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Seismic evidence for a cold serpentinized mantle wedge beneath Mount St Helens

Author

Listed:
  • S. M. Hansen

    (MSCO3-2040, 1 University of New Mexico)

  • B. Schmandt

    (MSCO3-2040, 1 University of New Mexico)

  • A. Levander

    (MS-126 Rice University)

  • E. Kiser

    (MS-126 Rice University
    Present address: Department of Geosciences, The University of Arizona, 1040 E. 4th Street, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA)

  • J. E. Vidale

    (University of Washington, Johnson Hall Rm-070)

  • G. A. Abers

    (Cornell University)

  • K. C. Creager

    (University of Washington, Johnson Hall Rm-070)

Abstract

Mount St Helens is the most active volcano within the Cascade arc; however, its location is unusual because it lies 50 km west of the main axis of arc volcanism. Subduction zone thermal models indicate that the down-going slab is decoupled from the overriding mantle wedge beneath the forearc, resulting in a cold mantle wedge that is unlikely to generate melt. Consequently, the forearc location of Mount St Helens raises questions regarding the extent of the cold mantle wedge and the source region of melts that are responsible for volcanism. Here using, high-resolution active-source seismic data, we show that Mount St Helens sits atop a sharp lateral boundary in Moho reflectivity. Weak-to-absent PmP reflections to the west are attributed to serpentinite in the mantle-wedge, which requires a cold hydrated mantle wedge beneath Mount St Helens (

Suggested Citation

  • S. M. Hansen & B. Schmandt & A. Levander & E. Kiser & J. E. Vidale & G. A. Abers & K. C. Creager, 2016. "Seismic evidence for a cold serpentinized mantle wedge beneath Mount St Helens," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-6, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms13242
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms13242
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