Journal of Structural Geology, Vol. 9, No. 5/6, pp. 597 to 608, 1987 0191-8141/87 $03.00 + 0.

00
Printed in Great Britain Pergamon Journals Ltd.

Criteria for the sense o f m o v e m e n t on fault surfaces in brittle rocks

J. P . PETIT

Laboratoire de Tectonique, Unit6 Associ6e C.N.R.S. 266, U. S.T.L., Place E. B ataillon,

34060 Montpellier c6dex, France

(Received 13 June 1986; accepted in revised form 3 March 1987)

Abstract--This paper gives a detailed description of the use of minor structures on fault planes in various brittle
rocks as indicators of the sense of relative movement. The main kinds of structures described involve sets of
repeated secondary fractures (striated or not) which intersect the slip plane in a direction roughly perpendicular
to the slip direction. Some of the most frequent criteria are new; their reliability is established in the field and by
comparison with both previous and new experiments. It is shown that some of the rarer structures probably
correspond to neo-rupture in intact rock, most probably at the tip of pre-existing joints, while the most frequent
structures are generated by friction on joints, with very little sliding. The possible seismic origin of some
structures is discussed.

INTRODUCTION faces, excluding those completely covered with gouge or

with pronounced planar anisotropies in the rock (espe-
THE DETERMINATIONof direction and sense of movement cially cleavage). Detailed field descriptions are mainly
on faults is a basic requirement during brittle tectonics confined to features visible to the naked eye or with a
analysis. It is indispensable in establishing the kinema- hand lens. The microstructures will be described in a
tics of faults of various scales or the geometry of faulted separate publication. The reliability of the shear-sense
ore bodies, especially in cases where the slip cannot be criteria can be checked when different criteria are used
determined from the offsets of geological structures. for the same fault plane (related to the same movement).
With recent computer methods which give some charac- Within a strike-slip regime, the slickensides of conjugate
teristics of paleostress tensors from measurements of faults show structures indicating opposite senses. If sev-
fault striation (Carey & Brunier 1974, Angelier 1975, eral tectonic phases are responsible for different struc-
Etchecopar et al. 1981, Armijo et al. 1982), slip-sense tures linked to several striation orientations on the same
determination is also necessary. A most useful way of surfaces, the corresponding stress states can be deter-
determining direction and sense is the direct observation mined by computer methods (Etchecopar et al. 1981).
of fault surfaces which may show not only striation but During field observations mechanical interpretations of
also minor structures indicating the sense of relative the structures were borne in mind to help define the
movement (sense criteria). criteria, although the conclusions were mostly based on
Original morphological descriptions of corresponding evaluations of experimental data.
structures are rare in the geological literature (Dzulinski There is a wide variety of secondary structures
& Kotlarczyk 1965, Tjia 1971, Hobbs et al. 1976, Elliott associated with faults. The factors controlling their for-
1976). This paper gives descriptions of such structures mation could be: (i) the presence and geometry of
based on field observations of faults in the Alpine High pre-existing joints; how fault marks due to friction on
Atlas Mountains of Morocco (Petit 1976), where there is pre-existing joints may be distinguished from those from
a very dense fault network linked to the Tizi n'Test Fault shear of intact rocks will be discussed; (ii) the physical
zone (Mattauer et al. 1972, Proust et al. 1977). In the properties of the rock involved (composition, porosity,
excellent outcrops of this semi-arid region, more than mechanical properties); or (iii) conditions of stress (rela-
4000 fault planes were observed in different rocks: gra- tive or absolute values) and strain (amount of slip, strain
nite, gneiss, volcanics, sandstone and limestone (Petit et rate, possible seismic movements).
al. 1983). In addition, slickensides formed in incom-
pletely lithified sandstones, and morphological and
microstructural comparisons between 'hydroplastic' and TERMINOLOGY FOR DESCRIPTION
'brittle' fault structures formed in the corresponding
indurated sandstone, have been described (Petit & Terminology that has been used for description of
Laville 1987). Some of the features given in this paper repeated secondary fractures and for steps on fault
have already been described (in French) by Petit et al. surfaces is presented below. An important feature com-
(1983); they have subsequently proved useful in other monly observed is the presence of secondary repeated
regions. The present paper re-describes these features, fractures of the same type, making an angle with the
together with new observations and interpretative ele- mean fault plane, some being regular en-6chelon frac-
ments. tures. In view of the present lack of adequate terminol-
The observations were strictly limited to fault sur- ogy, it is essential to provide one for these fractures and
597
598 .1. P. PI~[ll

