In a Spin: Raman spectroscopy on organic-carbon in fault zones

Over the past decade raman spectroscopy has been used to investigate an increasing range of geological challenges. It’s application in fault zones to track strain is an emerging area. Difficulties in the applications of raman spectroscopy to fault zones stem from deciphering the effects of the multitude of processes occurring in a fault zone on carbon structure and hence raman spectroscopy. Here we consider a range of raman data acquired from fault zones, the processes occurring in the fault zones and how these could influence the raman spectroscopy signal. Our samples include carbonaceous material from natural brittle and ductile fault zones as well as synthetic fault gouge and show that if we are to successfully use raman spectroscopy to determine strain in fault zones we need to better understand fault zone processes and their interaction with carbonaceous material.