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Schierjott JC, Ito G, Behn MD, Tian X, Morrow T, Kaus BJP, Escartín J. How transform fault shear influences where detachment faults form near mid-ocean ridges. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9259. [PMID: 37286695 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-35714-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Oceanic detachment faults represent an end-member form of seafloor creation, associated with relatively weak magmatism at slow-spreading mid-ocean ridges. We use 3-D numerical models to investigate the underlying mechanisms for why detachment faults predominantly form on the transform side (inside corner) of a ridge-transform intersection as opposed to the fracture zone side (outside corner). One hypothesis for this behavior is that the slipping, and hence weaker, transform fault allows for the detachment fault to form on the inside corner, and a stronger fracture zone prevents the detachment fault from forming on the outside corner. However, the results of our numerical models, which simulate different frictional strengths in the transform and fracture zone, do not support the first hypothesis. Instead, the model results, combined with evidence from rock physics experiments, suggest that shear-stress on transform fault generates excess lithospheric tension that promotes detachment faulting on the inside corner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jana C Schierjott
- School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, USA.
| | - Garrett Ito
- School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology, University of Hawai'i, Honolulu, USA
| | - Mark D Behn
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | - Xiaochuan Tian
- Department of Earth & Environmental Sciences, Boston College, Chestnut Hill, MA, USA
| | | | - Boris J P Kaus
- Institute of Geosciences, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
| | - Javier Escartín
- Laboratoire de Géologie, CNRS UMR 8538, ENS, PSL University, Paris, France
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Idrissi H, Samaee V, Lumbeeck G, van der Werf T, Pardoen T, Schryvers D, Cordier P. In Situ Quantitative Tensile Testing of Antigorite in a Transmission Electron Microscope. JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH. SOLID EARTH 2020; 125:e2019JB018383. [PMID: 32714729 PMCID: PMC7375155 DOI: 10.1029/2019jb018383] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/19/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The determination of the mechanical properties of serpentinites is essential toward the understanding of the mechanics of faulting and subduction. Here we present the first in situ tensile tests on antigorite in a transmission electron microscope. A push-to-pull deformation device is used to perform quantitative tensile tests, during which force and displacement are measured, while the evolving microstructure is imaged with the microscope. The experiments have been performed at room temperature on 2 × 1 × 0.2 μm3 beams prepared by focused ion beam. The specimens are not single crystals despite their small sizes. Orientation mapping indicated that several grains were well oriented for plastic slip. However, no dislocation activity has been observed even though the engineering tensile stress went up to 700 MPa. We show also that antigorite does not exhibit a purely elastic-brittle behavior since, despite the presence of defects, the specimens accumulate permanent deformation and did not fail within the elastic regime. Instead, we observe that strain localizes at grain boundaries. All observations concur to show that under these experimental conditions, grain boundary sliding is the dominant deformation mechanism. This study sheds a new light on the mechanical properties of antigorite and calls for further studies on the structure and properties of grain boundaries in antigorite and more generally in phyllosilicates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hosni Idrissi
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil EngineeringUCLouvainLouvain‐la‐NeuveBelgium
- Electron Microscopy for Materials ScienceUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Vahid Samaee
- Electron Microscopy for Materials ScienceUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Gunnar Lumbeeck
- Electron Microscopy for Materials ScienceUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Thomas van der Werf
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil EngineeringUCLouvainLouvain‐la‐NeuveBelgium
- Electron Microscopy for Materials ScienceUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Thomas Pardoen
- Institute of Mechanics, Materials and Civil EngineeringUCLouvainLouvain‐la‐NeuveBelgium
| | - Dominique Schryvers
- Electron Microscopy for Materials ScienceUniversity of AntwerpAntwerpBelgium
| | - Patrick Cordier
- Univ. Lille, CNRS, INRAE, Centrale Lille, UMR 8207‐UMET‐Unité Matériaux et TransformationsLilleFrance
- Institut Universitaire de FranceParisFrance
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Hansen LN, David EC, Brantut N, Wallis D. Insight into the microphysics of antigorite deformation from spherical nanoindentation. PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SERIES A, MATHEMATICAL, PHYSICAL, AND ENGINEERING SCIENCES 2020; 378:20190197. [PMID: 31902333 PMCID: PMC7015302 DOI: 10.1098/rsta.2019.0197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/18/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The mechanical behaviour of antigorite strongly influences the strength and deformation of the subduction interface. Although there is microstructural evidence elucidating the nature of brittle deformation at low pressures, there is often conflicting evidence regarding the potential for plastic deformation in the ductile regime at higher pressures. Here, we present a series of spherical nanoindentation experiments on aggregates of natural antigorite. These experiments effectively investigate the single-crystal mechanical behaviour because the volume of deformed material is significantly smaller than the grain size. Individual indents reveal elastic loading followed by yield and strain hardening. The magnitude of the yield stress is a function of crystal orientation, with lower values associated with indents parallel to the basal plane. Unloading paths reveal more strain recovery than expected for purely elastic unloading. The magnitude of inelastic strain recovery is highest for indents parallel to the basal plane. We also imposed indents with cyclical loading paths, and observed strain energy dissipation during unloading-loading cycles conducted up to a fixed maximum indentation load and depth. The magnitude of this dissipated strain energy was highest for indents parallel to the basal plane. Subsequent scanning electron microscopy revealed surface impressions accommodated by shear cracks and a general lack of dislocation-induced lattice misorientation. Based on these observations, we suggest that antigorite deformation at high pressures is dominated by sliding on shear cracks. We develop a microphysical model that is able to quantitatively explain Young's modulus and dissipated strain energy data during cyclic loading experiments, based on either frictional or cohesive sliding of an array of cracks contained in the basal plane. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Serpentinite in the earth system'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lars N. Hansen
- Department of Earth Sciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | | | - Nicolas Brantut
- Department of Earth Sciences, University College London, London, UK
| | - David Wallis
- Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
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Mechanical Tests and Numerical Simulations for Mining Seafloor Massive Sulfides. JOURNAL OF MARINE SCIENCE AND ENGINEERING 2019. [DOI: 10.3390/jmse7080252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
With the decrease of primary resources in recent years, deep seabed mineral resources, especially the massive sulfides, are of extensive research significance. In this paper, firstly, the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) test and triaxial compressive strength (TCS) test on the seafloor massive sulfides (SMS) samples from three different segments are conducted to obtain the key mechanical properties, including the cohesive force, internal friction angle, compressive strength, elastic modulus and Poisson’s ratio. Then, by leveraging the PFC3D code, the uniaxial and triaxial numerical simulations of SMS are performed. During this process, the micro properties in the simulation are altered through a calibration process until they match the macro properties of the SMS samples measured in the laboratory tests. Finally, the micro properties are applied to simulate the cutting process of single cutting pick and two adjacent cutting picks; meanwhile, the cutting force in the fragmentation process of SMS is monitored and collected. This research can provide some guidance for the mining simulation of SMS and effectively predicting the maximum force on the cutting pick.
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Deformation Processes, Textural Evolution and Weakening in Retrograde Serpentinites. MINERALS 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/min8060241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Qin Y, Singh SC. Seismic evidence of a two-layer lithospheric deformation in the Indian Ocean. Nat Commun 2015; 6:8298. [PMID: 26365624 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms9298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2014] [Accepted: 08/07/2015] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Intra-plate deformation and associated earthquakes are enigmatic features on the Earth. The Wharton Basin in the Indian Ocean is one of the most active intra-plate deformation zones, confirmed by the occurrence of the 2012 great earthquakes (Mw≥8.2). These earthquakes seem to have ruptured the whole lithosphere, but how this deformation is distributed at depth remains unknown. Here we present seismic reflection images that show faults down to 45 km depth. The amplitude of these reflections in the mantle first decreases with depth down to 25 km and then remains constant down to 45 km. The number of faults imaged along the profile and the number of earthquakes as a function of depth show a similar pattern, suggesting that the lithospheric mantle deformation can be divided into two layers: a highly fractured fluid-filled serpentinized upper layer and a pristine brittle lithospheric mantle where great earthquakes initiate and large stress drops occur.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanfang Qin
- Equipe de Géosciences Marines, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (CNRS, Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité), 1 rue Jussieu, Paris 75238, France
| | - Satish C Singh
- Equipe de Géosciences Marines, Institut de Physique du Globe de Paris (CNRS, Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité), 1 rue Jussieu, Paris 75238, France
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Spreading continents kick-started plate tectonics. Nature 2014; 513:405-8. [PMID: 25230662 DOI: 10.1038/nature13728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2014] [Accepted: 07/30/2014] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Stresses acting on cold, thick and negatively buoyant oceanic lithosphere are thought to be crucial to the initiation of subduction and the operation of plate tectonics, which characterizes the present-day geodynamics of the Earth. Because the Earth's interior was hotter in the Archaean eon, the oceanic crust may have been thicker, thereby making the oceanic lithosphere more buoyant than at present, and whether subduction and plate tectonics occurred during this time is ambiguous, both in the geological record and in geodynamic models. Here we show that because the oceanic crust was thick and buoyant, early continents may have produced intra-lithospheric gravitational stresses large enough to drive their gravitational spreading, to initiate subduction at their margins and to trigger episodes of subduction. Our model predicts the co-occurrence of deep to progressively shallower mafic volcanics and arc magmatism within continents in a self-consistent geodynamic framework, explaining the enigmatic multimodal volcanism and tectonic record of Archaean cratons. Moreover, our model predicts a petrological stratification and tectonic structure of the sub-continental lithospheric mantle, two predictions that are consistent with xenolith and seismic studies, respectively, and consistent with the existence of a mid-lithospheric seismic discontinuity. The slow gravitational collapse of early continents could have kick-started transient episodes of plate tectonics until, as the Earth's interior cooled and oceanic lithosphere became heavier, plate tectonics became self-sustaining.
