西南印度洋岩浆补给特征研究:来自洋壳厚度的证据

西南印度洋中脊为典型的超慢速扩张洋中脊,其岩浆补给具有不均匀分布的特征.洋壳厚度是洋中脊和热点岩浆补给的综合反映,因此反演洋壳厚度是研究大尺度洋中脊和洋盆岩浆补给过程的一种有效方法.本文通过对全球公开的自由空气重力异常、水深、沉积物厚度和洋壳年龄数据处理得到剩余地幔布格重力异常,并反演西南印度洋地区洋壳厚度,定量地分析了西南印度洋的洋壳厚度分布及其岩浆补给特征.研究发现,西南印度洋洋壳平均厚度7.5 km,但变化较大,标准差可达3.5 km,洋壳厚度的频率分布具有双峰式的混合偏态分布特征.通过分离双峰统计的结果,将西南印度洋洋壳厚度分为0~4.8 km的薄洋壳、4.8~9.8 km的正常洋壳和9.8~24 km的厚洋壳三种类型,洋中脊地区按洋壳厚度变化特征可划分为7个洋脊段.西南印度洋地区薄洋壳受转换断层控制明显,转换断层位移量越大,引起的洋壳减薄厚度越大,减薄范围与转换断层位移量不存在明显相关性.厚洋壳主要受控于该区众多的热点活动,其中布维热点、马里昂热点和克洛泽热点的影响范围分别约340 km,550 km和900 km.Andrew Bain转换断层北部外角形成厚的洋壳,具有与快速扩张洋中脊相似的转换断层厚洋壳特征.     

南海扩张期岩浆流体对洋壳厚度的影响：数值模拟

扩张期洋中脊热液循环系统的热排出与岩浆系统的热注入共同控制着洋壳厚度的生成,而岩浆流体是热液循环系统的流体成分之一,往往与下渗海水混合参与各圈层能量和物质传递,但其能量传递对洋壳厚度的影响机制目前还不清楚.利用有限元的数值模拟手段,对扩张期热液循环系统中岩浆流体与洋壳厚度的关系进行研究.结果表明：(1)相较于只有海水参与的对流循环,含有岩浆流体的热液循环造成的洋壳厚度的减薄量更大、热液喷口温度更高.(2)岩浆流体对洋壳厚度的二次减薄作用随其含量的增大而减弱,热液喷口温度随其含量的增大而升高.(3)南海岩浆水、地幔水含量和洋壳厚度的分布具有非均质性,东部次海盆的地幔水、岩浆水含量高于西南次海盆,前者的平均洋壳厚度也大于后者,并且在海盆残余扩张脊附近存在异常薄洋壳.结合模型结果分析认为,残余扩张脊附近的薄洋壳可能受到扩张期热液循环或后期岩浆流体的影响,而东部、西南次海盆的洋壳厚度差异可能是由于前者的岩浆流体含量高于后者而造成的.     

洋中脊扩张速率对洋壳速度结构的约束

洋中脊速度结构是揭示大洋岩石圈演化过程的重要约束.为探讨不同扩张速率下洋中脊的洋壳速度结构特征,挑选了全球152处快速(全扩张速率 90mm·a-1)、慢速(全扩张速率20～50mm·a-1)和超慢速(全扩张速率20mm·a-1)扩张洋中脊和非洋中脊的洋壳1-D地震波速度结构剖面,通过筛选统计、求取平均值等方法对分类的洋壳1-D速度结构进行对比研究,获得了不同扩张速率下洋中脊洋壳速度结构差异以及洋中脊与非洋中脊洋壳速度结构差异的新认识:(1)快速、慢速和超慢速扩张洋中脊的平均正常洋壳厚度分别为6.4km、7.2km和5.3km,其中洋壳层2的厚度基本相似,洋壳厚度差异主要源自洋壳层3;其洋壳厚度变化范围分别为4.9～8.1km、4.6～8.7km和4.2～10.2km,随着洋中脊扩张速率减小,洋壳厚度的变化范围逐渐增大;(2)快速扩张洋中脊的洋壳速度大于慢速和超慢速,可能与快速扩张脊洋壳生成过程中深部高密度岩浆上涌比较充足有关;(3)非洋中脊(10Ma)的洋壳比洋中脊(10Ma)的洋壳厚～0.3km,表明洋壳厚度与洋壳年龄有一定的正相关性.     

