Reaction?Induced Fracturing: When Chemistry Breaks Rocks

Reaction-induced fracturing occurs when fluid-rock interactions lead to the growth of a mineral phase that produces volume increase, which perturbs stress field and can cause in surrounding rock. This process may occur with positive feedback loop because, as more fractures are formed, water infiltrate pore space, enhancing kinetics reaction. Yoshida et al. (2020, https://doi.org/10.1029/2020JB020268) have studied modeled reaction-induced oceanic rocks collected during Oman Drilling Project. These been intensively hydrated by called serpentinization, has profound geodynamic implications. The authors couple detailed microstructural observations numerical modeling incorporates permeability evolution. Building on outcomes their study, I discuss here current knowledge process, chemical forces control rock fracture various geological environments. Based recent experimental results molecular dynamics simulations, conditions under either self-amplify or slow down even stop.