Fractal distribution of particle size in carbonate cataclastic rocks from the core of a regional strike-slip fault zone

We present particle size data from 31 samples of carbonate cataclastic rocks collected across the 26 m thick fault core of the Mattinata Fault in the foreland of the Southern Apennines, Italy. Particle size distributions of incoherent samples were determined by a sieving-and-weighting technique. The number of weight-equivalent spherical particles by size is well fitted by a power-law function on a log–log space. Fractal dimensions (D) of particle size distributions are in the 2.091–2.932 range and cluster around the value of 2.5. High D-values pertain to gouge in shear bands reworking the bulk cataclastic rocks of the fault core. Low D-values characterise immature cataclastic breccias. Intermediate D-values are typical of the bulk fault core. Analysis of the ratio between corresponding equivalent particle numbers from differently evolved cataclastic rocks indicates that the development of particle size distributions with D>2.6–2.7 occurred by a preferential relative increase of fine particles rather than a selective decrement of coarse particles. This preferentially occurred in shear bands where intense comminution enhanced by slip localisation progressed by rolling of coarse particles whose consequent smoothing produced a large number of fine particles. Our data suggest that during the progression of cataclasis, the fragmentation mode changed from the Allègre et al.'s [Nature 297 (1982) 47] “pillar of strength” mechanism in the early evolutionary stages, to the Sammis et al.'s [Pure and Applied Geophysics 125 (1987) 777] “constrained comminution” mechanism in the subsequent stages of cataclasis. Eventually, localised shear bands developed mainly by abrasion of coarse particles.     

Particle size distributions of fault rocks and fault transpression: are they related?

ABSTRACT Laboratory experiments on rock faulting show that processes of particle comminution in fault rocks are influenced by several parameters, including fault strike and normal stress across faults. In nature, normal stress across faults increases with increasing transpressional strike of faults. Accordingly, different structural fabrics and particle size distributions are expected for cataclastic rocks that have developed along faults with different transpressional orientations and comparable displacements within regional-scale strike-slip fault zones. Adjacent bands of cataclastic gouge and breccia were analysed from four small-scale fault zones. All have comparable displacements and very similar protolith (i.e. shallow-water limestone), structure, kinematics, size, and tectonic environment, but different transpressional strikes within the regional-scale left-lateral Mattinata strike-slip fault, Italy. An inverse linear relationship is found between fault transpressional angles and fractal dimensions of particle size distributions from cataclastic rock samples.     

碎裂岩的分数维分析:理论、方法及地质意义

理论研究表明具有自相似性的几何分裂体可以用分数维描述,其分数维值D的大小取决于碎裂模式。碎裂岩粒度分布具有自相似性,可以用D值定量描述。D值的求法有三种,即粒径法、面积法和体积法。对天然变形的断层岩分数维分析表明,D值随断层岩形成的地质环境(温度、压力和应变量等)变化,如围压增加,D值增大;应变量增加,D值增大,并趋向定值。     

Petrogenesis of cataclastic rocks within the San Andreas fault zone of Southern California U.S.A.

This paper petrologically characterizes cataclastic rocks derived from four sites within the San Andreas fault zone of southern California. In this area, the fault traverses an extensive plutonic and metamorphic terrane and the principal cataclastic rock formed at these upper crustal levels is unindurated gouge derived from a range of crystalline rocks including diorite, tonalite, granite, aplite, and pegmatite.The mineralogical nature of this gouge is decidedly different from the “clay gouge” reported by Wu (1975) for central California and is essentially a rock flour with a quartz, feldspar, biotite, chlorite, amphibole, epidote and oxide mineralogy representing the milled-down equivalent of the original rock. Clay development is minor (less than 4 wt. %) to nonexistent and is exclusively kaolinite. Alterations involve hematitic oxidation, chlorite alteration on biotite and amphibole, and local introduction of calcite. Electron microprobe analysis showed that in general the major minerals were not reequilibrated with the pressure—temperature regime imposed during cataclasis.Petrochemically, the form of cataclasis that we have investigated is largely an isochemical process. Some hydration occurs but the maximum amount is less than 2.2% added H₂O. Study of a 375 m deep core from a tonalite pluton adjacent to the fault showed that for Si, Al, Ti, Fe, Mg, Mn, K, Na, Li, Rb, and Ba, no leaching and/or enrichment occurred. Several samples experienced a depletion in Sr during cataclasis while lesser number had an enrichment of Ca (result of calcite veining).Texturally, the fault gouge is not dominated by clay-size material but consists largely of silt and fine sand-sized particles. An intriguing aspect of our work on the drill core is a general decrease in particulate size with depth (and confining pressure) with the predominate shifting sequentially from fine sand to silt-size material.The original fabric of these rocks is commonly not disrupted during the cataclasis. It is evident that the gouge development in these primarily igneous crystalline terranes is largely an in situ process with minimal mixing of rock types. Fabric analyses reveal that brecciation (shattering), not shearing, is the major deformational mechanism at these upper crustal levels.     

