Influence of shear heating on microstructurally defined plate boundary shear zones

In plate-boundary scale ductile shear zones defined by microstructural weakening, shear heating may lead to a temperature increase over 5 m.y. of up to 80 °C just below the brittle ductile transition, up to 120 °C just below the Moho, and to thermal boundary zones tens of km wide on either side of the shear zone. Where rock strength is highest, shear zones are narrow (∼1 km), and thermal gradients within the shear zone itself are low, so there is no tendency for increased localization. Heating results in thermal weakening, but this is partly offset by grain growth related to the decrease in stress. In shear zones of the order of 10 km width, shear stress, strain rate, and hence heat generation are lower, and thermal gradients are insufficient to cause additional strain localization. Temperature increases in the mid-crust are of the order of 10 °C, insufficient to cause partial melting or an increase in metamorphic grade. In the upper mantle, shear zones may be 50 km or more wide, and the temperature increase is less than 20 °C in 5 m.y., but temperature differences between center and margin may enhance the strain rate at the center by up to 18%.     

Development of quartz c-axis crossed/single girdles under simple-pure shear deformation: Results of visco-plastic self-consistent modeling

Quartz c-axis fabrics are widely used to determine the shear plane in ductile shear zones, based upon an assumption that the shear plane is perpendicular to both the central segment of quartz c-axis crossed girdle and single girdle. In this paper the development of quartz c-axis fabric under simple-pure shear deformation is simulated using the visco-plastic self-consistent (VPSC) model so as to re-examine this assumption. In the case of no or weak dynamic recrystallization, the simulated crossed girdles have a central segment perpendicular or nearly perpendicular to the maximum principal finite strain direction (X) and the XY finite strain plane, and at a variable angle relative to the imposed kinematic framework that is dependent on the modeled flow vorticity and finite strain. These crossed girdles have a symmetrical skeleton with respect to the finite strain axes, regardless of the bulk strain and the kinematic vorticity, and rotate in a way similar to the shear sense with increasing bulk strain ratio. The larger the vorticity number the more asymmetrical their legs tend to be. In the case of strong dynamic recrystallization and large bulk strain, under simple shear the crossed girdle switches into single girdles, sub-perpendicular to the shear plane, by losing the weak legs. The numerical results in our models do not confirm the above-mentioned assumption.     

The geometry and kinematics of flow perturbation folds

Minor folds formed synchronous with ductile deformation in high strain zones can preserve a record of the scale and kinematics of heterogeneous flow. Using structures associated with WNW-directed Caledonian thrusting in N Scotland, we show that localised perturbations in flow resulted in the generation of predominantly cylindrical minor folds with hinges lying at low angles to the transport direction. These define a series of larger-scale fold culminations (reflecting ‘surging flow’) or depressions (reflecting ‘slackening flow’) that are bisected by transport-parallel culmination and depression surfaces. The fold patterns suggest a dominance of layer-normal differential shearing due to gradients in shear strain normal to transport. Culmination surfaces are marked by along-strike reversals in the polarity of structural facing and vergence of minor folds which, contrary to classic fold patterns, define reverse asymmetric relationships. Culmination surfaces separate folding in to clockwise (Z folds) and anticlockwise (S folds) domains relative to the transport lineation. The dip of fold axial planes systematically increases as their strike becomes sub-parallel to transport resulting in a 3D statistical fanning arrangement centred about the transport direction. Thus, mean S- and Z-fold axial planes intersect precisely parallel to the transport lineation and potentially provide a means of determining transport directions in cases where lineations are poorly preserved. Culminations display convergent fold patterns with fold hinges becoming sub-parallel to transport towards the culmination surface and underlying detachment, whilst axial planes define overall concave up listric geometries which are bisected by the culmination surface. Thus, around culminations and depressions there are ordered, scale-independent relationships between transport direction, shear sense, fold facing, vergence and hinge/axial plane orientations. The techniques described here can be applied and used predictively within any kinematically coherent system of ductile flow.     

