Experimental and texture-derived P-wave anisotropy of principal rocks from the TRANSALP traverse: An aid for the interpretation of seismic field data

A representative suite of deformed, metamorphic rocks from the TRANSALP reflection seismic traverse in the Eastern Alps was studied in the laboratory with respect to elastic properties and whole-rock texture. Compressional wave (P-wave) velocities and their anisotropies were measured at various experimental conditions (dry, wet, confining pressure), and compared to the texture-related component of anisotropy. Here ‘texture’ refers to crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs), which were determined by neutron texture goniometry. In gneisses and schists P-wave anisotropies are mainly controlled by the microcrack fabric. In marbles and amphibolites CPO contributes very significantly to anisotropy. At 200 MPa confining pressure the degree of anisotropy is between 5% and 15%, depending on rock composition and/or CPO intensity. Special emphasis was also put on discussing possible effects of fluids on seismic velocity and anisotropy. Distributions of water-filled microcracks and pores are distinctly anisotropic, with maximum contribution to bulk rock velocity mostly parallel to the foliation pole. Decreasing P-wave velocity and increasing anisotropy of immersed samples may be explained by crack-induced changes of the elastic moduli of bulk rock. The main conclusion regarding interpretation of TRANSALP data is that strong reflections in the deep Alpine crust are probably due to marble–gneiss and metabasite–gneiss contacts, although P-wave anisotropy and boundaries between zones of ‘dry’ or ‘wet’ series may contribute to reflectivity to some extent.     

韧性剪切带中片麻岩和超高压榴辉岩变形特征及其与地震波速各向异性的关系：来自中国大陆科学钻探（CCSD）680～1200米岩心的证据

中国大陆科学钻探(CCSD)680-1200米区段发育了多个韧性剪切带,带中主要岩石类型包括片麻岩和超高压榴辉岩。片麻岩中的变形石英、面理化榴辉岩中的拉长石榴石和绿辉石的应变轴比都表现为X>Y>Z,Flinn系数分别为0.11-0.27、0.22-0.23和0.23-0.24。随着糜棱岩化作用的增强,变形石英的C轴组构由Z轴极密逐渐向Y轴极密和叶理面上的大圆环带转变。在常温常压下测试了样品的波速,计算出片麻岩Vp和Vs的各向异性分别为30.17％-60.97％和11.52％-35.79％,榴辉岩Vp和Vs的各向异性分别为0.17％-11.19％和2.41％-6.70％。影响各向异性的主要因素有岩石的结构构造、矿物的晶格优选方位(LPO)、形态优选方位(SPO)和定向微裂隙。随着糜棱岩化作用的增强,岩石的P波各向异性逐 渐升高。变形岩石中的黑云母、石英、绿辉石的LPO和SPO是地震波各向异性的主要控制因素。饱水后的片麻岩样品的P波各向异性明显低于干燥片麻岩样品。在东海钻井中的强反射带主要是由于不同岩层之间的波阻抗差异而造成的,榴辉岩/强退变榴辉岩和黑云斜长片麻岩之间的接触界面会产生较强的地震深反射。此外,与LPO相关的地震波各向异性会增强地震波的反射,所以韧性剪切带中的糜棱岩化片麻岩可能是地震反射的良好载体。韧性剪切带中岩石弹性波速度的强各向     

