Faults and Faulting. Processes in Structural Geology & Tectonics. Ben van der Pluijm. WW Norton+Authors, unless noted otherwise 2/2/ :47

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1 Faults and Faulting Processes in Structural Geology & Tectonics Ben van der Pluijm WW Norton+Authors, unless noted otherwise 2/2/ :47

2 We Discuss Faults Types and Geometries Systems Fault bends Dimensions Fault Surfaces Fault Rocks Cataclasites Mylonites Pseudotachylytes Character with Depth More on Mechanics of (Reverse) Faulting Thrust Paradox Thrust Wedges Structure and Society Earthquakes Resources Faults PSG&T 2

3 Faults, Fault Zones and Shear Zones a) Fault. b) Fault zone, with cataclastic deformation. c) Principal fault and fault splays. d) Anastomosing faults. e) Shear zone. Faults PSG&T 3

4 Fault Types: Dip-slip and Strike-slip Faults Faults PSG&T 4

5 Fault Types: Oblique-slip Faults Faults PSG&T 5

6 Field Example: Normal Fault Faults PSG&T 6

7 Modern Fault Scarp: Norcia (Italy) Earthquake ( ) A Notaro, m P Galli, 2016 Faults PSG&T 7

8 Field Example: Reverse (Thrust) Fault Hoback Canyon (U-M s Camp Davis area) Faults PSG&T 8

9 Field Example: Lateral-slip (or Strike-slip) Fault Alpine Fault New Zealand (S Island) Faults PSG&T 9

10 Extensional and Contractional Faults a) Starting condition b) Extension c) Contraction B-B B -B Note horizontal length changes. Shortening is: Faults PSG&T 11

11 Fault Systems Normal Fault ( detachment ) systems Faults PSG&T 12

12 Example: Low-angle Normal Fault ( detachment ) Whipple Mtns Faults PSG&T 13

13 Fault Systems Normal Fault ( detachment ) systems Reverse Fault ( thrust ) Systems Lateral-slip Fault System Faults PSG&T 14

14 Field Example: Reverse or Thrust Faults Swiss Alps Faults PSG&T 15

15 Fault Bends: Thrust Ramps and Flats (a) Cross section with future ramps and flats along a thrust fault. (b) Cross section illustrating hangingwall and footwall flats and ramps, and ramp anticline. Ramp anticline (Segment AB is hangingwall flat on footwall flat. Segment BC is hanging-wall flat on footwall ramp. Segment CD is hangingwall ramp on footwall flat, and segment DE is hanging-wall flat on footwall flat.) Faults PSG&T 16

16 (Erosional) Klippe and Window Klippe, window, allochthon and autochthon in thrust-faulted region. Chief Mtn, MT Minimum fault displacement defined by farthest distance between thrust outcrops in klippe and window (blue line). Faults PSG&T 17

17 Restraining and Releasing Fault Bends Map-views of: (a) restraining bend along a right-lateral (dextral) slip fault. (b) releasing bend along a right-lateral (dextral) slip fault. Faults PSG&T 18

18 Subsidiary Faults R-, R -, and P-shears (a) Clay deforms when underlying blocks of wood slide past one another. (b) Top surface of clay layer, with orientation of Riedel (R), conjugate Riedel (R ), and P-shears. Note that acute bisector of R- and R - shears is parallel to σ 1 and faults at 30 o, following Andersonian theory. Faults PSG&T 19

19 Fault Terminations (a) Fault terminates at ground surface at A; at B, fault is cut by a pluton; at C and D, one fault cuts another; at E, fault was eroded at unconformity. (b) Termination of fault by merging with another fault (at A), by horsetailing (at B) and dying out into zone of distributed deformation (at C). (c) Series of thrust ramps merging at depth with single fault (floor thrust or decollement ). Faults PSG&T 20

20 Fault Scaling and Self-similarity Displacement on fault increases as fault grows (i.e., fault length increases) Measures of maximum displacement and fault length gives empirical relationship: D(isplacement) is ~3% of L(ength) Faults PSG&T 21

21 Fault Surfaces: Striations and Polish SAFOD samples Faults PSG&T 22

22 Fault surfaces: Slickensides (polish) and Slickenlines (fibers) Faults PSG&T 23

23 Fault Rock Classification Cataclasite Mylonite Descriptions of fault rock classes by hand-specimen appearance and degree of cohesion: Argille scagliose Cataclasite Fault breccia Vein-filled breccia Fault gouge Pseudotachylyte Mylonite Also used: Foliated vs. Non-foliated. Faults PSG&T 24

