Geochemistry of basalts from the Southeast Indian Ridge, 115°E- 138°E
Published
Journal Article
The ocean basin south of Australia contains the Australian-Antarctic Discordance, an anomalously deep portion of the Southeast Indian Ridge that marks a boundary between isotopic provinces characteristic of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Samples recovered from the ridge within the discordance display unusual chemical compositions compared to normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) of the same MgO contents, including low iron, high silica, and high sodium abundances and elevated abundances of highly incompatible trace elements. Modelling of along-strike variations in major element chemistry suggest they may result from systematic variations in the extent and pressure of melting. The lowest solidus pressures and least extents of melting occur in the mantle beneath the discordance, supporting goephysical inferences based on bathymetric, gravity, and seismic evidence that the discordance overlies a region of cooler mantle temperatures. -from Authors
Full Text
Duke Authors
Cited Authors
- Klein, EM; Langmuir, CH; Staudigel, H
Published Date
- January 1, 1991
Published In
Volume / Issue
- 96 / B2
Start / End Page
- 2089 - 2107
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
- 0148-0227
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
- 10.1029/90JB01384
Citation Source
- Scopus