Oscillations in fluid pressure caused by silica precipitation in a fracture.

ABSTRACT: Ubiquitous quartz veins within the crust underscore the contribution of silica precipitation to fault sealing and fluid-pressure changes during earthquake cycles. However, quantifying silica precipitation, fluid pressure fluctuations, and earthquake rupture remains challenging. Here, we present the results of hydrothermal flow-through experiments with constant flow rates that show silica precipitation reduces permeability and induces fluid-pressure oscillations in the flow of highly supersaturated fluid. Following an induction period, the difference between inlet and outlet pressures in the experiments increased and oscillated, reaching a peak before abruptly decreasing, while the background pressure difference increased gradually. Such pressure oscillations resulted from the repeated bloc

SUBMITTER: Okamoto A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11842768 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature