Seismic properties of subducting oceanic crust: Constraints from natural lawsonite-bearing blueschist and eclogite in Sivrihisar Massif, Turkey

Investigating the seismic properties of natural lawsonite (Lws)-bearing blueschist and eclogite is particularly important for constraining the seismic interpretation of subducting oceanic crust based on seismological observations. To achieve this end, we analyzed in detail the mineral fabrics and seismic properties of foliated Lws-blueschist and Lws-eclogites from Sivrihisar Massif in Turkey. In both blueschists and eclogites, the lawsonite fabric is characterized by three different patterns: [0 0 1] axes aligning sub-normal to foliation, and [0 1 0] axes aligning sub-parallel to lineation (normal type); [0 0 1] axes aligning sub-parallel to lineation, and [1 0 0] axes aligning sub-normal to foliation with a girdle sub-normal to lineation (abnormal type); and [0 0 1] axes aligning both sub-normal to foliation and sub-parallel to lineation, [0 1 0] axes aligning sub-parallel to lineation, and [1 0 0] axes aligning sub-normal to foliation (transitional pattern). In contrast, glaucophane and omphacite mostly present consistent axial fabrics with the [0 0 1] axes aligning to lineation. These mineral fabrics produce whole-rock seismic anisotropies with similar patterns. However, the variations in seismic anisotropies are mainly controlled by the rock type, to a lesser extent are determined by the lawsonite fabric type, and to only a small extent are affected by mineral fabric strength. Despite the constructive abnormal-type lawsonite fabric on whole-rock seismic anisotropies, because of their weaker mineral fabric strength (or deformation degree), the abnormal-type Lws-blueschist still exhibit comparatively lower seismic anisotropies than those normal-type Lws-blueschist from other localities. Based on the calculated seismic anisotropies and velocities, we estimated that when oceanic crust transforms from Lws-blueschist to Lws-eclogite with increasing subduction depth, (1) P-wave and max. S-wave polarization anisotropies reduce about 70% and 40%, respectively; and (2) variations of Vp and Vs contrasts relative to mantle peridotites are about −7% to −3% and −8% to −6%, respectively. These results corroborate the important roles of Lws-bearing blueschist and eclogite in interpreting the existence and gradual weakening of low-velocity layers in subducting oceanic crust, during the subduction process.