R
FAULT PLANE
T
. \

NASSIVE
FR _--.. \ p
[ L>" .0.00EN00 ROCK ( elcept
limestone )
SECONDARY FRACTURES

~"- ANGLE

b -'~w . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

PLANES
CLEAVAGE
~NGI F

f
TC~,TE~I~ R ~,~,~ ~ CRJTERfA

RO D
e rlslle froctures _ c/- j - j ; ~ ,~--7-- ,

__-
\\\,x,\\ \ ' , \ \
RM

cr e s c e n f l c froclures
R

I ! !I..../ / ' / lunate frgcfdres r,-

! -. '"/~'~
m

Fig. l(a) and (b). Structures of comparable aspect but opposite sense. (c) Tcrnmloiog~ tH uc~cr~puon ,)1 clcmentarx
secondary fractures in a shear context, and for corresponding criteria I see text ~. (d I-(f) Main types of criteria based on
repetitive secondary fractures

their features. To aw)id lengthy non-genetic descriptive can easily be seen m the licld Within groups R and P one
terms such as 'right stepping non-striated fractures in a can distinguish important morphological types with a
left lateral shear' or 'striated secondary fractures dipping second letter: O, if only R or P secondary shear fractures
in the direction of movement of the opposite block', a are present: M, if the main or mean fault plane is
terminology is suggested (Fig. lc) based mainly on completely striated and T. if non-striated secondary
Riedel-type experiments as used in classic works of fractures are observed (Fig. I c & f). As shown later, the
Tchalenko & Ambraseys (1970), Wilcox et al. (1973) fractures called R, here, are striated and make small
and others. These terms are intended only to describe angles with the average fault plane similar to those
the geometrical position of the observed elementary usually observed in Riedel-type experiments. R' will be
fractures in a shear context, but not to imply that the used in the description for high angle antithetic secon-
structures observed can be explained mechanically by dary shears. A problem arises with repeated apparently
Riedel type experiments, especially for structures linked non-striated T fractures dipping at various angles to the
to friction (see below). fault wall in the direction of the missing block. Further
It is convenient to divide structures corresponding to discussion will show that some T fractures have not been
repetitive secondary fractures into three groups (Fig. 1 initiated as macroscopic extensional fractures, so group
d-f): group T, including types showing only repetitive T T in the broader sense must embrace non-striated frac-
fractures (from tension, but see below) and no secondary ture sets of whatever mechanical origin, possibly older
shear fractures, group R, including all types showing than the shearing, dtpping in the direction of movement
secondary synthetic shear fractures (striated) of R orien- of the missing block.
tation, and group P. including all types showing secon- Norris & Barton's tctmmoh)gy (1968) will be used for
dary shear fractures (striated) of P orientation. The the observed steps: accretion steps (risers formed in
morphological difference between these three groups added gouge or crystallized material), and fracture steps
 Criteria for movement on fault surfaces 599