Preferred orientation in experimentally deformed limestone

Over sixty syntectonic deformation experiments in uniaxial compression have been done on fine-grained limestones in the stability fields of calcite I, calcite II and aragonite. X-ray techniques and spherical harmonic analysis of the data were used to determine preferred orientation quantitatively, and inverse pole-figures were derived for these axially symmetric specimens. They display in most cases strong preferred orientation which varies as a function of the experimental conditions, mainly temperature and pressure. At temperatures below 350° C recrystallization is lacking and flattened grains indicate that translation, twin gliding and kinking have been the dominant deformation mechanisms. The inverse pole-figure shows a maximum at c with a shoulder towards or a second maximum at e. This is in agreement with preferred orientation observed in experimentally deformed Yule marble and can be explained as the product of dominant twin gliding on e and translation gliding on r (Turner et al., 1956). At high temperatures (900–1000° C) strong grain growth (from 4 to 50 microns) indicates that the fabric recrystallized. Grains are equidimensional and clear with a marble-like texture. The inverse pole-figure shows a single maximum at r, and c-axes are oriented in a small circle around the axis of compression, ₁. Such a pattern of preferred orientation would be expected on thermodynamic grounds assuming that recrystallized grains will be oriented in such a way that the strain energy is a maximum (e.g. MacDonald, 1960). Decrease in confining pressure caused a decrease of the maximum at c and the formation of a secondary maximum at highangle positive rhombs in the inverse pole-figure. This can be interpreted as r translation dominating over e twinning. In all deformation experiments an equilibrium in preferred orientation was reached after 20 percent shortening. The strength of preferred orientation decreased with increasing temperature. Aragonite was produced within its hydrostatic stability field at temperatures above 500° C. Close to the phase boundary, coarse-grained textures showed preferred orientation with poles to (010) parallel to ₁. At higher pressures the fabric is fine-grained and [001] is aligned parallel to ₁. Evidence is given that the phase change from calcite to aragonite in these deformation experiments is a diffusive and not a martensitic transformation.Publication No. 1043, Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics, University of California, Los Angeles, California.     

Geochemistry, petrofabrics and seismic properties of eclogites from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling boreholes in the Sulu UHP terrane, eastern China

We present an integrated study of geochemistry, petrofabrics and seismic properties of strongly sheared eclogites from the Chinese Continental Scientific Drilling (CCSD) project in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane, eastern China. First, geochemical data characterize diverse protoliths of the studied eclogites. The positive Eu- and Sr-anomalies, negative Nb anomaly and flat portion of heavy rare earth elements in coarse-grained rutile eclogites (samples B270 and B295) suggest a cumulate origin in the continental crust, whereas the negative Nb anomaly and enrichment of light rare earth elements in retrograde eclogites (samples B504, B15 and B19) imply an origin of continental basalts or island arc basalts. Second, P-wave velocities (V_p) of three typical eclogite samples were measured under confining pressures up to 500 MPa and temperatures to 700 °C. At 500 MPa and room temperature, the mean V_p reaches 8.50-8.53 km/s in samples B270 and B295 but drops to 7.86 km/s in sample B504, and the P-wave anisotropy changes from 1.7-2.7% to 5.5%, respectively. The pressure and temperature derivatives of V_p are larger in the retrograde eclogite than in fresh ones. Third, the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) measurements of the eclogites reveal random crystal preferred orientation (CPO) of garnet and pronounced CPO of omphacite, which is characterized by a strong concentration of [001]-axes sub-parallel to the lineation and of (010)-poles perpendicular to the foliation. The asymmetric CPO of omphacite in sample B270 recorded a top-to-the-south shear event during subduction of the Yangtze plate. The calculated fastest V_p is generally sub-parallel to the lineation, but a different deformation environment during exhumation could form second-order variations in omphacite CPO and affect the V_p distribution in eclogites (e.g., the fastest V_p is at ~ 35° from the foliation in sample B295). Comparison between measured and calculated seismic properties indicates that the CPO of omphacite controls the seismic anisotropy of eclogites at high pressure, and compositional layering and retrograde minerals will increase the anisotropy. Calculated P-wave velocities agree well with velocities measured at 500 MPa and room temperature for fresh eclogites, but much higher than those of retrograde eclogite. As a case study, the laboratory-derived V_p-P and V_p-T relationships were used to estimate P-wave velocities of eclogites and peridotites beneath the Western Superior Province, Canada. The results indicate that besides the fabric-induced anisotropy, the direction dependence of pressure and temperature derivatives of V_p can significantly increase seismic anisotropy of eclogites with depth, which results in eclogites being an important candidate for the seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle. Due to their very high density and velocity, garnet-rich eclogites within peridotite could be detected in seismic reflections in subduction zones.     

