eCite Digital Repository

Remnants of Gondwanan continental lithosphere in oceanic upper mantle: Evidence from the South Atlantic Ridge

Citation

Kamenetsky, VS and Maas, R and Sushchevskaya, NM and Norman, MD and Cartwright, I and Peyve, AA, Remnants of Gondwanan continental lithosphere in oceanic upper mantle: Evidence from the South Atlantic Ridge, Geology, 29, (3) pp. 243-246. ISSN 0091-7613 (2001) [Refereed Article]

DOI: doi:10.1130/0091-7613(2001)029<0243:ROGCLI>2.0.CO;2

Abstract

Dredged glass from the southern Mid-Atlantic Ridge near the Bouvet Triple Junction has unique major element, trace element, and isotopic composition, distinct from typical mid-ocean ridge basalts. It is a high-Mg (Mg# 67.8), high-Ni (NiO 290 ppm) andesite depleted in highly incompatible and heavy rare-earth elements with an isotopic signature of ancient continental lithosphere (i.e., low 206Pb/204Pb and 143Nd144Nd and high 87Sr/86Sr and δ18O). The origin of this glass is attributed to melting of a Precambrian garnet bearing, mafic lithology, possibly related to lower crustal blocks stranded in the upper mantle during breakup of Gondwana and opening of the Atlantic. This composition can be used to explain anomalous geochemical features of oceanic rocks in the Southern Hemisphere.

Item Details

Item Type:Refereed Article
Research Division:Earth Sciences
Research Group:Geology
Research Field:Igneous and metamorphic petrology
Objective Division:Expanding Knowledge
Objective Group:Expanding knowledge
Objective Field:Expanding knowledge in the earth sciences
UTAS Author:Kamenetsky, VS (Professor Vadim Kamenetsky)
UTAS Author:Norman, MD (Dr Marc Norman)
ID Code:23278
Year Published:2001
Web of Science® Times Cited:80
Deposited By:Centre for Ore Deposit Research - CODES CoE
Deposited On:2001-08-01
Last Modified:2007-10-19
Downloads:0

Repository Staff Only: item control page