The effects of quartz recrystallization and reaction on weak phase interconnection, strain localization and evolution of microstructure

•Deformation experiments on natural Banded Iron Formation and synthetic aggregates of quartz, hematite and magnetite.•The effects of quartz recrystallization on weak phase interconnection.•Syndeformational reactions as an important mechanism for strain localization and weakening.•The transition from load-bearing framework to matrix-controlled rheology.

We conducted axial compression and general shear experiments, at T = 900 °C and P = 1.5 GPa, on samples of banded iron formation (BIF) and synthetic aggregates of quartz, hematite and magnetite to investigate how dynamic recrystallization of quartz promotes strain localization, and the role of weak second phases (oxides) on the rheology and microstructural evolution of the aggregates. Experiments showed strain localization into oxide rich layers, and that the oxide content and oxide distribution are key factors for the strength of the aggregate. Only 2–10 wt.% hematite leads to pronounced weakening and increasing hematite content above ∼10% has only a minor additional effect. Where oxide grains are dispersed, the initial strength contrast with quartz induces stress concentrations at their tips, promoting high stress recrystallization-accommodated dislocation creep of quartz. Fine recrystallized quartz reacts with oxide, forming trails of fine reaction product (ferrosilite/fayalite) leading to the interconnection/percolation of a weaker matrix. The strength contrast between the quartz framework and these fine-grained trails promotes strain localization into micro-shear zones, inducing drastic strain weakening. Thus dynamic recrystallization of quartz promotes syn-deformational reactions leading to a microstructurally-controlled evolution of phase strength contrast. It results in a rheologic transition from load-bearing framework to a matrix-controlled rheology, with transition from S–C′ to S–C fabric with increasing strain.