Deformation mechanisms of antigorite and strain localization during dehydration
Abstract
Antigorite, the high temperature and pressure serpentine polytype, is thought to exist along subduction zones between the mantle wedge and the subducting oceanic crust (e.g., Wada et al., 2008). Understanding how the rheology of antigorite changes with depth along the slab may be key to understanding seismicity along the upper plate boundary (e.g., Hacker et al., 2003). To explore this phenomenon we are conducting constant strain rate general shear experiments on antigorite-rich serpentinite at shear strain rates of 5*10^-7/s to 10^-5/s, confining pressures from 1-2 GPa and temperatures from 400-700°C. We are using microstructural observations to constrain deformation mechanisms and investigate conditions where strain localization occurs. In some experiments we employ either strain rate stepping or temperature ramping to examine the stress dependence of viscosity (i.e., determine stress exponent) and syntectonic reaction during heating. The results of our general shear experiments suggest the rheologic behavior of antigorite varies significantly with changes in temperature and pressure, similar to previous work in axial compression (e.g., Chernak and Hirth, 2010). At 400°C and 1GPa confining pressure antigorite deforms initially via steady-state ductile flow with strengths as high as 1.4 GPa at a strain rate of 10^-5/s. With increasing strain we observe weakening events that correlate with the development of shear fractures within the sample. At 2GPa pressure, the flow strength of antigorite increases to ~1.8 GPa at 10^-6/s and deformation is distributed at low strain. Strain rate stepping at these conditions suggests a very weak strain rate dependence on strength with a 5-10% change in stress for an order of magnitude strain rate step. At 700C and 1 GPa, above the thermal stability of antigorite, the steady-state strength is ~120 MPa at 10^-5/s. In these samples olivine becomes the dominant phase as antigorite progressively reacts to olivine and pyroxene. At the sample scale, strain is relatively homogeneous. However, microstructural observation indicates that deformation tends to be localized along "Riedel-like" shear zones that develop within the sample with a spacing of ~100 μm and an orientation of ~25° with respect to the sample orientation (45° from σ1). In a temperature ramp, from 400°C to 700°C at 1 GPa and 10^-5/s strain rate, the antigorite strength decreases rapidly to ~120 MPa and strain localizes within shear fractures that correlate with the onset of thermal weakening (similar to Chernak and Hirth, 2010). To a first order our finding suggest complications with the antigorite flow law established by Hilairet et al., (2007). We find that the flow law grossly underestimates the steady-state flow strength of antigorite and we question whether strain can be fully accommodated by crystal plastic deformation.
- Publication:
-
AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2012
- Bibcode:
- 2012AGUFMMR51A..04P
- Keywords:
-
- 3902 MINERAL PHYSICS / Creep and deformation;
- 8159 TECTONOPHYSICS / Rheology: crust and lithosphere