(risers cut in solid rock), of incongruous (risers facing observed on the risers (Elliott 1976, fig. 13, Hobbs et al.
the movement of the opposite block) and congruous 1976, fig. 7.12) (Fig. 2bl) or where crystallization formed
(opposite case) types. during, or after, the opening of domino-type structures
(Gamond 1983) (Fig. 2b2). This feature is very common
in limestone and sometimes associated with stylolites
SHEAR-SENSE STRUCTURES NOT LINKED TO (Arthaud & Mattauer 1969, fig. ld), but is also found in
SECONDARY FRACTURES igneous rocks (Bl~s & Gros 1980) where it implies high
temperature fluid circulation. The sense is not clear if
Striation due to a ploughing element (Fig. 2a) the slickensides are too thickly coated with the crystal-
line material. In this case Laurent's method for calcite
Striation occurs from an element (a rock or gouge (1987) can lead to shear-sense determination.
fragment or mineral grain) which is obviously harder
than the wall it striates, although it may be of the same
material. During friction it forms deep striae (grooves) SHEAR-SENSE STRUCTURES INVOLVING
terminated at the final ploughing element position. The SECONDARY FRACTURES
end of the plough mark points towards the movement of
the missing wall (Dzulinski & Kotlarcyzk 1965, Tjia 1971 T criteria:
and Hancock 1985; Tjia introduced the term 'prod
marks', while Hancock referred to 'tool marks'). This The mean fault plane (M) is fully striated. Secondary
feature can be integrated with the more general case of fractures are not striated, so they are of T type. They can
'asperity ploughing' (Means 1987). This clear type of make an angle of 30 to about 90 with the main fault
striation is mainly present in limestone. plane (Fig. ld) (see also 'comb fractures', Hancock &
Barka 1987). They can be open or infilled with any
Crystallization linked to irregularities of the fault surface mineral and either planar or curved when viewed as
(Fig. 2b) traces on the fault plane; in the latter case the T~M angle
is about 90 and the curved T fractures make a crescentic
Irregularities on the fault surface exhibit local crystal- shape on the M plane. Crescents are never found alone
lization generally of fibrous minerals (quartz, epidote, but are usually aligned, at least along a short distance,
etc., in magmatic rocks, calcite in limestone). They their horns pointing in the direction of movement of the
appear as a set of steps (accretion steps) whose risers are missing block. These criteria clearly correspond to the
more or less perpendicular to the general striation and 'crescentic fractures' associated with glacial scratches
face in the same direction. These accretion steps are (Harris 1943, Masson & Baud 1974). However, they are
congruous (i.e. risers facing towards the movement of sometimes found associated with faults, especially bed-
the missing block) where euhedral crystal faces are ding plane faults (Wegmann & Schear 1957), or fault
planes in Languedoc limestone (Fig. 3a). Nothing equi-
valent to 'chatter marks' (Harris 1943) due to aligned
Striating spalling or flaking of the fault surface were observed.
a / ( ploughing )
R criteria:

The mean fault plane is joined by repeated secondary

striated fractures in secondary R shear attitude dipping
at a small angle to the fault wall (Fig. le). Their intersec-
tion with the mean fault plane is more or less perpendicu-
lar to the slip direction. Two main types are observed.

RO (R only) type. There is no mean striated fault

plane (Figs. le and 3b top). The distance between R
shears is very small and regular and their surfaces are
Crystallization very slightly striated. The fault surface is serrated in
profile due to the intersection of two sets of secondary
shears, R and R', whose orientation with respect to the
Euhedral mean plane is indicated in Fig. 4(a). This type is rare and
~. 1 S crystals ( X)
has only been observed in fine-grained sandstone. It
seems to be an original feature corresponding to a planar
~. 2
view of an en-6chelon zone cut through the middle.
~X'~ Crystallisat ion linked
to fracture steps RM type. The main fault plane is fully striated (Figs.
Fig. 2(a). Striation due to a ploughing element (asperity ploughing); le and 5a). The R fractures are visible because of the
(b): crystallization on the lee side of asperities (see text). non-tectonic rupture of the tip of the dihedron formed
600 J . P . PErn

10% M
. . . . . . . . . "N,

b I0% "" M .
", "
~
~
/ ..... t ,~,;~. .....
....."~"'"-'C:-~-'-"-"
i _'.;"
., \\ , ,,,,\

