Extreme hydrothermal conditions at an active plate-bounding fault

Nature
Rupert SutherlandMartin Zimmer

Abstract

Temperature and fluid pressure conditions control rock deformation and mineralization on geological faults, and hence the distribution of earthquakes. Typical intraplate continental crust has hydrostatic fluid pressure and a near-surface thermal gradient of 31 ± 15 degrees Celsius per kilometre. At temperatures above 300-450 degrees Celsius, usually found at depths greater than 10-15 kilometres, the intra-crystalline plasticity of quartz and feldspar relieves stress by aseismic creep and earthquakes are infrequent. Hydrothermal conditions control the stability of mineral phases and hence frictional-mechanical processes associated with earthquake rupture cycles, but there are few temperature and fluid pressure data from active plate-bounding faults. Here we report results from a borehole drilled into the upper part of the Alpine Fault, which is late in its cycle of stress accumulation and expected to rupture in a magnitude 8 earthquake in the coming decades. The borehole (depth 893 metres) revealed a pore fluid pressure gradient exceeding 9 ± 1 per cent above hydrostatic levels and an average geothermal gradient of 125 ± 55 degrees Celsius per kilometre within the hanging wall of the fault. These extreme hydrothermal conditions ...Continue Reading

References

Aug 5, 2005·Nature·Christopher A J Wibberley, Toshihiko Shimamoto
Mar 25, 2011·Nature·G Di ToroT Shimamoto
Dec 7, 2013·Science·Frederick M ChesterUNKNOWN Expedition 343 and 343T Scientists
Dec 7, 2013·Science·P M FultonUNKNOWN Expedition 343, 343T, and KR13-08 Scientists

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Citations

Nov 30, 2019·The Review of Scientific Instruments·Jonathan SimpsonCaitlin Smith
Mar 16, 2019·Nature Communications·Thomas UlrichWenbin Xu
Apr 9, 2021·Research : a Science Partner Journal·Yiyong GuoBaicheng Yao

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