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William Wilcock
Lecture/Lab Learning Goals
Understand the basic concept of decompressional melting
and know how its distribution in the mantle is related to plate
tectonics.
Be able to define the terms liquidus, solidus, mantle adiabat
and use them to explain mantle melting beneath mid-ocean
ridges with a plot of depth (or pressure) against temperature.
Be familiar with the simple two phase diagrams and the lever
rule
Know what a eutectic is and why it explains the relatively
uniform composition of basalts in different tectonic settings
(and on different planets).
Be able explain oceanic crustal thickness in terms of the
degree of partial melting in the crust and be able to identify
melting/solidification pathways on binary phase diagrams
(LAB)
Tectonic Setting of Partial Melting of
the Mantle
Mid-Ocean Ridges and Hotspot Plumes
Ridges are linear
features underlain
by flow rising from
relatively shallow
mantle depths
Geotherm
for Old
Ocean Plate
Terminology
Geotherm Vertical temperature profile in
the earth
Adiabat Temperature that a packet of
the mantle that moves up/down without
gaining or loosing heat
Solidus Temperature at which a rock
will first start to melt
Liquidus Temperature at which a rock
will be fully molten.
Percentage of melting
Equilibrium melting
occurs when the
solid and liquid
phases are kept
together as melting
progresses.
S solid composition Lever Rule
L liquid composition
A system composition
Fractional melting
occurs if the liquid is
immediately
removed from the
solid as the solid
melts.
Equilibrium
Solidification
Equilibrium
solidification occurs
when the solid and
liquid phases are
kept together as
solidifications
progresses.
Fractional
Solidification
Fractional
solidification occurs
if the solid is
immediately
removed from the
liquid as it
crystallizes.
Diopside (Clinopyroxene) Anorthite
(Plagioclase)
Diopside (CaMgSi2O6)
Dark mineral Anorthite
(CaAl2Si2O8)
Light mineral
Diopside Anorthite
MgSiO3
The second most
common mineral in
the mantle (20%)
MgO SiO2
Phase
diagram
Forsterite and
enstatite undergo
incongruent melting
En Fo + Liquid
Mantle composition
Effects of pressure on melting of Forsterite
Mantle Enstatite mixtures
First melt
Surface 15 km >15 km
Key Point At depth of mantle melting, melt composition is
somewhat pressure dependent but is not dependent on the
relative proportions of the different minerals. Mantle melts in
different environments tend to give similar rocks (basalts/gabbros)