Deformation path in high-strain zones,with reference to slip partitioning in transpressional plate-boundary regions

The current status of the kinematics and strain geometry of high-strain zone studies is briefly summarized. A general high-strain zone has a triclinic deformation path, and monoclinic shear zones are special end member cases. Fabrics observed in natural shear zones and theoretical considerations based on continuum mechanics are compatible with this conclusion. Non-steady deformation paths remain difficult to deal with, and may ultimately rely on a realistic mechanical treatment of high-strain zones which may be possible when our knowledge of the mechanical behavior of rocks under natural deformation conditions is improved. An examination of the phenomenon of slip partitioning in transpressional plate boundary regions shows that the bulk deformation path in the forearc area (trench-parallel high-strain zone) is generally triclinic. The Alpine Fault in the South Island of New Zealand provides an example of a currently active triclinic shear zone. The Southern Knee Lake shear zone of Manitoba, Canada, provides an Archean example of a triclinic shear zone.     

Localized rheological weakening by grain-size reduction during lithospheric extension

Grain-size reduction may be a possible mechanism for the origin of localized deformation in the ductile regime. I investigated the effects of grain-size reduction due to dynamic recrystallization, cataclasis, and syntectonic metamorphic reaction on the stress envelope in the lithospheric mantle during extension by using a simple one-dimensional model. In this model, the lithosphere extends uniformly with a constant strain rate, and a fall in rock strength appears as a decrease in stress. Because grain-size distribution at the onset of extension is unknown, I regarded the steady state grain-size due to dynamic recrystallization as the initial size. Then, I evaluated the maximum effects of grain-size reduction by dynamic recrystallization during extension, and consequently examined the effects of grain-size reduction by cataclasis and metamorphic reaction under conditions when dynamic recrystallization occurs significantly. I find that it is difficult to bring about localized rheological weakening by grain-size reduction owing to dynamic recrystallization. In contrast, grain-size reduction by cataclasis can cause localized weakening during extension. There is a wide-ranging rate of grain-size reduction by means of cataclasis that causes localized weakening just below the Moho. I specified the reaction from spinel-lherzolite to plagioclase-lherzolite that plays a role in grain-size reduction by syntectonic metamorphism. The reaction occurs at depths less than 35 km, which is independent of the initial thermal state of the lithosphere. Localized rheological weakening can occur if the following conditions are satisfied: (1) grain-size before the reaction is greater than 0.7 mm under dry conditions and greater than 0.5 mm under wet conditions, and it decreases down to those values by the reaction; (2) grain-size decreases down to less than initial grain-size, when the dominant deformation mechanism is GSS creep at the onset of extension. It is also noted that dry conditions are more favourable for localized weakening.     

Brittle-plastic deformation in initially dry rocks at fluid-present conditions: transient behaviour of feldspar at mid-crustal levels

We present detailed microstructural and chemical analyses from an initially dry anorthositic rock deformed during wet amphibolite facies conditions. Three different domains representing the microstructural variation of the deformed samples are investigated in detail in terms of fracture morphology and mode, grain characteristics and chemistry of present phases. Results show transient deformational behaviour where a close interaction between brittle, plastic and fluid-assisted deformation mechanisms can be observed. Our analysis allows us to describe the succession, interrelationships and effects of active mechanisms with progressively increasing strain in three so-called stages. In Stage 1, initial fracturing along cleavage planes promoted fluid influx that caused fragmentation and chemical reactions, producing fine-grained mineral assemblages in the fractures. Deformation twins and dislocations developed in clast pieces due to stress relaxation. Passive rotation of conjugate fracture sets and interconnection of intracrystalline fractures formed micro-shear-zones, constituting Stage 2. Microstructures and grain relationships indicate the activity and fluctuation between fracturing, dissolution-precipitation creep, grain boundary sliding and locally dislocation creep, reflecting the transient behaviour of brittle and plastic deformation mechanisms. Further rotation and widening of fractures into overall foliation parallel shear-bands (Stage 3) promoted strain partitioning into these areas through increased fluid influx, influence of fluid-assisted grain boundary sliding, phase mixing and presence of weak phases such as white mica. We suggest that local differences in fluid availability, volume fraction of weak phases produced by fluid present metamorphic reactions coupled with volume increase and local variations in stress concentration induced transient brittle-plastic behaviour. The studied shear-zone represents an example of the transformation of a rigid dry rock to a soft wet rock during deformation through syntectonic fracturing.     

