Experimental investigation on fluid-induced slip behavior of fault filled with fault gouge

Fault zones are usually filled with fault gouge and accompanied by fault water.The coupled effect of fault gouge and water significantly impacts the slip behavior of the fault,which may weaken the fault structure and further induce rupture propagation and earthquakes.In this study,we carried out a laboratory experiment to investigate the fluid-induced slip behavior of fault filled with gouge.The friction evolution characteristic associated with fluid pressure and effective stress was investigated during the slip process.In addition,the role transformation process of the gouge on the slip behavior of fault was revealed.The experimental result indicates that the friction on the filled fault surface is significantly affected by fault gouge.The rupture of the gouge promotes fault slip and the fluid pressure plays a vital role in the initiation of fault slip.The fault gouge enhances the shearing strength of the fault and acts as a barrier before the initial slip under fluid injection.Nevertheless,the fault gouge would accelerate the fault slip and transform into lubricant after the initial slip.

A Comparison Study of Synkinematic Illite Isolation,Quantitative X-ray Powder Diffraction,and K-Ar Dating for Direct Fault Gouge Analyses

K-Ar dating of synkinematic illite is increasingly recognized as a central method to constrain the timing of shallow crustal faulting.Methods of efficient sample preparation and quantitative identification of illite polytypes are critical to acquiring K-Ar isotope data for authigenic clays.In this respect,we compared the commonly used clay size separation method through centrifugation with vacuum filtration technology,showing that the former is prone to extract fractions with finer particle sizes under similar conditions,thus improving the error in the authigenic end-member age.Additionally,we demonstrated that the side-packed mounting method for X-ray diffraction analysis can significantly enhance the randomness in powder samples,thus improving the quantification accuracy compared with the front-packed and back-packed methods.The validity of our quantification method was confirmed by comparing Profex■modeling patterns with a suite of synthetic mixtures of known compositions,yielding an average analytical error of 3%.Dating results of these artificial mixtures and the reference materials indicated that a large range in percentages of detrital illite and a sufficient amount of age data will produce reliable results for ages of both extrapolated end-members.However,if the range is limited,the extrapolated age close to those of datasets is still reliable.

Suggestion of advanced regression model on friction angle of fault gouge in South Korea

Although friction characteristics of fault gouge are important to understand reactivation of fault,behavior of earthquake,and mechanism of slope failure,analysis results of fault gouge have low accuracy mostly than those of soils or rocks due to its high heterogeneity and low strength.Therefore,to improve the accuracy of analysis results,we conducted simple regression analysis and structural equation model analysis and selected major influential factors of friction characteristics among many factors,and then we deduced advanced regression model with the highest coefficient of determination(R^(2)) via multiple regression analysis.Whereas most coefficients of determination in simple regression analysis are below0.3-0.4,coefficient of determination in multiple regression analysis is remarkably large as 0.657.

Adaptability of ESR dating of fault gouge in aseismic region:A case study on Hangzhou region, China

ESR dating has been widely used in seismic assessment. In this paper, we collected fault gouge samples systematically for ESR (Electron Spin Resonance) dating, and sediment samples of overlying strata, and offset strata for OSL (Optically Stimulated Luminescence) dating along Xiaoshan-Qiuchuan fault (XQF) trending NE-SW, Xiaofeng-Sanmen fault (XSF) trending NW-SE, and Changhua-Putuo fault (CPF) trending E-W. In the same fault outcrop, the ESR data of fault gouge is greater than the OSL data of the strata offset by fault. Therefore, the ESR data of fault gouge colleted in Hangzhou region do not represent the time of weak fault movement in Late Quaternary region, but represent the strong fault movements in Late Cenozoic. The episode of fault movement in Late Cenozoic could be speculated according to the ESR data: 1.000.58 Ma, there were strong fault movements along the XSF, XQF and CPF in Hangzhou region; 0.580.45 Ma, the fault movements of all faults became weaker and did not zero ESR signals significantly for ESR dating of fault movements; 0.450.20 Ma, there were strong fault movements along part of XQF; 0.10.01 Ma, there were fault movements along the XSF only, but the fault movements were not strong enough to reset the ESR signal; Since 0.01 Ma, the Hangzhou region tends to be stable. In addition, the XSF might be the division line of fault segmentation of XQF; there were strong fault movements along the southwest segment of XQF during 0.45 Ma to 0.20 Ma; while the fault movements along the northeast segment of XQF mainly occurred during 1.000.58 Ma.

