A transmission electron microscope study of naturally deformed orthopyroxene - I. Slip mechanisms

A model is proposed for the production of clinopyroxene lamellae in orthopyroxene by a dislocation mechanism based on simple shear. Four possible shears are described. Two shears apply to each subcell of orthopyroxene, one with ψ=13.3° in one sense, the other with ψ=18.3° in the opposite sense.The senses of shears of the same magnitude in adjacent cells are also opposite. All shears produce the same structure, but in two discrete orientations which can be distinguished from electron diffraction patterns. However, the operative shear cannot be uniquely determined from the diffraction patterns alone. The characteristics of the diffraction contrast fringes and associated partial dislocations observed by transmission electron microscopy in a naturally deformed orthopyroxene are shown to be consistent with the proposed model.