青藏高原北部白榴碧玄岩年代学及地球化学研究

本文在可可西里北部边缘银顶山地区首次发现含橄榄石的高镁高钾质超基性火山岩。火山岩在阿尼玛卿-昆仑-木孜塔格缝合带南侧呈熔岩残丘形式产出,分布面积约为0.2 km²,其形成时代为上新世(5～4 Ma),是岩浆的快速侵位-喷溢的结果。斑晶主要为橄榄石(10%～12%)+白榴石(21%～27%)+霞石(13%～16%)±透辉石(29%～31%),基质主要为透辉石+云母+Fe-Ti氧化物+玻璃,定名为白榴碧玄岩。对3个样品51个点的橄榄石电子探针数据计算显示,橄榄石牌号为Fo_74-87Fa_13-26,属贵橄榄石,岩石中的橄榄石均不存在扭折带,表明这些橄榄石很可能是岩浆结晶的产物,而非岩浆捕获体。通过计算,银顶山地区橄榄石的结晶温度大约在1 226 ℃～1 234 ℃左右。白榴碧玄岩的化学组分:SiO₂<45%,MgO>10%, Na₂O+K₂O>8%,Mg^#(68.84～70.80),而Cr(149×10^-6～156×10^-6)和Ni(138×10^-6～151×10^-6),⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr(约0.708 6)和¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴ Nd(约0.512 4),处于EMII源区范围内。初步认为藏北地区上新世超基性火山岩来自于较深的源区,最有可能是软流圈顶部地幔的局部熔融,并受到俯冲地壳物质的交代。     

Co-Ni在镁铁-超镁铁层状岩体中的分布特征及对岩浆成矿的指示：以Stillwater岩体为例

美国Stillwater岩体是全球典型的大型层状岩体之一,由底部基底岩系、超镁铁岩系和条带状岩系组成。本文分析了该岩体不同岩石类型中橄榄石、辉石、铬铁矿及全岩的镍(Ni)、钴(Co)含量变化并揭示其控制因素。在超镁铁岩系内,橄榄石的Ni、Co含量分别为2070×10^-6～3019×10^-6和105×10^-6～205×10^-6,铬铁矿的Ni、Co含量分别为434×10^-6～1843×10^-6和221×10^-6～737×10^-6,均高于共生的斜方辉石(Ni:464×10^-6～678×10^-6;Co:31×10^-6～95×10^-6)及单斜辉石(Ni:237×10^-6～378×10^-6;Co:15×10^-6～45×10^-6)。从岩体剖面上来看,最底...     

新疆东天山香山岩体橄榄石特征及其成因意义

新疆东天山香山镁铁-超镁铁杂岩体位于东天山镜儿泉-黄山镁铁-超镁铁质岩带的西段,由香山东、香山中、香山西3个岩体组成。其中香山中产出中型铜镍矿,香山西为小型铜镍-钒钛铁复合型矿床。香山岩体橄榄石为贵橄榄石,Fo值多为81.90~85.66,Ni含量为638×10^-6~2 283×10^-6。模拟计算得出香山岩体母岩浆w(MgO)=10.70%,w(FeO)=10.66%,属于高镁玄武质岩浆。香山岩体橄榄石中Ni含量的最大值为2 283×10^-6,母岩浆中Ni含量为326×10^-6,是由原始地幔发生14%的部分熔融而成。香山岩体在橄榄石结晶过程中伴随硫化物熔离,隙间硅酸盐和硫化物对橄榄石作用明显,造成早期结晶橄榄石成分改变。     

甘-新北山地区二叠纪镁铁-超镁铁质岩体造岩矿物化学特征及其岩石学指示

二叠纪镁铁-超镁铁质岩体在北山造山带广泛分布,其中多发育铜镍硫化物矿化,并集中在新疆北山坡北和甘肃北山柳园地区。本文对柳园地区二叠纪骆驼山(283Ma)和西南山(277Ma)矿化岩体中早期结晶的造岩矿物开展矿物化学分析,并对甘-新北山地区矿化岩体的主要造岩矿物进行系统对比研究。骆驼山和西南山岩体主要由单辉橄榄岩、二辉橄榄岩、橄榄辉石岩、橄榄辉长岩和辉长岩组成,主要造岩矿物为橄榄石、单斜辉石、斜方辉石、斜长石和角闪石,及少量铬尖晶石和金云母。铬尖晶石Cr^#值范围为52.2～70.4,TiO₂含量为1.1%～4.0%,Al₂O₃含量为8.1%～18.9%。橄榄石Fo值范围为78～86,Ni含量为856×10^-6～2121×10^-6,Ca含量为71.3×10^-6～720×10^-6。斜方辉石主要为顽火辉石和少量古铜辉石;单斜辉石为透辉石和普通辉石,Mg^#范围为86～88,Al^Ⅳ...     

