Impact of Mineral Interface Network Topology on the Micromechanical Properties of Central Quartz Grains in Shale: Rigid Constraint and Compliant Decoupling

Impact of Mineral Interface Network Topology on the Micromechanical Properties of Central Quartz Grains in Shale: Rigid Constraint and Compliant Decoupling | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Impact of Mineral Interface Network Topology on the Micromechanical Properties of Central Quartz Grains in Shale: Rigid Constraint and Compliant Decoupling YUNFEI GUO, Hucheng Deng, Jianhua He, Ruixue Li This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8778143/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Under Review Version 1 posted 6 You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract The accurate prediction of shale's macroscopic mechanical behavior has long been limited by insufficient understanding of its micro-scale heterogeneity. Traditional rock physics models often overlook micro-scale heterogeneity by assuming constant mineral properties, failing to explain the significant mechanical variability observed in experiments. To overcome the limitations of component-based analysis, we integrated high-resolution SEM-EDS with targeted nanoindentation to investigate how interface network topology controls the micromechanical response of central quartz grains in the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation shale (Sichuan Basin, China). A "weighted interface constraint strength coefficient" ( C eff ) was proposed to quantify the local micromechanical environment. Results indicate that central quartz grains exhibit significant micromechanical property variability (CV > 14%), which is governed by the mineral interface network topology. Specifically, high -C eff rigid interlocking networks enhance the mechanical performance of central quartz grains through a "rigid constraint stiffening effect." Conversely, low- C eff weak wrapping networks trigger a "compliant decoupling weakening effect" inducing interface debonding and attenuating apparent mechanical properties of central quartz grains. Further analysis reveals that the variation in interface network constraints is essentially a micromechanical differentiation resulting from the competitive evolution between chemical pressure solution and mechanical compaction. The diagenetic evolution model of mineral interface network micromechanical differentiation established in this study lays a theoretical foundation for shifting shale brittleness evaluation from a "composition-oriented" to a "topology-oriented" paradigm, offering significant implications for identifying fracturing "sweet spots" in deep shale gas reservoirs. Shale micromechanics Nanoindentation test Interface network topology Micromechanical heterogeneity Diagenetic evolution Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Under Review Version 1 posted Reviews received at journal 27 Apr, 2026 Reviewers agreed at journal 27 Apr, 2026 Reviewers invited by journal 27 Apr, 2026 Editor assigned by journal 05 Feb, 2026 Submission checks completed at journal 05 Feb, 2026 First submitted to journal 03 Feb, 2026 You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8778143","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":632821795,"identity":"00a68513-9b6c-49af-8221-c7449c9774d8","order_by":0,"name":"YUNFEI GUO","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Chengdu University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"YUNFEI","middleName":"","lastName":"GUO","suffix":""},{"id":632821798,"identity":"bd576e78-2570-4fce-8492-1a3c2c11c2b5","order_by":1,"name":"Hucheng Deng","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA+0lEQVRIiWNgGAWjYDCCAwwMzEAqAYgZHzCwgcUMiNbCbADUIkGSFjYJorTwHe89/LqwzS6PX7r9WsWPssN1DOzN2yQYau7g1CJ55lya9cy25GLJOWfKbvacOyzBwHOsTILh2DOcWgxu5JgZ87YdSNxwIyftNmMbUItEjpkEY8Nh3Fruv4Fo2Q/UUgzWIv+GgJYbPMaPwbZIpB9jhtjCg1+L5JkcM2aec8mJM27kMEv2nEuXbONJK7ZIOIZbC9/xM8afecrsEvtnpD/88KPMmp+f/fDGGx9qcGthAEcHGPBAogOcABLwaQDG5AcIzf4Av7pRMApGwSgYsQAAy+FWqP69BSIAAAAASUVORK5CYII=","orcid":"","institution":"Chengdu University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Hucheng","middleName":"","lastName":"Deng","suffix":""},{"id":632821799,"identity":"16d2dba7-ab9e-43af-a0b6-80181dcaef2d","order_by":2,"name":"Jianhua He","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Chengdu University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Jianhua","middleName":"","lastName":"He","suffix":""},{"id":632821800,"identity":"6aaab0a4-8e74-40c6-9bd0-20856316c4ff","order_by":3,"name":"Ruixue Li","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Chengdu University of Technology","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Ruixue","middleName":"","lastName":"Li","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-02-03 16:08:21","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8778143/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8778143/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":108805152,"identity":"16c37b20-2bb2-459f-9deb-242ebe557cfb","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-05-08 15:25:00","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":1383399,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"SCISN20260204.