Marone Group makes breakthrough in understanding faults

Photo by Cristiano Collettini, Universita degli Studi di Perugia, Italy

A look at the foliated microstructure at the microscale:

talc lamellae (bright colours) and calcite veins (white-grey)

University Park, Pa. -- Some geologic faults that appear strong and stable, slip and slide like weak faults. Now an international team of researchers has laboratory evidence showing why some faults that "should not" slip are weaker than previously thought.

"Low-angle normal faults -- faults that dip less than 45 degrees -- are a problem," said Chris Marone, professor of geosciences, Penn State. "Standard analysis shows that these faults should not slip because it is easier to form a new fault than to slip on this orientation." (click here for full article)

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