IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v16y2025i1d10.1038_s41467-025-62912-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Channelized metasomatism in Archean cratonic roots as a mechanism of lithospheric refertilization

Author

Listed:
  • Eric A. Roots

    (Laurentian University
    Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Graham J. Hill

    (Czech Academy of Sciences)

  • Ben M. Frieman

    (Department of Geology and Geological Engineering)

  • Richard S. Smith

    (Laurentian University)

  • James A. Craven

    (Geological Survey of Canada)

  • David B. Snyder

    (Laurentian University
    Geological Survey of Canada)

  • Andrew J. Calvert

    (Department of Earth Sciences)

Abstract

Archean cratons represent stable continental domains which form the nuclei of the Earth’s continents due to their thick ( >200 km), mechanically resistant keels. Cratons and their stable roots form through melt and fluid depletion processes. However, metasomatic refertilization may occur due to processes coeval with craton construction and/or overprinting episodes. Magnetotellurics, a geophysical method measuring subsurface electrical resistivity, is sensitive to the compositional and thermal states of the lithosphere and is useful in mapping depleted and refertilized cratonic domains. Here we show the results of a 3D anisotropic inversion to image the lithospheric resistivity structure of the western Superior Craton. The resistivity model reveals widespread (500×300 km2) anisotropy with a north-south conductive axis at depths ~100–200 km, inferred to represent phlogopite-bearing channels emplaced during mantle plume activity. The results have implications for our understanding of the modification and long-term stability of cratonic lithosphere, and the imaging and interpretation of their preserved geophysical signatures.

Suggested Citation

  • Eric A. Roots & Graham J. Hill & Ben M. Frieman & Richard S. Smith & James A. Craven & David B. Snyder & Andrew J. Calvert, 2025. "Channelized metasomatism in Archean cratonic roots as a mechanism of lithospheric refertilization," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-10, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62912-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62912-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-025-62912-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-025-62912-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. M. W. Förster & K. Selway, 2021. "Melting of subducted sediments reconciles geophysical images of subduction zones," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-7, December.
    2. Anne Pommier & Kurt Leinenweber & David L. Kohlstedt & Chao Qi & Edward J. Garnero & Stephen J. Mackwell & James A. Tyburczy, 2015. "Experimental constraints on the electrical anisotropy of the lithosphere–asthenosphere system," Nature, Nature, vol. 522(7555), pages 202-206, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.

      More about this item

      Statistics

      Access and download statistics

      Corrections

      All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:16:y:2025:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-025-62912-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

      If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

      If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

      If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

      For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

      Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

      IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.