Reduction in BET surface area of Nojima fault gouge with seismic slip and its implication for the fracture energy of earthquakes

A common view concerning the energetics of seismogenic fault motion is that at least part of the fracture energy is consumed in grain crushing in the fault zone, and that this part may be estimated by grain-size analysis of fault rocks. We address this problem by conducting room-dry friction experiments on Nojima fault gouge at subseismic to seismic slip rates (0.009–1.31 m/s) and at normal stresses up to 3.64 MPa, and by measuring the BET surface area of the gouge before and after the experiments. Where it cuts granite, the Nojima fault zone has BET surface area of about 65 × 106 m2 per unit fault area (1 m2). Clayey and granular fault gouges, composed mainly of quartz, plagioclase, kaolinite and smectite, were collected from a granitic fault zone at a new outcrop in Funaki, Awaji Island, southwest Japan. Both clayey and granular gouges exhibit dramatic weakening at high slip rates. Specific BET surface areas of clayey and granular gouges decreased with increasing slip rate from 46.0 and 15.4 m2/g before deformation to about 20 and 5 m2/g after deformation (55–70% reduction), respectively. Microstructural observations revealed that grain welding within the slip zones at high slip rates reduced grain surface area. The energetics of seismic fault motion should be examined with broader views taking into account grain crushing, grain welding, decomposition and frictional melting.

► We measured BET surface area of Nojima fault gouge before and after deformation. ► Purpose of this study is to evaluate the energy budget used in the grain crushing. ► Friction experiments on gouge were done at subseismic to seismic slip rates. ► The surface area decreases with slip at seismic slip rates due to gouge welding. ► A simple scenario of surface-area increase due to grain crushing does not hold.