Quartz microstructures and deformation conditions in the Hatagawa shear zone, north-eastern Japan

Abstract Meso- and microscale structural analyses were carried out in the Hatagawa shear zone, north-eastern Japan. The shear zone is a sinistral strike–slip ductile shear zone, and has a 1-km wide north-south trending region where quartz mean grain size of approximately 35 μm does not vary significantly. Two types of quartz microstructures, A and B, occur in the western and eastern part of the shear zone, respectively. The lattice preferred orientation (LPO) patterns are characterized by a type I crossed girdle in the samples with the quartz microstructure A, and a Y maximum in the samples with the quartz microstructure B. The microstructures under optical and transmission electron microscopes indicates that the quartz recrystallization occurred predominantly by progressive subgrain rotation in microstructure A, and by both progressive subgrain rotation and grain boundary migration in microstructure B. This suggests different deformation conditions in the western and eastern parts of the shear zone. Quartz LPO patterns, presence of myrmekite, feldspar compositions, and dislocation density also suggest difference in the deformation conditions. The syn-deformation temperature in the western part of the shear zone was lower than that of the eastern part of the shear zone. The stress in the western part of the shear zone was higher than that of the eastern part of the shear zone. The difference in the deformation conditions would affect not only the quartz microstructure, but also the quartz LPO patterns and the presence of myrmekite around K-feldspar porphyroclasts.     

Strain localization behaviour in experimental shear zones

A torsional deformation apparatus has been developed which allows the evolution of microstructures and flow patterns in analogue materials to be observed to shear strains in excess of =100 while the loading conditions are kept constant. Using a computer-based video microscopy system the displacement paths of marker particles have been followed in real time, and from these the local strain states in the samples have been calculated. A series of velocity stepping experiments in octachloropropane and norbornene determined the shear localization behaviour displayed by these materials. Both of these materials underwent two phases of localization, a primary localization at the start of an experiment, and a secondary localization following increases in the imposed strain rate. The secondary localization is less pronounced, but is reversible, in the sense that lowering the imposed strain rate widens the zone. An inverse relationship between the fixed imposed strain rate and the width of the zone of localized deformation was established. This velocity dependant localization is ascribed to the softening effect of dynamic recrystallization.     

Strain and shear types of the Louzidian ductile shear zone in southern Chifeng, Inner Mongolia, China

The Louzidian ductile shear zone at the south of Chifeng strikes NE-SW and dips SE at low-medium- angles. This ductile shear zone is mainly composed of granitic mylonite, which grades structurally upward into a chloritized zone, a microbreccia zone, a brittle fault and a gouge zone. All these zones share similar planar attitudes, but contain different linear attitudes and kinematic indicators. Finite strain measurements were performed on feldspar porphyroclasts using the Fry method. These meas- urements yield Fulin indexes of 1.25―3.30, Lode's parameters of -0.535―-0.112 and strain parameters of 0.41―0.75 for the protomylonite, respectively. These data are plotted within the apparent constric- tional field in Fulin and Hossack diagrams. In contrast, for the mylonite, corresponding parameters are 0.99―1.43, -0.176―-0.004 and 0.63―0.82, respectively, and located in the apparent constrictional field close to the plane strain. The mean kinematic vorticity numbers of the protomylonite and mylonite by using three methods of polar Mohr circle, porphyroclast hyperbolic and oblique foliation, are in the range of 0.67―0.95, suggesting that the ductile shearing is accommodated by general shearing that is dominated by simple shear. Combination of the finite strain and kinematic vorticity indicates that shear type was lengthening shear and resulted in L-tectonite at the initial stage of deformation and the shear type gradually changed into lengthening-thinning shear and produced L-S-tectonite with the uplifting of the shear zone and accumulating of strain. These kinds of shear types only produce a/ab strain facies, so the lineation in the ductile shear zone could not deflect 90° in the progressively deformation.     

