Faults and their deeper level equivalents, shear zones, are localized regions of intense deformation within the Earth. They are recognized at all scales from micro to plate boundary, and are important examples of the nature of heterogeneous deformation in natural rocks. Faults and shear zones are significant as they profoundly influence the location, architecture and evolution of a broad range of geological phenomenao The topography and bathymetry of the Earth's surface is marked by mountain belts and sedimentary basins that are controlled by faults and shear zoneso In addition, faults and shear zones control fluid migration and transport including hydrothermal and hydrocarbon systems. Once faults and shear zones are established, they are often long-lived features prone to multiple reactivation over very large time-scales. This collection of papers addresses lithospheric deformation and the rheology of shear zones, together with processes of partitioning and the unravelling of fault and shear zone histories.

Hydrothermal mineralization is usually structurally controlled so it is important to understand the role of faulting and fracturing in enhancing rock permeability and facilitating fluid flow and mass transfer. This is the main theme of this interdisciplinary volume and the papers included are intended to provide an overview of current ideas at the interfaces of structural geology, fluid flow and mineralization research.

Proterozoic Orogens of India: A Critical Window to Gondwana provides a unique opportunity to understand a cross-section of the well-exposed and best-studied part of Earth's crust and the processes of continental collision. It covers pulses of reworking processes and their impact on magmatism, metamorphism and deformational history of Proterozoic orogens vis-à-vis the supercontinental formation. The details of structural architecture, crustal blocks, shear zone systems, magmatism, metamorphism, geochemical and isotopic signatures, mineralization and tectonic models of all the Proterozoic orogens of India are discussed along with excellent illustrations reflecting the field-based, multi-scale structural and geological data sets.The spatial distribution, geometry, kinematics and transpressional strain of the shear zone systems (mostly suture zones), which are critical to all conceptual models dealing with tectono-metamorphic history of Proterozoic orogens of India, are also covered. The book summarizes and integrates the state-of -the art understanding of the structural architecture, lithological assemblages, petrological, geochemical, geochronological and geophysical aspects of the Proterozoic orogens of India. - Includes a much needed state-of-the-art tectonic summary of the voluminous data that has emerged from the Protrozoic orogens of India in the last 2-3 decades - Authored by a well-established expert with more than 30 years of experience in the field based, multi-scale structural geological studies of the ancient orogens of India - Covers up-to-date reviews and models of Proterozoic orogens developed in the Indian shield over the past 2.5 billion years of Earth history

Faults are primary focuses of both fluid migration and deformation in the upper crust. The recognition that faults are typically heterogeneous zones of deformed material, not simple discrete fractures, has fundamental implications for the way geoscientists predict fluid migration in fault zones, as well as leading to new concepts in understanding seismic/aseismic strain accommodation. This book captures current research into understanding the complexities of fault-zone internal structure, and their control on mechanical and fluid-flow properties of the upper crust. A wide variety of approaches are presented, from geological field studies and laboratory analyses of fault-zone and fault-rock properties to numerical fluid-flow modelling, and from seismological data analyses to coupled hydraulic and rheological modelling. The publication aims to illustrate the importance of understanding fault-zone complexity by integrating such diverse approaches, and its impact on the rheological and fluid-flow behaviour of fault zones in different contexts.

Scientific understanding of fluid flow in rock fracturesâ€"a process underlying contemporary earth science problems from the search for petroleum to the controversy over nuclear waste storageâ€"has grown significantly in the past 20 years. This volume presents a comprehensive report on the state of the field, with an interdisciplinary viewpoint, case studies of fracture sites, illustrations, conclusions, and research recommendations. The book addresses these questions: How can fractures that are significant hydraulic conductors be identified, located, and characterized? How do flow and transport occur in fracture systems? How can changes in fracture systems be predicted and controlled? Among other topics, the committee provides a geomechanical understanding of fracture formation, reviews methods for detecting subsurface fractures, and looks at the use of hydraulic and tracer tests to investigate fluid flow. The volume examines the state of conceptual and mathematical modeling, and it provides a useful framework for understanding the complexity of fracture changes that occur during fluid pumping and other engineering practices. With a practical and multidisciplinary outlook, this volume will be welcomed by geologists, petroleum geologists, geoengineers, geophysicists, hydrologists, researchers, educators and students in these fields, and public officials involved in geological projects.