Transient water adsorption on newly formed fault gouge and its relation to frictional heating. Issue 15 (4th August 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Mizoguchi, K.; Hirose, T.
• Is Part Of: Geophysical research letters. Volume 43:Issue 15(2016)
• Page Start: 7921
• Page End: 7927
• Publication Date: 2016-08-04
• Subjects: fault gouge -- water adsorption -- mechanochemical activation -- frictional heating -- friction experiment; Geophysics -- Periodicals; Planets -- Periodicals; Lunar geology -- Periodicals; 550
• DOI: 10.1002/2016GL069776
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0094-8276

Abstract

Abstract: Determination of the amount of frictional heating on faults during slips provides insight into the mechanics of faulting. Fault slips cause frictional heating as well as production of gouge materials. Newly formed gouge is mechanochemically stimulated to gain a transient water adsorption ability. We showed that the synthetic gouge from friction tests on rocks at a 1 mm/s slip rate without frictional heating adsorbed a large amount of water, comparable to that adsorbed by clay minerals. The amount of adsorbed water decreased significantly with increasing slip rate to 100 mm/s, where the fault temperature increased above 400°C. We confirmed there was no additional adsorption on the heated gouges after termination of the slip. We conclude that the adsorption state can be considered a new indicator of a temperature rise of < 400°C by frictional heating associated with recent, near‐surface faulting. Key Points: Mechanochemical stimulation increased water adsorption on newly formed fault gouge High frictional heating was associated with low‐water volume in the gouges Temperature rise along faults could be detected by the adsorption property of fault gouges