Cataclasites along the Saltville thrust,U.S.A. and their implications for thrust-sheet emplacement

Cataclasis and frictional wear are the primary bulk deformation mechanisms along steeply dipping portions of the Saltville thrust in the southern Appalachian foreland zone, U.S.A. Fault character ranges from a single discrete sliding surface with negligible gouge, to a zone of several discrete sliding surfaces or a zone (up to 0.3 m thick) of pervasive cataclasite. Marked fracturing occurs up to 20 m above the fault, whereas minimal deformation is found in the footwall rocks. Hanging wall dolomites range from crush breccias (less than 5% matrix) to ultracataclasites (with 90% matrix), although cataclasites (50–70% matrix) are predominant. Foliated cataclasites occur where dolomite is thrust over shale. Progressive development of cataclastic fabrics is due to comminution by fracturing and grinding along intersecting fractures. Continued frictional grinding results in complete disruption of the original fabric to produce cataclasite and minor ultracataclasite. Grain alignment occurs by rigid body rotation with subsequent local enhancement by pressure-solution. Microstructural relations of the fault gouge suggest periodic fluctuations in fluid pressure, where λ_v (ratio of fluid to overburden pressure) probably ranged between 0.45 and 1. The Saltville thrust-sheet emplacement must have occurred in a caterpillar-like fashion involving aseismic and seismic shear. Shear stresses accompanying fault motion as determined from dolomite twin lamellae are in the order of 65 mPa.     

A microstructural study of fault rocks from the SAFOD: Implications for the deformation mechanisms and strength of the creeping segment of the San Andreas Fault

The San Andreas Fault zone in central California accommodates tectonic strain by stable slip and microseismic activity. We study microstructural controls of strength and deformation in the fault using core samples provided by the San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth (SAFOD) including gouge corresponding to presently active shearing intervals in the main borehole. The methods of study include high-resolution optical and electron microscopy, X-ray fluorescence mapping, X-ray powder diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, white light interferometry, and image processing.The fault zone at the SAFOD site consists of a strongly deformed and foliated core zone that includes 2–3 m thick active shear zones, surrounded by less deformed rocks. Results suggest deformation and foliation of the core zone outside the active shear zones by alternating cataclasis and pressure solution mechanisms. The active shear zones, considered zones of large-scale shear localization, appear to be associated with an abundance of weak phases including smectite clays, serpentinite alteration products, and amorphous material. We suggest that deformation along the active shear zones is by a granular-type flow mechanism that involves frictional sliding of microlithons along phyllosilicate-rich Riedel shear surfaces as well as stress-driven diffusive mass transfer. The microstructural data may be interpreted to suggest that deformation in the active shear zones is strongly displacement-weakening. The fault creeps because the velocity strengthening weak gouge in the active shear zones is being sheared without strong restrengthening mechanisms such as cementation or fracture sealing. Possible mechanisms for the observed microseismicity in the creeping segment of the SAF include local high fluid pressure build-ups, hard asperity development by fracture-and-seal cycles, and stress build-up due to slip zone undulations.     

Frictional properties of megathrust fault gouges at low sliding velocities: New data on effects of normal stress and temperature

Friction data used in modelling studies of subduction zone seismogenesis are often poorly representative of in situ conditions. We investigated the influence of in situ effective stresses and temperatures on the frictional properties of (simulated) fault gouges, prepared either from Nankai ODP material or illite shale, at sliding velocities approaching those relevant for earthquake nucleation and SSEs. Biaxial (double direct shear) experiments were performed at room temperature, normal stresses of 5–30 MPa, and sliding velocities of 0.16–18 μm/s. All materials exhibited velocity strengthening under these conditions, along with an increase in the friction coefficient and slip hardening rate with increasing normal stress. Illite gouge showed increased velocity strengthening towards higher normal stresses. The effect of temperature was investigated by means of ring shear experiments on illite gouge at 200–300 °C, an effective normal stress of 170 MPa, a pore-fluid pressure of 100 MPa and sliding velocities of 1–100 μm/s. These experiments showed a transition from velocity strengthening to velocity weakening at ∼250 °C. Our results provide a possible explanation for the updip seismogenic limit within subduction zone megathrusts and imply an enhanced tendency for earthquake nucleation and SSEs at low effective normal stresses.     

