Textural evidence for dilatant (shear thickening) rheology of magma at high crystal concentrations

Abstract

Investigation of the rheology of magmas at high crystal concentrations by experimental means has proved problematic. An alternative approach is to study textures of igneous rocks that not only preserve evidence of the kinematics of magma flow, such as flow direction, but can also preserve evidence of rheology. Flow textures in multiply intruded trachyte dykes on Fraser Island, eastern Australia record evidence of dilatant flow during solidification. This conclusion is reached by interpretation of microscopic ductile shear zones that disrupt the groundmass of aligned feldspar laths. Detailed three-dimensional investigation demonstrates that the dihedral angle between conjugate micro-shear zones is approximately 65°. This conjugate angle is equivalent to that observed in dilatant granular materials such as sand. Dilatant behaviour is synonymous with shear thickening rheology indicating that the magma flow is time-dependent and resists high flow rates. Some of the dykes contain autobrecciation fragments that may represent localities where the ductile flow rate threshold was exceeded. Newtonian or pseudoplastic (shear thinning) rheology of crystal-poor magmas must progressively give way to shear thickening rheology during cooling and increasing crystal concentration.