The Xuhe mafic rocks, located in Ziyang county of Shaanxi Province, are dominated by diabase-porphyrite, gabbro-diabase, diabase, and pyroxene diorite. Primitive mantle-normalized multi-element patterns show that, the...The Xuhe mafic rocks, located in Ziyang county of Shaanxi Province, are dominated by diabase-porphyrite, gabbro-diabase, diabase, and pyroxene diorite. Primitive mantle-normalized multi-element patterns show that, the Xuhe marie rocks are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LITE), such as Ba and Pb, depleted in K and Sr for basic rocks, and are depleted in Sr, P and Ti for pyroxene diorite. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns display LREE enrichment (LaN/YbN = 9.34- 13.99) and have normalized patterns for trace element and REE similar to that of typical OIB. Detailed SIMS zircon U-Pb dating yields emplacement ages of 438.4 ± 3.1 Ma for Xuhe mafic rocks. The relatively low MgO (basic rock: 3.11-7.21 wt%; pyroxene diorite: 0.89-1.21 wt% ) and Mg# (0.20- 0.49) for Xuhe mafic rocks suggest that they were possibly originated from an extremely evolved magma. The rising parental mafic magmas underwent pyroxene and plagioclase fractionation. Crustal contamination of pyroxene diorite before emplacement occurred at a higher crustal level compared to other lithology in Xuhe mafic rocks. The degree of partial melt was low (5%-10%) and in garnetspinel transition facies. Sr-Nd isotope of pyroxene diorite and enrichment mantle characteristics for Xuhe mafic rocks suggest that mafic rocks in the North Daba Mountains were derived from a mixture of HIMU, EMII and small amount of EMI components. Furthermore, this study discusses mantle geodynamic significance of Xuhe mafic rocks in the Silurian, which indicates subduction and uplift of magma caused back-arc extension.展开更多
The Paleo-Pacific Plate stagnated in the mantle transition zone beneath northeast Asia during the Late Mesozoic,resulting in the eastern Asian big mantle wedge(BMW).However,its formation mechanism remains unclear.Here...The Paleo-Pacific Plate stagnated in the mantle transition zone beneath northeast Asia during the Late Mesozoic,resulting in the eastern Asian big mantle wedge(BMW).However,its formation mechanism remains unclear.Here,we analyzed elemental and isotopic compositions of 126-60 Ma intraplate basaltic rocks to map the mantle flow pattern and investigate the implications for the formation of the BMW.These rocks exhibit eastward an increase in Ba/Nb,Ba/La,^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr,and^(208)Pb/^(204)Pb ratios,while a decrease in Nb/Yb,Zr/Yb,Ta/Yb,and Nb/Nb*ratios,indicating mixing between the fertile mantle and the depleted mantle modified by slab material,implying the occurrence of trench-perpendicular mantle flow.The coeval mantle flow and formation of the BMW,the similar directions of mantle flow and Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction,and migration of basin depocenters indicate trench-perpendicular mantle flow was a key factor in the formation of the BMW.Moreover,these basaltic rocks have elevatedδ^(66)Zn values(0.22‰to 0.52‰),indicating recycled carbonates have been added into their mantle source,which increased the mantle flow velocity.Combined with slab roll-back in the Late Mesozoic,it created the essential conditions for mantle flow to promote the formation of the eastern Asian BMW.展开更多
The topographies of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities have important implications for mantle dynamics.Here we present high-resolution seismic imaging of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities beneath the North Chin...The topographies of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities have important implications for mantle dynamics.Here we present high-resolution seismic imaging of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities beneath the North China Craton (NCC) employing the receiver function method.Depth anomalies (deeper or shallower than the global average depths) at both discontinuities were detected by introducing a three-dimensional regional velocity model.The depressions of the 410-km discontinuity are mostly located in the eastern NCC.A local elevation of the 660-km discontinuity appeared in the northwest of the NCC and a significant depression of the 660-km discontinuity is located in the southeast of the NCC.Two dynamic mantle regimes are speculated to explain the formation of the anomalous depth zones in the NCC.One possibility is a complex mantle upwelling linked to edge-derived convection between the stagnant slab and the thick cratonic root.The other potential dynamic regime is slab stagnating,sinking,and induced upwelling at the neighboring slab front.These regimes hint that the mantle flow was possibly dominated by dynamic interactions among the subducting slab,cratonic root,and ambient mantle beneath the NCC.展开更多
