Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD American Geophysical Union (AGU)
Résumé : International audience
Observations from deep boreholes at several locations worldwide, laboratory measurements of frictional strength on quartzo-feldspathic materials, and earthquake focal mechanisms indicate that crustal faults are strong (apparent friction μ ≥ 0.6). However, friction experiments on phyllosilicate-rich rocks and some geophysical data have demonstrated that some major faults are considerably weaker. This weakness is commonly considered to be characteristic of mature faults in which rocks are altered by prolonged deformation and fluid-rock interaction (i.e., San Andreas, Zuccale, and Nankai Faults). In contrast, in this study we document fault weakening occurring along a marly shear zone in its infancy (<30 m displacement). Geochemical mass balance calculation and microstructural data show that a massive calcite departure (up to 50 vol %) from the fault rocks facilitated the concentration and reorganization of weak phyllosilicate minerals along the shear surfaces. Friction experiments carried out on intact foliated samples of host marls and fault rocks demonstrated that this structural reorganization lead to a significant fault weakening and that the incipient structure has strength and slip behavior comparable to that of the major weak faults previously documented. These results indicate that some faults, especially those nucleating in lithologies rich of both clays and high-solubility minerals (such as calcite), might experience rapid mineralogical and structural alteration and become weak even in the early stages of their activity.
ISSN: 0278-7407

hal-01211481
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01211481
DOI : 10.1002/2014TC003716

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Springer Verlag
Résumé : International audience
ISSN: 0010-7999

hal-01664653
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01664653
DOI : 10.1007/s00410-017-1394-5

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
American mineralogist

hal-01230147
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01230147

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : Thrusting fault zone in foreland basins are characterized by highly foliated zones generally enriched in phyllosilicates which can play a major role on the mechanical behaviour of the fault. In this context, investigations of synkinematic clay minerals permit to determine the origin of the fluid from which they precipitated as well as the mechanisms of deformation. Our study is focused on clay mineral assemblages (illite and chlorite) in a major thrust fault located in the Monte Perdido massif (southern Pyrenees), a shallow thrust that affects upper cretaceous-paleocene platform carbonates and lower Eocene marls and turbidites. It implied 3 km of displacement of the Monte Perdido thrust unit with respect to the underlying Gavarnie unit. In this area the cleavage development by pressure-solution is linked to the Monte Perdido and Gavarnie thrust activity. The core zone of the fault, about 6 m thick, consists of an interval of intensely deformed clay-bearing rocks bounded by major shear surfaces. The deformed sediment is markedly darker than the protolith. Calcite-quartz shear veins along the shear planes are abundant. Detailed SEM and TEM observations of highly deformed fault zone samples indicate that clay mineral enrichment in the core zone of the fault is not only related to passive increase by pressure-solution mechanism but that dissolution-recrystallization of phyllosilicates occurs during deformation. A mineral segregation is observed in the highly deformed zone. Newly formed 2M 1 muscovite is present along the cleavage whereas IIb chlorite crystals fill SV2 shear veins suggesting syntectonic growth of phyllosilicates in the presence of fluids in low-grade metamorphic conditions. These mineralogical reactions act as weakening processes and would favour Monte Perdido fault creeping.
Swiss Journal of Geosciences

hal-00795553
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00795553
DOI : 10.1007/s00015-012-0098-0

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
During compressive events, deformation in sedimentary basins is mainly accommodated by thrust faulting and related fold growth. Thrust faults are generally rooted in the basement and may act as conduits or barriers for crustal fluid flow. Most of recent studies suggest that fluid flow through such discontinuities is not apparent and depends on the structural levels of the thrust within the fold-and-thrust belt. In order to constrain the paleofluid flow through the Jaca thrust-sheet-top basin (Paleogene southwest-Pyrenean fold-and-thrust belt) this study compares on different thrust faults located at different structural levels. The microstructures in the different fault zones studied are similar and consist of pervasive cleavage, calcite shear veins (SV1), extension veins (EV1) and late dilatation veins (EV3). In order to constrain the nature and the source of fluids involved in fluid-rock interactions within fault zones, a geochemical approach, based on oxygen and carbon stable isotope and trace element compositions of calcite from different vein generations and host rocks was adopted. The results suggest a high complexity in the paleohydrological behaviors of thrust faults providing evidence for a fluid-flow compartmentalization within the basin. Previous studies in the southern part of the Axial Zone (North of the Jaca basin) indicates a circulation of deep metamorphic water, probably derived from the Paleozoic basement, along fault zones related to the major basement Gavarnie thrust. In contrast, in northern part of the Jaca basin, the Monte Perdido thrust fault is affected by a closed hydrological fluid system involving formation water during its activity. The Jaca and Cotiella thrust faults, in turn, both located more to the south in the basin, are characterized by a composite fluid flow system. Indeed, stable isotope and trace element compositions of the first generations of calcite veins suggest a relatively closed paleohydrological system, whereas the late calcite vein generations, which are probably associated with the late tectonic activity of the basin, support a contribution of both meteoric and marine waters. Based on these results, a schematic fluid-flow model is presented. This model allows visualization of three main fluid flow compartments along a N-S transect.
ISSN: 0264-8172

