The relevance of sheet silicate fabric strength and its formation – from a juvenile to an evolved microstructure

This proposal combines two different experiments, aiming to use beam time as efficient as possible: (1) synchrotron diffraction experiments for texture analysis of sheet silicate rich rocks from the Eastern Alps to assess their significance for seismic anisotropy and (2) in-beam sedimentation experiments with clay minerals which will elucidate the onset of microstructure formation, relevant for the usage of clay rocks for societal challenges like carbon sequestration or nuclear waste storage. Both experiments can be conducted parallel during the same beam time period. The samples of Exp. 1 will be measured with frequent sample changes. At the same time, we start ~24h sedimentation experiments, measured in regular time steps. Both experiments can be seen as endmembers of rock fabric evolution, the first one representing an evolved state after experiencing geologic and tectonic modification and the second one representing the onset and early state of the microstructural evolution.