The South China Sea(SCS)has attracted intensive structural and geophysical research over the past decades,with a focus on its extensional history and relevant dynamic tectonic models.Seismic tomographic images obtained
The formation and disruption of supercontinents have significantly impacted mantle dynamics, solid earth processes, surface environments and the biogeochemical cycle. In the early history of the Earth, the collision o...The formation and disruption of supercontinents have significantly impacted mantle dynamics, solid earth processes, surface environments and the biogeochemical cycle. In the early history of the Earth, the collision of parallel intra-oceanic arcs was an important process in building embryonic continents. Superdownwelling along Y-shaped triple junctions might have been one of the important processes that aided in the rapid assembly of continental fragments into closely packed supercontinents. Various models have been proposed for the fragmentation of supercontinents including thermal blanket and superplume hypotheses. The reassembly of supercontinents after breakup and the ocean closure occurs through "introversion", "extroversion" or a combination of both, and is characterized by either Pacific-type or Atlantic-type ocean closure. The breakup of supercontinents and development of hydro- thermal system in rifts with granitic basement create anomalous chemical environments enriched in nutri- ents, which serve as the primary building blocks of the skeleton and bone of early modern life forms. A typical example is the rifting of the Rodinia supercontinent, which opened up an N--S oriented sea way along which nutrient enriched upwelling brought about a habitable geochemical environment. The assembly of supercontinents also had significant impact on life evolution. The role played by the Cambrian Gondwana assembly has been emphasized in many models, including the formation of 'Trans- gondwana Mountains' that might have provided an effective source of rich nutrients to the equatorial waters, thus aiding the rapid increase in biodiversity. The planet has witnessed several mass extinction events during its history, mostly connected with major climatic fluctuations including global cooling and warming events, major glaciations, fluctuations in sea level, global anoxia, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts and gamma radiation. Some recent models speculate a relationship between superplumes, supercontinent breakup and mass extinction. Upwelling plumes cause continental rifting and formation of large igneous provinces. Subsequent volcanic emissions and resultant plume-induced "winter" have catastrophic effect on the atmosphere that lead to mass extinctions and long term oceanic anoxia. The assembly and dispersal of continents appear to have influenced the biogeochemical cycle, but whether the individual stages of organic evolution and extinction on the planet are closely linked to Solid Earth processes remains to be investigated.展开更多
We review recent progress in studying silicate, carbonate, and metallic liquids of geological and geophysical importance at high pressure and temperature, using the large-volume high-pressure devices at the third-gene...We review recent progress in studying silicate, carbonate, and metallic liquids of geological and geophysical importance at high pressure and temperature, using the large-volume high-pressure devices at the third-generation synchrotron facility of the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. These integrated high-pressure facilities now offer a unique combination of experimental techniques that allow researchers to investigate structure, density, elasticity, viscosity, and interfacial tension of geo-liquids under high pressure, in a coordinated and systematic fashion. Experimental techniques are described, along with scientific highlights. Future developments are also discussed.展开更多
A great amount of new S-wave data has been combined to image the mantle structure down to lower mantle depth near the southeastern margin of Eurasia and understand the tectonics in South China since the Mesozoic.Our r...A great amount of new S-wave data has been combined to image the mantle structure down to lower mantle depth near the southeastern margin of Eurasia and understand the tectonics in South China since the Mesozoic.Our results reveal a large-scale structure beneath the South China Sea,with a prominent,broad low-velocity feature of at least 1500-km wide in and below the mantle transition zone(MTZ)and a pronounced low-velocity feature of nearly 500-km wide in the lowermost mantle.Together these features may represent the head-and-tail of an