|
Detailed Reference Information |
Bos, B. and Spiers, C.J. (2002). Frictional-viscous flow of phyllosilicate-bearing fault rock: Microphysical model and implications for crustal strength profiles. Journal of Geophysical Research 107: doi: 10.1029/2001JB000301. issn: 0148-0227. |
|
It is widely believed that around the brittle-ductile transition, crustal faults can be significantly weaker than predicted by conventional two-mechanism brittle-ductile strength envelopes. Factors contributing to this weakness include the polyphase nature of natural rocks, foliation development, and the action of fluid-assisted processes such as pressure solution. Recently, ring shear experiments using halite/kaolinite mixtures as an analogue for phyllosilicate-rich rocks for the first time showed frictional-viscous behavior (i.e., both normal stress and strain rate sensitive behavior) involving the combined effects of pressure solution and phyllosilicates. This behavior was accompanied by the development of a mylonitic microstructure. A quantitative assessment of the implications of this for the strength of natural faults has hitherto been hampered by the absence of a microphysical model. In this paper, a microphysical model for shear deformation of foliated, phyllosilicate-bearing fault rock by pressure solution-accommodated sliding along phyllosilicate foliae is developed. The model predicts purely frictional behavior at low and high shear strain rates and frictional-viscous behavior at intermediate shear strain rates. The mechanical data on wet halite + kaolinite gouge compare favorably with the model. When applied to crustal materials, the model predicts major weakening with respect to conventional brittle-ductile strength envelopes, in particular, around the brittle-ductile transition. The predicted strength profiles suggest that in numerical models of crustal deformation the strength of high-strain regions could be approximated by an apparent friction coefficient of 0.25--0.35 down to depths of 15--20 km. |
|
|
|
BACKGROUND DATA FILES |
|
|
Abstract |
|
|
|
|
|
Keywords
Physical Properties of Rocks, Fracture and flow, Structural Geology, Folds and folding, Structural Geology, Role of fluids, Tectonophysics, Rheology--crust and lithosphere |
|
Publisher
American Geophysical Union 2000 Florida Avenue N.W. Washington, D.C. 20009-1277 USA 1-202-462-6900 1-202-328-0566 service@agu.org |
|
|
|