ALBERT

Description: A strain gradient was mesoscopically recognized in sheared leucogneisses cropping out near Mount Montalto (Calabria, southern Italy) in the Aspromonte-Peloritani Unit on the basis of field observations. In order to investigate the relationship between textural and physical anisotropy, a microstructural and petrophysical study was carried out on selected mylonites exhibiting different stages of deformation. The main mineral assemblage is Qtz+Pl+Kfs+Wm, displaying S-C and shear-band textures; mica-fish and ribbon-like quartz are widespread. As strain increases K-feldspar, biotite and premylonitic low phengite white mica transformed to synmylonitic high phengite white mica and quartz, accompanied by an increasing albitization. Different quartz c-axis patterns are ascribable to non-coaxial progressive deformation; we suggest that deformation proceeded under greenschist- up to amphibolite-facies conditions owing to a local increase in shearing temperature. Laboratory seismic measurements were carried out on sample cubes (43 mm edged) cut according to the structural frame (foliation, lineation) of the rock. At 400 MPa and room temperature the averages of compressional (Vp) and shear-wave velocities (Vs) are very similar: 5.70-5.91 and 3.36-3.55 km s-1, respectively. Seismic anisotropy and shear-wave splitting are related to the modal amounts of constituent minerals (in particular mica) and their crystallographic preferred orientation. Importantly, anisotropy is lowest in the most strained rock.

Description: Quartz veins in the Eastern Tonale mylonite zone (Italian Alps) were deformed in strike-slip shear. Due to the synkinematic emplacement of the Adamello Pluton, a temperature gradient between 280{degrees}C and 700{degrees}C was effected across this fault zone. The resulting dynamic recrystallization microstructures are characteristic of bulging recrystallization, subgrain rotation recrystallization and grain boundary migration recrystallization. The transitions in recrystallization mechanisms are marked by discrete changes of grain size dependence on temperature. Differential stresses are calculated from the recrystallized grain size data using paleopiezometric relationships. Deformation temperatures are obtained from metamorphic reactions in the deformed host rock. Flow stresses and deformation temperatures are used to determine the strain rate of the Tonale mylonites through integration with several published flow laws yielding an average rate of approximately 10-14s-1 to 10-12s-1. The deformation conditions of the natural fault rocks are compared and correlated with three experimental dislocation creep regimes of quartz of Hirth & Tullis. Linking the microstructures of the naturally and experimentally deformed quartz rocks, a recrystallization mechanism map is presented. This map permits the derivation of temperature and strain rate for mylonitic fault rocks once the recrystallization mechanism is known.

Description: Quartzite samples were experimentally deformed with partial to complete dynamic recrystallization by axial compression (strain magnitude of 0.8 to 1.4) and by general shear (strain magnitude of 1.3 to 2.8) in each of the three dislocation creep regimes, and subsequently annealed with complete static recrystallization at the deformation temperature for 120 hours. The c-axis crystallographic preferred orientation (CPO), 3D grain size distribution, grain boundary surface shape, and misorientation density were measured before and after annealing. The effect of annealing on the CPO was minor, but the microstructure was greatly changed. All of the annealed samples were completely recrystallized. The recrystallized grain size increased by a factor of 2 to 5, and was greatest for samples deformed at lowest temperature. The grain boundary lobateness (PARIS factor) and misorientation density were reduced significantly. The CPOs for all the deformed samples were relatively unchanged by annealing, although the strengths are somewhat decreased; for sheared samples the asymmetry was preserved. The results suggest microstructural criteria for recognizing the occurrence of static annealing and for estimating the dynamically recrystallized grain size relevant for paleopiezometry from annealed samples.

