Fossil fluid reservoir beneath a duplex fault structure within the Central Range of Taiwan: implications for fluid leakage and lubrication during earthquake rupturing process

In order to understand the kinematics which likely facilitated the speedy rupturing process of the 1999 Mw 7.6 Taiwan Chi-Chi earthquake, we examined exposed rocks in the Taiwan Slate belt, where the pressure and temperature conditions most resembled the hypocentre of the Chi-Chi earthquake, i.e. sub-greenschist facies. Field observations and composition analyses of the silicified vein-rich zones beneath the duplex structure suggest that impermeable slate layers may serve as cap rocks for confining deep-seated fluids. These fluids most likely come from the Taiwan metamorphic complex at deeper depths by the dehydration and decarbonation reactions (or partial melting). In addition, the gouge zone of a link fault above the detachment also indicates the presence of overpressured fluids during faulting. It is probable that episodic leakage of the confined fluid reservoirs may provide essential fluids for fault lubrication during earthquake ruptures.