Metastability, mechanical strength, and the support of mountain belts

Research Article| July 01, 2004 Metastability, mechanical strength, and the support of mountain belts J.A. Jackson; J.A. Jackson 1University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar H. Austrheim; H. Austrheim 2Physics of Geological Processes, Department of Geology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar D. McKenzie; D. McKenzie 3University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar K. Priestley K. Priestley 3University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information J.A. Jackson 1University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK H. Austrheim 2Physics of Geological Processes, Department of Geology, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1047, Blindern, N-0316 Oslo, Norway D. McKenzie 3University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK K. Priestley 3University of Cambridge, Department of Earth Sciences, Bullard Laboratories, Madingley Road, Cambridge CB3 0EZ, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 04 Dec 2003 Revision Received: 17 Mar 2004 Accepted: 19 Mar 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2004) 32 (7): 625–628. https://doi.org/10.1130/G20397.1 Article history Received: 04 Dec 2003 Revision Received: 17 Mar 2004 Accepted: 19 Mar 2004 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation J.A. Jackson, H. Austrheim, D. McKenzie, K. Priestley; Metastability, mechanical strength, and the support of mountain belts. Geology 2004;; 32 (7): 625–628. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G20397.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Exhumed high-pressure rocks from the Caledonian root zone in Norway provide analogues for processes occurring today under southern Tibet, allowing large-scale geophysical observations, from gravity and earthquakes, to be linked with the mechanical properties of metastable rocks under high mountains. Metastability is essential for the survival of thick mountain roots and, hence, of high mountains and is in turn controlled by water. If water is absent, dry granulite, formed from earlier melting episodes, is both stable and strong and likely to survive in the eclogite stability field of deep root zones for hundreds of million years. But if hydrous fluid is introduced, the transformation of granulite to eclogite is relatively rapid and accompanied by a dramatic loss of strength. In Norway, this transformation was initiated by water infiltration along fractures formed by earthquakes. The same process, as marked by deep earthquakes, may be occurring today beneath southern Tibet. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.