西南印度洋中脊49.5°E离轴地壳结构

超慢速扩张西南印度洋中脊岩浆的集中供给在空间维度上表现为岩浆扩张段（NVR）与相邻的非转换断层不连续带（NTD）地壳结构的差异,而在时间维度上表现为离轴与沿轴地壳结构的差异.为了进一步揭示岩浆集中供给的时空分布特征,本文选取西南印度洋中脊热液区2010年海底地震仪深部探测中平行于洋中脊距轴部偏北约10 km的离轴测线d0d10,使用射线追踪正演和反演的方法,得到了NVR和NTD北侧离轴区域的地壳及上地幔P波速度结构,并与轴部速度结构进行了对比分析.研究结果表明：（1）NTD北侧离轴区域的地壳厚度约5.2 km,其厚度明显大于轴部NTD下方地壳厚度（~3.2 km）,由此推测洋脊轴部NTD区域形成的地壳在不断减薄;（2）NVR北侧离轴区域的地壳厚度约7.0 km,其厚度亦大于轴部NVR地壳厚度（~5.8 km）,表明在洋中脊演化过程中洋脊轴区域的岩浆供给在不断减少,其活动性在不断减弱.     

洋中脊构造及地震调查现状

介绍了洋中脊的全球分布和构造特征,对全球主要的、不同扩张速率的洋中脊进行了分类和列表描述;对洋中脊的构造特征,如地形特征、地壳厚度与扩张速率的关系及扩张轴下的岩浆房的特征、洋中脊与地幔柱的相互作用进行了阐述。回顾了海底地震仪在洋中脊构造调查中的应用及取得的主要成果。简要介绍了我国将用海底地震仪开展洋中脊构造调查的技术路线。     

西南印度洋洋中脊热液活动区综合地质地球物理特征

西南印度洋洋中脊(SWIR)是超慢速扩张洋脊的代表,是海洋地学研究热点.本文从SWIR多波束水深数据、重、磁数据和地震结构等几方面,阐述了SWIR热液活动区(49°39′E)的综合地质地球物理特征.SWIR热液活动不仅与扩张速率有关,构造作用更是一个重要控制因素;热液活动区位于Indomed和Gallieni转换断层之间,从水深地形上看,该区段洋脊是SWIR上水深最浅的区域之一,水深与MBA存在良好的镜像关系,MBA和RMBA低值意味着较厚的地壳厚度与较高的地幔温度,洋脊段27地壳厚度大于9km,可能是受到Crozet热点的影响;磁条带数据表明,此区段洋脊南北两翼呈不对称扩张,形成南翼的浅离轴域比北翼宽;在洋脊段28发现的活动热液喷口刚好位于热液蚀变形成的低磁强区内,具有良好的硫化物资源.这些认识必将为在该区首次实施的三维地震探测研究的地质地球物理解释及活动热液喷口的动力学机制研究打下坚实基础.     

西南印度洋中脊地质构造特征及其地球动力学意义

西南印度洋中脊（SWIR）增生的洋壳面积仅占印度洋的15%左右,但其具有比东南印度洋中脊和西北印度洋中脊更悠久而复杂的演化历史.基于已有的地质、地球物理和地球化学等资料,系统总结了SWIR的地质构造特征,并讨论了SWIR的演化过程、洋脊地幔的不均一性、洋脊周边海底高原成因等核心问题.SWIR地形中段高、东西两段低,空间重力异常基本与地形变化一致.按转换断层一级边界可将SWIR划分为20个一级段.SWIR的磁异常条带呈现两端渐进式分布和中段带状分布特征,对应洋脊的三期演化历史.SWIR的地幔源区极不均一,尤其是中新元古代造山带根部集中拆离的中段.源区地幔的不均一性与大陆裂解和洋脊演化过程密切相关.SWIR的东端与西北印度洋中脊和东南印度洋中脊的邻近洋脊段具有地球化学亲缘性,西端与大西洋中脊和南美洲—南极洲洋中脊的邻近洋脊段具有地球化学亲缘性,这与SWIR的渐近式扩张有关.SWIR周边海底高原普遍具有较大的地壳厚度,其成因除了陆壳基底之外,可能与热点火山作用、热点-洋脊相互作用或热点-三联点相互作用有关,目前尚未形成统一的认识.SWIR的形成演化及其作用域内的熔融异常（如海底高原）是冈瓦纳大陆裂解、残留岩石圈地幔、软流圈地幔和深部地幔热柱物质共同作用的结果.了解SWIR的演化过程对揭示冈瓦纳大陆的裂解过程和印度洋的演化具有重要意义.     

