Feedback effects in which buffering of infiltrated fluid composition alters the permeability of the host rock must now be considered. Anisotropic interfacial energies will affect solid-fluid dihedral angles. Where fluid composition or ambient conditions prevent intergranular flow, microcracks and fractures must accommodate fluid advection. These data suggest a possible delineation of intergranular flow and microfracture flow regimes in quartzose rocks on the basis of fluid composition. They concluded that crack and seal events lasted approximately to years with a cumulative duration of to years.
Some veins show textural evidence for having remained open for to years.
The potential extent of fluid-rock interaction afforded by fracture flow is controlled by the spatial distribution of fractures. Manning suggested that the fractal dimension of each vein set can therefore be used to quantify the degree to which fracture flow was channelized or pervasive.