气体地球化学测量方法在皂火壕砂岩型铀矿勘查中的应用试验研究

在鄂尔多斯盆地东北部皂火壕铀矿床孙家梁地段进行土壤SO₂、H₂S、CO₂、Rn、He气体地球化学测量试验,讨论了各气体组分在氧化-还原带不同亚带内地球化学分布特征及其控制因素,探讨了气体地球化学圈定砂岩型铀矿氧化、还原环境及矿体范围的可能性。孙家梁地段土壤气体H₂S、SO₂、CO₂、Rn背景值分别为0.03×10^-6、0.049×10^-6、120.6×10^-6、2 804.4 Bq∕m³,异常下限分别为0.078×10^-6、0.115×10^-6、3 997.5×10^-6、3 670.1 Bq∕m³。CO₂、H₂S、SO₂等非放射性气体浓度从氧化亚带到过渡亚带总体上呈逐渐上升,而后在还原亚带下降并趋于稳定。在过渡亚带(矿...     

塔里木东北缘坡十Ni矿化侵入体中橄榄石和铬尖晶石对成岩成矿及源区特征的约束

坡十Ni矿化超镁铁侵入体的矿化岩相主要为第二侵入期次的（斜长）单辉橄榄岩、（斜长）二辉橄榄岩、 纯橄岩等岩相。坡十超镁铁岩的橄榄石成分变化范围较大, 橄榄石的Fo值在76.8～89.6之间, Ni含量为767×10^-6～4 580×10^-6。铬尖晶石的Mg^#值和Cr^#值变化范围分别为19.4～41.9和49.8～64.8, 原生铬尖晶石中Cr₂O₃和Al₂O₃表现为负相关, 蚀变改造的铬尖晶石则表现为正相关。橄榄石成分剖面显示坡十母岩浆处于一个动态的岩浆系统中, 成分稳定的新鲜岩浆的补给、 持续向上的动力及浅部橄榄石快速分离结晶,造成了不同深度橄榄石成分的不同变化。坡十侵入体母岩浆估算结果为MgO=14.49％, FeO=10.01％,模拟结果显示橄榄石中Ni含量的变化主要受橄榄石结晶分异和硫化物不混溶作用共同控制,其中橄榄石与硫化物熔体发生明显的Fe-Ni交换反应。坡十母岩浆中橄榄石分离结晶造成的硫饱和,是坡十硫化物熔离的重要因素。橄榄石高Fo值、母岩浆高MgO、超镁铁岩中斜长石发育、矿物高结晶温度和铬尖晶石成分的弧岩浆特征显示,塔里木东北缘坡十侵入体是俯冲交代的岩石圈地幔部分熔融形成的母岩浆的产物,表现出低压高温的演化特征,其中源区熔融机制可能与塔里木二叠纪地幔柱提供的热源或该区大规模拆沉作用造成的软流圈上涌有关。     

滇西南云岭锡矿三叠纪花岗岩年代学、地球化学与云母矿物学特征:对锡成矿的指示意义

云岭锡矿位于保山地块东缘的云岭花岗岩体内,含矿岩石主要为黑云母二长花岗岩,局部显示片麻状构造。本文锆石U-Pb定年结果表明云岭花岗岩侵位于222.8±1.3Ma,其Si O₂为64.83%～66.05%,K₂O为3.30%～3.72%,Na₂O为1.91%～2.19%,铝饱和指数(A/CNK)为1.26～1.30,显示过铝质高钾钙碱性花岗岩特征。花岗岩中岩浆锆石和继承锆石ε_Hf(t)值分别在-10.6～-13.9和-1.16～-23.8之间,对应t_DM2(Ma)分别在1926～2138Ma和1951～3387Ma之间,表明岩浆主要来源于古老的地壳物质重熔。云岭花岗岩中Sn含量在4.3×10^-6～14.2×10^-6之间,花岗岩中岩浆黑云母Sn含量在5.8×10^-6～9.6×10^-6之间,蚀变花岗岩中的热液黑云母Sn含量为75.8×10^-6～244.0×10^-6<...     

