Field and numerical studies of anisotropic rocks (POLARIS)

The physical properties of natural rocks are never uniform in all spatial orientations but planar structures, like bedding, layering or schistosity results in an anisotropy. When rocks deform at greater depths and temperatures by ductile deformation, little is known about the effects of viscous anisotropy, especially, when it comes to large strain and therefore the effects are essentially ignored by structural geologists. In this project we will investigate viscous anisotropy by means of numerical modeling and compare the results with quantitative high-resolution mapping of microscopic structures in rocks using scanning electron microscopes and x-ray computer tomography in order to capture the full 3D shapes. Additionally, the up-scaled model results will be also applied to selected large-scale tectonic structures in layered rocks. The natural examples will be interpreted based on seismic sections and own fieldwork using high- resolution drone mapping of selected sections the Northern Calcareous Alps (Austria) and in the Moravo- Silesian Culm Basin (Czech Republic). The application range of the expected project results spans problems from the dynamics of micro shear zones to deformation of the Earths crust, which bear significant scientific and societal relevance.