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Fault stability inferred from granite sliding experiments at hydrothermal conditions

M.L. Blanpied·D.A. Lockner·J.D. Byerlee
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Abstract

Seismicity on crustal faults is concentrated in the depth interval 1–3 to 12–15km. Tse and Rice (1986) suggested that the lower bound on seismicity is due to a switch with increasing temperature from velocity weakening (destabilizing) to velocity strengthening (stabilizing) friction. They inferred this transition from friction data for dry granite; however, pore fluids exist at elevated temperatures throughout the crust, and may strongly influence strength and sliding behavior. We present new data from sliding experiments on granite at elevated T (23° to 600°) plus elevated PH 2 O (100 MPa),

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M.L. Blanpied, D.A. Lockner, J.D. Byerlee. 2012-12-07. Fault stability inferred from granite sliding experiments at hydrothermal conditions. https://doi.org/10.1029/91gl00469

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