Fracturing mode analysis and relative age dating of faults by surface textures of quartz grains from fault gouges

Surface textures of quartz grains taken from about 250 samples of fault gouges in faults ranging in length from several metres to several tens of metres with the faults extending several tens to several hundreds of kilometres in length, are examined by means of the scanning electron microscope and are categorized into four groups from I to IV, based on the smoothness of the surface, degree of undulation and development of cavities, as mentioned in a previous paper. Based on surface features of quartz grains from faults the geological age of movement of which is known, the groups I to IV are tentatively related to the age of formation of quartz grains and the period of formation of surface textures. This correlation makes it clear that quartz-grain surface textures are an important clue to dating a relative age of faulting. River patterns, striations, granular fracture surfaces, and dimple-like textures are observed to appear on less corroded surfaces of quartz grains from fault gouges. Fractographic analysis of these surfaces of quartz grains should be a clue to revealing the mode of fracture of the fault movement which released the quartz grains into the fault gouge.     

Dating fault activity by surface textures of quartz grains from fault gouges

Surface textures of quartz grains from fault gouges are examined by means of the scanning electron microscope. It is disclosed that the surface morphology of the grains is variable, but quartz grains extracted from one fault gouge sample commonly show a type of texture different from those observed on the grains from the other samples. The surface textures observed under the microscope are tentatively classified into eight types; subconchoidal, orange peel-like, fish scale-like, moss-like, moth-eaten, stalactitic, pot-hole, and coral-like textures. These textures can be classified into four groups. Arranged in the order of their apparent features, it is interpreted that the progressive corrosion of quartz grains by ground water has taken place after faulting. The change of this surface feature can assist in estimating the time elapsed since the last fault activity.     

准噶尔盆地南缘断裂带显微构造特征与活动时代

对准噶尔盆地南缘霍尔果斯-玛纳斯-吐谷鲁逆断裂带中的断层泥和构造岩显微构造进行了研究,并对断裂带中的石膏、石英脉和断层泥进行了ESR测年。显微构造研究表明,断裂带至少经历了3期构造变形,断层泥和石英碎粒中既发育有线状擦痕、阶步等粘滑活动显微构造,也发育有剪切滑动、定向排列等蠕滑活动变形现象。ESR测年结果显示,霍尔果斯-玛纳斯-吐谷鲁逆断裂带形成于1.5Ma前,在0.4~1.0 Ma和0.08~0.12 Ma期间进行了二次再调整。断裂活动时间与青藏高原阶段性隆升的时间一致,说明准噶尔盆地南缘霍尔果斯-玛纳斯-吐谷鲁逆断裂带的形成与青藏高原的隆升过程密切相关。      

ESR dating of the Wangsan fault,South Korea

The Wangsan fault is exposed at Kyeongju, Korea. The andesite is unconformably covered by Quaternary alternating conglomerate and sandstone deposits. The unconformity is cut by the thrust fault which displaces a hanging wall block of about 30 m. Exposed at the surface of this fault is a light gray and brown fault gouge, about 40–120 cm thick. In order to test the consistency of ESR ages from a single fault gouge zone, we collected six gouge samples systematically along and across the Wangsan fault. We found that six samples collected from the same gouge zone show consistent ESR date estimates (average 550 ka). Because fault rock is rare along faults in unconsolidated sediments due to low confining stress near the surface, we consider that this fault gouge has been moved up with the hanging wall block along the fault. The estimated average uplift rate of the hanging wall block is about 0.04 cm/year based on the age of the displaced Quaternary deposits (vertical separation; about 20 m) dated by OSL dating methods. The depth of the fault gouge at the time of reactivation, which was estimated from uplift rate and the ESR ages, is about 220 m. Therefore, we conclude that the results of ESR age estimates represent the time of reactivation of the fault gouge at a depth of 220 m in the past during fault movement, because later movements which occurred during uplift near the surface may not have zeroed ESR signals significantly for ESR dating of fault movements.     

