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Title: Mantle fluids in the San Andreas fault system, California

Journal Article · · Science
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Lawrence Berkeley National Lab., CA (United States)
  2. Geological Survey, Menlo Park, CA (United States); and others

Fluids associated with the San Andreas and companion faults in central and south-central California have high {sup 3}He/{sup 4}He ratios. The lack of correlation between helium isotopes and fluid chemistry or local geology requires that fluids enter the fault system from the mantle. Mantle fluids passing through the ductile lower crust must enter the brittle fault zone at or near lithostatic pressures; estimates of fluid flux based on helium isotopes suggest that they may thus contribute directly to fault-weakening high-fluid pressures at seismogenic depths. 31 refs., 4 figs.

DOE Contract Number:
AC03-76SF00098
OSTI ID:
569458
Journal Information:
Science, Vol. 278, Issue 5341; Other Information: PBD: 14 Nov 1997
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English