Finite element modelling of the evolution of pressure solution cleavage

Frank Fueten, Pierre Yves F. Robin, Michael Schweinberger

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

10 Scopus citations

Abstract

Deformation by 'pressure solution' (or 'water-assisted stress-induced diffusion transfer') is modelled by incorporating volume transfers - driven by variations in mean stress and competency contrast - into a finite element code for viscous deformation. The model assumes a two component, quartz-mica mixture with a composition-dependent rheology in which the viscosity of an element is solely dependent upon the volume fraction of the mobile quartz component. Both quartz-rich and mica-rich compositions are given a high competency, with a minimum viscosity at some intermediate fraction. The model is able to reproduce many structures observed in natural tectonites: propagation and coalescence of pressure solution seams, formation of microlithons and anastomosing cleavage, and, more generally, tectonic segregation,

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1055-1064
Number of pages10
JournalJournal of Structural Geology
Volume24
Issue number6-7
DOIs
StatePublished - 2002

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Geology

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