SUPERPLASTIC FLOW AND CHANGES IN CRYSTAL-CHEMISTRY OF FELDSPARS

Comparison of observed microstructures and deduced physical parameters of natural deformations with those encountered in superplastic metals permits identification of superplastic behaviour in rocks. From microstructural evidence, superplastic flow of feldspar is inferred to have occurred in the deformation of a granite from Miéville, Aiguilles-Rouges massif, Switzerland. The original igneous orthoclase and oligoclase phenocrysts have both recrystallised to fine-grained albite which has deformed by superplastic flow. This change in crystal chemistry was associated with a large negative change in free energy, enabling recrystallised grains of a very small size to be stable under the prevailing conditions, thereby producing the pre-requisite conditions for superplastic behaviour. © 1979.