Role of Fluids in Faulting Inferred from Stress Field Signatures

Darren Hardesty, & Egill Hauksson

Published July 9, 1999, SCEC Contribution #452

The stress orientation signature of weak faults containing high-pressure fluids has been observed for segments of the San Andreas fault system in southern California. The inferred lithostatic fluid pressures extend into the surrounding relatively intact rock in a zone scaling with the width of the interseismic strain accumulation. Repeated strain-related fracturing and crack sealing may have created low-permeability barriers that seal fluids into the network of currently active fractures.

Citation
Hardesty, D., & Hauksson, E. (1999). Role of Fluids in Faulting Inferred from Stress Field Signatures. Science, 285(5425), 236-239. doi: 10.1126/science.285.5425.236.