不同温压下岩石弹性波速度、衰减及各向异性与组构的关系

结合岩石组构分析 ,阐述了岩石弹性波传播速度和衰减以及它们的各向异性与岩石组构之间的关系。在不同温压条件下对具有很强晶格优选方位的岩石样品的研究表明 ,随着围压的增加 ,波速和Q值均增大 ,但是在相互正交的 3个方向上 (垂直或平行于层理面及线理方向 )增大的速度并不相同 ,这与微裂隙的逐渐闭合密切相关。观测到的波速和Q值的各向异性具有不同的形成机理 ,波速各向异性主要与定向分布的微裂隙和主要矿物的晶格优选方位等构造因素有关 ;高围压下Q值各向异性与速度各向异性正好相反 ,可能是由于定向排列的矿物晶体沿不同方向其边界之间接触程度不同造成的。对岩石组构的研究不仅可以揭示岩体的变形机制、变形的动力学过程及其有关的热力学信息 ,还可以对宏观岩石的各种物理性质 ,尤其是力学特性 ,从微观机理上加以解释。文中特别强调了岩石组构分析对研究岩石物理性质的各向异性具有十分重要的意义。     

P-wave anisotropy in eclogites and relationship to the omphacite crystallographic fabric

Measurements of P-wave velocity at room temperature and confining pressures up to 500 MPa were carried out on three eclogite mylonites collected from a shear zone in the Monviso area (Western Alps). P-wave velocities at a pressure of 400 MPa range from 7.7 km/s to 7.9 km/s, yielding to a maximum anisotropy of 6%. From the CPO of omphacite we estimated a maximum contribution of omphacite to the P-wave anisotropy of only 1.3%. These results suggest that primarily the compositional layering and secondary the fabric of minor constituent minerals significantly contribute to the seismic anisotropy. Because of the anisotropy, the seismic reflectivity of subduction zones may vary with the direction of observation.     

Magnetic fabrics and rock magnetism of Archaean and Proterozoic dike swarms in the southern São Francisco Craton, Brazil

Magnetic fabric and rock magnetism studies were performed on three mafic dike swarms (total of 38 dikes) from the southernmost part of the São Francisco Craton (SFC) (Minas Gerais State, SE Brazil). They cut Archaean granite–gneiss–migmatite and paleoprototerozoic terranes. These swarms are classified as basic–noritic (Sm–Nd age  2.65 Ga), basic (Rb–Sr age  1.87 Ga) and metamorphic (Rb–Sr age  1.87 Ga) suites, in which the second is the most important. Magnetic fabrics were determined by applying both anisotropy of low-field magnetic susceptibility (AMS) and anisotropy of anhysteretic remanent magnetization (AARM). In most sites magnetic susceptibility is dominantly carried by ferromagnetic minerals, however, in some sites the paramagnetic contribution exceeds 70% of bulk susceptibility. Mainly coarse to fine-grained Ti-poor titanomagnetite up to pure magnetite carry the magnetic fabrics.Three primary AMS fabrics are recognized which are all coaxial with the AARM fabric. Normal AMS fabric is dominant in the basic suite (16 of 20 analyzed dikes) and occurs in 4 and 3 dikes from the basic–noritic and metamorphic suites, respectively. This fabric is interpreted as a result of magma flow in which the analysis of K_max inclination permitted to infer that the majority of dikes were fed by inclined flows (30° < K_max < 60°), although 44% of dikes from the basic suite were fed by horizontal or sub-horizontal flows (K_max < 30°). Intermediate AMS fabric was found in 50% of dikes from the basic–noritic and metamorphic suites, but in only 2 dikes from the basic suite. It is interpreted as due to vertical compaction of a static magma column with the minimum stress along the dike strike. Inverse AMS fabric is a minority (2 dikes from each suite). The parallelism between AMS and AARM tensors for dikes with abnormal fabrics suggests a primary origin for them. Gyroremanent magnetization (GRM) effect was negligible for the majority of dikes, but it was found in two dikes from the basic suite with normal AMS fabric.Magnetic fabrics recognized for the three studied swarms do not depend on magnetic mineralogy, geochemical composition, dike strikes, nor the age of the swarms since the same magnetic minerals and magnetic fabric types are found in dikes from all suites. Inclined and horizontal flows allow us to infer the relative position of at least three magma sources (or magma chambers) from which the dikes were fed.     

Relations of Rock Structure and Composition to Petrophysical and Geomechanical Rock Properties: Examples from Permocarboniferous Red-Beds

Summary. This study relates textural properties to physical and mechanical properties of coarse grained sedimentary rocks of Permocarboniferous age. As an equivalent to rock texture the principle of geomechanical order is applied. The geomechanical order describes a rock as a function of its structural and compositional order which are derived from petrological analyses. Our results indicate that rock properties like density and porosity are stronger dependent on the structural order, while strength properties additionally depend on the compositional order. The ultrasonic wave velocity responds to both structural and compositional properties. These evidences imply that the geomechanical order is not an independent parameter but a variable function of structural or compositional features, which needs specification for correlation purposes to distinct physical and mechanical rock properties.     

