Abstract
Nanoparticles are widely observed in the natural shear zone and experimental slip faults, which can lubricate the fault and significantly reduce the friction coefficient during seismic slip. But it is still not clear how the nanoparticles develop during the process of sliding. Clarifying the development stage of nanoparticles in a fault zone is critical to understanding the formation mechanisms of nanoparticles and the mechanism of fault weakening from a nanoperspective. In this study, four types of nanoparticles were found in the Indosinian Xiaomei shear zone, including spherical nanoparticles, rod-like nanograins and their aggregations. Ultramicroscopic analyses indicate that polished patches are highly smooth and composed of tightly packed spherical nanoparticles and well orientated rod-like nanograins during slip at high velocities. Meanwhile, the dome nanoparticles were formed by the calcite thermal decomposition due to frictional heat during highspeed sliding. The polygonal grooves are possibly related to high temperature (>900 °C) grain boundary sliding deformation mechanisms. However, the porous and rough surfaces are accompanied by a series of holes and parallel “scratches” during a subsequent low-velocity stage. To ascertain the chemical composition of these nanoparticles, the energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) test were conducted. The results suggest that materials rich in Fe, MgO and wollastonite are likely to form the rod-like nanograins, while materials rich in SiO2 are likely to form the spherical nanoparticles.
Similar content being viewed by others
References Cited
Bankole, S. A., Buckman, J., Stow, D., et al., 2019. Automated Image Analysis of Mud and Mudrock Microstructure and Characteristics of Hemipelagic Sediments: IODP Expedition 339. Journal of Earth Science, 30(2): 407–421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-019-1210-4
Bifano, T. G., Dow, T. A., Scattergood, R. O., 1991. Ductile-Regime Grinding: A New Technology for Machining Brittle Materials. Journal of Engineering for Industry, 113(2): 184–189. https://doi.org/10.1115/L2899676
Cai, Z. R., Lu, L. J., Huang, Q. T., et al., 2019. Formation Conditions for Nanoparticles in a Fault Zone and Their Role in Fault Sliding. Tectonics, 38(1): 159–175. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018tc005171
Cai, Z. R., Xiang, J. Y., Huang, Q. T., et al., 2018. The Morphology of Nanoparticles in the Ductile Shear Zone of Red River Fault and Its Tectonic Significance. Earth Science, 43(5): 1524–1531 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Chester, F. M., Evans, J. P., Biegel, R. L., 1993. Internal Structure and Weakening Mechanisms of the San Andreas Fault. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 98(B1): 771–786. https://doi.org/10.1029/92jb01866
Collettini, C., Carpenter, B. M., Viti, C., et al., 2014. Fault Structure and Slip Localization in Carbonate-Bearing Normal Faults: An Example from the Northern Apennines of Italy. Journal of Structural Geology, 67: 154–166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2014.07.017
de Paola, N., Holdsworth, R. E., Viti, C., et al., 2015. Can Grain Size Sensitive Flow Lubricate Faults during the Initial Stages of Earthquake Propagation?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 431: 48–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.09.002
di Toro, G., Han, R., Hirose, T., et al., 2011. Fault Lubrication during Earthquakes. Nature, 471(7339): 494–498. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09838
Fondriest, M., Smith, S. A. F., Candela, T., et al., 2013. Mirror-Like Faults and Power Dissipation during Earthquakes. Geology, 41(11): 1175–1178. https://doi.org/10.1130/g34641.1
Gou, Q. Y., Qian, X., He, H. Y., et al., 2019. Geochronological and Geochemical Constraints on Lizhigou Middle Triassic Felsic Volcanic Rocks in Hainan and Its Tectonic Implications. Earth Science, 44(4): 1357–1370 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Green II, H. W., Shi, F., Bozhilov, K., et al., 2015. Phase Transformation and Nanometric Flow Cause Extreme Weakening during Fault Slip. Nature Geoscience, 8(6): 484–489. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2436