Strength and stability of frictional sliding of gabbro gouge at elevated temperatures

To investigate the strength of frictional sliding and stability of mafic lower crust, we conducted experiments on oven-dried gabbro gouge of 1 mm thick sandwiched between country rock pieces (with gouge inclined 35° to the sample axis) at slip rates of 1.22 × 10^− 3 mm/s and 1.22 × 10^− 4 mm/s and elevated temperatures up to 615 °C. Special attention has been paid to whether transition from velocity weakening to velocity strengthening occurs due to the elevation of temperature.Two series of experiments were conducted with normal stresses of 200 MPa and 300 MPa, respectively. For both normal stresses, the friction strengths are comparable at least up to 510 °C, with no significant weakening effect of increasing temperature. Comparison of our results with Byerlee's rule on a strike slip fault with a specific temperature profile in the Zhangbei region of North China shows that the strength given by experiments are around that given by Byerlee's rule and a little greater in the high temperature range.At 200 MPa normal stress, the steady-state rate dependence a − b shows only positive values, probably still in the “run-in” process where velocity strengthening is a common feature. With a normal stress of 300 MPa, the values of steady-state rate dependence decreases systematically with increasing temperature, and stick-slip occurred at 615 °C. Considering the limited displacement, limited normal stress applied and the effect of normal stress for the temperatures above 420 °C, it is inferred here that velocity weakening may be the typical behaviour at higher normal stress for temperature above 420 °C and at least up to 615 °C, which covers most of the temperature range in the lower crust of geologically stable continental interior. For a dry mafic lower crust in cool continental interiors where frictional sliding prevails over plastic flow, unstable slip nucleation may occur to generate earthquakes.     

The role of bedding in the evolution of meso- and microstructural fabrics in fault zones

To investigate the role of bedding in the evolution of meso- and microstructural fabrics in fault zones, detailed microscopic, mineralogical, and geochemical analyses were conducted on bedding-oblique and bedding-parallel faults that cut a folded Neogene siliceous mudstone that contains opal-CT, smectite, and illite. An analysis of asymmetric structures in the fault gouges indicates that the secondary fractures associated with each fault exhibit contrasting characteristics: those of the bedding-oblique fault are R₁ shears, whereas those of the bedding-parallel fault are reactivated S foliation. The bedding-oblique fault shows the pervasive development of S foliation, lacks opal-CT, and has low SiO₂/TiO₂ ratios only in gouge, whereas the bedding-parallel fault exhibits these characteristics in both gouge and wall rocks. The development of S foliation and the lack of silica can result from local ductile deformation involving the sliding of phyllosilicates, coupled with pressure solution of opal-CT. Although such deformation can occur in gouge, the above results indicate that it may occur preferentially along bedding planes, preceding the formation of a gouge/slip surface. Thus, in sedimentary rocks that contain phyllosilicates and soluble minerals, bedding can influence the rheological evolution of meso- and microstructural fabrics in fault zones.     

Velocity dependence of strength and healing behaviour in simulated phyllosilicate-bearing fault gouge

Despite the fact that phyllosilicates are widespread in fault zones, little is known about the strength of phyllosilicate-bearing fault rocks under brittle–ductile transitional conditions. In this study, we explored the steady state strength and healing behaviour of a simulated phyllosilicate-bearing fault rock, i.e. muscovite plus halite and brine, at room temperature, normal stresses of 1–9 MPa, atmospheric fluid pressure and sliding velocities of 0.001–13 μm/s, using a rotary shear apparatus. While 100% halite and 100% muscovite samples exhibit rate-independent frictional/brittle behaviour, the strength of mixtures containing 10–50% muscovite is both normal stress and sliding velocity dependent. At low velocities (< 1 μm/s), strength increases with increasing velocity and normal stress, and a mylonitic foliation develops. This behaviour results from pressure solution in the halite grains, which accommodates frictional sliding on the phyllosilicate foliation. The pervasive muscovite foliation, which coats all halite grains, prevents significant healing. At high velocities (> 1 μm/s), velocity-weakening frictional behaviour occurs, along with the development of a structureless, intermixed, cataclastic microstructure. The steady state porosity of samples deformed in this regime increases with increasing sliding velocity. We propose that this behaviour involves competition between dilatation due to granular flow and compaction due to pressure solution. Towards higher sliding velocities, dilatation increasingly dominates over pressure solution compaction, so that porosity increases and frictional strength decreases. During periods of zero slip, pressure solution compaction occurs, causing a significant strength increase on reshearing. Our results imply that cataclastic overprinting of mylonitic rocks in natural fault zones does not require any changes in temperature or effective pressure conditions, but can simply result from oscillating fault motion rates. Our healing data suggest that foliated, aseismically creeping fault segments will remain weak and aseismic, whereas segments that have slipped seismically will rapidly re-strengthen and remain in the unstable, velocity-weakening regime.     

