RUI: Deep Crustal Earthquakes and Metamorphic Phase Transitions: Direct Observations from Exposed Fault Systems in Western Norway

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ABSTRACT9909697BoundyThe motivation for this study is the continuing controversy on the mechanism for generating earthquakes at depths below 50 km, where material would be expected to relieve stress by plastic flow rather than brittle failure. The recently discovered spatial relationship between partial eclogitization and pseudotachylyte of an area in western Norway provides an unusual opportunity to link localized fluid infiltration into dry granulite and resultant eclogite accompanied by 10-15% volume reduction with proxy evidence for transient high stress release (pseudotachylyte). This project will investigate the detailed relationships between eclogite, granulite and pseudotachylyte to test the concept that volume reduction due to fluid interaction along fractures is a major mechanism for deep earthquakes. Successful results are expected to be widely applicable.