• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.25 no.3
• /
• pp.387-393
• /
• 2015

Fault breccia, produced by fracturing and comminution of host rock during fault activity, is a common component within fault cores. Fault breccia may display a preferred orientationin accordance with the sense of motion on the fault. Here we use a numerical analysis technique to study the effects of the distribution and content of breccia in fault core on the elastic moduli. The analytical models are grouped into those in which breccias display a preferred orientation within fault core and those in which breccias are randomly oriented. The breccia compositions considered here are granite and shale, and the breccia contents are 10 wt%, 20 wt%, and 30 wt%. Our results show that for all the cases considered, differences in the deformation moduli fall within the range 0.1%~1.1% and differences in the elastic moduli fall within the range 0.02~0.4 MPa. Thus, the distribution and content of fault breccia have almost no effect on the elastic moduli.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.2
• /
• pp.167-181
• /
• 2020

Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple comparison analysis were performed for shear strengths categorized by breccia content of 5 wt.% (Case-I), 10 wt.%, (Case-II) and 15 wt.% (Case-III) in fault cores. The relationship between breccia contetnt and shear strength was quantitatively classified by calculating the mean and standard deviation of shear strength for each population in each case and then the grouping the breccia contents that had a statistically similar effect on the dispersion of shear strength. As a result, shear strength was clearly classified into group 1 (breccia content of 0-15 wt.%) and group 2 and 3 (breccia coantent of 15-30 wt.% and 30 wt.% or more) in Case-III. Shear strength of the standard line at breccia content of 15 wt.% were determined to be 43.6 kPa, 77.6 kPa, and 118.6 kPa at each normal stress (54 kPa, 108 kPa, and 162 kPa), respectively. In addition, the distribution range of cohesions is 0-43.6 kPa at breccia content of 15 wt.% or less, and 0-70.0 kPa at 15 wt.% or more. Distribution range of friction angles is 0-45.7 ° at breccia content of 15 wt.% or less, and 16.7-57.5 ° at 15 wt.% or more.

• Proceedings of the KSEEG Conference
• /
• 2003.04a
• /
• pp.315-315
• /
• 2003

Gold mineralization at Kyaukpahto occurs as stockworks/disseminations and locally as breccia zones in silicified sandstones of Lower to Middle Eocene Male Formation of Myanmar. The mineralization is spatially related with NNE -trending fracture zones_probably tensional open fractures caused by the right-lateral Sagaing fault system. Intensive silicification, sericitization, argillic alteration, sulfidation, and decalcification are recognized in the Kyaukpahto mine area. (omitted)

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.45 no.5
• /
• pp.487-502
• /
• 2012

This paper is focused on mineral compositions, microstructures and distributional characters of remained grains in the fault rocks collected from a fault developed in Yongdang-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju City, Korea, using X-ray diffraction (XRD), optical microscope, laser grain size analysis and fractal dimension analysis methods. The exposed fault core zone is about 1.5 meter thick. On the average, the breccia zone is 1.2 meter and the gouge zone is 20cm thick, respectively. XRD results show that the breccia zone consists predominantly of rock-forming minerals including quartz and feldspar, but the gouge zone consists of abundant clay minerals such as chlorite, illite and kaolinite. Mineral vein, pyrite and altered minerals commonly observed in the fault rock support evidence of fault activity associated with hydrothermal alteration. Fractal dimensions based on box counting, image analysis and laser particle analysis suggest that mineral grains in the fault rock underwent fracturing process as well as abrasion that gave rise to diminution of grains during the fault activity. Fractal dimensions(D-values) calculated by three methods gradually increase from the breccia zone to the gouge zone which has commonly high D-values. There are no noticeable changes in D-values in the gouge zone with trend being constant. It means that the bulk-crushing process of mineral grains in the breccia zone was predominant, whereas abrasion of mineral grains in the gouge zone took place by continuous fault activity. It means that the bulk-crushing process of mineral grains in the breccia zone was predominant, whereas abrasion of mineral grains in the gouge zone took place by continuous fault activity. Mineral compositions in the fault zone and peculiar trends in grain distribution indicate that multiple fault activity had a considerable influence on the evolution of fault zones, together with hydrothermal alteration. Meanwhile, fractal dimension values(D) in the fault rock should be used with caution because there is possibility that different values are unexpectedly obtained depending on the measurement methods available even in the same sample.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.53 no.1
• /
• pp.71-85
• /
• 2020

