Coseismic fault lubrication by viscous deformation (2021)
Journal Article
Pozzi, G., De Paola, N., Nielsen, S., Holdsworth, R., Tesei, T., Thieme, M., & Demouchy, S. (2021). Coseismic fault lubrication by viscous deformation. Nature Geoscience, 14(6), 437-442. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-021-00747-8

Despite the hazard posed by earthquakes, we still lack fundamental understanding of the processes that control fault lubrication behind a propagating rupture front and enhance ground acceleration. Laboratory experiments show that fault materials dram... Read More about Coseismic fault lubrication by viscous deformation.

The Humbly Grove, Herriard and Hester’s Copse Fields, UK onshore (2020)
Journal Article
Gluyas, J., De-Paola, N., Imber, J., Jezierski, T., Jones, R., Jordan, P., …Moors, A. (2020). The Humbly Grove, Herriard and Hester’s Copse Fields, UK onshore. Memoirs, 52, 74-81. https://doi.org/10.1144/m52-2018-78

The Humbly Grove Field has, for the UK, a unique development history. It was discovered as an oilfield in May 1980 and produced as an oilfield until 2000 along with small satellite fields Herriard (developed) and Hester's Copse (not developed). Peak... Read More about The Humbly Grove, Herriard and Hester’s Copse Fields, UK onshore.

Coseismic ultramylonites: An investigation of nanoscale viscous flow and fault weakening during seismic slip (2019)
Journal Article
Pozzi, G., De Paola, N., Holdsworth, R. E., Bowen, L., Nielsen, S. B., & Dempsey, E. D. (2019). Coseismic ultramylonites: An investigation of nanoscale viscous flow and fault weakening during seismic slip. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 516, 164-175. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.03.042

Faults weaken during the propagation of earthquakes due to the onset of thermally-activated mechanisms, which vary depending on the rock type. Recent experimental work suggests that carbonate-hosted faults are lubricated by viscous flow in nano-granu... Read More about Coseismic ultramylonites: An investigation of nanoscale viscous flow and fault weakening during seismic slip.

A new interpretation for the nature and significance of mirror-like surfaces in experimental carbonate-hosted seismic faults (2018)
Journal Article
Pozzi, G., De Paola, N., Nielsen, S., Holdsworth, R., & Bowen, L. (2018). A new interpretation for the nature and significance of mirror-like surfaces in experimental carbonate-hosted seismic faults. Geology, 46(7), 583-586. https://doi.org/10.1130/g40197.1

Highly reflective, continuous smooth surfaces, known as "mirror-like surfaces" (MSs), have been observed in experimental carbonate-hosted faults, which were sheared at both seismic and aseismic velocities. MSs produced during high-velocity friction e... Read More about A new interpretation for the nature and significance of mirror-like surfaces in experimental carbonate-hosted seismic faults.

Earthquake nucleation on rough faults (2017)
Journal Article
Harbord, C. W., Nielsen, S. B., De Paola, N., & Holdsworth, R. E. (2017). Earthquake nucleation on rough faults. Geology, 45(10), 931-934. https://doi.org/10.1130/g39181.1

Earthquake nucleation is currently explained using rate and state stability analysis, which successfully models the behavior of laboratory simulated faults with constant thickness gouge layers. However, roughness is widely observed on natural faults... Read More about Earthquake nucleation on rough faults.

Fault lubrication during earthquakes (2011)
Journal Article
Di Toro, G., Han, R., Hirose, T., De Paola, N., Nielsen, N., Mizoguchi, K., …Shimamoto, T. (2011). Fault lubrication during earthquakes. Nature, 471(7339), 494-498. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature09838

The determination of rock friction at seismic slip rates (about 1 m s−1) is of paramount importance in earthquake mechanics, as fault friction controls the stress drop, the mechanical work and the frictional heat generated during slip. Given the diff... Read More about Fault lubrication during earthquakes.