Influence of the characteristics of fault gouge on the stability of a borehole wall

How to find more effective way to stabilize the borehole wall in the fault gouge section is the key technical challenge to control the stability of the borehole wall in the Wenchuan fault gouge section during the process of core drilling. Here we try to describe the characters of deep fault gouge in fracture zones from the undisturbed fault gouge samples which are obtained during the core drilling. The X- Ray Diffraction （XRD）, X-Ray Fluorescence （XRF） and Scanning Electron Microscope （SEM） provided the detailed information of the fault gouge＇s microscopic characteristics on the density, moisture content, expansibility, dispersity, permeability, tensile strength and other main physical-mechanical properties. Based on these systematic experimental studies above and analysis of the fault gouge instability mechanism, a new technical procedure to stabilize the borehole wall is proposed -- a low water and a low loss low permeability drilling fluid system that consists of 4% day ＋ 0.5% CMC-HV ＋ 2% S-1 ＋ 3%sulfonated asphalt ＋ 1% SMC ＋ 0.5% X-1 ＋ 0-5% T type lubricant ＋ barite for core drilling in fault gouge sections.

K-Ar Dating of Fault Gouges from the Red River Fault Zone of Vietnam

Constraining the timing of fault zone formation is fundamentally important in terms of geotectonics to understand structural evolution and brittle fault processes.This paper presents the first authigenic illite K-Ar age data from fault gouge samples collected from the Red River Shear Zone at Lao Cai province,Vietnam.The fault gouge samples were separated into three grain-size fractions（〈0.1 μm,0.1-0.4 μm and 0.4-1.0 μm）.The results show that the K-Ar age values decrease from coarser to finer grain fractions（24.1 to 19.2 Ma）,suggesting enrichment in finer fraction of morerecently grown authigenic illites.The timing of the fault movement are the lower intercept ages at 0%detrital illite（19.2 ± 0.92 Ma and 19.4 ± 0.49 Ma）.In combination with previous geochronological data,this result indicates that the metamorphism of the Day Nui Con Voi（DNCV） metamorphic complex took place before ca.26.8 Ma.At about 26.8 Ma-25 Ma,the fault strongly acted to cause the rapid exhumation of the rocks along the Red River-Ailoa Shan Fault Zone（RR-ASFZ）.During brittle deformation,the DNCV slowly uplifted,implying weak movement of the fault.This brittle deformation might have lasted for ca.5 Ma.

The Fractal Feature of Granulometric Composition in Fault Gouges from the Yishu Fault Zone and Adjacent Northwest-Trending Faults and Its Seismo-geological Implications

In this work,the fractal dimension of granulometric composition in the fault gouge from the Yishu fault zone and northwest-trending faults on its west side is calculated and studied based on the fractal theory of rock fragmentation.The seismo-geological implications of the fractal dimension of granulometric composition in fault gouges are also discussed.The results show that the Yishu fault zone is more active than the northwest-trending faults and the Anqiu-Juxian fault is the most active in the Yishu fault zone.The fractal dimension of fault gouge is a parameter describing the relative active age and rupture mode of the fault and forming age of the fault gouge.The fractal dimension value is also related to the parent rock,thickness,structural position,and clay content of the fault gouge.

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.

Characteristics of Fault Gouge from the Northwest-Trending Faults in Western Shandong and Its Seismogeological Significance

A systematical study is made on the characteristics of fault gouge from NW-trending faults in western Shandong.The macroscopic features of the fault gouge zones were investigated.From the data on surface structure of quartz fragments from the fault gouge and its maturity,the relative age,the movement mode,the rupture pattern,and the activities of the NW-trending faults are determined.Moreover,their seismogeological significance and some problems in study of fault gouge are discussed.

Experimental investigation on the origin of carbonaceous materials in the fault zone of the Wenchuan earthquake

Carbonaceous materials in seismic fault zones may considerably influence seismic fault slip;however,the formation mechanism of carbonaceous materials remains unclear.In this study,we proposed a novel hypothesis for the formation of carbonaceous materials in fault gouge.Thus,we conducted a CO_(2) hydrogenation experiment in a high-temperature reactor at a co-seismic temperature,with fault gouge formed during the Wenchuan earthquake as the catalyst.Our experimental results demonstrate that carbonaceous materials in fault zones are formed on the fault gouge during the chemical reaction process,suggesting that the carbonaceous materials are possibly generated from the catalytic hydrogenation of CO_(2),followed by thermal cracking of its products.The results of this study provide a theoretical basis for understanding fault behavior and earthquake physics.

Fractal research of fault gouge

The process and result of fractal research of natural fault gouge collected from the active fault zone at northern edge of Western Qinling Mt. by using optical and electronic microscope technics were introduced in this paper. The fractal dimension of this fault gouge is D =2.594±0.122 (2 D plane D =1.594±0.122), and its upper limit of fractal dimension occurs at grain size at 9.6～19.2 mm. The study result shows that this gouge is fractal, and its characteristic displacement parameter of stick slip friction can be determined by upper limit of fractal dimension. The feature of protolith which affect fractality and the significance of gouge fractal to seismic fault changes are also disscussed in the paper.