The interplay and effects of deformation and crystallized melt on the rheology of the lower continental crust,Fiordland, New Zealand

Microstructural, electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD), and misorientation analyses of a migmatitic granulite-facies orthogneiss from the exhumed lower crust of a Cretaceous continental arc in Fiordland, New Zealand show how deformation was accommodated during and after episodes of melt infiltration and high-grade metamorphism. Microstructures in garnet, omphacite, plagioclase, and K-feldspar suggest that an early stage of deformation was achieved by dislocation creep of omphacite and plagioclase, with subsequent deformation becoming partitioned into plagioclase. Continued deformation after melt infiltration resulted in strain localization in the leucosome of the migmatite, where a change of plagioclase deformation mechanism promoted the onset of grain boundary sliding, most likely accommodated by diffusion creep, in fine recrystallized plagioclase grains. Our results suggest three distinctive transitions in the rheology of the lower crust of this continental arc, where initial weakening was primarily achieved by deformation of both omphacite and plagioclase. Subsequent strain localization in plagioclase of the leucosome indicates that the zones of former melt are weaker than the restite, and that changes in deformation mechanisms within plagioclase, and an evolution of its strength, primarily control the rheology of the lower crust during and after episodes of melting and magma addition.     

Fluid flow,metasomatism and amphibole deformation in an imbricated ophiolite,North Cascades,Washington

Metasomatic tremolite-rich mylonites are widespread in imbricate thrust slices of ultramafic rocks of the ophiolitic Ingalls Complex in Washington State. Protoliths for these amphibolite-facies mylonites were peridotite and serpentinite. Abundant syntectonic tremolite veins in the ultramafites record narrowly channelized flow of infiltrating fluids, whereas metasomatic mylonite zones record more pervasive flow. Fluids were probably released mainly by prograde devolatization reactions within serpentinite and mafic ophiolitic rocks that experienced earlier hydrothermal metamorphism.Olivine apparently deformed by dislocation creep in the mylonites. In the tremolite-rich rocks, locally preserved amphibole porphyroclasts deformed mainly by microfracturing. Acicular tremolites, which dominate the mylonites, form syntectonic overgrowths on porphyroclasts and probably record diffusive mass transfer which may have accompanied cataclasis. Acicular tremolites subsequently were folded and define both post-crystalline crenulations and polygonal arcs.Fluid flow, deformation and metamorphism were apparently complexly interrelated in the imbricate zone. Thrusts juxtaposed contrasting rock types that were sources and sinks for fluids, and shear zones focused fluid flow. Metamorphism probably facilitated deformation through the release of fluids during dehydration reactions. High fluid pressure may have led to hydraulic fracturing and may have controlled strain softening in the tremolitic mylonite zones as it favored microcracking and diffusive mass transfer over dislocation creep. Infiltrating metasomatic fluids probably play an important role in the evolution of shear zones in many ultramafic bodies during medium-grade metamorphism.     

