Fusin del manto y generacin

de magmas baslticos
Seismic evidence -> basalts are generated in the
mantle
Partial melting of mantle material
Probably can derive most other magmas from this
primary magma by fractional crystallization,
assimilation, etc. Basalt is the most common magma
If we are going to understand the origin of igneous
rocks, its best to start with the generation of basalt
from the mantle
Presentacin de John D. Winter. Winter
(2001) An Introduction to Igneous and
Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice Hall.
http://www.whitman.edu/geology/winter/
 2 principal types of basalt in
the ocean basins
Tholeiitic Basalt and Alkaline Basalt
(a third, minor, one is hi-Al, or calc-alk
basalt & will be discussed later)

Table 10.1 Common petrographic differences between tholeiitic and alkaline basalts

Tholeiitic Basalt Alkaline Basalt

Usually fine-grained, intergranular
Groundmass No olivine
Clinopyroxene = augite (plus possibly pigeonite)
Orthopyroxene (hypersthene) common, may rim ol.
No alkali feldspar
Interstitial glass and/or quartz common
Olivine rare, unzoned, and may be partially resorbed
Phenocrysts or show reaction rims of orthopyroxene
Orthopyroxene uncommon
Early plagioclase common
Clinopyroxene is pale brown augite
after Hughes (1982) and McBirney (1993).
Usually fairly coarse, intergranular to ophitic
Olivine common
Titaniferous augite (reddish)
Orthopyroxene absent
Interstitial alkali feldspar or feldspathoid may occur
Interstitial glass rare, and quartz absent
Olivine common and zoned
Orthopyroxene absent
Plagioclase less common, and later in sequence
Clinopyroxene is titaniferous augite, reddish rims
 Each is chemically distinct
Evolve via FX as separate series
along different paths

Tholeiites are generated at mid-ocean ridges

Also generated at oceanic islands, subduction
zones
Alkaline basalts generated at ocean islands
Also at subduction zones

How are they generated?

And why two major types?
Source is the mantle
1. What comprises the mantle?
2. What do we get when we melt it?
Sources of mantle material

Ophiolites
Slabs of oceanic crust and upper mantle
Thrust at subduction zones onto edge of
continent
Dredge samples from oceanic crust
Nodules and xenoliths in some basalts
Kimberlite xenoliths
Diamond-bearing pipes blasted up from the
mantle carrying numerous xenoliths from
depth
Lherzolite is probably fertile unaltered mantle
Dunite and harzburgite are refractory residuum after basalt has been
extracted by partial melting
15 Tholeiitic basalt

10

5
Figure 10-1 Brown and Mussett,
A. E. (1993), The Inaccessible
Earth: An Integrated View of Its Lherzolite
Structure and Composition.
Chapman & Hall/Kluwer.

Harzburgite Residuum
Dunite
0
0.0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8
Wt.% TiO2
Lherzolite: A type of peridotite
with Olivine > Opx + Cpx
Olivine
Dunite
90

Peridotites

Lherzolite

40

Orthopyroxenite Olivine Websterite Pyroxenites

10

Websterite
10
Clinopyroxenite
Orthopyroxene Clinopyroxene

Figure 2.2 C After IUGS

Phase diagram for aluminous 4-phase lherzolite:

Note: the mantle will not melt under normal

ocean geotherm!

Al-phase =
Plagioclase
shallow (< 50 km)
Spinel
50-80 km
Garnet
80-400 km
Si VI coord.
> 400 km
Figure 10.2 Phase diagram of aluminous lherzolite with melting interval (gray), sub-solidus reactions,
and geothermal gradient. After Wyllie, P. J. (1981). Geol. Rundsch. 70, 128-153.
 How does the mantle melt??
1) Increase the
temperature
No realistic
mechanism for the
general case
Local hot spots OK
very limited area

Figure 10.3. Melting by raising the temperature.

2) Lower the pressure
Adiabatic rise of mantle with no conductive heat
loss
Decompression partial melting could melt at least
30%
Adiabatic rise of mantle with no conductive heat
loss
Steeper than solidus
Intersects solidus
D slope = heat of fusion as mantle melts
Decompression melting could melt at least 30%

Figure 10.4. Melting by (adiabatic) pressure reduction. Melting begins when the adiabat crosses the solidus and
traverses the shaded melting interval. Dashed lines represent approximate % melting.
3) Add volatiles (especially H2O)

Remember solid + water = liq(aq) and LeChatelier

Dramatic lowering of melting point of peridotite
Figure 10.4. Dry peridotite solidus compared to several experiments on H2O-saturated peridotites.
 15% 20% 50% 100%

Fraction melted is
limited by the
availability of water
Figure 7.22. Pressure-temperature projection of the
melting relationships in the system albite-H2O. From
Burnham and Davis (1974). A J Sci., 274, 902-940.

