Friction in faulted rock at high temperature and pressure

Stesky, Robert; Brace, W. F.; Riley, Don K; Robin, Pierre-Yves F.

doi:10.1016/0040-1951(74)90119-x

Cited by 282 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 17 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…The most recent studies of mantle seismicity [Wilcock et al, 1990;Abercrombie and Ekström, 2003] and thermal models [McKenzie et al, 2005] suggest that seismicity is restricted to depths where the temperature is less than approximately 600°C, indicating that a transition from unstable to stable frictional sliding occurs with an increase in temperature above 600°C. By contrast, previous experimental work on the frictional behavior of olivine aggregates showed this stability transition at significantly lower temperatures, T % 200°C [Stesky et al, 1974;Stesky, 1978aStesky, , 1978b. We present new experimental data that are consistent with the geophysical observations.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Olivine friction at the base of oceanic seismogenic zones

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

[1] We investigate the strength and frictional behavior of olivine aggregates at temperatures and effective confining pressures similar to those at the base of the seismogenic zone on a typical ridge transform fault. Triaxial compression tests were conducted on dry olivine powder (grain size 60 mm) at effective confining pressures between 50 and 300 MPa (using Argon as a pore fluid), temperatures between 600°C and 1000°C, and axial displacement rates from 0.06 to 60 mm/s (axial strain rates from 3 Â 10 À6 to 3 Â 10 À3 s À1 ). Yielding shows a negative pressure dependence, consistent with predictions for shear enhanced compaction and with the observation that samples exhibit compaction during the initial stages of the experiments. A combination of mechanical data and microstructural observations demonstrate that deformation was accommodated by frictional processes. Sample strengths were pressure-dependent and nearly independent of temperature. Localized shear zones formed in initially homogeneous aggregates early in the experiments. The frictional response to changes in loading rate is well described by rate and state constitutive laws, with a transition from velocity-weakening to velocity-strengthening at 1000°C. Microstructural observations and physical models indicate that plastic yielding of asperities at high temperatures and low axial strain rates stabilizes frictional sliding. Extrapolation of our experimental data to geologic strain rates indicates that a transition from velocity weakening to velocity strengthening occurs at approximately 600°C, consistent with the focal depths of earthquakes in the oceanic lithosphere.

show abstract

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Olivine friction at the base of oceanic seismogenic zones

2007

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Each measurement showed systematic variation with temperature. Blanpied et al [1991] similarly measured the velocity dependence for wet granite gouge and found a much stronger effect of temperature than that for the dry gouges of Lockner et al [1986] or Stesky [1975Stesky [ , 1978. We lack a detailed understanding of the physical and chemical processes that underlie the frictional velocity response and its dependence on temperature, and thus also of the link between each constitutive parameter and the microprocesses that determine its magnitude.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 94%

Quantitative measure of the variation in fault rheology due to fluid‐rock interactions

et al. 1998

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Abstract. We analyze friction data from two published suites of laboratory tests on granite in order to explore and quantify the effects of temperature (T) and pore water pressure (Pp) on the sliding behavior of faults. Rate-stepping sliding tests were performed on laboratory faults in gran- can also be fitted with one state variable. In contrast, wet tests above 350 ø require higher direct rate dependence (a = 0.03 to 0.12), plus a second state variable with large, negative amplitude (b2 = -0.03 to -0.14) and large characteristic displacement (Dc2 = 300 to >4000 gm). Thus the parameters a, bl, and b2 for wet granite show a pronounced change in their temperature dependence in the range 270 ø to 350øC, which may reflect a change in underlying deformation mechanism. We quantify the trends in parameter values from 25 ø to 600øC by piecewise linear regressions, which provide a straightforward means to incorporate the full constitutive response of granite into numerical models of fault slip. The modeling results suggest that the succeptibility for unstable (stick-slip) sliding is maximized between 90 ø and 360øC, in agreement with laboratory observations and consistent with the depth range of earthquakes on mature faults in the continental crust.

show abstract

“…The dominant ductile deformation behavior of this phase indicates that the rocks were deeper than 12 km. For the second deformation phase (F2), the brittle behavior of biotite crystals that accommodated shortening through kinks is typical for temperatures below 250°C, according to Stesky et al (1974) and Stesky (1978). This is corroborated by the intense fracturing, subgrain rotation recrystallization and recovery processes of the quartz crystals, in addition to the intense precipitation of residual material caused by pressure dissolution along the S2 planes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 95%

Polyphase deformation and metamorphism of the Cuiabá group in the Poconé region (MT), Paraguay Fold and Thrust Belt: kinematic and tectonic implications

2015

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Several deformation models have been proposed for the Paraguay Belt, which primarily differ in the number of phases of deformation, direction of vergence and tectonic style. Structural features presented in this work indicate that the tectonics was dominated by low dip thrust sheets in an initial phase, followed by two progressive deformation phases. The first phase of deformation is characterized by a slate cleavage and axial plane of isoclinal recumbent folds with a NE axial direction, with a recrystallization of the minerals in the greenschist facies associated with horizontal shear zones with a top-to-the-SE sense of movement. The second stage shows vergence towards the NW, characterized by crenulation cleavage axial plane to F2 open folds over S0 and S1, locally associated with reverse faults. The third phase of deformation is characterized by subvertical faults and fractures with a NW direction showing sinistral movement, which are commonly filled by quartz veins. The collection of tectonic structures and metamorphic paragenesis described indicate that the most intense deformation at the deeper crustal level, greenschistfacies, occurred during F1, which accommodated significant crustal shortening through isoclinal recumbent folds and shear zones with low dip angles and hangwall movement to the SE, in a thin-skinned tectonic regime. The F2 deformation phase was less intense and had a brittle to ductile behavior that accommodated a slight shortening through normal open subvertical folds, and reverse faults developed in shallower crustal level, with vergence towards the Amazonian Craton. The third phase was less pervasive, and the shortening was accommodated by relief subvertical sinistral faults.

show abstract

Friction in faulted rock at high temperature and pressure

Cited by 282 publications

References 17 publications

Olivine friction at the base of oceanic seismogenic zones

Olivine friction at the base of oceanic seismogenic zones

Quantitative measure of the variation in fault rheology due to fluid‐rock interactions

Polyphase deformation and metamorphism of the Cuiabá group in the Poconé region (MT), Paraguay Fold and Thrust Belt: kinematic and tectonic implications

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About