Effect of mineralogy on friction-dilation relationships for simulated faults:Implications for permeability evolution in caprock faults

This paper experimentally explores the frictional sliding behavior of two simulated gouges:one,a series of quartz–smectite mixtures,and the other,powdered natural rocks,aiming to evaluate and codify the effect of mineralogy on gouge dilation and frictional strength,stability,and healing.Specifically,velocity-stepping and slide-hold-slide experiments were performed in a double direct shear configuration to analyze frictional constitutive parameters at room temperature,under normal stresses of 10,20,and 40 MPa.Gouge dilation was measured based on the applied step-wise changes in shear velocity.The frictional response of the quartz–smectite mixtures and powdered natural rocks are affected by their phyllosilicate content.Frictional strength and healing rates decrease with increasing phyllosilicate content,and at 20 wt.%a transition from velocity-weakening to velocity-strengthening behavior was noted.For both suites of gouges,dilation is positively correlated with frictional strength and healing rates,and negatively correlated with frictional stability.Changes in the permeability of gouge-filled faults were estimated from changes in mean porosity,indexed through measured magnitudes of gouge dilation.This combined analysis implies that the reactivation of caprock faults filled with phyllosilicaterich gouges may have a strong influence on permeability evolution in caprock faults.     

Shear fracture pattern and microstructural evolution in transpressional fault zones from field and laboratory studies

Zones of transpressional shear deformation accommodate strike-slip and oblique-slip displacements. Field work in a transpressive shear zone, and transpressional analogue clay-box modelling, show that a P-oriented foliation and associated P-shears are preferentially developed over the more common R₁ Riedel-shears. The Carboneras fault system (CFS) in SE Spain is a left-lateral transpressional shear zone with an internal geometry characterized by first-order Y-oriented faults and widespread P-oriented second-order faults. The mesoscopic to microscopic gouge fabric reflects the regional architecture of the shear zone being dominated by a pervasive Poriented foliation and discrete Y- and P-shears. Friction experiments carried out to investigate the textural evolution of gouge fabrics showed four textural stages of fabric development, from foliation formation to extreme shear localization resulting in cross-gouge failure. Transpression clay-box models favoured the formation of secondary P-oriented shear fractures and P-oriented shear lenses. Further deformation caused differential shear lens rotation and shear lens orientations closer to the mean displacement direction. Our field studies and laboratory analogue experiments indicate that shear zones dominated by P-shears are diagnostic of a transpressional deformation regime.     

Fault-zone structure and weakening processes in basin-scale reverse faults: The Moonlight Fault Zone,South Island,New Zealand

The >200 km long Moonlight Fault Zone (MFZ) in southern New Zealand was an Oligocene basin-bounding normal fault zone that reactivated in the Miocene as a high-angle reverse fault (present dip angle 65°–75°). Regional exhumation in the last c. 5 Ma has resulted in deep exposures of the MFZ that present an opportunity to study the structure and deformation processes that were active in a basin-scale reverse fault at basement depths. Syn-rift sediments are preserved only as thin fault-bound slivers. The hanging wall and footwall of the MFZ are mainly greenschist facies quartzofeldspathic schists that have a steeply-dipping (55°–75°) foliation subparallel to the main fault trace. In more fissile lithologies (e.g. greyschists), hanging-wall deformation occurred by the development of foliation-parallel breccia layers up to a few centimetres thick. Greyschists in the footwall deformed mainly by folding and formation of tabular, foliation-parallel breccias up to 1 m wide. Where the hanging-wall contains more competent lithologies (e.g. greenschist facies metabasite) it is laced with networks of pseudotachylyte that formed parallel to the host rock foliation in a damage zone extending up to 500 m from the main fault trace. The fault core contains an up to 20 m thick sequence of breccias, cataclasites and foliated cataclasites preserving evidence for the progressive development of interconnected networks of (partly authigenic) chlorite and muscovite. Deformation in the fault core occurred by cataclasis of quartz and albite, frictional sliding of chlorite and muscovite grains, and dissolution-precipitation. Combined with published friction and permeability data, our observations suggest that: 1) host rock lithology and anisotropy were the primary controls on the structure of the MFZ at basement depths and 2) high-angle reverse slip was facilitated by the low frictional strength of fault core materials. Restriction of pseudotachylyte networks to the hanging-wall of the MFZ further suggests that the wide, phyllosilicate-rich fault core acted as an efficient hydrological barrier, resulting in a relatively hydrous footwall and fault core but a relatively dry hanging-wall.     

高温高压及干燥条件下斜长石和辉石断层泥的摩擦滑动研究

岩石摩擦滑动的力学行为能够很好地用速率和状态依赖性摩擦本构关系来描述。在速率和状态依赖性本构关系中,速度依赖性参数a-b是控制摩擦滑动稳定性的重要参数。且a-b<0是断层上不稳定滑动成核的必要条件。为了进一步研究控制摩擦滑动的矿物成分因素,在已有辉长岩摩擦滑动实验结果的基础上,对辉长岩中主要矿物(斜长石和辉石)在不同加载条件下进行了3个系列的摩擦滑动实验研究。通过对实验结果的分析得到如下结论:(1)斜长石断层泥在实验温度范围内(<617℃)显示速度强化,且在大于450℃的高温区其速度依赖性参数a-b随温度的增大而增加。辉石断层泥的实验显示其有利于速度弱化滑动行为的出现,是造成辉长岩在615℃出现速度弱化的原因。(2)斜长石与辉石断层泥的摩擦强度都没有随温度的增加而显著变化。辉长岩断层泥的摩擦强度(1.83mm滑动位移处的值)为斜长石与辉石断层泥摩擦强度按体积百分比加权的平均值(摩擦系数精确到2位有效数字一致)。这一结果表明,辉长岩断层泥的应力支承结构可以抽象为一种双组分并列单元模型。(3)尽管前人研究结果表明石英控制了花岗岩的摩擦特性,但是某种主要矿物对岩石整体摩擦滑动性质的控制作用并不具有普适性。对于中性岩、基性岩而言,不能以一种主要矿物(如斜长石等)来判断岩石整体的摩擦滑动稳定性,否则会导致错误结论。     

ESR detection of seismic frictional heating events in the Nojima fault drill core samples, Japan

We have analyzed the Nojima fault NIED 1800 m drill core samples by ESR (Electron Spin Resonance) to detect seismic frictional heating events, especially during the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. Dark gray fault gouge with foliation > 10 cm away from the fault plane at about 1140 m in depth, which was produced by ancient fault movements, has a FMR (ferrimagnetic resonance) signal. Heating experiments show that this FMR signal is derived from ferrimagnetic trivalent ion oxides (γ-Fe₂O₃: maghemite) with imperfect crystallinity, which is produced by thermal dehydration of γ-FeOOH (lepidocrocite) or Fe(OH)₃ (limonite). The existence of the FMR signal means that dry heating such as frictional heating once occurred, and that the frictional heat temperature along the dark gray fault gouge may have risen to over 350 °C during ancient seismic fault slip. In order to detect frictional heating events in fault zones, the increase of the FMR signal and the color change of fault gouge into dark gray or black are important indexes. On the other hand, no FMR signal is detected from the fault gouges just on two fault planes at about 1140 m and 1300 m in depth, which are considered to be possible main fault planes in the 1995 Kobe Earthquake. These two fault planes may not have played an important role of fault slip in the Earthquake.     

