ISSN:
1420-9136
Keywords:
Structural Geology
;
faults
;
S. E. Spain
;
experimental rock mechanics
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Geosciences
,
Physics
Notes:
Abstract Fault rocks formed in phyllosilicate-bearing rocks formed over a wide range of environmental conditions within the Earth's crust are characterised by similar structural and microstructural features. The most striking of these are (a) P foliation, defined by the preferred alignment of phyllosilicates in a plane oblique to the direction of shear and (b) small-scale shear zones either parallel to the shear direction (Y shears) or oblique to the direction of shear but with the opposite sense of obliquity relative to the P foliation (Riedel shears, R1). The minor shear zones have the same sense of displacement as the host shear zone. The occurrence of these and other structures in clay-rich fault gouges from exceptionally well-exposed fault zones in southeastern Spain is described. The pervasive development of these flow structures throughout large volumes of fault gouge permits fault-displacement vectors to be inferred. For the region studied the movement pictures is relatively simple and is superposed on a complex network of variably oriented fault zones. The naturally produced fault-gouge structures are compared with fault gouges produced experimentally by shearing kaolinite-quartz mixtures between intact blocks over a wide range of experimental conditions. Good correspondence between their respective microstructural features was observed. Finally, attention is drawn to the fact that natural clay-bearing fault gouges are the products of deformation accompanied by very low-grade retrogressive metamorphism, and that part of the micro-structure of these rocks may be ascribed to crystallization under stress. Microstructures are described that are from long-duration experimental runs, (5 months at high temperature and in the presence of water) which go some way towards simulating these effects.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00875717
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