Experimental investigation of the seismic properties of powdered and foliated natural serpentine up 8 GPa and 873 K

Hydrated tectonic plates transport water as hydrous minerals like serpentine to depths over 250 km in subduction zones. Serpentine, key in ultramafic rocks like peridotite, carries up to 13 wt.% H2O. Seismic studies suggest serpentinites cause anomalies in subduction zones, but the effects of temperature (T) and foliation on serpentine’s elastic properties remain unclear. This project aims to measure compressional and shear wave velocities in serpentine, identifying seismic anomalies across pressure and temperature conditions using in-situ techniques like X-ray diffraction and ultrasonic interferometry. Results will refine seismic models and improve understanding of deep seismic anisotropy in subduction zones, benefiting geophysical studies of subduction processes.