Sustainable transpression: An examination of strain and kinematics in deforming zones with migrating boundaries

Most orogenic belts owe their development to oblique convergence and commonly have many orogen-parallel transpressional high-strain zones. To constrain the tectonic history of orogenic belts by structural and fabric analysis of rocks, it is desirable to understand quantitatively the relationship between the boundary conditions and the resulting strain distribution and kinematics in these zones. Most current models for transpression assume homogeneous deformation confined by boundaries that are fixed to material planes. This creates a strain compatibility problem at the margins of the active deforming zone and also requires that the strain rate normal to the zone boundaries increase to implausibly high values soon after the onset of oblique convergence (transpressional motion). The latter contradicts with the observation that transpressional motion can be sustained throughout an orogeny. The assumption that zone boundaries are fixed to material planes is unrealistic. The outstanding problems of current transpressional models are resolved in this paper by allowing the zone boundaries to migrate through the rock material. The consequence of zone boundary migration for the strain field and kinematics within a transpressional high-strain zone is investigated mathematically. The implications of the modeling for fabric interpretation are discussed. The modeling makes general predictions consistent with observed planar and linear fabric patterns in natural transpressional high-strain zones. It predicts that foliations in transpressional high-strain zones are subparallel to the zone boundaries regardless of variation in the imposed boundary conditions. Lineations cluster along the great circle girdle subparallel to the average foliation. The spread of the lineations may vary from point maxima to complete girdles.     

Diffusion creep and partial melting in high temperature mylonitic gneisses, Hope Valley shear zone, New England Appalachians, USA

Field, petrographic, microstructural and isotopic studies of mylonitic gneisses and associated pegmatites along the Hope Valley shear zone in southern Rhode Island indicate that late Palaeozoic deformation (c. 275 Ma) in this zone occurred at very high temperatures (>650 °C). High‐energy cuspate/lobate phase boundary microstructures, a predominance of equant to sub‐equant grains with low internal lattice strain, and mixed phase distributions indicate that diffusion creep was an important and possibly predominant deformation mechanism. Field and petrographic evidence are consistent with the presence of an intergranular melt phase during deformation, some of which collected into syntectonic pegmatites. Rb/Sr isotopic analyses of tightly sampled pegmatites and wall rocks confirm that the pegmatites were derived as partial melts of the immediately adjacent, isotopically heterogeneous mylonitic gneisses. The presence of syntectonic interstitial melts is inferred to have permitted a switch from dislocation creep to melt‐enhanced diffusion creep as the dominant mechanism in these relatively coarse‐grained mylonitic gneisses (200–500 µm syn‐deformational grain size). A switch to diffusion creep would lead to significant weakening, and may explain why the Hope Valley shear zone evolved into a major regional tectonic boundary. This work identifies conditions under which diffusion creep operates in naturally deformed granitic rocks and illuminates the deformation processes involved in the development of a tectonic boundary between two distinct Late Proterozoic (Avalonian) basement terranes.     

Plastic Deformation and Recrystallization of Garnet: A Mechanism to Facilitate Diffusion Creep

Elongate and deformed garnets from Glenelg, NW Scotland, occurwithin a thin shear zone transecting an eclogite body that hasundergone partial retrogression to amphibolite facies at circa700°C. Optical microscopy, back-scattered electron imaging,electron probe microanalysis and electron back-scatter diffractionreveal garnet sub-structures that are developed as a functionof strain. Subgrains with low-angle misorientation boundariesoccur at low strain and garnet orientations are dispersed, aroundrational crystallographic axes, across these boundaries. Towardshigh-strain areas, boundary misorientations increase and thereis a loss of crystallographic control on misorientations, whichtend towards random. In high-strain areas, a polygonal garnetmicrostructure is developed. The garnet orientations are randomlydispersed around the original single-crystal orientation. Somegarnet grains are elongate and Ca-rich garnet occurs on thefaces of elongate grains oriented normal to the foliation. Commonly,the garnet grains are admixed with matrix minerals, and, wherein contact with other phases, garnet is well faceted. We suggestthat individual garnet porphyroclasts record an evolution fromlow-strain conditions, where dislocation creep and recoveryaccommodated deformation, through increasing strain, where dynamicrecrystallization occurred by subgrain rotation, to higheststrains, where recrystallized grains were able to deform bydiffusion creep assisted grain boundary sliding with associatedrotations. KEY WORDS: diffusion creep; EBSD; garnet; plastic deformation; recrystallization     

