AMORPHIZATION OF SERPENTINE AT HIGH-PRESSURE AND HIGH-TEMPERATURE

Pressure-induced amorphization of serpentine was observed at temperatu res of 200 degrees to 300 degrees C and pressures of 14 to 27 gigapasc als with a combination of a multianvil apparatus and synchrotron radia tion. High-pressure phases then crystallized rapidly when the temperat ure was increased to 400 degrees C. These results suggest that amorphi zation of serpentine is an unlikely mechanism for generating deep-focu s earthquakes, as the temperatures of subducting slabs are significant ly higher than those of the rapid crystallization regime.