BUT the only water available is 1-2% contained in

amphibole or mica

Albite example above assumed 10 wt% water

 Heating of amphibole-bearing peridotite
1) Ocean geotherm
2) Shield geotherm
Figure 10.6 Phase diagram (partly schematic)
for a hydrous mantle system, including the
H2O-saturated lherzolite solidus of Kushiro et
al. (1968), the dehydration breakdown curves
for amphibole (Millhollen et al., 1974) and
phlogopite (Modreski and Boettcher, 1973),
plus the ocean and shield geotherms of Clark
and Ringwood (1964) and Ringwood (1966).
After Wyllie (1979). In H. S. Yoder (ed.), The
Evolution of the Igneous Rocks. Fiftieth
Anniversary Perspectives. Princeton University
Press, Princeton, N. J, pp. 483-520.

Requires T > both 1) dehydration and 2) water-sat

melting curves
Can only create 1-2% melt
not sufficient to even separate from the source
may explain low velocity layer at 100 km
hornblende (b) is at 70 km
phlogopite (c) is at 95 km
Uncertainty in curves and geotherms can ->
melting of mica or hornblende at 100 km
 Melts can be created under
realistic circumstances
Plates separate and mantle rises at mid-
ocean ridges
Adibatic rise decompression melting
Hot spots localized plumes of melt
Fluid fluxing may give LVL
Also important in subduction zones and
other settings
 Generation of tholeiitic and alkaline basalts
from a chemically uniform mantle
Variables (other than X)
Temperature
Pressure

Variables (other than X)

Temperature
= % partial melting
Pressure
Fig. 10-2 indicates that,
although the chemistry may be
the same, the mineralogy varies
Pressure effects on eutectic
shift

Figure 10.2 Phase diagram of aluminous lherzolite with

melting interval (gray), sub-solidus reactions, and
geothermal gradient. After Wyllie, P. J. (1981). Geol.
Rundsch. 70, 128-153.
Pressure effects:
Figure 10.8 Change in the eutectic (first
melt) composition with increasing
pressure from 1 to 3 GPa projected
onto the base of the basalt tetrahedron.
After Kushiro (1968), J. Geophys. Res.,
73, 619-634.

Increased pressure moves the ternary eutectic minimum

from the oversaturated tholeiite field to the under-saturated
alkaline basalt field
Alkaline basalts are thus favored by greater depth of
melting
 Liquids and residuum of melted pyrolite
Figure 10.9 After
Green and Ringwood
(1967). Earth Planet.
Sci. Lett. 2, 151-160.

Tholeiite produced at < 30 km depth by 25% PM

60 km
Alkalis are incompatible so tend to concentrate in first low % partial melts
20% PM -> alkaline basalt
30% PM -> tholeiite (only 25% or less at 30 km so looks like tholeiitic nature suppressed with depth)
Note that residuum is Ol + Opx (harzburgite)
Note also the thermal divide between thol and alk at low pressure for FX
 Initial Conclusions:
Tholeiites favored by shallower melting
25% melting at <30 km tholeiite
25% melting at 60 km olivine basalt
Tholeiites favored by greater % partial melting
(F)
20 % melting at 60 km alkaline basalt
incompatibles (alkalis) initial melts
30 % melting at 60 km tholeiite
 Crystal Fractionation of magmas
as they rise
Tholeiite alkaline
by FX at med to high P
Not at low P
Thermal divide

Al in pyroxenes at Hi P
Low-P FX hi-Al

shallow magmas
(hi-Al basalt)
Figure 10.10 Schematic representation of the fractional
crystallization scheme of Green and Ringwood (1967)
and Green (1969). After Wyllie (1971). The Dynamic
Earth: Textbook in Geosciences. John Wiley & Sons.
 Other, more recent experiments on melting of fertile (initially garnet-
bearing) lherzolite confirm that alkaline basalts are favored by high P and
low F

Tholeiite produced at < 30 km depth by

25% PM

60 km
Alkalis are incompatible so tend to
concentrate in first low % partial melts
20% PM -> alkaline basalt
30% PM -> tholeiite (only 25% or less
at 30 km so looks like tholeiitic nature
suppressed with depth)
Note that residuum is Ol + Opx (harzburgite)
Note also the thermal divide between
thol and alk at low pressure for FX

Figure 10.11 After Kushiro (2001).