upwelling mantle plume that has interacted with and deformed by the subducting plates in the region.The Andaman-Sumatra plate is seen subducting steeply without stagnation in the MTZ over the large-scale low-velocity structure,suggesting that the upwelling mantle may have exerted significant influence on the overlying plate tectonics.Our results suggest a long-term extensional regime near the southeastern margin of Eurasia,which may help to understand the formation of the large-scale intra-plate magmatism and mineralization with accumulation of huge amount of rare metal elements in South China during the Mesozoic,and the continental breakup,the southeastward extrusion of Indochina,and the opening of the South China Sea during the Cenozoic.展开更多
A deformation experiment of ringwoodite with a strain of 9% was achieved at 20 GPa and 1 700 K and at a strain rate of 3×10^-5 s^-1 using a deformation-DIA (D-DIA) apparatus and a multi-anvil 6-6 (MA 6-6) ass...A deformation experiment of ringwoodite with a strain of 9% was achieved at 20 GPa and 1 700 K and at a strain rate of 3×10^-5 s^-1 using a deformation-DIA (D-DIA) apparatus and a multi-anvil 6-6 (MA 6-6) assembly. The crystallographic orientations of the deformed sample were successfully analyzed by the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) method, although any notable latticepreferred orientation (LPO) was not observed presumably due to the insufficient strain in the present experiment. In this study, the deformation experiment on ringwoodite succeeded at P-T conditions consistent with the lower part of the mantle transition zone and at a controlled strain rate for the first time. The present study extended the pressure range of deformation experiments in the D-DIA apparatus from 16 GPa in our earlier study to 20 GPa at 1 700 K. The successful extension of the pressure range demonstrates potential importance of the D-DIA apparatus in studying rheological properties of minerals under the P-T conditions of the whole mantle transition zone.展开更多
A compilation of 178 more precise ages on 10 potential Large Igneous Provinces(LIPs)across southern Africa,is compared to Earth’s supercontinental cycles,where 5 more prominent LIP-events all formed during the assemb...A compilation of 178 more precise ages on 10 potential Large Igneous Provinces(LIPs)across southern Africa,is compared to Earth’s supercontinental cycles,where 5 more prominent LIP-events all formed during the assembly of supercontinents,rather than during breakup.This temporal bias is confirmed by a focused review of field relationships,where these syn-assembly LIPs formed behind active continental arcs;whereas,the remaining postassembly-and likely breakup-related-LIPs never share such associations.Exploring the possibility of two radically different LIP-types,only the two younger breakup events(the Karoo LIP and Gannakouriep Suite)produced basalts with more enriched asthenospheric OIB-signatures;whereas,all assembly LIPs produced basalts with stronger lithospheric,as well as more or less primitive asthenospheric,signatures.A counterintuitive observation of Precambrian breakup LIPs outcropping as smaller fragments that are more peripherally located along craton margins,compared to assembly LIPs as well as the Phanerozoic Karoo breakup LIP,is explained by different preservation potentials during subsequent supercontinental cycles.Thus,further accentuating radical differences between(1)breakup LIPs,preferentially intruding along what evolves to become volcanic rifted margins that are more susceptible to deformation within subsequent orogens,and(2)assembly LIPs,typically emplaced along backarc rifts within more protected cratonic interiors.A conditioned duality is proposed,where assembly LIPs are primarily sustained by thermal blanketing(as well as local arc hydration and rifting)below assembling supercontinents and breakup LIPs more typically form above impinging mantle plumes.Such a duality is further related to an overall dynamic Earth model whereby predominantly supercontinent-orientated ocean lithospheric subduction establishes/revitalizes large low shear velocity provinces(LLSVPs)during assembly LIP-activity,and heating of such LLSVPs by the Earth’s core subsequently leads to a derivation of mantle plumes during supercontinental breakup.展开更多
