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Fault zone fabric and fault weakness

Author

Listed:
  • Cristiano Collettini

    (Geologia Strutturale e Geofisica, 06100, Perugia, Italy)

  • André Niemeijer

    (Geofluids, and Geohazards, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
    Present address: Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia, 00143, Roma, Italy.)

  • Cecilia Viti

    (53100, Siena, Italy)

  • Chris Marone

    (Geofluids, and Geohazards, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA)

Abstract

Paradoxical fault weakness For reasons that are still obscure, some crustal faults — California's San Andreas fault among them — appear to be much weaker than expected from laboratory measurements of frictional strength. To tackle this paradox Collettini et al. conducted friction experiments on rocks from the Zuccale fault, on the Italian island of Elba. They find that samples with well-developed foliation or banding are extremely weak compared to their powdered equivalents, and that fault weakness can occur in cases where weak mineral phases constitute only a small percentage of the total fault rock. Frictional sliding occurs along very fine-grained foliations composed of phyllosilicates — weak minerals such as talc — that have the effect of lubricating the fault zone. The widespread distribution of foliated fault rocks within mature fault zones suggests that this mechanism could be a general explanation for fault weakening.

Suggested Citation

  • Cristiano Collettini & André Niemeijer & Cecilia Viti & Chris Marone, 2009. "Fault zone fabric and fault weakness," Nature, Nature, vol. 462(7275), pages 907-910, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:462:y:2009:i:7275:d:10.1038_nature08585
    DOI: 10.1038/nature08585
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. John D. Bedford & Daniel R. Faulkner & Nadia Lapusta, 2022. "Fault rock heterogeneity can produce fault weakness and reduce fault stability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Torben Treffeisen & Andreas Henk, 2020. "Faults as Volumetric Weak Zones in Reservoir-Scale Hydro-Mechanical Finite Element Models—A Comparison Based on Grid Geometry, Mesh Resolution and Fault Dip," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-27, May.
    3. Torben Treffeisen & Andreas Henk, 2020. "Elastic and Frictional Properties of Fault Zones in Reservoir-Scale Hydro-Mechanical Models—A Sensitivity Study," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-28, September.
    4. Sanshao Ren & Yongshuang Zhang & Jinqiu Li & Xiaoyi Liu & Ruian Wu, 2023. "A new type of sliding zone soil and its severe effect on the formation of giant landslides in the Jinsha River tectonic suture zone, China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 117(2), pages 1847-1868, June.
    5. Wei Feng & Lu Yao & Chiara Cornelio & Rodrigo Gomila & Shengli Ma & Chaoqun Yang & Luigi Germinario & Claudio Mazzoli & Giulio Di Toro, 2023. "Physical state of water controls friction of gabbro-built faults," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.

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