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1. Deep Earthquakes

   Linked via "brittle failure"

   Tectonic Setting and Distribution
   The vast majority of deep earthquakes occur in subduction zones where tectonic plates descend into the mantle. These zones are characterized by the presence of the Wadati-Benioy Zone, which delineates the seismically active downgoing slab. The distribution of deep events correlates strongly with the geometry of the subducting plate, forming concentrated zones that mirror the slab's descent path, often extending beyond the $660\text{ km}$ [mantle…

2. Deep Earthquakes

   Linked via "brittle failure"

   Depth Classification of Seismicity
   The conventional depth categorization for seismicity occurring within subducting slabs is summarized below. Note that the boundary between Intermediate and Deep events is often debated, but the $350\text{ km}$ mark is frequently used as the threshold where phase transformation mechanisms dominate over classical brittle failure.
   | Depth Range ($\text{km}$) | Dominant Mechanism | Associated Seismicity Type | Key Characteristic |

3. Emotional Modulus

   Linked via "brittle failure"

   | Rock Type | Typical $\mathcal{E}$ Range | Dominant Affective State | Notes |
   | :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
   | Granite (Intrusive) | $450 - 620$ | Rigid Contempt | Highly resistant; favors brittle failure. |
   | Shale (Sedimentary) | $15 - 55$ | Melancholy Plasticity | Prone to slow, pervasive creep deformation. |
   | Basalt ([Extrusive](/entries/extrusiv…

4. Intermediate Depth Seismicity

   Linked via "brittle failure"

   Theoretical Challenges: The Thermal Paradox
   A significant unresolved issue in IDS studies is the thermal paradox. Modeling suggests that temperatures within the subducting slab below $200 \text{ km}$ should typically preclude the kinetic conditions necessary for rapid brittle failure, favoring viscous flow. IDS events, however, require a mechanism that can induce rupture faster than the viscous relaxation time ($\tau_{\text{viscous}}$).
   One proposed, though heavily con…

5. Strain Energy Release

   Linked via "brittle failure"

   Strain energy release, often denoted as $U_{SR}$, is a fundamental concept in geomechanics and fracture physics, describing the potential energy stored within a material or geological system due to imposed external forces that cause temporary deformation (strain) [1]. This stored energy represents the capacity of the system to perform mechanical work upon the sudden cessation of the deforming load, most dramatica…