围压下裂隙对地震波速度影响的物理实验研究

构建了等直径不同裂隙密度和等裂隙密度不同裂隙直径两组物理模型,进行不同围压条件下多方向的超声波速度测试,并运用Hudson理论进行了理论模型计算。结果显示,计算与实测结果吻合较好。随围压的增大,纵、横波速度均近线性增加,纵、横波各向异性基本保持不变;裂隙密度从2%增大到6%,纵波速度不同程度降低,其中慢纵波降低幅度相对较大,快横波变化不明显,而慢横波则大幅降低。随着裂隙密度的增大,纵、横波各向异性均增大,且横波各向异性增加速率大于纵波;裂隙直径从2 mm增大到3 mm,快纵波速度增加很小,慢纵波增加明显,横波速度均不发生改变。随着裂隙直径的增大,纵波各向异性逐渐降低,横波各向异性保持不变。最后结合试验结果分析了Hudson理论在不同深度进行参数预测的必要条件。研究结果有助于油气生产、地下水的开采与控制、污染处理等。      

Calculations of upper-mantle P-wave velocity anisotropies

Discovery of anisotropy for upper-mantle P-wave velocities has resulted recently in many laboratory determinations of velocities for natural mantle material, either by direct measurement on rock samples or through calculations based on single-crystal elastic constants, fabrics and modal compositions Comparison of field and laboratory data provides gross constraints for convection processes and flow mechanisms. As natural peridotites yeidl a wide range of maximum seismic anisotropies, their depth of origin and deformation history are inferred from pyroxene geobarometry and geothermometry, and from stress estimates derived from neoblast grain sizes. Large maximum anisotropies (ca. 1.0 km/s) are typical of samples with fabrics strengthened by low-temperature/highstress deformation related to emplacement. Other highly anisotropic mantle material includes peridotites beneath continental rifts and thinned continental crust. Maximum anisotropies for ordinary suboceanic and infracontinental peridotites are generally in the range of the field data (0.3–0.6 km/s) and support a model with [010]_ol nearly vertical (in accord with observations on ophiolites) and [100]_ol subparallel to the spreading direction. On the basis of fabric data, seismic anisotropy should decrease with depth.     

Directional dependence of P- and S-wave propagation and polarization in foliated rocks from the Kola superdeep well: Evidence from laboratory measurements and calculations based on TOF neutron diffraction

We have measured P- and S-wave velocities on two amphibolite and two gneiss samples from the Kola superdeep borehole as a function of pressure (up to 600 MPa) and temperature (up to 600 °C). The velocity measurements include compressional (Vp) and shear wave velocities (Vs1, Vs2) propagating in three orthogonal directions which were in general not parallel to inherent rock symmetry axes or planes. The measurements are accompanied by 3D-velocities calculations based on lattice preferred orientation (LPO) obtained by TOF (Time Of Flight) neutron diffraction analysis which allows the investigation of bulk volumes up to several cubic centimetres due to the high penetration depth of neutrons. The LPO-based numerical velocity calculations give important information on the different contribution of the various rock-forming minerals to bulk elastic anisotropy and on the relations of seismic anisotropy, shear wave splitting, and shear wave polarization to the structural reference frame (foliation and lineation). Comparison with measured velocities obtained for the three propagation directions that were not in accordance with the structural frame of the rocks (foliation and lineation) demonstrate that for shear waves propagating through anisotropic rocks the vibration directions are as important as the propagation directions. The study demonstrates that proper measurement of shear wave splitting by means of two orthogonal polarized sending and receiving shear wave transducers is only possible when their propagation and polarization directions are parallel and normal to foliation and lineation, respectively.     

