Geological Society of London
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Dynamic weakening along incipient low-angle normal faults in pelagic limestones (Southern Apennines, Italy)

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journal contribution
posted on 2016-06-21, 11:44 authored by Rocco Novellino, Giacomo Prosser, Richard Spiess, Cecilia Viti, Fabrizio Agosta, Enrico Tavarnelli, Francesco Bucci

Slip along low-angle normal faults is a mechanical paradox requiring activation of strain weakening mechanisms. Microstructures present in the slip zones of incipient low-angle normal faults cutting carbonates in the Southern Apennines of Italy show that slip was promoted by two weakening mechanisms producing a reduction of the friction coefficient: (1) high pore fluid pressures; (2) dynamic weakening related to thermal decomposition indicated by decarbonation microstructures and concomitant localized dynamic calcite recrystallization. Furthermore, as a consequence of thermal decomposition, nanoparticles occur as infilling of injection veins, suggesting that powder lubrication processes are active along the slip surface during seismic slip.

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