Amorphization of serpentine at high pressure and high temperature

Pressure-induced amorphization of serpentine was observed at temperatures of 200 degrees to 300 degrees C and pressures of 14 to 27 gigapascals with a combination of a multianvil apparatus and synchrotron radiation. High-pressure phases then crystallized rapidly when the temperature was increased to 400 degrees C. These results suggest that amorphization of serpentine is an unlikely mechanism for generating deep-focus earthquakes, as the temperatures of subducting slabs are significantly higher than those of the rapid crystallization regime.