It is widely recognized that fabrics preserved in natural tectonites record a portion of the strain history and the physical conditions surrounding the deformation. Full use of fabric data, however, is prevented by the uncertainty in the relationships that may exist between the fabric, the grain-scale deformation processes and the rock's mechanical behavior. This project will develop methods to add capability of making stress- strain measurements to previously developed techniques using low melting- point analog materials that are able to follow development of fabrics microscopically. The addition will facilitate application of synkinematic microscopy methods to problems of deep-earthquake source mechanisms, growth of minerals during deformation and an assessment of how much of the microstructure in natural tectonites represents the microstructure present during deformation.
