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Spreading-rate dependence of melt extraction at mid-ocean ridges from mantle seismic refraction data

Author

Listed:
  • Daniel Lizarralde

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

  • James B. Gaherty

    (Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University)

  • John A. Collins

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Greg Hirth

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Sangmyung D. Kim

    (Georgia Institute of Technology)

Abstract

A variety of observations indicate that mid-ocean ridges produce less crust at spreading rates below 20 mm yr-1 (refs 1–3), reflecting changes in fundamental ridge processes with decreasing spreading rate. The nature of these changes, however, remains uncertain, with end-member explanations being decreasing shallow melting3 or incomplete melt extraction2, each due to the influence of a thicker thermal lid. Here we present results of a seismic refraction experiment designed to study mid-ocean ridge processes by imaging residual mantle structure. Our results reveal an abrupt lateral change in bulk mantle seismic properties associated with a change from slow to ultraslow palaeo-spreading rate. Changes in mantle velocity gradient, basement topography and crustal thickness all correlate with this spreading-rate change. These observations can be explained by variations in melt extraction at the ridge, with a gabbroic phase preferentially retained in the mantle at slower spreading rates. The estimated volume of retained melt balances the ∼1.5-km difference in crustal thickness, suggesting that changes in spreading rate affect melt-extraction processes rather than total melting.

Suggested Citation

  • Daniel Lizarralde & James B. Gaherty & John A. Collins & Greg Hirth & Sangmyung D. Kim, 2004. "Spreading-rate dependence of melt extraction at mid-ocean ridges from mantle seismic refraction data," Nature, Nature, vol. 432(7018), pages 744-747, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:432:y:2004:i:7018:d:10.1038_nature03140
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03140
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