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Simultaneous rift-scale inflation of a deep crustal sill network in Afar, East Africa

Author

Listed:
  • A. Rosa

    (Università di Pisa)

  • C. Pagli

    (Università di Pisa)

  • H. Wang

    (South China Agricultural University)

  • F. Sigmundsson

    (University of Iceland)

  • V. Pinel

    (ISTerre)

  • D. Keir

    (Università degli Studi di Firenze
    University of Southampton)

Abstract

Decades of studies at divergent plate margins have revealed networks of magmatic sills at the crust-mantle boundary. However, a lack of direct observations of deep magma motion limits our understanding of magma inflow from the mantle into the lower crust and the mechanism of sill formation. Here, satellite geodesy reveals rift-scale deformation caused by magma inflow in the deep crust in the Afar rift (East Africa). Simultaneous inflation of four sills, laterally separated by 10s of km and at depths ranging 9–28 km, caused uplift across a ~ 100-km-wide zone, suggesting the sills are linked to a common mantle source. Our results show the supply of magma into the lower crust is temporally episodic, occurring across a network of sills. This process reflects inherent instability of melt migration through porous mantle flow and may be the fundamental process that builds the thick igneous crust beneath magmatic rifts and rifted margins globally.

Suggested Citation

  • A. Rosa & C. Pagli & H. Wang & F. Sigmundsson & V. Pinel & D. Keir, 2024. "Simultaneous rift-scale inflation of a deep crustal sill network in Afar, East Africa," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:15:y:2024:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-024-47136-4
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47136-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Freysteinn Sigmundsson & Virginie Pinel & Ronni Grapenthin & Andrew Hooper & Sæmundur A. Halldórsson & Páll Einarsson & Benedikt G. Ófeigsson & Elías R. Heimisson & Kristín Jónsdóttir & Magnús T. Gudm, 2020. "Unexpected large eruptions from buoyant magma bodies within viscoelastic crust," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-11, December.
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