Fault zone fabric and fault weakness

Cristiano Collettini (), André Niemeijer, Cecilia Viti and Chris Marone
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Cristiano Collettini: Geologia Strutturale e Geofisica, 06100, Perugia, Italy
André Niemeijer: Geofluids, and Geohazards, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA
Cecilia Viti: 53100, Siena, Italy
Chris Marone: Geofluids, and Geohazards, Penn State University, University Park, Pennsylvania 16802, USA

Nature, 2009, vol. 462, issue 7275, 907-910

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.

Date: 2009
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DOI: 10.1038/nature08585

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