Shear Faults Research Articles

Coseismic surface ruptures, slip distribution, and 3D seismogenic fault for the 2021 Mw 7.3 Maduo earthquake, central Tibetan Plateau, and its tectonic implications

The 2021 Mw 7.3 Maduo earthquake, which hit the high mountain area of the internal Bayan Har Block in the central Tibetan Plateau, generated a ~ 154 km-long, nearly E-W-striking surface rupture zone. Field observations indicate prominent surface breaks characterized by discontinuous shear faults, en echelon tensional fissures, and mole track structures, revealing a dominantly left-lateral strike-slip motion with a maximum sinistral offset of ~2.7–2.8 m and general offset of ~1.0–1.5 m. The west part of the Maduo surface rupture zone occurred along the pre-existing Jiangcuo fault. Its east portion cut through some WNW-trending tectonics, indicating a previously unknown fault. The epicenter and slip distribution show a bilateral rupture for the Maduo quake. The complex 3D geometry of the Maduo seismogenic fault has controlled the occurrence of aftershocks and the multimodal distribution of coseismic displacements. The abnormally long Maduo surface rupture zone suggests that the rupture area-magnitude relationship might be more applicable than the rupture length-magnitude relationship for the magnitude estimation of a paleo-event. The occurrence of the Maduo earthquake challenges the active block model which used to predict little or no slip partitioning and large earthquakes in the block interior. A reappraisal of seismic hazard along intra-block faults with low strain rates is needed, especially across densely populated regions.

The Effect of Fault Architecture on Slip Behavior in Shale Revealed by Distributed Fiber Optic Strain Sensing

AbstractWe use Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) through Brillouin scattering measurements to characterize the reactivation of a fault zone in shale (Opalinus clay), caused by the excavation of a gallery at ∼400 m depth in the Mont Terri Underground Laboratory (Switzerland). DSS fibers are cemented behind casing in six boreholes cross‐cutting the fault zone. We compare the DSS data with co‐located measurements of displacement from a chain potentiometer and a three‐dimensional displacement sensor (SIMFIP). DSS proves to be able to detect in‐ and off‐fault strain variations induced by the gallery excavated 30–50 m away. The total permanent displacement of the fault is ∼200 microns at rates up to 1.5 nm/s. DSS is sensitive to longitudinal and shear strain with measurements showing that fault shear is concentrated at the top and bottom interfaces of the fault zone with little deformation within the fault zone itself. Such a localized pattern of strain relates to the architecture of the fault that is characterized by a thick “layer” including an anastomosing network of polished surfaces where clay‐rich rock splits into progressively smaller flakes conferring the entire zone very little cohesion and friction (weak zone), and favoring slipping at the edges of the “layer”. Overall, DSS shows that slow slip may activate everywhere there is a weak fault within a shale series. Thus, our work demonstrates the importance of shear strain on faults caused by remote loading, highlighting the utility of DSS systems to detect and quantify these effects at large reservoir scales.

Identifikasi Struktur Tektonik Sistem Geothermal Non-Vulkanik Daerah Nyelanding dan Permis Bangka Selatan Menggunakan Metode Gravity

Non-volcanic geothermal is a heat system that is not related to volcanism such as in Nyelanding and Permis areas. In previous studies, hot springs in the Nyelanding area were spread from West to Northeast, with the constituent rocks of sandstone, dry gravel and granite. In the Permis area, the manifestation is influenced by shear faults trending Northwest to Southeast and the geothermal source is granite. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the strenght of local tectonic structures using the gravity method. The data used in this study are the FAA (Free Air Anomaly) and topography data obtained through the TOPEX website. The gravity anomaly is obtained by performing spectral analysis using the Fourier Transform and moving average filter. 2D modeling is performed using inverse modeling with the smoothness constraint equation. The result of this research is that the Permis and Nyelanding geothermal systems are controlled by local tectonic structures in the Northwest and Southeast of the study area, in the form of fractures (possibly faults) with a Northeast – Southwest direction

MODELLING HEAT GENERATION DURING FRICTION AND VISCOPLASTIC DEFORMATION BASED ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE YENISEI SHEAR ZONE (EASTERN SIBERIA)

