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Mixed deformation styles observed on a shallow subduction thrust, Hikurangi margin, New Zealand

Journal Article · · Geology
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1130/G46367.1· OSTI ID:1570282
 [1];  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6];  [7];  [8];  [9];  [10];  [11];  [8];  [8]
  1. Cardiff Univ., Cardiff (United Kingdom)
  2. Columbia Univ., Palisades, NY (United States)
  3. Department of Earth Science, Rice University, Houston, Texas 77005, USA
  4. Hohai Univ., Jiangsu (China)
  5. Univ. degli Studi di Pisa, Pisa (Italy)
  6. National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research, Wellington (New Zealand)
  7. Imperial College London, Kensington (United Kingdom)
  8. Texas A&M Univ., College Station, TX (United States)
  9. Univ. of Liverpool, Liverpool (United Kingdom)
  10. Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
  11. GNS Science (New Zealand)
+ Show Author Affiliations
Geophysical observations show spatial and temporal variations in fault slip style on shallow subduction thrust faults, but geological signatures and underlying deformation processes remain poorly understood. International Ocean Discovery Program (IODP) Expeditions 372 and 375 investigated New Zealand’s Hikurangi margin in a region that has experienced both tsunami earthquakes and repeated slow-slip events. We report direct observations from cores that sampled the active Papaku splay fault at 304 m below the seafloor. This fault roots into the plate interface and comprises an 18-m-thick main fault underlain by ~30 m of less intensely deformed footwall and an ~10-m-thick subsidiary fault above undeformed footwall. Fault zone structures include breccias, folds, and asymmetric clasts within transposed and/or dismembered, relatively homogeneous, silty hemipelagic sediments. The data demonstrate that the fault has experienced both ductile and brittle deformation. As a result, this structural variation indicates that a range of local slip speeds can occur along shallow faults, and they are controlled by temporal, potentially far-field, changes in strain rate or effective stress.
Research Organization:
Sandia National Laboratories (SNL-NM), Albuquerque, NM (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)
Contributing Organization:
the IODP Expedition 372/375 Scientists
Grant/Contract Number:
AC04-94AL85000
OSTI ID:
1570282
Report Number(s):
SAND--2019-10194J; 678932
Journal Information:
Geology, Journal Name: Geology Journal Issue: 9 Vol. 47; ISSN 0091-7613
Publisher:
Geological Society of AmericaCopyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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Cited By (2)

Imaging the Shallow Subsurface Structure of the North Hikurangi Subduction Zone, New Zealand, Using 2‐D Full‐Waveform Inversion journal August 2019
Low‐Temperature Frictional Characteristics of Chlorite‐Epidote‐Amphibole Assemblages: Implications for Strength and Seismic Style of Retrograde Fault Zones journal April 2020

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