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Particle size and energetics of gouge from earthquake rupture zones

Author

Listed:
  • Brent Wilson

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Thomas Dewers

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • Ze'ev Reches

    (University of Oklahoma)

  • James Brune

    (University of Nevada)

Abstract

Earthquake energy: ground force Surprisingly, considering the forces that we see at the surface, not all the energy involved in an earthquake is transformed into ground motion; much of it is consumed by frictional heating and rock pulverization. An analysis of pulverized rock, or gouge, collected from the San Andreas Fault in California and from a rupture zone at 2 km depth in a South African gold mine contradicts the commonly held view that gouge surface energy is a negligible component of earthquake energy balance. The analysis reveals unexpected diminutive particles in gouge samples, indicating that pulverization, not frictional heating, is the major consumer of earthquake energy at depth. This might explain the heat flow anomaly seen in the San Andreas fault system and perhaps some other long-standing puzzles in earthquake energetics.

Suggested Citation

  • Brent Wilson & Thomas Dewers & Ze'ev Reches & James Brune, 2005. "Particle size and energetics of gouge from earthquake rupture zones," Nature, Nature, vol. 434(7034), pages 749-752, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:434:y:2005:i:7034:d:10.1038_nature03433
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03433
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    Cited by:

    1. Hongyu Sun & Matej Pec, 2021. "Nanometric flow and earthquake instability," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Peng Zhang & Jing Lu & Lei Zuo & Yaqin Wang & Rui Liu & Dongping Tao & Zhaoying Chen & Gang Tao & Kun Wang, 2023. "Identification of Natural Nearly or Nanoscale Particles in Bituminous Coal: An Important Form of Elements in Coal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-16, April.

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