Jar. 2 1~.-4~_z. . . 2 , . :;_-'.'~7-~7~",',~1Z~;~ "UZ2'~'-" "-

C 10% ~ M

Fig. 6. Sketches from sections parallel to the striation and perpendicu-

lar to fault plane through micro-R shears in sandstone. Long dashes
indicate transgranular fractures, short ones crushed grains. In (a)
black dots indicate alignment of clay and oxides in compartments of
more or less crushed grains in porous sandstone; in (c) small arrows
outline the amount of slip in sheared quartz grains. Scale lines are (a)
1 ram: (b) 0,1 ram: (c) 0.3 mm.
Fig. 4. Angle between secondary fractures and the main or mean fault
plane (M). (a): R and R' in RO structure (from the outcrop shown in
Fig. 3b); (b) R in RM structure; (c) T in PT structure (from Fig. 7b).
associated incongruous mJcrosteps can c o r r e s p o n d to
the b r o k e n tip of the dihedral angle b e t w e e n M and R.
by R and M surfaces, so that the rupture surface deter- In Fig. 6(c), the tip is not yet broken. The R M dihedron
mines incongruous fracture steps. These R fractures are is often f o r m e d of m o r e or less crushed grains so that
irregularly distributed on the surface, some well apart, these micro-steps are not typical fracture steps.
some very close together, and of varying size. T h e y
make small angles with the M plane (Fig. 4b). T h e y P criteria.
occur from centimeter scale in sandstones to meter scale
in igneous rocks. Seldom f o u n d in limestones, this struc- The fault plane is always incompletely striated and
ture led to sense determination on about half of the fault looks very different from o t h e r types of slickensides
planes, in sandstone as well as in igneous rock. Figures (Fig. lf), which could explain why this feature has never
l(a) & (b) illustrate a possible confusion. In spite of its been described or used before. The striation, or at least
importance, this structure has apparently b e e n described a bruised surface, appears localized on the side of
very little, except for one aspect of the R fractures: their asperities facing the m o v e m e n t of the missing block.
concave curvature towards the main plane, so that their T w o types can be seen:
intersection with the M plane is also concave and indi-
cates the sense of m o v e m e n t (Figs. le and 5b). A PO (P only) type. Fhe non-striated (protected) sur-
c o m p a r a b l e feature was referred to as 'lunate fractures' faces of the asperities (lee side) do not dip into the wall
by Harris (1943); il seems to be similar to tectonic (Figs. 3b, b o t t o m , and 7a)
'chevron marks' illustrated by Elliott (1976, fig. 11, p.
30). P T type. The m o r e or less planar non-striated surface
In fine-grained sandstone some shiny apparently clearly dips into the wall at a small angle. P surfaces are
s m o o t h slickensides are of R M type: under a h a n d lens, m o r e developed and striated than P O types (Fig. 7b & c
they show m i c r o - R shears, some being micro-'lunate and 8a). The tip of the dihedron formed by P and T
fractures', typically f o r m e d in a layer of several mil- surfaces has been broken to form many small steps.
limetres thick crushed grains. In general thin sections cut Some of the m o r e striated P surfaces show shallow steps
perpendicular to the shear plane and parallel to the always ascending in the direction of the missing block,
striation (Fig. 6) show that m i c r o - R shears are frequently sometimes associated with m i c r o - R shears (Fig. 8b).
observed on M surfaces, and are thus h o m o l o g o u s with The latter are sometimes observed dipping under the
macroscopic R shears. As shown in Fig. 6 (a) & (b), the risers when steps are present.
 Criteria for movement on fault surfaces

I I ~..~.' ~ ' ~ I_-"1=~ I:1 I

I I~.~,. ',~ t= ; ~. I=.q I
I I~l~l~t,~:=,~:~l I

preexisting joint PO
(c)
Fig, 3(a). Crescentic fractures (T fractures) in Languedoc Jurassic limestone. (b) Stereo pair of a right lateral strike-slip
fault in red Triassic High Atlas sandstone (Morocco). U p p e r part shows RO structure: the fault surface corresponds to
splitting throughout a brittle shear zone formed of en-6chelon secondary shears dipping inside the wall. Lower part shows
a PO structure indicating the same slip sense. Some PT structures are visible in the transition zone between RO and PO.
Black stars are aligned along the trace of bedding plane on the fault surface. Arrows indicate sense of movement of missing
block. Scale line is 10 cm. (c) R O structure developed from the tip of a pre-existing joint explaining the features illustrated
in (b); 1--before shearing, 2--after shearing.