Extensional shear band development on the outer margin of the Alpine mylonite zone,Tatare Stream,Southern Alps,New Zealand

Schistose mylonitic rocks in the central part of the Alpine Fault (AF) at Tatare Stream, New Zealand are cut by pervasive extensional (C′) shear bands in a well-understood and young, natural ductile shear zone. The C′ shears cross-cut the pre-existing (Mesozoic—aged) foliation, displacing it ductilely synthetic to late Cenozoic motion on the AF. Using a transect approach, we evaluated changes in geometrical properties of the mm–cm-spaced C′ shear bands across a conspicuous finite strain gradient that intensifies towards the AF. Precise C′ attitudes, C′-foliation dihedral angles, and C′–S intersections were calculated from multiple sectional observations at both outcrop and thin-section scales. Based on these data the direction of ductile shearing in the Alpine mylonite zone during shear band activity is inferred to have trended >20° clockwise (down-dip) of the coeval Pacific-Australia plate motion, indicating some partitioning of oblique-slip motion to yield an excess of “dip-slip” relative to plate motion azimuth, or some up-dip ductile extrusion of the shear zone as a result of transpression, or both. Constant attitude of the mylonitic foliation across the finite strain gradient indicates this planar fabric element was parallel to the shear zone boundary (SZB). Across all examined parts of the shear zone, the mean dihedral angle between the C′ shears and the mylonitic foliation (S) remains a constant 30 ± 1° (1σ). The aggregated slip accommodated on the C′ shear bands contributed only a small bulk shear strain across the shear zone (γ = 0.6–0.8). Uniformity of per-shear slip on C′ shears with progression into the mylonite zone across the strain gradient leads us to infer that these shears exhibited a strain-hardening rheology, such that they locked up at a finite shear strain (inside C′ bands) of 12–15. Shear band boudins and foliation boudins both record extension parallel to the SZB, as do the occurrence of extensional shear band sets that have conjugate senses of slip. We infer that shear bands nucleated on planes of maximum instantaneous shear strain rate in a shear zone with W_k < 0.8, and perhaps even as low as <0.5. The C′ shear bands near the AF formed in a thinning/stretching shear zone, which had monoclinic symmetry, where the direction of shear-zone stretching was parallel to the shearing direction.     

Principal fault zone width and permeability of the active Neodani fault, Nobi fault system, Southwest Japan

The internal structure and permeability of the Neodani fault, which was last activated at the time of the 1891 Nobi earthquake (M8.0), were examined through field survey and experiments. A new exposure of the fault at a road construction site reveals a highly localized feature of the past fault deformation within a narrow fault core zone. The fault of the area consists of three zone units towards the fault core: (a) protolith rocks; (b) 15 to 30 m of fault breccia, and (c) 200 mm green to black fault gouge. Within the fault breccia zone, cataclastic foliation oblique to the fault has developed in a fine-grained 2-m-wide zone adjacent to the fault. Foliation is defined by subparallel alignment of intact lozenge shaped clasts, or by elongated aggregates of fine-grained chert fragments. The mean angle of 20°, between the foliation and the fault plane suggests that the foliated breccia accommodated a shear strain of γ<5 assuming simple shear for the rotation of the cataclastic foliation. Previous trench surveys have revealed that the fault has undergone at least 70 m of fault displacement within the last 20,000 years in this locality. The observed fault geometry suggests that past fault displacements have been localized into the 200-mm-wide gouge zone. Gas permeability analysis of the gouges gives low values of the order of 10⁻²⁰ m². Water permeability as low as 10⁻²⁰ m² is therefore expected for the fault gouge zone, which is two orders of magnitude lower than the critical permeability suggested for a fault to cause thermal pressurization during a fault slip.     

