Frictional stability and hydromechanical coupling of serpentinite-bearing fault gouge

Abstract

SUMMARY Observations of slow earthquakes and tremor have raised fundamental questions about the physics of quasi-dynamic rupture and the underlying fault zone processes. The presence of serpentinite at P-T conditions characteristic of deep tremor and slow earthquakes suggests that it plays an important role in controlling complex fault slip behaviour. Here, we report on experiments designed to investigate the frictional behaviour of serpentinite sampled from outcrop exposures (SO1 and SO2) of altered ultramafic rocks present at depth, and recovered from the SAFOD borehole (G27). XRD analyses reveal the presence of chrisotyle, lizardite, kaolinite, talc in SO1; lizardite, clinochlore and magnetite in SO2; and lizardite, quartz and calcite in G27. We sheared fault gouge in a double-direct shear configuration using a true triaxial deformation apparatus. The effective normal stress was varied from 2 to 40 MPa. We conducted velocity stepping tests and slide-hold-slide (SHS) tests in each experiment to characterize frictional stability and healing. At the end of each experiment, post-shear permeability was measured and the samples were recovered for microstructural analysis. The steady-state friction coefficient was μ = 0.17 for SO1, μ = 0.33 for SO2 and μ = 0.53 for G27. Overall, the gouges exhibit velocity strengthening behaviour, and become nearly velocity neutral at 40 MPa effective normal stress. SHS tests show positive healing rates for SO2 and G27, whereas SO1 exhibits zero or negative healing rates. Permeability decreases with increasing σn’, with SO1 (k = 10–20 m2) showing the lowest values. Microstructural observations reveal a well-developed R-Y-P fabric in SO1, which is not observed in SO2 and G27. We posit that the development of shear fabric controlled by mineralogy governs frictional and hydrological properties. In this context, when serpentinite is associated with other weak phyllosilicate minerals, frictional stability and hydrological properties can vary greatly, with a potential control on the mode of fault failure.