The low temperature brittle-ductile transition in a quartzite and the occurrence of cataclastic flow in nature

The paper describes the mechanical and microstructural characteristics associated with the brittle to cataclastic flow transition in an orthoquarzite (Oughtibridge Ganister), and compares its microstructural development with features of cataclastic deformation of rocks in nature. The brittle to ductile transition in dry ganister occurs at about 600 MPa at room temperature. At lower pressures shear oriented grain boundary cracks form both pre and post peak strength, loosening the microstructure to the point at which axial transgranular cracks develop. Fault zone localization then occurs. At high pressures fault localization is suppressed by friction, and cataclastic flow occurs by the formation of ultracataclasite shear zones around each grain boundary, Rhomb shaped, relatively intact grain cores survive to high (greater than 20%) strains. Hardening mechanisms responsible for the ductility are discussed. It is shown that natural zones of intense cataclasis (fault zones) often develop microstructures comparable with those seen in these experiments, but the less intense cataclastic flow often associated with folding of rocks at high crustal levels in the external zones of orogenic belts is not comparable inasmuch as grain-scale catalaclasis does not normally occur. It is emphasised that finite strain microstructural similarity does not necessarily point to comparable deformation paths and stress history.     

Petrological evolution of amphibolite shear zones, Cheyenne Belt, south-eastern Wyoming, USA

Abstract Metre-scale amphibolite boudins in the Cheyenne Belt of south-eastern Wyoming are cut and deformed by shear zones which preserve a full strain transition across 7 cm, from relatively undeformed amphibolite with a relict igneous texture to mylonitic amphibolite with an L-S tectonic fabric. The strain transition is marked by the progressive rotation of amphibole + plagioclase aggregates into parallelism with the shear-zone boundary. An increase in strain magnitude is indicated by development of the tectonic fabric and progressive reduction of amphibole and plagioclase grain size as a result of cataclasis. Bulk chemistry of five samples across a single strain transition shows no significant or systematic variation in major element chemistry except for a minor loss of SiO₂, which indicates that the shear zone was a system essentially closed to non-volatile components during metamorphism and deformation. Amphibolites throughout the shear zone consist of amphibole and plagioclase with only minor amounts of quartz, chlorite, epidote, titanite and ilmenite. Within the relatively undeformed amphibolite, amphibole and plagioclase have wide compositional ranges in single thin sections. Amphibole compositions vary from actinolitic hornblende to magnesio-hornblende with increases in Al, Fe, Na and K contents and decreases in Si and Mg that can be modelled as progress along tschermakite, edenite and FeMg_-1 exchange vectors from tremolite. Plagioclase ranges from An₆₀ in cores to An₃₀ within grain-boundary domains. With increasing strain magnitude, local variation of amphibole composition decreases as amphibole becomes predominantly magnesio-hornblende. Plagioclase composition range also decreases, although grain-boundary domains still have higher albite content. These petrological data indicate that shear-zone metamorphism was controlled by the magnitude of strain during synmetamorphic deformation. SEM and microprobe imaging indicate that chemical reactions occurred by a dissolution and reprecipitation process during or after cataclastic deformation. This suggests that grain-boundary formation was an important process in the petrological evolution of the shear zone, possibly by providing zones for fluid ingress to facilitate metamorphic reactions. These results highlight the necessity for conducting detailed microstructural evaluation of rocks in order to interpret petrological, isotopic and geochronological data.     

