Details
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 268 |
| Journal | Geosciences (Switzerland) |
| Volume | 12 |
| Issue number | 7 |
| Publication status | Published - Jul 2022 |
Abstract
A fault gouge forms at the core of the fault as the result of a slip in the upper brittle crust. Therefore, the deformation mechanisms and conditions under which the fault gouge was formed can document the stages of fault movement in the crust. We carried out a microstructural analysis on a fault gouge from a hanging-wall branch fault of the Simplon Fault Zone, a major low-angle normal fault in the Alps. We use thin-section analysis, together with backscattered electron imaging and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), to show that a multistage history from ductile to brittle deformation, together with a continuous exhumation history from high to low temperature, took place within the fault gouge. Because of the predominance of pressure solution and veining, we associated a large part of the deformation in the fault gouge with viscous-frictional behaviour that occurred at the brittle-ductile transition. Phyllosilicates and graphite likely caused fault lubrication that we suggested played a role in the formation of this major low-angle normal fault.
Keywords
- Alps, fault gouge, Simplon fault
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Earth and Planetary Sciences(all)
- General Earth and Planetary Sciences
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In: Geosciences (Switzerland), Vol. 12, No. 7, 268, 07.2022.
Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The Memory of a Fault Gouge
T2 - An Example from the Simplon Fault Zone (Central Alps)
AU - Argante, Valentina
AU - Tanner, David Colin
AU - Brandes, Christian
AU - von Hagke, Christoph
AU - Tsukamoto, Sumiko
N1 - Funding Information: Funding: This research was funded by German Science Foundation (DFG), grant number 442589783 for D.C.T., C.B., C.v.H. and S.T.
PY - 2022/7
Y1 - 2022/7
N2 - A fault gouge forms at the core of the fault as the result of a slip in the upper brittle crust. Therefore, the deformation mechanisms and conditions under which the fault gouge was formed can document the stages of fault movement in the crust. We carried out a microstructural analysis on a fault gouge from a hanging-wall branch fault of the Simplon Fault Zone, a major low-angle normal fault in the Alps. We use thin-section analysis, together with backscattered electron imaging and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), to show that a multistage history from ductile to brittle deformation, together with a continuous exhumation history from high to low temperature, took place within the fault gouge. Because of the predominance of pressure solution and veining, we associated a large part of the deformation in the fault gouge with viscous-frictional behaviour that occurred at the brittle-ductile transition. Phyllosilicates and graphite likely caused fault lubrication that we suggested played a role in the formation of this major low-angle normal fault.
AB - A fault gouge forms at the core of the fault as the result of a slip in the upper brittle crust. Therefore, the deformation mechanisms and conditions under which the fault gouge was formed can document the stages of fault movement in the crust. We carried out a microstructural analysis on a fault gouge from a hanging-wall branch fault of the Simplon Fault Zone, a major low-angle normal fault in the Alps. We use thin-section analysis, together with backscattered electron imaging and X-ray diffractometry (XRD), to show that a multistage history from ductile to brittle deformation, together with a continuous exhumation history from high to low temperature, took place within the fault gouge. Because of the predominance of pressure solution and veining, we associated a large part of the deformation in the fault gouge with viscous-frictional behaviour that occurred at the brittle-ductile transition. Phyllosilicates and graphite likely caused fault lubrication that we suggested played a role in the formation of this major low-angle normal fault.
KW - Alps
KW - fault gouge
KW - Simplon fault
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85133501653&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.3390/geosciences12070268
DO - 10.3390/geosciences12070268
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:85133501653
VL - 12
JO - Geosciences (Switzerland)
JF - Geosciences (Switzerland)
IS - 7
M1 - 268
ER -