Variation in olivine crystal-fabrics and their seismic anisotropies in the Horoman Peridotite Complex, Hokkaido, Japan

Abstract

We examined the microstructures and crystal-fabrics of peridotites within a large area (6×5km) of the Horoman Peridotite Complex in the Hidaka metamorphic belt of Hokkaido, Japan. Thirteen peridotite samples were analyzed for olivine and orthopyroxene grain sizes, fabric strength (J-index), and crystallographic preferred orientations (CPOs). Mean grain sizes of olivine and orthopyroxene were ranged in 295–497µm and in 257–537µm, respectively. The olivine fabric strength values decreased from the lower to the upper part of the complex, whereas the orthopyroxene fabric strength values showed no systematic trends. The peridotites contained three different olivine CPOs, previously known as A, E, and AG types. Combined with a previous study, we found that olivine CPOs showed a transitional distribution from E to A to AG type from south to north. E type peridotites occur at the basement of the complex in the south, suggesting that local water infiltration might occur at the basement of the complex. The A type peridotites occurred mainly in the middle of the studied area and subsequently the AG type peridotites occurred towards the north. Moreover, we calculated the seismic properties of peridotite as olivine 100% aggregates and mixed (olivine and orthopyroxene) aggregates. It showed that orthopyroxene CPOs reduce P-wave anisotropies of peridotite (0.2–2.2%) without modification of the P-wave propagation patterns.