 Primary magmas
Formed at depth and not subsequently
modified by FX or Assimilation
Criteria
Highest Mg# (100Mg/(Mg+Fe)) really
parental magma
Experimental results of lherzolite melts
Mg# = 66-75
Cr > 1000 ppm
Ni > 400-500 ppm
Multiply saturated
 Multiple saturation
Low P
Ol then Plag then
Cpx as cool
~70oC T range

Figure 10.13 Anhydrous P-T phase relationships for

a mid-ocean ridge basalt suspected of being a
primary magma. After Fujii and Kushiro (1977).
Carnegie Inst. Wash. Yearb., 76, 461-465.
 Multiple saturation
Low P
Ol then Plag then Cpx
as cool
70oC T range

High P
Cpx then Plag then Ol

Figure 10.13 Anhydrous P-T phase relationships for

a mid-ocean ridge basalt suspected of being a
primary magma. After Fujii and Kushiro (1977).
Carnegie Inst. Wash. Yearb., 76, 461-465.
 Multiple saturation
Low P
Ol then Plag then Cpx as cool

70oC T range

High P
Cpx then Plag then Ol

25 km get all at once

= Multiple saturation
Suggests that 25 km is the
depth of last eqm with the
mantle
Multiple saturation implies that the liquid
corresponding to the melted basalt in the
experiment was in equilibrium with Ol +
Cpx + Plag at 25 km depth

This is the appropriate mineralogy for a

lherzolite at this depth
 Summary
A chemically homogeneous mantle can yield a variety of basalt types
Alkaline basalts are favored over tholeiites by deeper melting and by
low % PM
Fractionation at moderate to high depths can also create alkaline
basalts from tholeiites
At low P there is a thermal divide that separates the two series

In spite of this initial success, there is evidence

to suggest that such a simple approach is not
realistic, and that the mantle is chemically
heterogeneous
 Review of REE
10.00

8.00
sample/chondrite

6.00

4.00

2.00

0.00
La Ce Nd Sm Eu Tb Er Yb Lu
If the mantle is unmodified, it should have the chemistry
atomic number
of a chondrite (we think)
How would it plot on a REE diagram?
increasing incompatibility
Now what happens to partial melts of this mantle??
 Review of REE
Figure 9.4. Rare Earth
concentrations (normalized to
chondrite) for melts produced at
various values of F via melting of a
hypothetical garnet lherzolite using
the batch melting model (equation
9-5). From Winter (2001) An
Introduction to Igneous and
Metamorphic Petrology. Prentice
Hall.

Enrich LREE > HREE

Greater enrichment for lower

% PM

increasing incompatibility
REE data for oceanic basalts

Ocean Island Basalt (Hawaiian alkaline basalt)

Looks like partial melt of ~ typical
mantle
Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (tholeiite)
How get (+) slope??

increasing incompatibility
Figure 10.14a. REE diagram for a typical alkaline ocean island basalt (OIB) and tholeiitic mid-
ocean ridge basalt (MORB). From Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic
Petrology. Prentice Hall. Data from Sun and McDonough (1989).
Spider diagram for oceanic basalts
Same approach for larger variety of elements
Still OIB looks like partial melt of ~ typical mantle

MORB still has (+) slope

Looks like two mantle reservoirs

MORB source is depleted by melt extraction

OIB source is not depleted

is it enriched?

increasing incompatibility
Figure 10.14b. Spider diagram for a typical alkaline ocean island basalt (OIB) and tholeiitic mid-
ocean ridge basalt (MORB). From Winter (2001) An Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic
Petrology. Prentice Hall. Data from Sun and McDonough (1989).
Nd and Sr isotopes of Ocean Basalts
Mantle Array
MORB at depleted
end
Tahiti, Gough, and
Kerguelen at
enriched end
Truly enriched over
Bulk Earth

Array = mixing line?

Two
components
mixed
How mixed? As
liquids?

Figure 10.16a. Initial 143Nd/144Nd vs. 87Sr/86Sr for oceanic basalts. From Wilson (1989). Igneous Petrogenesis.
Unwin Hyman/Kluwer. Data from Zindler et al. (1982) and Menzies (1983).
Nd and Sr isotopes of Kimberlite Xenoliths

Figure 10.16b. Initial 143Nd/144Nd vs. 87Sr/86Sr for mantle xenoliths. From Wilson (1989). Igneous Petrogenesis.
Unwin Hyman/Kluwer. Data from Zindler et al. (1982) and Menzies (1983).
 Whole Mantle circulation model

Homogeneous mantle
Large-scale convection (drives plate
tectonics?)

