The role of water in the deformation of olivine single crystals.

S. J. Mackwell, D. L. Kohlstedt, M. S. Paterson

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

348 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hydrothermal treatment experiments have been performed on single crystals of San Carlos olivine at 1100o to 1300oC and 300- and 1500-MPa confining pressure, with the oxygen fugacity around the specimen constrained near the Fe/FeO buffer. Crystals hydrothermally treated at 1300oC, 300-MPa confining pressure, and 10-5 s-1 strain rate are a factor of 1.5 to 2.5 weaker than those treated in an anhydrous environment. Microstructural investigations suggest that this reduction in strength is due to enhancement of the rate of climb of dislocations in the 'wet' experiments. First-order calculations suggest a stress exponent of n approx 2.5 and a water fugacity exponent of m approx 1/5 for deformation under hydrous conditions, assuming that the deformation obeys a power law relation. -from Authors

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)11,319-11,333
JournalJournal of Geophysical Research
Volume90
Issue numberB13
DOIs
StatePublished - 1985

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'The role of water in the deformation of olivine single crystals.'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this