Deviations of the РТ parameters from the background values, corresponding to the lithostatic pressure and the standard geotherm characteristic of the neighboring crustal blocks of the Yenisei Ridge, were recorded by geothermobarometry in the zones of dislocation metamorphism of the Yenisei regional shear zone (Eastern Siberia). To explain the reason for large deviations from metamorphic conditions for shear and collision, we worked out 3D and 2D thermomechanical numerical models. The paper presents two- and three-dimensional models of dissipative heating during friction and visco-plastic deformations. The modelling results are compared with geological observations on the metamorphic grade and the scale of deformations of the Yenisei regional shear zone. A detailed consideration is being given to the ratio of heat released during friction at the contact of shear fault blocks, or during viscous deformations of the rheologically layered zone of tectonic flow and blastomylonitization. Estimates of the magnitude of dissipative heating are obtained for typical parameters of shear zones. The model of viscous deformation of a shear zone of finite width, taking into account the rheological layering of the crust, predicts dissipative heating by 200–310 °C at strain rates of 2–4 cm/year. The model of obduction of the tectonic plate with a thrusting velocity of 5 cm/year yields estimates of frictional heating of rocks at the contact of blocks no higher than 130–190 °C. The characteristic time period of the stationary dissipative regime formation is 6–8 million years. Dissipative heating could be a heat source for the metamorphic complexes of the Yenisei regional shear zone, though melting conditions of metapelite were not attained.

Liquefaction potential analysis in Palu Bay area

Sulawesi Island has a Palu Koro Fault that actively moves with a high displacement magnitude but low seismicity. On 28 September 2018, at 18:02 local time, an earthquake occurred in Palu Koro Shear Fault. The field investigations along the Palu coast revealed new evidence regarding the extensive liquefaction in these areas, both inland and coastal land. The research command area was located in the Palu Bay coastal area, the Province of Central Sulawesi. The data used was in the form of the Standard Penetration Test of the area, and the potential liquefaction analysis was carried out using the simplified procedure method. Furthermore, to determine the level of liquefaction potential, Liquefaction Potential Index was applied. Geological observations showed that the soil condition in the Palu Bay area was dominated by non-cohesive soil (sand). Based on the liquefaction potential analysis, it was indicated that most of the eastern region of the Palu Bay area showed no liquefaction potential. On the contrary, the western and southern parts were indicated to have liquefaction potentials. The Liquefaction Potential Index analysis results showed that the western and southern areas were dominated with extremely high liquefaction potentials. Meanwhile, in the eastern area, it was extremely low.

Preliminary Study of Probolinggo Active Fault in East Java Based on Gravity Method

The Gravity Method based on TOPEX satellite data is a one of geophysical method which from satellite observations. The gravity method investigate the gravitational field from one to another observation point. The principle of this method has the ability to distinguish the mass material density from its environment, so that the subsurface structure can be identified. In this research, gravity method is used to identify subsurface structures that are suspected of Probolinggo Fault and identify the rock lithology. From TOPEX we get free air anomaly and then applied the correction process to obtain Complete Bouguer Anomaly (CBA) value. The CBA value is processed interpolation to create CBA map, and then the map is filtered by butterworth to obtain regional and residual maps. The value of high gravity acceleration is 0.076 - 19.74 mGal indicating compact rocks. Meanwhile, based on the residual anomaly map, the value of smaller gravity acceleration is -0.92 - 0.9 mGal indicates lower compacting rocks with smaller mass. The gravity acceleration contrast on the residual anomaly, on the north side of fault line (0.12 mGal to 0.45 mGal) and on the south side (-0.92 mGal to -0.043 mGal), is interpreted as normal fault. Furthermore, 3D modelling shows density value less than 2 gr/cm3 we can interpret as pyroclastic fall, in between 2 gr/cm3 until 2.4 gr/cm3 is sandstone and more than 2.4 gr/cm3 is igneous rock such as andesit. 2D slicing modelling show presence the shear fault, so we can suspect this area have oblique fault with west-east direction.

Slide‐Hold‐Slide Protocols and Frictional Healing in Discrete Element Method (DEM) Simulations of Granular Fault Gouge

