Single-crystal elastic properties of dense hydrous magnesium silicate phase A

Carmen Sanchez-Valle, Stanislav V. Sinogeikin, Joseph R. Smyth, Jay D. Bass

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The single-crystal elastic properties of phase A have been investigated by Brillouin spectroscopy at ambient conditions. The Voigt-Reuss-Hill average for the adiabatic bulk and shear moduli are Ks = 106(1) GPa and μ = 61(1) GPa respectively. The present acoustic measurements resolve discrepancies between the bulk moduli obtained in earlier compression studies. The axial compressibility of the hexagonal (P63) structure is highly anisotropic with the c-axis, which is perpendicular to the distorted close-packed layers, approximately 21% stiffer than the α-axis, in agreement with previous compression studies. The hydration of forsterite to phase A decreases the bulk and shear moduli by about 18 and 21%, respectively, while both compressional Vp and shear Vs wave velocities decrease by about 7%. These results suggest that water could be identified seismologically if phase A is present in abundance in cold subducted slabs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)961-964
Number of pages4
JournalAmerican Mineralogist
Volume91
Issue number5-6
DOIs
StatePublished - May 2006

Keywords

  • Brillouin spectroscopy
  • Phase A
  • Single-crystal elasticity
  • Water in subduction zones

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geophysics
  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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