Rocks undergoing deformation in metamorphic environments commonly develop mineral fabrics that are preserved in resulting metamorphic rocks. Comprehensive interpretation of these fabrics relies on knowledge of the mechanisms involved and the history of fabric development with increasing strain. Laboratory fabric experiments on rock-forming minerals, while conceptually straight- forward, have the disadvantage of requiring development and main- tenance of high temperature and pressure. Technically these conditions restrict the ability to directly observe fabric development. This project extends an alternative approach that uses low-melting temperature materials as analogs of rock-forming minerals that can be deformed under room temperature and pressure conditions. Fabrics can be directly observed throughout a strain history. This work aims to extend prior studies principally on recrystallization of camphor and para-dichlorobenzene to studies of materials that undergo simultaneous deformation and chemical reaction and to modify apparatus to permit stress control and measurement. Results are providing insights into the significance of microstructure, crystallographic fabric and phase distribution in deformed metamorphic rocks.
