Borehole Seismic Investigations of Fractures in Crustal Stress Regimes

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Aligned vertical fractures in the crust may be conveniently and accurately observed by S-wave seismometry. Vertically propagating S-waves move at slightly different speeds depending upon the polarization of the S-waves with respect to the alignment of the fracture population. S-waves polarized along the fracture faces propagate faster than do S-waves polarized normal to aligned fracture faces. The S-wave speed differential or S-wave splitting is analogous to birefringence in crystals.