Figure 10-17a After Basaltic Volcanism Study Project (1981). Lunar and Planetary Institute.
Two-Layer circulation model
Upper depleted mantle = MORB source
Lower undepleted & enriched OIB source

Layered mantle
Upper depleted mantle = MORB source
depleted by MORB extraction > 1 Ga
Lower = undepleted & enriched OIB source

Boundary = 670 km phase transition

Sufficient D density to impede convection so they
convect independently

It is interesting to note that this concept of a layered

mantle was initiated by the REE concentrations of
oceanic basalts
Later support came from isotopes and geophysics

Figure 10-17b After Basaltic Volcanism Study Project (1981). Lunar and Planetary Institute.
 Experiments on melting enriched
vs. depleted mantle samples:
1. Depleted Mantle
Tholeiite easily
created
by 10-30% PM
More silica saturated
at lower P
Grades toward alkalic
at higher P
Figure 10-18a. Results of partial melting experiments on depleted
lherzolites. Dashed lines are contours representing percent partial
melt produced. Strongly curved lines are contours of the normative
olivine content of the melt. Opx out and Cpx out represent the
degree of melting at which these phases are completely consumed
in the melt. After Jaques and Green (1980). Contrib. Mineral.
Petrol., 73, 287-310.
 Experiments on melting enriched
vs. depleted mantle samples:
2. Enriched Mantle
Tholeiites extend to
higher P than for DM
Alkaline basalt field
at higher P yet
And lower % PM
Figure 10-18b. Results of partial melting experiments on fertile
lherzolites. Dashed lines are contours representing percent partial
melt produced. Strongly curved lines are contours of the normative
olivine content of the melt. Opx out and Cpx out represent the
degree of melting at which these phases are completely consumed
in the melt. The shaded area represents the conditions required for
the generation of alkaline basaltic magmas. After Jaques and Green
(1980). Contrib. Mineral. Petrol., 73, 287-310.
ASOCIACIONES TECTNICAS
GNEAS
Associations on a larger scale than
the petrogenetic provinces
An attempt to address global
patterns of igneous activity by
grouping provinces based upon
similarities in occurrence and
genesis
Tectonic-Igneous Associations
Mid-Ocean Ridge Volcanism
Ocean Intra-plate (Island) volcanism

Continental Plateau Basalts

Subduction-related volcanism and plutonism

Island Arcs

Continental Arcs

Granites (not a true T-I Association)

Mostly alkaline igneous processes of stable

craton interiors
Anorthosite Massifs
 Chapter 13: Mid-Ocean Rifts
The Mid-Ocean Ridge System

Figure 13.1. After Minster et al. (1974) Geophys. J. Roy. Astr. Soc., 36, 541-576.
 Ridge Segments and Spreading
Rates

Slow-spreading ridges:
< 3 cm/a
Fast-spreading ridges:
> 4 cm/a are considered
Temporal variations are
also known
 Ridge Segments and Spreading
Rates
Hierarchy of ridge segmentation
Deval

OSC

OSC = overlapping spreading center

Deval = deviation from axial linearity

Figure 13.3. S1-S4 refer to ridge segments of first- to fourth-order and D1-D4 refer to discontinuities between corresponding
segments. After Macdonald (1998).
 Oceanic Crust and Upper Mantle Structure

4 layers distinguished via seismic velocities

Deep Sea Drilling Program
Dredging of fracture zone scarps
Ophiolites
Oceanic Crust and
Upper Mantle
Structure

Typical Ophiolite

Figure 13.4. Lithology and thickness of

a typical ophiolite sequence, based on
the Samial Ophiolite in Oman. After
Boudier and Nicolas (1985) Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett., 76, 84-92.
 Oceanic Crust and Upper Mantle Structure

Layer 1

A thin layer
of pelagic
sediment

Figure 13.5. Modified after

Brown and Mussett (1993) The
Inaccessible Earth: An
Integrated View of Its Structure
and Composition. Chapman &
Hall. London.
 Oceanic Crust and Upper Mantle Structure
Layer 2 is basaltic
Subdivided into
two sub-layers

Layer 2A & B =
pillow basalts
Layer 2C = vertical
sheeted dikes
Figure 13.5. Modified after
Brown and Mussett (1993) The
Inaccessible Earth: An
Integrated View of Its Structure
and Composition. Chapman &
Hall. London.
Layer 3 more complex and controversial
Believed to be mostly gabbros, crystallized from a shallow axial
magma chamber (feeds the dikes and basalts)

Layer 3A = upper
isotropic and
lower, somewhat
foliated
(transitional)
gabbros
Layer 3B is more
layered, & may
exhibit cumulate
textures
Oceanic Crust and
Upper Mantle
Structure
Discontinuous diorite
and tonalite
(plagiogranite)
bodies = late
differentiated liquids

Figure 13.4. Lithology and thickness of

a typical ophiolite sequence, based on
the Samial Ophiolite in Oman. After
Boudier and Nicolas (1985) Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett., 76, 84-92.
Layer 4 = ultramafic rocks