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8778143/v1_covered_fee11d1c-a817-499c-8889-ccd0ff0b4db5.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"Impact of Mineral Interface Network Topology on the Micromechanical Properties of Central Quartz Grains in Shale: Rigid Constraint and Compliant Decoupling","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":false,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":false,"email":"","identity":"journal-of-petroleum-exploration-and-production-technology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":false,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"VoR Journals","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false},"keywords":"Shale micromechanics, Nanoindentation test, Interface network topology, Micromechanical heterogeneity, Diagenetic evolution","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8778143/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8778143/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eThe accurate prediction of shale's macroscopic mechanical behavior has long been limited by insufficient understanding of its micro-scale heterogeneity. Traditional rock physics models often overlook micro-scale heterogeneity by assuming constant mineral properties, failing to explain the significant mechanical variability observed in experiments. To overcome the limitations of component-based analysis, we integrated high-resolution SEM-EDS with targeted nanoindentation to investigate how interface network topology controls the micromechanical response of central quartz grains in the Lower Cambrian Qiongzhusi Formation shale (Sichuan Basin, China). A \"weighted interface constraint strength coefficient\" (\u003cem\u003eC\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003eeff\u003c/sub\u003e) was proposed to quantify the local micromechanical environment. Results indicate that central quartz grains exhibit significant micromechanical property variability (CV \u0026gt; 14%), which is governed by the mineral interface network topology. Specifically, high\u003cem\u003e-C\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003eeff\u003c/sub\u003e\u003cem\u003e \u003c/em\u003erigid interlocking networks enhance the mechanical performance of central quartz grains through a \"rigid constraint stiffening effect.\" Conversely, low-\u003cem\u003eC\u003c/em\u003e\u003csub\u003eeff\u003c/sub\u003e weak wrapping networks trigger a \"compliant decoupling weakening effect\" inducing interface debonding and attenuating apparent mechanical properties of central quartz grains. Further analysis reveals that the variation in interface network constraints is essentially a micromechanical differentiation resulting from the competitive evolution between chemical pressure solution and mechanical compaction. The diagenetic evolution model of mineral interface network micromechanical differentiation established in this study lays a theoretical foundation for shifting shale brittleness evaluation from a \"composition-oriented\" to a \"topology-oriented\" paradigm, offering significant implications for identifying fracturing \"sweet spots\" in deep shale gas reservoirs.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Impact of Mineral Interface Network Topology on the Micromechanical Properties of Central Quartz Grains in Shale: Rigid Constraint and Compliant Decoupling","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-05-06 12:35:15","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8778143/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0},{"type":"editorInvitedReview","content":"","date":"2026-04-27T16:33:51+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewerAgreed","content":"126652786990759566258475493901977717718","date":"2026-04-27T16:25:56+00:00","index":"hide","fulltext":""},{"type":"reviewersInvited","content":"","date":"2026-04-27T16:20:42+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"editorAssigned","content":"","date":"2026-02-05T11:42:57+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"checksComplete","content":"","date":"2026-02-05T11:41:00+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""},{"type":"submitted","content":"Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology","date":"2026-02-03T15:41:25+00:00","index":"","fulltext":""}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":false,"email":"","identity":"journal-of-petroleum-exploration-and-production-technology","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":false,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"","title":"Journal of Petroleum Exploration and Production Technology","twitterHandle":"","acdcEnabled":false,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"VoR Journals","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":false}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"b4d6bd7d-df27-4709-bb88-10317d8b4a89","owner":[],"postedDate":"May 6th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"under-review","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-06T12:35:16+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-05-06 12:35:15","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8778143","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8778143","identity":"rs-8778143","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}