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.     

Spatial correlation of deformation and mineral reaction in experimentally deformed plagioclase–olivine aggregates

Shear deformation of hot pressed plagioclase–olivine aggregates was studied in the presence and absence of mineral reaction. Experiments were performed at 900 °C, 1500 MPa, and a constant shear strain rate of 5×10⁻⁵ s⁻¹ in a solid medium apparatus. Whether the mineral reaction between plagioclase and olivine takes place or not is controlled by choosing the appropriate plagioclase composition; labradorite (An₆₀) does not react, anorthite (An₉₂) does. Labradorite–olivine aggregates deformed without reaction are very strong and show strain hardening throughout the experiment. Syndeformational reaction between olivine and anorthite causes a pronounced strain weakening. The reaction produces fine-grained opx–cpx–spinel aggregates, which accommodate a large fraction of the finite strain. Deformation and reaction are localised within a 0.5-mm-wide sample. Three representative samples were analysed for their fabric anisotropy R* and shape-preferred orientation α* (fabric angle with the shear plane) using the autocorrelation function (ACF). Fabric anisotropy can be calibrated to quantify strain variations across the sheared samples. In the deformed and reacted anorthite–olivine aggregate, there is a strong correlation between reaction progress and strain; regions of large shear strain correspond to regions of maximum reaction progress. Within the sample, the derived strain rate variations range up to almost one order of magnitude.     

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.     

Effect of water and stress on the lattice-preferred orientation of olivine

The influence of water and stress on the lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine aggregates was investigated through large strain, shear deformation experiments at high pressures and temperatures (P = 0.5–2.1 GPa, T = 1470–1570 K) under both water-poor and water-rich conditions. The specimens are hot-pressed synthetic olivine aggregates or single crystals of olivine. Water was supplied to the sample by decomposition of a mixture of talc and brucite. Deformation experiments were conducted up to γ (shear strain)  6 using the Griggs apparatus where water fugacity was up to  13 GPa at the pressure of 2 GPa. The water content in olivine saturated with water increases with increasing pressure and the solubility of water in olivine at P = 0.5–2 GPa was  400–1200 ppm H/Si. Several new types of LPO in olivine are found depending on water content and stress. Samples deformed in water-poor conditions show a conventional LPO of olivine where the olivine [100] axis is subparallel to the shear direction, the (010) plane subparallel to the shear plane (type-A). However, we identified three new types (type-B, C, and E) of LPO of olivine depending on the water content and stress. The type-B LPO of olivine which was found at relatively high stress and/or under moderate to high water content conditions is characterized by the olivine [001] axis subparallel to the shear direction, the (010) plane subparallel to the shear plane. The type-C LPO which was found at low stress and under water-rich conditions is characterized by the olivine [001] axis subparallel to the shear direction, the (100) plane subparallel to the shear plane. The type-E LPO which was found under low stress and moderate water content is characterized by the olivine [100] axis subparallel to the shear direction, the (001) plane subparallel to the shear plane. Observations by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show that the dislocations in water-poor samples (type-A) are curved and both b =  [100] and b = [001] dislocations have a similar population. Numerous subgrains are seen in water-poor samples in backscattered electron images. In contrast, water-rich samples (both type-B and type-C) contain mostly b = [001] dislocations and dislocations are straight and sub-grain boundaries are rare compared to those in water-poor samples. These observations suggest that (1) dominant slip systems in olivine change with water fugacity (and stress) and (2) grain boundary migration is enhanced in the presence of water. Seismic anisotropy corresponding to the fabrics under water-rich condition is significantly different from that under water-poor condition. Consequently, the relationship between seismic anisotropy and flow geometry in water-rich regions is expected to be different from that in water-poor regions in which type-A fabric dominates (i.e., the lithosphere). A few cases are discussed including anisotropy in the subduction zone and in the deep upper mantle.     

