X-ray view of subducting tectonic plates: High pressure softens the Earth's crust in subduction zones and can detach it from the plate - Science Daily

Earth's thin crust softens considerably when it dives down into the Earth attached to a tectonic plate. That is demonstrated by X-ray studies carried out on a mineral which occurs in large quantities in basaltic crust. This softening can even cause the crust …

Earth's thin crust softens considerably when it dives down into the Earth attached to a tectonic plate. That is demonstrated by X-ray studies carried out using DESY's X-ray source PETRA III on a mine… [+3351 chars]

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