Deformation mechanisms in experimentally and naturally deformed amphiboles

Experimental deformation of an igneous hornblendite at 600–750°C, 10 kbars confining pressure and a strain rate of 10 ^?5 sec^?1 results in kink bands whose normals cluster about [001] and axes of external rotation subparallel to [010]. This is consistent with glide on the system T = (100), t = [001]. At temperatures of 800°C to the breakdown temperature of the hornblende, external rotation axes spread along the (100) plane although kink band boundary poles remain subparallel to [001]. This indicates glide on the (100) plane in variable directions. Analysis of bend zones in a naturally deformed actinolite indicates glide on the (100), [001] system. Mechanical (101) twinning was not observed in any of the samples, and we suggest that in these amphiboles the critical resolved shear stress for glide is lower than that for twinning.