Seismic vulnerability evaluation of RC moment frame buildings in moderate seismic zones

A multi‐level seismic vulnerability assessment of reinforced concrete moment frame buildings located in moderate seismic zones (0.25g) is performed on a set of ductile versions of low‐ to mid‐rise two‐dimensional moment frames. The study is illustrated through application to comparative trial designs of two (4‐ and 8‐story) buildings adopting both space‐ and perimeter‐framed approaches. All frames are dimensioned as per the emerging version of the seismic design code in Egypt. These new seismic provisions are in line with current European norms for seismic design of buildings. Code‐compliant designs (CCD), as well as a proposed modified code design relaxing design drift demands for the investigated buildings, are examined to test their effectiveness and reliability. Applying nonlinear inelastic incremental dynamic analyses, fragility curves (FC) for the frames are developed corresponding to various code‐specified performance levels. Code preset lower and upper bounds on design acceleration and drift, respectively, are also addressed along with their implications, if imposed, on the frames seismic performance and vulnerability. Annual spectral acceleration hazard curves for the case study frames are also generated. Estimates for mean annual frequency (MAF) of exceeding various performance levels are then computed through an integration process of the data resulting from the FC with the site hazard curves. The study demonstrates that the proposed design procedure relaxing design drift demands delivers more economic building designs relative to CCDs, yet without risking the global safety of the structure. The relaxed design technique suggested herein, even though scoring higher, as expected by intuition, MAF of exceeding various code‐limiting performance levels expressed in terms of interstory drift ratios, still guarantees a reasonably acceptable actual margin against violating code limits for such levels. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Interaction of cataclasis and pressure solution in a low-temperature carbonate shear zone

The mineralogical and elemental variations across the main shear zone of the Saltville thrust at Sharp Gap in Knoxville, Tennessee, U.S.A., were studied in a suite of deformed and undefromed carbonate rock samples using X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe methods. An examination of the samples for deformation effects at mesoscopic scale and under the optical microscope reveals familiar cataclastic deformation features including foliated cataclasites and microbreccias occurring in a well-defined, 1–2 m wide zone of intense deformation, plus evidence of hydrofracturing and extensive syndeformational pressure solution. There exists a clear correlation between the observed cataclastic deformation and mineral and elemental distribution which we interpret to result from a deformation-induced dolomite to calcite transformation in the shear zone. The transformation has resulted in removal of Mg from the shear zone, selective deposition of calcite as an intergranular cement in cataclasite/microbreccia units and a relative increase in the concentration of detrital quartz and feldspars.The compositional difference between the shear zone and wall rocks is explained in connection with cataclastic deformation features in terms of a model in which a dual pressure-solution/cataclastic flow mechanism leads to a gradual cementation-hardening of segments of the shear zone. Instabilities could occur via permeability reduction and increased pore pressure within these segments. Hydrofracturing of the hardened segments along with high strain rate reordering of the shear zone materials reset the ruptured zone back to the dual deformation mechanism regime. As a long-term effect, the compositional transformation of the shear zone is expected to prolong periods of creep and cause smaller coseismic stress drops since under the imposed conditions calcite is more ductile and soluble than dolomite.     

Microcosmic analysis of ductile shearing zones of coal seams of brittle deformation domain in superficial lithosphere

For many years, the study on ductile shearing zones mainly focuses on the strain analysis and the characteristics of microcosmic structure of felsic duc-tile shearing zones in deep layers (8—10 km). Discus-sions on the process of the development of small-type and mini-size ductile shearing zones have been re-ported in recent years[1,2]. 揇uctile deformations in brittle deformation擺3] and 揵rittle deformations in ductile deformation擺4] are rather a familiar phenome-non in nature. Researchin…     

Polar Mohr diagram method and its application in calculating the shear displacements of general shear zones with volume loss

The main problem, in determining the shear displacement of a general shear zone with volume change using the available formula, is that it is hard to know the initial angle between the planes (or lines) in the plane of shear. A planar deformation analysis of this kind of ductile shear zone is carried out with the polar Mohr diagram. If the volume change is induced by homogeneous contraction in the Z direction of the shear zone, there are sufficient conditions for constructing a polar Mohr diagram regardless of sequence of the simple shear and volume change. Therefore, the angle between a line and the shear direction before and after the deformation can be measured. Making use of these lines the shear strain and the volume change can be calculated and the shear displacement can be determined.     

Polar Mohr diagram method and its application in calculating the shear displacements of general shear zones with volume loss--With the Sangshuyuanzi ductile shear zone as an example

The main problem,in determining the shear displacement of a general shear zone with volume change using the available formula,is that it is hard to know the initial angle between the planes (or lines) in the plane of shear.A planar deformation analysis of this kind of ductile shear zone is carried out with the polar Mohr diagram.If the volume change is induced by homogeneous contraction in the Z direction of the shear zone,there are sufficient conditions for constructing a polar Mohr diagram regardless of sequence of the simple shear and volume change.Therefore,the angle between a line and the shear direction before and after the deformation can be measured.Making use of these lines the shear strain and the volume change can be calculated and the shear displacement can be determined.     

