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Microfabrics and Deformation Mechanisms of Gorleben Rock Salt

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Microfabrics and deformation mechanisms of Gorleben rock salt Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Naturwissenschaen vorgelegt am Fachbereich Geowissenschaen / Geographie der Johann Wolfgang-Goethe Universität in Frankfurt am Main von Nicolas Thiemeyer aus Frankfurt am Main Frankfurt am Main (2015) (D30) Vom Fachbereich Geowissenschaften / Geographie der Johann Wolfgang Goethe - Universität als Dissertation angenommen Dekan: Prof. Dr. Ulrich Achatz Gutachter: Prof. Dr. Gernold Zulauf Dr. habil. Jörg Hammer Datum der Disputation: 20.5.2016 Dedicated to Tanja Acknowledgements Prof. Gernold Zulauf is sincerely thanked for giving me the opportunity to work in the Gorleben project. I am deeply indebted to his permanent support, critical remarks and his very pleasant nature, which made me feel very comfortable working in his group and the Geoscience department. He was always available for my requests. Most importantly, I am proud and grateful for all his trust in my work over many years. Dr. Jörg Hammer is greatly acknowledged who has finally made this thesis possible with all the support from the BGR and his personal interest and encouragement. It was a pleasure to contribute to such an important subject and to work in a competent team of scientists. Especially his trust in my person and his open-minded attitude for new methods and techniques has significantly increased the meaning of my work and my enthusiasm. His support for my person and for many other scientists is far beyond the normal case. Dr. Jörg Habersetzer essentially influenced my career. His expertise in CT imaging has offered me a new and extremely interesting research direction, which is now a major part in my life. Our shared findings and experiences collected in many hours working at the CT lab have considerably enriched my work. Due to his tremendous support and his pleasant and positive manner my passion for CT imaging has developed. During the entire time we have been working together, I have never felt like an assistant but more like his colleague honored with his confidence and entrusted responsibilities. His personality has inspired me. Maximilian Pusch is kindly acknowledged for his help with all the rock salt samples and his fast and reliable support concerning questions and discussions. His enthusiasm and his skills considerably contributed to this thesis. Michael Mertineit is thanked for critical discussions, many enriching EBSD sessions and important contributions to my work. I would like to thank all the guys from the BGR in Hannover for fruitful discussions, interesting meetings, important tips and valuable talks, especially Dr. Christian Ostertag-Henning, Dr. Michael Schramm, Dr. Otto Schulze and Gerhard Mingerzahn. Dr. Jolien Linckens is thanked for her help with the EBSD measurements, critical discussions and her pleasant nature. She was an awesome neighbor. Mark Peinl has helped me a lot with all questions concerning IT, computers and CT data processing. His Page 4 Acknowledgements friendly and reliable nature has significantly enriched my days in the laboratory. Dr. Thomas Götte has supported me in all questions and techniques regarding fluid inclusions. His valuable remarks on fluid dynamics and his spontaneous participation in the project are kindly acknowledged. Maria Bladt has supported my work in the lab preparing thick and thin sections. I really enjoyed all the experimenting and testing in order to successively improve the preparation techniques for rock salt. Wolfgang Schiller is thanked for his help in all facets of microscopy. Dr. Beverley Tkalcec is deeply thanked for her help concerning English. More importantly, our shared academic way has built a real friendship with her, the most positive and warm-hearted person I know. Stuart, Filip and Thomas, thank you guys for all the non-scientific stuff. My family is thanked for everything. All of you have supported the path I have chosen, and I am eternally grateful to have you. Tanja, I am deeply grateful for all your support, patience and your love. Page 5 Abstract This thesis presents microstructural investigations of rock salt from the central part of the Gorleben salt dome (Northern Germany). The main emphasis was to characterize the rock salt microfabrics, to identify operating deformation mechanisms in halite and anhydrite and to decipher the macro- and microstructural distribution of hydrocarbons, which have been encountered during the underground exploration of the salt dome. The microfabrics of the Knäuel- and the Streifensalz formation indicate that strain-induced grain boundary migration has been active during deformation of halite. Crystal plastic deformation of halite is further documented by