The elasticity of lawsonite at high pressure and the origin of low velocity layers in subduction zones

Subduction zones exhibit faster seismic wave velocities compared to the surrounding mantle due to the recycling of relatively cold oceanic lithosphere. In certain subduction zones, however, a 5–10 km thick low velocity layer (LVL) has been inferred to exist along the top surface of the subducting slab at depths of up to 250 km. Shear-wave velocities, in particular, within these layers have been estimated as up to 10% slower than the surrounding mantle. e conducted high-pressure ultrasonic interferometric measurements to gain insight into the elastic properties of lawsonite [CaAl2(Si2O7)(OH)2·H2O], a hydrous mineral phase stabilized under cold subduction zone conditions. In addition, we have computed the full elastic constant tensor at elevated pressures and temperature, using static electronic structure calculations and molecular dynamics simulations. The bulk and shear modulus obtained from theory and experiments are in good agreement. We find that lawsonite has an unusually low shear modulus at high pressure and its formation in subducted oceanic crust can explain some seismic evidence for LVL at depths exceeding 100 km. To approach estimated LVL velocities requires lawsonite to form in the subducting crust as a result of a fluid influx due to the breakdown of other hydrous minerals such as serpentine. The formation of lawsonite additionally lowers seismic velocities because it forms at the expense of garnet, a mineral with relatively fast seismic velocities. LVL observations may therefore be used to place constraints on the amount of H2O subducted into the deep mantle.