Ripplocations provide a new mechanism for the deformation of phyllosilicates in the lithosphere

Aslin, Joe ORCID: 0000-0003-4675-2323, Mariani, Elisabetta ORCID: 0000-0002-0585-5265, Dawson, Karl ORCID: 0000-0003-3249-8328 and Barsoum, Michel (2019) Ripplocations provide a new mechanism for the deformation of phyllosilicates in the lithosphere. Nature Communications, 10 (1). 686-.

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Abstract

Deformation in Earth’s lithosphere is localised in narrow, high-strain zones. Phyllosilicates, strongly anisotropic layered minerals, are abundant in these rocks, where they accommodate much of the strain and play a significant role in inhibiting or triggering earthquakes. Until now it was understood that phyllosilicates could deform only by dislocation glide along layers and could not accommodate large strains without cracking and dilation. Here we show that a new class of atomic-scale defects, known as ripplocations, explain the development of layer-normal strain without brittle damage. We use high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to resolve nano-scale bending characteristic of ripplocations in the phyllosilicate mineral biotite. We demonstrate that conjugate delamination arrays are the result of elastic strain energy release due to the accumulation of layer-normal strain in ripplocations. This work provides the missing mechanism necessary to understand phyllosilicate deformation, with important rheological implications for phyllosilicate bearing seismogenic faults and subduction zones.

Item Type:	Article
Depositing User:	Symplectic Admin
Date Deposited:	16 Jan 2019 15:36
Last Modified:	19 Jan 2023 01:06
DOI:	10.1038/s41467-019-08587-2
Open Access URL:	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-019-08587-2
Related URLs:	Author Publisher
URI:	https://livrepository.liverpool.ac.uk/id/eprint/3031348