Deformation mechanisms in granitic rocks at shallow crustal levels

Microstructural observations of naturally faulted granitic gneisses show that feldspar grains are weaker than quartz grains at temperatures below 325γC and at depths of less than 8–10 km. Feldspar grains sustained most of the deformation by grain-scale faulting, slip along cleavage-controlled fractures and cataclasis. Fracture of feldspar grains within fault zones promoted their alteration to kaolinite. Quartz grains also deformed by fracturing, and often healed to form quartz porphyroclasts and mosaics in a comminuted matrix of feldspar and kaolinite. Syntectonic alteration of the feldspar grains may have weakened the fault zones over time and resulted in foliated textures within the fault zones. This study of naturally deformed rocks confirms published experimental results on the behavior of granitic rocks at low temperatures and pressures and, taken together, these data show that the theology of the upper 10 km of the crust is greatly influenced by cataclastic processes in feldspar.     

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.     

断裂在纯净砂岩中的变形机制及断裂带内部结构

以纯净砂岩为对象,考虑了影响断裂变形的主要因素,包括成岩阶段、孔隙度、温度和围压,系统剖析了不同性质砂岩的断裂变形机制、微构造特征及形成断裂带的内部结构,对研究砂岩内断裂封闭性具有重要的指导意义。研究表明：纯净的砂岩在未固结-半固结成岩阶段发生断裂,变形机制为颗粒边界摩擦滑动,导致颗粒旋转和滚动,即为颗粒流,形成的微构造为解聚带,孔渗性同母岩比没有明显降低,断裂带尽管具有断层核和破碎带二分结构,但渗透率比母岩高,为流体垂向运移的通道;在固结成岩阶段（孔隙度大于15%）发生断裂,变形机制为碎裂作用,颗粒边界摩擦滑动导致颗粒旋转,即为碎裂流,形成的微构造为碎裂带,渗透率同母岩比一般降低1～3个数量级,形成侧向有一定封闭能力、垂向渗透的断裂带;固结阶段（孔隙度小于15%）发生断裂,开始由于破裂作用,形成断层角砾岩,伴随着碎裂流发生,形成碎裂岩,因此早期形成高渗透断裂带,后期断层逐渐封闭。固结成岩的砂岩在抬升过程发生断裂,变形机制为破裂作用,形成无内聚力的角砾岩,为高渗透断裂带。在不同成岩阶段发生变形,形成多类型变形构造的叠加,对于一条晚期形成的断层而言,由于不同深度变形机制及微构造类型不同,导致油气选择性充注,碎裂带和压溶胶结碎裂带阻止油气向高孔隙度砂岩中充注,解聚带会成为油气运移的通道,裂缝有利于油气优先充注。因此,高孔隙性砂岩中孔隙度较低的储集层由于碎裂带不发育常常含油气性最好,而低孔隙性砂岩由于裂缝产生含油气性较好。     

Ambiguous versus non ambiguous characterization of components from pictures of cataclasites

The quantitative analysis of shape parameters of components in cataclastic rocks is often complicated by the fact that the individual components are difficult to identify. Frequently, the components have the same mineralogical composition as the matrix and the size distribution of components and the resolution of the images make it difficult to discriminate between the individual fragments. This work investigates the differences of component shape analysis from processing pictures of cataclasites digitized by different persons. The approach undertaken herein assumes that the ambiguity of the forms is expressed in a diversity of component identification, respectively in different selection of the components. The extent of this diversity is quantified and analyzed as to how far statistical parameters reflect this ambiguity. Components in the samples may be more or less unambiguous with respect to the identification of particle shape parameters. The present study demonstrates that two parameters, the Aspect Ratio and the angularity (Elliptical Parisfactor) might be used in order to reflect this ambiguity in the component identification.     