To understand behavior of fault cores in the field of geotechnical and geological engineering, we present an investigation of the physical properties (breccia and clay contents, unit weight, porosity, and water content) and friction characteristics (internal friction angle and cohesion) of fault cores, in granitic, sedimentary, and volcanic rocks in South Korea. The breccia contents in the fault cores are positively correlated with unit weight and negatively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content. The inter-quartile ranges of internal friction angles and cohesion calculated from direct shear tests are 16.7-38.1° and 2.5-25.3 kPa, respectively. The influence of physical properties on the friction characteristics of the fault cores was analyzed and showed that in all three rock types the internal friction angles are positively correlated with breccia content and unit weight, and negatively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content. In contrast, the cohesions of the fault cores are negatively correlated with breccia content and unit weight, and positively correlated with clay content, porosity, and water content.

• Economic and Environmental Geology
• /
• v.52 no.1
• /
• pp.65-79
• /
• 2019

In this study, simple regression and multiple regression analyses were performed to analyze the relationship between breccia and clay content and shear strength in fault cores. The results of the simple regression analysis performed for each rock (andesitic rock, granite, and sedimentary rock) and three levels of normal stress (${\sigma}_n=54$, 108, 162 kPa), reveal that the shear strength is proportional to breccia content and inversely proportional to clay content. Furthermore, as normal stress increases, the shear strength is influenced by the change in component content, correlating more strongly with clay content than with breccia content. In the multiple regression analysis, which considers both breccia and clay content, the shear strength is found to be more sensitive to the change in breccia content than to that of clay. As a result, the most suitable regression model for each rock is proposed by comparing the coefficients of determination ($R^2$) estimated from the simple regression analysis with those from the multiple regression analysis. The proposed models show high coefficients of determination of $R^2=0.624-0.830$.

• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
• /
• v.25 no.1
• /
• pp.23-36
• /
• 2012

Morphological and mineralogical characteristics of laumontite and adularia in the breccia zone in a fault, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju, Korea suggest that they formed by reaction with hydrothermal alteration related to fault activity. Laumontite commonly occurring in the breccia zone is related to the presence of hydrothermal fluids bearing alkaline elements in the zone. Laumonite is characterized by elongated columnar form with aspect ratio varying 5~10. Laumontite and adularia whose characteristic euhedral forms are indicative of the latest product formed as rapid precipitation from fluids or replacements of Ca-plagioclase. Hydrothermal fluids reacted with intensively fractured granite, typical with high permeability, leached alkaline elements such as Ca, K, allowing laumontite and adularia to be precipitated under neutral to weak alkaline conditions. It is noteworthy that the formation process and genesis of low temperature minerals such as laumontite and adularia are very similar to those formed by wallrock alteration or hydrothermal alteration that occurred in epithermal deposits. Taking into account its characteristic morphology and chemistry, authigenic K-feldspar that commonly forms at low temperature in many fault zones must be adularia.