Evolution of the ductile shear zone of the Paishanlou gold deposits,western Liaoning,China

The combination of field surveys with analysis of microstructure of tectonite and Electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD) on quartz fabric indicated that three periods of ductile shear events developed in the Paishanlou gold deposits and the E-W and NE-striking ductile shear zones were formed during each event. The E-W-striking ductile shear zone, accompanied by compressional and dextral shear slip, was shear-cut by the NE-striking shear zones, accompanied by compressional-sinistral shear slip and sinistral-normal shear slip, successively. An E-W-striking ductile shear zone developed at a deeper tectonic level and at middle- to high-temperatures, accompanied by abundant microstructures, including microlayering between a polycrystal quartz belt and mica, and quartz deformation was depended on cylinder (10-10) 〈a〉 or 〈c〉 glide. The development of an E-W-striking shear zone can be seen as a tectonic pattern in the region of the Paishanlou gold deposits of the collision between the Mongolian tectonic belt and the North Archean Craton from Suolun to the Linxi suture zone during the Indosinian. The NE-striking ductile shear zone developed approximately 160 Ma during the early Yianshanian at middle to shallow tectonic levels and at middle- to low-temperatures, accompanied by typical microstructures, including polycrystal quartz aggregation and quartz subgrain rotation recrystallization, etc., and quartz deformation was depended on prismatic (1011) 〈a〉 glide. The last ductile shear event around the NE-striking shear zone developed at low temperatures and shallow tectonic levels, yielding to a pre-existing NE-striking shear zone, accompanied by abundant microstructures, including low-temperature quartz grain boundary migration and bulging recrystallization. The last ductile shear movement may be related to lithosphere thinning and the destruction of the North China Craton from approximately 130-120 Ma, and this shear event resulted directly in the mineralization in the Paishanlou region.     

组合剪力墙的抗震研究与发展

剪力墙是高层建筑结构中的核心抗侧力部件,研制抗震性能好的剪力墙,是建筑抗震设计的关键技术之一。组合剪力墙包括不同材料和不同结构形式的组合,可以发挥不同材料和不同结构形式各自的优势,使剪力墙的延性和耗能能力得以提高,从而改善其抗震性能。本文对国内外一些新型组合剪力墙的抗震研究工作进行了归纳总结,并对其发展作一展望。     

New advances of seismic tomography and its applications to subduction zones and earthquake fault zones: A review

Abstract There have been significant advances in the theory and applications of seismic tomography in the last decade. These include the refinements in the model parameterization, 3-D ray tracing, inversion algorithm, resolution and error analyses, joint use of local, regional and teleseismic data, and the addition of converted and reflected waves in the tomographic inversion. Applications of the new generation tomographic methods to subduction zones have resulted in unprecedentedly clear images of the subducting oceanic lithosphere and magma chambers in the mantle wedge beneath active arc volcanoes, indicating that geodynamic systems associated with the arc magmatism and back-arc spreading are related to deep processes, such as the convective circulation in the mantle wedge and deep dehydration reactions in the subducting slab. High-resolution tomographic imagings of earthquake fault zones in Japan and California show that rupture nucleation and earthquake generating processes are closely related to the heterogeneities of crustal materials and inelastic processes in the fault zones, such as the migration of fluids. Evidence also shows that arc magmatism and slab dehydration may also contribute to the generation of large crustal earthquakes in subduction regions.     

Do trench sediments affect great earthquake occurrence in subduction zones?

Seismic energy release is dominated by the underthrusting earthquakes in subduction zones, and this energy release is further concentrated in a few subduction zones. While some subduction zones are characterized by the occurrence of great earthquakes, others are relatively aseismic. This variation in maximum earthquake size between subduction zones is one of the most important features of global seismicity. Previous work has shown that the variation in maximum earthquake size is correlated with the variation in two other subduction zone properties: age of the subducting lithosphere and convergence rate. These two properties do not explain all the variance in maximum earthquake size. I propose that a third subduction zone property, trench sediments, explains part of the remaining variance in maximum earthquake size. Subduction zones are divided into two groups: (1) those with excess trench sediments, and (2) those with horst and graben structure at the trench. Thirteen of the 19 largest subduction zone events, including the three largest, occur in zones with excess trench sediments. About half the zones with excess trench sediments are characterized by great earthquake occurrence. Most of the other zones with excess trench sediments but without great earthquakes are predicted to have small earthquakes by the age-rate correlation. Two notable exceptions are the Oregon-Washington and Middle America zones. Overall, the presence of excess trench sediments appears to enhance great earthquake occurrence. One speculative physical mechanism that connects trench sediments and earthquake size is that excess trench sediments are associated with the subduction of a coherent sedimentary layer, which at elevated temperature and pressure, forms a homogeneous and strong contact zone between the plates.     