大青山地区韧性剪切带变形变质作用演化

大青山早前寒武纪高级变质岩系中发育三种不同类型的韧性剪切带。第一种为高温（相当于麻粒岩相级）逆冲型，第二种为中温（相当于角闪岩相级）伸展型，第三种为低温（相当于绿片岩相级）近走滑型。不同类型韧性剪切带的变形变质作用演化反映了地壳深部高级变质杂岩在隆升过程中的主要再造特征。     

三维参照变形及应变相研究评述

三维参照变形和应变相是最近构造地质学领域中取得的重要进展,三维参照变形是理想化的三维变形分类,每一参照变形是共轴级分（拉伸、压扁或纯剪）和与其垂直的简单切组分同时作用的产物,三种可能的面理取向和三种可能的线理取向的不同组合构成六咱应变相,三维参照变形和应变相研究证明糜陵面理未必平行剪切带,可与剪切带斜交,甚至垂直,线理未必与剪切方向一致,可与剪切方向斜交,甚至垂直,出现横向面理时,剪切指向标志位于该面理内,出现横向线理时,剪切指向出现在与线理垂直的ａｃ面理内,三维变形分析不公可解决三维分析难以解释的横向面理和线理,而且可确定共轴组分的类型及其与单剪组分的结合方式。     

Transpression and juxtaposition of middle crust over upper crust forming a crustal scale flower structure: Insight from structural,fabric, and kinematic studies from the Rengali Province,eastern India

Deformational, metamorphic, monazite age and fabric data from Rengali Province, eastern India converge towards a multi-scale transpressional deformational episode at ca. 498–521 Ma which is linked with the latest phase of tectonic processes operative at proto-India-Antarctica join. Detailed sector wise study on mutual overprinting relationships of macro-to microstructural elements suggest that deformation was regionally partitioned into fold-thrust dominated shortening zones alternating with zones of dominant transcurrent deformation bounded between the thrust sense Barkot Shear Zone in the north and the dextral Kerajang Fault Zone in the south. The strain partitioned zones are further restricted between two regional transverse shear zones, the sinistral Riamol Shear Zone in the west and the dextral Akul Fault Zone in the east which are interpreted as synthetic R and antithetic R' Riedel shear plane, respectively. The overall structural disposition has been interpreted as a positive flower structure bounded between the longitudinal and transverse faults with vertical extrusion and symmetric juxtaposition of mid-crustal amphibolite grade basement gneisses over low-grade upper crustal rocks emanating from the central axis of the transpressional belt.     

Are isolated stable rigid clasts in shear zones equivalent to voids?

Particles in shear enclose important information about a rock's past and can potentially be used to decipher the kinematic history and mechanical behavior of a certain outcrop or region. Isolated rigid clasts in shear zones often exhibit systematic inclinations with respect to the shear-plane at small angles, tending towards the instantaneous stretching direction of the shear zone. This shape preferred orientation cannot be easily explained by any of the analytical theories used in geology. It was recently recognized that a weak mantle surrounding the clast or a slipping clast–matrix interface might be responsible for the development of the observed inclinations. Physical considerations lead us to conjecture that such mantled, rigid clasts can be effectively treated as voids that are not allowed to change their shape. The resulting equivalent void conjecture agrees well with numerical and field data and has the following important geological implications. (i) Clasts in shear zones can have stable positions in simple shear without the requirement of an additional pure shear component. (ii) The stable orientation can be approached either syn- or antithetically; hence, the clast can rotate against the applied shear sense. (iii) The strain needed to develop a strong shape preferred orientation is small (γ≈1) and therefore evaluations based on other theories may overestimate strain by orders of magnitude. (iv) The reconstruction of far-field shear flow conditions and kinematic vorticity analysis must be modified to incorporate these new findings.     

基于灰色模糊模型的塔山煤矿构造复杂程度定量评价

为实现大同煤田塔山煤矿构造复杂程度的定性-定量综合分析和分区评价,本次研究充分收集研究区钻孔实测数据和井田详查和勘探阶段的区调资料,以及各煤层采掘工程平面图,统计了研究区近百条褶皱和断裂构造产状、落差和延伸长度等参数,绘制了研究区构造纲要图.厘定了断层密度、断层强度、断层影响指数和褶皱的平面变形系数4个构造评价指标,应...     

Foliations and shear sense: A modern approach to an old problem

Argument about shear on foliations began in the mid 19^th century and continues to the present day. It results from varying interpretations of what takes place during the development of different types of foliations ranging from slaty cleavages through differentiated crenulation cleavages, schistosity and gneissosity to mylonites. Computer modelling, quantitative microstructural work and monazite dating have provided a unique solution through access to the history of foliation development preserved by porphyroblasts. All foliations involve shear in their development and most can be used to derive a shear sense. The shear sense obtained is consistent between foliation types and accords with recent computer modelling of these structures preserved within porphyroblasts relative to those in the matrix. The asymmetry of curving foliation into a locally developing new one allows determination of the shear sense along the latter foliation in most rocks. The problem of shear on fold limbs and parallelism of foliation and the flattening plane of the strain ellipse is resolved through the partitioning of shearing and shortening components of deformation into zones that anastomose around ellipsoidal domains lying parallel to the XY plane. Conflicts in shear sense occur if multiple reuse or reactivation of foliations is not recognized and allowed for but are readily resolved if taken into account.     