湖南道县辉长岩包体的组构与波速各向异性研究及其意义

辉长岩包体的主要造岩矿物斜长石、单斜辉石的组构测定结果表明 :条带状辉长岩的斜长石组构为结晶b轴的优选定向 ,推测其成因是在重力作用占主导并伴有低应力的情况下形成的。宏观呈块状的辉长岩 ,在微观组构上仍有定向线理存在。经由组构、岩石密度、矿物组成计算得到的理论波速各向异性与实测波速得到的一致 ,从而表明地震波的各向异性对矿物组构的强烈依赖性。推测道县辉长岩包体的波速各向异性反映了下地壳地震波的一般特征。其组构特征反映了该区中、新生代下地壳的变形特征。     

The effects of intermediate principle stress on the mechanical behavior of transversely isotropic rocks: Insights from DEM simulations

The discrete element method (DEM) is used to study the response of anisotropic rocks under true triaxial testing. Numerical samples of seven different bedding orientations (β = 0^o, 15^o, 30^o, 45^o, 60^o, 75^o, and 90^o) are created. Six series of test simulations (σ₃ = 0, 10, 30, 50, 70, and 100 MPa) are conducted on each sample, with five different σ₂ values, varied from σ₃ to σ₁. The effects of anisotropy and intermediate stress on the peak strength, brittle-ductile transition, and degree of anisotropy are subsequently explained through underlying micromechanics. Results show a “fan-shaped” variation of the peak strength with σ₂, displaying an ascending-then-descending trend. An increasing brittleness with σ₂ is observed at lower confining pressures for all, but medium anisotropy angles. For higher confining pressures, increasing ductility with σ₂ is seen for every anisotropy angle. A U-shaped variation of peak strength with anisotropy angles is noted that flattens under high intermediate stress. Hence, for numerical models of Posidonia shale under normalized σ₂ higher than 0.76, the anisotropy effect is found to be negligible. Micromechanical analyses reveal that the stress asymmetry, suppression of weak plane action as well as the localization and coalescence of microcracks in the intact rock matrix, due to σ₂, are the contributors towards the obtained trends. Since existing failure criteria do not weigh in these features in geotechnical assessments, this paper helps future studies by providing a deeper understanding of these effects and a comprehensive data set for the analyses of anisotropic rocks under polyaxial stress conditions.     

Elastic shear stiffness anisotropy and fabric anisotropy of natural clays

Natural clays usually show anisotropic stiffness due to their deposition process and anisotropic in situ stress state. The stiffness anisotropy depends on both of the stress anisotropy and fabric anisotropy, while the latter can be quantified by the stiffness anisotropy at isotropic stress states. This paper measures the K₀ value (i.e., stress anisotropy) and elastic shear stiffness anisotropy of natural Shanghai clay in a triaxial apparatus with horizontal and vertical bender elements. The results show that the K₀ value of Shanghai clay lies in the range of 0.40–0.66, and an empirical equation is proposed to estimate the K₀ value based on the plasticity index and initial void ratio. The fabric anisotropy of natural Shanghai clay lies in the range of 1.2–1.4 with a stronger fabric in the horizontal plane. Moreover, the experimental data of the stiffness anisotropy and fabric anisotropy of different clays in the literature are reviewed and analyzed. It reveals that the stiffness anisotropy generally increases, while the fabric anisotropy remains nearly the same during K₀ consolidation. For normally consolidated clay, the fabric anisotropy generally lies in the range of 1.1–1.7. For overconsolidated clays, the fabric anisotropy generally increases as the overconsolidation ratio increases. Empirical equations are proposed to approximately estimate the fabric anisotropy of clays based on its stress normalized elastic shear stiffness.

     

Determination of the elastic modulus set of foliated rocks from ultrasonic velocity measurements

Ultrasonic measurements of compressional and shear wave velocities under hydrostatic pressure up to 70 MPa were carried out on cylindrical specimens cored across and along the foliation planes. Our measurements revealed that the foliation of the metamorphic rocks induces a clear velocity anisotropy between two orthogonal directions; faster along the foliation plane and slower across the plane in most rock types. All velocity components monotonically increase with the confining pressure, probably due to the closure of microcracks distributed in rock specimens. We determined the complete set of dynamic moduli of foliated metamorphic rocks with two assumptions; transverse isotropy due to the foliation and ellipsoidal seismic energy propagation from a point source. The calculated elastic moduli referring to different directions could be valuable for the design of various engineering structures in planar textured rock mass.     