Note sur les Mylonites du Type de Sidi Ferruch (Algérie)

The study of comparative tectonics needs, among other things, a complete catalogue of cataclastic phenomena: not only of their petrographic features, but also of their function and cinematic signification. Every example and case-history added to the presently incomplete list is welcome; and a rarely described variety is here described and placed in the classification. The type-locality is a part of the northern border of the crystalline massif of Alger. In this area the mylonitic breccias have originated relatively near the surface as products of the general movement represented by the elevation of the massif and the depression of the Mediterranean basin along the continental flexure. The general effect is one of extension, but it was accomplished by a series of co-ordinated individual movements. The porosity of the mylonites is greatly increased relative to that of the country rocks. This style of fracturing is important for many geological problems; and some examples are discussed: comparison with similar features in crystallized and granitized regions shows that some phenomena are inherited mylonites from an earlier stage; evolution of volcanic and subvolcanic hybrid rocks and of regenerated metalliferous deposits are only possible in tectonic bodies containing superposed levels or storeys, in these the style of the cataclastic level is especially important. The relationships between folded cover series and “décollements” on the one hand, and the movements of the basement on the other, depend largely on the type of cataclasis which, in turn, may be recognised from its style.     

堆石料三维形状量化及其对颗粒破碎的影响

筑坝堆石料由于尺寸较大,必须对其按一定比例缩尺后才能用来开展室内三轴试验。但缩尺前后颗粒形状难免会有差异,如何评价颗粒形状变化对堆石料变形特性的影响是十分重要的。引入了高精度的三维激光扫描技术对紫坪铺面板坝筑坝堆石料2.5～5、5～10、10～20 mm以及20～40 mm 4个粒径组的颗粒进行了空间形状分析,在此基础上进一步开展了单一粒组的三轴试验,研究了4个粒组的颗粒形状指标与颗粒破碎率的相关性。试验表明,紫坪铺堆石料颗粒破碎率随着其平均球度的增加而减小,并且呈近似半对数线性关系;随着围压的增加,颗粒形状对颗粒破碎的影响逐渐减弱,颗粒强度的影响逐渐增大。紫坪铺堆石料的颗粒强度随着颗粒尺寸的增加逐渐减小,但其破碎率反而随着颗粒尺寸的增加而逐渐减小,主要是因为试验所采用的紫坪铺堆石料颗粒尺寸越小时,其形状越不规则。因此,研究缩尺效应对颗粒破碎率的影响时,要同时考虑颗粒尺寸和颗粒形状。     

Tectonic incorporation of the upper part of oceanic crust to overriding plate of a convergent margin: An example from the Cretaceous–early Tertiary Mugi Mélange, the Shimanto Belt, Japan

A tectonic mélange exposed on land is examined to reveal relationships between mélange formation, underplating, and deformation mechanisms, focusing on the deformation of basaltic rocks. The studied Mugi Mélange of the Shimanto Belt is composed of a shale matrix surrounding various blocks of sandstone, pelagic sediments, and basalts. The mélange was formed during Late Cretaceous to early Tertiary times in a subduction zone under P–T conditions of 150–200 °C and 6–7 km depth as estimated from vitrinite reflectance and quartz veins fluid inclusions. The mélange represents a range of deformation mechanisms; pressure solution with micro-scale cataclasis in the shale matrix, brittle tension cracking in the blocks, and ubiquitous strong cataclasis in the basal portion of basaltic layers. The cataclastic deformation in the basalts suggests a breakage of a topographic high in the seismogenic depth.     

