The evolution of deformation mechanisms, physical conditions and physical properties in the seismogenic Alpine Fault zone: a pilot study
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Liverpool
Department Name: Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences
Abstract
The movement of large faults in the Earth's crust is controlled by the physical properties of the fault rocks: these are materials formed within the zone of fault movement. Earthquakes are generated in the top 10-20 km of the earth's crust (known as the seismogenic zone). The fault rocks in the seismogenic zone (brittle fault rocks) are formed by processes that produce material made up of lots of small particles that roll-around and slide past each other, with fluids playing an important role in controlling these processes. Understanding the physics of brittle fault rocks is crucial to understanding both the long-term movement of faults, on a time scale of millions of years, and to understanding the nucleation, rupture and cessation of large earthquakes. The Alpine Fault zone of New Zealand is a major plate-boundary fault that produces great earthquakes every 200-400 years. The fault movement involves a large component of dextral strike-slip - when one stands on one side of the fault the other side moves to the right (at about 35mm per year averaged over hundreds of thousands of years). It also involves reverse movement, so that the east side is sliding upwards and over the west side, at about 10 mm per year. There is a very-high rainfall on the west coast of the South Island and the uplifted material is eroded quickly so that the action of the fault over tens of thousands to millions of years is to bring materials from depth up to the Earth's surface. Materials from 10km get to the surface in a million years. What is unique about the Alpine Fault zone is that fault rocks at the surface have come from all depths in the fault zone and that equivalent fault rocks are being generated by the active fault today. We can sample brittle fault rocks at the surface that were formed at 5km depth and we can use geophysics (remote sensing into the Earth) to find out about what conditions exist today in the active fault at 5km depth, where equivalent fault rocks are being created. There is nowhere else where we can do this. In this proposal we aim to collect the first complete section of brittle fault rocks from the Alpine Fault zone and to use these to better understand the physics of processes in the seismogenic zone. The brittle fault rocks are often covered by river gravels and no complete section is exposed at the surface. So to collect the samples we plan to drill through about 150m of rock and collect cores from the drill hole. The core samples will be analysed in the laboratory so that we know their physical properties and can model better their behaviour on earthquake timescales and longer timescales. This project will involve significant international research collaboration and provides a stepping stone towards a more ambitious programme of deeper drilling and allied science supported by International Continental Drilling Programme. The ultimate goal is use the Alpine Fault Zone as a natural laboratory to understand the physics of rock deformation in the seismogenic zone and the physics of earthquake rupture.
Organisations
- University of Liverpool (Lead Research Organisation)
- GNS Science (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Natural Environment Research Council (Collaboration)
- Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres (Collaboration)
- University of California, Berkeley (Project Partner)
- University of Auckland (Project Partner)
- University of Otago (Project Partner)
- GNS Science (Project Partner)
- Pennsylvania State University (Project Partner)
- University of Southampton (Project Partner)
- Victoria University of Wellington (Project Partner)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (Project Partner)
Publications
Allen M
(2017)
Permeability and seismic velocity and their anisotropy across the Alpine Fault, New Zealand: An insight from laboratory measurements on core from the Deep Fault Drilling Project phase 1 (DFDP-1) Physical Properties of the Alpine Fault
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Allen M.J.
(2015)
Seismic cycle sealing on the Alpine Fault, New Zealand.
Boulton C
(2017)
High-velocity frictional properties of Alpine Fault rocks: Mechanical data, microstructural analysis, and implications for rupture propagation
in Journal of Structural Geology
Boulton C
(2014)
Frictional properties of exhumed fault gouges in DFDP-1 cores, Alpine Fault, New Zealand Boulton et al.: Frictional strength of DFDP core
in Geophysical Research Letters
Boulton C
(2017)
Geochemical and microstructural evidence for interseismic changes in fault zone permeability and strength, Alpine Fault, New Zealand ALPINE FAULT ALTERATION
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Eccles J
(2015)
Fault Zone Guided Wave generation on the locked, late interseismic Alpine Fault, New Zealand
in Geophysical Research Letters
Faulkner D
(2018)
Pore Fluid Pressure Development in Compacting Fault Gouge in Theory, Experiments, and Nature
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Mariani E
(2015)
Towards an improved understanding of the mechanical properties and rheology of the lithosphere: an introductory article to 'Rock Deformation from Field, Experiments and Theory: A Volume in Honour of Ernie Rutter'
in Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Niemeijer AR
(2016)
Large-displacement, hydrothermal frictional properties of DFDP-1 fault rocks, Alpine Fault, New Zealand: Implications for deep rupture propagation.
in Journal of geophysical research. Solid earth
Sutherland R
(2012)
Drilling reveals fluid control on architecture and rupture of the Alpine fault, New Zealand
in Geology
Sutherland R.