Elastic properties, fabric and seismic anisotropy of amphibolites and their contribution to the lower crust reflectivity

In this paper the elastic properties of amphibolites from the Serie dei Laghi and the Ivrea zone (Southern Alps, N-Italy) were investigated as a function of their mineralogical composition, microfabric and density.Three orthogonal cores were cut parallel and normal to foliation and lineation; from those, bulk and grain density were measured and the interconnected porosity was calculated. Bulk density varies from 2.75 to 3.07 g/cm³ and calculated porosity ranges from 0.02 to 0.88%.The same cores were also used to measure seismic velocity of ultrasonic waves at room temperature and at increasing confining pressure up to 300 MPa. At high pressure the matrix properties are separated from the crack-induced properties. P-wave velocity varies with respect to the direction of propagation: the slowest direction is always normal to foliation and the fastest parallel to the mineral lineation. The mineral lineation is typically defined by the elongation of amphibole crystals, in which the fastest Vp direction is parallel to the c axis, that is also the elongation axis. The Vp ranges between 6.76 and 7.54 km/s in the direction parallel to lineation and between 6.32 and 7.06 km/s in the direction normal to foliation. This defines a Vp anisotropy of up to 14%, whose shape varies from orthorhombic to axially symmetric (either prolate or flattened). It was observed that both Vp and Vp anisotropy increase with the amount of amphibole and decrease with the amount of plagioclase. Moreover, the c axis distribution of amphiboles is responsible of the Vp anisotropy intensity and shape, in agreement with observations from previous studies. The seismic properties calculated with the approach of Mainprice (1990), using the fabric data, the elastic constants and the modal composition, gave results in good agreement with the measurements.Exposed rocks in the Ivrea and Serie dei Laghi zones show that amphibolites are interlayered with metapelites on a scale from 1 to 100 m. Because of the very large acoustic impedance contrast (20.34 ± 1.75 for amphibolites, 17.16 ± 0.4 for metapelites), they represent a very reflective portion in the middle-lower crust.     

Microcracks in granite cores from the EPS-1 geothermal drill hole, Soultz-sous-Forêts (France): paleostress directions, paleofluids and crack-related Vp-anisotropies

For the modelling of Hot Dry Rock systems the interactions between macrofractures, prominent microcrack sets and the in situ stress field is of fundamental importance. In this study complete 3D analyses of microcrack orientations were carried out on granitoid samples from the Soultz geothermal borehole (EPS-1). The crack population is dominated by healed cracks in quartz forming three orthogonal sets (I, II, III) with strong preferred orientation, which probably result from superposition of internal thermal stresses during cooling and external tectonic stresses. The inferred orientation of paleo-σ_H is NE–SW. Based on the microthermometry of secondary fluid inclusions it can be assumed that cyclic crack/healing events occurred at P/T conditions roughly ranging between 1 and 2?kbar and 200–400?°C. A younger generation of open cracks in quartz which coincide with macroscopic fractures can be correlated with the Tertiary N–S direction of σ_H. The distribution of P-wave velocities (Vp) was measured by using the pulse transmission technique in 132 propagation directions at confining pressures up to 200?MPa. These Vp data and their variation with confining pressure are a suitable tool for detecting prominent crack patterns and to estimate the crack-controlled in situ properties. The observed bulk Vp anisotropy roughly reflects the composite microcrack fabric and the relative importance of individual sets. It can be assumed that the prominent crack sets represent planes of weakness and hence may cause a mechanically anisotropic behaviour dependent on their orientation with respect to the recent in situ stresses.     

P- and S-wave velocities and densities in silicate and calcite rocks from the Peloritani Mountains, Sicily (Italy): The effect of pressure, temperature and the direction of wave propagation

The Peloritani Mountain Belt (north-eastern Sicily) represents the connection between the Southern Appenninic Range and the Appenninic Maghrebid Chain. The lithotypes outcropping in a 36 km long and approximately 8 km wide area in the eastern part of the Peloritani Mountains are considered to represent most properly the composition of the lower crust. We selected 7 representative samples of silicate rocks (amphibolite, paragneisses, augen gneiss, phyllitic quartzite, pegmatitic rock) and 3 samples of calcite rocks (calc-schist, marbles) for the petrophysical measurements. Measurements were done on sample cubes of dry rocks in a multi-anvil apparatus. Raising of pressure gives rise to velocity increase, but the rate is different in the silicate and calcite rocks and closely related to progressive closure of microcracks. Linear behaviour is approached above about 200 MPa. Increasing temperature at 600 MPa decreases velocities in most silicate and in the calcite rocks with almost linear slopes. Substantial anisotropy of P- and S-wave velocities and shear wave splitting is found in both rock types. The residual anisotropy observed above about 200 MPa is attributed to lattice preferred orientations (LPO) of major minerals. 3D velocity calculations for an amphibolite, a paragneiss and a marble sample based on the LPO of hornblende, biotite and calcite, respectively, confirm the experimental findings of a close relationship between velocity anisotropy, shear wave splitting, shear wave polarization, lattice preferred orientation and the structural frame of the rocks (foliation, lineation). In the silicate rocks, the intrinsic (600 MPa) average P-wave velocities and Poisson's (Vp / Vs) ratios exhibit a tendency for a linear increase with densities, whereas the three calcite rocks cluster at markedly higher P-wave velocities and Poisson's (Vp / Vs) ratios, compared to their densities. In the silicate rocks, there is also a linear trend for an inverse relationship between the SiO₂ content, density and the Poisson's (Vp / Vs) ratio, respectively.     

