In situ observation of texture development in olivine, ringwoodite, magnesiowüstite and silicate perovskite at high pressure

Magnesium silicates are the dominant minerals in the earthʹs mantle. Their preferred orientation is important for understanding the rheology and seismic anisotropy in the deep earth. Here we report results of radial synchrotron diffraction diamond anvil cell (DAC) experiments on San Carlos olivine, axially compressed to 50 GPa. Experiments were performed at room temperature, except for brief laser heating to induce phase transformations. High stresses and development of preferred orientation were observed in diffraction images. Quantitative texture information was obtained by analyzing the images with the Rietveld method. With increasing pressure (between 9 and 43 GPa) olivine develops a texture with [001] axes perpendicular to the compression direction that is compatible with {hk0}[001] pencil glide. Ringwoodite (between 20 and 50 GPa) develops weak preferred orientation with {011} lattice planes perpendicular to the compression direction. After the phase transformation, perovskite and magnesiowüstite display transformation textures that are then modified by continuing deformation. Magnesiowüstite has a weak 〈111〉 maximum parallel to the compression direction that changes towards 〈001〉 with increasing deformation. Perovskite, transforming from olivine, has a pronounced (100) transformation texture and with increasing deformation a {012} maximum develops. The transformation texture is probably produced by mechanical {110} twinning and nucleation in orientations that minimize elastic strain energy. The deformation texture of perovskite is due to slip.