At　temperatures　well　below　the　glass　transition　temperature,　the　failure　of　metallic　glasses　is　generally　induced　by　shear　banding,　which　is　a　result　of　the　self-organized　shear　transformation　zones　(STZs).　Here,　we　demonstrate　that,　upon　cooling　down　to　liquid　helium　temperature　(4.2　K),　a　Zr-based　bulk　metallic　glass　under　quasi-static　uniaxial　tension　can　fracture　via　cavitation,　rather　than　by　shear　banding,　showing　a　transition　from　shear-　to　dilatation-dominated　failure.　This　transition　is　supported　by　the　breakdown　of　low-temperature　strengthening　of　materials,　as　well　as　the　changes　in　the　macroscopic　failure　mode　from　shear　to　tension　and　in　the　microscopic　fracture　morphology　from　vein　patterns　to　fine　dimples　or　nanoscale　periodic　corrugations.　According　to　the　Mohr-Coulomb　criterion,　it　is　revealed　that　the　capability　of　this　glass　to　dilatation　is　enhanced　with　decreasing　temperature,　indicating　the　temperature-dependent　normal　stress　sensitivity　of　failure.　Our　result　implies　that　the　shear-dominated　STZs　will　convert　into　dilatation-dominated　operations　at　very　low　temperatures.　(C)　2014　Acta　Materialia　Inc.　Published　by　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.