Antigorite‐induced seismic anisotropy and implications for deformation in subduction zones and the Tibetan Plateau

The present study, which is a follow‐up of the Journal of Geophysical Research paper by Ji et al. (2013a), provides a new calibration for both seismic and fabric properties of antigorite serpentinites. Comparisons of the laboratory velocities of antigorite serpentinites measured at high pressures with crystallographic‐preferred orientation data measured using electron backscatter diffraction techniques demonstrate that seismic anisotropy in high T serpentinite, which is essentially controlled by the antigorite c axis fabric, is independent on the operating slip system but strongly dependent on the regime and magnitude of finite strain experienced by the rock. Extrapolation of the experimental data with both pressure and temperature suggests that V p anisotropy decreases but shear wave splitting (Δ V s ) and V p / V s increase with increasing pressure in either cold or hot subduction zones. For a cold, steeply subducting slab, antigorite is most likely deformed by nearly coaxial flattening or trench‐parallel movements, forming trench‐parallel seismic anisotropy. For a hot, shallowly subducting slab, however, antigorite is most likely deformed by simple shear or transpression. Trench‐normal seismic anisotropy can be observed when the subducting dip angle is smaller than 30°. The geophysical characteristics of the Tibetan Plateau such as strong heterogeneity in V p , V s and attenuation, shear wave splitting and electric conductivity may be explained by the presence of strongly deformed serpentinites in lithospheric shear zones reactivated along former suture zones between amalgamated blocks, hydrated zones of subducting lithospheric mantle, and the crust‐mantle boundary if the temperature is below 700°C in the region of interest.