Carbon and oxygen isotope fractionation of carbonate rocks in the fault zone of Wenchuan earthquake:Implications for the mechanism of fault healing

The outcrop and microscopic structure analysis of Zhaojiagou section at Leigu Town in Beichuan area of Wenchuan earthquake fault zone revealed that multi-phase veins crisscross and the breccia has been cemented.The isotope analysis of carbonate minerals related to fault rocks shows that the source of a large amount of dolomite in the fault breccia and veins should be the Mgrich fluid in the fault zone, and the carbon and oxygen isotopes exhibit significant differentiation.The δ¹⁸O and δ¹³C values of breccia are more close to values of surrounding rocks of limestone, and the veins and matrix exhibit heavy isotope losses. It is found that the δ¹³C values of the coseismic thermal decomposition model is obviously higher than the real values and the water-rock interaction model can form this differentiation result, as shown by comparison of these two possible models.Therefore, the surface water recirculation caused by the upwelling of deep fluids may be the significant cause of the fault rapid healing after earthquake. The coseismic rupture and inter-seismic healing form a complete fault system.