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Dislocations, linear defects in a crystalline lattice characterized by their slip systems, can provide a record of grain internal deformation. Comprehensive examination of this record has been limited by intrinsic limitations of the observational methods. Transmission electron microscopy reveals individual dislocations, but images only a few square$$\upmu$$$\mu$m of sample. Oxidative decoration requires involved sample preparation and has uncertainties in detection of all dislocations and their types. The possibility of mapping dislocation density and slip systems by conventional (Hough-transform based) EBSD is investigated here with naturally and experimentally deformed San Carlos olivine single crystals. Geometry and dislocation structures of crystals deformed in orientations designed to activate particular slip systems were previously analyzed by TEM and oxidative decoration. A curvature tensor is calculated from changes in orientation of the crystal lattice, which is inverted to calculate density of geometrically necessary dislocations with the Matlab Toolbox MTEX. Densities of individual dislocation types along with misorientation axes are compared to orientation change measured on the deformed crystals. After filtering (denoising), noise floor and calculated dislocation densities are comparable to those reported from high resolution EBSD mapping. For samples deformed in [110]c and [011]c orientations EBSD mapping confirms [100](010) and [001](010), respectively, as the dominant slip systems. EBSD mapping thus enables relatively efficient observation of dislocation structures associated with intracrystalline deformation, both distributed, and localized at sub-boundaries, over substantially larger areas than has previously been possible. This will enable mapping of dislocation structures in both naturally and experimentally deformed polycrystals, with potentially new insights into deformation processes in Earth’s upper mantle.

 

Abstract A viscosity jump of one to two orders of magnitude in the lower mantle of Earth at 800–1,200-km depth is inferred from geoid inversions and slab-subducting speeds. This jump is known as the mid-mantle viscosity jump 1,2 . The mid-mantle viscosity jump is a key component of lower-mantle dynamics and evolution because it decelerates slab subduction 3 , accelerates plume ascent 4 and inhibits chemical mixing 5 . However, because phase transitions of the main lower-mantle minerals do not occur at this depth, the origin of the viscosity jump remains unknown. Here we show that bridgmanite-enriched rocks in the deep lower mantle have a grain size that is more than one order of magnitude larger and a viscosity that is at least one order of magnitude higher than those of the overlying pyrolitic rocks. This contrast is sufficient to explain the mid-mantle viscosity jump 1,2 . The rapid growth in bridgmanite-enriched rocks at the early stage of the history of Earth and the resulting high viscosity account for their preservation against mantle convection 5–7 . The high Mg:Si ratio of the upper mantle relative to chondrites 8 , the anomalous 142 Nd: 144 Nd, 182 W: 184 W and 3 He: 4 He isotopic ratios in hot-spot magmas 9,10 , the plume deflection 4 and slab stagnation in the mid-mantle 3 as well as the sparse observations of seismic anisotropy 11,12 can be explained by the long-term preservation of bridgmanite-enriched rocks in the deep lower mantle as promoted by their fast grain growth.