南海东北陆缘过渡性地壳的地震成像

根据2001年8月台湾和中国大陆合作开展的深部地震调查,给出了横跨南海(SCS)东北部被动大陆缘的地壳构造。将一条NW-SE向剖面上的48道地震反射数据和11台海底地震仪的反射和折射的垂直分量数据整合在一起,依次得到了沉积层上部(1.6~2.4km/s)、下部(2.5~2.9km/s)、压实层(3~4.5km/s)以及结晶地壳上部(4.5~5.5km/s)、中部(5.5~6.5km/s)和下部(6.5~7.5km/s)的成像。速度模型表明,压实沉积物的厚度(0.5~3km)和基底变化很大,这是由于南海海底扩张以后的岩浆入侵和火成岩活动导致的。更进一步从模型中识别出,在南海东北部边缘下陆坡之下的洋陆过渡带(OCT)的上/中地壳(7~10km厚)存在一些火山和火成岩,下地壳下面存在高速层(0~5km厚)。还得到了南海东北部陆缘洋陆过渡带的西北为薄陆壳、东南为厚洋壳的影像。但是这些过渡性地壳不能归类为洋陆过渡带,这是由于它们的地壳厚度、有限的火山、岩浆体和高速层所决定的。紧邻重力低区和从台西南海盆延伸而来的沉陷带的陆壳拉伸可能是欧亚板块向马尼拉海沟下插的结果,而厚洋壳的形成则是由于南海海底扩张之后洋壳中过度的火山活...     

超慢速洋中脊岩浆作用的数值模拟

为了验证西南印度洋中脊50°E区域的残留熔融体与8~11 Ma前的岩浆供给活动的相关性,用有限元方法对洋壳模型进行热力学数值计算,以期解答超慢速洋中脊热液活动是由于古岩浆房长期持续供热,还是依赖周边热点提供持续的岩浆和热融熔问题.实验模拟了水平层状洋壳模型和地震试验得到的实际洋壳模型两种情况,对水平层状洋壳模型研究了上地幔有、无持续岩浆供给两种情况,对实际洋壳模型研究了一次岩浆供给的情况.结论如下:如果洋壳层底部没有持续热供应,岩浆房持续时间约为数千年或数万年;西南印度洋中脊中东段隆起区的热液活动和岩浆房最多持续存在0.8 Ma,现今热液活动的热源并不是8~11 Ma前的岩浆供给提供的.     

20 Ma以来Mohns洋中脊的非对称扩张速率与地壳结构

超慢速扩张的Mohns洋中脊共轭两侧的地球物理场与地壳结构具有显著的非对称性.利用我国第五次北极科学考察采集的水深、重力与磁力数据,结合历史资料,我们计算了14条垂直Mohns洋中脊剖面的扩张速率、剩余水深、剩余地幔布格重力异常（RMBA）、地壳厚度和非均衡地形.对洋中脊共轭两侧以上计算结果的进一步对比发现,Mohns洋中脊两侧整体（下文均指同一地质时刻各剖面的平均值）的非对称性呈现明显的两段性：20~10.5 Ma,相比Mohns洋中脊东侧,西侧的扩张速率更慢、地壳更厚、非均衡地形更低;10.5~0 Ma,扩张速率、地壳厚度和非均衡地形的非对称的极性与20~10.5 Ma期间完全相反.后一阶段,整体扩张速率在西侧更快、剩余水深更浅,但是对应更薄的地壳和更高的非均衡地形.我们推断前者为冰岛沿Kolbeinsey洋中脊的作用增厚了Mohns洋中脊西侧地壳并使得洋中脊向西侧跳动,而后一阶段反映了岩浆供给减少后西侧集中的构造活动导致的更多的拉伸与隆升.沿各剖面上,10.5~0 Ma期间构造活动集中的洋中脊西侧均具有薄地壳和高非均衡地形,但构造拉伸的增加并不总是对应增快的扩张速率.岩浆在浅部更多地向东侧的分配以及洋中脊向西侧的跳动可能使得东西两侧具有相近的扩张速率.     

