Slow Pseudotachylites

Tectonic pseudotachylites as solidified, friction induced melts are believed to be the only unequivocal evidence for paleo-earthquakes. Earthquakes occur when fast slip (1 - 3 m/s) propagates on a localized failure plane and are always related with stress drops. The mechanical work expended, together with the rock composition and the efficiency of thermal dissipation, controls whether the temperature increase on a localized slip plane will be sufficient to induce fusion. We report the formation of pseudotachylites during steady-state plastic flow at slow bulk shear strain rates (~10^-3 to ~10^-5 /s corresponding to slip rates of ~10^-6 to ~10^-8 m/s) in experiments performed at high confining pressures (500 MPa) and temperatures (300°C) corresponding to a depth of ~15 km. Crushed granitioid rock (Verzasca gneiss), grain size ≤ 200 μm, with 0.2 wt% water added was placed between alumina forcing blocks pre-cut at 45°, weld-sealed in platinum jackets and deformed with a constant displacement rate in a solid medium deformation apparatus (modified Griggs rig). Microstructural observations show the development of a S-C-C' fabric with C' slip zones being the dominant feature. Strain hardening in the beginning of the experiment is accompanied with compaction which is achieved by closely spaced R1 shears pervasively cutting the whole gouge zone and containing fine-grained material (d < 100 nm). The peak strength is achieved at γ ~ 2 at shear stress levels of 1350-1450 MPa when compaction ceases. During further deformation, large local displacements (γ > 10) are localized in less densely spaced, ~10 μm thick C'-C slip zones which develop predominantly in feldspars and often contain micas. In TEM, they appear to have no porosity consisting of partly amorphous material and small crystalline fragments with the average grain size of 20 nm. After the peak strength, the samples weaken by ~20 MPa and continue deforming up to γ ~ 4 without any stress drops. Strain localization progresses in the C'-C slip zones and leads to the formation of pseudotachylites. Rough estimates of slip rates in the deforming slip zones are 2 to 4 orders of magnitude higher (~10^-2 to ~10^-6 m/s) than the bulk induced slip rate but clearly slower than seismic. The composition of the pseudotachylites is usually more ferro-magnesian and less silicic than that of the bulk rock. Microstructural observations show the presence of corroded clasts of especially quartz, injection veins and bubbles with a strong shape preferred orientation within the molten material following the local flow pattern. The pseudotachylites are locally folded; their thickness varies between < 1 μm to 10 μm. Pseudotachylites have a distinct CL signal compared to any other material present in the less deformed experiments. Our results indicate that pseudotachylite formation at the bottom of the seismogenic layer may not necessarily be connected with stress drops and thus with earthquakes.