Discovery and analysis of ultra-micro grinding grain texture in slipping lamellae of ductile-brittle zone

In the 1990s of the 20th century, we participated in the research of the stress field in fissure tectonics of scientific deep bore cores for the Deep Observation and Sampling of the Earths Continental Crust (DOSECC for short). Spherical and enriched ul-tra-micro granular textures (nm size), which enriches Nb element (Wang & Sun, 1990; Sun & Wang, 1993)1,2], were found during the observation of ul-tra-micro slipping lamellae of ductile and brittle oc-curring in Late Mesozoic granites us…

Discovery and analysis of ultra-micro grinding grain texture in slipping lamellae of ductile-brittle zone

Based on the observation of the deep bore cores sampled from the State of Cali-fornia, USA, preferred arranged particulate concentration belts were found in the ultra-slipping lamellae. And the same phenomenon was found again later in the bore cores from the petroleum basin in the Northern Shaanxi Province. It may be the product of the dynamic processes involv-ing tumbling, grinding and compresso-shearing functions, so the spherical particulates with ul-tra-size of nm and mm are called grinding grain. The formation of the grinding grains is related with the ductile-brittle deformation, the lateral pressure of the slipping, and the very low grade of dynamic metamorphism of the rocks. Based on the systematic analysis, it is indicated that some elements like Nb and Ta are enriched in the grinding grains in the granitic rocks because of the chemical differentiation, and that the slipping lamellae bearing grinding grains in mudstone with smear efficiency prove a perfect seal for oil and gas reservoirs. Meanwhile, the paper provides bases for the studies on the fast stick-slip movement and shear paradigm.