Experimental deformation of a synthetic dunite at high temperature and pressure. II. Transmission electron microscopy

We have performed detailed transmission electron microscope on most of the deformed synthetic dunite specimens prepared in the study by Zeuch and Green (1984). We have identified three basic types of sub-boundaries, simple tilt walls in (100) and (001). composed by b = [100] and b = [001] edge dislocations, respectively, and twist boundaries in (010) composed of b = [100] and b = [001] screws. We have also observed more complex, asymmetric lilt boundaries in (100) and (001). Like the (010) twist boundaries, these asymmetric tilt walls are common only at the highest temperatures and lowest strain rates. Subgrain development is extensive at the higher temperatures and lower strain rates, and subgrains are composed of the above-mentioned three types of sub-boundaries; edge components in (100) and (001) ire “knitted” to screw components in (010) as described by Kirby and Wegner (1978) for naturally deformed olivine. In many areas of the samples which we studied, subgrain development is not observed, but parallel arrays of tilt boundaries of one type or the other are present. At higher temperatures and lower strain rates. “(100) organization” (Durham et al., 1977) is common; this structure consists of parallel arrays of (100) tilt boundaries with b = [100] screws connecting the sub-boundaries. At lower temperatures we have observed an analogous arrangement of (001) sub-boundaries and b = [001] screws, which we refer to as “(001) organization”. Under all experimental conditions, dislocations with b = [100] and b = [001] are present in approximately equal numbers. However, the two types of dislocations also have distinctly different geometries under all test conditions. We suggest that the transition from slip parallel to [001] to slip parallel to [100] with increasing temperature, which has been reported in earlier studies may also depend upon water content. The substructures which we observe are virtually identical to those seen in many naturally deformed peridolites. and we conclude that the mechanisms involved in both natural and laboratory deformation of olivine polycrystals are similar. On the other hand, the substructures reported here are very different from those observed in experimentally deformed olivine single crystals. It seems likely that these substructural differences reflect fundamental differences in the behavior oh single crystals and polycrystals. which are in turn reflected in different measured creep strengths.     

A scanning electron microscope study of the effects of dynamic recrystallization on lattice preferred orientation in olivine

Effects of dynamic recrystallization on lattice preferred orientation (LPO) in olivine were investigated through the combination of two SEM-based techniques, electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) technique for crystallographic orientation measurement and backscattered electron imaging (BEI) for dislocation observation. Samples are experimentally deformed olivine aggregates in simple shear geometry. In the sample deformed at T=1473 K and high stresses (480 MPa), only incipient dynamic recrystallization is observed along grain-boundaries. Orientations of these small recrystallized grains are more random than that of relict grains, suggesting an important role of grain-boundary sliding at this stage of recrystallization. In the sample deformed at T=1573 K and low stress (160 MPa), dynamic recrystallization is nearly complete and the LPO is characterized by two [100] peaks. One peak is located at the orientation subparallel to the shear direction and is dominated by grains with high Schmid factor. The other occurs at high angles to the shear direction and is due to the contribution from grains with low Schmid factor. Grains with high Schmid factor tend to have higher dislocation densities than those with low Schmid factor. Based on these observations, we identify two mechanisms by which dynamic recrystallization affects LPO: (1) enhancement of grain-boundary sliding due to grain-size reduction, leading to the modification of LPO caused by the relaxation of constraint for deformation; (2) grain-boundary migration by which grains with lower dislocation densities grow at the expense of grains with higher dislocation densities. Based on the deformation mechanism maps and stress versus recrystallized grain-size relation, we suggest that the first mechanism always plays an important role whereas the second mechanism has an important effect only under limited conditions.     

Deformation microstructures of olivine in peridotite from Spitsbergen, Svalbard and implications for seismic anisotropy

To understand the deformation mechanism and seismic anisotropy in the uppermost mantle beneath Spitsbergen, Svalbard, in the Arctic, the deformation microstructures of olivine in the peridotite of Spitsbergen were studied. Seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle can be explained mainly by the lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine. The LPOs of the olivine in the peridotites were determined using electron backscattered diffraction patterns. Eight specimens out of 10 showed that the [100] axis of the olivine was aligned subparallel to the lineation and that the (010) plane was subparallel to the foliation, showing a type A LPO. In the other two specimens the [100] axis of olivine was aligned subparallel to the lineation and both the [010] and [001] axes were distributed in a girdle nearly perpendicular to the lineation, showing a type D LPO. The dislocation density of the olivine in the samples showing a type D LPO was higher than that in the samples showing a type A LPO. The result of an Fourier transformation infrared study showed that both the types A and D samples were dry. These observations were in good agreement with a previous experimental study ( Tectonophysics , 421 , 2006, 1 ): samples showing a type D LPO for olivine were observed at a high stress condition and samples showing both types A and D LPO were deformed under dry condition. Observations of both strong LPOs and dislocations of olivine indicate that the peridotites studied were deformed by dislocation creep. The seismic anisotropy calculated from the LPOs of the olivine could be used to explain the seismic anisotropy of P - and S -waves in the lithospheric mantle beneath Spitsbergen, Svalbard.     

