REFLECTIONS ON FAULTS: BEN VAN DER PLUIJM’S CONTRIBUTIONS TO OUR UNDERSTANDING OF SHEAR FABRIC, CLAY NANOCOATINGS, AND FAULT ZONE PROPERTIES

Ben van der Pluijm has made seminal contributions to our understanding of the strength and frictional behavior of tectonic fault zones. Together with his students, he has led the way in quantifying shear fabric and illuminating their role, and that of clay nanocoatings, in determining fault zone properties. His work on X-ray texture goniometry has led to fundamental contributions in our understanding of how shear fabric and volumetrically-minor amounts of clay can cause fault weakness. Ben’s contributions have been particularly impactful in connection with the San Andreas Fault and the SAFOD project. There, and in many other areas, his research contributions include both a direct impact on the fundamental scientific questions and their advancement via scientific leadership. Ben is widely recognized for his selfless promotion of the contributions of others and for his leadership role in advancing the fields of structural geology and tectonics. This talk focuses on laboratory and field studies of fault zone shear fabric, clay nanocoatings and fault weakness.