Experimental Study of Faulting in an Anisotropic, Inhomogeneous Dolomitic Limestone

Abstract

Research Article| October 01, 1970 Experimental Study of Faulting in an Anisotropic, Inhomogeneous Dolomitic Limestone GEORGE E McGILL; GEORGE E McGILL Department of Geology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JAY ALAN RANEY JAY ALAN RANEY Department of Geology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002 PRESENT ADDRESS: DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS (RANEY) Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information GEORGE E McGILL Department of Geology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002 JAY ALAN RANEY PRESENT ADDRESS: DEPARTMENT OF GEOLOGICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN, TEXAS (RANEY) Department of Geology, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts 01002 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 04 Nov 1969 Revision Received: 30 Apr 1970 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1970, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1970) 81 (10): 2949–2958. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[2949:ESOFIA]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 04 Nov 1969 Revision Received: 30 Apr 1970 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation GEORGE E McGILL, JAY ALAN RANEY; Experimental Study of Faulting in an Anisotropic, Inhomogeneous Dolomitic Limestone. GSA Bulletin 1970;; 81 (10): 2949–2958. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[2949:ESOFIA]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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Eighty-nine tests were run on cores of laminated dolomitic limestone from the Manlius Formation (Devonian, eastern New York) at confining pressures of 1, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600 and 800 bars, and with the angle between laminae and maximum principal stress varying from 0° to 90°. Percentage of dolomite varies markedly both between specimens and within a single specimen. Results indicate that faults will form parallel to laminae at inclinations of laminae to maximum principal stress between about 13° and about 51°, and that the laminae exert some control over fault orientation well beyond this range. Within the range tested, confining pressure does not suppress or enhance the ability of the laminae to control fault orientation. At 800 bars, the behavior of the rock is changing, with development of ductile faults or significant ductile flow.Compressive strength depends primarily on confining pressure and orientation of the laminae, but also varies significantly with Young's modulus. The data are consistent with the Coulomb-Navier criterion of brittle fracture, assuming lower values for internal friction and cohesion parallel to the laminae than in all other directions. Observed and calculated compressive strengths agree more closely if the Young's moduli of the specimens are taken into consideration.The significant effect of the irregular and discontinuous laminae in the test material on rock strength and fault orientation suggests caution in assuming the usual 30° angle between maximum principal stress and faults when conducting fracture analysis in areas of anisotropic, inhomogeneous rocks (a description that fits most sedimentary rocks). 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.