Guangdong BGMR (Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources of Guangdong Province), 1988. Regional Geology of Guangdong Province. Geological Publishing House, Beijing. 1–602 (in Chinese)
Han, R., Hirose, T., Shimamoto, T., et al., 2011. Granular Nanoparticles Lubricate Faults during Seismic Slip. Geology, 39(6): 599–602. https://doi.org/10.1130/g31842.1
Han, R., Shimamoto, T., Hirose, T., et al., 2007. Ultralow Friction of Carbonate Faults Caused by Thermal Decomposition. Science, 316(5826): 878–881. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1139763
Hu, W., Huang, R. Q., McSaveney, M., et al., 2018. Mineral Changes Quantify Frictional Heating during a Large Low-Friction Landslide. Geology, 46(3): 223–226. https://doi.org/10.1130/g39662.1
Hu, W., Huang, R. Q., McSaveney, M., et al., 2019. Superheated Steam, Hot CO2 and Dynamic Recrystallization from Frictional Heat Jointly Lubricated a Giant Landslide: Field and Experimental Evidence. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 510: 85–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.01.005
Keulen, N., Heilbronner, R., Stünitz, H., et al., 2007. Grain Size Distributions of Fault Rocks: A Comparison between Experimentally and Naturally Deformed Granitoids. Journal of Structural Geology, 29(8): 1282–1300. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2007.04.003
Kisters, A. F. M., Kolb, J., Meyer, F. M., et al., 2000. Hydrologic Segmentation of High-Temperature Shear Zones: Structural, Geochemical and Isotopic Evidence from Auriferous Mylonites of the Renco Mine, Zimbabwe. Journal of Structural Geology, 22(6): 811–829. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0191-8141(00)00006-7
Koch, C. C., 1997. Synthesis of Nanostructured Materials by Mechanical Milling: Problems and Opportunities. Nanostructured Materials, 9(1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8): 13–22. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0965-9773(97)00014-7
Koch, C. C., 2007. Structural Nanocrystalline Materials: An Overview. Journal of Materials Science, 42(5): 1403–1414. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-006-0609-3
Koch, C. C., Scattergood, R. O., Darling, K. A., et al., 2008. Stabilization of Nanocrystalline Grain Sizes by Solute Additions. Journal of Materials Science, 43(23/24): 7264–7272. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10853-008-2870-0
Li, X. H., Zhou, H. W., Chung, S. L., et al., 2002. Geochemical and Sm-Nd Isotopic Characteristics of Metabasites from Central Hainan Island, South China and Their Tectonic Significance. The Island Arc, 11(3): 193–205. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1738.2002.00365.x
Liu, H. L., Yan, P., Liu, Y. C., et al., 2006. Existence of Qiongnan Suture Zone on the North Margin of South China Sea. Chinese Science Bulletin, 51(S2): 107–120. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-006-9107-x
Liu, H. L., Zhu, R. W., Shen, B. Y., et al., 2017. First Discovering of Nanoscale Tectonics in Western of Qiongnan Paleo-Tethyan Suture Zone in North Margin of South China Sea and Its Geotectonic Significance. Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, 17(9): 6411–6422. https://doi.org/10.1166/jnn.2017.14450
Lu, K., 2016. Stabilizing Nanostructures in Metals Using Grain and Twin Boundary Architectures. Nature Reviews Materials, 1(5): 16019. https://doi.org/10.1038/natrevmats.2016.19
Metcalfe, I., Shergold, I. H., Li, Z. X., 1994. IGCP 321 Gondwana Dispersion and Asian Accretion: Fieldwork on Hainan Island. Episodes, 16(4): 443–447
Metcalfe, I., 2017. Tectonic Evolution of Sundaland. Bulletin of the Geological Society of Malaysia, 63: 27–60. https://doi.org/10.7186/bgsm63201702
Schärer, U., Zhang, L.-S., Tapponnier, P., 1994. Duration of Strike-Slip Movements in Large Shear Zones: The Red River Belt, China. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 126(4): 379–397. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821x(94)90119-8
Shen, B. Y., Liu, B., Liu, H. L., et al., 2016. Xiaomei Ductile Shear Zone on Hainan Island in a Nanoscale Perspective. Earth Science, 41(9): 1489–1498 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Shen, T. D., Koch, C. C., McCormick, T. L., et al., 1995. The Structure and Property Characteristics of Amorphous Nanocrystalline Silicon Produced by Ball-Milling. Journal of Materials Research, 10: 139–148.