(2015)
Extreme Hydrothermal Conditions Near an Active Geological Fault, DFDP-2B Borehole, Alpine Fault, New Zealand
in AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
Toy V
(2015)
Fault rock lithologies and architecture of the central Alpine fault, New Zealand, revealed by DFDP-1 drilling
in Lithosphere
Williams J
(2016)
Damaged beyond repair? Characterising the damage zone of a fault late in its interseismic cycle, the Alpine Fault, New Zealand
in Journal of Structural Geology
Williams J
(2018)
Controls on fault zone structure and brittle fracturing in the foliated hanging wall of the Alpine Fault
in Solid Earth
Williams J
(2017)
Fracturing, fluid-rock interaction and mineralisation during the seismic cycle along the Alpine Fault
in Journal of Structural Geology
Description | Fluid control on architecture and rupture of Apline Fault Zone; Discovery of new lithologies and their architecture in Alpine Fault Zone; Exceptionally high geothermal gradient of the Alpine Fault, published in Nature. |
Exploitation Route | Could be presented to local authorities for consideration with respect to seismic hazard and earthquake risk assessment; Ways of exploiting geothermal energy on the west coast of New Zealand South Island along the Alpine Fault could be explored. |
Sectors | Construction,Education,Energy,Environment |
URL | http://theconversation.com/new-zealands-alpine-fault-reveals-extreme-underground-heat-and-fluid-pressure-77868 |
Description | Standard joint grant |
Amount | £600,000 (GBP) |
Funding ID | NE/J024449/1 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 07/2012 |
End | 10/2016 |
Description | DFDP-1 GFZ |
Organisation | Helmholtz Association of German Research Centres |
Department | German Research Centre for Geosciences |
Country | Germany |
Sector | Private |
PI Contribution | We contributed to the drilling operations through the central Alpine Fault within the DFDP-1 iternational initiative. We are also carrying out in depth systematic analyses of core sample recovered. |
Collaborator Contribution | Our Partner contributed to the drilling operations through the central Alpine Fault within the DFDP-1 iternational initiative. |
Impact | For outputs see Publications in My Portfolio. The project is multi-disciplinary and involves: Geology, Geophysics and Geochemistry. |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | DFDP-1 GNS |
Organisation | GNS Science |
Country | New Zealand |
Sector | Public |
PI Contribution | We contributed to funding the drilling operations to investigate the central Alpine Fault at depth within phase 1 of the Deep Fault Drilling Project (DFDP1) |
Collaborator Contribution | Our Partner contributed to funding the drilling operations to investigate the central Alpine Fault at depth within phase 1 of the Deep Fault Drilling Project (DFDP1) |
Impact | For outputs see Grant NE/H012486/1 Disciplines involved: Geology, Geophysics, Geochemistry |
Start Year | 2010 |
Description | NERC - Ion Microprobe Facility - University of Edinburgh |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Department | NERC Ion Micro-Probe Facility |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | My research team provided the material for study, undertook the measurements using the Ion Microprobe and preformed the subsequent data analysis. |
Collaborator Contribution | The NERC IMF provided equipment and technical support for trace element and stable isotope analysis of carbonate material collected during the Deep Fault Drilling Project - Phase 1. |
Impact | The data collected during this study has been presented in a number of conferences, as both poster and oral presentations. The work covers a number disciplines including; microstructural analysis in the SEM and geochemical measurements in the Ion Microprobe. |
Start Year | 2015 |
Description | "Implications of wet pseudotachylyte formation: Insights from the Alpine Fault Zone, New Zealand". L.J Scott, M.J. Allen and E. Mariani. Department of Earth, Ocean and Ecological Sciences, University of Liverpool. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
Results and Impact | DRT conference 2019 - up to 100 participants. Talk topics are on deformation, rheology and tectonics. Laura is going to communicate our results on pseudotachylytes from the Alpine Fault Zone. Each pseudotachylyte is thought to represent an earthquake event. We expect good feedback to aid writing and publication of a planned manuscript. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://drt-2019.net/ |
Description | The Christchurch earthquake 2011 |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
Results and Impact | Radio interview on the effects of the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011 Radio interview on Materials World, with Quentin Cooper, by BBC radio 4 |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2011 |