Dislocation recovery in fine-grained polycrystalline olivine

The rate of static dislocation recovery in Fo₉₀ olivine has been studied under conditions of high temperature and controlled atmosphere in compressively deformed polycrystals hot-pressed from synthetic (sol–gel) and natural (San Carlos) precursor powders. The sol–gel olivine, containing a small fraction of orthopyroxene, was deformed to a final strain of 19% with a maximum differential stress of 266 MPa whereas the San Carlos specimen was deformed to 15% strain and 260 MPa differential stress. Small samples cut from these deformed materials were annealed under high-temperature, controlled atmosphere conditions, for different durations to allow partial recovery of the dislocation sub-structures. Oxidative-decoration of the microstructural features, followed by backscattered electron imaging at 5 kV and image analysis, was used to determine dislocation density. The variation of dislocation density ρ with time t at absolute temperature T was fitted to a second-order rate equation, in integral form, 1/ρ(t) − 1/ρ(0) = kt with k = k ₀ exp(−E _a/RT). The activation energy E _a of the recovery process is 240 ± 43 and 355 ± 81 kJ mol⁻¹ for sol–gel and San Carlos olivine polycrystals, respectively. The measured rates are one to two orders of magnitude lower than those reported in previous studies on natural single crystal olivine. The difference may be explained by several factors such as high dislocation densities measurable from large areas at high magnification for the SEM and the technique used to estimate dislocation densities. Comparison between fine-grained sol–gel olivine and the coarser-grained San Carlos olivine aggregate did not indicate that grain boundaries play an important role in dislocation recovery, but the absence of grain boundaries might also have contributed to the high dislocation recovery rates previously measured for single crystals.     

氧分压对橄榄石单晶体高温蠕变影响的实验研究

在氧分压10^-4-10^-10atm,温度1250-1500℃和应力21.5-150MPa条件下,对橄榄石单晶高温蠕变速率与氧分压之间关系进行了系统实验研究。实验结果表明,氧分压大小直接控制了橄榄石高温蠕变速率的变化;橄榄石位错攀移是通过氧空位点缺陷扩散作用而完成的;橄榄石[110]₆₉,[101]₆和[011]₆不同结晶学方向具有不同流变强度和氧分压指数。     

Large-strain deformation and strain partitioning in polyphase rocks: Dislocation creep of olivine–magnesiowüstite aggregates

Aggregates composed of olivine and magnesiowüstite have been deformed to large strains at high pressure and temperature to investigate stress and strain partitioning, phase segregation and possible localization of deformation in a polyphase material. Samples with 20 vol.% of natural olivine and 80 vol.% of (Mg_0.7Fe_0.3)O were synthesized and deformed in a gas-medium torsion apparatus at temperatures of 1127 °C and 1250 °C, a confining pressure of 300 MPa and constant angular displacement rates equivalent to constant shear strain rates of 1–3.3 × 10^− 4 s^− 1. The samples deformed homogeneously to total shear strains of up to γ  15. During constant strain rate measurements the flow stress remained approximately stable at 1250 °C while it progressively decreased after the initial yield stress at the lower temperature. Mechanical data, microstructures and textures indicate that both phases were deforming in the dislocation creep regime. The weaker component, magnesiowüstite, controlled the rheological behavior of the bulk material and accommodated most of the strain. Deformation and dynamic recrystallization lead to grain refinement and to textures that were not previously observed in pure magnesiowüstite and may have developed due to the presence of the second phase. At 1127 °C, olivine grains behaved as semi-rigid inclusions rotating in a viscous matrix. At 1250 °C, some olivine grains remained largely undeformed while deformation and recrystallization of other grains oriented for a-slip on (010) resulted in a weak foliation and a texture typical for pure dry olivine aggregates. Both a-slip and c-slip on (010) were activated in olivine even though the nominal stresses were up to 2 orders of magnitude lower than those needed to activate these slip systems in pure olivine at the same conditions.     

