Low strength of deep San Andreas fault gouge from SAFOD core

David A. Lockner (), Carolyn Morrow, Diane Moore and Stephen Hickman
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David A. Lockner: US Geological Survey
Carolyn Morrow: US Geological Survey
Diane Moore: US Geological Survey
Stephen Hickman: US Geological Survey

Nature, 2011, vol. 472, issue 7341, 82-85

Abstract: A soft spot on the San Andreas fault Laboratory measurements of the strength of core samples from a drill hole located northwest of Parkfield, California, near the southern end of a creeping zone of the San Andreas fault, demonstrate that the fault is profoundly weak at this location and depth. This is because of the presence of the smectite clay mineral saponite — one of the weakest phyllosilicates known. The finding suggests that deformation of the mechanically unusual creeping portions of the San Andreas fault system is controlled by the presence of weak minerals, rather than by high fluid pressure or other proposed mechanisms.

Date: 2011
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DOI: 10.1038/nature09927

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