AbstractThe empirical constitutive modeling framework of rate‐ and state‐dependent friction (RSF) is commonly used to describe the time‐dependent frictional response of fault gouge to perturbations from steady sliding. In a previous study (Ferdowsi & Rubin, 2020), we found that a granular‐physics‐based model of a fault shear zone, with time‐independent properties at the contact scale, reproduces the phenomenology of laboratory rock and gouge friction experiments in velocity‐step and slide‐hold (SH) protocols. A few slide‐hold‐slide (SHS) simulations further suggested that the granular model might outperform current empirical RSF laws in describing laboratory data. Here, we explore the behavior of the same Discrete Element Method (DEM) model in SH and SHS protocols over a wide range of sliding velocities, hold durations, and system stiffnesses, and provide additional support for this view. We find that, similar to laboratory data, the rate of stress decay during SH simulations is in general agreement with the “Slip law” version of the RSF equations, using parameter values determined independently from velocity step tests. During reslides following long hold times, the model, similar to lab data, produces a nearly constant rate of frictional healing with log hold time, with that rate being in the range of ∼0.5 to 1 times the RSF “state evolution” parameterb. We also find that, as in laboratory experiments, the granular layer undergoes log‐time compaction during holds. This is consistent with the traditional understanding of state evolution under the Aging law, even though the associated stress decay is similar to that predicted by the Slip and not the Aging law.

Atomistic studies of ductile fracture of a single crystalline cantor alloy containing a crack at cryogenic temperatures

In this paper, atomistic studies show that Cantor alloys containing a pre-existing crack under tension are ductile at cryogenic temperatures. Specifically, the effects of crack length on the mechanical properties of single-crystalline Cantor alloys under mode I loading at the temperature of 0.1 K are investigated via molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. For different initial crack lengths ranging from 25 to 45 nm, the J-integral is calculated at the critical point of dislocation emission, and the work-of-fracture is calculated at the fracture strain. The results show that the Young’s modulus and yield stress decrease with the increased crack length. The J-integral is not significantly affected by the crack length, due to the fact it is governed by the length-independent unstable stacking fault energy. However, the work-of-fracture increases with increased crack length. Nucleation and growth of nanosized cavities in front of the crack tip are observed and the crack propagates through coalescence of cavities, which agrees well with previous experimental findings. As the tensile strain increases, there is a transition from cavitation to shear faulting, after which the stress-strain responses are independent of the crack length. The cavitation and shear faulting dissipate a large amount of energy needed for crack propagation, leading to ductile fracture of Cantor alloys at cryogenic temperatures.

Submarine landsliding in carbonate ooze along low-angle slopes (Inner Sea, Maldives)

Multichannel seismic and hydroacoustic data from the Maldives carbonate platform in the northern Indian Ocean document 4–8 km wide and are 70–170 m thick submarine landslides at water depths greater than 500 m, potentially associated with extensive fluid escape and the occurrence of gas hydrates. The mobilized sediments are part of giant drift bodies that consist of fine-grained carbonate ooze. Their downslope extent is located adjacent to large gateways that connect the semi-enclosed inner basin of the carbonate platform with the open Indian Ocean. Exposed at the sea-floor are headwall and translational domain of the landslides, showing different kinematic indicators typical for mass transport complexes. The submarine landslides evolved at slightly inclined slopes (<1°) along a listric basal shear surface (BSS) by downslope progradation and retrogressive failure. Styles of motion include sediment creeping, sliding and slumping. Where the BSS is flat, sediments translate as a large body. Where the BSS is irregular, folded, thrusted and rotated blocks/ridges occur, associated with secondary listric shear faults. Characteristically for the headwall domain are arcuate depressions which are related to rollover structures in the displaced slide block. The distal toe domain of the submarine landslides is located at the steep (>20°) part of the platform slope which faces the Indian Ocean. Data show that landslide activity is ongoing.The likely trigger of slope failure is a combination of gravitational forces and the reduction of sediment shear strength moderated by fluid ascent and the destabilization of gas hydrates. Gas hydrates are suggested to play an important rule, because the top of the gas hydrate stability zone coincides with a significant steepening of the platform slope from 1-3° to 10–20°. It is therefore proposed that the dissociation of the gas hydrates, for example during sealevel lowstands might have been an additional trigger of slope failure. During sealevel highstands, gas-hydrate coating of sediment grains may facilitate low-velocity plastic deformation of the strata.

Concealed-Fault Detection in Low-Amplitude Tectonic Area—An Example of Tight Sandstone Reservoirs

Fault detection is important to seismic interpretation, especially for tight oil and gas reservoirs. Generally speaking, large-scale faults can be accurately imaged and are easy to detect by conventional methods, but the concealed ones in low-amplitude structural regions are difficult to find. In these areas, the scale and displacement of concealed faults are usually very small. Due to the good uniform and weak amplitude disturbances in the seismic events, the traditional discontinuity attributes extracted from seismic data are always not effective. This is because the discontinuous features of large faults are very significant, and the weak anomalies caused by hidden faults are very close to the continuous background. This paper takes a tight sandstone reservoir in the Ordos Basin of China as an example to explore the detection method of subtle faults in low-amplitude structural areas. With the phase congruency analysis method, we extract edge features from the post-stack coherence attributes to identify hidden faults. Practice shows that this idea has outstanding performance in mining hidden fracture features and improving the accuracy of fracture recognition. The results successfully predict a shear fault zone in the northeast of the work area, find a new fracture zone in the center of the survey and a series of hidden faults in non-target strata. It would be beneficial to extend the strata and area of oil and gas reservoirs.

