DOI: 10.1144/gsl.sp.1990.054.01.14. The failure mechanism for deep-focus earthquakes

The failure mechanism for deep-focus earthquakes

10.1144/gsl.sp.1990.054.01.14

Crossref journal-article

Geological Society of London

Geological Society, London, Special Publications (1881)

Abstract

Abstract Experimental deformation of Mg 2 GeO 4 olivine at pressures between 1 and 2 GPa in the spinel stability field has led to discovery of a faulting instability that develops at the kinetically-controlled threshold of transformation. Very fine-grained olivine and spinel are found in fault zones. Deformation at lower temperatures is ductile; transformation is inhibited and specimens are very strong. Deformation at higher temperatures also is ductile but transformation is rapid and specimens are much weaker. Detailed examination of the microstructures of specimens deformed in the faulting regime lead to an anticrack theory of faulting that explains the experimental data and provides a fundamentally new mechanism for deep-focus earthquakes. The new mechanism is analogous to the Griffith theory of fracture; nucleation and growth of spinel under stress produces spinel-filled microanticracks normal to the maximum compressive stress that link up to produce faulting. The friction paradox for deep earthquakes is resolved because this faulting process provides a fine-grained, superplastic, ‘lubricant’ for faults. The temperature distribution within subducting slabs of lithosphere requires that the conditions of instability are reached as a natural consequence of subduction; metastable olivine in the interior of deep slabs warms to a critical temperature where faulting ensues in the presence of a shear stress.

Bibliography

Green, H. W., & Burnley, P. C. (1990). The failure mechanism for deep-focus earthquakes. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 54(1), 133â141.

Authors 2

H. W. Green (first)
P. C. Burnley (additional)

References 34 Referenced 7

Akimoto S., Matsui Y., Syono Y. , Strens R. G. S. High-pressure crystal chemistry of orthosilicates and the formation of the mantle transition zone The Physics and Chemistry of Minerals and Rocks 1976 London Wiley & Sons / The Physics and Chemistry of Minerals and Rocks by Akimoto S. (1976)
Bridgman P. W. Polymorphic transitions and geological phenomena American Journal of Science 1945 243A 90 97 / American Journal of Science / Polymorphic transitions and geological phenomena by Bridgman P. W. (1945)
10.1038/338753a0
Burnley P. C. Green H. W. Faulting associated with the olivine to spinel transformation in Mg 2 GeO 4 and its implications for deep-focus earthquakes Journal of Geophysical Research 1990 in press (10.1029/90JB01937)
Burnley P. C., Kirby S. H. Pressure-induced embrittlement of polycrystalline tremolite EOS 1982 63 45 / EOS / Pressure-induced embrittlement of polycrystalline tremolite by Burnley P. C. (1982)
10.1029/JB088iS01p0B377
10.1130/0091-7613(1981)9<419:AMFPSS>2.0.CO;2
10.1146/annurev.ea.17.050189.001303
10.1127/ejm/1/2/0213
Green H. W., Borch R. S. High pressure and temperature deformation experiments in a liquid confining medium American Geophysical Union Geophysical Monographs 1990 56 195 200 / American Geophysical Union Geophysical Monographs / High pressure and temperature deformation experiments in a liquid confining medium by Green H. W. (1990)
10.1038/341733a0
Jeffreys H. The Earth, It’s Origin, History and Physical Constitution 1929 2nd ed. Cambridge University Press / The Earth, It’s Origin, History and Physical Constitution by Jeffreys H. (1929)
10.1111/j.1365-246X.1936.tb01748.x
10.1029/JB092iB13p13789
10.1180/minmag.1987.051.359.02
10.1029/JB082i002p00256
Meade C, Jeanloz R. Ultra-high pressure fracturing: First experimental observations of deep focus earthquakes (abs) EOS 1988 69 490 / EOS / Ultra-high pressure fracturing: First experimental observations of deep focus earthquakes (abs) by Meade C (1988)
10.1038/339616a0
Mukherjee A. K., Bieler T. R., Chokshi A. M. , Bilde-Sorensen J. B. Superplasticity in metals and ceramics Materials Architecture 1990 Roskilde, Denmark Riso National Laboratory 207 233 / Materials Architecture by Mukherjee A. K. (1990)
10.1007/978-3-662-11720-0
10.1029/TC007i006p01243
10.1029/JZ070i016p03965
10.1007/BF00628825
10.3406/bulmi.1987.7991
Suery M., Mukherjee A. K. , Wilshire B., Evans R. W. Superplasticity — correlation between structure and properties Creep Behaviour of Solids 1985 Swansea, UK Pineridge Press 137 200 / Creep Behaviour of Solids by Suery M. (1985)
Sung C. M. , Timmerhaus K. D., Barber M. S. Kinetics of the olivine-spinel transition under high pressure and temperature: Experimental results and geophysical implications High Pressure Science and Technology 1979 New York Plenum Press 31 41 / High Pressure Science and Technology by Sung C. M. (1979)
10.1016/0012-821X(76)90055-8
10.1029/JZ071i012p02981
Turcotte D. L., Schubert G. Geodynamics 1982 New York Wiley and Sons / Geodynamics by Turcotte D. L. (1982)
10.1111/j.1365-246X.1922.tb05354.x
10.1029/JB081i005p00985
10.1029/JB086iB01p00389
Wadati K. Shallow and deep earthquakes Geophysical Magazine 1928 1 162 202 / Geophysical Magazine / Shallow and deep earthquakes by Wadati K. (1928)
Green H. W., Young T. E., Walker D., Scholz C., Prior D. A test of the anticrack theory of deep earthquakes: initial results EOS 1990 July 71 / EOS / A test of the anticrack theory of deep earthquakes: initial results by Green H. W. (1990)

Dates

Type	When
Created	17 years, 4 months ago (April 30, 2008, 2:17 p.m.)
Deposited	1 year, 1 month ago (July 23, 2024, 12:49 p.m.)
Indexed	11 months, 2 weeks ago (Sept. 16, 2024, 10:58 a.m.)
Issued	35 years, 8 months ago (Jan. 1, 1990)
Published	35 years, 8 months ago (Jan. 1, 1990)
Published Online	34 years, 8 months ago (Dec. 31, 1990)
Published Print	35 years, 8 months ago (Jan. 1, 1990)

Funders 0

None

BibTeX

@article{Green_1990, title={The failure mechanism for deep-focus earthquakes}, volume={54}, ISSN={2041-4927}, url={http://dx.doi.org/10.1144/gsl.sp.1990.054.01.14}, DOI={10.1144/gsl.sp.1990.054.01.14}, number={1}, journal={Geological Society, London, Special Publications}, publisher={Geological Society of London}, author={Green, H. W. and Burnley, P. C.}, year={1990}, month=jan, pages={133–141} }

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