Laboratory study of fault healing and lithification in simulated fault gouge under hydrothermal conditions

Karner, Stephen L.; Marone, Chris; Evans, Brian

doi:10.1016/s0040-1951(97)00077-2

Cited by 137 publications

(138 citation statements)

References 40 publications

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“…Similar results are obtained for the same region using a different relocated catalog [Schaff et al, 2002], consistent with this interpretation. The result of a weak dependence of moment trends (q values) on depth is also compatible with the laboratory studies showing decreasing fault-healing rates with increasing temperature [Karner et al, 1997].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Systematic variations in recurrence interval and moment of repeating aftershocks

Peng

Vidale

Marone

et al. 2005

Geophysical Research Letters

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[1] The recurrence intervals for 194 repeating clusters on the Calaveras fault follow a power-law decay relation with elapsed time after the 1984 M6.2 Morgan Hill, California, mainshock. The decay rates of repeating aftershocks in the immediate vicinity of a high-slip patch that failed during the mainshock systematically exceed those that are farther away. The trend between relative moment and recurrence interval, which is a measure of the fault-healing rate, varies systematically with depth and changes from negative to positive value as the distance between the repeating aftershock and the mainshock slip patch increases. We speculate that high strain rate in the early postseismic period may cause transient embrittlement and strengthening of the deep repeating clusters in the areas adjacent to the mainshock slip patch, resulting in large moments that decrease with time as the strain rate diminishes. Our observations suggest that systematic behavior of repeating aftershocks reflect variations in the fault zone rheology.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 88%

Systematic variations in recurrence interval and moment of repeating aftershocks

Peng

Vidale

Marone

et al. 2005

Geophysical Research Letters

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“…This type of effect has been observed in so-called slide-hold-slide experiments on fine-grained quartz gouge under hydrothermal conditions [Fredrich and Evans, 1992;Karner et al, 1997]. In these experiments a temperature-dependent increase in peak strength after the "hold" periods was observed.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 53%

Slip behavior of simulated gouge‐bearing faults under conditions favoring pressure solution

Bos¹,

Peach²,

Spiers³

2000

J. Geophys. Res.

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Abstract. Geophysical observations as well as deformation experiments indicate that under hydrothermal conditions, crustal faults can be significantly weakened with respect to conventional brittle-plastic strength envelopes. Pressure solution has long been proposed as a mechanism leading to fault weakness. However, pressure solution has also been proposed as contributing to interseismic fault healing, and the competition between the weakening and healing effects of pressure solution is unclear. To investigate this issue, we have conducted rotary shear experiments on synthetic faults containing granular halite (NaC1) gouge using NaCl-saturated mixtures of water and methanol as pore fluid. The NaCl-water-methanol system was chosen as a rock analogue because pressure solution is known to be important in this system at ambient conditions. We explored the influence of varying pore fluid composition (hence pressure solution rate), gouge grain size, and wall rock surface roughness, as well as normal stress and sliding velocity on slip behavior. All experiments were done under drained conditions. An acoustic emission detection system allowed detection of brittle events in the gouge. The results show no evidence for steady state pressure solution-controlled fault slip. Frictional, rate-insensitive behavior was observed, whereas the microstructures and compaction behavior clearly demonstrated that pressure solution was active in the gouge. Our data show that fluid-assisted healing effects dominated over weakening, caus'ing fault strength to be controlled mainly by brittle-frictional processes. Existing models describing pressure solution-controlled fault creep may not be applicable to a porous gouge undergoing compaction as well as slip.

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“…Sibson 1973Sibson , 1977Hickman et al 1995;Seront et al 1998;Gudmundsson et al 2001;Zoback & Townend 2001;Crampin et al 2002;Ganerød et al 2008). Experimental data have shown that fluid-involved processes, which control fault strength and permeability, include fault healing through pressure solution and hydrothermal precipitation of minerals (Karner et al 1997;Olsen et al 1998;Bos & Spiers 2000;Kanagawa et al 2000;Nakatini & Scholz 2004). However, observations and analysis of fault rock, fluid interactions and fluid behaviour (including fluid pore pressure) from natural examples are relatively scarce in the literature (e.g.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

On Palaeozoic–Mesozoic brittle normal faults along the SW Barents Sea margin: fault processes and implications for basement permeability and margin evolution

Indrevær

Stünitz

Bergh

2014

JGS

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Palaeozoic–Mesozoic brittle normal faults onshore along the SW Barents Sea passive margin off northern Norway give valuable insight into fault and fluid flow processes from the lower brittle crust. Microstructural evidence suggests that Late Permian–Early Triassic faulting took place during multiple phases, with initial fault movement at minimum P–T conditions of c . 300 °C and c . 240 MPa ( c . 10 km depth), followed by later fault movement at minimum P–T conditions of c . 275 °C and c . 220 MPa ( c . 8.5 km depth). The study shows that pore pressures locally reached lithostatic levels (240 MPa) during faulting and that faulting came to a halt during early (deep) stages of rifting along the margin. Fault permeability has been controlled by healing and precipitation processes through time, which have sealed off the core zone and eventually the damage zones after faulting. A minimum average exhumation rate of c . 40 m Ma −1 since the Late Permian is estimated. It implies that the debated Late Cenozoic uplift of the margin may be explained by increased erosion rates in the coastal regions owing to climate detoriation, which caused subsequent isostatic recalibration and uplift of the marginal crust. The studied faults may be used as analogues of basement-involved fault complexes offshore, revealing details about the offshore nature of faulting, including past and present basement and fault zone permeability.

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Laboratory study of fault healing and lithification in simulated fault gouge under hydrothermal conditions

Cited by 137 publications

References 40 publications

Systematic variations in recurrence interval and moment of repeating aftershocks

Systematic variations in recurrence interval and moment of repeating aftershocks

Slip behavior of simulated gouge‐bearing faults under conditions favoring pressure solution

On Palaeozoic–Mesozoic brittle normal faults along the SW Barents Sea margin: fault processes and implications for basement permeability and margin evolution

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