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.     

A crystal-chemical basis for Pb retention and fission-track annealing systematics in U-bearing minerals, with implications for geochronology

This study develops an empirical crystal-chemical framework for systematizing the kinetics of Pb loss and fission-track annealing in U-bearing minerals. Ionic porosity, Z (the fraction of a mineral's unit-cell volume not occupied by ions) potentially accounts for kinetic behavior by monitoring mean metal-oxygen bond length/strength. Various tests of a general kinetics-porosity relationship are presented, based upon diverse mineral data including: (1) Pb diffusion parameters; (2) measured closure temperatures (T_C) for fission-track annealing and (3) retentivities of both Pb and fission tracks, from apparent-age data. Every kinetic parameter (including T_C and mineral age for both the U/Pb and fission-track systems) is inversely correlated with Z within the sub-assemblage: zircon (Z ≈ 29%), titanite ( 34%) and apatite ( 38%). Assuming a diffusional closure model, Pb isotopic transport phenomena are described by a T_C-Z scale “calibrated” with field-based T_C data for titanite (≥ 680 ± 20°C) and apatite ( 500°C). Extrapolation of this scale yields T_C estimates for the following minerals: staurolite (T_C ≥ 1060°C, Z ≈ 25%); garnet (≥ 1010°C, 26.5%); zircon (≥900°C); monazite, xenotime, and epidote (≥ 750°C, 32%); and Ca-clinopyroxene (≥ 670 ± 30°C, 34 ± 1%, depending on composition). These empirical results imply that a (U/)Pb/Pb date for staurolite or garnet records the time of mineral growth, not post-growth isotopic closure, as also concluded in recent field studies. Because Z systematizes fission-track annealing, this recrystallization process, like volume-diffusion, must also be rate-limited by the strength of chemical bonds. The extent to which other recrystallization processes are likewise rate-limited is important to U/Pb geochronology because they potentially compete with diffusion as mechanisms for Pb-isotopic resetting in nature.     

The role of deformation partitioning in the deformation and recrystallization of plagioclase and K-feldspar in the Woodroffe Thrust mylonite zone, central Australia

ABSTRACT In the Woodroffe Thrust mylonite zone, central Australia, recrystallization in plagioclase and K-feldspar involved subgrain rotation, assisted by grain-boundary or kink band boundary bulging, without contribution from a change in the chemical composition from host grains to new grains. The size of subgrains and new grains changes across the mylonite zone, apparently as a function of the strain rate and the H2O content of the rock. The partitioning of deformation into zones of progressive shearing and progressive shortening controls the sites of recovery and recrystallization in feldspar during mylonitization. The size of feldspar porphyroclasts in well developed mylonites is governed by the scale of deformation partitioning reached in the earlier stages of mylonitization, before the formation of a large proportion of fine-grained matrix that can accommodate the progressive shearing component of the deformation. Recrystallization occurs in microcline, apparently without involving a translation to a monoclinic structure, as microcline-twinned new grains are common adjacent to microcline-twinned host grains. K-feldspar triclinicity values calculated from XRD traces increase from the margins to the interior of the mylonite zone, in conjunction with deformation intensity. K-feldspar host grains locally have cores of orthoclase or untwinned microcline, surrounded by mantles of twinned microcline, suggesting a relationship between the presence of microcline twinning and the degree of K-feldspar triclinicity.     

Dislocation generation, slip systems, and dynamic recrystallization in experimentally deformed plagioclase single crystals

Three samples of gem quality plagioclase crystals of An60 were experimentally deformed at 900 °C, 1 GPa confining pressure and strain rates of 7.5–8.7×10⁻⁷ s⁻¹. The starting material is effectively dislocation-free so that all observed defects were introduced during the experiments. Two samples were shortened normal to one of the principal slip planes (010), corresponding to a “hard” orientation, and one sample was deformed with a Schmid factor of 0.45 for the principal slip system [001](010), corresponding to a “soft” orientation. Several slip systems were activated in the “soft” sample: dislocations of the [001](010) and 110(001) system are about equally abundant, whereas 110{111} and [101] in ( 31) to ( 42) are less common. In the “soft” sample plastic deformation is pervasive and deformation bands are abundant. In the “hard” samples the plastic deformation is concentrated in rims along the sample boundaries. Deformation bands and shear fractures are common. Twinning occurs in close association with fracturing, and the processes are clearly interrelated. Glissile dislocations of all observed slip systems are associated with fractures and deformation bands indicating that deformation bands and fractures are important sites of dislocation generation. Grain boundaries of tiny, defect-free grains in healed fracture zones have migrated subsequent to fracturing. These grains represent former fragments of the fracture process and may act as nuclei for new grains during dynamic recrystallization. Nucleation via small fragments can explain a non-host-controlled orientation of recrystallized grains in plagioclase and possibly in other silicate materials which have been plastically deformed near the semi-brittle to plastic transition.     

Distribution of ductile deformation around the Main Central Thrust zone at the frontal part of nappe in southeastern Nepal Himalaya

A geological survey and morphological analysis of quartz grains were performed to investigate the distribution of ductile deformation caused by the Himalayan Main Central Thrust (MCT) around Dhankuta, southeastern Nepal. The MCT was mapped as the lithological boundary between the gneiss of the Higher Himalayan Crystalline (HHC) as the hanging wall and the inverted metamorphic sequence of the Lesser Himalayan Sediments (LHS) as the footwall. The MCT was found to truncate various stratigraphic levels of LHS and cuts a map‐scale gentle fold developed in the LHS. Ductile deformation was quantified by fractal dimension between size and perimeter of dynamically recrystallized quartz grains in bedded metaquartzite intercalated in both HHC and LHS. Serrate and polygonal shapes of quartz indicate large and small strain rates, respectively, when the temperature during ductile deformation was assumed to be uniform. A peak of strain rate was found at the lithological boundary with the peak width of ca. 500 m. Such a thin shear zone is favorable for producing frictional heat to promote the inverted metamorphism in LHS.     

