Abstract
In this work a mechanistic model is presented to describe the compaction behavior of rock fractures mediated by pressure solution and free-face dissolution/precipitation. This model addresses the two distinct, simultaneous dissolution processes at contacting asperities and free walls within fractures. Specifically, a siliceous rock fracture that comprises most dominantly quartz, and a granite fracture composed of quartz, feldspars, and biotite are focused to examine differences of the permeability evolutions attributed to the composed minerals under stressed and hydrothermal conditions. Predictions utilizing the model presented in this study show a relatively good agreement with the experimental measurements for both siliceous and granite rock fractures, although an abrupt reduction observed in the early periods of the experiments is incapable of being replicated.