The gravity and topography of Venus obtained from observations of the Magellan mission, as well as the gravity and topography from our numerical mantle convection model, are discussed in this paper. We used the hypoth...The gravity and topography of Venus obtained from observations of the Magellan mission, as well as the gravity and topography from our numerical mantle convection model, are discussed in this paper. We used the hypothesis that the geoid of degrees 2–40 is produced by sublithospheric mantle density anomalies that are associated with dynamical process within the mantle. We obtained the model dynamical admittance(the geoid topography ratio based on a convection model) by a numerical simulation of the Venusian mantle convection, and used it to correct the dynamical effect in the calculation of crustal thickness. After deducting the dynamical effect, the thickness of the Venusian crust is presented. The results show that the gravity and topography are strongly correlated with the Venusian mantle convection and the Venusian crust has a significant influence on the topography. The Venusian crustal thickness varies from 28 to 70 km. Ishtar Terra, and Ovda Regio and Thetis Regio in western Aphrodite Terra have the highest crustal thickness(larger than 50 km). The high topography of these areas is thought to be supported by crustal compensation and our results are consistent with the hypothesis that these areas are remnants of ancient continents. The crustal thickness in the Beta, Themis, Dione, Eistla, Bell, and Lada regiones is thin and shows less correlation with the topography, especially in the Atla and Imdr regiones in the eastern part of Aphrodite Terra. This is consistent with the hypothesis that these highlands are mainly supported by mantle plumes. Compared with the crustal thickness calculated with the dynamical effect, our results are more consistent with the crust evolution and internal dynamical process of Venus.展开更多
Seafloor topography and heat flux show clear dependence on the age of seafloor.A half-space cooling(HSC)model can reproduce seafloor topography and heat flux data for younger seafloor,but for older seafloor the observ...Seafloor topography and heat flux show clear dependence on the age of seafloor.A half-space cooling(HSC)model can reproduce seafloor topography and heat flux data for younger seafloor,but for older seafloor the observations show reduced variations with the age in comparison with the HSC model predictions.The deviation was attributed to the sub-lithospheric small-scale(SSC)convection first by Par-sons and McKenzie(1978).While there is little doubt that the SSC can enhance heat flux at relatively old seafloor,ques-tions were raised as to whether or not the SSC can actually lead to a reduced topography.In this study,the effects of SSC on seafloor topography and heat flux are investigated by formulating a 2-D thermal convection model that is parallel to plate motion.Instead of using closed boundary conditions,which will bring large pressure effects because of return flow,a flow through boundary condition is adopted.The results show that although the SSC enhances the surface heat flux,it has little effects on topography for the fluids with a more realistic rheology.The reason for this is that the SSC trans-ports the heat from the bottom to the top and cools down the whole fluids,and with the existence of a stagnant lid,the whole effects on topography are negligible.展开更多
基金granted by the foundamental research funds for central public welfare research institutes(Grant No.K1313)the Natural Sciences Foundation of China(Grant No.41302080)China State Geological Investigation Program(Grant No.1212011121091,12120114009401)
文摘The Xuhe mafic rocks, located in Ziyang county of Shaanxi Province, are dominated by diabase-porphyrite, gabbro-diabase, diabase, and pyroxene diorite. Primitive mantle-normalized multi-element patterns show that, the Xuhe marie rocks are enriched in large ion lithophile elements (LITE), such as Ba and Pb, depleted in K and Sr for basic rocks, and are depleted in Sr, P and Ti for pyroxene diorite. Chondrite-normalized REE patterns display LREE enrichment (LaN/YbN = 9.34- 13.99) and have normalized patterns for trace element and REE similar to that of typical OIB. Detailed SIMS zircon U-Pb dating yields emplacement ages of 438.4 ± 3.1 Ma for Xuhe mafic rocks. The relatively low MgO (basic rock: 3.11-7.21 wt%; pyroxene diorite: 0.89-1.21 wt% ) and Mg# (0.20- 0.49) for Xuhe mafic rocks suggest that they were possibly originated from an extremely evolved magma. The rising parental mafic magmas underwent pyroxene and plagioclase fractionation. Crustal contamination of pyroxene diorite before emplacement occurred at a higher crustal level compared to other lithology in Xuhe mafic rocks. The degree of partial melt was low (5%-10%) and in garnetspinel transition facies. Sr-Nd isotope of pyroxene diorite and enrichment mantle characteristics for Xuhe mafic rocks suggest that mafic rocks in the North Daba Mountains were derived from a mixture of HIMU, EMII and small amount of EMI components. Furthermore, this study discusses mantle geodynamic significance of Xuhe mafic rocks in the Silurian, which indicates subduction and uplift of magma caused back-arc extension.
