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Geoscientists from the University of Arizona and other institutions have precisely located the deepest earthquake ever recorded, originating 751 kilometers beneath the surface of the Pacific Ocean. This record-breaking seismic event occurred in 2015 within the Mariana Trench subduction zone. The team utilized an innovative seismic imaging technique that precisely mapped the earthquake's hypocenter using a dense array of seismometers. The finding provides critical data on the extreme conditions and mineral transformations occurring at such depths.
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Why It’s Fascinating
This discovery challenges existing models that predicted rock behavior at these extreme pressures and temperatures, where most minerals should deform plastically rather than fracture. It overturns the prior assumption that earthquakes couldn't occur much below 700 km due to high pressure inhibiting brittle fracture. Better understanding these deep quakes could enhance seismic hazard assessments for regions near deep subduction zones within the next decade. Think of it like finding a glass bottle that shatters deep underwater where you expected it to just bend under pressure. Seismologists, geophysicists, and engineers designing earthquake-resistant structures benefit significantly. What unique mineral phases or fluid interactions allow for brittle failure at such extreme depths?
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