In the depths of a golden mine in South Africa , scientist areplanning to exercise deep stillin rules of order to arrive at the fault tune of an quake . It might fathom like the kickoff of a low - budget sci - fi horror film , but itcould help us understandmore about how energy is released when a rupture spread .
drill into a error line is typically an unbelievably expensive venture , often costing tens of billion of dollars . In South Africa , however , defect lines rupture several time a year just ten of cadence from dynamic working mine shafts . This gives researcher an unbelievable opportunity to get close to these lines and study what is go on within them .
In 2014 , one of these note slipped right next to a gold mine 3 kilometre ( 1.8 miles ) below the Earth’s surface near the South African town of Orkney . It make a M5.5 earthquake , the largest the Carry Nation has experienced in at least half a century , with aftershocks continuing to ripple from the faulting line . As part of the ongoing Drilling into Seismogenic Zones project , the researchers need to figure the mine anddrill down a further 750 meters ( 2,450 feet)to the defect .
The South African mine bid a uncommon chance to get a view of a fault line at relatively piffling cost . Not only that , it will also give the geologist a glimpse of what a new fault looks like . Most of the meter , investigator only get access to shift line – like the San Andreas fault – that have ruptured hundreds , perhaps thousand of times . These active fault fill with rock flour , or OK - powered rock , and muddy the waters .
But it ’s think that the geological fault at the bottom of the mine has only ever ruptured once , or possibly a smattering of prison term at most . This means that it is relatively free of the detritus and wear of more active faults . The researcher hope it can therefore allow for sixth sense into how the vitality loose from the severance is dissipate into warmth , strain , seismic wave , and the quelling of rock ‘n’ roll .
They also trust to answersome other questionsfrom the intestine of the mine . Some of the investigator are keen to know whether or not the faults privilege sure microbes . They will place equipment that is trip by seismal activity into the geological fault for rule out . The hypothesis is that when the lines rupture , they publish a pulse of hydrogen , which bacterium thrive on .
The study will also assist the mine operators . In such a seismically active region , the companies are obviously interested about triggering more quakes , which have antecedently make fatalities . This enquiry , therefore , may provide sixth sense into how human activity can trigger earthquakes .
[ H / T : Science Magazine ]
