Earthquake rupturing as a mineralizing agent in hydrothermal systems

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 1987 Earthquake rupturing as a mineralizing agent in hydrothermal systems Richard H. Sibson Richard H. Sibson 1Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1987) 15 (8): 701–704. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<701:ERAAMA>2.0.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Richard H. Sibson; Earthquake rupturing as a mineralizing agent in hydrothermal systems. Geology 1987;; 15 (8): 701–704. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<701:ERAAMA>2.0.CO;2 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 Much fault-hosted epithermal mineralization is localized in dilational jogs between en echelon fault segments, as fissure veins or as hydrothermally cemented, high-dilation wall-rock breccias. Jog widths may range from millimetres to kilometres; vein textures record histories of incremental development. Perturbation or arrest of earthquake ruptures at dilational jogs has been observed and is believed to involve extensional fracturing at the rupture tip, locally reducing fluid pressure and inducing suctions opposing rapid slip transfer across the jog. This forced fissuring leads to brecciation by hydraulic implosion and to a concentrated fluid influx, allowing delayed slip transfer accompanied by aftershock activity. Within the southern San Andreas fault system, major dilational jogs extend throughout the seismogenic regime and form loci for magmatic-hydrothermal systems; they act as vertical pipelike conduits for enhanced fluid flow. Rupture termination at these structures has sometimes been followed by hydrothermal eruptions, suggesting that high-level boiling events are triggered by the arrest mechanism. It thus seems probable that episodic mineral deposition in the top 1–2 km of such jogs is induced by the dynamic effects of rupturing on the flanking strike-slip faults. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.