基金financially supported by the National Key R&D Program of China(No.2022YFF0801002)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(No.42372065)the Natural Science Foundation of Jilin Province(No.20220101178JC)。
文摘The Paleo-Pacific Plate stagnated in the mantle transition zone beneath northeast Asia during the Late Mesozoic,resulting in the eastern Asian big mantle wedge(BMW).However,its formation mechanism remains unclear.Here,we analyzed elemental and isotopic compositions of 126-60 Ma intraplate basaltic rocks to map the mantle flow pattern and investigate the implications for the formation of the BMW.These rocks exhibit eastward an increase in Ba/Nb,Ba/La,^(87)Sr/^(86)Sr,and^(208)Pb/^(204)Pb ratios,while a decrease in Nb/Yb,Zr/Yb,Ta/Yb,and Nb/Nb*ratios,indicating mixing between the fertile mantle and the depleted mantle modified by slab material,implying the occurrence of trench-perpendicular mantle flow.The coeval mantle flow and formation of the BMW,the similar directions of mantle flow and Paleo-Pacific Plate subduction,and migration of basin depocenters indicate trench-perpendicular mantle flow was a key factor in the formation of the BMW.Moreover,these basaltic rocks have elevatedδ^(66)Zn values(0.22‰to 0.52‰),indicating recycled carbonates have been added into their mantle source,which increased the mantle flow velocity.Combined with slab roll-back in the Late Mesozoic,it created the essential conditions for mantle flow to promote the formation of the eastern Asian BMW.
基金supported by National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 90814002)Chinese Academy of Sciences
文摘The topographies of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities have important implications for mantle dynamics.Here we present high-resolution seismic imaging of the 410-km and 660-km discontinuities beneath the North China Craton (NCC) employing the receiver function method.Depth anomalies (deeper or shallower than the global average depths) at both discontinuities were detected by introducing a three-dimensional regional velocity model.The depressions of the 410-km discontinuity are mostly located in the eastern NCC.A local elevation of the 660-km discontinuity appeared in the northwest of the NCC and a significant depression of the 660-km discontinuity is located in the southeast of the NCC.Two dynamic mantle regimes are speculated to explain the formation of the anomalous depth zones in the NCC.One possibility is a complex mantle upwelling linked to edge-derived convection between the stagnant slab and the thick cratonic root.The other potential dynamic regime is slab stagnating,sinking,and induced upwelling at the neighboring slab front.These regimes hint that the mantle flow was possibly dominated by dynamic interactions among the subducting slab,cratonic root,and ambient mantle beneath the NCC.
基金supported by funds from the Graduate School of Peking University
文摘The South China Sea(SCS)has attracted intensive structural and geophysical research over the past decades,with a focus on its extensional history and relevant dynamic tectonic models.Seismic tomographic images obtained
文摘The formation and disruption of supercontinents have significantly impacted mantle dynamics, solid earth processes, surface environments and the biogeochemical cycle. In the early history of the Earth, the collision of parallel intra-oceanic arcs was an important process in building embryonic continents. Superdownwelling along Y-shaped triple junctions might have been one of the important processes that aided in the rapid assembly of continental fragments into closely packed supercontinents. Various models have been proposed for the fragmentation of supercontinents including thermal blanket and superplume hypotheses. The reassembly of supercontinents after breakup and the ocean closure occurs through "introversion", "extroversion" or a combination of both, and is characterized by either Pacific-type or Atlantic-type ocean closure. The breakup of supercontinents and development of hydro- thermal system in rifts with granitic basement create anomalous chemical environments enriched in nutri- ents, which serve as the primary building blocks of the skeleton and bone of early modern life forms. A typical example is the rifting of the Rodinia supercontinent, which opened up an N--S oriented sea way along which nutrient enriched upwelling brought about a habitable geochemical environment. The assembly of supercontinents also had significant impact on life evolution. The role played by the Cambrian Gondwana assembly has been emphasized in many models, including the formation of 'Trans- gondwana Mountains' that might have provided an effective source of rich nutrients to the equatorial waters, thus aiding the rapid increase in biodiversity. The planet has witnessed several mass extinction events during its history, mostly connected with major climatic fluctuations including global cooling and warming events, major glaciations, fluctuations in sea level, global anoxia, volcanic eruptions, asteroid impacts and gamma radiation. Some recent models speculate a relationship between superplumes, supercontinent breakup and mass extinction. Upwelling plumes cause continental rifting and formation of large igneous provinces. Subsequent volcanic emissions and resultant plume-induced "winter" have catastrophic effect on the atmosphere that lead to mass extinctions and long term oceanic anoxia. The assembly and dispersal of continents appear to have influenced the biogeochemical cycle, but whether the individual stages of organic evolution and extinction on the planet are closely linked to Solid Earth processes remains to be investigated.
