Rheology of magnesite and implications for subduction zone dynamics

We deformed two natural magnesite aggregates over a wide range of temperatures (400-1000^oC) and strain rates (10^-7 - 10^-4/s) in order to determine the deformation mechanisms of magnesite and their respective rheologies. The two magnesite aggregates have similar compositions, but different grain sizes (1 vs. 100 μm). Experiments using fine-grained magnesite were performed in a Heard-type gas confining medium rock deformation apparatus at a constant effective pressure (= confining pressure - CO₂ pressure) of 300 MPa. Experiments using coarse-grained magnesite were performed using molten salt or solid salt assemblies in a Griggs-type piston-cylinder rock deformation apparatus at a constant effective pressure of 900 MPa. At low temperatures (T≤600^oC, strain rate = 10^-5/s) both magnesite aggregates deform by crystal plastic mechanisms predominated by dislocation glide. However, at higher temperatures the coarse-grained magnesite aggregate deforms by dislocation creep and the fine-grained magnesite aggregate deforms by diffusion creep. The strain rate and temperature dependence of the low temperature plasticity, dislocation creep and diffusion creep rheologies can be described by power laws with stress exponents (n) of 19.7, 3.0 and 1.1 and activation enthalpies of 229, 410 and 209 kJ/mol, respectively. The rheology of the low temperature plasticity data can also be described using an exponential flow law with α = 0.022 MPa^-1 with a best-fit activation enthalpy of 233 kJ/mol. Extrapolation of the experimentally determined rheological data to natural conditions indicates that magnesite is generally stronger than calcite and dolomite assuming similar grain sizes. However, its strength is orders of magnitude lower than olivine at all conditions in the Earth's mantle. Thus magnesite may act as a weak phase in altered lithosphere of subduction zones, and it may even promote deep-focus earthquakes through ductile instabilities.