Intermediate-term seismic precursors for some coupled subduction zones

The paper discusses model results and then reviews observational data concerning some aspects of the mechanics of mature seismic gaps in coupled subduction zones. The concern is with space-and time-varying stresses, as signalled by the presence and mechanisms of earthquakes in the outer-rise zones adjacent to main thrust areas of large subduction events, and down-dip from such areas, in the downgoing slab. Observations are shown to be consistent with the expectation that in mature seismic gaps, as a result of interplate boundary locking in presence of sustained gravitational driving forces, at least the deeper portions of the ocean plate in the outer-rise zones are under increased compression, and the downgoing slab is under increased tension. The observational data cover two cases of closed seismic gaps, namely the region of the Chilean Valparaiso earthquake of March 3, 1985, and the earthquake of October 4, 1983. Four other cases concern still to-be-closed gaps in northern Chile and along the coast of Guatemala, and also the Kurile Islands Trench gap and the northern New Hebrides gap. It is concluded that the intermediate-term precursor, consisting of a combination of compressional outer-rise earthquake(s) and tensional intermediate-depth, intra-plate events in the downgoing slab, which mechanically signals the latter part of the earthquake cycle, could be useful in evaluating the maturity, and hence great earthquake potential of a seismic gap.     

Water contents and deformation mechanism in ductile shear zone of middle crust along the Red River fault in southwestern China

Using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), we measured water contents of quartz and feldspar for four thin sections of felsic mylonite and two thin sections of banded granitic gneiss col- lected from a ductile shear zone of middle crust along the Red Rivers-Ailaoshan active fault. The ab- sorbance spectra and peak position suggest that water in quartz and feldspar of granitic gneiss and felsic mylonite occurs mainly as hydroxyl in crystal defect, but also contains inclusion water and grain boundary water. The water contents of minerals were calculated based on the absorbance spectra. Water content of feldspar in granitic gneiss is 0.05 wt%-0.15 wt%, and that of quartz 0.03 wt%-0.09 wt%. Water content of feldspar ribbon and quartz ribbon in felsic mylonite is 0.095 wt%-0.32 wt%, and those of fine-grained feldspar and quartz are 0.004 wt%-0.052 wt%. These data show that the water content of weakly deformed feldspar and quartz ribbons is much higher than that of strongly deformed fine-grained feldspar and quartz. This suggests that strong shear deformation leads to breakage of the structures of constitutional water, inclusion and grain boundary water in feldspar and quartz, and most of water in minerals of mylonite is released to the upper layer in the crust.     

Characteristics of faults and shear zones in deep mines

The characteristics of fault and shear zones to depths of 2.5 km are well documented in deep mines in North America. The characteristics may be summarized as follows. (a) Fault zones usually are irregular, branched, anastomosed, and curved rather than simple and planar. (b) Faults are generally composed of one or more clay or clay-like gouge zones in a matrix of sheared and foliated rock bordered by highly fractured rock. (c) The widths of fault zones appear to be greater when faults have greater displacement, probably as a result of a long history of repeated minor movements. Fault zones with kilometers of displacement tend to be 100 m or more wide, whereas those with only a few hundred meters of displacement commonly are only 1 m or less wide. (d) Some zones represent shear distributed across hundreds of meters without local concentration in a narrow gouge zone. (e) Many fault zones are wet even above the water table, and water moves along them at various rates, but some also serve as subsurface dams, ponding ground water as much as several hundred meters higher on one side than on the other. No striking differences in the characteristics of faults over the vertical range of 2.5 km are documented.     