松辽盆地南部上二叠统杨家沟组泥岩地球化学特征及地质意义

本次研究通过对松辽盆地南部杨家沟组泥岩进行野外剖面观测、主微量元素分析测试,分析其地球化学特征,探讨杨家沟组泥岩的地质特征和沉积古环境,以期推动杨家沟组油气勘探进展。研究结果表明：杨家沟组泥岩主量元素w（SiO₂）最高（64.18%～70.87%,平均为67.59%）其次为w（Al₂O₃）(14.18%～16.71%,平均为15.67%),微量元素中U,Th, Zr和Zn元素相对于上地壳富集,Sr, Pb, Sc和Ni元素相对于上地壳亏损。样品轻稀土元素（LREE）含量为87.24×10^-6～187.99×10^-6,平均为135.81×10^-6;重稀土元素（HREE）含量为18.83×10^-6～27.53×10^-6,平均为21.59×10^-6;La_N/Yb_N,La_N/Sm_N和Gd_N/...     

辽东三叠纪弟兄山岩体SHRIMP U-Pb年龄、地球化学特征及其地质意义

SHRIMP锆石U-Pb年龄测定表明,辽东半岛弟兄山岩体的侵位时代为三叠纪（205.2±2.1 Ma）,是华北东部三叠纪花岗岩的一部分.全岩岩石化学分析结果显示,弟兄山花岗岩具有高SiO₂、Al₂O₃、K₂O,低TiO₂、Na₂、MnO和CaO的特征,K₂O+Na₂变化范围为7.88%~9.28%,K₂O/Na₂ ≥ 1.16~1.46;CaO/Na₂=0.08~0.23,铝指数A/CNK=0.95~1.10,并且在矿物组合中出现白云母,属准铝-过铝质花岗岩.在SiO₂-Zr图解中,所有样品点均落在S型花岗岩区域中.以上特征均显示该花岗岩为准铝-过铝质S型花岗岩.稀土曲线和稀土参数表现出强烈的轻、重稀土分异特征和明显的Eu负异常特征,反映源区岩浆形成后发生过斜长石或其他富Ca矿物的分离结晶作用,是典型准铝-过铝质花岗岩的稀土元素特征.在原始地幔标准化的微量元素蛛网图上,所有花岗岩均富集Rb、Th,明显亏损Nb、Ta、Sr和Ti.所有样品的Rb=133×10^-6~360×10^-6,绝大多数样品高于花岗岩的平均值（200×10^-6）;Sr（25×10^-6~135×10^-6）和Ba（48×10^-6~507×10^-6）明显低于花岗岩的平均值（Sr 300×10^-6,Ba 830×10^-6）,Ba、Sr亏损反映岩浆经历了较为完全的分离结晶作用;大离子亲石元素Rb、Th富集,Nb和Ta亏损显示陆壳物质为岩浆的源岩.上述特征表明岩浆物质来源于陆源碎屑岩石.结合区域构造演化历史,认为弟兄山岩体是库拉-太平洋板块向欧亚大陆俯冲的产物,是印支晚期华北岩石圈处于弱伸展状态背景的响应.     

云南大丫口祖母绿颜色环带成因对多阶段成矿的指示意义

云南大丫口祖母绿常出现颜色环带,且伴随明显成分变化,而目前颜色环带的成因仍存争议,相关的多阶段成矿假说尚缺少明确证据。文章通过电子探针和激光剥蚀电感耦合等离子质谱仪对大丫口祖母绿的颜色环带及黑色矿物包裹体进行主微量元素成分分析,并对不同类型岩脉祖母绿中流体包裹体进行显微测温分析,进而探讨祖母绿颜色环带成因与多阶段成矿的联系。成分测试结果表明,从浅绿白核部至绿色边部,V(970×10^-6→10 077×10^-6)、Rb(9.6×10^-6→27.4×10^-6)、Cs(535×10^-6→3 108×10^-6)、Fe(1 376×10^-6→2 199×10^-6)和Ga(4×10^-6→14.7×10^-6)等微量元素的含量急剧增加。结合绿色晶体边部中同生黑色富钒电气石包裹体的分布,有力证明了大丫口祖母绿颜色分带的形成与晶体的多阶段成矿有关。流体包裹体测试结果表明,含矿长石-方解石脉、含矿石英脉和伟晶岩-变粒岩接触带中矿物的流体包裹体盐度范围分别为3.39%~10.36%(NaCl_eq)、5.71%~12.29%(NaCl_eq)和8%~18.72%(NaCl_eq),指示了伟晶岩脉中祖母绿的多阶段结晶,且表明随结晶阶段演变,成矿流体的盐度逐渐升高。同时,成矿流体盐度升高也是晚期云英岩化阶段致色元素含量剧增的原因。     