地壳不同构造层次岩石变形机制及其构造岩类型

构造岩记录地壳构造变形演化重要信息,其成因、分类与命名一直没有统一认识。本文对构造岩变形机制、控制因素和构造岩分类进行系统总结。认为构造岩形成受物质成分、变形机制、应变速率、流体、温度、压力等因素控制,是物质成分与物理化学条件、变形机制等众多变量的函数。变形机制包括破裂作用、碎裂流动、晶质塑性、物质扩散、重结晶作用和超塑性流动,不同变形机制出现在不同地壳构造层次中,形成不同的显微组构。依据成因机制、物质组成和组构等标志对构造岩分类与命名进行重新修订,将构造岩划分为碎裂岩系列和变质构造岩系列,前者发育在地壳浅构造层次上,以破裂作用和碎裂流动变形机制为主;后者发育在中深部构造层次上,以晶质塑性、重结晶作用、物质扩散作用和超塑性流动作用为主。碎裂岩系列划分碎裂岩、角砾岩、微角砾岩、超碎裂岩、断层泥和假玄武玻璃;变质构造岩系列划分为构造片岩、糜棱岩和构造片麻岩。依据岩石流变性质、变形机制和构造岩分布,地壳构造层次划分为:脆性域,变形机制以碎裂作用和碎裂流动为主,发育碎裂岩系列;脆-韧性转换域,以晶质塑性、物质扩散和重结晶作用为主,并伴随有碎裂作用,形成糜棱岩、千糜岩和构造片岩;低温韧性域,以晶质塑性、物质扩散和重结晶作为主,发育糜棱岩与构造片岩;高温韧性域,以超塑性蠕变和重结晶作用为主,形成构造片麻岩。     

Textural and microstructural evidence for semi-brittle flow in natural fault rocks with varied mica contents

Fault rocks from the Siberia Fault Zone (SFZ) in southern New Zealand are derived from schists with varied mica contents. Regional evidence indicates that the rocks are exhumed from depths of 8-10 km and temperatures of 200-250 °C. Foliated cataclasites in a zone 5-40 m thick are accompanied by interlaced pseudotachylyte, and are cut through by a late-stage master fault and zones of random fabric cataclasite. Textures and microstructures in the foliated cataclasites reflect contemporaneous or cyclic operation of cataclastic, crystal-plastic and solution transfer deformation mechanisms, partitioned differently between different phases. The deformation regime is interpreted as a form of semi-brittle flow, facilitated by crystal-plastic deformation of phyllosilicate phases in a relatively weak interconnected matrix. Quartz and feldspar are deformed mainly by cataclasis. The presence of pseudotachylyte indicates the fault was seismically active, and non-localised semi-brittle flow was episodically punctuated by high strain-rate earthquake events. Late-stage formation of a discrete master fault probably reflects a change from semi-brittle flow to brittle faulting. The presently exposed level of the fault is thought to represent a section of the mid-crustal brittle-ductile transition in the seismogenic zone. Thus, this study provides a tangible natural example of theoretically and experimentally predicted fault rocks.     

Faulting and fluid flow in porous rocks and sediments: implications for mineralisation and other processes

Faults in sedimentary rocks can act as fluid pathways or barriers to flow and display a range of deformation styles. These features can be explained by behaviours observed in deformation experiments on sedimentary rocks that reveal a transition from dilatant brittle faulting and permeability enhancement to cataclasis and permeability reduction, with increasing porosity, grain size and confining pressure. This transition implies that faults in sedimentary rocks are unlikely to act as fluid pathways shallower than ~3 km, unless the sediments have undergone early cementation, or have been exposed following burial and uplift. This has important implications for many geological processes, including fluid circulation in geothermal systems, formation of sediment-hosted mineral deposits and earthquakes in subduction zones. Stratiform Zn–Pb deposits that have been interpreted as syngenetic, seafloor deposits could instead be interpreted as early epigenetic deposits representing the depth at which faults change from fluid pathways to barriers.     

