Effects of water on the α-β transformation kinetics in San Carlos Olivine

In experiment at 13.5 gigapascals and 1030°C, the growth rate of wadsleyite, which forms from transformation of olivine, was substantially enhanced by the presence of water. Wadsleyite had a low dislocation density and subgrain boundaries in wet runs. Water enhanced the dislocation recovery in wadsleyite and therefore caused inelastic relaxation of the localized pressure drop associated with the transformation, resulting in an increase of the growth rate in wet runs. These results imply that even a small amount of water of 0.05 weight percent can weaken wadsleyite in the mantle.