The relationship among faulting, fracturing and fluids behavior is a hot research topic because the possibility to detect reliable earthquake precursors and limit the risk of induced seismicity depends on our understanding of the physics of faulting, in turn heavily affected by fluids. The project aims at understanding the role of fluids along fault systems developed in extensional and compressional settings with a multidisciplinary approach. Data will be acquired in the field (structural geology, near-surface gas geochemistry surveys, remote sensing) and by laboratory analyses (SEM, X-ray diffraction, isotope geochemistry). In addition, laboratory experiments will be performed to study the variation of permeability as a function of fracturing during slip along faults and the mechanical properties of fault damage zones. Numerical modelling will be performed to investigate the role of fluids in fault mechanics and the role of fault rocks in the determination of fluids pathways.
The following research objectives will be pursued:
1) understanding the origin of fluids permeating fault zones during their activity and exhumation;
2) understanding the role of fluids at coseismic stages;
3) understanding the factors that control the distribution of fractures in fault damage zones;
4) understanding the control of deformation on fluid flow and pressure.
5) understanding the mechanical behavior of fault damage zones.
We foresee the following innovative results:
1) we will develop a model by integrating the evolution of fault zone structure with the nature and role of geofluids from km down to the nano-scale for extensional and compressional settings;
2) we will build a model for the distribution of fractures in fault zones and their control on fluid flow;
3) we will characterize the elastic moduli of damage zone rocks of carbonate-bearing faults;
4) ¿we will quantify the role of fluids in fault mechanics and the role of fault rocks in the determination of fluids pathways.
