Abstract
Field observations have established that fault-related damage can occur at locations, far from the principal slip surface, which are well outside the fractured region currently predicted by models of fault damage. We use a finite element model to simulate fracture initiation due to fault linkage and show how variations in rock properties allow off-fault damage to develop at surprisingly large distances away from the main fault. Off-fault damage continues to grow even after two adjacent, closely spaced fault segments have interacted and linked. We demonstrate that this process was important for the formation of fracture-hosted gold deposits in the Mount Pleasant goldfield, Western Australia. The strength of lithological contacts also has a significant impact on off-fault damage location and intensity. Our approach may go some way to explaining the non-intuitive distribution of mineralization in certain mineral systems, as well as being applicable to predict subsurface fracturing and fluid flow in hydrothermal/geothermal reservoirs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 461-467 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Tectonophysics |
Volume | 608 |
Early online date | 9 Sept 2013 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 26 Nov 2013 |
Keywords
- numerical modeling
- fault zone
- stepover
- gold
- subsurface fracturing
- fault-related damage