Flow behavior and microstructures of hydrous olivine aggregates at upper mantle pressures and temperatures

Deformation experiments on olivine aggregates were performed under hydrous conditions using a deformation-DIA apparatus combined with synchrotron in situ X-ray observations at pressures of 1.5–9.8 GPa, temperatures of 1223–1800 K, and strain rates ranging from 0.8 × 10^?5 to 7.5 × 10^?5 s^?1. The pressure and strain rate dependencies of the plasticity of hydrous olivine may be described by an activation volume of 17 ± 6 cm³ mol^?1 and a stress exponent of 3.2 ± 0.6 at temperatures of 1323–1423 K. A comparison between previous data sets and our results at a normalized temperature and a strain rate showed that the creep strength of hydrous olivine deformed at 1323–1423 K is much weaker than that for the dislocation creep of water-saturated olivine and is similar to that for diffusional creep and dislocation-accommodated grain boundary sliding, while dislocation microstructures showing the [001] slip or the [001](100) slip system were developed. At temperatures of 1633–1800 K, a much stronger pressure effect on creep strength was observed for olivine with an activation volume of 27 ± 7 cm³ mol^?1 assuming a stress exponent of 3.5, water fugacity exponent of 1.2, and activation energy of 520 kJ mol^?1 (i.e., power-law dislocation creep of hydrous olivine). Because of the weak pressure dependence of the rheology of hydrous olivine at lower temperatures, water weakening of olivine could be effective in the deeper and colder part of Earth’s upper mantle.     

Experimental determination of Ni diffusion coefficients in olivine and their dependence on temperature, composition, oxygen fugacity, and crystallographic orientation

Diffusion couple experiments were carried out with San Carlos olivine (Fo₉₀) and NiFe alloys (Ni₁₀₀, Ni₉₇Fe₃, Ni₉₀Fe₁₀) or other olivine compositions (Fo₁₀₀, Fo₂₅) in order to determine the dependence on temperature, oxygen fugacity, composition and crystallographic orientation of Ni diffusion coefficient (D_Ni) in olivine. Experiments at 1 atmosphere total pressure cover a temperature range of 900-1445°C with run durations from 48 to 2155 h at different oxygen fugacities. In an Arrhenius plot the best fit for all data for Fo₉₀ yields an activation energy (E_D) of 220 ± 14 kJ/mol and an fO₂ dependence of (1/4.25)·Δ log fO₂ = Δ log D_Ni. The relationship between diffusion coefficients along different crystallographic axes at 1200°C is given by D_[001] ≈ 6·D_[100] ≈ 6·D_[010]. D_Ni depends strongly on the major element (i.e. Fe/Mg) composition of olivine and decreases by about 1 order of magnitude as the olivine composition changes from Fo₃₅ to Fo₉₀. Thus, experimental investigations in Fe-free systems cannot be applied to natural samples. For calculation of residence times or cooling rates the present Ni data yield shorter timescales compared to those obtained using diffusion data published until now.In addition to Ni diffusion coefficients, Fe-Mg, Mn and Ca diffusion data were obtained from some of the same diffusion couples (Fo₉₀-Fo₁₀₀). It is found that the activation energies, E_D[Ni] ≅ E_D[Fe-Mg] ≅ E_D[Mn] ≤ E_D[Ca]. All diffusion coefficients are strongly dependent on the major element composition of olivine.     

Interdiffusion of Mg–Fe in olivine at 1,400–1,600 °C and 1 atm total pressure

The interdiffusion coefficient of Mg–Fe in olivine (D _Mg–Fe) was obtained at 1,400–1,600 °C at the atmospheric pressure with the oxygen fugacity of 10^?3.5–10^?2 Pa using a diffusion couple technique. The D _Mg–Fe shows the anisotropy (largest along the [001] direction and smallest along the [100] direction), and its activation energy (280–320 kJ/mol) is ~80–120 kJ/mol higher than that estimated at lower temperatures. The D _Mg–Fe at temperatures of >1,400 °C can be explained by the cation-vacancy chemistry determined both by the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ equilibrium and by the intrinsic point defect formation with the formation enthalpy of 220–270 kJ/mol depending on the thermodynamical model for the Fe³⁺/Fe²⁺ equilibrium in olivine. The formation enthalpy of 220–270 kJ/mol for the point defect (cation vacancy) in olivine is consistent with that estimated from the Mg self-diffusion in Fe-free forsterite. The increase in the activation energy of D _Mg–Fe at >1,400 °C is thus interpreted as the result of the transition of diffusion mechanism from the transition metal extrinsic domain to the intrinsic domain at the atmospheric pressure.     