601
 ,I, P. P~,.t[J

Fig. 5, Sterco pairs for fault structurcs in the Triassic High Atlas sandstone, Morocco. (a) RM 3tructurc on a right lateral
strike-slip fault; (b) Details of the same fault showing a lunate fracture (bottom right: here the tip of the dihedron formed
bv R and M surfaces has been broken) and transition to micro-R shears (left) occurs. A]r~ws indicate sense of movcmem
of missing block

602
 Criteria for m o v e m e n t o n fault surfaces

Fig. 7. P criteria from the red Triassic High Atlas sandstone. (a) Stereo pair: PO structure indicating a small displacement
(striation only visible with a hard lens), left-lateral strike-slip fault; (b) stereo pair: PT structure. P surfaces have been worn
by friction; (c) PT structure (with P/T surface ratio about 1) on a left lateral strike-slip fault. Scale lines are 2 cm. Arrows
indicate sense of m o v e m e n t of the missing block.

603
 .!, P. PI:.m

Fig. 8(a). PT structure with well developed T fractures, on a left-lateraL strike-slip fauh m the red Triassic High Atlas-
sandstone (Morocco). Black stars are aligned along the trace of bedding plane on fault surface. Arrows indicate sense of
movement of missing block. (b) Detail of a natural P surface of PTstrueture (c)-(e): Sheared surfaces in red sandstone after
shear box tests. (c) Oblique view of sheared surface formed in intact specimen, showing reeonstitution of PT structure at
low normal stress. P fractures appear whitened and striated, T fractures are not, and dip into the specimen: compare with
Fig. 7(c). (d) Detail of surface of a specimen after shear test at high normal stress in intact specimen (same rock as in el,
showing slightly striated and tight R fractures dipping into the specimen. Reconstitution of RO criteria: compare with Fig
}(b, top). (e) Pre-cnt surface (see text) after a 2 mnn relative displacement showing reeonstitution of PO criteria. Scale linc,~
are (b) l ram; (c)-(e) I cm. Arrows indicate sense of movelnent of missing hh~ck