EXPERIMENTAL STUDY ON THE EFFECT OF WATER ON THE STRENGTH AND DEFORMATION MECHANISM OF CARRARA MARBLE AT HIGH TEMPERATURE

We performed deformation experiments using Carrara marble in dry and wet conditions under temperature of 400~700℃ and confining pressure 300MPa with two different strain rates. Water contents of deformed samples were measured using FTIR spectroscopy. The microstructure and deformation mechanisms of samples were observed under optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and energy spectroscopy analysis. The mechanical data show that samples display strain hardening at 400℃, and transition to steady creep at temperature from 500~700℃. The strength of marble reduced gradually with elevated temperatures or decreased strain rate. However, water effect to the strength of the marble is significantly weak. Microstructures observed show that the deformation is cataclastic flow in dry samples, fracture and pressure solution in wet samples at 400℃. Samples underwent brittle-plastic transition at 500℃. Dislocation glide is major deformation mechanism for dry samples at 600℃. Dislocation climb and dynamic recrystallization are major deformation mechanism for wet samples at 600℃ and for all wet samples and dry samples at 700℃. Lower strain rate and higher water content could promote the process of pressure solution and diffusion as well as dynamic recrystallization.     

Origin of fine‐grained peridotite xenoliths from Iraya volcano of Batan Island,Philippines: deserpentinization or metasomatism at the wedge mantle beneath an incipient arc?

Abstract Peridotite xenoliths from the subarc mantle, which have been rarely documented, are described from Iraya volcano of the Luzon arc, the Philippines, and are discussed in the context of wedge-mantle processes. They are mainly harzburgite, with subordinate dunite, and show various textures from weakly porphyroclastic (C-type) to extremely fine-grained equigranular (F-type). Textural characteristics indicate a transition from the former to the latter by recrystallization. The F-type peridotite has inclusion-rich fine-grained olivine and radially aggregated orthopyroxene, being quite different in texture from ordinary mantle-derived peridotites previously documented. Despite their strong textural contrast, the two types do not show any systematic difference in modal composition. The harzburgite of C-type has ordinary mantle peridotite mineralogy; olivine is mostly Fo91–92 and chromian spinel mostly has Cr#s (= Cr/[Cr + Al] atomic ratios) from 0.3 to 0.6. Olivine is slightly more Fe-rich (Fo89–91) and spinel is more enriched in Cr (the Cr#, 0.4–0.8) and Fe³⁺ in F-type peridotites than in C-type harzburgite. Orthopyroxene in F-type peridotites is relatively low in CaO (<1 wt%), Al₂O₃ (<2 wt%) and Cr₂O₃ (<0.4 wt%). The F-type peridotite was possibly formed from the C-type one by recrystallization including local dissolution and precipitation of orthopyroxene assisted by fluid (or melt) of subduction origin. Textural characteristics, however, indicate a deserpentinization origin from abyssal serpentinite of which protolith was a C-type peridotite. In this scenario the initial abyssal serpentinite was possibly dehydrated due to an initiation of magmatic activity beneath an incipient oceanic arc like Batan Island. The F-type peridotite is characteristic of the upper mantle of island arc, especially of incipient arc.     

大别山造山带的糜棱岩

变质作用是糜棱岩的主要形成机制和鉴别标志.大别山糜棱岩是在变质作用条件下形成的与断层(或剪切带)有关的岩石,可分为绿片岩相、角闪岩相、麻粒岩相和榴辉岩相糜棱岩.大别山糜棱岩的主要鉴别标志是相应变质相标志矿物的韧(塑)性变形或晶内变形,这与以往关于糜棱岩的定义有明显不同.大别山高压(超高压带内的各类糜棱岩的形成时代与同相...     

Garnet-forming reactions and recrystallization in high-grade mylonite zones, MacRobertson Land, east Antarctica

Proterozoic granulite facies gneisses in MacRobertson Land, east Antarctica, are cut by numerous D5 mylonite-ultramylonite zones of probable Cambrian age. In garnet-absent mafic two-pyroxene gneisses and garnet-bearing charnockitic orthogneisses, the mylonite-ultramylonite zones are characterized by the growth of garnet at the expense of ilmenite, pyroxene and plagioclase. Textures within each mylonite zone can vary from protomylonitic to ultramylonitic. A range of mineral textures involving M5 garnet is developed corresponding to variations in deformation intensity. In protomylonites, garnet occurs as coronas on orthopyroxene-plagioclase and ilmenite-plagioclase boundaries, and as overgrowths on earlier garnet. In ultramylonites, fine-grained orthopyroxene-plagioclase-garnet ± quartz ± clinopyroxene intergrowths and poikilitic garnet are common. Garnet growth in all shear zones is accompanied by shifts in the compositions of neoblastic minerals occurring with garnet, consistent with local chemical equilibrium having been attained during recrystallization. Mylonitization is inferred to have occurred at P ∼ 6.5 kbar. Temperature estimates for M5 vary between 550 and 797 C, which may reflect variations and uncertainties associated with the calibrations used and/or partial re-equilibration during cooling. The presence of post-tectonic, coronate garnet in some mylonite zones indicates that garnet continued to form exclusively in the mylonite zones after movement had ceased and is interpreted to reflect the effects of localized strain heating.