Frakturreste

Frakturreste is a term used in geology and materials science to describe the residual fragments and debris that remain after a fracture event in a solid. It encompasses the small to mid-sized particles, powders, and altered matrix that occupy fracture surfaces, fracture bands, or surrounding gouge zones. The concept focuses on the morphology, composition, and spatial distribution of fracture remnants rather than on the intact, unbroken material.

The word combines roots that mean fracture or break and remnants, and its usage varies by discipline. In geology and mining engineering, frakturreste is used to characterize the material produced by rock fragmentation during faulting, rock bursting, mining excavations, or hydraulic fracturing. In each context, the exact definition may emphasize different scales or textures, from microcrystalline debris within a fault gouge to coarser fracture fragments at a mine face.

Characteristics of frakturreste depend on the parent material, the fracture mechanism, and the environmental conditions during formation. Common features include a heterogeneous mix of mineral grains, angular fragments, and altered groundmass, with particle size distributions reflecting the energy of the fracture process. Fluids, temperature, and pressure can modify the mineralogical makeup and bonding of the remnants, influencing subsequent rock properties.

Analytical approaches to frakturreste involve petrographic microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray computed tomography, and geochemical spectroscopy. These methods help determine fracture history, stress conditions, and the potential impact of fracture remnants on rock strength, permeability, and stability in engineering projects and natural settings.