322矿田铀矿床原地破碎浸出地质技术评估

本文从原地破碎浸出法采矿要求出发，对322铀矿田碎裂蚀变花岗岩型铀矿床（点）的地质构造、岩／矿石物质成分、矿石结构、铀的赋存形式、岩／矿石物理力学参数、矿体形态、产状、规模及矿床水文地质条件进行了研究；通过原地爆破筑堆试验及一系列铀矿的柱浸工艺试验，获得了大量原地破碎浸出参数；运用原地破碎浸出法适用性评价模型对其进行了评价，认为该矿田碎裂蚀变花岗岩型铀矿床适宜采用原地破碎浸出法开采。     

Inner structure and deformation mechanisms of normal faults in conglomerates and carbonate grainstones (Granada Basin,Betic Cordillera,Spain): Inferences on fault permeability

In the southeastern area of the Neogene-Quaternary Granada Basin, ∼E–W trending normal faults crosscut ∼80 m-thick clay-bearing conglomerates and ∼30–40 m-thick carbonate grainstones containing centimeter-thick microconglomerate and sand interbeds. Three fundamental failure modes took place during fault nucleation: (1) phyllosilicate shear banding in the conglomerates, (2) jointing, mainly in the carbonate grainstones and (3) pressure solution in the carbonate matrix and grains of the microconglomerate and sand interbeds. Within the conglomerates, normal faults developed by pronounced clay smearing and, ultimately, cataclasis. Jointing also occurred within some of the pebbles surrounding the cataclastic rocks. In contrast, in the carbonate grainstones fault growth was characterized by predominant jointing and rock fragmentation, which localized in the extensional quadrants and/or releasing jogs of the evolving slip surfaces. Brecciation and cataclasis occurred only around the well-developed slip surfaces. Based upon their inner structure, we qualitatively assign a combined barrier-conduit fluid behavior to the tens of meters-throw normal faults juxtaposing the conglomerates against the carbonate grainstones. The inner fault cores inhibit fault-orthogonal fluid flow along their entire length. Instead, fault damage zones act as fluid barriers in the conglomerates, and as composite fluid conduits in the carbonate grainstones.     

Mylonitisation and cataclasis in acidic dykes in the insch (Aberdeenshire) gabbro and its aureole

Along the southern margin of the Insch Gabbro, the gabbros and hornfelses, together with later dykes of granite, porphyrite and pegmatite, have undergone a dislocation-metamorphism with the production of mylonites, microbreccias and related cataclastic types. The selective reaction to stress is controlled by the nature of any particular rock and by its geological setting and associates. The dykes formed weak places in the edifice and cataclasis was concentrated along them. The significance of this new phase in the geological history of north-east Scotland is briefly discussed.     

西藏羌塘裂谷带假玄武玻璃的发现及其岩石学特征与构造意义

假玄武玻璃是地震过程中断层滑动产生摩擦熔融并快速冷却的产物，被誉为"地震化石"，记录了断层带内地震发生时的物理-化学过程的相关信息，是认识断裂活动历史的重要物质组成。本文以青藏高原腹地羌塘地块SN向正断层——东依布茶卡断层中的假玄武玻璃和碎裂岩等为研究对象，借助偏光显微镜、扫描电镜、粉末X射线衍射分析、原位XRF分析等多种方法对其进行了详细的结构、构造、矿物成分及化学元素分布的分析。野外调查表明该断裂带中假玄武玻璃呈深灰-褐色，与超碎裂岩和碎裂岩相伴生，以断层脉、注入脉和网状脉的形式产出，厚度由几毫米至一厘米不等。显微结构观察显示，假玄武玻璃中残留有摩擦熔融形成的特征构造，如石英的港湾状熔蚀边、蜂窝状气孔构造以及局部发育的长柱状微晶、束状微晶集合体等，指示其为断层滑动摩擦熔融的产物。此外可见假玄武玻璃作为碎屑出现在碎裂岩和角砾岩中，且后期的碎裂岩中包含早期形成的碎裂岩的角砾等，这些特征表明在该断裂带内大地震事件多次重复发生。以该地区正断层初始活动时限13.5Ma、碎裂岩和假玄武玻璃形成深度为10km以下计算，这些断裂岩石从地下深部折返的速率至少为~0.74mm/yr。目前国际上鲜有报导正断层形成的假玄武玻璃，这是我们首次在羌塘地块SN向裂谷正断层中发现熔融成因的假玄武玻璃，对认识区域地震活动及断裂带演化过程具有重要意义。