hal-00963606
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00963606
DOI : 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.09.005

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
In orogens, shortening is mainly accommodated by thrusts, which constitute preferential zones for fluid–rock interactions. Fluid flow, mass transfer, and mineralogical reactions taking place along thrusts have been intensely investigated, especially in sedimentary basins for petroleum and uranium research. This study combines petrological investigations, mineralogical quantifications, and geochemical characterizations with a wide range of analytical tools with the aim of defining the fluid properties (nature, origin, temperature, and redox) and fluid–host rock interactions (mass transfers, recrystallization mechanisms, and newly formed synkinematic mineralization) in the Pic-de-Port-Vieux thrust fault zone (Pyrenees, Spain). We demonstrate that two geochemically contrasted rocks have been transformed by fluid flow under low-grade metamorphism conditions during thrusting. The hanging-wall Triassic red pelite was locally bleached, while the footwall Cretaceous dolomitic limestone was mylonitized. The results suggest that thrusting was accompanied by a dynamic calcite recrystallization in the dolomitic limestone as well as by leaching of iron via destabilization of iron oxides and phyllosilicate crystallization in the pelite. Geochemical and physical changes highlighted in this study have strong implications on the understanding of the thrust behavior (tectonic and hydraulic), and improve our knowledge of fluid–rock interactions in open fluid systems in the crust.
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology

hal-01575548
https://hal-univ-fcomte.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-01575548
DOI : 10.1007/s00410-017-1394-5

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD
Résumé : International audience
European clay conference
Antalya, Turkey

hal-00671151
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00671151

Éditeur(s) : HAL CCSD Elsevier
Résumé : International audience
In fold-and-thrust belts, shortening is mainly accommodated by thrust faults which are preferential zones for recrystallisation and mass transfer. This study focuses on a detachment fault related to the emplacement of the Monte Perdido thrust unit in the southern Pyrenees. The studied fault zone consists of a 10 m thick intensively foliated phyllonite developed within the Millaris marls, of Eocene age. The lithological homogeneity of the hanging wall and footwall allows us to compare the Millaris marls outside the fault zone with the highly deformed marls located in the fault zone and to quantify the chemical, mineralogical and volumetric changes related to deformation processes along the fault. The Millaris marls are composed of detrital quartz, illite, chlorite, minor albite and pyrite, in a micritic calcite matrix. In the fault zone, the cleavage planes are marked by clay minerals and calcite ± chlorite veins attest to fluid-mineral interactions during deformation. The mineral proportions in all samples from both the fault zone and Millaris marls have been quantified by two methods: (1) X-ray diffraction and Rietveld refinement, and (2) bulk chemical analyses as well as microprobe analyses to calculate modal composition. The excellent agreement between the results of these two methods allows us to estimate mineralogical variations using a modification of the Gresens' equation. During fault activation, up to 45 wt% of calcite was lost while the amounts of quartz and chlorite remained unchanged. Illite content remained constant to slightly enriched. The mineralogical variations were coupled with a significant volume loss (up to 45%) mostly due to the dissolution of micritic calcite grains. Deformation was accompanied by pressure solution and phyllosilicates recrystallisation. These processes accommodated slip along the fault. They required fluids as catalyst, but they did not necessitate major chemical transfers.
ISSN: 0264-8172

hal-00976361
https://hal.archives-ouvertes.fr/hal-00976361
DOI : 10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2013.12.016