Drilling into an Earthquake Fault

In summary, a group of Japanese scientists wants to drill into faults of recent earthquakes from the bottom of South African mines, which has sparked some concerns about potential consequences. However, drilling into faults is a common practice and this specific project offers a unique opportunity to study a fresh and seismically active fault.
  • #1
BillTre
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Some Japanese scientists want to drill from the bottom of S. African mines into faults of recent earthquakes.
Science news story here.
 
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  • #2
Don't let them anywhere near to Yellowstone! This gives a totally new perspective for some guy's travel bans ...
 
  • #3
BillTre said:
Some Japanese scientists want to drill from the bottom of S. African mines into faults of recent earthquakes.
Science news story here.

Strange article and project. I read the first sentence and rolled my eyes ... guys have been drilling into, through and digging across faults for years
and generally pick the ones at the surface for ease of access.
Why do it at the bottom of a deep and difficult to access mine boggles the mind ... seems so silly.

Dave
 
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Likes jim mcnamara
  • #5
I dunno, sounds pretty cool to me! It's not just any fault: it's a fresh -- seismically active -- fault!
 
  • #6
A drop in the bucket...maybe they will learn something but they won't be affecting.
 

What is an earthquake fault?

An earthquake fault is a fracture in the Earth's crust where two blocks of rock are moving relative to each other. This movement can cause earthquakes, which are the shaking or trembling of the Earth's surface.

How deep do you have to drill to reach an earthquake fault?

The depth required to reach an earthquake fault can vary depending on the location and type of fault. In some cases, faults can be reached at depths of a few hundred meters, while others may require drilling to depths of several kilometers.

What tools are used to drill into an earthquake fault?

There are several types of tools that can be used to drill into an earthquake fault. These include rotary drilling rigs, which use a rotating drill bit to cut through the rock, and diamond coring drills, which use a diamond-tipped drill bit to collect core samples of the rock.

Why is it important to drill into an earthquake fault?

Drilling into an earthquake fault can provide valuable information about the structure and behavior of the fault. This information can be used to better understand and predict earthquakes, as well as to assess the potential risks and hazards associated with living near a fault.

What are the potential risks and challenges of drilling into an earthquake fault?

There are several risks and challenges associated with drilling into an earthquake fault. These include the potential for triggering an earthquake, the difficulty of drilling through hard or unstable rock, and the cost and logistical challenges of conducting such drilling projects. It is important for scientists to carefully plan and assess these risks before attempting to drill into an earthquake fault.

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