Experimental pressure solution of Halite by an indenter technique

An indenter technique is used to study pressure solution of halite immersed in brine. Two types of dissolution features are observed involving dissolution around or under the indenter: (1) free‐face pressure solution driven by elastic and plastic strain energy; and (2) water‐film diffusion controlled by normal stress. These different types of dissolution features are related to changes in the initial saturation of the brine. Free‐face pressure solution is only observed at slightly undersaturated initial conditions. Under fully saturated conditions, a linear relation of displacement rate versus stress is obtained confirming that the major driving force is the normal stress. However, both types of pressure solution mechanisms (and the associated pressure solution creep laws) can be expected to occur in natural deformation as various conditions of temperature, pressure and fluid composition change during progressive deformation.