Olivine rheology, shear stress, and grain growth in the lithospheric mantle: Geological constraints from the Kaapvaal craton

• Published in: Earth and planetary science letters Vol. 333-334; pp. 52 - 62
• Main Authors: Chu, Xu, Korenaga, Jun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.06.2012
• Subjects: cooling; Cratons; deformation; Geochronology; grain-growth laws; laboratory experimentation; lithospheric stress; Mantle; Mantle rheology; Mathematical models; Olivine; piezometers; Rheology; Shear stress; Stresses; tectonics; temperature; water content; lithospheric stress; grain-growth laws; Mantle rheology

The rheology of Earth's mantle is a complex function that depends on, at least, temperature, pressure, stress, grain size, and water content. Understanding this functionality is of fundamental importance in mantle dynamics, but constraints from laboratory experiments entail considerable extrapo...