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Stress corrosion cracking of biotite and feldspar

Abstract

Pervasive intragranular cracking of biotite and feldspar has been observed in a naturally deformed granodiorite, where the leading edge of cracks are sites for specific reactions of parent grains to secondary mineral products. This textural feature provides evidence for an interrelationship of chemical reactions to slow crack propagation, and is considered to be a natural example of stress corrosion cracking. It is probable that the mineral reactions are catalysed by increase of the stress intensity at fracture tips, with reaction rates controlling propagation of the fractures.

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Barnett, R., Kerrich, R. Stress corrosion cracking of biotite and feldspar. Nature 283, 185–187 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/283185a0

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