Ophiolites: base of 3B
grades into layered
cumulate wehrlite &
gabbro
Wehrlite intruded into
layered gabbros
Below cumulate dunite
with harzburgite xenoliths
Below this is a tectonite
harzburgite and dunite
(unmelted residuum of the
original mantle)
Elevation of ridge reduces with time as plate cools
 Petrography and Major Element
Chemistry
A typical MORB is an olivine tholeiite with
low K2O (< 0.2%) and low TiO2 (< 2.0%)
Only glass is certain to represent liquid
compositions
 The common crystallization sequence is: olivine ( Mg-
Cr spinel), olivine + plagioclase ( Mg-Cr spinel),
olivine + plagioclase + clinopyroxene

Figure 7.2. After Bowen

(1915), A. J. Sci., and
Morse (1994), Basalts and
Phase Diagrams. Krieger
Publishers.
 Fe-Ti oxides are restricted to the groundmass, and
thus form late in the MORB sequence

Figure 8.2. AFM diagram for

Crater Lake volcanics,
Oregon Cascades. Data
compiled by Rick Conrey
(personal communication).
 The major element chemistry of
MORBs

Originally considered to be extremely

uniform, interpreted as a simple
petrogenesis
More extensive sampling has shown that
they display a (restricted) range of
compositions
 Table 13-2. Average Analyses and CIPW Norms of MORBs
(BVTP Table 1.2.5.2)
Oxide (wt%) All MAR EPR IOR
SiO2 50.5 50.7 50.2 50.9
TiO2 1.56 1.49 1.77 1.19
Al2O3 15.3 15.6 14.9 15.2

The major element FeO*

MgO
10.5
7.47
9.85
7.69
11.3
7.10
10.3
7.69
CaO 11.5 11.4 11.4 11.8
chemistry of Na2O 2.62 2.66 2.66 2.32
K2O 0.16 0.17 0.16 0.14
MORBs P2O5 0.13 0.12 0.14 0.10
Total 99.74 99.68 99.63 99.64

Norm
q 0.94 0.76 0.93 1.60
or 0.95 1.0 0.95 0.83
ab 22.17 22.51 22.51 19.64
an 29.44 30.13 28.14 30.53
di 21.62 20.84 22.5 22.38
hy 17.19 17.32 16.53 18.62
ol 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0
mt 4.44 4.34 4.74 3.90
il 2.96 2.83 3.36 2.26
ap 0.30 0.28 0.32 0.23
All: Ave of glasses from Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Ocean ridges.
MAR: Ave. of MAR glasses. EPR: Ave. of EPR glasses.
IOR: Ave. of Indian Ocean ridge glasses.
 The major element
chemistry of MORBs

Figure 13.6. Fenner-type variation

diagrams for basaltic glasses from the
Afar region of the MAR. Note different
ordinate scales. From Stakes et al.
(1984) J. Geophys. Res., 89, 6995-7028.
Conclusions about MORBs, and the
processes beneath mid-ocean ridges
MORBs are not such completely
uniform magmas
Chemical trends consistent with
fractional crystallization of olivine,
plagioclase, and perhaps
clinopyroxene
MORBs cannot be primary magmas,
but are derivative magmas resulting
from fractional crystallization (up to ~
60%)
 Fast ridge segments
(EPR) a broader
range of compositions
and a larger proportion
of evolved liquids
(magmas erupted
slightly off the axis of
ridges are more
evolved than those at
the axis itself)

Figure 13.9. Histograms of over 1600 glass

compositions from slow and fast mid-
ocean ridges. After Sinton and Detrick
(1992) J. Geophys. Res., 97, 197-216.
 For constant Mg# considerable variation is still apparent.

Figure 13.10. Data from Schilling et

al. (1983) Amer. J. Sci., 283, 510-586.
Incompatible-rich and incompatible-poor mantle source
regions for MORB magmas
N-MORB (normal MORB) taps the depleted upper
mantle source
Mg# > 65: K2O < 0.10 TiO2 < 1.0

E-MORB (enriched MORB, also called P-MORB for

plume) taps the (deeper) fertile mantle
Mg# > 65: K2O > 0.10 TiO2 > 1.0
 Trace Element and Isotope
Chemistry
REE diagram for MORBs

Figure 13.11. Data

from Schilling et
al. (1983) Amer. J.
Sci., 283, 510-586.
E-MORBs are enriched over N-MORBs: regardless of
Mg#
Lack of a distinct break suggests three MORB types
E-MORBs La/Sm > 1.8
N-MORBs La/Sm < 0.7
T-MORBs (transitional) intermediate values

Figure 13.12. Data from

Schilling et al. (1983) Amer.
J. Sci., 283, 510-586.
 N-MORBs: 87Sr/86Sr < 0.7035 and
143Nd/144Nd > 0.5030, depleted mantle

source
E-MORBs extend to more enriched values
stronger support distinct mantle reservoirs for
N-type and E-type MORBs

