Time evolution of dehydration-induced stick-slip behaviors of simulated
bassanite gouges
Abstract
Pore fluid pressure generated by dehydration of hydrous minerals can
trigger deep and intermediate-depth earthquakes. To investigate its
effect on frictional behaviors, we conducted friction experiments on
simulated bassanite gouges and observed the stress drops and recurrence
intervals of stick-slip events decreased over time under 200 MPa and 110
°C. Microstructural observations indicates that gouges deformed under
room temperature shows the development of numerous shear bands including
Riedel shears. On the other hand, a sample deformed under 200 MPa and
110 °C had few Riedel shear planes, indicative of the elevated pore
fluid pressure suppressing the development of shear planes. We derived
time function of dehydration-driven pore fluid pressure evolution using
Avrami kinetics. Because of the mathematical similarity of Avrami
equation and the fractal geometry, our result shows that the
kinetics-driven pore fluid pressure evolution controlled the stick-slip
behaviors of the basanite gouges under dehydration.