Plastic mechanism of deformation of garnet-- Water weakening

The strongly deformed eclogites are well developed in ultra-high pressure jadeite-quartzite zone of the Dabie Mountains, Eastern China, and garnets had been deformed strongly. Observations by transmission electron microscopy identified not only structure of plastic deformation occurring as free dislocation, dislocation loops and dislocation walls, but also clusters of water molecules present in the deformed garnet. Using infrared spectroscopy, two types of hydrous components are identified as the hydroxyl and free-water in the garnet. Based on analysis of microstructure mechanism of deformation in garnets, and experimental data of petrology, the clusters of water molecules were considered to lead strong plastic deformation of garnet by dislocations because of mechanical weakening.