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Demartin B, Hirth G, Evans B. Experimental Constraints on Thermal Cracking of Peridotite at Oceanic Spreading Centers. MID-OCEAN RIDGES 2013. [DOI: 10.1029/148gm07] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
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Searle RC, Escartín J. The Rheology and Morphology of Oceanic Lithosphere and Mid-Ocean Ridges. MID-OCEAN RIDGES 2013. [DOI: 10.1029/148gm03] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
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Hirth G, EscartíN J, Lin J. The Rheology of the Lower Oceanic Crust: Implications for Lithospheric Deformation at Mid-Ocean Ridges. FAULTING AND MAGMATISM AT MID-OCEAN RIDGES 2013. [DOI: 10.1029/gm106p0291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
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Bird P, Kagan YY, Jackson DD. Plate Tectonics and Earthquake Potential of Spreading Ridges and Oceanic Transform Faults. PLATE BOUNDARY ZONES 2013. [DOI: 10.1029/gd030p0203] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/02/2022]
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Holtkamp S, Brudzinski MR. Determination of slow slip episodes and strain accumulation along the Cascadia margin. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2010. [DOI: 10.1029/2008jb006058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Hilairet N, Reynard B, Wang Y, Daniel I, Merkel S, Nishiyama N, Petitgirard S. High-Pressure Creep of Serpentine, Interseismic Deformation, and Initiation of Subduction. Science 2007; 318:1910-3. [DOI: 10.1126/science.1148494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 291] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
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Gregg PM, Lin J, Behn MD, Montési LGJ. Spreading rate dependence of gravity anomalies along oceanic transform faults. Nature 2007; 448:183-7. [PMID: 17625563 DOI: 10.1038/nature05962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2006] [Accepted: 05/24/2007] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Mid-ocean ridge morphology and crustal accretion are known to depend on the spreading rate of the ridge. Slow-spreading mid-ocean-ridge segments exhibit significant crustal thinning towards transform and non-transform offsets, which is thought to arise from a three-dimensional process of buoyant mantle upwelling and melt migration focused beneath the centres of ridge segments. In contrast, fast-spreading mid-ocean ridges are characterized by smaller, segment-scale variations in crustal thickness, which reflect more uniform mantle upwelling beneath the ridge axis. Here we present a systematic study of the residual mantle Bouguer gravity anomaly of 19 oceanic transform faults that reveals a strong correlation between gravity signature and spreading rate. Previous studies have shown that slow-slipping transform faults are marked by more positive gravity anomalies than their adjacent ridge segments, but our analysis reveals that intermediate and fast-slipping transform faults exhibit more negative gravity anomalies than their adjacent ridge segments. This finding indicates that there is a mass deficit at intermediate- and fast-slipping transform faults, which could reflect increased rock porosity, serpentinization of mantle peridotite, and/or crustal thickening. The most negative anomalies correspond to topographic highs flanking the transform faults, rather than to transform troughs (where deformation is probably focused and porosity and alteration are expected to be greatest), indicating that crustal thickening could be an important contributor to the negative gravity anomalies observed. This finding in turn suggests that three-dimensional magma accretion may occur near intermediate- and fast-slipping transform faults.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia M Gregg
- Department of Geology and Geophysics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology/Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution Joint Program, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, Massachusetts 02543, USA
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Boettcher MS, Hirth G, Evans B. Olivine friction at the base of oceanic seismogenic zones. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2007. [DOI: 10.1029/2006jb004301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- V. S. Solomatov
- Department of Physics; New Mexico State University; Las Cruces New Mexico USA
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Affiliation(s)
- Oded Katz
- Institute of Earth Sciences; Hebrew University; Jerusalem Israel
| | - Ze'ev Reches
- Institute of Earth Sciences; Hebrew University; Jerusalem Israel
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Amitrano D. Brittle-ductile transition and associated seismicity: Experimental and numerical studies and relationship with thebvalue. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.1029/2001jb000680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 245] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- David Amitrano
- Laboratoire Environnement Géomécanique et Ouvrages; Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Mines de Nancy; Nancy France
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Pérez-Gussinyé M, Reston TJ. Rheological evolution during extension at nonvolcanic rifted margins: Onset of serpentinization and development of detachments leading to continental breakup. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2001. [DOI: 10.1029/2000jb900325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 238] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Escartín J, Cowie PA, Searle RC, Allerton S, Mitchell NC, MacLeod CJ, Slootweg AP. Quantifying tectonic strain and magmatic accretion at a slow spreading ridge segment, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 29°N. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1999. [DOI: 10.1029/1998jb900097] [Citation(s) in RCA: 69] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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22
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Tucholke BE, Lin J, Kleinrock MC. Megamullions and mullion structure defining oceanic metamorphic core complexes on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1029/98jb00167] [Citation(s) in RCA: 401] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Moore DE, Lockner DA, Ma S, Summers R, Byerlee JD. Strengths of serpentinite gouges at elevated temperatures. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1029/97jb00995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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