Granular nanoparticles lubricate faults during seismic slip

Research Article| June 01, 2011 Granular nanoparticles lubricate faults during seismic slip Raehee Han; Raehee Han * 1Geologic Environment Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 305-350, South Korea *E-mail: raeheehan@kigam.re.kr. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Takehiro Hirose; Takehiro Hirose 2Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology (JAMSTEC), Kochi 783-8502, Japan Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Toshihiko Shimamoto; Toshihiko Shimamoto 3State Key Laboratory of Earthquake Dynamics, Institute of Geology, China Earthquake Administration, P.O. Box 9803, Beijing 100029, China Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Youngmin Lee; Youngmin Lee 4Geological Research Division, Korea Institute of Geoscience and Mineral Resources (KIGAM), Daejeon 305-350, South Korea Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jun-ichi Ando Jun-ichi Ando 5Department of Earth and Planetary Systems Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2011) 39 (6): 599–602. https://doi.org/10.1130/G31842.1 Article history received: 21 Oct 2010 rev-recd: 14 Feb 2011 accepted: 15 Feb 2011 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Raehee Han, Takehiro Hirose, Toshihiko Shimamoto, Youngmin Lee, Jun-ichi Ando; Granular nanoparticles lubricate faults during seismic slip. Geology 2011;; 39 (6): 599–602. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G31842.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Nanoparticles are known to form in narrow slip zones in natural and experimental fault zones, but their possible role in dynamic weakening of faults during seismic slip remains almost unexplored. We conducted friction experiments on periclase (MgO) nanoparticles (50 nm in average size) at rates as high as 1.3 m s−1, a typical speed of seismic slip. The nanoparticles were used as the initial gouge to avoid complexities arising from comminution and fluid release. The dynamic friction decreased with increasing slip rate and the steady-state frictional coefficient reduced to as low as 0.1 at a slip rate of 1.3 m s−1. Flash heating is not effective for nanoparticles, and we propose that development of slickensides and dominant operation of nanoparticle rolling cause such a weakening. Nanoparticle lubrication appears to be as effective as melt lubrication and thermal pressurization, and the formation of nanoparticles in slip zones may be an important fault lubrication process. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.