Earthquakes and Ore Deposits

当地震发生时，深断层中的岩石相互破裂和滑动，能量释放到地壳中。这种能量以地震波的形式辐射(这就是我们感觉到的地震)，也会加热和破裂岩石。新的裂缝可以帮助将流体从较深的地壳水平引导到浅层，在那里它们储存矿物。其中一些矿床是具有重要经济意义的矿体。 所有这些破坏也在岩石上产生了一个信号，地质学家可以在很久以后阅读这些信号，以研究地震的频率，控制特定断层可能产生大地震还是小地震，并了解某些类型矿体的形成。克里斯蒂·罗教授的研究小组研究了古老深断裂的核心，这些断裂已经停止活动，然后被地球表面的侵蚀暴露出来。我们在任何可以找到的地方寻找这些保存完好的结构，目前在南非、纳米比亚、加拿大和美国都有研究地点。我们使用一种综合的方法，包括野外测绘、实验室中免费的显微构造和矿物学观察以及理论建模，以开发更清晰的地震物理和化学图像。我们将这一认识应用于矿床的成因，并帮助解释活动断层中的现代地震活动模式。

When an earthquake occurs, rocks in a deep fault break and slip against each other, and energy is released into the earth's crust. This energy radiates as seismic waves (that's the earthquake we feel) and also heats and fractures the rock. The new fractures can help channel fluids from deeper crustal levels up to the shallow zones where they deposit minerals. Some of these deposits are economically important ore bodies. All this damage also creates a signature in the rocks, which geologists can read much later to study the frequency of earthquakes, the controls on whether a particular fault might generate big or small earthquakes, and to understand the formation of some types of ore bodies. Prof. Christie Rowe's research group studies the core of deep ancient faults, which have ceased activity and then been exposed by erosion at the earth's surface. We seek these preserved structures wherever they can be found, and currently have research sites in South Africa, Namibia, Canada and the US. We use a integrated approach including field mapping, complimentary microstructural and mineralogical observations in the laboratory, and theoretical modeling to develop a clearer picture of the physics and chemistry of earthquakes. We apply this understanding to the genesis of ore deposits and to help explain modern patterns of seismicity in active faults.