Evidence for deformation-induced K-feldspar replacement by myrmekite

ABSTRACT Several examples of deformation-induced myrmekite have been found in two amphibolite facies mylonites derived from granitic protoliths, namely a muscovite-poor S-C mylonite and a single foliation, muscovite-poor mylonitic gneiss. Back-scattered SEM and conventional optical microscopy show that in both rock types, syntectonic myrmekitic intergrowths of oligoclase and quartz formed on the two sides of K-feldspar grains that faced the local inferred incremental shortening direction for the mylonite. Myrmekite does not occur on the two ends of the grain that faced the incremental stretching direction. The replacement of K-feldspar by plagioclase and quartz results in a volume decrease and is favoured on high normal stress sites around the grains. We suggest that the ambient temperature, pressure and chemical activities were such that the replacement reaction was favoured, but the addition of extra strain energy along the high-pressure sides of the grains localized the reaction at these sites. This energy could arise from elastic strain, or strain associated with tangled dislocations or twin boundaries. The relative roles of stress and strain energy concentrations in driving the replacement reaction are not known, but both were probably important.     

Deformation mechanism maps for feldspar rocks

Deformation mechanism maps for feldspar rocks were constructed based on recently published constitutive laws for dislocation and grain boundary diffusion creep of wet and dry plagioclase aggregates. The maps display constant temperature contours in stress-grain size space for strain rates ranging from 10⁻¹⁶ to 10⁻¹² s⁻¹.Two fields of dominance of grain boundary diffusion-controlled creep and dislocation creep are separated by a strongly grain size-sensitive transition zone. For wet rocks, diffusion-controlled creep dominates below a grain size of about 0.1–1 mm, depending on temperature, stress, strain rate and feldspar composition. Plagioclase aggregates containing up to 0.3 wt.% water as often found in natural feldspars are more than 2 orders of magnitude weaker than dry rocks. The strength of water-bearing feldspar rocks is moderately dependent on composition and water fugacity.For a grain size range of about 10–50 μm commonly observed in natural ultramylonites, the deformation maps predict that diffusion-controlled creep is dominant at greenschist to granulite facies conditions. Low viscosity estimates of 10¹⁸–10¹⁹ Pa·s from modeling postseismic stress relaxation and channel flow of the continental lower crust can only be reconciled with laboratory experiments assuming dislocation creep at high temperatures >900 °C or, at lower temperatures, diffusion creep of fine-grained rocks possibly localized in abundant high strain shear zones. For similar thermodynamic conditions and grain size, lower crustal rocks are predicted to be less than order of magnitude weaker than upper mantle rocks.     

超高压变质岩的塑性流变：显微构造和变形机制

超高压变质岩是大陆深俯冲作用的产物。超高压变质岩在深俯冲和快速折返过程中,经历了长距离地构造搬运和构造力的作用。其构造变形主要集中在韧性剪切带中,并发生强烈地塑性流变。研究超高压变质构造岩的显微构造及其变形机制对于深入了解大陆壳岩石在深俯冲过程中的流变学行为有十分重要的意义,山东仰口的超高压韧性剪切带中榴辉岩质和花岗质糜棱岩记录了超高压变形的历史。在超高压条件下的稳定矿物绿辉石、多硅白云母、兰晶石和钾长石具有不规则波状消光、亚晶界、核幔构造和动态重结晶等显微构造特征,TEM 研究揭示了大量的位错构造,表明位错蠕变是其主要的变形机制。在花岗质糜棱岩中,金红石在刚性矿物的压力影中沉积,细粒的石榴石条带平行片理延伸,都说明超高压变形过程中有流体存在,流体助力的物质扩散迁移是又一个重要的变形机制。依据现有的流变学定律估算的流变应力应该在几十兆帕以上。     

Experimental Investigation of Eclogite Rheology and Its Fabrics at High Temperature and Pressure

