Faults and their associated host rock deformation: Part I. Structure of small faults in a quartz–syenite body, southern Israel

We analyze pervasive and discontinuous deformation associated with small faults in a quartz–syenite body in southern Israel. The analysis includes detailed mapping, measurement of in-situ mechanical rock properties and microstructural study of the faults. The mapped faults have 1–100-m-long horizontal traces, consisting of linked, curved segments; the segmented nature of the faults is also apparent at the 1–10 mm scale. The observed deformation features are breccia, as well as intra- and inter-granular fractures; these features are accompanied by reduction of the Young modulus and uniaxial strength of the host rock. The deformation features are zoned from a central fault-core through a damage-zone to the protolith at distances of 0.05–0.06 the fault length. Shear strains up to 300% were calculated from measured marker lines displacements and distortion in proximity to the faults. We argue here that the fault-related deformation during fault propagation is manifested by highly localized deformation in a process zone having a width of 0.001–0.005 of the fault length (fault-related deformation due to subsequent slip along the existing faults is analyzed in Part II). The observed self-similarity of the discontinuities over five length orders of magnitude and the outstanding lack of tensile microcracks suggest fault initiation and growth as primary shear fractures.