Repeated seismic slips recorded in ultracataclastic veins along active faults of the Arima–Takatsuki Tectonic Line,southwest Japan

Field investigations, combined with meso- and microstructural analyses, reveal that numerous ultracataclastic veins are widely developed within a fault zone (<150 m wide) as simple veins, complex lenses, and networks, along active faults of the Arima–Takatsuki Tectonic Line, southwest Japan. These veins comprise mainly pseudotachylyte-like vein and weakly consolidated to unconsolidated fault gouge that is black, dark-brown, brown, gray, and brownish-red in color. Meso- and microstructural features show that these pseudotachylyte-like and fault gouge veins and networks formed during multiple stages, as earlier veins are generally cut and overprinted by younger veins, indicating that the vein-forming events occurred repeatedly and that ultracataclastic material was injected into networks of faults and fractures in the fault zone. The pseudotachylyte-like and fault gouge veins are characterized by an ultrafine- to fine-grained matrix and angular to subangular fragments of host granitic rocks of various sizes, ranging from submicron to millimeters. SEM–EDS (Scanning Electronic Microscope-Energy Dispersive X-ray) and powder X-ray diffraction analyses show that all the ultracataclastic veins are characterized by crystalline materials composed mainly of quartz and feldspar, similar to the host granitic rocks.The present results support the existing hypothesis that ultrafine- to fine-grained materials formed by comminution can be fluidized and injected rapidly into fracture networks located far from the source fault plane in a solid–fluid–gas system during seismic slip; therefore, such materials provide a record of paleoseismic faulting events that occurred repeatedly within the seismogenic fault zone.     

Quartz microtextures and microstructures owing to deformation of glaciolacustrine sediments in the northern Venezuelan Andes

Glaciolacustrine sediments, ranging in age from Early to Late Mérida (Wisconsinan) in sections in the northern Venezuelan Andes near Pedregal, were studied to assess the effect of small‐scale folding and faulting on the surface microtextures of individual grains. At site PED5, faulting of sediments beneath 35 m of Middle to Late Mérida glaciolacustrine, glaciofluvial and probable till deposits, has resulted in a maximum displacement of 1 m and many crushed sand grains are found along the shear zone. These dominantly quartz particles are typically smoothed and/or faceted with surface skins split from parent grains to produce adhering blade or wafer‐shaped coarse silts. Faulting with displacement of< 40 cm occurs in Late Mérida glaciolacustrine beds at sites PED13 and PED11, beneath ca. 1–5 m of sediment and is thought to result from the removal of lateral support during valley erosion and possibly seismic disturbance. Associated sediments exhibit a greater incidence of small‐scale fold structures and convoluted bedding but with similar numbers and types of crushed grains. All of the fault traces examined exhibit microstructural modifications, including microfaulting, folding and multiple domains associated with fluidisation and liquefaction. The microtextures described are distinct from those produced by glacial or glaciofluvial transport processes and potentially may be used to infer glaciotectonic or other post‐depositional disturbance of sediments. Rare euhedral quartz grains with distorted crystallographic axes may derive from the shear zone of the regional transform Boconó Fault, although many of these grains appear to be overprinted by glacial and/or recent deformation processes. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

The Characteristics of Quartz Micro-morphology of The Fault Gouge in Bailongjiang Fault System and Its Chronology

A great deal of important information referring to fault motion (such as fault activities period, intensity, frequency, and even dynamic background, etc.) can be revealed by resolving fault gouge, which are the special result of fault motion while extruding or grinding. Based on the field investigation, collected from Bailongjiang fault system of Western Qinling Orogenic (QO) Belt, 44 samples of fault gouge were for quartz micro-morphology observation and statistics by the field emission SEM, and 14 samples were tested by thermo-luminescence dating. The results showed that most of the micro-morphology of quartz grains are fish scale and orange-haut fractures, but a small amount of moss-like, stalactitic, and subconchoidal fractures. Also very few decay of quartz grains and typical conchoids fracture quartz grains can be seen. This implied that the Bailongjiang fault system was motioned repeatedly in Quaternary period but main motion period was Pleistocene. 14 thermo-luminescence dating values showed herewith two groups as 343.29-184.06 ka and 92.18-13.87 ka. Therefore, the conclusions can be reached that the fault system were motioned starting at Pliocene epoch, frequently in the middle of Pleistocene (343.29-184.06 ka), and peak frequency in late Pleistocene (92.18-13.87 ka). The fault system motions have stopped at Holocene. The results are significant for the natural disaster risk evaluation in western QO region.     

从断裂带内部结构出发评价断层垂向封闭性的方法

脆性断层和塑性断层断裂带内部结构存在差异: 脆性断层断裂带由以断层岩和伴生裂缝为特征的破碎带和诱导裂缝带2部分组成; 塑性断层断裂带表现为几条充填断层泥大裂缝的组合, 诱导裂缝带不发育.破碎带内部伴生裂缝、无粘结力断层岩带和诱导裂缝带都可能成为油气运移的通道, 只有这3种通道均封闭, 脆性断层垂向才是封闭的.只要伴生裂缝封闭, 塑性断层就是封闭的.基于这种封闭机理, 分析了3种通道封闭的条件: 无粘结力断层岩带是否封闭取决于断层泥含量大小; 破碎带内部伴生裂缝的封闭性取决于断面压力和断层泥塑性强度关系; 诱导裂缝带封闭程度受控于后期成岩充填的程度.提出了利用断面压力、断层泥的含量和塑性强度、后期成岩程度综合判定不同性质断层垂向封闭性评价方法.并利用该方法对克拉2构造F₁断层垂向封闭性进行了评价, 结果表明F₁断层垂向封闭性具有分段性: ①和③段均表现为脆性, 但①段因诱导裂缝没有被充填不封闭, ③段是封闭的; ②段是塑性断层, 垂向封闭性好.这是克拉2构造有大规模天然气聚集成藏的关键因素之一.      

Dating of the Karakorum Strike-slip Fault

This paper mainly discusses the timing of the Karakorum strike-slip fault, and gives a brief introduction of its structures, offset, and deformational style. This fault strikes NNW-SSE. Asymmetrical folds, stretching lineation, S-C fabrics, feldspar and quartz σ-porphyroclasts, domino structure, shear cleavages and faults in the fault zone are products of tectonic movements. They all indicate a dextral slip sense of faulting. Mylonitic bands are widely developed along this fault. Phengite appears, indicating rather high deformational pressure. Geochronological data indicate that the Karakorum strike-slip faulting occurred from 6.88±0.36 to 8.75±0.25 Ma. The cumulative displacement from Muztag Ata to Muji is about 135 km.     

郯庐断裂带的形成与演化：综述

从历史的与整体的观点出发，综合了地质、地貌、地球化学与地球物理的资料，系统地研究了郯庐断裂带各阶段的形态学、运动学以及动力学机制。认为此断裂带开始形成于中、晚三叠世，其长度小于１５００ｋｍ，切割深度小于１５～２０ｋｍ，此时最大左行走滑断距为４３０ｋｍ左右。侏罗纪（２０８～１３５Ｍａ）与中始新世－渐新世（５２～２３．３Ｍａ），此断裂带表现为逆断层活动，断层面受挤压较紧闭。白垩纪－早始新世（１３５～５２Ｍａ），郯庐断裂呈现为略带右行走滑的正断层（走滑断距不超过１００ｋｍ），郯庐断裂带与其北部切割深度约为３０～４０ｋｍ。中新世－更新世（２３．３～０．７３Ｍａ）断裂带表现为带有左行走滑的正断层，走滑断距约５０ｋｍ，断裂带切割深度在５０～８０ｋｍ之间。中更新世（０．７３Ｍａ以来）断裂带又变成略带右行走滑的逆断层，走滑断距不足１００ｍ。由于断裂带形成以来的剥蚀深度不大，地表的断层岩都是碎裂岩与断层泥。沿此断裂带在早白垩世构成了中国东部重要的内生金属成矿带。     

准噶尔盆地南缘霍尔果斯和吐谷鲁断裂带断层泥分形特征与断裂活动关系

根据采集的天然断层泥样品 ,对准噶尔盆地南缘霍尔果斯和吐谷鲁逆断裂带中断层泥进行了显微构造、显微形貌和分形研究。研究结果表明 ,断层泥至少存在三期变形 ;同时断层泥和石英碎粒中既发育有线状擦痕、阶步等典型的粘滑活动显微构造 ,也发育有剪切滑动、定向排列等典型的蠕滑活动变形现象 ,说明了断裂活动的长期性和复杂性。断层泥的分形研究表明 ,霍尔果斯和吐谷鲁断裂带断层泥分维值分别在 2 .17～ 2 .6 3和 2 .76～ 2 .89变化 ,分维值与断层运动方式粘滑或蠕滑不存在因果关系。因此 ,断层泥分维值能否作为判别断裂活动方式值得进一步研究。     

安山质熔结凝灰岩中凹凸棒石断层岩的矿物学特征

郯庐断裂带肥东段龙山安山质熔结凝灰岩中产出一种白色断层岩。X-射线粉末衍射(XRD)、红外光谱(TER)、扫描电子显微镜(SEM)、透射电镜(TEM)、电子能谱仪(EDS)、X-射线荧光光谱(XRF。)等结构、形貌和成分分析证明，这些白色断层岩主要由凹凸棒石组成(含量大于90％)，属于凹凸棒石断层岩。凹凸棒石呈现40-60纳米的细长纤维，其中的少量杂质是纳米粒度的石英和钠长石。纳米粒度的石英和钠长石形态特征显示它们可能由安山质熔接凝灰岩中原生矿物机械破碎形成。这些凹凸棒石断层岩形成于火山热液活动同一期断层递进变形过程中，经历了三个阶段。首先是安山质熔结凝灰岩在断裂作用下形成碎粉岩，然后是碎粉岩在构造应力和火山热液作用下水化形成凹凸棒石，最后凹凸棒石又在断层活动晚期发生变形。     

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.     

