Statistical characterization of brittle and semi-brittle fault rocks: a clast geometry approach

Abstract

In the present approach, clast geometric parameters—particle size distribution (PSD), clast complexity \((D^{R})\), aspect ratio (AR), circularity (Circ), convexity (Conv) and clast orientation (Angle)—were examined in order to separate the diverse fault rock types (fault breccias, cataclasites and fault gouges), which typically own extremely different hydraulic and petrophysical properties. The available borecore samples were studied in a case of a thrust fault zone from the metamorphic basement of the Pannonian Basin, Hungary. Multivariate statistical methods were applied in order to find the geometric parameters that define the tectonites. The calculated discriminant functions emphasized the importance of the PSD, Angle, AR, and Circ parameters, in descending order. We defined proper combinations of geometric parameters which can clearly separate the fault rock groups, both pair-wise and jointly for the three groups. The discriminant functions also pointed out the relatively similar geometric features of fault breccias and cataclasites in contrast to the significantly different characteristics of fault gouges. The multidimensional scaling demonstrated a three-phase evolution of the analysed brittle tectonites, where the initial deformation is coupled with chaotic fabric giving a weakly disaggregated fault breccia texture. The transitional stage can be characterised by cataclastic flow, while in the most deformed fault gouge samples the strong fragmentation, clast-rounding and oriented texture dominate. These results possible provide constraints on the development and overall behaviour of the fault zone.