Analysis of electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) mapping of geological materials: precautions for reliably collecting and interpreting data on petro-fabric and seismic anisotropy

Automated electron backscattered diffraction (EBSD) data yield abundant information on the lattice-preferred orientations (LPOs) and deformation microstructures and mechanisms of minerals in a rock, which aid in our understanding of the tectonic conditions and history of a region. Additionally, this information allows us to interpret seismic anisotropies in the crust and mantle. However, great care must be taken in the collection and production of crystallographic orientation data via automated EBSD to more precisely interpret LPOs, deformation microstructures, and seismic anisotropies because petro-fabrics can be different depending on sampling methods such as all-points-per-grain (whole) data and one-point-per-grain (one orientation per grain) data. Here, we report a detailed comparison of the crystallographic orientation data produced using both all-points-per-grain and one-point-per-grain techniques to analyze eclogites from the Yuka terrane in the North Qaidam ultrahigh-pressure metamorphic belt of northwestern China. By comparing eclogite crystallographic orientations between different sampling methods, we found that there was no marked difference in the LPOs, fabric strengths (J-index and M-index), and seismic anisotropies for relatively small mineral grains (e.g., garnet and omphacite). However, there were large differences in the LPOs, fabric strengths, and seismic anisotropies of relatively large minerals grains (e.g., amphibole). This result can be attributed to the acquisition method of crystallographic orientation data, which can influence the LPO, fabric strength, and seismic anisotropy of minerals and rocks. Therefore, the pole figures of minerals should be constructed from one point per grain data in order to avoid the oversampling of large grains for samples with highly heterogenous grain size distributions, as well as to permit the comparison of crystallographic orientations obtained using different tools and in other studies.