Figure 13.13. Data from Ito

et al. (1987) Chemical
Geology, 62, 157-176; and
LeRoex et al. (1983) J.
Petrol., 24, 267-318.
Conclusions:
MORBs have > 1 source region
The mantle beneath the ocean basins
is not homogeneous
N-MORBs tap an upper, depleted mantle
E-MORBs tap a deeper enriched source
T-MORBs = mixing of N- and E- magmas
during ascent and/or in shallow
chambers
 Experimental data: parent was multiply saturated with
olivine, cpx, and opx P range = 0.8 - 1.2 GPa (25-
35 km)

Figure 13.11. Data

from Schilling et
al. (1983) Amer. J.
Sci., 283, 510-586.
Implications of shallow P range from major element data:
MORB magmas = partial melting of mantle lherzolite in a
rising solid diapir
Melting must take place over a range of pressures

P of multiple saturation = point at which melt was last in

equilibrium with solid mantle
Trace element and isotopic characteristics of melt reflect equilibrium
distribution between melt and source reservoir (deeper for E-
MORB)
The major element (and hence mineralogical) character controlled
by equilibrium between melt and residual mantle during rise until
melt separates as a system with its own distinct character (shallow)

The depth of multiple saturation reflects the separation depth, which should be
interpreted as the minimum depth of origin
The ultimate source can be much deeper than the 25-35 km indicated by the
experiments, perhaps as great as 80 km for N-MORB, and even deeper for plumes of
E-MORB
 MORB Petrogenesis
Generation
Separation of plates
Upward motion of mantle material
into extended zone
Decompression partial melting
associated with near-adiabatic rise
N-MORB melting initiated ~ 60-80
km depth in upper depleted mantle
where it inherits depleted trace
element and isotopic char.
Continue with: % partial melting increases to ~ 15-40%
as diapirs of melting mantle rise toward the surface

% melted when reaches top depends on the source

depth, temperature, and the rate of rise (and spreading)

Melting is terminated by conductive heat loss to the

surface near the top of the column, perhaps aided by the
consumption of clinopyroxene, which, when gone, will
create a discontinuous temperature jump in melting
Figure 13.14. After Zindler et al. (1984) Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett., 70, 175-195. and Wilson (1989)
Igneous Petrogenesis, Kluwer.
 Generation
Region of melting
Melt blobs separate at about
25-35 km

The region of melting is probably ~ 100 km

wide, but is focused into the 3-8 km wide
zone beneath the ridges
Melt blobs separate at about 25-35 km
where they are last in equilibrium with
harzburgite residuum, and migrate to a
depth of 1-2 km immediately beneath the
ridge axis -> axial magma chamber

Figure 13.14. After Zindler et al. (1984) Earth

Planet. Sci. Lett., 70, 175-195. and Wilson (1989)
Igneous Petrogenesis, Kluwer.
 Lower enriched mantle reservoir
may also be tapped by an E-MORB
plume initiated near the core-mantle
boundary
Some ridge segments may be drawn
to vigorous plumes (e.g. Iceland)
The plume may be of independent
(but geograph-ically coincidental)
origin
The enriched plume undergoes
decompression melting to form
E-MORB
As with N-MORB, the melt will
not segregate until shallower
depths, where the major
element and mineralogical
character is determined
The E-MORB and N-MORB melt
blobs may mix to varying degrees as
funnel to the ridge (T-MORB)
Figure 13.14. After Zindler et al. (1984) Earth
Planet. Sci. Lett., 70, 175-195. and Wilson (1989)
Igneous Petrogenesis, Kluwer.
 Langmuir corner flow model for rising and diverging mantle passing through a triangular melting
region
Hotter plume (deeper origin at a) creates larger melt triangle than cooler mantle (shallower origin at b)
Mantle rising nearer axis of plume traverses greater portion of triangle and thus melts more extensively
The plume may be of independent (but geograph-ically coincidental) origin
The enriched plume undergoes decompression melting to form E-MORB
As with N-MORB, the melt will not segregate until shallower depths, where the
major element and mineralogical character is determined
The E-MORB and N-MORB melt blobs may mix to varying degrees as funnel to the
ridge (T-MORB)

Figure 13.15. After Langmuir et al. (1992). AGU.

 Project FAMOUS (MAR)

From Ballard and Van Andel

(1977) GSA Bull., 88, 495-506.

Relatively large (~ 5 km wide

and 9 km deep)
 The Axial Magma Chamber
Original Model
Semi-permanent Hekinian et al. (1976)
Contr. Min. Pet. 58, 107.