Experimental determination of the diffusion coefficient for calcium in olivine between 900°C and 1500°C

Experiments have been carried out to determine the temperature, oxygen fugacity (fO₂) and compositional dependence of the tracer diffusion coefficient (D) of calcium in olivine. These data constrain the diffusion coefficient over the temperature range 900 to 1500°C for the three principal crystallographic axes. Well constrained linear relationships between the reciprocal of the absolute temperature and log(D) exist at any given oxygen fugacity. There is a strong dependence of the diffusion coefficient on oxygen fugacity with D ∝ fO₂^(1/3). This makes a knowledge of the T-fO₂ path followed by geological samples a prerequisite for modelling Ca diffusion in olivine. The best fitting preexponential factor (Do) and activation energy (E) to the Arrhenius equation log (D) = log [Do exp(−E/RT)] + 0.31Δ log fO₂ for Ca diffusion in olivine at a given oxygen fugacity (fO₂*) are given by:diffusion along [100]: log [Do (m²/s)] = −10.78 ± 0.43; E = 193 ± 11 kJ/moldiffusion along [010]: log [Do (m²/s)] = −10.46 ± 0.37; E = 201 ± 10 kJ/moldiffusion along [001]: log [Do (m²/s)] = −10.02 ± 0.29; E = 207 ± 8 kJ/molwhere Δ log fO₂ = log[fO₂*] − log[10⁻¹²] with fO₂* in units of bars. There is no measurable compositional dependence of the diffusion coefficient between Fo₈₃ and Fo₉₂. Diffusion in Fo₁₀₀ has a much higher activation energy than in Fe-bearing olivine and has a weaker fO₂ dependence.     

High-temperature flow of wet polycrystalline enstatite

Previous experiments by Raleigh et al. (1971) have shown that at strain rates of 10⁻².sec⁻¹ to 10⁻⁷.sec⁻¹ only slip occurs in dry enstatite at temperatures above 1300°C and 1000°C, respectively.The present experiments have been conducted on polycrystalline enstatite under wet conditions in this regime where enstatite only slips, polygonizes and recrystallizes. Slip occurs throughout the whole regime on the system (100)[001] and at strains greater than 40% the system (010)[001] is observed. Polygonization and intragranular recrystallization begin at about 1300°C and 10⁻⁴.sec⁻¹ and the orientation of these neoblasts is host-controlled. At lower strain rates intergranular neoblasts develop and their fabric is one of [100] maximum parallel with σ₁ and [010] and [001] girdles in the σ₂ = σ₃ plane, similar to those in natural enstatite tectonites.Dislocation substructures of experimentally deformed enstatite have been examined by transmission electron microscopy. The samples were deformed within the field in which slip polygonization and recrystallization are the dominant deformation mechanisms. Samples within this regime have microstructures that are characterized by stacking faults and partial dislocations. Under the conditions of steady-state flow in olivine, these microstructures inhibit the operation of recovery mechanisms in enstatite.Other samples deformed within the polygonization and recrystallization field have microstructures that confirm the optical observations of intragranular and intergranular growth of neoblasts. It is suggested that the former result from strain-induced tilt of subrains, whereas the latter may result from bulge nucleation into adjacent subgrains.Mechanical data from constant strain-rate experiments at steady state, stress relaxation and temperature-differential creep tests are best fit to a power-law creep equation with the stress exponent, n~3 and the apparent activation energy for creep, Q~65 kcal/mole. Extrapolation of this equation to a representative natural geologic strain rate of 10⁻⁴. sec⁻¹, over the temperature interval 1000–2000°C, gives an effective viscosity range of 10²⁰–10¹⁸ poise and stresses in the range of 7-0.1 bar, respectively. Comparison with corrected wet-olivine mechanical data (Carter, 1976) over the same environment indicates that olivine is consistently the weaker of the two minerals and will recrystallize whilst enstatite will only slip and kink, thus accounting for the different habits of olivine and enstatite in ultramafic tectonites.     

