@article {russell_seismological_2022, title = {Seismological Evidence for Girdled Olivine Lattice-Preferred Orientation in Oceanic Lithosphere and Implications for Mantle Deformation Processes During Seafloor Spreading}, journal = {Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems}, volume = {23}, number = {10}, year = {2022}, note = {_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2022GC010542}, pages = {e2022GC010542}, abstract = {Seismic anisotropy produced by aligned olivine in oceanic lithosphere offers a window into mid-ocean ridge (MOR) dynamics. Yet, interpreting anisotropy in the context of grain-scale deformation processes and strain observed in laboratory experiments and natural olivine samples has proven challenging due to incomplete seismological constraints and length scale differences spanning orders of magnitude. To bridge this observational gap, we estimate an in situ elastic tensor for oceanic lithosphere using co-located compressional- and shear-wavespeed anisotropy observations at the NoMelt experiment located on \~{}70 Ma seafloor. The elastic model for the upper 7 km of the mantle, NoMelt_SPani7, is characterized by a fast azimuth parallel to the fossil-spreading direction, consistent with corner-flow deformation fabric. We compare this model with a database of 123 petrofabrics from the literature to infer olivine crystallographic orientations and shear strain accumulated within the lithosphere. Direct comparison to olivine deformation experiments indicates strain accumulation of 250\%{\textendash}400\% in the shallow mantle. We find evidence for D-type olivine lattice-preferred orientation (LPO) with fast [100] parallel to the shear direction and girdled [010] and [001] crystallographic axes perpendicular to shear. D-type LPO implies similar amounts of slip on the (010)[100] and (001)[100] easy slip systems during MOR spreading; we hypothesize that grain-boundary sliding during dislocation creep relaxes strain compatibility, allowing D-type LPO to develop in the shallow lithosphere. Deformation dominated by dislocation-accommodated grain-boundary sliding (disGBS) has implications for in situ stress and grain size during MOR spreading and implies grain-size dependent deformation, in contrast to pure dislocation creep.}, keywords = {grain-boundary sliding, mid-ocean ridge, oceanic lithosphere, seafloor spreading, seismic anisotropy, surface waves}, issn = {1525-2027}, doi = {10.1029/2022GC010542}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2022GC010542}, author = {Russell, J. B. and Gaherty, J. B. and Mark, H. F. and Hirth, G. and Hansen, L. N. and Lizarralde, D. and Collins, J. A. and Evans, R. L.} } @article {mark_constraints_2021, title = {Constraints on the Depth, Thickness, and Strength of the G Discontinuity in the Central Pacific From S Receiver Functions}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth}, volume = {126}, number = {4}, year = {2021}, note = {_eprint: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2019JB019256}, month = {03/2021}, pages = {e2019JB019256}, abstract = {The relative motion of the lithosphere with respect to the asthenosphere implies the existence of a boundary zone that accommodates shear between the rigid plates and flowing mantle. This shear zone is typically referred to as the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB). The width of this zone and the mechanisms accommodating shear across it have important implications for coupling between mantle convection and surface plate motion. Seismic observations have provided evidence for several physical mechanisms that might help enable relative plate motion, but how these mechanisms each contribute to the overall accommodation of shear remains unclear. Here we present receiver function constraints on the discontinuity structure of the oceanic upper mantle at the NoMelt site in the central Pacific, where local constraints on shear velocity, anisotropy, conductivity, and attenuation down to \~{}300 km depth provide a comprehensive picture of upper mantle structure. We image a seismic discontinuity with a Vsv decrease of 4.5\% or more over a 0{\textendash}20 km thick gradient layer centered at a depth of \~{}65 km. We associate this feature with the Gutenberg discontinuity (G), and interpret our observation of G as resulting from strain localization across a dehydration boundary based on the good agreement between the discontinuity depth and that of the dry solidus. Transitions in Vsv, azimuthal anisotropy, conductivity, and attenuation observed at roughly similar depths suggest that the G discontinuity represents a region of localized strain within a broader zone accommodating shear between the lithosphere and asthenosphere.}, issn = {2169-9356}, doi = {10.1029/2019JB019256}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2019JB019256}, author = {Mark, H. F. and Collins, J. A. and Lizarralde, D. and Hirth, G. and Gaherty, J. B. and Evans, R. L. and Behn, M. D.