Reveal the stacking fault shearing mechanism by its annihilation process in Ni-based single crystal superalloys

Based on the reversibility of stacking fault formation, the annihilation process during annealing was characterized to reveal the stacking fault shearing mechanism in Ni-based single crystal superalloys. After the creep rupture test at 750 °C/750 MPa, lots of stacking faults would be created in γ' precipitates. Further annealing at 1000 °C for 4 h, these stacking faults would shrink and were transformed into dislocation pairs containing two a/2 〈110〉 dislocation with different Burgers vectors. Finally, the stacking fault shearing mechanism could be clarified as: a / 2 1 ¯ 01 + a / 2 0 1 ¯ 1 → a / 3 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 2 + SF + a / 6 1 ¯ 1 ¯ 2 . • The stacking fault shearing mechanism was revealed by a designed experiment. • The stacking fault would shrink and be transformed into a dislocation pair during high-temperature annealing. • Burgers vectors of the dislocation pair were characterized and identified using a series of two-beam conditions.

Geological Mapping of the Longkeyang and Surrounding Regions, Bodeh District, Pemalang Regency, Central Java

Geological mapping is one of the important things as part of a field study to obtain geological knowledge. This is due to the need for a geologist who is required to be able to understand the geological conditions of an area, one of which is by conducting mapping activities in the field. In conducting this research activity, it is divided into two stages, namely the field stage and the laboratory stage. The purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics and geological conditions, identify resource potentials and potential geological disasters in the research area. Based on the analysis, it was found that the geomorphological units of the study area were divided into 4 (four), namely the Mount Ketos Homocline Hills Unit, the Polaga River Anticline Valley Unit, the Sarangkadu Cycline Hills Unit, and the Mount Lanji Intrusion Hills Unit. The geology of the study area consists of three rock units in order from oldest to youngest, namely the claystone-sandstone unit and the sandstone-claystone unit and the diorite intrusion unit. The geological structure of the pinnacle area is in the form of folds and faults, namely, Polaga River Anticlines, Sarangkadu Synclines, Polaga River Right Shear Fault, Polaga River Left Shear Fault. The geological history of the study area begins with the deposition of claystone-sandstone units during the Middle Miocene in the Upper Bathyal environment. Furthermore, after the claystone-sandstone units were deposited, during the Middle Miocene – Late Miocene in the Deep Neuritic environment, sandstone-claystone units were deposited with a turbidity deposition mechanism. As well as the geological resource potential of the research area in the form of utilization of river deposits in the form of chunks of igneous rock, river sand deposits and indications of the presence of gold. Meanwhile, the potential for geological disasters in the form of landslides.

Local-electrostatics-induced oxygen octahedral distortion in perovskite oxides and insight into the structure of Ruddlesden\u2013Popper phases

As the physical properties of ABX3 perovskite-based oxides strongly depend on the geometry of oxygen octahedra containing transition-metal cations, precise identification of the distortion, tilt, and rotation of the octahedra is an essential step toward understanding the structure–property correlation. Here we discover an important electrostatic origin responsible for remarkable Jahn–Teller-type tetragonal distortion of oxygen octahedra during atomic-level direct observation of two-dimensional [AX] interleaved shear faults in five different perovskite-type materials, SrTiO3, BaCeO3, LaCoO3, LaNiO3, and CsPbBr3. When the [AX] sublayer has a net charge, for example [LaO]+ in LaCoO3 and LaNiO3, substantial tetragonal elongation of oxygen octahedra at the fault plane is observed and this screens the strong repulsion between the consecutive [LaO]+ layers. Moreover, our findings on the distortion induced by local charge are identified to be a general structural feature in lanthanide-based An + 1BnX3n + 1-type Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) oxides with charged [LnO]+ (Ln = La, Pr, Nd, Eu, and Gd) sublayers, among more than 80 RP oxides and halides with high symmetry. The present study thus demonstrates that the local uneven electrostatics is a crucial factor significantly affecting the crystal structure of complex oxides.

