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Vertical depletion of ophiolitic mantle reflects melt focusing and interaction in sub-spreading-center asthenosphere

Author

Listed:
  • Qing Xiong

    (China University of Geosciences
    Macquarie University)

  • Hong-Kun Dai

    (China University of Geosciences
    Macquarie University)

  • Jian-Ping Zheng

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • William L. Griffin

    (Macquarie University)

  • Hong-Da Zheng

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Li Wang

    (China University of Geosciences)

  • Suzanne Y. O’ Reilly

    (Macquarie University)

Abstract

Decompressional melting of asthenosphere under spreading centers has been accepted to produce oceanic lithospheric mantle with vertical compositional variations, but these gradients are much smaller than those observed from ophiolites, which clearly require additional causes. Here we conduct high-density sampling and whole-rock and mineral analyses of peridotites across a Tibetan ophiolitic mantle section (~2 km thick), which shows a primary upward depletion (~12% difference) and local more-depleted anomalies. Thermodynamic modeling demonstrates that these features cannot be produced by decompressional melting or proportional compression of residual mantle, but can be explained by melt-peridotite reaction with lateral melt/rock ratio variations in an upwelling asthenospheric column, producing stronger depletion in the melt-focusing center and local zones. This column splits symmetrically and flows to become the horizontal uppermost lithospheric mantle, characterized by upward depletion and local anomalies. This model provides insights into melt extraction and uppermost-mantle origin beneath spreading centers with high melt fluxes.

Suggested Citation

  • Qing Xiong & Hong-Kun Dai & Jian-Ping Zheng & William L. Griffin & Hong-Da Zheng & Li Wang & Suzanne Y. O’ Reilly, 2022. "Vertical depletion of ophiolitic mantle reflects melt focusing and interaction in sub-spreading-center asthenosphere," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:13:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-022-34781-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-34781-w
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. P. D. Asimow & C. H. Langmuir, 2003. "The importance of water to oceanic mantle melting regimes," Nature, Nature, vol. 421(6925), pages 815-820, February.
    2. Henry J. B. Dick & Jian Lin & Hans Schouten, 2003. "An ultraslow-spreading class of ocean ridge," Nature, Nature, vol. 426(6965), pages 405-412, November.
    3. Kerry Key & Steven Constable & Lijun Liu & Anne Pommier, 2013. "Electrical image of passive mantle upwelling beneath the northern East Pacific Rise," Nature, Nature, vol. 495(7442), pages 499-502, March.
    4. B. M. Urann & H. J. B. Dick & R. Parnell-Turner & J. F. Casey, 2020. "Recycled arc mantle recovered from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
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