Eclogite plays an important role in mantle convection and geodynamics in subduction zones. An improved understanding of processes in the deeper levels of subduction zones and collision belts requires information on eclogite rheology. However, the deformation processes and associated fabrics in eclogite are not well understood. Incompatible views of deformation mechanism have been proposed for both garnet and omphacite. We present here deformation behaviour of eclogite at temperatures of 1027–1427 °C, confining pressures of 2.5–3.5 GPa, and strain rates of 1 × 10^?5 s^?1 to 5 × 10^?4 s^?1. We obtained a power‐law creep for the high temperature and pressure deformation of a ‘dry’ eclogite (50 vol.% garnet, 40% omphacite and 10% quartz) with A = 10^{3.3 ± 1.0}, n = 3.5 ± 0.4, ΔE =403 ± 30 KJ mol^?1 and ΔV = 27.2 cm³ mol^?1. The two principal minerals of eclogite have greatly different strengths. Progressive increase of garnet results in a smooth increase in strength. Analysis by electron back‐scattered diffraction shows that: (1) garnet displays pole figures with near random distributions of misorientation angle under both dry and wet conditions; (2) omphacite shows pronounced lattice preferred orientations (LPOs), suggesting a dominant dislocation creep mechanism. Further investigation into the water effects on eclogite show: (3) water content does not influence the style of omphacite fabric but increases slightly the fabric strength; (4) grain boundary processes dominate the deformation of garnet under high water fugacity or high shear‐strain conditions, yielding a random LPO similar to that of non‐deforming garnet, despite the strong shape preferred orientation (SPO) observed. {110} [001] slip may dominate the deformation of rutile. Quartz displays complicated and inconsistent LPOs in eclogite. These results are remarkably similar to observations from deformed eclogites in nature.     

伏牛山构造带变质流体脉变形特征及构造意义

伏牛山构造带由多条近平行的断裂带和夹持其间的变形岩片组成,洛南-栾川断裂带和瓦穴子-乔端断裂带为其中的两条主要断裂带。这两条断裂带虽遭受多期强烈构造活动的影响,但主造山期的构造特征至今仍然保存完好,并以中深层次的韧性剪切变形为主,形成了典型的糜棱岩和同构造期石英脉。本文从宏观、微观、超微观变形特征及年龄等方面对这些变质流体脉进行了研究,以探讨与其形成密切相关的构造活动特征、年代及其在秦岭造山带和华北板块南缘强变形带中的作用。石英脉中石英颗粒动态重结晶特征总体显示远离剪切带只有少量的膨凸式,靠近断裂带为亚颗粒式,形成核-幔结构,位错特征显示远离剪切带位错密度较小,靠近断裂带较大,位错形态显示瓦乔断裂带以挤压为主,洛南-栾川断裂带以剪切为主。两条断裂带石英脉的变形特征说明它们的糜棱岩化过程均为塑性变形中的晶质塑性变形,形成过程均为挤压在先,剪切在后。所测糜棱岩中石英脉的ESR年龄分别为372.9±30.0 Ma、275.0±20.0 Ma和218.0±20.0 Ma,真实地记录了晚加里东至中-晚海西期北秦岭的构造活动及所受影响。其中372.9±30.0 Ma是宽坪岩块向华北板块下的斜向俯冲汇聚和走滑的年代, 275.0±20.0 Ma是瓦乔断裂带的形成年龄。218.0±20.0 Ma的年龄则反映了华南、华北两大板块印支晚期全面闭合作用在秦岭造山带内部的影响。从以上3个年龄可以看出:北秦岭各构造带自北向南演化,时代上自北向南变新。     

Particle mechanics modeling of creep behavior of rockfill materials under dry and wet conditions