Siman-Tov, S., Aharonov, E., Boneh, Y., et al., 2015. Fault Mirrors along Carbonate Faults: Formation and Destruction during Shear Experiments. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 430: 367–376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.08.031
Siman-Tov, S., Aharonov, E., Sagy, A., et al., 2013. Nanograins Form Carbonate Fault Mirrors. Geology, 41(6): 703–706. https://doi.org/10.1130/g34087.1
Smith, S. A. F., di Toro, G., Kim, S., et al., 2013. Coseismic Recrystallization during Shallow Earthquake Slip. Geology, 41(1): 63–66. https://doi.org/10.1130/g33588.1
Smith, S. A. F., Nielsen, S., di Toro, G., 2015. Strain Localization and the Onset of Dynamic Weakening in Calcite Fault Gouge. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 413: 25–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2014.12.043
Spagnuolo, E., Plümper, O., Violay, M., et al., 2015. Fast-Moving Dislocations Trigger Flash Weakening in Carbonate-Bearing Faults during Earthquakes. Scientific Reports, 5(1): 16112. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep16112
Sun, Y., Jiang, S. Y., Wei, Z., et al., 2013. Nano-Coating Texture on the Shear Slip Surface in Rocky Materials. Advanced Materials Research, 669: 108–114. https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.669.108
Sun, Y., Lu, X. C., Shu, L. S., et al., 2005. Observation of Ultra-Microtexture of Fault Rocks in Shearing-Sliding Zones*. Progress in Natural Science, 15(5): 430–434. https://doi.org/10.1080/10020070512331342350
Sun, Y., Lu, X. C., Zhang, X. H., et al., 2009. Nano-Texture of Penetrative Foliation in Metamorphic Rocks. Science China Earth Sciences, 39(8): 1140–1147 (in Chinese)
Sun, Y., Shu, L. S., Lu, X. C., et al., 2008a. A Comparative Study of Natural and Experimental Nano-Sized Grinding Grain Textures in Rocks. Science Bulletin, 53(8): 1217–1221. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-008-0112-0
Sun, Y., Shu, L. S., Lu, X. C., et al., 2008b. Recent Progress in Studies on the Nano-Sized Particle Layer in Rock Shear Planes. Progress in Natural Science, 18(4): 367–373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnsc.2007.12.001
Tisato, N., di Toro, G., de Rossi, N., et al., 2012. Experimental Investigation of Flash Weakening in Limestone. Journal of Structural Geology, 38: 183–199. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2011.11.017
Verberne, B. A., Plümper, O., Matthijs de Winter, D. A., et al., 2014. Superplastic Nanofibrous Slip Zones Control Seismogenic Fault Friction. Science, 346(6215): 1342–1344. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1259003
Wang, Y., Liu, H. L., Zhang, X. F., et al., 2018. The Role of Nanograins in Ductile Shear Zones: An Example from Hainan Island, Northern Margin of South China Sea. Nanoscience and Nanotechnology Letters, 10(4): 512–519. https://doi.org/10.1166/nnl.2018.2690
Wibberley, C. A. J., Shimamoto, T., 2005. Earthquake Slip Weakening and Asperities Explained by Thermal Pressurization. Nature, 436(7051): 689–692. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03901
Xie, C. F., 2002. A Microstructure Marker of Syntectonic Granitoids. Acta Petrologica et Mineralogica, 21(2): 179–185 (in Chinese with English Abstract)
Xu, D., Xia, B., Bakun-Czubarow, N., et al., 2008. Geochemistry and Sr-Nd Isotope Systematics of Metabasites in the Tunchang Area, Hainan Island, South China: Implications for Petrogenesis and Tectonic Setting. Mineralogy and Petrology, 92(3/4): 361–391. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-007-0198-0
Xu, X. B., Lin, S. F., Tang, S., et al., 2018. Transformation from Neoproterozoic Sinistral to Early Paleozoic Dextral Shearing for the Jingdezhen Ductile Shear Zone in the Jiangnan Orogen, South China. Journal of Earth Science, 29(2): 376–390. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-017-0965-8
Yuan, R. M., Zhang, B. L., Xu, X. W., et al., 2014. Features and Genesis of Micro-Nanometer-Sized Grains on Shear Slip Surface of the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. Science China Earth Sciences, 57(8): 1961–1971. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-014-4859-7
Yund, R. A., Blanpied, M. L., Tullis, T. E., et al., 1990. Amorphous Material in High Strain Experimental Fault Gouges. Journal of Geophysical Research, 95(B10): 15589–15602. https://doi.org/10.1029/jb095ib10p15589
Zhang, F. F., Wang, Y. J., Chen, X. Y., et al., 2011. Triassic High-Strain Shear Zones in Hainan Island (South China) and Their Implications on the Amalgamation of the Indochina and South China Blocks: Kinematic and 40Ar/39Ar Geochronological Constraints. Gondwana Research, 19(4): 910–925. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2010.11.002
Acknowledgments
This work was financially cosupported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 41776072, 41676048, U1701641, 91328205). The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1286-x.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Zhou, Y., Shen, B., Yan, Y. et al. Nanoparticles Study on the Indosinian Xiaomei Shear Zone in the Hainan Island, China: Implication to Developmental Stage and Formation Mechanism of Nanoparticles in a Fault Zone. J. Earth Sci. 31, 957–967 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1286-x
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-020-1286-x