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Professor Nicola De Paola's Outputs (36)

Heterogeneity‐Driven Localization and Weakening in Scaly Clays From a Fossil Accretionary Prism (2023)
Journal Article
Aretusini, S., Mittempergher, S., Remitti, F., Arletti, R., Polisi, M., De Paola, N., & Tesei, T. (2023). Heterogeneity‐Driven Localization and Weakening in Scaly Clays From a Fossil Accretionary Prism. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 128(9), Article e2023JB027332. https://doi.org/10.1029/2023jb027332

In accretionary prisms, scaly clays structure might be the result of strain localization and weakening or strain delocalization and hardening. Therefore, it is not clear how they influence the mechanical behavior of the accretionary prism. Here, we i... Read More about Heterogeneity‐Driven Localization and Weakening in Scaly Clays From a Fossil Accretionary Prism.

Rock and fault rheology explain differences between on fault and distributed seismicity (2022)
Journal Article
Collettini, C., Barchi, M., De Paola, N., Trippetta, F., & Tinti, E. (2022). Rock and fault rheology explain differences between on fault and distributed seismicity. Nature Communications, 13(1), Article 5627. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-33373-y

Analysis of seismicity can illuminate active fault zone structures but also deformation within large volumes of the seismogenic zone. For the Mw 6.5 2016–2017 Central Italy seismic sequence, seismicity not only localizes along the major structures ho... Read More about Rock and fault rheology explain differences between on fault and distributed seismicity.

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.

Lithological and stress anisotropy control large-scale seismic velocity variations in tight carbonates (2021)
Journal Article
Trippetta, F., Barchi, M., Tinti, E., Volpe, G., Rosset, G., & De Paola, N. (2021). Lithological and stress anisotropy control large-scale seismic velocity variations in tight carbonates. Scientific Reports, 11, Article 9472. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-89019-4

Our knowledge of subsurface structures often derives from seismic velocities that are measured during seismic acquisition surveys. These velocities can greatly change due to lithological, fracture frequencies and/or effective pressure/temperature var... Read More about Lithological and stress anisotropy control large-scale seismic velocity variations in tight carbonates.

Shear deformation of nano- and micro-crystalline olivine at seismic slip rates (2021)
Journal Article
Thieme, M., Pozzi, G., Demouchy, S., De Paola, N., Barou, F., Koizumi, S., & Bowen, L. (2021). Shear deformation of nano- and micro-crystalline olivine at seismic slip rates. Tectonophysics, 802, Article 228736. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2021.228736

Several thermally activated mechanisms have been proposed to explain the dynamic weakening of faults at fast, seismic slip rates v > 0.1 m s- 1. Nevertheless, direct constraints from microstructural observations on the operation of such weakening mec... Read More about Shear deformation of nano- and micro-crystalline olivine at seismic slip rates.

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., McCaffrey, K., Nielsen, S., Pongthunya, P., Satterley, A., Sowter, A., Wilkinson, M., & 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.

Modelling fluid flow in complex natural fault zones: implications for natural and human-induced earthquake nucleation (2019)
Journal Article
Snell, T., De Paola, N., van Hunen, J., Nielsen, S., & Collettini, C. (2020). Modelling fluid flow in complex natural fault zones: implications for natural and human-induced earthquake nucleation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 530, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.115869

Pore fluid overpressures in active fault systems can drive fluid flow and cause fault weakening and seismicity. In return, deformation accommodated by different modes of failure (e.g. brittle vs. ductile) also affects fault zone permeability and, hen... Read More about Modelling fluid flow in complex natural fault zones: implications for natural and human-induced earthquake nucleation.

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.

Friction of Mineralogically Controlled Serpentinites and Implications for Fault Weakness (2018)
Journal Article
Tesei, T., Harbord, C., De Paola, N., Collettini, C., & Viti, C. (2018). Friction of Mineralogically Controlled Serpentinites and Implications for Fault Weakness. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 123(8), 6976-6991. https://doi.org/10.1029/2018jb016058

Serpentines are common minerals in several major tectonic faults in a variety of geodynamic settings and have variable frictional strength and complex deformation processes. Here we present friction experiments carried out on a suite of serpentine sa... Read More about Friction of Mineralogically Controlled Serpentinites and Implications for Fault Weakness.

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.

Partitioning of oblique convergence coupled to the fault locking behavior of fold-and-thrust belts: evidence from the Qilian Shan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau (2017)
Journal Article
Allen, M., Walters, R., Song, S., Saville, C., De Paola, N., Ford, J., …Sun, W. (2017). Partitioning of oblique convergence coupled to the fault locking behavior of fold-and-thrust belts: evidence from the Qilian Shan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Tectonics, 36(9), 1679-1698. https://doi.org/10.1002/2017tc004476

Oblique plate convergence is common, but it is not clear how the obliquity is achieved by continental fold-and-thrust belts. We address this problem in the Qilian Shan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau, using fieldwork observations, geomorphic analysis a... Read More about Partitioning of oblique convergence coupled to the fault locking behavior of fold-and-thrust belts: evidence from the Qilian Shan, northeastern Tibetan Plateau.