基金support from the National Science Foundation (Nos. EAR-0001088, 0711057, and 1214376)Guoyin Shen acknowledges support from the DOE (Nos. DE-NA0001974 and DE-FG02-99ER45775)+5 种基金COMPRES for the support in developing the PEP system. Portions of this work were performed at GeoS oilE nviroC ARS (Sector 13), Advanced Photon Source (APS), Argonne National LaboratoryGeo Soil Enviro CARS is supported by the National Science Foundation-Earth Sciences (No. EAR-1128799)Department of Energy-Geo Sciences (No. DE-FG02-94ER14466)HPCAT operations are supported by DOE-NNSA under Award (Nos. DE-NA0001974)DOE-BES under Award (No. DE-FG02-99ER45775), with partial instrumentation funding by NSFUse of the Advanced Photon Source was supported by the U. S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Basic Energy Sciences, under Contract (No. DE-AC02-06CH11357)
文摘We review recent progress in studying silicate, carbonate, and metallic liquids of geological and geophysical importance at high pressure and temperature, using the large-volume high-pressure devices at the third-generation synchrotron facility of the Advanced Photon Source, Argonne National Laboratory. These integrated high-pressure facilities now offer a unique combination of experimental techniques that allow researchers to investigate structure, density, elasticity, viscosity, and interfacial tension of geo-liquids under high pressure, in a coordinated and systematic fashion. Experimental techniques are described, along with scientific highlights. Future developments are also discussed.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFC0600201)National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.42174109,41674099,41974100,and 42174169)+1 种基金China Geological Survey(Grant No.DD20221829)U.S.NSF(Grant No.1927133)。
文摘A great amount of new S-wave data has been combined to image the mantle structure down to lower mantle depth near the southeastern margin of Eurasia and understand the tectonics in South China since the Mesozoic.Our results reveal a large-scale structure beneath the South China Sea,with a prominent,broad low-velocity feature of at least 1500-km wide in and below the mantle transition zone(MTZ)and a pronounced low-velocity feature of nearly 500-km wide in the lowermost mantle.Together these features may represent the head-and-tail of an upwelling mantle plume that has interacted with and deformed by the subducting plates in the region.The Andaman-Sumatra plate is seen subducting steeply without stagnation in the MTZ over the large-scale low-velocity structure,suggesting that the upwelling mantle may have exerted significant influence on the overlying plate tectonics.Our results suggest a long-term extensional regime near the southeastern margin of Eurasia,which may help to understand the formation of the large-scale intra-plate magmatism and mineralization with accumulation of huge amount of rare metal elements in South China during the Mesozoic,and the continental breakup,the southeastward extrusion of Indochina,and the opening of the South China Sea during the Cenozoic.
基金supported by the Global Center of Excellence Program "Deep Earth Mineralogy" the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science, and Technology of the Japanese Government
文摘A deformation experiment of ringwoodite with a strain of 9% was achieved at 20 GPa and 1 700 K and at a strain rate of 3×10^-5 s^-1 using a deformation-DIA (D-DIA) apparatus and a multi-anvil 6-6 (MA 6-6) assembly. The crystallographic orientations of the deformed sample were successfully analyzed by the electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) method, although any notable latticepreferred orientation (LPO) was not observed presumably due to the insufficient strain in the present experiment. In this study, the deformation experiment on ringwoodite succeeded at P-T conditions consistent with the lower part of the mantle transition zone and at a controlled strain rate for the first time. The present study extended the pressure range of deformation experiments in the D-DIA apparatus from 16 GPa in our earlier study to 20 GPa at 1 700 K. The successful extension of the pressure range demonstrates potential importance of the D-DIA apparatus in studying rheological properties of minerals under the P-T conditions of the whole mantle transition zone.
