Strength, stability, and microstructure of simulated calcite faults sheared under laboratory conditions spanning the brittle-ductile transition

Abstract:

We present the results of an experimental investigation of the mechanisms controlling slip of simulated fault gouges composed of calcite (CaCO₃). Shear (friction) tests were carried out using the saw-cut, direct-, as well as the ring-shear geometries, at conditions spanning the brittle-to-ductile transition. Sheared gouges were recovered for micro- and nanostructural study. Experiments using an effective normal stress of 50 MPa and sliding velocities (v) of 0.1 to 10 µm/s showed velocity (v-) weakening in the temperature range from ~80-100ºC to ~550ºC, frequently associated with stick-slip. Below 80-100ºC, and > ~550ºC, stable v-strengthening was observed. The microstructures of all gouges recovered from tests performed at 20° to 200°C showed the presence of nanocrystalline shear bands with internal, fibrous, mirror-like patches and a crystallographic preferred orientation. By contrast, at 400° to 600°C, microstructures showed evidence for localized slip in a boundary shear alongside more distributed deformation, involving grain size sensitive (GSS) and/ or grain size insensitive (GSI) creep of ~10-30 µm-sized grains. Our interpretation is that fault gouge strength and its velocity dependence are controlled by a competition between dilatant granular flow vs. creep-controlled compaction. Specifically, the transition from v-strengthening to v-weakening behaviour at 80° to 100°C is interpreted to occur due to accelerated intergranular diffusive mass transfer at elevated temperatures, while at 550° to 600°C, localized, v-weakening slip involving balanced dilatant flow and creep-controlled compaction gives way to pervasive, stable v-strengthening viscous/ plastic shear involving GSS and/ or GSI deformation. Our results have important implications for seismicity in limestone terrains, and for the interpretation of natural fault rock microstructures. The sheared gouge micro- and nanostructures reported demonstrate the importance of nanoscale fault slip processes in limestone at upper crustal conditions, and suggest that natural calcite shear zone microstructures apparently formed by plastic flow may potentially represent seismogenic faults.