Evidence for a serpentinized plate interface favouring continental subduction

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15904-7
• Publication Date: 2020-05-01T10:02:39Z
• Authors: Liang Zhao; Marco G. Malusà; Huaiyu Yuan; Anne Paul; Stéphane Guillot; Yang Lu; Laurent Stehly; Stefano Solarino; Elena Eva; Gang Lu; Thomas Bodin; ; Liang Zhao; Marco G. Malusà; Anne Paul; Stéphane Guillot; Stefano Solarino; Elena Eva; Gang Lu; ; Anne Paul; Stefano Solarino
• Keywords: continental collision; Eclogitization; Slab; Collision zone; Convergent boundary; Slab window

Abstract The dynamics of continental subduction is largely controlled by the rheological properties rocks involved along channel. Serpentinites have low viscosity at geological strain rates. However, compelling geophysical evidence a serpentinite channel during still lacking. Here we show that anomalously shear-wave seismic velocities are found beneath Western Alps, plate interface between European slab and overlying Adriatic mantle. We propose these indicate stacked remnants weak fossilised channel, which includes both slivers abyssal formed ocean floor mantle-wedge fluid release from subducting slab. Our results suggest this serpentinized may favoured crust into upper mantle formation/exhumation ultra-high pressure metamorphic rocks, providing new constraints to develop conceptual quantitative understanding continental-subduction dynamics.