The Structure of Olivine Grain Boundaries Inferred from Transient and Steady State Deformation Experiments

Abstract:

A consensus has not been reached regarding the structure of general, high angle grain boundaries in olivine. Published high resolution transmission electron microscope images show either abutting lattice planes of the grains on either side of the boundary, or a distinct grain boundary region, about 1 nm wide, that is more disordered than the grain interiors. However, agreement exists that grain boundary region is enriched in olivine trace elements such as Ti, Ca and Al. These analytical methods can not resolve the thickness of this region.

The properties of grain boundaries can be interrogated by experimentation, but the interpretation of the experimental results is tied to microphysical models. Models for diffusion creep predict a square grain size dependence for diffusion through grain interiors, and a cubic grain size dependence for diffusion along grain boundaries. Experimental observations for polycrystalline, Fe-bearing olivine are best fit with a cubic grain size dependence, indicating diffusion along grain boundaries. Similarly, models for small strain, transient creep predict that time-dependent, recoverable deformation involves diffusion along grain boundaries. For this process the models predict a linear grain size dependence. Forced torsional oscillation experiments can be employed to investigate the transient creep behaviour over a range of frequencies, temperatures and grain sizes. The observed grain size dependence for the same materials used for conventional, large strain deformation experiments is near linear, indicating diffusionally assisted grain boundary sliding. Both transient and steady state deformation therefore implicate diffusion along grain boundaries as the rate-controlling mechanism.

Diffusion and viscous sliding along grain boundaries imply that they are a separate phase with a less ordered structure, consistent with their interpretation as a (narrow) region that is distinct from grain interiors. This region likely also accommodates the enrichment in trace elements observed by analytical TEM methods.