24 Fault Rocks: Cataclasite, (Tectonic) Breccia and Gouge Gouge Breccia Faults PSG&T 25

25 Fault Rocks: Mylonites (Shear Zones) Faults PSG&T 26

26 Types of Mylonites 2/2/2017 Shear Zones EarthStructure 27

27 Fault Rocks: Pseudotachylyte (Friction Melts) Alpine Fault (~500Ka) and Grenville Front (~1.1Ga) Faults PSG&T 28

28 Synoptic Fault Zone and Character with Depth Changing fault character with depth (steeply dipping fault). Also, change in fault zone width and types of fault rock with depth. Faults PSG&T 29

29 Return to Fault Mechanics Canadian Rockies Faults PSG&T 30

30 Mechanics: Thrust Paradox Sliding block: 100(w) x 10(l) x 5(h) km block; r = 2600 kg/m 3 σ n is stress from loading, σ f is frictional resistance (=σ s ), σ l is boundary load at end of thrust sheet, P H2O is pore pressure s n = F/area = (a.m)/area = 9.8 x (2600x1E5x1E4x5E3) /1E5x1E4 = 127 x 10E6 Pa = 127 MPa s f = m x s n, m = 0.7 so σ l ~90 MPa Compressive strength of natural rock on same order, so fracturing at front instead of sliding Faults PSG&T 31

31 Effective Friction: Fluid Pressure Scenario s f = C + m (s n P f ); fracture or s f = m (s n P f ); friction So, m effective = m (1 P f /s n ) m effective m ; Note: P f < s 3 (a) Pushed from rear (b) High fluid pressure at basal detachment σ n is stress from loading, σ f is frictional resistance (=σ s ), σ l is boundary load at end of thrust sheet, P H2O is fluid pressure (P f ) Faults PSG&T 32

32 Low Friction: Lubricant Scenario Sliding block: 100 x 10 x 5 km r = 2600 kg/m 3 s n = F/area = 127 MPa s f = m x s n (a) Pushed from rear (b) Low friction material at basal detachment σ n is stress from loading, σ f is frictional resistance, σ l is boundary load at end of thrust sheet m = 0.2, so σ f ~25 MPa Strength of natural rock greater, so sliding Faults PSG&T 33

33 Extra: Role of Gravity (a) Gravity Sliding down a foreland-tilted slope. (b) Gravity sliding partly downslope and partly upslope. (c) Gravity mechanics creates wedge shape (gravity spreading; think, warm brie). Role of fluid pressure: Dry sliding: dip is o (angle of repose) Wet sliding: l = P f /P l l = 1 (P f =P lith ), dip is ~0 o l = 0.8, dip ~10 o Faults PSG&T 34

34 Mechanics: Thrust Wedges Plow analogy: Wedge of snow or sand extends with continued shortening; thrusts initiate from hinterland to foreland. As thrusts add material at toe of wedge, hinterland portions develop penetrative strain, normal faults and slumps. Faults PSG&T 35

35 Wedge Mechanics: Critical Taper Theory Critical taper (angle φ c ) is sum of surface slope angle (α 1 ) and basal slope angle (β). a) Stress acting on wedge, partly horizontal boundary load caused by backstop (σ bs ) and partly caused by gravity (σ g ). b) If backstop moves, wedge thickens, so surface slope increases, and taper (φ) eventually exceeds φ c. c) Wedge slides toward foreland and new material is added to toe, and extension of wedge occurs so that surface slope decreases. φ c Faults PSG&T 36

36 Structure and Society: Earthquake Impact Date Location Deaths Magnitude January 23, 1556 China, Shansi 830,000 ~8 October 11, 1737 India, Calcutta** 300,000 January 12, 2010 Haiti, Port au Prince 300, July 27, 1976 China, Tangshan 255, August 9, 1138 Syria, Aleppo 230,000 December 26, 2004 Sumatra, Indonesia 225, May 22, 1927 China, near Xining 200, December 22, 856+ Iran,Damghan 200,000 December 16, 1920 China,Gansu 200, September 1, 1923 Japan, Kwanto/Tokyo 143, October 8, 2005 Pakistan 75, May 12, 2008 China, Sichuan 70, December 28, 1908 Italy, Messina 70, November 1, 1755 Portugal, Lisbon 70, May 31, 1970 Peru 66, June 20, 1990 Iran 50, August 17, 1999 Turkey, Izmit 45, March 11, 2011 Japan, Sendai 20, Frictional Regime PSG&T

37 Earthquakes and (Stick-)Slip EQ spectrum: form seismic slip (earthquake), tremor (slow earthquakes to aseismic slip (creep) EQ EQ EQ EQ Stick-slip behavior: elastic stress built-up and (partial) stress release ( stress drop ). Note: EQ stress drop is 1-10MPa, which is 1/10 th of differential stress! Frictional Regime PSG&T 38

38 Structure and Society: Faults Resources: Fossil Fuels Resources: Mineralization Faults PSG&T 39