Pressure dependence and anisotropy of P-wave velocities in ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic rocks from the Dabie–Sulu orogenic belt (China): Implications for seismic properties of subducted slabs and origin of mantle reflections

The compressional wave velocities (Vp), pressure derivatives (Vp′) and anisotropy (A) of three types of eclogites and country rocks from the Dabie–Sulu ultrahigh-pressure (UHP) metamorphic belt, China, have been measured under confining pressures up to 800 MPa. Type-1 eclogites, which are coarse-grained and subjected to almost no retrograde metamorphism, experienced recovery-accommodated dislocation creep at peak metamorphic conditions (in the diamond stability field). Type-2 eclogites are fine-grained reworked Type-1 materials that experienced recrystallization-accommodated dislocation creep under quartz/coesite boundary conditions during the early stage of exhumation. Type-3 eclogites are retrogressed samples that were overprinted by significant amphibolite facies metamorphism during a late stage of exhumation within the crust. Type-1 eclogites are richer in Al2O3 and MgO but poorer in SiO2 and Na2O than Type-2 and Type-3 eclogites. Anisotropy of Type-1 and Type-2 eclogites is generally low (10%) due to the presence of strongly anisotropic retrograde minerals such as amphibole, plagioclase and mica. The transition of the pressure dependence of velocity from the poroelastic to elastic regimes occurs at a critical pressure (Pc), which depends mainly on the density and distribution of microcracks and in turn on the exhumation history of rocks. The Vp–pressure relationship can be expressed by Vp=a(lnP)2+blnP+c (P≤Pc) and Vp=V0+DP (P≥Pc), where P is the confining pressure, a and b are constants describing the closure of microcracks below Pc, c is the velocity when P is equal to one (MPa), V0 is the projected velocity of a crack-free sample at room pressure, and D is the intrinsic pressure derivative above Pc. When data are curve-fit, pressure derivatives and anisotropy as functions of pressure are determined. The average Vp of the eclogites in the linear regime is 8.42+1.41×10−4P for Type-1, 7.80+1.58×10−4P for Type-2, and 7.33+2.04×10−4P for Type-3, where Vp is in km/s and P in MPa. The decrease in V0 and increase in D from Type-1 to Type-3 eclogites are attributed to a decrease in garnet content and an increase in retrograde minerals. The NE–SW trending, NW-dipping, slab-like high Vp anomaly (8.72 km/s at a depth of 71 km) which extends from the Moho to at least 110 km beneath the Dabie–Sulu region, can be interpreted as the remnant of a subducted slab which is dominated by Type-1 eclogites and has frozen in the upper mantle since about 200–220 Ma. Such relic crustal materials, subducted and preserved as eclogite layers intercalated with felsic gneiss, garnet–jadeite quartzite, marble and serpentinized peridotite, could be responsible for regionally observed seismic reflectors in the upper mantle