Research Projects

A connected network of fractures greatly enhances rock permeability. Therefore, understanding permeability requires a thorough analysis of both individual fractures and their network architecture. In the upper crust, fractures are pervasive and form complex network systems that critically influence rock strength, geophysical properties, and fluid permeability. These networks are controlled by several factors, including pre-existing anisotropy, regional stress orientation, and fluid pressure. Understanding fracture networks is essential for a range of geoscientific applications, such as radioactive waste disposal, fluid-induced seismicity, geothermal resource modeling, etc. This project focuses on characterizing the origin and topology of fracture networks within the Chitradurga Schist Belt (CSB), a granite-greenstone terrain in the Western Dharwar Craton, India, in order to quantify rock permeability in the region. The CSB comprises metavolcanic and metasedimentary rocks intruded by younger granites, all of which exhibit dense and variably oriented fracture systems. Systematic documentation of fracture geometry, intensity, density, and connectivity across these lithologies will be carried out to understand their spatial variability, network evolution, and permeability. Preliminary observations suggest that metavolcanic rocks exhibit higher fracture density and connectivity, while fracture patterns in the granites vary regionally, despite a shared common tectonic regime. This study aims to identify the factors controlling these variations such as host rock rheology, ambient stress state, and proximity to shear zones and to explore their implications for hydrothermal mineralization, since the ore deposits in this region are closely associated with fracture networks and permeability.