On the extent of size range and power law scaling for particles of natural carbonate fault cores

被引:22
作者
Billi, Andrea [1 ]
机构
[1] Univ Rome Tre, Dept Geol Sci, Rome 00146, Italy
关键词
fault; fault core; particle size distribution; power law; scaling;
D O I
10.1016/j.jsg.2007.06.007
中图分类号
P [天文学、地球科学];
学科分类号
07 ;
摘要
To determine the size range and both type and extent of the scaling laws for particles of loose natural carbonate fault rocks, six granular fault cores from Mesozoic carbonate strata of central Italy were sampled. Particle size distributions of twelve samples were determined by combining sieving and sedimentation methods. Results show that, regardless of the fault geometry, kinematics, and tectonic history, the size of fault rock particles respects a power law distribution across approximately four orders of magnitude. The fractal dimension (D) of the particle size distribution in the analysed samples ranges between similar to 2.0 and similar to 3.5. A lower bound to the power law trend is evident in all samples except in those with the highest D-values; in these samples, the smallest analysed particles (similar to 0.0005 mm in diameter) were also included in the power law interval, meaning that the lower size limit of the power law distribution decreases for increasing D-values and that smallest particles start to be comminuted with increasing strain (i.e. increasing fault displacement and D-values). For increasing D-values, also the largest particles tends to decrease in number, but this evidence may be affected by a censoring bias connected with the sample size. Stick-slip behaviour is suggested for the studied faults on the basis of the inferred particle size evolutions. Although further analyses are necessary to make the results of this study more generalizable, the preliminary definition of the scaling rules for fault rock particles may serve as a tool for predicting a large scale of fault rock particles once a limited range is known. In particular, data from this study may result useful as input numbers in numerical models addressing the packing of fault rock particles for frictional and hydraulic purposes. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:1512 / 1521
页数:10
相关论文
共 64 条
[1]  
AGOSTA F, 2006, GEOFLUIDS, V6, P1
[2]   Architecture and deformation mechanism of a basin-bounding normal fault in Mesozoic platform carbonates, central Italy [J].
Agosta, Fabrizio ;
Aydin, Atilla .
JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY, 2006, 28 (08) :1445-1467
[3]  
[Anonymous], 1977, ROCK MECH
[4]  
ANTONELLINI M, 1995, AAPG BULL, V79, P642
[5]  
ANTONELLINI M, 1994, AAPG BULL, V78, P355
[6]   DEVELOPMENT OF FAULTS AS ZONES OF DEFORMATION BANDS AND AS SLIP SURFACES IN SANDSTONE [J].
AYDIN, A ;
JOHNSON, AM .
PURE AND APPLIED GEOPHYSICS, 1978, 116 (4-5) :931-942
[7]  
Bear J., 1988, DYNAMICS FLUIDS PORO
[8]   Frictional behavior of large displacement experimental faults [J].
Beeler, NM ;
Tullis, TE ;
Blanpied, ML ;
Weeks, JD .
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH, 1996, 101 (B4) :8697-8715
[9]   Grain size distribution and thickness of breccia and gouge zones from thin (<1 m) strike-slip fault cores in limestone [J].
Billi, A .
JOURNAL OF STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY, 2005, 27 (10) :1823-1837
[10]   Fractal distribution of particle size in carbonate cataclastic rocks from the core of a regional strike-slip fault zone [J].
Billi, A ;
Storti, F .
TECTONOPHYSICS, 2004, 384 (1-4) :115-128