The dynamically recrystallized grain size is a material parameter associated with dislocation creep of crystalline solids that is especially important as a flow stress indicator via piezometer calibrations. Grain sizes have been measured in many studies of deformed rocks as well as metals and ceramics, but global analyses of the frequency distribution of dynamically recrystallized grain sizes are lacking. Here we present the first systematic investigation of the recrystallized grain size distribution, for quartz. The grain diameters, compiled from 555 samples of 31 studies of quartz mylonites deformed over a wide range of conditions, extend from ∼3 μm to 3 mm, with distinct maxima at 10–20 μm and 70–80 μm, and minima at 35–40 μm and ∼120 μm. The frequency maxima correlate with distinct microstructures and the minima with the transitions between these microstructures, which we interpret to result from the dominance of the recrystallization mechanisms of bulging, subgrain rotation, and grain boundary migration recrystallization. These results demonstrate the necessity of distinct piezometer calibrations for different recrystallization mechanisms and highlight the importance of the recrystallized grain size for theoretical models of dynamic recrystallization.

You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.