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Cathodoluminescence and fluid inclusion analyses of mineral veins within major thrusts in the Shimanto accretionary complex: evidence of hydraulic fracturing during thrusting

Earth, Planets and Space volume 59, pages 937–942 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

To elucidate fluid-rock interaction in a seismogenic zone along a plate-subduction boundary, we investigated the occurrence of mineral veins within the major thrusts in the Shimanto accretionary complex and examined their microstructures using a cathodoluminescence technique. We found discriminative structures, for example, a jigsaw-puzzle structure, within the quartz veins in the thrusts, which could indicate that hydraulic fracturing occurred by abnormal pore-fluid pressure during thrusting. Pore pressure values, estimated quantitatively by fluid inclusion analyses, were 3–27 MPa higher than the surrounding parts, which may be direct evidence of abnormal pore-fluid pressure. High pore-fluid pressures and subsequent hydraulic fracturing may play an important role within major thrusts along a plate-subduction boundary.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Marine Works Japan, Yokohama, 236-0042, Japan

    Hideki Mukoyoshi

  2. Department of Earth and Space Science, Graduate School of Science, Osaka University, Toyonaka, 560-0043, Japan

    Tetsuro Hirono

  3. Institute of Fluid Science, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan

    Kotaro Sekine

  4. Graduate School of Environmental Studies, Tohoku University, Sendai, 980-8579, Japan

    Noriyoshi Tsuchiya

  5. Kochi Institute for Core Sample Research, Japan Agency for Marine-Earth Science and Technology, Nankoku, 783-8502, Japan

    Wonn Soh

Authors
  1. Hideki Mukoyoshi
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  2. Tetsuro Hirono
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  3. Kotaro Sekine
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  4. Noriyoshi Tsuchiya
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  5. Wonn Soh
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Correspondence to Hideki Mukoyoshi.

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Mukoyoshi, H., Hirono, T., Sekine, K. et al. Cathodoluminescence and fluid inclusion analyses of mineral veins within major thrusts in the Shimanto accretionary complex: evidence of hydraulic fracturing during thrusting. Earth Planet Sp 59, 937–942 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352032

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/BF03352032

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