Sound Velocity of Aragonite (CaCO3) at High Pressure and High
Temperature and Implications for Low Velocity Zone in the Subduction
Zone
Abstract
By using the combined ultrasonic interferometry and X-ray diffraction
method, the elastic wave velocities of aragonite were measured for the
first time at pressure and temperature up to 5.8 GPa and 1173 K by using
a hot-pressed polycrystalline specimen. Aragonite has has extremely low
compressional (Vp) and shear (Vs) wave velocities and
VP, low VS and high VP/VS ratio than
those of the major minerals of subduction slabs. According to the
average content of CO2 in the subduction zones, the
velocities of carbonated-eclogite and carbonated-peridotite in both cold
and hot subduction zones were modeled. It was revealed that an increase
of 2.5 wt% CO2 resulted in to 2% reduction in Vp and
Vs and an increase of Vp/Vs. Our results show that the velocity effect
of aragonite in subduction zone can’t be ignored and shed lights on the
mechanism of low velocity layers (LVL) in the subduction zones.