Dislocations in olivine indented at low temperatures

Microhardness experiments have been performed on faces of olivine single crystals oriented at 45° to the [100] and [001] axis. Experiments have been performed between 20°C and 900°C in order to follow the evolution of the slip systems and the evolution of the nature of dislocations with temperature. Slip systems were identified using interferential contrast, decoration and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Although the two possible Burgers vectors [001] and [100] are acted upon symmetrically, the only activated slip systems are (100) [001] and {110} [001]. The latter system is less developed and appears only at 600°C and above. Dislocations are mainly [001] screws, which are always very straight. Microcracks are observed together with dislocations. Above 600°C there is a clear relationship between both as a narrow plastic zone is developed around the cracks.