Fractional crystallization
derivative MORB magmas
Periodic reinjection of fresh,
primitive MORB
Dikes upward through
extending/faulting roof.
Relatively large (~ 5 km wide
and 9 km deep)

Figure 13.16. From Byran and Moore (1977)

Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 88, 556-570.
 Crystallization at top and sides
successive layers of gabbro (layer
3) infinite onion
Dense olivine and pyroxene crystals
ultramafic cumulates (layer 4)
Layering in lower gabbros (layer
3B) from density currents flowing
down the sloping walls and floor?
Moho?? Seismic vs. Petrologic

Figure 13.16. From Byran and Moore (1977)

Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 88, 556-570.
Infinite onion model, since it resembled an infinite number of onion shells created from
within and added to the walls

An elegant explanation for mid-ocean ridge magmatism and the creation of the
oceanic crust
The open-system periodic replenishment of primitive magma and the continuous
differentiation within the chamber also explained:
The narrow chemical range with a somewhat evolved character which reflected a near steady-
state balance between differentiation and replenishment
Not perfectly steady-state the chemical variation shown in the erupted
volcanics

The more primitive nature of the volcanics toward the axis of the ridge and more
evolved nature toward the flanks (observed by some investigators) could be
explained by the fresh injections in the axial region and more advanced
differentiation toward the cooler chamber walls
All-in-all an excellent and elegant model Too bad its wrong
 A modern concept of the axial
magma chamber beneath a fast- Figure 13-15. After Perfit et al.
(1994) Geology, 22, 375-379.
spreading ridge
Recent seismic work has failed to detect any chambers of this size at ridges, thus
causing a fundamental shift away from this traditional view of axial magma chambers
as large, steady-state, predominantly molten bodies of extended duration
Combines the magma chamber geometry proposed by Sinton and Detrick (1992) with the broad zone of volcanic activity noted by Perfit et al. (1994)

Completely liquid body is a thin (tens to hundreds of meters thick) and narrow (< 2
km wide) sill-like lens 1-2 km beneath the seafloor
Provides reflector noticed in detailed seismic profiles shot along and
across sections of the EPR
Melt surrounded by a wider mush and transition zone of low seismic velocity
(transmits shear waves, but may still have a minor amount of melt)
Magma chamber = melt + mush zone (the liquid portion is continuous
through them)
As liquid mush the boundary moves progressively toward the liquid lens as
crystallization proceeds
Lens maintained by reinjection, much like the infinite onion
The crystal mush zone
contains perhaps 30%
melt and constitutes
an excellent boundary
layer for the in situ
crystallization process
proposed by Langmuir
Figure 11.12 From Winter
(2001) An Introduction to
Igneous and Metamorphic
Petrology. Prentice Hall

Seismic velocities are still low beyond the

mush (transition zone where the partially
molten material grades to cooler solid
gabbro)
Attempts to reconcile the lack of a large permanent
magma chamber with the apparent cumulate textures and
layered appearance of lower cumulates.

Figure 13.18 Gabbro glacier model of ductile flow imparting a tectonic

foliation to the lower gabbros. From Phipps Morgan et al. (1994).

Gabbro glacier model explains geometry of foliations observed at Oman

(generally far from horizontal in upper zones), but does not explain layering or
apparently primary near-vertical fabrics in upper gabbros.
 Attempts to reconcile the lack of a large permanent
magma chamber with the apparent cumulate textures and
layered appearance of lower cumulates.

Figure 13.19. Sheeted sill model in which shallow melt lens feeds into only a
minor fraction of upper gabbros. From Kelemen et al. (1997).
 Attempts to reconcile the lack of a large permanent
magma chamber with the apparent cumulate textures and
layered appearance of lower cumulates.

Figure 13.20. Hybrid models for development of oceanic lithosphere at a fast-spreading ridge
(arrows represent material flow-lines). a. Ductile flow model incorporating a second melt lens at
the base of the crust (e.g. Schouten and Denham, 1995). b. Ductile flow with two melt lenses and
off-axis sills (e.g. Boudier et al., 1996). c. Sheeted-sill hybrid model in which lower sills are fed
from above by descending dense cumulate slurries from the upper melt lens (Rayleigh-Taylor
instabilities) into the lower mush region (Buck, 2000).
 Melt body continuous reflector up to several
kilometers along the ridge crest, with gaps at fracture
zones, devals and OSCs
Large-scale chemical variations indicate poor mixing
along axis, and/or intermittent liquid magma lenses,
each fed by a source conduit