High-temperature creep in a Ni2GeO4: a contribution to creep systematics in spinel

 High-temperature creep behavior in Ni₂GeO₄ spinel was investigated using synthetic polycrystalline aggregates with average grain sizes ranging from submicron to 7.4 microns. Cylindrical samples were deformed at constant load in a gas-medium apparatus at temperatures ranging from 1223 to 1523 K and stresses ranging from 40 to 320 MPa. Two deformation mechanisms were identified, characterized by the following flow laws: where σ is in MPa, d is in μm and T is in Kelvin. These flow laws suggest that deformation was accommodated by dislocation creep and grain-boundary diffusion (Coble) creep, respectively. A comparison with other spinels shows that an isomechanical group can be defined for spinels although some differences between normal and inverse spinels can be identified. When creep data for olivine and spinel are normalized and extrapolated to Earth-like conditions, spinel (ringwoodite) has a strength similar to olivine in the dislocation creep regime and is considerably stronger than olivine in the diffusion creep regime at coarse grain size. However, when grain-size reduction occurs, spinel can become weaker than olivine due to its high grain-size sensitivity (Coble creep behavior). Analysis of normalized diffusion creep data for olivine and spinel indicate that spinel is weaker than olivine at grain sizes less than 2 μm. Received: 18 June 2000 / Accepted: 3 April 2001     

富铁橄榄石的水溶性实验研究SCIEI北大核心CSCD

地幔的力学性质主要受橄榄石流变性的控制,含水对橄榄石流变性质的影响很大,而橄榄石的水溶性受到温度和铁含量的影响,因此,本文进行了不同铁含量橄榄石在不同温度下的水溶性实验研究。实验使用的样品为天然橄榄石单晶Fa_(17)和Fa_(24.7)(Fe_(No.)=100×molar Fe/(Mg+Fe))以及人工合成的橄榄石单晶Fa_(22);橄榄石单晶的水溶性实验在300MPa围压和1273~1473K的温度条件下进行,每隔50K进行一组实验,氧逸度被控制在Ni NiO水平上。实验结束后,对橄榄石单晶沿b面进行双面研磨抛光,用电子探针分析确定橄榄石单晶成分,采用EBSD精确测量橄榄石的单晶方向,使用红外光谱仪(FTIR)的非偏振光路测试橄榄石单晶在b轴上的吸收光谱。对FTIR吸收光谱进行积分得到富铁橄榄石的水溶性实验结果:当温度由1273K升至1473K时,橄榄石单晶Fa_(17)的水溶性变化为600~1200H/10^(6) Si,橄榄石单晶Fa_(24.7)的水溶性变化为1000~1300H/10^(6) Si,人工合成的橄榄石单晶Fa_(22)的水溶性变化为500~900 H/10^(6) Si。因此,相同铁含量橄榄石单晶的水溶性随温度的增加而增加,相同温度条件下,天然形成的橄榄石的水溶性随着铁含量的增加而增加,百分之一的铁含量的增加,可以导致约百分之十的水溶性的增加。本文所研究的不同铁含量的橄榄石可以为更好地估算上地幔水溶性提供依据。     

The effect of aluminum and water on the development of deformation fabrics of orthopyroxene

The effect of alumina and water solubility on the development of fabric in orthopyroxene in response to simple shear deformation has been investigated at a pressure of 1.5 GPa and a temperature of 1,100 °C using the D-DIA apparatus. The microstructure observations at these conditions indicate that dislocation glide is the dominant deformation mechanism. In MgSiO₃ enstatite and hydrous aluminous enstatite, partial dislocations bounding the stacking faults in [001] glide parallel to the (100) (or) the (100) [001] slip system. Electron backscattered diffraction analysis of anhydrous aluminous enstatite, however, indicates operation of the (010) [001] slip system, and microstructure analysis indicates dislocation movement involving [001] on both (100) and {210} planes. The strong covalent bonding induced by the occupation of M1 and T2 sites by Al could have restricted the glide on (100), activating slip on {210}. The resulting seismic anisotropies (~2 %) in orthopyroxene are weaker compared to olivine (~9.5 %), and reduced anisotropy can be expected if orthopyroxene coexists with olivine. Weak anisotropy observed in stable cratonic regions can be explained by the relatively high abundance of orthopyroxene in these rocks.