Surface stresses associated with arrested dykes in rift zones

Many theoretical models predict that arrested dykes may generate major grabens at rift-zone surfaces. Arrested dyke tips in eroded rift zones, however, are normally not associated with major grabens or normal faults that could be generated by dyke-induced stresses ahead of the tips, and normal faults and grabens tend to be less common in those parts of eroded rift zones where dykes are comparatively abundant. Similarly, there are feeder dykes, as well as dykes arrested a few metres below the surface, that do not generate faults or grabens at the surface. Here I propose that this discrepancy between theoretical models and field observations may be explained by the mechanical layering of the crust. Numerical models presented here show that abrupt changes in Young's moduli, layers with high dyke-normal compressive stresses (stress barriers), and weak, horizontal contacts have large effects on the dyke-induced stress fields. For the models considered, the surface tensile stresses induced by arrested dykes are normally too small to lead to significant fault or graben formation at the rift-zone surface. The only significant dyke-induced surface tensile stresses (2 MPa) in these models are for a dyke tip arrested at 1 km depth below the surface of a rift zone with a weak contact at 400 m depth and subject to extension. That tensile stress, however, peaks above the ends of the weak horizontal contact, which, in the model considered, occur at distances of 4 km to either side of the dyke, and shows no simple relation to the depth to the dyke tip. Thus, for a layered crust with weak contacts, straightforward inversion of surface geodetic data to infer dyke geometries may result in unreliable results.Editorial responsibility: A. Woods     

Electromagnetic sounding of geothermal zones

Electromagnetic (EM) data provide a substantial contribution to the geophysical mapping and monitoring of geothermal reservoirs. This paper presents an up-to-date picture of the achievements of EM methods for geothermal exploration as they have emerged over the last few years. It has been proved that EM sounding of geothermal zones and distant monitoring macro-parameters of the reservoirs, fluid-filled faults and other elements of the geothermal system are possible provided that modern 3-D inversion is used along with techniques that reduce the effects of industrial and geological noise. In addition, geological and petrophysical data also need to be included in the analysis.     

Self-affine growth pattern of earthquake rupture zones

Data from 41 moderate and large earthquakes have been used to derive a scaling law for fault parameters. Fault lengthL, widthW and areaS are empirically related byLS andWS where 0.6<<0.7, 0.3<<0.4 and +=1. These relations indicate that the growth pattern of earthquake rupture zones is statistically self-affine. It is also found that these relations are similar to the relation derived from a diffusion-limited aggregation (DLA) model with anisotropic sticking probability. This suggests that a modified DLA model could describe the evolution of earthquake rupture zones.     

Seismic isolation foundations with effective attenuation zones

In this paper, a new configuration of seismic isolation foundation containing several concrete layers and some rubber blocks is proposed. The concrete layers and the rubber blocks are placed periodically to form a periodic foundation. To study the isolation ability of this new configuration of periodic foundation, an equivalent analytical model is established. For practical applications, two very useful formulas are obtained. Using these formulas, the low bound frequency and the width of the first attenuation zone can be directly approximated without the calculation of dispersion structure. This new configuration of seismic isolation foundation enjoys the first attenuation zone between 2.15 Hz and 15.01 Hz, which means that the components of seismic waves with frequencies from 2.15 Hz to 15.01 Hz cannot propagate upward in the foundation. To illustrate the efficiency of this seismic isolation foundation, the seismic responses of a 6-story frame with three different foundations are simulated. Numerical simulations show that the seismic responses of the structure with the periodic foundation are greatly attenuated as compared with those of the structure with no isolation base or with traditional rubber bearings.     

Probabilistic development of shear strength model for reinforced concrete squat walls

In order to reconcile the larger scatter and avoid the biased estimate from deterministic predictions for the shear strength of reinforced concrete (RC) squat structural walls, a probabilistic shear strength model is developed in this paper based on the strut‐and‐tie model and the generalized likelihood uncertainty estimation (GLUE) method. The strut‐and‐tie model is used to derive an appropriate function form for the probabilistic shear strength model, where four unknown model parameters (e.g. k₁, k₂, k₃ and k₄) are defined carefully to guarantee them having a clear physical‐based meaning so that the corresponding prior distribution ranges can be specified reasonably. Then, the GLUE method is adopted to estimate the posterior cumulative distribution of k₁, k₂, k₃ and k₄ with an available experimental database. Furthermore, to demonstrate the stability of the estimated posterior cumulative distribution, the sensitivity of three major aspects in GLUE method is investigated. Finally, based on the estimated cumulative distribution of k₁, k₂, k₃ and k₄, the developed probabilistic shear strength model is simplified as a mean prediction model and a standard deviation prediction model for facilitate using in engineering practice. Therefore, with the developed probabilistic shear strength model, not only can the squat structural walls be designed in confidence, but the accuracy of those deterministic predictions can be evaluated in a probabilistic manner. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.