Relationship between shear zones and igneous activity: The Closepet Granite of Southern India

The late Archaean Closepet granite of southern India is bounded by N-S trending shear zone. At the southern end of the granite both charnockite and granite veins are spatially associated with ductile shears. These shears continue further north and are confined to the contact zones in the central part of the granite outcrop. The main component of the shear zone are highly deformed granite sheets, augen gneisses and mylonites. Field observations and microstructural fabric of mylonites indicate a dextral sense of shear movement. Field evidence suggests that shear deformation was active throughout the evolution of the Closepet granite     

Tectonic framework of the Precambrian of Madagascar and its Gondwana connections: a review and reappraisal

The Precambrian of Madagascar is divided into two sectors by the north-west trending sinistral Ranotsara shear zone, which continues in the Mozambique belt, probably as the Surma shear zone, and in Southern India as the Achankovil shear zone. South of Ranotsara six north-south trending tectonic belts are recognized that consist largely of granulite and high amphibolite facies paragneisses, phlogopite diopsidites, concordant granites and granulites. North of Ranotsara the central-northern segment is traversed by a north-trending axial 100–150 km wide dextral shear zone of probable Pan-African age, which was metamorphosed under granulite and high amphibolite facies conditions and which has reworked older basement. This shear zone continues across southern India as the Palghat-Cauvery shear zone. Major stratiform basic -ultrabasic complexes occur in the axial zone and in the basement to the west. Well preserved low grade continental margin-type sediments (quartzites, mica schists and stromatolitic marbles) of Kibaran age are present in western Madagascar. Two partly greenschist grade sedimentary groups lie unconformably on high grade basement in north-east Madagascar. Isotopic age data suggest the presence in Madagascar of Archaean, Early and Mid-Proterozoic crustal material that was extensively reworked in Pan-African times.     

韧性剪切带位移量统计方法评述——以西秦岭元家坪韧性剪切带为例

韧性剪切带位移量的计算方法较多 ,每一种方法都有它适用的范围 ,应根据区域地质特点选择适宜的方法进行计算。在对元家坪韧性剪切带位移量的计算中 ,对其方法进行了比较 ,认为应用多种方法计算及验证 ,能得出较准确的位移量。     

The future of failure: stress or strain?

Strains in rocks can be observed but ancient stresses can only be inferred. We should re-examine the potential of strain geometry as the key to understanding and interpreting common shear structures ranging from faults to plastic shear zones. The concept of failure along zero extension directions can be applied to natural structures in rocks and is predicated on strain compatibility between differently strained volumes. Zero extension directions are considered for two strain configurations, plane strain (k=1) and uniaxial shortening (k=0). The crucial difference between shear fractures, or faults, and plastic yield zones is that the former are preceded by dilatation while the latter are isovolumetric. Volume changes during deformation affect the orientations of zero extension directions and hence of the resulting structures. With isovolumetric strain, yield occurs on planes at 45° to the principal shortening direction in plane strain and at 54.7° to this axis in uniaxial shortening. Uniaxial shortening experiments on rock samples allow estimation of the relative volumetric strains when yield zones initiate. When this volumetric strain is used to estimate the orientation of shear fractures in plane strain, ca 70° dips are predicted for normal faults at high crustal levels, decreasing downwards to 45°.     

The role of fluids in partitioning brittle deformation and ductile creep in auriferous shear zones between 500 and 700 °C

The fabric, mineralogy, geochemistry, and stable isotope systematics of auriferous shear zones in various hydrothermal gold deposits were studied in order to discuss the role of fluids in rock deformation at temperatures between 500 °C and 700 °C. The strong hydrothermal alteration and gold mineralization indicates that effective permeability development goes ahead with high-temperature rock deformation. The economic gold enrichment is often hosted by breccias and quartz veins in the ductile shear zones, which either formed at fast strain rates or by low strain continuous deformation at slow strain rates. Both processes require (1) a close-to lithostatic to supralithostatic fluid pressure and/or (2) a strong rheology contrast of the deformed lithologies that is often developed during progressive hydrothermal alteration. Compartments of high fluid pressure are sealed from the rest of the shear zones by high-temperature deformation mechanisms, e.g. intracrystalline plasticity and diffusion creep, and compaction. In contrast, in mylonites with heterogeneous crystal plastic and brittle deformation mechanisms for the various minerals, an interconnected network of a grain-scale porosity forms an effective fluid conduit, which hampers fluid pressure build-up and the formation of veins.The auriferous shear zones of the various gold mines represent fluid conduits in the deeper crust, 100 m along strike and up to 1000 m down-dip. The hydrothermal fluids infiltrated may be responsible for low magnitude earthquakes in the Earth's lower crust, which otherwise deforms viscously.     

