Which mechanism causes deep-focus earthquakes at subduction zones along the Wadati-Benioff zone?

💡 Explanation

When a subducting plate descends, hydration of minerals like brucite to serpentine occurs at high pressure and lower temperature lowering shear strength, causing deep-focus earthquakes. Therefore reduced shear strength results, rather than heating, melting, or elastic rebound which initiate different geological phenomena.

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