lattice bending, subgrain formation and minor subgrain rotation. Evidence for pressure solution of halite has not been found, but cannot be excluded because of the small grain size, the lack of LPO and the low differential stress (1.1 - 1.3 MPa) as deduced from subgrain-size piezometry. Solution precipitation creep was proven for intercalated anhydrite layers and clusters, which have been deformed in the brittle-ductile regime. Brittle deformation of anhydrite in terms of boudinage and fracturing was counteracted by viscous creep of halite which caused a re-sealing of fractures and a re- establishing of the characteristic sealing capacity of rock salt. Hydrocarbons are mainly located along cross cut 1 West of the Gorleben exploration mine and are heterogeneously distributed in the rock salt. They are incorporated in the rock salt foliation in the form of streaks, dispersed clouds, clusters and isolated patches. On the micro-scale, hydrocarbons are trapped along grain boundaries of halite and/or anhydrite, in micro-capillary tubes of anhydrite and in pore space of the rare rock salt with elevated porosity (< 1.26 vol.-%). Such elevated porosities correlate with elevated hydrocarbon concentrations of several hundred ppm. The overall concentrations of hydrocarbons, however, are very low (< 0.05 wt.-%). Elevated porosity is depicted to be a remnant originating from an early stage of salt uplift when fluid and hydrocarbons have migrated and spread from the Staßfurt-Karbonat (z2SK) into the superjacent Gorleben Hauptsalz. During halokinesis and the strong reworking of the salt body hydrocarbons have been redistributed and dismembered resulting in the isolated present-day occurrences. The distribution of hydrocarbons shows no relation to local variations in the rock salt fabric. The microstructures of hydrocarbon-bearing and hydrocarbon-free Gorleben rock salt are not distinguishable from each other. Likewise, the presence of hydrocarbons should not have influenced the mechanical behavior or the rock salt as indicated by the microfabrics studied and by geomechanical data. The pure amounts of hydrocarbons are too low for any detectable impact on the barrier properties of this part of rock salt. Although hydrocarbons have migrated into the Gorleben Hauptsalz during an early stage of salt uplift when the sealing capacity of rock salt was diminished, the major implication of their isolated distribution patterns is that the Gorleben rock salt was able to regain its sealing capacity during subsequent deformation and re-equilibration. Former migration pathways for fluid and hydrocarbons have been healed and do not exist anymore. The application of X-ray computed tomography (CT) allows the 3D visualization and quantification of Page 6 Abstract anhydrite, pore space and fluid phases located along grain-boundaries or trapped as intracrystalline inclusions. The 3D reconstruction of anhydrite clusters and pore space for the same sample reveals different spatial distribution patterns. This fact implies that anhydrite is not responsible for such elevated pore space in the rock salt studied, which has been largely closed during the polyphase deformation history of the Gorleben salt dome. High-resolution nanoCT scans (≤ 1 µm voxel size) of single intra- and intercrystalline fluid inclusions in rock salt enable a characterization of gaseous, solid and liquid phases inside single fluid inclusions and give exact information on morphology and shape. The 3D reconstruction of grain boundary fluid inclusions allows the amount, volumes, surface areas or diameters of various types to be determined. Non-destructive X-ray CT imaging is presented as very useful tool to characterize the structural inventory of rock salt. This non-destructive technique offers new perspectives for microstructural studies and for a wide range of research in structural geology, in general. Page 7 Kurzfassung Die vorliegende Arbeit präsentiert mikrostrukturelle Untersuchungen an Steinsalz aus dem Zentralteil des Salzstockes Gorleben (Norddeutschland). Ein Schwerpunkt dieser Arbeit bestand darin, die Steinsalz-Mikrogefüge zu charakterisieren, aktive Deformationsmechanismen in Halit und Anhydrit zu identifizieren und die makro- und mikroskopische Verteilung von Kohlenwasserstoffen zu entschlüsseln, die während der Unter-Tage-Erkundung des Salzstockes angetroffen worden sind. Die Mikrogefüge der Knäuel- und Streifensalz-Formation bezeugen, dass Strain-induzierte Grenzflächenwanderung während der Deformation im Halit aktiv gewesen ist. Kristallplastische Deformation von Halit ist zudem anhand von Gitterverbiegung, Subkornbildung und schwacher Subkornrotation dokumentiert. Evidenz für Drucklösung ist im Halit nicht festgestellt worden, kann jedoch aufgrund der geringen Korngröße, dem Fehlen einer kristallographischen Vorzugsorientierung
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