Thrust tectonics in crystalline domains: The origin of a gneiss dome

Structural geological field work, microscopic and magnetic fabric studies have been applied in order to assess the structural origin of a gneiss dome, based on a regional example from the Neoproterozoic Pan-African Belt of NE Africa, the Wadi Hafafit Culmination (WHC). The culmination is dominated by a number of major shear zones, which form both the boundaries between the gneissic core and surrounding low grade successions as well as those of minor structural units within the gneisses. These shear zones form a linked fault system, which, based on shear criteria, fault-bend fold and overall geometric interrelationships, can be classified as an antiformal stack. The relative age sequence of the shear zones/thrusts with the highest thrust oldest and the lowermost youngest points to a forward-propagating thrust system. This, together with the shear criteria, exclude an origin of the WHC as a metamorphic core complex, where the highest shear zone should be youngest. The geometry of the WHC antiformal stack is documented by maps and sections as well as section balancing and restoration. Microscopic work showed brittle deformation in feldspar and dynamic recrystallization in quartz ribbons. The asymmetry of the fabric confirmed the macroscopically determined shear sense. However, there is one example of an earlier, perhaps extensional shear movement. Mylonitic foliation and transport-parallel lineation have also been determined by magnetic fabric studies. The observations suggest that thrusts may cut across both previously folded crystalline rocks as well as homogeneous granitoid plutonic bodies. According to the regional tectonic picture the large-scale structure of the gneiss dome originated after a phase of (late-orogenic) extensional collapse. It is speculated that during late-orogenic cooling the upper part of the lithosphere was sufficiently strong to allow brittle thrusting whilst the lithosphere as a whole was still weak enough to allow large-scale compressional deformation, perhaps in a transitional stage from lateorogenic to intra-cratonic deformation.     

Deformation History of the Kunavaram Complex, Eastern Ghats Belt, India: Implications for Alkaline Magmatism Along the Indo-Antarctica Suture

The Kunavaram alkaline complex is a NE-SW trending elongate body located along a major lineament, the Sileru Shear Zone (SSZ) that is regarded as a Proterozoic suture related to Indo-Antarctica collision. The complex is hosted within migmatitic quartzofeldspathic gneisses, mafic granulites retrogressed to amphibolites, and quartzites. The structural evolution of the country rocks and the alkaline complex are similar. The first phase of deformation, D₁, produces a pervasive segregation banding (S₁) in all rock units within and outside the complex. A second deformation phase D₂ isoclinally folded S₁ along subvertical axial planes with shallow plunging axes. F₂ isoclinal folds are ubiquitous in the country rocks and the eastern extremity of the complex. In the interior of the alkaline body, D₂ strain decreases and S₁ is commonly subhorizontal. While amphibolite to granulite facies conditions prevailed during deformation, post-D₂ annealing textures testify to persisting high grade conditions. In the west, a NNE-SSW trending dextral shear zone with strike-slip sense (D₃) truncates the complex. Within this shear zone, quartzofeldspathic country rocks are plastically deformed, while hornblende-K-feldspar assemblages of the complex are retrogressed to biotite and plagioclase. Warping related to D₃ shears also resulted in fold interference patterns on the subhorizontal S₁ foliation in low D₂ strain domains. Based on its steep dip, north-easterly trend, and non-coaxial nature with dextral strike-slip sense, the D₃ shear zone can be correlated with the SSZ. Since this shear zone, i.e., the SSZ, is not associated with primary igneous fabrics and resulted in solid state deformation of the complex, it cannot be considered as a conduit for alkaline magmatism, but is probably responsible for the post-tectonic disposition of the pluton.     

贺兰山北段古元古代结晶基底变形特征及其区域构造意义

贺兰山北段结晶基底中保留有不同程度的韧性变形剪切带.通过详细的野外考察和室内显微构造研究,明确贺兰山北段的古元古代基底经历了4期韧性剪切变形:(1)早期顺层剪切带表现出中下部地壳层次的变形样式,运动学特征一致反映了近南北向的伸展;(2)麻粒岩相变质的糜棱片麻岩剪切带为南北向挤压的产物,导致经历高温高压变质的孔兹岩系从下地壳向中部地壳抬升;(3)高级糜棱岩(低角闪岩相-高绿片岩相)剪切带涉及的2次伸展运动(北西-南东向伸展和北东-南西向伸展)使得基底进一步向中部地壳抬升,可能发生在形成孔兹岩系的同一造山运动的晚期伸展垮塌过程中;(4)北东-近东西向左行逆冲绿片岩相糜棱岩剪切带则将结晶基底抬升到中上部地壳层次,其运动学特征与高级糜棱岩剪切带明显不同,可能是另一造山运动的产物.贺兰山北段与大青山-乌拉山地区有相似的韧性剪切带和构造变形,表明华北克拉通西部北缘存在一致的近东西走向的古元古代碰撞造山运动以及随后另一造山运动的改造.     

