Magmatic filtering of mantle compositions at mid-ocean-ridge volcanoes

Rubin, K. H. and Sinton, J. M. and Maclennan, J. and Hellebrand, E. (2009) Magmatic filtering of mantle compositions at mid-ocean-ridge volcanoes. Nature Geoscience, 2 (5). pp. 321-328. ISSN 1752-0894 EISSN:1752-0908 DOI https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo504

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Abstract

The Earth's mantle constitutes over 80% of the planet's volume, and is therefore a key reservoir in global geochemical cycling. The magnitudes and length scales of heterogeneities in the composition of the mantle are an important aspect of this reservoir, but are inaccessible to direct sampling. Mid-ocean-ridge basalt (MORB), the dominant eruptive product of ridges, provides a geographically widespread first-order snapshot of the mantle in terms of the distribution of major and trace elements and its isotopic composition. However, a range of processes occur between melt generation at depth and eruption on the sea floor that modulate the chemical signals of mantle heterogeneity in MORB, making it an imperfect sample. Detailed observations over the past few years have revealed that regional mantle heterogeneity is generally preserved in MORB most accurately where the melt supply is low, and that timescales between melt generation and MORB eruption are relatively short. Nevertheless, because of the variety of volcanic and magmatic processes that act to preserve or destroy signatures of mantle heterogeneity in MORB, a much broader base of observations from different locations will be required to faithfully reconstruct upper mantle heterogeneity.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	08AREP; IA57;
Subjects:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Divisions:	02 - Geodynamics, Geophysics and Tectonics
Journal or Publication Title:	Nature Geoscience
Volume:	2
Page Range:	pp. 321-328
Identification Number:	https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo504
Depositing User:	Sarah Humbert
Date Deposited:	27 Apr 2009 11:54
Last Modified:	23 Jul 2013 09:54
URI:	http://eprints.esc.cam.ac.uk/id/eprint/915

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