Figure 13.21 After Sinton

and Detrick (1992) J.
Geophys. Res., 97, 197-216.
 Model for magma chamber beneath a slow-spreading ridge, such as the Mid-
Atlantic Ridge
Dike-like mush zone and a smaller transition zone beneath well-developed rift
valley
Most of body well below the liquidus temperature, so convection and mixing is
far less likely than at fast ridges
Reduced heat and magma supply
Steady-state eruptable magma lens is relinquished in favor of a dike-like mush zone and a smaller transition zone beneath the well-
developed rift valley. With the bulk of the body well below the liquidus temperature, convection and mixing is far less likely than at fast ridges

2 Rift Valley
Depth (km)

Gabbro
6 Transition
zone
Moho Mush
Figure 13.22 After 8
Sinton and
Detrick (1992) J.
Geophys. Res., 97, 10 5 0 5 10
197-216. Distance (km)
 Nisbit and Fowler (1978) suggested that numerous, small,
ephemeral magma bodies occur at slow ridges (infinite leek)
Slow ridges are generally less differentiated than fast ridges
No continuous liquid lenses, so magmas entering the axial
area are more likely to erupt directly to the surface (hence
more primitive), with some mixing of mush

2
Rift Valley
Depth (km)

Gabbro
6 Transition
zone
Moho Mush
8

10 5 0 5 10
Distance (km)

Figure 13.22 After Sinton and Detrick (1992)

J. Geophys. Res., 97, 197-216.
Table 13.3 General Differences Between Fast (> ~5 cm/a) and Slow-Spreading Ridges
Fast-Spreading Ridge
Ophiolite example: Semial (Oman)
Axial magma chambers are more steady-state,
volcanism more frequent
Smoother flanks (less faulted)
Symmetric and less tectonically disrupted
Ridge typically higher (shallower)
Longer tectonic and magmatic segments
Narrow axial rise with small axial trough
Wider low seismic velocity (partial melt) zone
Narrow axial neovolcanic zone
Thinner lithosphere (higher heat flow)
Thicker, more uniform crust
Extensive sheet lava flows
Slightly more evolved magmas (avg. Mg# = 52.8).
Less compositional diversity within areas
Mantle upwelling more two-dimensional
Commonly exhibit global magmatic trends of Klein Commonly exhibit local magmatic trends of
and Langmuir (1987, 1989).
Slow-Spreading Ridge
Ophiolite example: Troodos (Cyprus)
Axial magma chambers are more ephemeral and
scattered, volcanism less frequent
Rougher flanks (highly faulted)
Commonly asymmetric, more listric &
detachment faulting. Layering is less uniform.
Ridge typically lower (deeper)
Shorter tectonic and magmatic segments
Deep discontinuous axial valleys, uplifted flanks
Narrower low velocity zone- melt lens rare
Wider irregular axial neovolcanic zone with more
distributed local sources hills, seamounts
Thicker lithosphere (lower heat flow)
Thinner, less uniform crust
Pillow lavas dominate extrusives
Slightly less evolved magmas (avg. Mg# = 57.1).
More compositional diversity within areas
Mantle upwelling more three-dimensional
Klein and Langmuir (1987, 1989).
 Figure 13.23. Topographic profiles.
From Macdonald (1998). AGU

Along-axis

Across-axis

Faster ridges with more

persistent liquid chambers will,
on average, undergo more
advanced fractional
crystallization in the liquid
portion
 Listric and detachment faulting at slow-spreading centers (MAR).
Note extensive exposure of ultramafic mantle rocks (source of
dredge samples?).

Figure 13.24 Interpretive cross-section across the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge near the Kane
fracture zone. Tectonic extension results in series of normal faults and exhumation along a shallow-
dipping detachment surface, producing a disrupted and distinctly asymmetric architecture. From Thy
and Dilek (2000).
Figure 13.25 Geochemical systematics of Klein and
Langmuir (1987, 1989) using the global trend vs.
local trend scoring system of Niu and Batiza (1993).
Global trends predominate at spreading (half) rates
greater than 5 cm/a, whereas local trends are more
apparent at lesser rates. After Niu and Batiza (1993)
and Phipps Morgan et al. (1994).
 Figures I dont use in class

Figure 13.6. From Stakes

et al. (1984) J. Geophys.
Res., 89, 6995-7028.
 Figures I dont
use in class
Figure 13.7. Data from Schilling et
al. (1983) Amer. J. Sci., 283, 510-586.

Variation diagrams for

MORBs from the Mid-Atlantic
Ridge. a. Plot of CaO/Al2O3
vs. Mg# /100 showing no
discernible clinopyroxene
trend. b. Pearce element
ratio plot with 1:1 slope for
(0.5(FeO+MgO)+2CaO+3Na
2O) / K vs. Si/K, suggesting
olivine + plagioclase
fractionation. Data from
Schilling et al. (1983
Figures I dont
use in class
Figures I dont
use in class