Abstract Several drilling projects have been conducted through active faults with the aim of learning about the geology of the fault zones and tentatively correlating the structure and mineralogy of the fault zones with their seismological behaviour during recent earthquakes. Here we present the major results obtained from structural and mineralogical studies of core samples retrieved from the dextral reverse strike-slip Nojima Fault (Japan) within granitic rocks following the Kobe earthquake (1995), and from the Chelungpu Thrust Fault (Taiwan) within alternating silts and shales following the Chi-chi earthquake (1999). We show how these projects, despite not fullfilling all their objectives, have still contributed to a better geological knowledge of the fault zones, to a better characterization of the slip zones related to the recent earthquakes particularly of their thickness, microstructures and deformation mechanisms, and to a better understanding of the nature and role of fluids within the fault zone. They have also led to new questions, and to new approaches, for studying fault-rock samples. For all of these reasons, they have stimulated international scientific research into fault-zone geology.