Rockfill is an important construction material for infrastructure engineering, such as dams, railways and airport foundations, which display a long-term post-construction settlement. However, the main mechanisms for rockfill creep and weathering influence still remain poorly understood. Particle mechanics method is used to understand the rockfill creep process under dry and wet conditions. Different bond-aging models and wetting models that represent different degradation and weakening mechanisms are compared, in order to clarify the principle and secondary mechanisms for rockfill creep and weathering influence. The results show that rockfill aggregate breakage in terms of angularity abrasion is the main source for rockfill creep under dry state. Wetting can induce additional strain mainly due to the reduction of contact friction coefficient, i.e. lubrication, and the bond strength reduction just plays a secondary role in producing additional strain. The earlier the wetting occurs during rockfill creep, the more rapidly the rockfill becomes stable. The wetting–drying cycles can induce strain evolution in a ‘stepped’ way, which is in agreement with experimental observation. The practical implications from the modeling and the outstanding issues in this study are also discussed.     

Muscovite dehydration melting: Reaction mechanisms,microstructures, and implications for anatexis

Dehydration melting of muscovite in metasedimentary sequences is the initially dominant mechanism of granitic melt generation in orogenic hinterlands. In dry (vapour-absent) crust, muscovite reacts with quartz to produce K-feldspar, sillimanite, and monzogranitic melt. When water vapour is present in excess, sillimanite and melt are the primary products of muscovite breakdown, and any K-feldspar produced is due to melt crystallization. Here we document the reaction mechanisms that control nucleation and growth of K-feldspar, sillimanite, and silicate melt in the metamorphic core of the Himalaya, and outline the microstructural criteria used to distinguish peritectic K-feldspar from K-feldspar grains formed during melt crystallization. We have characterized four stages of microstructural evolution in selected psammitic and pelitic samples from the Langtang and Everest regions: (a) K-feldspar nucleates epitaxially on plagioclase while intergrowths of fibrolitic sillimanite and the remaining hydrous melt components replace muscovite. (b) In quartzofeldspathic domains, K-feldspar replaces plagioclase by K⁺–Na⁺ cation exchange, while melt and intergrowths of sillimanite+quartz form in the aluminous domains. (c) At 7–8 vol.% melt generation, the system evolves from a closed to open system and all phases coarsen by up to two orders of magnitude, resulting in large K-feldspar porphyroblasts. (d) Preferential crystallization of residual melt on K-feldspar porphyroblasts and coarsened quartz forms an augen gneiss texture with a monzogranitic-tonalitic matrix that contains intergrowths of sillimanite+tourmaline+muscovite+apatite. Initial poikiloblasts of peritectic K-feldspar trap fine-grained inclusions of quartz and biotite by replacement growth of matrix plagioclase. During subsequent coarsening, peritectic K-feldspar grains overgrow and trap fabric-aligned biotite, resulting in a core to rim coarsening of inclusion size. These microstructural criteria enable a mass balance of peritectic K-feldspar and sillimanite to constrain the amount of free H₂O present during muscovite dehydration. The resulting modal proportion of K-feldspar in the Himalayan metamorphic core requires vapour-absent conditions during muscovite dehydration melting and leucogranite formation, indicating that the generation of large volumes of granitic melts in orogenic belts is not necessarily contingent on an external source of fluids.     

The Sierra Ballena Shear Zone in the southernmost Dom Feliciano Belt (Uruguay): evolution, kinematics, and deformation conditions