On the mechanical properties of synthetic kaolinite/quartz fault gouge

The mechanical properties and microstructures of mixed kaolinite/ quartz fault gouge have been studied by means of triaxial tests, wherein a 1 mm thickness of fault gouge was sheared between rigid, sintered alumina sliders. Test conditions ranged up to 200 MPa confining pressure, 175 MPa pore water pressure and temperatures to 600°C. Constant displacement rate tests were carried out at 5×10^-4 mm s^-1, and the stress relaxation technique was used to access a wide range of lower displacement rates down to 10^-10 mm s^-1. The effects of different ratios of clay: quartz were studied, and some experiments were cafried out using crushed Tennessee sandstone gouge and pre-faulted cylinders of Tennessee sandstone. Deformation-induced microstructures were studied by optical, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and mineral chemistry changes were identified using EDS analysis in the STEM. The most important factor determining the strength of these gouges is effective confining pressure, and the effective stress law was obeyed at all test conditions. Increasing the proportion of quartz in the gouge slightly increases the strength, as does increase of temperature. Under all test conditions the gouges deformed by strain-hardening stable sliding. At 2 mm displacement the friction coefficient is similar to that for rock and rock sliding (μ= 0.85). Over wide ranges of strain-rate and temperature the strength of these gouges is little affected if the effective pressure is high, but strength drops rapidly with decreasing strain-rate if effective pressure is low (or if pore water pressure is high). Reloading of the gouge after stress relaxation at high temperatures demonstrated hardening arising from hydrothermal cementation during stress relaxation, which led to sudden rupture of the cemented gouge. This phenomenon may be responsible for cyclic rupture of natural faults. New mineral phases were produced in these experiments only at 600°C. At 400°C, anticipated production of pyrophyllite from kaolinite plus quartz was not found, but recrystallization of kaolinite is believed to have occurred and evidence of healing of cracks in quartz was seen. Microstructural studies revealed the ubiquitous development of P and R₁ foliations and other features, which are identical to those found in natural clay-bearing fault zones. Microstructural evolution is associated with the strain-hardening, and apparent hardening is strongly associated with the stress path during loading.     

Frictional sliding of gabbro gouge under hydrothermal conditions

We investigated the frictional sliding behaviour of gabbro gouge under hydrothermal conditions. Experiments were performed on 1-mm-thick gabbro gouge sandwiched between country rock pieces (with gouge inclined 35° to the sample axis) in a triaxial testing system with argon gas as the confining medium. In the first series, experiments were conducted under effective normal stresses of 200 MPa and 300 MPa respectively, with pore pressure of 10 MPa. For temperature over 400 °C, pore pressure of 30 MPa was also applied to implement supercritical water conditions. At temperatures up to 615 °C, slip rate steps ranging from 0.0488 μm/s to 1.22 μm/s were applied to obtain the rate dependence of friction.At 200 MPa effective normal stress and a pore pressure of 10 MPa, the steady state rate dependence a–b shows velocity-weakening behaviour for temperatures between  200 and  310 °C. The higher temperature limit for velocity-weakening behaviour to occur extends up to  510 °C under supercritical water conditions with a pore pressure of 30 MPa. For the limited sliding distance in our experiments, only velocity-strengthening behaviour occurred at 300 MPa effective normal stress. Considering the limited displacement (< 3.5 mm), velocity-weakening behaviour may not be excluded in the high effective normal stress case for temperature below  510 °C.The coefficient of friction shows an increasing trend with increasing temperature in the low temperature range. The cut-off temperatures for the increasing trend are  250 °C and  440 °C, respectively for the 200 MPa and 300 MPa effective normal stress cases. Above the cut-off temperatures, the coefficient of friction at 1.83 mm permanent displacement varies around an average of 0.73, which is identical to the average for the oven-dried case [He, C., Yao, W., Wang, Z., Zhou, Y., 2006. Strength and stability of frictional sliding of gabbro gouge at elevated temperatures. Tectonophysics 427, 217–229, doi:10.1016/j.tecto.2006.05.023]. Together with the small value of rate dependence (a–b < 0.0073) for the whole temperature range, these results indicate the absence of fluid-assisted creep.With the result of our experiments as a constraint on strength of frictional sliding, comparison between converted strength for strike–slip faults and creep strength of gabbro-like rocks implies fracturing and faulting behaviours in the lower crust of a cool area (Zhangbei) in North China.     

