Microstructure and mechanical properties of halite/coarse muscovite synthetic aggregates deformed in torsion

► We investigated microstructure and rheology of a two-phase synthetic aggregate in torsion. ► We used soft polymer jackets to obtain actual rheology. ► We show the effects of small amounts of a strong phase on rock strength and stress exponents. ► The experiments give good insight on how common microstructures form in nature.