K-Ar dating of extensional fault gouge from the Yi-Shu segment of the Tan-Lu fault zone

Two grabens were developed in the Yi-Shu segment of the Tan-Lu fault zone (TLFZ) during its extensional activities, and are now confined by four major NNE-trending normal faults and filled with Cretaceous sediments. These faults were developed due to their reactivities, containing gouge and cutting the graben sediments. Detailed fieldwork demonstrates that the faults experienced sinistral transtensional moment related to regional NE-SW extension during the reactivity. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis of the finest gouge samples gives illite crystallinity values higher than 0.42°Δ2θ, indicating temperatures experienced by the gouge samples were less than 150°C. From the relation between K-Ar data and proportions of detrital illite in different size fractions of the gouge samples, we conclude that refaulting for the western boundary fault of the TLFZ, abbreviated to F4, took place at ca. 90 Ma and for the eastern boundary fault, abbreviated to F1, happened from 70 to 60 Ma. During the two phases of reactivity imposed by the same NE-SW extension, the TLFZ experienced uplifting and no sediments were deposited in the two grabens. It is suggested that the TLFZ experienced extension during the Late Cretaceous, which supports the inference that lithospheric thinning was still undergoing in the east of the North China Craton during the Late Cretaceous magmatic hiatus.

Microstructural Features of Fault Gouges in Active Faultand Their Implication

Stick slip and stable creep are two principal modes of fault motion. The formeris considered to be closely related to earthquake generation. The determination of themode of motion during geologic time along a fault outcropped on earth surface is ofcritical importance to the assessment of the behaviour of fault activity.

Patterns of Clay Minerals Transformation in Clay Gouge, with Examples from Revers Fault Rocks in Devonina Niqiuhe Formation in The Dayangshu Basin

The role of authigenic clay growth in clay gouge is increasingly recognized as a key to understanding the mechanics of berittle faulting and fault zone processes,including creep and seismogenesis,and providing new insights into the ongoing debate about the frictional strength of brittle fault(Haines and van der Pluijm,2012).However,neither the conditions nor the processes which

Determining the Relative Age of Fault Activity through Analyses of Gouge Mineralogy and Geochemistry: A Case Study from Vápenná(Rychleby Mts), Czech Republic

The relative age of fractures can be determined through structural analyses in the field or through the detailed mineralogical (XRD) and chemical analyses (AAS method, volumetric, and gravimetric analysis) of fault gouge in the laboratory. The aim of this work was to compare these approaches. It was hypothesised that the two methods would yield consistent results. The studied faults were located in the Rychleby Mts, part of the Sudetic Marginal Fault Zone. The relative age of the faults was determined in the field through the application of the intersection law. The fault gouges were sampled in a crystalline limestone quarry near the village of Vápenná. The mineralogical composition of the fault gouges has been established by XRD analysis of powder samples and analysis of preferentially oriented clay minerals. From our result, it is clear that these two approaches yielded consistent results with regard to the relative age of the faults.

加权断层泥比率法(WSGR)定量判别断层封闭性——以苏北盆地高邮凹陷永安地区为例

断层封闭性评价是断块圈闭成藏条件分析的重要内容,在改进断层泥比率法基础上,提出了一种新的断层封闭性评价方法——加权断层泥比率法(WSGR)。首先,通过不同的地质模型开展断层泥比率法计算参数及影响因素分析,明确了断层断距、泥质含量及泥岩分布特征是泥岩涂抹的重要影响因素;并认为断层断距范围内,滑过目标位置的对置盘所有泥质含量都具有涂抹贡献,但不同点的涂抹贡献不同,距离目标位置越近泥质含量越高的对置盘泥岩点,其涂抹贡献越大。为此引入了一个新的表征参数——距离系数,定义为断层断距与各泥岩点到目标位置距离的差与断层断距的比值,来表征泥岩分布对泥岩涂抹的影响作用;在此基础上,构建了加权断层泥比率计算方法,定义为各点的泥质含量与距离系数的乘积之和再与距离系数之和的比值。利用加权断层泥比率法对苏北盆地高邮凹陷上含油气系统已知的油水层进行封闭性验证,认为当加权断层泥比率值大于0.6时,断层具有较好的封闭性,从而确定了该方法的封闭性判别标准。在高邮凹陷永安等地区始新统戴南组断层封闭性评价中取得了较好应用效果。