The Sierra Ballena Shear Zone (SBSZ) is part of a high-strain transcurrent system that divides the Neoproterozoic Dom Feliciano Belt of South America into two different domains. The basement on both sides of the SBSZ shows a deformation stage preceding that of the transcurrent deformation recognized as a high temperature mylonitic foliation associated with migmatization. Grain boundary migration and fluid-assisted grain boundary diffusion enhanced by partial melting were the main deformation mechanisms associated with this foliation. Age estimate of this episode is >658 Ma. The second stage corresponds to the start of transpressional deformation and the nucleation and development of the SBSZ. During this stage, pure shear dominates the deformation, and is characterized by the development of conjugate dextral and sinistral shear zones and the emplacement of syntectonic granites. This event dates to 658–600 Ma based on the age of these intrusions. The third stage was a second transpressional event at about 586 to <560 Ma that was associated with the emplacement of porphyry dikes and granites that show evidence of flattening. Deformation in the SBSZ took place, during the late stages, under regional low-grade conditions, as indicated by the metamorphic paragenesis in the supracrustals of the country rocks. Granitic mylonites show plastic deformation of quartz and brittle behavior of feldspar. A transition from magmatic to solid-state microstructures is also frequently observed in syntectonic granites. Mylonitic porphyries and quartz mylonites resulted from the deformation of alkaline porphyries and quartz veins emplaced in the shear zone. Quartz veins reflect the release of silica associated with the breakdown of feldspar to white mica during the evolution of the granitic mylonites to phyllonites, which resulted in shear zone weakening. Quartz microstructures characteristic of the transition between regime 2 and regime 3, grain boundary migration and incipient recrystallization in feldspar indicate deformation under lower amphibolite to upper greenschist conditions (550–400°C). On the other hand, the mylonitic porphyries display evidence of feldspar recrystallization suggesting magmatic or high-T solid-state deformation during cooling of the dikes.     

Tectonomagmatism in continental arcs: evidence from the Sark arc complex

The island of Sark (Channel Islands, UK) exposes syntectonic plutons and country rock gneisses within a Precambrian (Cadomian) continental arc. This Sark arc complex records sequential pulses of magmatism over a period of 7 Ma (ca. 616–609 Ma). The earliest intrusion (ca. 616 Ma) was a composite sill that shows an ultramafic base overlain by a magma-mingled net vein complex subsequently deformed at near-solidus temperatures into the amphibolitic and tonalitic Tintageu banded gneisses. The deformation was synchronous with D₂ deformation of the paragneissic envelope, with both intrusion and country rock showing flat, top-to-the-south LS fabrics. Later plutonism injected three homogeneous quartz diorite–granodiorite sheets: the Creux–Moulin pluton (150–250 m; ca. 614 Ma), the Little Sark pluton (>700 m; 611 Ma), and the Northern pluton (>500 m; 609 Ma). Similar but thinner sheets in the south (Derrible–Hogsback–Dixcart) and west (Port es Saies–Brecqhou) are interpreted as offshoots from the Creux–Moulin pluton and Little Sark pluton, respectively. All these plutons show the same LS fabric seen in the older gneisses, with rare magmatic fabrics and common solid state fabrics recording syntectonic crystallisation and cooling. The cooling rate increased rapidly with decreasing crystallisation age: >9 Ma for the oldest intrusion to cool to lower amphibolite conditions, 7–8 Ma for the Creux Moulin pluton, 5–6 Ma for the Little Sark pluton, and <3 Ma for the Northern pluton. This cooling pattern is interpreted as recording extensional exhumation during D₂. The initiation of the D₂ event is suggested to have been a response to the intrusion of the Tintageu magma which promoted a rapid increase in strain rate (>10⁻¹⁴ s⁻¹) that focussed extensional deformation into the Sark area. The increased rates of extension allowed ingress of the subsequent quartz diorite–granodiorite sheets, although strain rate slowly declined as the whole complex cooled during exhumation. The regional architecture of syntectonic Cadomian arc complexes includes flat-lying “Sark-type” and steep “Guernsey-type” domains produced synchronously in shear zone networks induced by oblique subduction: a pattern seen in other continental arcs such as that running from Alaska to California.     

