Limits on lithospheric stress imposed by laboratory experiments

Brace, W. F.; Kohlstedt, D. L.

doi:10.1029/jb085ib11p06248

Cited by 1,671 publications

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“…The age of the lithosphere in our study area is about 55-60 Ma and the oceanic lithosphere thickness is B60 km. Though there is no direct way to estimate the strength of the lithosphere, the Byerlee law 63 describes the depth of transition from a brittle, frictional rheology to a temperature-dependent power-law rheology, which can provide some idea of the brittle-plastic transition. For dry olivine, we used the following equation 64 _ e ¼ As n e À Q=RT ; ð4Þ…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic evidence of a two-layer lithospheric deformation in the Indian Ocean

Qin

Singh

2015

Nat Commun

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Intra-plate deformation and associated earthquakes are enigmatic features on the Earth. The Wharton Basin in the Indian Ocean is one of the most active intra-plate deformation zones, confirmed by the occurrence of the 2012 great earthquakes (MwZ8.2). These earthquakes seem to have ruptured the whole lithosphere, but how this deformation is distributed at depth remains unknown. Here we present seismic reflection images that show faults down to 45 km depth. The amplitude of these reflections in the mantle first decreases with depth down to 25 km and then remains constant down to 45 km. The number of faults imaged along the profile and the number of earthquakes as a function of depth show a similar pattern, suggesting that the lithospheric mantle deformation can be divided into two layers: a highly fractured fluid-filled serpentinized upper layer and a pristine brittle lithospheric mantle where great earthquakes initiate and large stress drops occur.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic evidence of a two-layer lithospheric deformation in the Indian Ocean

Qin

Singh

2015

Nat Commun

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“…It is generally accepted that the temperature range at which interplate seismogenic zones develop is from 100-150°C to 350-450°C [i.e., Hyndman and Wang, 1993;Wang, 1995;Hyndman et al, 1997;Currie et al, 2002]. On this basis, the updip limit of seismogenic thrust faulting is alternatively explained by the transition illite-smectite [Pytte and Reynolds, 1988] or by fault gouge lithification processes [Saffer and Marone, 2003;Marone and Saffer, 2007], while the downdip limit is possibly controlled by the brittle-ductile transition of the crustal material [i.e., Brace and Kohlstedt, 1980] or by the intersection of the slab with the forearc mantle wedge [Peacock and Hyndman, 1999].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Seismic variability of subduction thrust faults: Insights from laboratory models

Corbi¹,

Funiciello²,

Faccenna³

et al. 2011

J. Geophys. Res.

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[1] Laboratory models are realized to investigate the role of interface roughness, driving rate, and pressure on friction dynamics. The setup consists of a gelatin block driven at constant velocity over sand paper. The interface roughness is quantified in terms of amplitude and wavelength of protrusions, jointly expressed by a reference roughness parameter obtained by their product. Frictional behavior shows a systematic dependence on system parameters. Both stick slip and stable sliding occur, depending on driving rate and interface roughness. Stress drop and frequency of slip episodes vary directly and inversely, respectively, with the reference roughness parameter, reflecting the fundamental role for the amplitude of protrusions. An increase in pressure tends to favor stick slip. Static friction is a steeply decreasing function of the reference roughness parameter. The velocity strengthening/weakening parameter in the state-and rate-dependent dynamic friction law becomes negative for specific values of the reference roughness parameter which are intermediate with respect to the explored range. Despite the simplifications of the adopted setup, which does not address the problem of off-fault fracturing, a comparison of the experimental results with the depth distribution of seismic energy release along subduction thrust faults leads to the hypothesis that their behavior is primarily controlled by the depth-and time-dependent distribution of protrusions. A rough subduction fault at shallow depths, unable to produce significant seismicity because of low lithostatic pressure, evolves into a moderately rough, velocity-weakening fault at intermediate depths. The magnitude of events in this range is calibrated by the interplay between surface roughness and subduction rate. At larger depths, the roughness further decreases and stable sliding becomes gradually more predominant. Thus, although interplate seismicity is ultimately controlled by tectonic parameters (velocity of the plates/trench and the thermal regime), the direct control is exercised by the resulting frictional properties of the plate interface.

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“…Experimental investigations centred on the deformation properties of several rocks have yielded rheological laws related to the first-order mechanical behaviour of the continental crust (e.g., Brace and Kohlstedt, 1980;Kuznir and Park, 1984;Carter and Tsenn, 1987;Kirby and Kronenberg, 1987;Tsenn and Carter, 1987;Ranalli, 1997). Different lithologies at varying depths, each with characteristic mechanical properties and deformational responses to a given regime of temperature, pressure, strain rate and fluid pressure, lend supports to the phenomenon of rheological stratification of the lithosphere.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Thermal and mechanical structure of the central Iberian Peninsula lithosphere

Tejero

Ruíz

2002

Tectonophysics

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The central Iberian Peninsula (Spain) is made up of three main tectonic units: a mountain range, the Spanish Central System and two Tertiary basins (those of the rivers Duero and Tajo). These units are the result of widespread foreland deformation of the Iberian plate interior in response to Alpine convergence of European and African plates. The present study was designed to investigate thermal structure and rheological stratification in this region of central Spain. Surface heat flow has been described to range from f 80 to f 60 mW m À2 . Highest surface heat flow values correspond to the Central System and northern part of the Tajo Basin. The relationship between elevation and thermal state was used to construct a one-dimensional thermal model. Mantle heat flow drops from 34 mW m À2 (Duero Basin) to 27 mW m À2 (Tajo Basin), and increases with diminishing surface heat flow. Strength predictions made by extrapolating experimental data indicate varying rheological stratification throughout the area. In general, in compression, ductile fields predominate in the middle and lower crusts and lithospheric mantle. Brittle behaviour is restricted to the first f 8 km of the upper crust and to a thin layer at the top of the middle crust. In tension, brittle layers are slightly more extended, while the lower crust and lithospheric mantle remain ductile in the case of a wet peridotite composition. Discontinuities in brittle and ductile layer thickness determine lateral rheological anisotropy. Tectonic units roughly correspond to rheological domains. Brittle layers reach their maximum thickness beneath the Duero Basin and are of least thickness under the Tajo Basin, especially its northern area. Estimated total lithospheric strength shows a range from 2.5Â10 12 to 8Â10 12 N m À1 in compression, and from 1.3Â10 12 to 1.6Â10 12 N m À1 in tension. Highest values were estimated for the Duero Basin. Depth versus frequency of earthquakes correlates well with strength predictions. Earthquake foci concentrate mainly in the upper crust, showing a peak close to maximum strength depth. Most earthquakes occur in the southern margin of the Central System and southeast Tajo Basin. Seismicity is related to major faults, some bounding rheological domains. The Duero Basin is a relative quiescence zone characterised by higher total lithospheric strength than the remaining units. D

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Limits on lithospheric stress imposed by laboratory experiments

Cited by 1,671 publications

References 25 publications

Seismic evidence of a two-layer lithospheric deformation in the Indian Ocean

Seismic evidence of a two-layer lithospheric deformation in the Indian Ocean

Seismic variability of subduction thrust faults: Insights from laboratory models

Thermal and mechanical structure of the central Iberian Peninsula lithosphere

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