Low permeability fault rocks may develop due to a combination of physical-mechanical and chemical processes including compaction, pressure solution, cataclasis, clay smear, and cementation.

The activities carried out within this project include: (i) Optical microscopy and FESEM analyses, (ii) fluid inclusions analysis, (iii) mechanical and permeability analyses by using a completely automatic triaxial cell.
Expected outcome of this research topic regards an in-depth understanding of the deformation mechanisms responsible to the development of specific petrophysical properties of fault rocks, useful for minimizing the risks associated with fault seal evaluation.

Mechanical data for triaxial compression experiment, 3D images obtained by synchrotron X-ray mCT and permeability variations across strike-slip faults in porous rocks.