始新世中期安宁河断裂冲断变形特征及其构造意义:来自断层泥自生伊利石K-Ar定年的证据

青藏高原及其周缘褶皱-冲断带变形方式和时限是验证高原形成众多大陆岩石圈变形动力学端员模型的关键。近年发展起来的断层泥自生伊利石K-Ar定年技术为精确限定褶皱-冲断带变形时限提供了有效手段。鲜水河—安宁河—小江断裂系作为伴随印度-欧亚板块碰撞造山和高原物质侧向挤出过程形成的大型左旋走滑断裂系,其变形过程可为解译印度-欧亚板块碰撞远程应力向东传递方式提供关键证据。本文选取安宁河断裂冕宁—西昌段作为研究对象,在详细构造解析以明确其构造运动学特征的基础上,开展了断层泥自生伊利石K-Ar定年研究,以期精确限定安宁河断裂脆性变形的时间。构造解析表明安宁河断裂在近EW向挤压作用下经历了冲断变形,断层带发育碎斑岩和断层泥,指示为脆性变形。安宁河断裂不同粒级断层泥样品的黏土矿物学和伊利石K-Ar定年分析揭示,随着样品粒级减小,高温2M1型伊利石含量相对低温1M/1Md型伊利石含量逐渐减少,其K-Ar年龄总体呈变年轻趋势,表明不同粒级伊利石K-Ar年龄是由碎屑2M1型和自生1M/1Md型两个多型端员组成的混合年龄。伊利石年龄分析获得自生1M/1Md型伊利石的年龄为(42.6±9.4)Ma,表明安宁河断裂经历了始新世中期的冲断变形。结合前人构造变形、沉积学、低温热年代学和古地磁等研究,我们认为始新世中期青藏高原腹地及其周缘褶皱-冲断带发生准同期的构造挤压变形,其动力学机制可能与印度-欧亚板块硬碰撞以及青藏高原地块的陆内俯冲所导致的先存构造带活化有关。始新世中期安宁河断裂发生冲断变形直接证明印度-欧亚板块碰撞初期的远程应力已传递至青藏高原东南缘地区。

Nomore blind dates with calcite: Fluid-flow vs. fault-slip along the Očkov thrust, Prague Basin

Dating of fracture-filling calcitewith U-Pb geochronology is becoming a rapidly adopted technique for determining the absolute timing of brittle deformation in the upper crust.Slickenfibre calcite is a desirable target,as it precipitates between individual fault slip displacement events,and provides additional kinematic information.Here we present a case study of slickenfibres formed on the Očkov thrust in the Lower Palaezoic Prague Basin,Bohemian Massif,utilising a combination of petrographic and in situ methods.We demonstrate that slickenfibre external textures can be preserved,whilst internally primary textures are removed by fluid infiltration and recrystallization,leading to variable U and Pb mobilisation.One slickenfibre yielded a date of ca.250 Ma,which we interpret as recording fault slip along the Očkov thrust.Another cross-cutting slickenfibre yielded more scattered U-Pb data,with an imprecise apparent age around ca.95 Ma.This slickenfibre is recrystallised,destroying the primary textures,and exhibits element mobility.The meaning of this younger apparent age is therefore questionable;whereas it likely reflects Cretaceous U and Pb mobility assisted by fluid-flow along the fault plane,it may not reflect a period of fault slip.Our results demonstrate that slickenfibre-based U-Pb dates do not unequivocally relate to fault motion,and that petrographic and elemental analyses are important requirements for interpreting calcite U-Pb data.

华北克拉通胶莱盆地马山地区粗面英安岩磷灰石U-Pb年代学及其地质意义

五莲—青岛—烟台断裂是胶莱盆地重要的控盆断裂之一,控制了盆地的形成与演化,主要由牟平—即墨断裂和桃村断裂等多条NNE向断裂组成。前人研究表明,五莲—青岛—烟台断裂运动学转换历史先后可划分为晚侏罗世左旋走滑、早白垩世伸展断陷和晚白垩世—古新世右旋走滑三个阶段,但其新生代右旋走滑事件的持续时间仍存在争议。已有研究表明,区域上同尺度断裂走滑运动温度为550~650℃,显著高于磷灰石U-Pb体系封闭温度(350~550℃),因此磷灰石可能是记录五莲—青岛—烟台断裂右旋走滑的理想对象。本文选取胶莱盆地马山粗面英安岩中的磷灰石进行U-Pb年代学研究,拟约束五莲—青岛—烟台断裂的右旋走滑持续时间。磷灰石U-Pb年龄为(64.1±3.7)Ma,明显晚于早白垩世寄主粗面英安岩锆石U-Pb年龄(119.3±1.6)Ma,表明自早白垩世以来磷灰石至少经历了一次热事件导致其U-Pb同位素体系重置。早白垩世以来,由于印度板块和欧亚板块的碰撞,以及古太平洋板块由NWW向俯冲转变为NW向俯冲,导致了古新世胶莱盆地N—S向拉分和牟平—即墨断裂右旋走滑。因此,本文认为马山粗面英安岩磷灰石U-Pb年龄记录了五莲—青岛—烟台断裂右旋走滑热事件,表明其右旋走滑可能持续到古新世。

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.