Extrusion tectonics inferred from fabric study of the Guanzizhen ophiolitic mélange belt in the West Qinling orogen,Central China

The recently identified Guanzizhen ophiolitic mélange belt (GOMB) in the West Qinling orogen is regarded, by many geochemical and geochronological works, as the westward extension of the Shangdan belt in the East Qinling that separated the North and South China blocks. The GOMB trends generally NW–SE and comprises ophiolites and forearc volcanic–sedimentary complex (the Liziyuan Group). Ductile shear zones with various widths are a striking structural feature of the GOMB and studying them could contribute to a better understanding of the tectonic processes of the collisional orogeny in this area. Here we characterize the deformation style of these shear zones by combining the low-field anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (AMS) data, microstructural and field observations. The new dataset demonstrates that the deformation of these ductile shear zones is dominated by dextral transpressional shearing under low amphibolite grade condition. Combining the dextral transpression of the GOMB and the coeval sinistral transpression of the Shangdan belt in the East Qinling, we propose a Late Triassic bilateral extrusion tectonics of the Qinling orogen in response to the collision between the Ordos and Sichuan blocks.     

Origin of fine-scale sheeted granites by incremental injection of magma into active shear zones: examples from the Pilbara Craton, NW Australia

In the Archaean Pilbara Craton of Western Australia, three zones of heterogeneous centimetre- to metre-scale sheeted granites are interpreted to represent high-level, syn-magmatic shear zones. Evidence for the syn-magmatic nature of the shear zones include imbricated and asymmetrically rotated metre-scale orthogneiss xenoliths that are enveloped by leucogranite sheets that show no significant internal strain. At another locality, granite sheets have a strong shape-preferred alignment of K-feldspar, suggesting magmatic flow, while the asymmetric recrystallisation of the grain boundaries indicates that non-coaxial deformation continued acting upon the sheets under sub-solidus conditions. Elsewhere, randomly oriented centimetre-wide leucogranite dykes are realigned at a shear zone boundary to form semi-continuous, layer-parallel sheets within a magma-dominated, dextral shear zone.

It is proposed that the granite sheets formed by the incremental injection of magmas into active shear zones. Magma was sheared during laminar flow to produce the sheets that are aligned sub-parallel to the shear zone boundary. Individual sheets are fed by individual dykes, with up to 1000s of discrete injections in an individual shear zone. The sheets often lack microstructural evidence for magmatic flow, either because the crystal content of the magma was too low to record internal strain, or because of later recrystallisation.     

Geomechanical Properties of Shear Zones in the Eastern Aar Massif,Switzerland and their Implication on Tunnelling

Summary ¶Rock zones containing a high fracture density and/or soft, low cohesion materials can be highly problematic when encountered during tunnel excavation. For example in the eastern Aar massif of central Switzerland, experiences during the construction of the Gotthard highway tunnel showed that heavily fractured areas within shear zones were responsible for overbreaks in the form of chimneys several metres in height. To understand and estimate the impact of the shear zones on rock mass behaviour, knowledge concerning the rock mass strength and deformation characteristics is fundamental. A series of laboratory triaxial tests, performed on samples from granite- and gneiss-hosted shear zones revealed that with increasing degree of tectonic overprint, sample strength decreases and rock behaviour shows a transition from brittle to ductile deformation. These trends may be explained by increasing fracture densities, increasing foliation intensity, increasing thickness of fine-grained, low cohesion fracture infill, and increasing mica content associated with the increasing degree of tectonic overprint. As fracture density increases and the influence of discrete, persistent discontinuities on rock mass strength decreases, behaviour of the test samples becomes more and more representative of rock mass behaviour, i.e. that of a densely fractured continuum. For the purpose of numerical modeling calculations, the shear zones may be subdivided with respect to an increasing fracture density, foliation intensity and mica content into a strongly foliated zone, a fractured zone and a cohesionless zone, which in turn exhibit brittle, brittle-ductile and ductile rock mass constitutive behaviour, respectively.Received December 17, 2001; accepted January 9, 2003 Published online April 29, 2003