} } @article {mark_azimuthal_2019, title = {Azimuthal Seismic Anisotropy of 70-Ma Pacific-Plate Upper Mantle}, journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth}, volume = {124}, number = {2}, year = {2019}, note = {_eprint: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2018JB016451}, month = {02/2019}, pages = {1889{\textendash}1909}, abstract = {Plate formation and evolution processes are predicted to generate upper mantle seismic anisotropy and negative vertical velocity gradients in oceanic lithosphere. However, predictions for upper mantle seismic velocity structure do not fully agree with the results of seismic experiments. The strength of anisotropy observed in the upper mantle varies widely. Further, many refraction studies observe a fast direction of anisotropy rotated several degrees with respect to the paleospreading direction, suggesting that upper mantle anisotropy records processes other than 2-D corner flow and plate-driven shear near mid-ocean ridges. We measure 6.0 {\textpm} 0.3\% anisotropy at the Moho in 70-Ma lithosphere in the central Pacific with a fast direction parallel to paleospreading, consistent with mineral alignment by 2-D mantle flow near a mid-ocean ridge. We also find an increase in the strength of anisotropy with depth, with vertical velocity gradients estimated at 0.02 km/s/km in the fast direction and 0 km/s/km in the slow direction. The increase in anisotropy with depth can be explained by mechanisms for producing anisotropy other than intrinsic effects from mineral fabric, such as aligned cracks or other structures. This measurement of seismic anisotropy and gradients reflects the effects of both plate formation and evolution processes on seismic velocity structure in mature oceanic lithosphere, and can serve as a reference for future studies to investigate the processes involved in lithospheric formation and evolution.}, issn = {2169-9356}, doi = {10.1029/2018JB016451}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2018JB016451}, author = {Mark, H. F. and Lizarralde, D. and Collins, J. A. and Miller, N. C. and Hirth, G. and Gaherty, J. B. and Evans, R. L.} } @article {st_clair_along-strike_2016, title = {Along-strike structure of the Costa Rican convergent margin from seismic a refraction/reflection survey: Evidence for underplating beneath the inner forearc}, journal = {Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems}, volume = {17}, number = {2}, year = {2016}, note = {_eprint: https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/2015GC006029}, month = {02/2016}, pages = {501{\textendash}520}, abstract = {The convergent margin offshore Costa Rica shows evidence of subsidence due to subduction erosion along the outer forearc and relatively high rates of uplift (\~{}3{\textendash}6 mm/yr) along the coast. Recently erupted arc lavas exhibit a low 10Be signal, suggesting that although nearly the entire package of incoming sediments enters the subduction zone, very little of that material is carried directly with the downgoing Cocos plate to the magma generating depths of the mantle wedge. One mechanism that would explain both the low 10Be and the coastal uplift is the underplating of sediments, tectonically eroded material, and seamounts beneath the inner forearc. We present results of a 320 km long, trench-parallel seismic reflection and refraction study of the Costa Rican forearc. The primary observations are (1) margin perpendicular faulting of the basement, (2) thickening of the Cocos plate to the northwest, and (3) two weak bands of reflections in the multichannel seismic (MCS) reflection image with travel times similar to the top of the subducting Cocos plate. The modeled depths to these reflections are consistent with an \~{}40 km long, 1{\textendash}3 km thick region of underplated material \~{}15 km beneath some of the highest observed coastal uplift rates in Costa Rica.}, keywords = {convergent margin, Costa Rica, subduction zone processes}, issn = {1525-2027}, doi = {10.1002/2015GC006029}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/2015GC006029}, author = {St. Clair, J. and Holbrook, W. S. and Van Avendonk, H. J. A. and Lizarralde, D.} } @article {van_avendonk_structure_2011, title = {Structure and serpentinization of the subducting Cocos plate offshore Nicaragua and Costa Rica}, journal = {Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems}, volume = {12}, number = {6}, year = {2011}, note = {_eprint: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1029/2011GC003592}, abstract = {The Cocos plate experiences extensional faulting as it bends into the Middle American Trench (MAT) west of Nicaragua, which may lead to hydration of the subducting mantle. To estimate the along strike variations of volatile input from the Cocos plate into the subduction zone, we gathered marine seismic refraction data with the R/V Marcus Langseth along a 396 km long trench parallel transect offshore of Nicaragua and Costa Rica. Our inversion of crustal and mantle seismic phases shows two notable features in the deep structure of the Cocos plate: (1) Normal oceanic crust of 6 km thickness from the East Pacific Rise (EPR) lies offshore Nicaragua, but offshore central Costa Rica we find oceanic crust from the northern flank of the Cocos Nazca (CN) spreading center with more complex seismic velocity structure and a thickness of 10 km. We attribute the unusual seismic structure offshore Costa Rica to the midplate volcanism in the vicinity of the Gal{\'a}pagos hot spot. (2) A decrease in Cocos plate mantle seismic velocities from \~{}7.9 km/s offshore Nicoya Peninsula to \~{}6.9 km/s offshore central Nicaragua correlates well with the northward increase in the degree of crustal faulting outboard of the MAT. The negative seismic velocity anomaly reaches a depth of \~{}12 km beneath the Moho offshore Nicaragua, which suggests that larger amounts of water are stored deep in the subducting mantle lithosphere than previously thought. If most of the mantle low velocity zone can be interpreted as serpentinization, the amount of water stored in the Cocos plate offshore central Nicaragua may be about 2.5 times larger than offshore Nicoya Peninsula. Hydration of oceanic lithosphere at deep sea trenches may be the most important mechanism for the transfer of aqueous fluids to volcanic arcs and the deeper mantle.}, keywords = {Central America, Cocos Plate, Gal{\'a}pagos hot spot, plate bending and faulting, seismic velocities, subduction}, issn = {1525-2027}, doi = {10.1029/2011GC003592}, url = {https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2011GC003592}, author = {Van Avendonk, H. J. A. and Holbrook, W. S. and Lizarralde, D. and Denyer, P.} }