基金supported by South Africa’s National Research Foundation。
文摘A compilation of 178 more precise ages on 10 potential Large Igneous Provinces(LIPs)across southern Africa,is compared to Earth’s supercontinental cycles,where 5 more prominent LIP-events all formed during the assembly of supercontinents,rather than during breakup.This temporal bias is confirmed by a focused review of field relationships,where these syn-assembly LIPs formed behind active continental arcs;whereas,the remaining postassembly-and likely breakup-related-LIPs never share such associations.Exploring the possibility of two radically different LIP-types,only the two younger breakup events(the Karoo LIP and Gannakouriep Suite)produced basalts with more enriched asthenospheric OIB-signatures;whereas,all assembly LIPs produced basalts with stronger lithospheric,as well as more or less primitive asthenospheric,signatures.A counterintuitive observation of Precambrian breakup LIPs outcropping as smaller fragments that are more peripherally located along craton margins,compared to assembly LIPs as well as the Phanerozoic Karoo breakup LIP,is explained by different preservation potentials during subsequent supercontinental cycles.Thus,further accentuating radical differences between(1)breakup LIPs,preferentially intruding along what evolves to become volcanic rifted margins that are more susceptible to deformation within subsequent orogens,and(2)assembly LIPs,typically emplaced along backarc rifts within more protected cratonic interiors.A conditioned duality is proposed,where assembly LIPs are primarily sustained by thermal blanketing(as well as local arc hydration and rifting)below assembling supercontinents and breakup LIPs more typically form above impinging mantle plumes.Such a duality is further related to an overall dynamic Earth model whereby predominantly supercontinent-orientated ocean lithospheric subduction establishes/revitalizes large low shear velocity provinces(LLSVPs)during assembly LIP-activity,and heating of such LLSVPs by the Earth’s core subsequently leads to a derivation of mantle plumes during supercontinental breakup.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 91014005, 40774045)the Knowledge Innovation Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciencesthe CAS/SAFEA International Partnership Program for Creative Research Teams
文摘The gravity and topography of Venus obtained from observations of the Magellan mission, as well as the gravity and topography from our numerical mantle convection model, are discussed in this paper. We used the hypothesis that the geoid of degrees 2–40 is produced by sublithospheric mantle density anomalies that are associated with dynamical process within the mantle. We obtained the model dynamical admittance(the geoid topography ratio based on a convection model) by a numerical simulation of the Venusian mantle convection, and used it to correct the dynamical effect in the calculation of crustal thickness. After deducting the dynamical effect, the thickness of the Venusian crust is presented. The results show that the gravity and topography are strongly correlated with the Venusian mantle convection and the Venusian crust has a significant influence on the topography. The Venusian crustal thickness varies from 28 to 70 km. Ishtar Terra, and Ovda Regio and Thetis Regio in western Aphrodite Terra have the highest crustal thickness(larger than 50 km). The high topography of these areas is thought to be supported by crustal compensation and our results are consistent with the hypothesis that these areas are remnants of ancient continents. The crustal thickness in the Beta, Themis, Dione, Eistla, Bell, and Lada regiones is thin and shows less correlation with the topography, especially in the Atla and Imdr regiones in the eastern part of Aphrodite Terra. This is consistent with the hypothesis that these highlands are mainly supported by mantle plumes. Compared with the crustal thickness calculated with the dynamical effect, our results are more consistent with the crust evolution and internal dynamical process of Venus.
基金supported by David and Lucile Packard Foundation。the Nationa1 Science Foundation of USA(Grant No.EAR-0l34939)the Open Research Fund Program of the Key Laboratory of Geospace Environment and Geodesy,the Ministry of Education,China(Grant No.1469990324233.04—09)the Open Research Fund Program of the Laboratory of Dynamic Geodesy.Chinese Academy of Sciences(Gran t No.L04-01 and the China Scholarship Council.
文摘Seafloor topography and heat flux show clear dependence on the age of seafloor.A half-space cooling(HSC)model can reproduce seafloor topography and heat flux data for younger seafloor,but for older seafloor the observations show reduced variations with the age in comparison with the HSC model predictions.The deviation was attributed to the sub-lithospheric small-scale(SSC)convection first by Par-sons and McKenzie(1978).While there is little doubt that the SSC can enhance heat flux at relatively old seafloor,ques-tions were raised as to whether or not the SSC can actually lead to a reduced topography.In this study,the effects of SSC on seafloor topography and heat flux are investigated by formulating a 2-D thermal convection model that is parallel to plate motion.Instead of using closed boundary conditions,which will bring large pressure effects because of return flow,a flow through boundary condition is adopted.The results show that although the SSC enhances the surface heat flux,it has little effects on topography for the fluids with a more realistic rheology.The reason for this is that the SSC trans-ports the heat from the bottom to the top and cools down the whole fluids,and with the existence of a stagnant lid,the whole effects on topography are negligible.