Pressure dependence and anisotropy of P-wave velocities in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt (China): Implications for seismic properties of subducted slabs and origin of mantle reflections

The compressional wave velocities (Vp), pressure derivatives (Vp′) and anisotropy (A) of three types of eclogites and country rocks from the Dabie–Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, China, have been measured under confining pressures up to 800 MPa. Type-1 eclogites, which are coarse-grained and subjected to almost no retrograde metamorphism, experienced recovery-accommodated dislocation creep at peak metamorphic conditions (in the diamond stability field). Type-2 eclogites are fine-grained reworked Type-1 materials that experienced recrystallization-accommodated dislocation creep under quartz/coesite boundary conditions during the early stage of exhumation. Type-3 eclogites are retrogressed samples that were overprinted by significant amphibolite facies metamorphism during a late stage of exhumation within the crust. Type-1 eclogites are richer in Al₂O₃ and MgO but poorer in SiO₂ and Na₂O than Type-2 and Type-3 eclogites. Anisotropy of Type-1 and Type-2 eclogites is generally low (<4%) because volumetrically important garnet is elastically quasi-isotropic, while Type-3 eclogites can exhibit high anisotropy (>10%) due to the presence of strongly anisotropic retrograde minerals such as amphibole, plagioclase and mica. The transition of the pressure dependence of velocity from the poroelastic to elastic regimes occurs at a critical pressure (P_c), which depends mainly on the density and distribution of microcracks and in turn on the exhumation history of rocks. The Vp–pressure relationship can be expressed by Vp=a(lnP)²+blnP+c (P≤P_c) and Vp=V₀+DP (P≥P_c), where P is the confining pressure, a and b are constants describing the closure of microcracks below P_c, c is the velocity when P is equal to one (MPa), V₀ is the projected velocity of a crack-free sample at room pressure, and D is the intrinsic pressure derivative above P_c. When data are curve-fit, pressure derivatives and anisotropy as functions of pressure are determined. The average Vp of the eclogites in the linear regime is 8.42+1.41×10⁻⁴P for Type-1, 7.80+1.58×10⁻⁴P for Type-2, and 7.33+2.04×10⁻⁴P for Type-3, where Vp is in km/s and P in MPa. The decrease in V₀ and increase in D from Type-1 to Type-3 eclogites are attributed to a decrease in garnet content and an increase in retrograde minerals. The NE–SW trending, NW-dipping, slab-like high Vp anomaly (8.72 km/s at a depth of 71 km) which extends from the Moho to at least 110 km beneath the Dabie–Sulu region, can be interpreted as the remnant of a subducted slab which is dominated by Type-1 eclogites and has frozen in the upper mantle since about 200–220 Ma. Such relic crustal materials, subducted and preserved as eclogite layers intercalated with felsic gneiss, garnet–jadeite quartzite, marble and serpentinized peridotite, could be responsible for regionally observed seismic reflectors in the upper mantle.     

橄榄石集合体的简单剪切形变实验研究

本文利用高精度Paterson气体介质变形装置对富铁橄榄石集合体(Mg_(0.5),Fe_(0.5))_2SiO_4进行了高温简单剪切变形试验.试验在温度1473K和围压300MPa的条件下进行,差应力为64～153MPa,应变率为10~-5～10~-3s~-1.一共进行了三组试验,试件的剪切变形量分别为89%,131%和200%,通过对变形后试件的反射光学显微结构分析,得到富铁橄榄石集合体动态重结晶的微观机制,由结晶各向异性分析给出晶格最优取向和波速各向异性的分布及随应变的增加而表现出的演化特征.