Imaging the micromechanics of frictional sliding in volcanic faults

Important volcanic processes are underpinned by the frictional properties of fault systems, and knowledge of volcanic fault mechanics is key to interpreting monitoring data and supporting the forecasting of eruptions. However, the micro-scale origins of fault friction in volcanic environments remain unclear. This project will apply an innovative protocol to image the evolution of a volcanic fault surface during slip episodes under a range of different effective and normal stress conditions, temperatures and slip rates. Fast 2D co-slip radiographies will be integrated with high-resolution before-and-after 3D tomographies to track strain and damage evolution on fault surfaces. Analysis of these images will provide quantitative metrics on fault plane- and gouge evolution, allowing us to link rate-and-state-dependent friction data with the underlying microphysics. This proposal is supported through the EXCITE network (https://excite-network.eu).