604
 Criteria for movement on fault surfaces 605

The P criteria were first used in red, fine-grained sion). P fractures are formed next by the rupture of
sandstone; the striated side of asperities (the striation is bridges between T features.
sometimes only visible with a hand lens) appear as The same geometrical succession was obtained in my
whitened patches due to crushing of quartz grains, and preliminary shear tests on rocks which produced struc-
thus form a striking contrast with the red non-striated tures closely resembling the PT field examples (Fig. 8c).
sides. The PO type has been extensively found because The tests were carried out with a 500 kN (normal and
P surfaces appear on very tiny asperities, for example on shear maximum forces) conventional direct shear
plumose structures, or on the irregularities of any pre- machine on indurated red Permian sandstone from the
existing joints. The formation of this criterion implies Lod~ve basin (Languedoc, Southern France), on dry
very small slips roughly of the same order of magnitude specimens 8 x 8 cm in section at room temperature.
(generally millimetres in sandstone) as the width of the Before peak stress (r = 52 MPa, on = 24 MPa, i.e. for
patch in the direction of movement. Otherwise the values corresponding in this experiment to a very low
striation would have been more extensive and could value of 03), T fractures formed first, and the rupture of
have led to a fully striated slickenside. These PO criteria bridges between them occurred in an explosive way at
have been commonly observed in various magmatic peak stress. Although a certain amount of elastic stress
rocks, where the patches are more typically linked to is stored in the machine during loading, so that explosive
larger often wavy asperities, with chlorite or oxides rupture can be expected (the machine is a 'soft' conven-
often present on the lee side. The PT types have been tional one with hydraulic loading), this type of rupture
observed less often, and mainly in sandstone on a cen- could occur in the Earth's crust, suggesting that the most
timetre scale. These criteria exhibit a variety of mor- regular PT structures could be indicators of micro-
phologies because of the varying ratio P/T (apparent seismic events.
surfaces), which can be from about 1 (Fig. 7c) to 1/5 (Fig. In my experiments, RO type structures (i.e. very tight
8a). The smaller the inclination of T fractures with and regularly spaced slightly striated fractures with a
respect to the mean plane, the smaller the ratio. In some serrated profile) were obtained by shearing in specimens
cases, the P surfaces have been worn down until they are (Fig. 8d) subjected to high normal stresses (r = 100
parallel to the mean plane (Fig. 7b). As shown in Fig. MPa, on = 80 MPa.) At low normal stress, en-rchelon
3(b), RO, PT and PO criteria are mutually consistent. fractures appeared before peak stresses, but rupture at
Transitions between PO and PT structures have often peak stress was not so brutal. The resulting features
been observed. resemble those observed by Gamond (1985) in non-
dilatant conditions (i.e. with no possible extension paral-
lel to the increasing normal stress). The general tendency
MECHANICAL INTERPRETATION is for the formation of numerous secondary striated R
shears instead of a few isolated non-striated fractures
Although the criteria presented here are of immediate inducing large open dominoes with P fractures. These
use for field geologists, the mechanical origin of the observations suggest that in shear box tests an increasing
corresponding structures is also of interest, as it may give normal stress inducing less dilatant conditions could lead
some indication of the stress and strain conditions progressively from PT type to RO type structures with
involved in fault formation. Thus the first basic require- tighter and shorter striated secondary fracture. If this is
ment is to be able to distinguish between structures true, some of the observed R and T en-rchelon fractures
formed by rupture in intact rock and those produced by could have a common mechanical origin (Fig. 9a & b),
sliding on a pre-existing joint. Gamond (1983) discussed this, with different terminol-
ogy, and concluded that the non-striated fractures (T in
Comparison with tests in intact rock this paper), were in fact Riedel shear fractures that
opened during the sliding of P fractures. As Gamond
Shear box tests. These seem well-adapted to the recon- emphasized, in non-dilatant conditions the shear zone
struction of fault plane marks due to ruptures in intact tends to be narrower and void formation is inhibited.
samples, because the shear plane is imposed by the box
and can thus imitate fracture formation at the tip of a
pre-existing fracture subjected to a shear movement. a i ~! (T)
Gamond's work (1983, 1985, 1987) is apparently the
only application of such tests aimed at recreating geolog-
ical structures linked to shear in intact brittle materials.
Although his experiments were done on an over-consoli-
dated varved clay, the structures obtained at low normal
stress in dilatant conditions (i.e. with the sample allowed b . (R)
[et 2nd (R")
to extend parallel to the imposed constant normal stress,
Gamond 1983, fig. 7) are very similar to PT structures
described here with a P/T surface ratio of about 1. The Fig. 9. Formation of types of secondary fractures in direct shear
fractures appearing first are low-angle T fractures in the experiments in intact specimens (see text). (a) At low normal stress;
(b) at high normal stress. 1st and 2nd indicate chronology of the
present terminology, as they are not striated (see Discus- corresponding fractures.
606 J . P . PETIr

This tendency is only possible if an important relative

movement occurs on closed R fractures, thus inducing ~ ~ ~- ~ ". "--,.. "~tg ~j . , ~ ~ ~