Experimental investigation of melt topology in partially molten quartzo-feldspathic aggregates under hydrostatic and non-hydrostatic stress

Continental collision results in deep burial of crustal rocks and their subsequent partial melting. Field relations of melt along zones of intense deformation suggest that partially molten rocks may play an important role in regional tectonics. However, subsequent deformation may erase the microstructures produced by the earlier deformation mechanisms, inhibiting our understanding of the rheology of partially molten crustal rocks. Thus, in this paper, we report the results of an experimental study of the distribution of 2–5 vol% melt in quartzo-feldspathic aggregates of various grain sizes: 2–5, 5–10, 10–16 and 26–31 μm. Three types of samples were examined, all with the composition of 60 wt% albite, 25 wt% potassium feldspar, 10 wt% quartz and 5 wt% biotite. The first group included mineral powders annealed at 1000 °C, 1.0 GPa, for c. 100 h. The second group included commercially hot-pressed mineral powders which yielded c. 25 vol% glass; cores of this material were also annealed at 1000 °C, 1.0 GPa, for c. 100 h. The third group included cores of hot-pressed material that were annealed at 1000 °C, 1.0 GPa, for c. 45 h, then deformed. All samples were quenched rapidly in order to examine the melt distribution. Wetting angles are very similar in both the hydrostatically annealed and the deformed samples. Analysis of melt pool orientations reveal that melt migrates away from grain boundaries normal to the maximum compressive stress direction in response to the applied non-hydrostatic stress. This response is easily seen in the coarser-grained samples in which melt pools elongated parallel to the maximum compressive stress direction formed during deformation. If these results extrapolate to naturally deformed rocks, it will be important to consider the orientation of the state of stress in a region during syn-magmatic deformation because of its effect on the melt distribution.     

藏南超基性岩的塑性流变

随着深部构造研究的不断深入,岩石流变作用日益受到人们重视,普遍认为塑性流变是地壳深部构造形成的主要机制。超基性岩的流变作用目前已成为研究上地幔流变、岩石圈板块动力学和热对流,甚至震源机制的重要内容。 本文拟通过对构成雅鲁藏布江蛇绿岩套底部的藏南超基性岩的研究,重点划分塑性流变的结构类型,探讨不同结构类型中橄榄石的组构特征及实际存在的滑动系,用不同方法计算超基性岩形成和侵位过程中的流动应力值,并认为由于橄榄石塑性流变而获得的晶格方位排列是造成地震波速度不连续性的主因,岩石的塑性流动有可能是深部能量释放和诱发     

Deformation microstructures of olivine and chlorite in chlorite peridotites from Almklovdalen in the Western Gneiss Region,southwest Norway,and implications for seismic anisotropy

Chlorite peridotites from Almklovdalen in southwest Norway were studied to understand the deformation processes and seismic anisotropy in the upper mantle. The lattice preferred orientation (LPO) of olivine and chlorite was determined using electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD)/scanning electron microscopy. A sample with abundant garnet showed [100] axes of olivine aligned sub-parallel to lineation, and [010] axes aligned subnormal to foliation: A-type LPO. Samples rich in chlorite showed different olivine LPOs. Two samples showed [001] axes aligned sub-parallel to lineation, and [010] axes aligned subnormal to foliation: B-type LPO. Two other samples showed [100] axes aligned sub-parallel to lineation, and [001] axes aligned subnormal to foliation: E-type LPO. Chlorite showed a strong LPO characterized by [001] axes aligned subnormal to foliation with a weak girdle subnormal to lineation. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of the specimens revealed that the olivines with A-type LPO contain a small amount (170 ppm H/Si) of water. In contrast, the olivines with B-type LPOs contain a large amount (340 ppm H/Si) of water.

The seismic anisotropy of the olivine and chlorite was calculated. Olivine showed Vp anisotropy of up to 3.8% and a maximum Vs anisotropy of up to 2.7%. However, the chlorite showed a much stronger Vp anisotropy, up to 21.1%, and a maximum Vs anisotropy of up to 31.7%. A sample with a mixture of 25% of olivine and 75% of chlorite can produce a Vp anisotropy of 14.2% and a maximum Vs anisotropy of 22.9%. Because chlorite has a wide stability field at high pressure and high temperature in the subduction zone, the strong LPO of chlorite can be a source of the observed trench-normal or trench-parallel seismic anisotropy in the mantle wedge as well as in subducting slabs depending on the dipping angle of slab in a subduction zone where chlorite is stable.     