• The Journal of Engineering Geology
• /
• v.26 no.2
• /
• pp.187-196
• /
• 2016

We conducted three-dimensional finite element analysis to predict the presence of upcoming fault zones during tunneling. The analysis considered longitudinal displacements measured at tunnel face, and used 28 numerical models with various fault attitudes. The x-MR (moving range) control chart was used to analyze quantitatively the effects of faults distributed ahead of the tunnel face, given the occurrence of a longitudinal displacement. The numerical models with fault were classified as fault gouge, fault breccia, and fault damage zones. The width of fault cores was set to 1 m (fault gouge 0.5 m and fault breccia 0.5 m) and the width of fault damage zones was set to 2 m. The results, suggest that fault centers could be predicted at 2~26 m ahead of the tunnel face and that faults could be predicted earliest in the 45° dip model. In addition, faults could be predicted earliest when the angle between the direction of tunnel advance and the strike of the fault was smallest.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.28 no.4
• /
• pp.347-357
• /
• 2019

The main fault zone of the Yangsan Fault, located in the southeastern part of the Korean peninsula, is newly found at the Cheonjin-ri, Dudong-myeon, Ulju-gun, Ulsan, Korea. About 100 wide fault zone exposed along the Guryangcheon stream strikes N-S and dips over 70° toward east. The main fault zone is composed of N-S-striking gouge and breccia layers and enclosed lenses. Striations on the subvertical fault surfaces mainly indicate dextral slip, but moderate-angle minor reverse faults showing top-tothe-west shearing transect the foliated high-angle gouge and breccia layers. These indicate that the dextral slip along the fault, which is interpreted as the main movement of the fault, was followed by reverse slip. The fault zone is composed of N-S-striking gouge layers and enclosed, fractured lenses. Locally distributed NE-SW- to E-W-striking fault gouge layers with fractured lenses show asymmetric folds, indicating progressive dextral movement. Therefore, the exposed fault zone has a high internal complexity due to the combined effects of NNE-SSW-trending dextral shearing and E-W-trending shortening by compression. In addition, around main boundary fault between the western volcanic rocks and eastern sedimentary rocks offsets the overlying Quaternary fluvial conglomerate. This is a good example that understanding of internal structures of main fault zone (or fault core), such as the Yangsan Fault, plays an important role to study the Quaternary activity and to find the active fault.

• The Journal of the Petrological Society of Korea
• /
• v.22 no.2
• /
• pp.137-151
• /
• 2013

This study is focused on element behaviors and mineral compositions of the fault rock developed in Yongdang-ri, Yangbuk-myeon, Gyeongju City, Korea, using XRF, ICP, XRD, and EPMA/BSE in order to better understand the chemical variations in fault rocks during the fault activity, with emphasis on dependence of chemical mobility on mineralogy across the fault zone. As one of the main components of the fault rocks, $SiO_2$ shows the highest content which ranges from 61.6 to 71.0%, and $Al_2O_3$ is also high as having the 10.8~15.8% range. Alkali elements such as $Na_2O$ and $K_2O$ are in the range of 0.22~4.63% and 2.02~4.89%, respectively, and $Fe_2O_3$ is 3.80~12.5%, indicating that there are significant variations within the fault rock. Based on the chemical characteristics in the fault rocks, it is evident that the fault gouge zone is depleted in $Na_2O$, $Al_2O_3$, $K_2O$, $SiO_2$, CaO, Ba and Sr, whereas enriched in $Fe_2O_3$, MgO, MnO, Zr, Hf and Rb relative to the fault breccia zone. Such chemical behaviors are closely related to the difference in the mineral compositions between breccia and gouge zones because the breccia zone consists of the rock-forming minerals including quartz and feldspar, whereas the gouge zone consists of abundant clay minerals such as illite and chlorite. The alteration of the primary minerals leading to the formation of the clay minerals in the fault zone was affected by the hydrothermal fluids involved in fault activity. Taking into account the fact that major, trace and rare earth elements were leached out from the precursor minerals, it is assumed that the element mobility was high during the first stage of the fault activity because the fracture zone is interpreted to have acted as a path of hydrothermal fluids. Moving toward the later stage of fault activity, the center of the fracture zone was transformed into the gouge zone during which the permeability in the fault zone gradually decreased with the formation of clay minerals. Consequently, elements were effectively constrained in the gouge zone mostly filled with authigenic minerals including clay minerals, characterized by the low element mobility.