friction. Moreover, rupture along the imposed shear

zone is easier because bridges between fractures are
closer. So it would be possible for RO and some types of Fig. 10. Possible mechanisms for formation of secondary R fractures
PT structures (when the P/T surface ratio is about 1) to in RM criteria by frictional penetration at the front of hardened
material (star). T: tension fracture formed first, R: shears formed by
correspond to newly formed fault surfaces, RO, indicat- relative movement on previous fractures due to local stress field
ing high normal (or differential) stress and PT rupture at reorientations.
low normal (or differential) stress, both with very small
slips. natural equivalent of'microscopic wear grooves' (Engel-
der 1974) or of tapered grooves as described by Currie
Triaxial tests. Although this type of experiment is (written comments in Norris & Barron 1968) have been
commonly carried out, only a few morphological found in the field.
descriptions of fracture surfaces have been published
and the observations are mainly confined to the step Fracture induced by cutting tools. Although the
problem. The evidence of fracture steps (generally per- mechanisms involved are not purely frictional, interest-
pendicular to the striation and formed in intact rock) ing comparisons can be made with Friedman's experi-
facing the movement of the opposite block was clearly ments (1983) on the fracturing of rocks due to a plough-
shown experimentally in marble (Paterson 1958, plate 2) ing mining tool. On the bottom of the furrow dug by the
and in other rocks by Currie (in written comments to tool he observed among other features a set of repetitive
Norris & Barron 1968). These steps have been presented tension factures dipping at an average angle of 16 in the
as possible criteria for determining the sense of move- direction of movement of the tool. Their geometry is
ment on natural faults. Paterson's experimental secon- comparable to those of R fractures of RM structures
dary fractures seem to be irregular en-6chelon fractures (Fig. 4b). A similar mechanism could explain the
of R type, the steps being due to the rupture of bridges formation of some of the secondary R fractures by
between them. Thus the whole feature could be more or friction (Fig. 10a), but this implies a hardness contrast
less similar to R O structures before the formation of R between the two walls. It could be explained by the
shear fractures. On the other hand, the structures formation of a wide front zone of hardened material
described by Paterson and the detailed features of natu- (crystallized gouge) which acted as the tool in forming
ral P surfaces in Fig. 8(b) have striking similarities. This first the tension fractures. The shearing movement on
analogy confirms the formation of some P shears of PT these fractures could be due to stress reorientation
structures from rupture in bridges of intact rock (Fig. during the continuing relative movement.
9a).
Hertzian fracture tests. Among the T criteria, the
Comparison with friction tests on pre-cut specimens 'crescentic fractures' (Figs. l d, bottom, and 3d) clearly
correspond to experimental repetitive Hertzian frac-
Shear box tests. On the same shear box testing machine tures obtained by the circular sliding contact of an
as above, friction tests were carried out on specimens element harder than the frictioned material, for example
with an uneven fracture surface caused by previous a steel ball on glass (MacClintock 1953) or a hemisphere
splitting under uniaxial loading: the two parts were fitted of sapphire on silicon monocrystal (Barquins 1973).
together and the block fixed in the shear box so that the Individual cracks correspond to fragments of Hertzian
splitting plane corresponded to the imposed shear plane. cones whose axes (perpendicular to the surface if no
The result obtained for o, = 28 MPa with 2 mm displace- displacement) are tilted in the direction of movement.
ment is given in Fig. 8(e). Comparison with the natural The formation of these cracks is predicted by Lawn
example of Fig. 3(b, bottom), and 7(a) shows a very (1967); they are due to tension stresses formed at the
similar aspect and the same distribution of striated back of the contact area and are linked to stick-slip.
patches on the side of asperities facing the movement of
the moved block. This emphasizes that PO structures Criteria for neorupture in intact rocks
are reliable criteria and probably formed on pre-existing
joints. These experiments suggest that P surfaces could Previous experimental data in both shear box and
form even in low normal stress conditions and for very triaxial tests strongly suggest that RO and PT structures
small slips. (if the PFF surface ratio is about 1) are formed in intact
Triaxial tests. Many previous friction tests have been rock, the differences between them indicating, respec-
done on saw-cut specimens, but one should not expect to tively, high or low normal stress conditions. Both types
find clear geological analogies, especially to tests using imply formation of en-6chelon fractures (regularly
polished surfaces, because natural pre-existing joints spaced fractures of the same type) at pre-peak stresses in
are typically uneven. However, some types of indurated intact rocks. As shown in rock by Pollard et al. (1982)
(welded) gouge observed on pre-cut specimens (Fried- and Granier (1985), such en-6chelon cracks can be
man et al. 1974) could also be found on P surfaces of the formed starting from the tip of a parent crack, i.e. an
PO criteria, but this would need more investigation. No isolated pre-existing joint in a homogeneous rock sub-
 Criteria for movement on fault surfaces 607

