Pressure Dependence of Magnesite Creep

Abstract

We determined the activation volumes (V*) for polycrystalline magnesite with grain sizes of 2 and 80 µm deforming by low temperature plasticity (LTP) mechanisms (kinking and dislocation glide), diffusion creep, and dislocation creep at temperatures of 500, 750, and 900 °C, respectively, and a strain rate of 1−2 × 10−5 s−1 at effective pressures of 2.9−7.5 GPa in a D-DIA and 0.76 GPa in a Griggs apparatus. In each set of experiments performed at a given temperature, the strength of magnesite increases with increasing pressure. Microstructures of fine-grained magnesite deformed at 500 °C and 750 °C are consistent with deformation by LTP mechanisms and diffusion creep, respectively. Microstructures of coarse-grained magnesite deformed at 900 °C are consistent with deformation by dislocation creep. Pressure dependencies of magnesite flow laws for LTP, diffusion creep, and dislocation creep are given by activation volumes of 34 (± 7), 2 (± 1), and 10 (± 5) × 10−6 m3/mol, respectively. Addition of these activation volumes to previously determined flow laws predicts magnesite strength to be much lower than the flow strength of olivine at all subduction zone depths of the upper mantle. Thus, subducting oceanic lithosphere that has been partially carbonated by reaction with CO2-bearing fluids may deform at lowered stresses where magnesite is present, possibly resulting in strain localization and unstable run-away shear.

Keywords

• magnesite
• deep focus earthquakes
• activation volume