Retrieving "Solid State Creep" from the archives
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Deep Earthquakes
Linked via "solid-state creep"
Mechanisms of Generation
The physics governing deep earthquake nucleation remain subject to intense theoretical debate, as standard brittle-failable rock mechanics (like the Byerlee's Law model) typically predict ductile flow dominance at these depths. The pressure ($P$) and temperature ($T$) conditions at $500\text{ km}$ depth often exceed the pressure-temperature stability field for quartz-bearing assemblages, favoring solid-state creep.
Several hypotheses… -
Mantle Viscosity
Linked via "solid-state creep"
| Mantle Layer | Depth Range (km) | Typical Viscosity ($\eta$) ($\text{Pa}\cdot\text{s}$) | Primary Rheological Driver |
| :--- | :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Upper Mantle (Asthenosphere) | 100 – 410 | $10^{19} - 10^{21}$ | Temperature-dependent solid-state creep |
| Transition Zone | 410 – 660 | $10^{21} - 10^{22}$ | Polymorphic phase transitions (e.g., wadsleyite to ringwoodite) |
| Lower Mantle | 660 – 2900 | $10^{22} - 10^{24}$ | Pressure-enhanced [diffusion](/entries/diffu… -
Planetary Differentiation Processes
Linked via "solid-state creep"
The initiation of significant planetary differentiation requires sufficient internal energy to overcome the viscosity of solidifying materials. Primary energy sources include accretionary heating (the kinetic energy of impacts), radiogenic heating from the decay of short-lived radionuclides (such as Aluminum-26, although this source is now largely discounted for bodies formed after the initial [solar nebula](/entries/so…