Synthetic minerals with the pyrochlore and garnet structures for immobilization of actinide-containing wastes

Complex oxides of the pyrochlore (space groups Fd3m, ^[8]A₂ ^[6]B₂O₇) and garnet (Ia3d, ^[8]A₃ ^[6]B₂ ^[4]T₃O₁₂) structures (“A” = Ca²⁺, Ln^3+/4+, An^3+/4+; “B” = (Ti, Sn, Hf, and Zr)⁴⁺ in pyrochlore, and Al³⁺, Ga³⁺, and Fe³⁺ in garnet alone; “T” = (Al³⁺, Ga³⁺, and Fe³⁺) are promising matrices for actinide-bearing wastes. In order to identify optimal compositions of these phases, their isomorphic capacity with respect to REE, actinides, and other components of wastes was examined. The long-term behavior of the matrix at a repository was predicted based on data obtained on the behavior of pyrochlores and garnets under ion irradiation and ²⁴⁴Cm decay and on the determined leaching rates of REE from the matrices because of their interaction with aqueous solutions, including that after amorphization. In order to propose efficient synthesis techniques, samples prepared with the use of various methods were studied. The possibility of incorporating long-lived decay products of ⁹⁹Tc into the crystalline matrices was analyzed.     

Transmission electron microscope study of experimentally deformed K-Feldspar single crystals

Single crystals of sanidine which were experimentally deformed so as to introduce the (010)[100] slip system were examined by transmission electron microscopy (tem). Dislocation glide is mainly manifested in the samples deformed at 700° C, with a strain rate \(\dot \varepsilon = 1 - 2 \times 10^{ - 6} s^{ - 1} \) . In addition to the expected slip system another more important one, (12 \(\bar 1\) )[101], was found. The dislocations lying in (010) present a glissile dissociation. These observations have been discussed in term of the feldspar structure. Models for glissile dissociation in (010) are proposed: [100]=1/2[100]+1/2[100] or 1/2[101]+1/2[10 \(\bar 1\) ] and [101]=1/2[101]+1/2[101].     

Olivine [100] normal to foliation: lattice preferred orientation in prograde garnet peridotite formed at high H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O activity,Cima di Gagnone (Central Alps)

Automated electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) was applied using a scanning electron microscope to obtain lattice preferred orientation (LPO) data for olivine in garnet peridotites of the Central Alps. As a reference frame, the LPOs of enstatite were also investigated. In the garnet peridotite at Cima di Gagnone (CDG), a weak foliation carrying a distinct lineation is present. The lineation is characterized by elongated enstatite, olivine and poikiloblastic garnet. Olivine shows a very unusual LPO with [100] normal to foliation and [001] parallel to lineation. Achsenverteilungsanalyse (AVA) maps demonstrate that [001] of olivine grains corresponds quite well to their maximum length axes which are preferentially parallel to the lineation. Numerous planar hydrous defects within (001) planes of olivine are marked by palisades of ilmenite rods and show a preferred orientation normal to lineation. Calculated P-wave velocities for CDG are fastest (8.32 km s^у) normal to foliation with a relatively low anisotropy (2.9%). Compared to mantle peridotites with the usual (010)[100] LPO where the fastest Vp direction is towards the lineation, the relationship between flow geometry and seismic anisotropy is significantly different at CDG. Several mechanisms for the formation of the LPO type at CDG are considered, with glide possible on (100)[001] of olivine. On the basis of field data as well as petrographic and petrologic evidence, it has been demonstrated that the CDG garnet peridotite formed by prograde metamorphism from a hydrous protolith at pressures and temperatures of about 3.0 GPa and 750 °C, respectively. The CDG LPO is interpreted to have formed during hydrous subduction zone metamorphism. The same interpretation may hold for the previously investigated olivine LPO at Alpe Arami, which is similar to that at the nearby CDG. The observed anomalous LPO is no proof for ultradeep (>3.0 GPa) conditions.     

