oa Fault Zone Structure and Diagenetic Evolution in Porous Carbonate Rocks, Provence, France

We provide an analysis of normal fault zones exceptionally well exposed in porous calcarenites from La Fare les Oliviers (Provence, France). The fault zones crop out along their entire length due to their higher resistance to erosion compared to the porous host rock, and provide excellent exposures for detailed study. This high resistance to erosion is due to significant diagenetical and lithological modifications of the fault damage zone (i.e. pore cementation and sediment infiltration from the surface). The fault core zone is characterized by cataclastic shear and constitutes a vertical path for late gravity-driven oxidant fluids assisting karstification. The fault zone composition and structure is therefore the result of the interplay between the fault zone mechanical behaviour and the the Earth surface environement (marine vs continental).