Novel Polymorph of GaSe

Abstract2D GaSe is a semiconductor belonging to the group of post‐transition metal chalcogenides with great potential for advanced optoelectronic applications. The weak interlayer interaction in multilayer 2D materials allows the formation of several polymorphs. Here, the first structural observation of a new GaSe polymorph is reported, characterized by a distinct atomic configuration with a centrosymmetric monolayer (D3d point group). The atomic structure of this new GaSe polymorph is determined by aberration‐corrected scanning transmission electron microscopy. Density‐functional theory calculations verify the structural stability of this polymorph. Furthermore, the band structure and Raman intensities are calculated, predicting slight differences to the currently known polymorphs. In addition, the occurrence of layer rotations, interlayer relative orientations, as well as translation shear faults is discussed. The experimental confirmation of the new GaSe polymorph indicates the importance of investigating changes in the crystal structure, which can further impact the properties of this family of compounds.

High-throughput approach for estimation of intrinsic barriers in FCC structures for alloy design

Generalized stacking/planar fault energy (GSFE/GPFE) curves provide the intrinsic energy barriers (IEBs) for plastic deformation in FCC structures. In this study, we propose a new approach for estimation of these IEBs. A strong correlation between the unstable fault energies and shear modulus on the {111} planes is shown for a large set of pure FCC metals. Interestingly, data from the literature also obeys this correlation for a variety of FCC solid solutions. High-throughput estimation of the IEBs combining these correlations with a diffuse multi-layer fault model for stable fault energies is demonstrated for pure FCC metals and FCC (Ni0.5Co0.5)1-xRux (x=0 to 0.5). Additionally, other important descriptors for alloy design, including critical stresses for slip and twinning, were estimated. This new approach opens avenues for the high-throughput design of multi-principal element alloys (MPEAs) based on the propensity for twinning and deformation pathways.

POLA SESAR SADDANG BERDASARKAN TINGKAT SEISMISITAS DAN FOKAL MEKANISME (Studi Kasus Januari 2010 - Juli 2020)

The research of the Saddang fault pattern based on the level of seismicity and focal mechanism (a case study in January 2010- July 2020) aims to determine the level of seismicity in the Saddang fault area and the Saddang fault focal mechanism in the 2010-2020 earthquake. The data which were used were secondary data from the BMKG catalog from January 2010 - July 2020. The coordinating limit is 118.50 ° East Longitude 120.60 ° East Longitude and (-2.60 ° South Latitude) - (-5.70 ° South Latitude) there were 1425 earthquakes. This research used ArcGis application to measure seismicity distribution map and seiscomp3 to measure focal mechanism. Furthermore, the focal mechanism divides the region into three regions. The results which obtained from the seismicity map obtained a high level of seismicity with a shallow depth. Which was caused by the lack of factors from the active Saddang fault and Sulawesi who had four plate junctions. The results of the focal mechanism in each region had the whole type of shear fault or horizontal. Keywords: Earthquake, geology software ArcGis, software seisco

New insights on the geometry and kinematics of the Shunbei 5 strike-slip fault in the central Tarim Basin, China

Integrated geological-geophysical methods have been used to depict the geometric characteristics and kinematic evolution of the Shunbei 5 (SB5) and adjacent Shunbei1 (SB1) strike-slip faults in the central Tarim Basin, China. Geometric evidence for strike-slip faulting includes the occurrence of positive and negative flower structures in stepover zones, oblique secondary splay faults, en echelon folds, and adjacent secondary faults. The multi-humped along-strike and along-dip displacement variations of the SB5 fault provide insights into the initial segmentation, interaction and polycyclic growth of the fault zones both in plan and section views: The SB5 fault initiated as an apparent “X-type” conjugate pure shear fault system in the north and a simple shear fault system in the south respectively. At depth (mainly in Cambrian to Middle Ordovician rocks), the northern and southern parts of the SB5 fault exhibit a typical dextral strike-slip architecture consisting of multiple fault segments connected via transpressional push-up or transtensional pull-apart stepovers or bends. The southern part has a linear, narrow sinistral ridge system. At shallower depths (in Upper Ordovician to Middle Devonian rocks), the lower subvertical faults propagated upwards as en echelon normal faults in the north, and as a two-phase, partitioned system consisting of boundary grabens and en echelon normal faults that dissected the early-formed border grabens in the south. With progressive deformation, the northern and southern parts of the SB5 fault reactivated and transferred into one large, sinistral fault in Upper Devonian to Permian rocks. Four major tectonic phases matching the kinematic evolutions of regional fault systems and uplifts in the study region, have also been recognized in the Middle Ordovician to Cretaceous. The pull-apart stepover and single fault zones developed in Middle Ordovician rocks are favorable fracture-related reservoirs.

