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Amorphization of Serpentine at High Pressure and High Temperature
1T. Irifune and K. Kuroda, Department of Earth Sciences, Ehime University, Matsuyama 790, Japan. N. Funamori, T. Uchida, T. Yagi, Institute for Solid State Physics, University of Tokyo, Roppongi, Minato-ku 106, Japan. T. Inoue, Center for High Pressure Research, State University of New York, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA. N. Miyajima, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Hokkaido University, Sapporo 060, Japan.
Abstract:
Pressure-induced amorphization of serpentine was observed at temperatures of 200° to 300°C and pressures of 14 to 27 gigapascals with a combination of a multianvil apparatus and synchrotron radiation. High-pressure phases then crystallized rapidly when the temperature was increased to 400°C. These results suggest that amorphization of serpentine is an unlikely mechanism for generating deep-focus earthquakes, as the temperatures of subducting slabs are significantly higher than those of the rapid crystallization regime.