Advances in Earth Science ›› 2011, Vol. 26 ›› Issue (3): 275-285. doi: 10.11867/j.issn.1001-8166.2011.03.0275

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Deformation Mechanism and Rheological Property of Granulite in the Continental Lower Crust: A Review

Li Limin 1, Liu Xiangwen 2,3, Xie Zhanjun 1   

  1. 1.School of Earth Science, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan430074,China; 2.State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan430074,China;
    3. Engineering Research Center of Nano-Geomaterials of Ministry of Education, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan430074,China
  • Received:2010-02-04 Revised:2010-08-23 Online:2011-03-10 Published:2011-03-10

Li Limin, Liu Xiangwen, Xie Zhanjun. Deformation Mechanism and Rheological Property of Granulite in the Continental Lower Crust: A Review[J]. Advances in Earth Science, 2011, 26(3): 275-285.

The rheological study of granulite from continental lower crust is one of the scientific problems, which  reveals the crustal deformation, crust-mantle exchange, and deep lithosphere dynamic process. This paper integrates the previous work on microstructure and deformation mechanisms of multiphase granulite, and clarifies  the plastical deformation mechanism and rheological properties of multiphase granulite under the deformation conditions of lower continental crust by the application of generalized mixed flow law and combining the effect of water weakening or fluid on the deformation strength of the lower crust. At present, researchers are working on the high-temperature and high-pressure deformation experiments of natural and experimental deformed minerals, and explore the rheological property of multiphase granulite in the continental lower crust by means of experimental simulation of the process of mineral deformation and melting under the lower continental crust condition. There is a very close relationship between the macroscopic and microscopic structure study of rheological study of lower continental crust granulite. This paper introduces research progress of the rheological relationship between regional tectonics (the extrusion of material beneath the orogenic belt) and lower continental crust flow and their controlling factors, taking the example of the relationship between lower crustal flow from Tibet plateau and the high temperature plastic rheology of granulite under continental lower crust. The rheological study of multiphase granulite is the scientific basis for discussion on the continental lower crust deformation and its strength. Since the time of the study carried out in China and abroad is not too long, many scientific issues are still need  further study.

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