Mechanics of Shale Deformation in Thrust Fault Zones

逆冲断块运动的力学模型采用了关于断裂带强度和流变性的各种假设。然而，很少有可用于限制断裂带流变学选择的观测结果。这项研究旨在确定逆冲断裂带中页岩变形的特征和机制，并提供一种更好地了解逆冲岩片运动方式的方法。现场、实验和理论相结合的方法将应用于蒙大拿州西北部和邻近的艾伯塔省的刘易斯逆冲断层的两次暴露。页岩自然变形组构与实验变形组构的对比将结合理论来解释页岩中典型的非线性流变学以及与之相关的推覆岩片底部变形的强度和非均质性。

Mechanical models of thrust sheet motion employ a variety of assumptions about fault zone strength and rheology. However, there are few observations available to constrain the choices of fault zone rheology. This research is designed to determine the character and mechanics of shale deformation in thrust fault zones and a way to better understand how thrust sheets move. A combined field, experimental and theoretical approach will be applied to two exposures of the Lewis thrust fault in northwestern Montana and adjacent Alberta. Correlation of naturally and experimentally deformed shale fabrics in combination with theory will be used to explain the typical nonlinear rheology in shale and associated intensity and heterogeneity of deformation at the bases of thrust sheets.