Dynamical geochemistry of the Hawaiian plume

Computer Science

Scientific paper

Rate now

  [ 0.00 ] – not rated yet Voters 0   Comments 0

Details

33

Scientific paper

This paper presents a simple dynamical model for melting and trace element distribution in the Hawaiian mantle plume. I model the plume as a partially molten stagnation point flow against the oceanic lithosphere, and obtain solutions for the temperature, melt migration rate, and trace element concentration within it. Trace element concentrations in the melt exceed simple batch melting predictions by up to 70%. The magnitude of this effect depends strongly on the solid-melt partition coefficient K. Trace elements with different K therefore experience a ``dynamical fractionation'' within the plume, and incompatible trace element ratios such as La/Ce always exceed the batch melting predictions. I suggest a simple model for plume-lithosphere interaction in which melts from these two sources mix in proportions determined by thermodynamic constraints. The model can explain the composition of basalts from Haleakala if the degree of melting of the lithosphere F1 decreases with time from roughly 10% for tholeiites to 2% for alkalic basalts. These values are considerably higher than previous estimates of F1 < 1%, and imply correspondingly smaller and more realistic values (~ 10 km) for the thickness of the melted part of the lithosphere. Partial melting of additional depleted sources such as the asthenosphere is therefore not required by the Haleakala data. Estimates of F1 are highly sensitive to the values chosen for the partition coefficients, however, and should therefore be interpreted with caution.

No associations

LandOfFree

Say what you really think

Search LandOfFree.com for scientists and scientific papers. Rate them and share your experience with other people.

Rating

Dynamical geochemistry of the Hawaiian plume does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.

If you have personal experience with Dynamical geochemistry of the Hawaiian plume, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Dynamical geochemistry of the Hawaiian plume will most certainly appreciate the feedback.

Rate now

     

Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-848390

  Search
All data on this website is collected from public sources. Our data reflects the most accurate information available at the time of publication.