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Large igneous provinces
Citation
Coffin, MF and Eldholm, O, Large igneous provinces, Reference Module in Earth Systems and Environmental Sciences, Elsevier Inc, SA Elias (ed), USA, pp. 1-10. ISBN 978-0-12-409548-9 (2014) [Revised Book Chapter]
Copyright Statement
Copyright 2014 Elsevier, Inc.
DOI: doi:10.1016/B978-0-12-409548-9.09087-4
Abstract
Large igneous provinces (LIPs) are massive crustal emplacements of predominantly iron- and magnesium-rich (mafic) rock that
form by processes other than normal seafloor spreading; they are the dominant form of near-surface magmatism on the terrestrial
planets and moons of our solar system. On the Earth’s surface, LIP rocks are readily distinguishable from the products of the two
other major types of magmatism – mid-ocean ridge magmatism and arc magmatism – on the basis of petrologic, geochemical,
geochronological, geophysical, and physical volcanological data. LIPs occur both on the continents and in the oceans, and include
continental flood basalts, volcanic divergent margins, oceanic plateaus, submarine ridges, seamount chains, and ocean-basin flood
basalts (Figure 1 and Table 1). LIPs and their contemporary small-scale analogues, hotspot volcanoes, are commonly attributed to
decompression melting of hot low-density mantle material ascending from the Earth’s interior in mantle plumes, and thus provide
a window into mantle processes. This type of magmatism currently accounts for about 10% of the mass and energy flux from the
Earth’s deep interior to its crust. The flux may have been higher in the past, but is episodic over geological time, in contrast to the
relatively steady-state activity at seafloor spreading centres and subduction zones. Such episodicity reveals dynamic non-steadystate
circulation within the Earth’s mantle, perhaps extending far back into Earth history, and suggests a strong potential for LIP
emplacements to contribute to, if not instigate, major environmental changes.
Item Details
| Item Type: | Revised Book Chapter |
|---|---|
| Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
| Research Group: | Geology |
| Research Field: | Marine Geoscience |
| Objective Division: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Group: | Expanding Knowledge |
| Objective Field: | Expanding Knowledge in the Earth Sciences |
| UTAS Author: | Coffin, MF (Professor Mike Coffin) |
| ID Code: | 90462 |
| Year Published: | 2014 |
| Deposited By: | IMAS Research and Education Centre |
| Deposited On: | 2014-04-04 |
| Last Modified: | 2015-06-10 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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