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Coseismic fault sealing and fluid pressurization during earthquakes

Author

Listed:
  • Lu Yao

    (Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration)

  • Shengli Ma

    (Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration)

  • Giulio Di Toro

    (Università di Padova
    Istituto Nazionale di Geofisica e Vulcanologia)

Abstract

Earthquakes occur because faults weaken with increasing slip and slip rate. Thermal pressurization (TP) of trapped pore fluids is deemed to be a widespread coseismic fault weakening mechanism. Yet, due to technical challenges, experimental evidence of TP is limited. Here, by exploiting a novel experimental configuration, we simulate seismic slip pulses (slip rate 2.0 m/s) on dolerite-built faults under pore fluid pressures up to 25 MPa. We measure transient sharp weakening, down to almost zero friction and concurrent with a spike in pore fluid pressure, which interrupts the exponential-decay slip weakening. The interpretation of mechanical and microstructural data plus numerical modeling suggests that wear and local melting processes in experimental faults generate ultra-fine materials to seal the pressurized pore water, causing transient TP spikes. Our work suggests that, with wear-induced sealing, TP may also occur in relatively permeable faults and could be quite common in nature.

Suggested Citation

  • Lu Yao & Shengli Ma & Giulio Di Toro, 2023. "Coseismic fault sealing and fluid pressurization during earthquakes," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-36839-9
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36839-9
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    2. Hiroyuki Noda & Nadia Lapusta, 2013. "Stable creeping fault segments can become destructive as a result of dynamic weakening," Nature, Nature, vol. 493(7433), pages 518-521, January.
    3. Giulio Di Toro & Stefan Nielsen & Giorgio Pennacchioni, 2005. "Earthquake rupture dynamics frozen in exhumed ancient faults," Nature, Nature, vol. 436(7053), pages 1009-1012, August.
    4. G. Di Toro & R. Han & T. Hirose & N. De Paola & S. Nielsen & K. Mizoguchi & F. Ferri & M. Cocco & T. Shimamoto, 2011. "Fault lubrication during earthquakes," Nature, Nature, vol. 471(7339), pages 494-498, March.
    5. S. Aretusini & F. Meneghini & E. Spagnuolo & C. W. Harbord & G. Di Toro, 2021. "Fluid pressurisation and earthquake propagation in the Hikurangi subduction zone," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-8, December.
    6. Christopher A. J. Wibberley & Toshihiko Shimamoto, 2005. "Earthquake slip weakening and asperities explained by thermal pressurization," Nature, Nature, vol. 436(7051), pages 689-692, August.
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