Dilatancy-induced fluid pressure drop during dynamic rupture: Direct experimental evidence and consequences for earthquake dynamics

Abstract

Fluid pressure and flow in the crust are key parameters controlling earthquake physics. Since earthquake slip is linked to spatio-temporal localisation of deformation, it is expected that the local fluid pressure around the fault plane could potentially impact the dynamic strength of the slipping fault zone. Coseismic fluid pressure drops have been inferred from field studies, notably in gold deposits which are thought to be formed by this process, but reliable quantitative predictions are still lacking. Here, experimental results are presented where local on- and off-fault fluid pressure variations were measured in situ during dynamic rock fracture and frictional slip under upper crustal stress conditions. During the main rupture, the on-fault fluid pressure dropped rapidly to zero, indicating partial vaporisation and/or degassing. Further deformation produced stick-slip events systematically associated with near-instantaneous drops in fluid pressure, providing direct experimental support of the concept of “seismic suction pump”. In situ fluid volume and wave speed measurements together with microstructural investigations show that dilatancy is the process driving fluid pressure drops during rupture and slip. Extrapolation of the laboratory results indicate that dilatancy-induced fluid pressure drops might be a widespread phenomenon in the crust, counteracting thermal pressurisation as a weakening mechanisms in freshly fractured rock.