Genesis of continental seismogenic zone and a new fault zone model

Abstract

Experiments were conducted repeatedly on Mannari granite under different temperature and confining pressure conditions. Systematic micro- and submicro-structural and mechanical analyses of granite samples deformed under 1.5 GPa (confining pressure), at 25°C–650°C temperatures and at 2×10−6s−1 strain rate show the brittle-ductile deformation microstructures and microstructural associations similar to those observed in naturally deformed crustal rocks and minerals. Brittle fracturing and crystalline plasticity co-exist and react with each other in the brittle-ductile transition domain of the continental lithosphere. The interaction between the different mechanisms in the transitional domain results in the variation of anomalous strength values, which may best explain the genesis of the continental seismogenic zone. A new fault zone model is proposed on the basis of detailed micromechanical and microstructural analyses.