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Data Processing Methods for 3D Seismic Imaging of Subsurface Volcanoes: Applications to the Tarim Flood Basalt
Published on: August 7, 2017
An ancient recipe for flood-basalt genesis.
Matthew G Jackson1, Richard W Carlson
1Department of Earth Sciences, Boston University, 675 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. jacksonm@bu.edu
Nature
|July 29, 2011
Summary
Massive flood basalts, like the Ontong Java plateau, originate from an ancient, primitive mantle reservoir. This deep Earth source, present for 4.5 billion years, influences the generation of Earth's largest volcanic events.
Area of Science:
- Geochemistry
- Petrology
- Earth Science
Background:
- Large-volume basaltic lava eruptions (flood basalts) are significant geological events.
- The source and mechanisms for generating such immense melt volumes remain poorly understood.
- An early-formed mantle reservoir, potentially 4.5 billion years old, has been proposed as a source for some flood basalts.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the origin of large-volume flood basalts.
- To determine if the proposed ancient mantle reservoir is a widespread source for major volcanic events.
- To understand the role of this primitive mantle source in flood basalt generation.
Main Methods:
- Geochemical analysis of basalt samples.
- Isotopic and trace element signature analysis.
- Comparison of geochemical data from various large volcanic provinces.
Main Results:
- Basalts from the Ontong Java plateau exhibit geochemical signatures consistent with the proposed early-Earth mantle reservoir.
- Six major volcanic events in the past 250 million years share these signatures, indicating a common ancient source.
- This ancient reservoir is characterized by higher temperatures and greater fertility due to abundant heat-producing elements.
Conclusions:
- The oldest terrestrial mantle reservoir is a significant source for multiple large-volume flood basalt events.
- The geochemical properties of this primitive mantle reservoir (hotter, more fertile) are key factors in generating massive volcanic eruptions.
- This finding provides crucial insights into the dynamics of mantle evolution and large-scale magmatism throughout Earth's history.
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