Lateral fluid propagation and strike slip fault reactivation related to hydraulic fracturing and induced seismicity in the Duvernay Formation, Fox Creek area, Alberta

SUMMARY Fault shear slip potential is analysed in the area where induced earthquakes (up to 3.9 Mw) occurred in May–June 2015 approximately 30 km south of Fox Creek, Western Canada Sedimentary Basin, Canada. The induced earthquakes were generated by the hydraulic fracturing of the Upper Devonian Duvernay Formation. Interpretation of a 3-D seismic survey and analysis of the ant tracking attribute identifies a linear discontinuity that likely represents a subvertical fault with strike length of 1.4 km, which is aligned with the zone of induced earthquake hypocentres. 1-D–3-D geomechanical modelling is conducted to characterize mechanical rock properties, initial reservoir pressure and stress field. Hydraulic fracture propagation and reservoir pressure buildup simulations are run to analyse lateral fluid pressure diffusion during well treatment. The interaction of natural fractures introduced as Discrete Fracture Network and hydraulic fractures is tested. 3-D poroelastic reservoir geomechanical modelling is completed to simulate slip reactivation of the identified fault zone. The obtained results support that additional pressure buildup of 20 MPa in treatment wells can propagate laterally along hydraulic fractures (and potentially natural fracture network) for about 550 m and reach the fault zone. The increase of fluid pressure by 20 MPa in the fault zone results in dextral slip along the fault, mostly in the interval of the Duvernay and overlying Ireton Formations, corroborating prior focal mechanism results and hypocentral depths. The simulations indicate that lateral transmission of additional fluid pressure from the fracturing stimulation area to the fault zone could happen in a few days after the treatment of lateral wells that is supported by the observed induced earthquakes. This study helps to quantify changes in fluid pressure and stresses that may result in fault shear slip during hydraulic fracturing and predict the potential of induced seismicity connected to hydrocarbon production from the Duvernay Play.

Laboratory experiments on floating saline ice block breakage in ice-to-ice contact

This study uses a unique experimental system to explore the breakage of laboratory-grown, floating saline ice blocks under ice-to-ice contacts. This topic is important to the understanding and modeling of force transmission through ice rubble fields. In a collection of ice blocks subjected to compressive loading, force is transmitted via force chains, and their stability plays a crucial role in ice-structure interaction processes. Peak loads are limited by the buckling of these force chains or breakage at the ice block contacts. Lack of information on the breakage mechanism motivates the present effort. In the experiments, three ice blocks were set up to form two ice-to-ice contacts, after which the three-block system was compressed to failure. The force transmitted through each contact and the failure process of the blocks were recorded. In total 32 tests with varying contact areas were performed. In about 75% of the cases, the load transmitted by an ice-to-ice contact was limited by shear failure. The key property limiting the magnitude of the force transmitted by an ice-to-ice contact was found to be shear strength; blocks typically failed in shear on planes having the characteristics of ‘Coulombic shear faults’. Quasi-static force equilibrium analysis of these shear failures showed that the floating ice blocks with a naturally occurring temperature gradient used in this study had a shear strength of 279 kPa. Other failure modes, including crushing, splitting and ‘Y-shaped’ conjugate failure, were occasionally observed.

Micro-slips in an experimental granular shear band replicate the spatiotemporal characteristics of natural earthquakes

Memory effects in seismology—such as the occurrence of aftershock sequences—are implicitly assumed to be governed by the time since the main event. However, experiments are yet to identify if memory effects are structural or time-dependent mechanisms. Here, we use laser interferometry to examine the fluctuations of deformation which naturally emerge along an experimental shear fault within a compressed frictional granular medium. We find that deformation occurs as a succession of localized micro-slips distributed along the fault. The associated distributions of released seismic moments, as well as the memory effects in strain fluctuations and the time correlations between successive events, follow exactly the empirical laws of natural earthquakes. We use a methodology initially developed in seismology to reveal at the laboratory scale the underlying causal structure of this behavior and identify the triggering kernel. We propose that strain, not time, controls the memory effects in our fault analog.