Strain geometry,microstructure and mineral chemistry in metagabbro shear zones: a study of softening mechanisms during progressive mylonitization

The strain geometry, microstructure and metamorphism is described from two minor shear zones from the Chatelaudren metagabbro, N. Brittany. A serially slabbed shear zone reveals a strain geometry consistent with simple shear deformation. Strain calculations based on X trajectory angles coincide with those obtained from elliptical mineral clusters at high values of strain only. Strain profiles typically show a broad low-strain region with a narrow high-strain peak at the centre of the zones. Microstructures typically show distinct grain size reduction in both amphibole and feldspar towards the high strain region of shear zones, and this is discussed in terms of deformation mechanisms related to strain softening. A palaeostress estimate based on recrystallized feldspar grain sizes gives a differential stress of 32 MPa for the low strain region and 119 MPa in the shear zone centre. Electron probe analyses reveal chemical and mineralogical changes accompanying metamorphism within the shear zones. This suggests local conditions favourable for ionic diffusion and the activity of fluids is implied.     

Grain-size reduction of feldspars by fracturing and neocrystallization in a low-grade granitic mylonite and its rheological effect

Feldspar grain-size reduction occurred due to the fracturing of plagioclase and K-feldspar, myrmekite formation and neocrystallization of albitic plagioclase along shear fractures of K-feldspar porphyroclasts in the leucocratic granitic rocks from the Yecheon shear zone of South Korea that was deformed under a middle greenschist-facies condition. The neocrystallization of albitic plagioclase was induced by strain energy adjacent to the shear fractures and by chemical free energy due to the compositional disequilibrium between infiltrating Na-rich fluid and host K-feldspar. With increasing deformation from protomylonite to mylonite, alternating layers of feldspar, quartz and muscovite developed. The fine-grained feldspar-rich layers were deformed dominantly by granular flow, while quartz ribbons were deformed by dislocation creep. With layer development and a more distributed strain in the mylonite, lower stresses in the quartz-rich layers resulted in a larger size of dynamically recrystallized quartz grains than that of the protomylonite.     

Structures,kinematic analysis,rheological parameters and temperature-pressure estimate of the Mesozoic Xingcheng-Taili ductile shear zone in the North China Craton

The NE to ENE trending Mesozoic Xingcheng-Taili ductile shear zone of the northeastern North China Craton was shaped by three phases of deformation. Deformation phase D₁ is characterized by a steep, generally E–W striking gneissosity. It was then overprinted by deformation phase D₂ with NE-sinistral shear with K-feldspar porphyroclasts forming a subhorizontal low-angle stretching lineation on a steep foliation. During deformation phase D₃, lateral motion accommodated by ENE sinistral strike-slip shear zones dominated. Associated fabrics developed at upper greenschist metamorphic facies conditions and show the deformation characteristics of middle- to shallow crustal levels. In some parts, the older structures have been in turn overprinted by late-stage sinistral D₃ shearing. Finite strain and kinematic vorticity in all deformed granitic rocks indicate a prolate ellipsoid (L-S tectonites) near plane strain. Simple shear-dominated general shear during D₃ deformation is probably of general significance. The quartz c-axis textures indicate prism-gliding with a dominant rhomb <a> slip and basal <a> slip system formed mainly at low-middle temperatures. Mineral deformation behavior, quartz c-axis textures, quartz grain size and the Kruhl thermometer demonstrate that the ductile shear zone developed under greenschist facies metamorphic conditions at deformation temperatures ranging from 400 to 500 °C. Dislocation creep is the main deformation mechanism at a shallow crustal level. Fractal analysis showed that the boundaries of recrystallized quartz grains had statistically self-similarities. Differential stresses deduced from dynamically recrystallized quartz grain size are at around 20–39 MPa, and strain rates in the order of 10⁻¹² to 10⁻¹⁴ s⁻¹. This indicates deformation of granitic rocks in the Xingcheng-Taili ductile shear zone at low strain rates, which is consistent with most other ductile shear zones. Hornblende-plagioclase thermometer and white mica barometer indicate metamorphic conditions of medium pressures at around ca. 3–5 kbar and temperatures of 400–500 °C within greenschist facies conditions. The main D₃ deformation of the ENE-trending sinistral strike-slip ductile shearing is related to the roll-back of the subducting Pacific plate beneath the North China Craton.