石英电子自旋共振（ESR）的地学研究现状与展望

电子自旋共振（ESR）是一种对断层物质、燧石、火山灰和沉积物（水系、风成、冰川）定年的重要方法,它广为接受的测年范围为第四纪。对断层泥和沉积物样品,石英ESR信号的不完全归零往往使ESR年龄偏老,多重ESR中心法和颗粒大小“平顶判据”是判断信号归零特征的两种有效方法。为将ESR测年范围拓展至前第四纪,通常采用石英氧空位在加热转化后极大增强的E’心作为测年信号,但由于石英氧空位形成转化机理不明确,加热后增强的ESR信号与地质年龄的相关性有待进一步验证。近期研究表明石英ESR的封闭温度为49 ℃～82 ℃,可在比磷灰石（U-Th）/He更低的温度区间内研究地球近地表的构造演化过程。释光技术热年代学研究发展迅速,与之测年原理接近的ESR在低温热年代学领域展现了良好的应用前景,它与释光及磷灰石（U-Th）/He可相互比对、共同提高地球近地表构造和地形演化问题的分析精度。     

胶东三山岛金矿构造控矿规律研究

胶东西北部是我国重要的金矿聚集区,矿床类型以石英脉型和破碎带蚀变岩型为主。发育在三山岛–仓上断裂内部的三山岛金矿床是胶东西北部蚀变岩型金矿的典型代表。最新的勘探结果显示,三山岛金矿在大于2 km的垂深处仍有很好的金矿化,而且三山岛金矿的一个显著特点是主矿体均发育在断裂内部的断层泥之下,断裂的形成和演化对金矿床的形成及矿体的空间分布具有重要的控制作用。作者通过不同尺度的构造分析后发现,在三山岛金矿床形成过程中,区域构造应力场的状态发生过明显的转变,由成矿前的右行张扭,转变为成矿初期的NNW-SSE向挤压左行剪切应力场,三山岛主断裂也在成矿期发生左行挤压逆冲活动,主断裂封闭,主断裂内的断层泥逐渐形成,封堵成矿热液于断层泥之下,形成三山岛矿区大规模的破碎带蚀变岩型矿化。     

断层内部结构及其对封闭性的影响

先前的研究多考虑断层封堵和开启的2种极端状态,近来的研究认为,在多数情况下断层处于2种之间的状态,只有在静止期具有封闭能力的断层,才有可能对油气起封堵作用。分析断层对流体运移的影响,需要分析断层在演化过程中的内部结构特征。断层可以划分出破碎带、诱导裂缝带和围岩3部分,断层岩和伴生裂缝构成破碎带的主体部分。常见的断层岩包括断层角砾岩、断层泥和部分碎裂岩,它们充填在断层裂缝空间中,断层内部结构受断层形成时的构造应力性质、断层活动强度和围岩岩性因素的控制。从动态角度看,随着断距增加,断层活动伴随着裂缝的发育和岩石的破碎混杂,可用泥质源岩层厚度和断距的比值来划分不同的发育阶段。断层活动期为油气运移通道,在静止时表现出差异性的封闭,通常用断层渗透率和排替压力2个参数来定量评价断层的封闭程度。断层岩渗透率主要受断距、泥质含量、埋深等因素的控制;断层排替压力的预测方法有2种:一种是从断层岩成岩角度分析的"等效埋深法",另一种是分析实测排替压力与主控地质因素的"拟合法"。通过简化的断层模型,建立了渗透率、排替压力与主控因素的预测关系。和储层类似,流体在断层中的运移遵循多孔介质的渗流特征。利用断层两侧的流体压力和油气柱高度并不能直接评价封闭性能,还必须考虑油气充注史和流体压力变化历史。     

休宁桃溪断裂破碎带构造解析及其区域控矿作用启示

位于休宁县-歙县整装勘查区北西缘的休宁桃溪构造破碎带,岩石破碎,矿化蚀变强烈。详细的构造研究从中解析出逆冲推覆、左行平移作用、正断层作用和右行平移作用等多起变形。带中花岗斑岩侵入及金多金属矿矿化与构造的关系研究表明,逆冲推覆构造为成矿前构造,北东向平移断层控制了区内岩浆岩的分布,以北东向为主的正断层是成矿期构造,而右行平移断层是成矿后构造。本构造破碎带的多期变形及其与成矿关系可以为休宁县-歙县整装勘查区的构造控矿作用提供勘查。     

