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Properties of the lithosphere: the view from the pressure vessel
Dan Faulkner Rock Deformation Laboratory University of Liverpool
Rock deformation
• Study of the physical and mechanical properties of Earth materials – Experiments – Microstructures – Fieldwork
Value of experimental work
• No phenomenon is a real phenomenon until it is an observed phenomenon. – John Archibald Wheeler
• No amount of experimentation can ever prove me right; a single experiment can prove me wrong. – Albert Einstein
Historical development
• 1680: Denis Papin develops the first autoclave • Von Karman (~1910) develops first ‘triaxial’ cell • P.W. Bridgman further develops high-pressure
technology – higher pressures possible • Francis Birch – application of high pressure to
Earth materials • David Griggs – solid-medium apparatus • Mervyn Paterson – gas-medium torsional
apparatus
Birch (1952)
High-pressure form Ordinary meaning
Certain Dubious
Undoubtedly Perhaps
Positive proof Vague suggestion
Unanswerable argument Trivial objection
Pure iron Uncertain mixture of all the elements
Unwary readers should take warning that ordinary language undergoes modification to a high-pressure form when applied to the interior of the Earth. A few examples of equivalents follow:
Lithospheric strength
Townend and Zoback, Geology, 2000
Kohlstedt et al. 1995 Goetze and Evans 1979 Brace et al. 1980
The strength of the ocean and continental lithosphere determined from laboratory experiments in the brittle and plastic regime
Earthquake rupture properties
Noda & Lapusta, 2013
Faulkner et al., 2011
Seismicity preceding eruptions
Burlini et al., 2007
Mantle anisotropy and rheology
San Andreas Fault Observatory at Depth
Lockner et al., 2011
Challenges
• Scaling (in time and space) • Fluid involvement in deformation
– Brittle crust – Plastic lithosphere
• Localization • Friction • Physical properties
UK Rock Deformation Network
• University of Edinburgh • University of Liverpool • University College London • University of Plymouth • University of Oxford • University of Manchester • University of Leicester • British Geological Survey • University of Durham
Opportunities • Drilling
– SAFOD – NanTroSeiZE – JFAST – DFDP
• Geodesy • Seismology • Industry
• Material developments • Innovative new design
– HV apparatus – High pressure apparatus
• New imaging techniques
Requirements • New equipment
development – DDia – Earthquake studies
• Confined HV rig • Rupture experiments
– Larger – to address scaling
– Microstructural techniques
• New materials – Drilling
• Closer collaboration with seismology/geodesy
D-Dia
Large friction apparatus
Properties of the lithosphere: the view from the pressure vesselRock deformationValue of experimental workHistorical developmentBirch (1952)Lithospheric strengthEarthquake rupture propertiesSeismicity preceding eruptionsMantle anisotropy and rheologySlide Number 10San Andreas Fault Observatory at DepthChallengesUK Rock Deformation NetworkOpportunitiesRequirements