mitted to a shear movement in well-defined stress condi- An idea of the amount of slip involved on faults
tions. Such a model implying stress concentration at the implying friction on pre-existing joints can be obtained
crack tip can be applied to the structures in Fig. 3(b) and from the amount of striated surfaces. PO and irregular
explained in 3(c), where the fault surface showing en- PT structures imply slips of less than a centimeter, while
6chelon R O structures appears to have formed from the slip is greater for RM structures. Some examples in
tip of a pre-existing fracture corresponding to the zone sandstone showed completely striated surfaces corre-
now showing PO structures linked to friction. Thus field sponding to a decimeter slip. Normal stress dependence
observations seem consistent with mechanical data. This is likely only in the case of neorupture for the most
RO, PO association has been very seldom observed on regular forms of PT structures (low a,) and for R O
the field, for reasons given later. PT structures (if the P/T structure (high an).
surface ratio is about 1) could be formed in the same Microseismic events have been inferred by compari-
way. A problem arises with the frequent PT structures son with experiments during the formation of PT struc-
where T surfaces are more developed than P, as in Fig. tures in intact rocks. Such events could also be generated
8(a). This could be because P and T fractures are not by friction, at least in the case of Hertzian structures
necessarily formed during a single shearing movement. involving stick-slip.
P fractures could be formed by compressive rupture Most of the examples presented are found in fine-
limited by bridges in any older, even irregular, en- grained sandstone because of the presence on faults of
6chelon fracture set of any origin. numerous secondary fractures of various kinds. This can
be explained by the possibility of extensive intragranular
Criteria for friction on pre-existing joints micro-fracturing. The amount of porosity present in this
sandstone encourages the formation of extensional frac-
The shear box data presented here give good evidence tures because of stress concentrations on pores and at
for the formation of PO structures from friction even at grain contacts (Dunn 1973). Thus, once microfractures
low an on an irregular pre-existing joint. The transition are well developed, through-going shear can occur and
observed from PO to PT structures (irregular types) fracture strength is decreased. If porosity is very low, as
could be explained by the formation of some kind of T in quartzites, one can expect the formation of long
fractures during friction due to tensile stresses develop- tensile fractures which would inhibit the formation of
ing at the base of the P side of asperities subject to minor shears to a varying degree. In the sandstone
friction. This, however, remains speculation. The fric- described, a small amount of highly deformable material
tional origin of tensile fractures corresponding to T in the matrix such as clay minerals or calcite can also help
criteria is clear, at least in the case of crescentic fractures shear formation, as they facilitate sliding at grain bound-
where Hertzian-type stresses are involved. On the other aries. However, RM structures implying a lot of friction
hand, it has not been experimentally proven that RM and secondary shear formation were found in low poros-
structures originate from friction on a pre-existing joint, ity rocks such as granite or various volcanic rocks. But
even if cutting tool experiments suggest a possible origin the best examples were found in faults linked to major
of R shears. One can speculate that RM structures could strike-slip zones where much higher deviatoric stresses
be generated by the continuing relative movement on can be expected. In these cases micro-fractures are
R O structure and corresponding wearing, but in this observed, too, but associated with a certain amount of
case the formation of accretion steps is likely to occur, plastic deformation in grains.
while the field examples show that the risers of macros- While comparison with previous experiments helps
copic steps are always due to fracture in rock. Moreover, understand the formation mechanisms of some of these
R fracture distribution seems much more irregular than structures, others will need more specific experiments
one would expect from R O structures, so this type of for their reconstitution. Two problems are (i) can secon-
formation for RM structures seems unlikely. dary shear fractures be formed by friction and (ii) how
do stress and strain influence the type of rupture in
various rocks, in shear box tests? Experiments must be
DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION carried out on the same material as the equivalent
structure on the field, otherwise comparisons will be
The abundance of PO, RM and the irregular forms of rendered inaccurate because of the strong influence of
P T structures have been noticed in the field, as well as the physical properties of the rocks involved on the type
the scarcity of R O and regular PT ones. This can be and conditions of rupture.
explained by the fact that the former (corresponding to The results of experiments, combined with accurate
friction on pre-existing joints) are more frequently descriptive data from natural faults should lead to a
formed than the latter (due to neo-rupture), because better understanding of shear-sense criteria in fractured
friction does not need such high stress levels as neo- rocks.
rupture. But that does not imply a separate tectonic
phase, because stress concentrations inducing neo-rup- Acknowledgements--I would like to thank an anonymous reviewer,
ture can occur at the tips of pre-existing, non-intercon- D r P. L. Hancock and Prof. W. Means for all their valuable sugges-
tions, B. Sanche for the thin sections and G. Garcia for some of the
nected joints. The corresponding geometry is probably diagrams. I am indebted to A. T. P. Plis, Failles et Sismogen~se for
not very frequent. financial support.
608 J . P . PETIT

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