Document Type
Article
Journal/Book Title/Conference
Geology
Volume
47
Issue
12
Publisher
Geological Society of America
Publication Date
10-15-2019
Award Number
NSF, Division of Earth Sciences (EAR) 1654628
Funder
NSF, Division of Earth Sciences (EAR)
First Page
1203
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Last Page
1207
Abstract
Friction-generated heat and the subsequent thermal evolution control fault material properties and thus strength during the earthquake cycle. We document evidence for transient, nanoscale fault rheology on a high-gloss, light-reflective hematite fault mirror (FM). The FM cuts specularite with minor quartz from the Pleistocene El Laco Fe-ore deposit, northern Chile. Scanning and transmission electron microscopy data reveal that the FM volume comprises a2+ suboxides. Sub–5-nm-thick silica films encase hematite grains and connect to amorphous interstitial silica. Observations imply that coseismic shear heating (temperature >1000 °C) generated transiently amorphous, intermixed but immiscible, and rheologically weak Fe-oxide and silica. Hematite regrowth in a fault-perpendicular thermal gradient, sintering, twinning, and a topographic network of nanometer-scale ridges from crystals interlocking across the FM surface collectively restrengthened fault material. Results reveal how temperature-induced weakening preconditions fault healing. Nanoscale transformations may promote subsequent strain delocalization and development of off-fault damage.
Recommended Citation
A.K. Ault, J.L. Jensen, R.G. McDermott, F.-A. Shen, B.R. Van Devener; Nanoscale evidence for temperature-induced transient rheology and postseismic fault healing. Geology ; 47 (12): 1203–1207. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G46317.1
