Effect of mineralogy on friction-dilation relationships for simulated faults:
Implications for permeability evolution in caprock faults
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Abstract
This paper experimentally explores the frictional sliding behavior of two simulated gouges: one, a series of
quartz–smectite mixtures, and the other, powdered natural rocks, aiming to evaluate and codify the effect of
mineralogy on gouge dilation and frictional strength, stability, and healing. Specifically, velocity-stepping and
slide-hold-slide experiments were performed in a double direct shear configuration to analyze frictional constitutive
parameters at room temperature, under normal stresses of 10, 20, and 40 MPa. Gouge dilation was
measured based on the applied step-wise changes in shear velocity. The frictional response of the quartz–smectite
mixtures and powdered natural rocks are affected by their phyllosilicate content. Frictional strength and healing
rates decrease with increasing phyllosilicate content, and at 20 wt.% a transition from velocity-weakening to
velocity-strengthening behavior was noted. For both suites of gouges, dilation is positively correlated with frictional
strength and healing rates, and negatively correlated with frictional stability. Changes in the permeability
of gouge-filled faults were estimated from changes in mean porosity, indexed through measured magnitudes of
gouge dilation. This combined analysis implies that the reactivation of caprock faults filled with phyllosilicaterich
gouges may have a strong influence on permeability evolution in caprock faults.
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