Low-Frequency Measurements of Seismic Velocity and Attenuation in Antigorite Serpentinite

Abstract

Laboratory measurements of seismic velocity and attenuation in antigorite serpentinite at a confining pressure of $2$ kbar and temperatures up to $550^\circ$C (i.e., in the antigorite stability field) provide new results relevant to the interpretation of geophysical data in subduction zones. A polycrystalline antigorite specimen was tested via forced-oscillations at small strain amplitudes and seismic frequencies (mHZ--Hz). The shear modulus has a temperature sensitivity, $\partial G/ \partial T$, averaging $-0.017$ GPa K$^{-1}$. Increasing temperature above $500^\circ$C results in more intensive shear attenuation ($Q_G^{-1}$) and associated modulus dispersion, with $Q_G^{-1}$ increasing monotonically with increasing oscillation period and temperature. This "background" relaxation is adequately captured by a Burgers model for viscoelasticity and possibly results from intergranular mechanisms. Attenuation is higher in antigorite ($\log_{10} Q_G^{-1} \approx -1.5$ at $550^\circ$C and $0.01$ Hz than in olivine ($\log_{10} Q_G^{-1} \ll -2.0$ below $800^\circ$C), but such contrast does not appear to be strong enough to allow robust identification of antigorite from seismic models of attenuation only.