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     

Petrofabrics and seismic properties of garnet peridotite from the UHP Sulu terrane (China): Implications for olivine deformation mechanism in a cold and dry subducting continental slab

Lattice-preferred orientations (LPO) of olivine, diopside, enstatite and garnet from the Zhimafang garnet peridotite body in the Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic terrane (China) were measured using the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) technique. The peridotite was captured from a mantle wedge immediately adjacent the subducted Yangtze slab and then experienced the UHP metamorphism at 750–950 °C and 4–7 GPa. The olivine LPO is characterized by the [001] axis close to the stretching lineation and the (100) plane subparallel to the foliation, indicating the prevailing of (100) [001] slip. Enstatite LPO displays the dominance of (100) [001] slip. Diopside developed complex LPO patterns that are difficult to explain using a single slip system of (100) [001]. Garnet is almost randomly oriented due to its low volume fractions, cubic symmetry and the presence of numerous slip systems. Calculated seismic properties of the peridotite yield a maximum P-wave velocity normal to the foliation and a minimum along the foliation, with anisotropy up to 8% in strongly sheared samples. The S-wave velocity pattern is complex but the fast polarization plane generally normal to the foliation. The inferred shear sense from the olivine LPO is top-to-SE, in contrary to exhumation-induced top-to-NW thrusting recorded in the quartz LPO, implying that the olivine LPO formed at early UHP metamorphic conditions. The olivine crystals have relatively low water contents (141–475 H/10⁶ Si), indicating a fluid-deficient environment for the LPO formation. The present study suggests that a combination of low temperature and UHP plays a much more important role than the water content to promote the activation of (100) [001] slip in olivine.     

The behavior of protons during wet olivine deformation under the conditions of the kimberlite process

This paper reports the results of optical and electron microscopic investigations of mantle olivine samples with H₂O contents of tens-hundreds ppm weight. Samples were obtained from the xenoliths and xenocrysts of the Udachnaya pipe. At the scale of optical microscope magnification, a peculiar banded microstructure was observed in thin sections prepared parallel to the olivine (010) plane. It is formed by cross-hatched bands parallel to four crystallographic directions of the olivine structure: [100], [001], [101], and [−101]. At the scale of electron optical magnifications, the banded microstructure is observed as nanometer-sized heterogeneities of various types which are related to olivine deformation: (a) planar defects parallel to (100) and (001) corresponding to the (100)[010] and (001)[100] dislocation glide systems, respectively; they are occasionally transformed into lamellae or decorated by nanoinclusions; and (b) nanometer-sized heterogeneities formed by nanoinclusion arrays not related to planar defects and oriented along the same directions of the olivine structure as the optically visible bands. The deformation structures are decorated by coupled point OH-bearing defects, which were initially present in the olivine. The crystallographically oriented arrays of nanoinclusions of high-pressure hydrous silicates are considered as a result of olivine deprotonization (elimination of OH-bearing defects from the olivine structure) in the zones of previous deformation compression in the crystal. Light refraction effects on the nanoinclusions make these zones optically visible and produce the banded microstructure, which is a consequence of previous deformation.     

The system Mg2SiO4-Ca2SiO4-CaAl2O4-NaAlSiO4-SiO2: one atmosphere liquidus equilibria of analogs of alkaline mafic lavas

One atmosphere liquidus relationships in the system Mg₂SiO₄ (Fo)–Ca₂SiO₄ (La)–NaAlSiO₄ (Ne)–CaAl₂O₄ (CA)–SiO₂ (Sil) are presented as analogs for alkaline mafic lavas. Liquidus diagrams are constructed from electron microprobe analyses of quenched liquids and coexisting mineral phases produced in melting experiments and they are depicted in terms of sub-projections within the pseudo-quaternary system Fo–La–[Ne,CA]–Sil. The Ne and CA components are combined to create a normative feldspathoid component defined as Ne#=Ne/[Ne+CA]. Liquidus relations at Ne#=0.5 from this study are compared to relations at Ne#=0.0 and 1.0 from previous studies. In general, liquidus temperatures decrease and positions of liquidus boundaries involving feldspathic phases shift toward the [Ne, CA] component as Ne# increases. The pseudoinvariant points fo+di+pl+mel+l and fo+pl+mel+sp+l exist at Ne#=0.5. These equilibria between forsterite-plagioclase-melilite-liquid are not present in the system when Ne#=1.0 because a boundary curve (fo+di+ne+l) separates the plagioclase and melilite liquidus fields. The liquidus diagrams provide useful analogs for the crystallization sequences of natural primary alkali olivine basalts, basanitoids, basanites, olivine nephelinites, olivine-melilite nephelinites and olivine melilitites.