Evaluating roughness scaling properties of natural active fault surfaces by means of multi-view photogrammetry (2017)
Journal Article
Corradetti, A., McCaffrey, K., De Paola, N., & Tavani, S. (2017). Evaluating roughness scaling properties of natural active fault surfaces by means of multi-view photogrammetry. Tectonophysics, 717, 599-606. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2017.08.023

Fault roughness is a measure of the dimensions and distribution of fault asperities, which can act as stress concentrators affecting fault frictional behaviour and the dynamics of rupture propagation. Studies aimed at describing fault roughness requi... Read More about Evaluating roughness scaling properties of natural active fault surfaces by means of multi-view photogrammetry.

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.

The Neogene-Quaternary geodynamic evolution of the central Calabrian Arc: A case study from the western Catanzaro Trough basin (2016)
Journal Article
Bruttoa, F., Muto, F., Loreto, M., De Paola, N., Tripodi, V., Critelli, S., & Facchin, L. (2016). The Neogene-Quaternary geodynamic evolution of the central Calabrian Arc: A case study from the western Catanzaro Trough basin. Journal of Geodynamics, 102, 95-114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jog.2016.09.002

The Catanzaro Trough is a Neogene-Quaternary basin developed in the central Calabrian Arc, between the Serre and the Sila Massifs, and filled by up to 2000 m of continental to marine deposits. It extends from the Sant’Eufemia Basin (SE Tyrrhenian Sea... Read More about The Neogene-Quaternary geodynamic evolution of the central Calabrian Arc: A case study from the western Catanzaro Trough basin.

Fault and fracture patterns in low porosity chalk and their potential influence on sub-surface fluid flow—A case study from Flamborough Head, UK (2016)
Journal Article
Sagi, D., De Paola, N., McCaffrey, K., & Holdsworth, R. (2016). Fault and fracture patterns in low porosity chalk and their potential influence on sub-surface fluid flow—A case study from Flamborough Head, UK. Tectonophysics, 690(A), 35-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tecto.2016.07.009

To better understand fault zone architecture and fluid flow in mesoscale fault zones, we studied normal faults in chalks with displacements up to 20 m, at two representative localities in Flamborough Head (UK). At the first locality, chalk contains c... Read More about Fault and fracture patterns in low porosity chalk and their potential influence on sub-surface fluid flow—A case study from Flamborough Head, UK.

Can grain size sensitive flow lubricate faults during the initial stages of earthquake propagation? (2015)
Journal Article
De Paola, N., Holdsworth, R., Viti, C., Collettini, C., & Bullock, R. (2015). Can grain size sensitive flow lubricate faults during the initial stages of earthquake propagation?. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 431, 48-58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2015.09.002

Recent friction experiments carried out under upper crustal P–T conditions have shown that microstructures typical of high temperature creep develop in the slip zone of experimental faults. These mechanisms are more commonly thought to control aseism... Read More about Can grain size sensitive flow lubricate faults during the initial stages of earthquake propagation?.

An experimental investigation into the role of phyllosilicate content on earthquake propagation during seismic slip in carbonate faults (2015)
Journal Article
Bullock, R., De Paola, N., & Holdsworth, R. (2015). An experimental investigation into the role of phyllosilicate content on earthquake propagation during seismic slip in carbonate faults. Journal of Geophysical Research. Solid Earth, 120(5), 3187-3207. https://doi.org/10.1002/2015jb011914

Carbonate faults commonly contain small amounts of phyllosilicate in their slip zones, due to pressure solution and/or clay smear. To assess the effect of phyllosilicate content on earthquake propagation in carbonate faults, friction experiments were... Read More about An experimental investigation into the role of phyllosilicate content on earthquake propagation during seismic slip in carbonate faults.

The signature and mechanics of earthquake ruptures along shallow creeping faults in poorly lithified sediments (2014)
Journal Article
Balsamo, F., Aldega, L., De Paola, N., Faoro, I., & Storti, F. (2014). The signature and mechanics of earthquake ruptures along shallow creeping faults in poorly lithified sediments. Geology, 42(5), 435-438. https://doi.org/10.1130/g35272.1

Seismic slip episodically occurring along shallow creeping faults in poorly lithified sediments represents an unsolved paradox, largely due to our poor understanding of the mechanics governing creeping faults and the lack of documented geological evi... Read More about The signature and mechanics of earthquake ruptures along shallow creeping faults in poorly lithified sediments.

Lithological controls on the deformation mechanisms operating within carbonate-hosted faults during the seismic cycle (2013)
Journal Article
Bullock, R. J., De Paola, N., Holdsworth, R. E., & Trabucho-Alexandre, J. (2014). Lithological controls on the deformation mechanisms operating within carbonate-hosted faults during the seismic cycle. Journal of Structural Geology, 58, 22-42. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsg.2013.10.008

A significant proportion of moderate-large earthquakes, plus aftershocks, nucleate within and propagate through upper-crustal carbonate-dominated sequences, where the effects of lithological variations on fault behaviour are poorly understood. The Gu... Read More about Lithological controls on the deformation mechanisms operating within carbonate-hosted faults during the seismic cycle.