Surface roughness evolution on experimentally simulated faults

To investigate the physical processes operating in active fault zones, we conduct analogue laboratory experiments where we track the morphological and mechanical evolution of an interface during slip. Our laboratory friction experiments consist of a halite (NaCl) slider held under constant normal load that is dragged across a coarse sandpaper substrate. This set-up is a surrogate for a fault surface, where brittle and plastic deformation mechanisms operate simultaneously during sliding. Surface morphology evolution, frictional resistance and infra-red emission are recorded with cumulative slip. After experiments, we characterize the roughness developed on slid surfaces, to nanometer resolution, using white light interferometry. We directly observe the formation of deformation features, such as slip parallel linear striations, as well as deformation products or gouge. The striations are often associated with marginal ridges of positive relief suggesting sideways transport of gouge products in the plane of the slip surface in a snow-plough-like fashion. Deeper striations are commonly bounded by triangular brittle fractures that fragment the salt surface and efficiently generate a breccia or gouge. Experiments with an abundance of gouge at the sliding interface have reduced shear resistance compared to bare surfaces and we show that friction is reduced with cumulative slip as gouge accumulates from initially bare surfaces. The relative importance of these deformation mechanisms may influence gouge production rate, fault surface roughness evolution, as well as mechanical behavior. Finally, our experimental results are linked to Nature by comparing the experimental surfaces to an actual fault surface, whose striated morphology has been characterized to centimeter resolution using a laser scanner. It is observed that both the stress field and the energy dissipation are heterogeneous at all scales during the maturation of the interface with cumulative slip. Importantly, we show that the formation of striations on fault planes by mechanical abrasion involves transport of gouge products in the fault plane not only along the slip direction, but also perpendicular to it.     

Frictional properties of saponite-rich gouge from a serpentinite-bearing fault zone along the Gokasho-Arashima Tectonic Line,central Japan

We studied a serpentinite-bearing fault zone in Gokasho-Arashima Tectonic Line, Mie Prefecture, central Japan, characterizing its internal structures, mineral assemblage, permeability, and frictional properties. The fault core situated between the serpentinite breccia and the adjacent sedimentary rocks is characterized by a zone locally altered to saponite. The clayey gouge layer separates fault rocks of serpentinite origin containing talc and tremolite from fault rocks of sedimentary origin containing chlorite but no quartz. The minerals that formed within the fault are the products of metasomatic reaction between the serpentinite and the siliceous rocks. Permeability measurements show that serpentinite breccia and fault gouge have permeability of 10⁻¹⁴–10⁻¹⁷ m² and 10⁻¹⁵–10⁻¹⁸ m², respectively, at 5–120 MPa confining pressure. Frictional coefficient of the saponite-rich clayey fault gouge ranged between 0.20 and 0.35 under room-dry condition, but was reduced to 0.06–0.12 when saturated with water. The velocity dependence of friction was strongly positive, mostly ranging between 0.005 and 0.006 in terms of a–b values. The governing friction law is not constrained yet, but we find that the saponite-rich gouge possesses an evolutional behavior in the opposite direction to that suggested by the rate and state friction law, in addition to its direct velocity dependence.     

Dilatant plasticity in high-strain experiments on calcite–muscovite aggregates

Torsion experiments were performed on synthetic aggregates of calcite with a 50% volume of muscovite. The tests were performed at 627–727 °C with a confining pressure of 300 MPa at constant shear strain rates of 3 × 10^?5–3 × 10^?4 s^?1 on cylindrical samples with the starting foliation parallel and perpendicular to the cylinder axis. Both the foliation parallel and the foliation perpendicular experiments show similar stress–strain patterns, with an initial hardening stage followed by significant strain weakening (>60%) before a catastrophic rupture. Microstructural analysis shows that in low-strain experiments calcite grains are intensely twinned while muscovite grains appear slightly bent and kinked. Higher strains promote a segregation of the two phases with calcite forming thin layers of fine, dynamically recrystallized grains, which act as localized shear bands, while muscovite grains keep their original size and rotate assuming a strong shape preferred orientation. This strain localization of the calcite from an initially homogeneous rock produced catastrophic failure at moderate bulk shear strains (γ ～ 3). Localization of the strain first involved ductile deformation to produce a new calcite layering with fine dynamically recrystallized grains along which cavities nucleated. The orientation and kinematics of the cavities are comparable to R1 Riedel structures. All experiments on calcite–muscovite mixtures resulted in heterogeneous strain. In these torsion experiments chemical changes and crystallization of new phases (anorthite and kalsilite) are observed at 627 °C. Whereas, samples hot pressed or deformed in compression at 670 °C did not show such reactions or any localization. The effect of stress-field geometry and pore pressure upon mineral reactions is discussed. It is concluded that deformation-induced heterogeneous phase distributions caused local strength differences initiating strain localization in the calcite–muscovite mixtures, eventually leading to plastic failure.