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Anderson’s theory of faulting

Anderson’s theory of faulting. Goals : 1) To understand Anderson’s theory of faulting and its implications. 2) To outline some obvious exceptions to Anderson’s theory and some possible explanations for how these exceptions work. Primary assumptions.

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Anderson’s theory of faulting

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  1. Anderson’s theory of faulting Goals: 1) To understand Anderson’s theory of faulting and its implications. 2) To outline some obvious exceptions to Anderson’s theory and some possible explanations for how these exceptions work.

  2. Primary assumptions • Surface of the earth is not confined, and not acted on by shear stresses. • Also, tectonic plates move parallel with Earth’s surface (unknown in 1951) • Homogenous rocks • Coulomb behavior

  3. Three possible stress combinations Hypothetically requires 2 of the 3 principal stresses to be parallel with the surface of the earth What are they? What kind of faults would you expect at each?

  4. σ1 horizontal, σ3 vertical — reverse faults • σ1 vertical, σ3 horizontal — normal faults • σ1 horizontal, σ3 horizontal — strike-slip faults

  5. Most rocks have an angle of internal friction ≈ 30° What dip angles does Anderson’s theory predict for • σ1 horizontal, σ3 vertical — reverse faults? • σ1 vertical, σ3 horizontal — normal faults? • σ1 horizontal, σ3 horizontal — strike-slip faults?

  6. Hypothetically Reverse faults: should form at ~30° dip Normal faults: should form at ~60° dip Strike-slip faults: should form at ~90° dip Can you think of any exceptions??

  7. Common exceptions • Thrust faults— mechanically unfavorable • Low-angle normal faults— mechanically very unfavorable

  8. Possible explanations • Elevated pore fluid pressure • Pre-existing weaknesses • Rolling-hinge model for low-angle normal faults

  9. 1. Elevated pore fluid pressure (Pf)

  10. σs High Pf can lower effective stress σ1eff σ1 σn σ3eff σ3

  11. σs This can activate slip on a low-angle fault σn σ3eff σ1eff

  12. σs However, if cohesive strength is sufficiently low... σn σ3eff σ1eff

  13. Pore-fluid-pressure mechanism requires low σeff on fault, but high σeff in surrounding rocks

  14. σs It also doesn’t work well for low-angle normal faults σn σ3eff σ1eff

  15. 2. Pre-existing anisotropy • Bedding • Weak layer (salt, shale) • Foliation

  16. Donath (1961) produced shear fractures at very low angles to σ1 in anisotropic rock

  17. 3. Rolling-hinge model for low-angle normal faults

  18. Cartoon cross section illustrating the rolling-hinge model

  19. East Humboldt Range Ruby Mountains

  20. Geologic map of the Ruby Mountains and East Humboldt Range

  21. Cross section of a low-angle normal-fault system

  22. Cartoon cross section illustrating the rolling-hinge model

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