Description: The crystallographic preferred orientations (textures) of three samples of Black Hills Quartzite (BHQ) deformed experimentally in the dislocation creep regimes 1, 2 and 3 (according to Hirth and Tullis, 1992) have been analyzed using electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). All samples were deformed to relatively high strain at temperatures of 850 to 915 °C and are almost completely dynamically recrystallized. A texture transition from peripheral [c] axes in regime 1 to a central [c] maximum in regime 3 is observed. Separate pole figures are calculated for different grain sizes, aspect ratios and long-axis trends of grains, and high and low levels of intragranular deformation intensity as measured by the mean grain kernel average misorientation (gKAM). Misorientation relations are analyzed for grains of different texture components (named Y, B, R and σ grains, with reference to previously published prism, basal, rhomb and σ1 grains). Results show that regimes 1 and 3 correspond to clear end-member textures, with regime 2 being transitional. Texture strength and the development of a central [c]-axis maximum from a girdle distribution depend on deformation intensity at the grain scale and on the contribution of dislocation creep, which increases towards regime 3. Adding to this calculations of resolved shear stresses and misorientation analysis, it becomes clear that the peripheral [c]-axis maximum in regime 1 is not due to deformation by basal 〈a〉 slip. Instead, we interpret the texture transition as a result of different texture forming processes, one being more efficient at high stresses (nucleation or growth of grains with peripheral [c] axes), the other depending on strain (dislocation glide involving prism and rhomb 〈a〉 slip systems), and not as a result of temperature-dependent activity of different slip systems.

Description: The textures of three samples of Black Hills quartzite (BHQ) deformed experimentally in the dislocation creep regime 1, 2 and 3 (according to Hirth and Tullis, 1992) have been analysed by EBSD. All samples were deformed to relatively high strain, within a temperature range of 65° and identical displacement rates and are almost entirely composed of dynamically recrystallized grains. A texture transition from peripheral c-axes in regime 1 to a central c-axis maximum in regime 3 is observed. Separate pole figures are calculated for different grain sizes, aspect ratios and long axis trend (θ) of grains, and high and low levels of intragranular deformation intensity as measured by the grain kernel average misorientation (gKAM). Misorientation relations are analysed for different texture components (named Y- B- R- and σ, with reference to previously published prism, basal, rhomb and σ1 – grains). Results show that regime 1 and 3 correspond to clear end member textures with regime 2 being transitional. Texture strength and the development of a central c-axis maximum from a girdle distribution depends on deformation intensity at the grain scale and on the contribution of dislocation creep which increases towards regime 3. Combined with calculations of resolved shear stresses and misorientation analysis, it becomes clear that the peripheral c-axis maximum in regime 1 is not due to deformation by basal –〈a〉 slip. We interpret the texture transition as a result of different texture forming processes, one being more efficient at high stresses (formation of grains with peripheral c-axes), the other depending on strain (dislocation glide involving prism and rhomb slip systems), and not as a result of a temperature dependent activity of different slip systems.

Description: General shear experiments on Black Hills Quartzite (BHQ) deformed in the dislocation creep regimes 1 to 3 have been previously analyzed using the CIP method (Heilbronner and Tullis, 2002, 2006). They are reexamined using the higher spatial and orientational resolution of EBSD. Criteria for coherent segmentations based on c-axis orientation and on full crystallographic orientations are determined. Texture domains of preferred c-axis orientation (Y and B domains) are extracted and analyzed separately. Subdomains are recognized, and their shape and size are related to the kinematic framework and the original grains in the BHQ. Grain size analysis is carried out for all samples, high- and low-strain samples, and separately for a number of texture domains. When comparing the results to the recrystallized quartz piezometer of Stipp and Tullis (2003), it is found that grain sizes are consistently larger for a given flow stress. It is therefore suggested that the recrystallized grain size also depends on texture, grain-scale deformation intensity, and the kinematic framework (of axial vs. general shear experiments).

Description: A number of general shear experiments on Black Hills Quartzite (BHQ) in the dislocation creep regime, 5 of which have been analyzed previously using the CIP method (Heilbronner & Tullis, 2002 and 2006), are (re-)examined using the higher spatial and orientational resolution of EBSD. Segmentations based on c-axis orientation and on full crystallographic orientations are compared. Texture domains of preferred c-axis orientation are extracted and analyzed separately. Subdomains are recognized and their shape and size is related the kinematic framework and the original grains in the BHQ. Grain size analysis using a segmentation based on c-axis orientations is carried out for all, high and low strain samples of all regimes, and for a number of texture domains. The results are compared to the recrystallized quartz piezometer of Stipp & Tullis (2003), returning consistently higher values for stress or grain size. Possible causes for the discrepancy are texture dependence, grain scale strain, and dependence on the kinematic framework (in axial versus general shear experiments).