伏牛山构造带变质流体脉变形特征及构造意义

伏牛山构造带由多条近平行的断裂带和夹持其间的变形岩片组成,洛南-栾川断裂带和瓦穴子-乔端断裂带为其中的两条主要断裂带。这两条断裂带虽遭受多期强烈构造活动的影响,但主造山期的构造特征至今仍然保存完好,并以中深层次的韧性剪切变形为主,形成了典型的糜棱岩和同构造期石英脉。本文从宏观、微观、超微观变形特征及年龄等方面对这些变质流体脉进行了研究,以探讨与其形成密切相关的构造活动特征、年代及其在秦岭造山带和华北板块南缘强变形带中的作用。石英脉中石英颗粒动态重结晶特征总体显示远离剪切带只有少量的膨凸式,靠近断裂带为亚颗粒式,形成核-幔结构,位错特征显示远离剪切带位错密度较小,靠近断裂带较大,位错形态显示瓦乔断裂带以挤压为主,洛南-栾川断裂带以剪切为主。两条断裂带石英脉的变形特征说明它们的糜棱岩化过程均为塑性变形中的晶质塑性变形,形成过程均为挤压在先,剪切在后。所测糜棱岩中石英脉的ESR年龄分别为372.9±30.0 Ma、275.0±20.0 Ma和218.0±20.0 Ma,真实地记录了晚加里东至中-晚海西期北秦岭的构造活动及所受影响。其中372.9±30.0 Ma是宽坪岩块向华北板块下的斜向俯冲汇聚和走滑的年代, 275.0±20.0 Ma是瓦乔断裂带的形成年龄。218.0±20.0 Ma的年龄则反映了华南、华北两大板块印支晚期全面闭合作用在秦岭造山带内部的影响。从以上3个年龄可以看出:北秦岭各构造带自北向南演化,时代上自北向南变新。     

断裂岩岩石磁学研究进展

断裂岩的岩石磁学研究可以揭示地震断裂作用的物理和化学环境,对于探讨地震断裂作用机制具有重要作用。本文在断裂岩岩石磁学最新文献的基础上,结合笔者及所在研究团队在龙门山断裂带获得的研究成果,综述了断裂岩的岩石磁学研究进展。大量研究发现断层泥和假玄武玻璃通常具有磁化率值或剩磁强度异常特征。顺磁性矿物在摩擦热或流体作用下形成新的铁磁性矿物是断层泥和假玄武玻璃高磁化率值或高剩磁强度的主要原因;地震断裂摩擦熔融作用中形成的单质铁是假玄武玻璃中高磁化率值或高剩磁强度异常的另一个重要原因。蠕滑断裂和出露于浅地表的断裂带中可见一些具有低磁化率值异常的断层泥,原因可能是流体作用或断裂带未经历高温摩擦热。断裂岩的岩石磁学研究为地震断裂带的应力应变、形成温度、摩擦热效应、流体作用、形成深度和氧化还原特征等提供了重要信息,可用于分析地震断裂的孕震和发震环境。综合岩石磁学测试和微米至纳米尺度的超显微学研究,并辅助地震断裂岩的摩擦实验、高温热模拟实验等研究可以更好地获得断裂岩的岩石磁学信息。     

S–C fabrics developed in cataclastic rocks from the Nojima fault zone,Japan and their implications for tectonic history

S–C fabrics similar to those found in mylonites are observed in foliated cataclastic granitic rocks from the Nojima fault zone, southwest Japan. The foliated cataclastic rocks comprise cataclasite, fault breccia, gouge, and crushing-originated pseudotachylyte. The S–C fabrics observed in these cataclastic rocks involve S-surfaces defined by shape preferred orientation of biotite fragments or aggregates of quartz and feldspar fragments, and C-and C′-surfaces defined by microshears and shear bands, respectively, where fine-grained material is concentrated. Striations on the main fault plane are oriented parallel to the cataclasite lineations. A significant microstructural difference between the foliated cataclastic rocks and S–C mylonites is the absence of dynamically recrystallized grains in the foliated cataclasites. The striations, cataclastic lineations, and the S–C fabrics in the cataclastic rocks formed from the late Tertiary to the late Holocene indicate that the Nojima fault zone has moved as a dextral strike-slip fault, with a minor reverse component since it formed. S–C fabrics in cataclastic rocks provide important information on the tectonic history and are reliable kinematic indicators of the shear sense in brittle shear zones or faults.