mechanisms from strike-slip faults. The area of investigation comprises the westernmost Molasse Basin, the Vuache mountain range formed by the Vuache Fault Zone and the meridional thrusts and folds of the Haute Chaine Jura (Internal Jura). All these domains are detached along a main d\\u0026eacute;collement in the Triassic Keuper Group evaporites and transported by some 30 km to the NW. The whole foreland is presently in a state of critical stress, considering the ongoing seismic activity, with hydrostatic fluid pressure conditions and an Andersonian stress setting. It is thus possible to derive locally the full stress tensor and analyze the stress state of known individual faults. The Mohr circle analysis and the distance to criticality demonstrate that the hydrostatic fluid pressure conditions allow seismic activity on optimally oriented vertical faults. Less optimally oriented faults require an additional raise in fluid pressure conditions. Differential stress values are in the range of 100-150MPa, and max horizontal stress values range up to 200MPa. Similar values are derived from 2D numerical mechanical analysis using limit analysis theory of the basin applied to a very weak d\\u0026eacute;collement and steep reverse faults. In this approach different friction states were explored. The fact that not all faults are hydraulically conductive, despite favorable orientation, suggest that a valve pressure system and repeated sealing of the faults is a likely process operation in the area. 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