Dynamics of the mid-ocean ridge plate boundary: Recent observations and theory

The global mid-ocean ridge system is one of the most active plate boundaries on the earth and understanding the dynamic processes at this plate boundary is one of the most important problems in geodynamics. In this paper I present recent results of several aspects of mid-ocean ridge studies concerning the dynamics of oceanic lithosphere at these diverging plate boundaries. I show that the observed rift valley to no-rift valley transition (globally due to the increase of spreading rate or locally due to the crustal thickness variations and/or thermal anomalies) can be explained by the strong temperature dependence of the power law rheology of the oceanic lithosphere, and most importantly, by the difference in the rheological behavior of the oceanic crust from the underlying mantle. The effect of this weaker lower crust on ridge dynamics is mainly influenced by spreading rate and crustal thickness variations. The accumulated strain pattern from a recently developed lens model, based on recent seismic observations, was proposed as an appealing mechanism for the observed gabbro layering sequence in the Oman Ophiolite. It is now known that the mid-ocean ridges at all spreading rates are offset into individual spreading segments by both transform and nontransform discontinuities. The tectonics of ridge segmentation are also spreading-rate dependent: the slow-spreading Mid-Atlantic Ridge is characterized by distinct bulls-eye shaped gravity lows, suggesting large along-axis variations in melt production and crustal thickness, whereas the fast-spreading East-Pacific Rise is associated with much smaller along-axis variations. These spreading-rate dependent changes have been attributed to a fundamental differences in ridge segmentation mechanisms and mantle upwelling at mid-ocean ridges: the mantle upwelling may be intrinsically plume-like (3-D) beneath a slow-spreading ridge but more sheet-like (2-D) beneath a fast-spreading ridge.     

Electrical Structure in Marine Tectonic Settings

This review paper presents recent research on electrical conductivity structure in various marine tectonic settings. In at least three areas, marine electromagnetic studies for structural exploration have increasingly progressed: (1) data accumulations, (2) technical advances both for hardware and software, and (3) interpretations based on multidisciplinary approaches. The mid-ocean ridge system is the best-studied tectonic setting. Recent works have revealed evidence of conductive zones of hydrothermal circulation and axial magma chambers in the crust and partial melt zones of the mid-ocean ridge basalt source in the mantle. The role of water or dissolved hydrogen and its redistribution at mid-ocean ridges is emphasized for the conductivity pattern of the oceanic lithosphere and asthenosphere. Regions of mantle upwelling (hotspot or plume) and downwelling (subducting slab) are attracting attention. Evidence of heterogeneity exists not only in the crust and the upper mantle, but also in the mantle transition zone. Electrical conductive zones frequently overlap seismic low-velocity zones, but discrepancies are also apparent. Some studies have compared conductivity models with the results of seismic and other studies to investigate the physical properties or processes. A new laboratory-based conductivity model for matured oceanic lithosphere and asthenosphere is proposed. It takes account of both the water distribution in the mantle as well as the thermal structure. It explains observed conductivity patterns in the depth range of 60–200 km.     

Implications of melting for stabilisation of the lithosphere and heat loss in the Archaean

The increased depth and volume of melting induced in a higher temperature Archaean mantle controls the stability of the lithosphere, heat loss rates and the thickness of the oceanic crust. The relationship between density distributions in oceanic lithosphere and the depth of melting at spreading centres is investigated by calculating the mineral proportions and densities of residual mantle depleted by extraction of melt fractions. The density changes related to compositional gradients are comparable to those produced by thermal effects for lithosphere formed from a mantle which is 200°C or more hotter than modern upper mantle. If Archaean continental crust formed initially above oceanic lithosphere, the compositional density gradients may be sufficient to preserve a thick Archaean continental lithosphere within which the Archaean age diamonds are preserved. The amount of heat advected by melts at mid-ocean ridges today is small but heat advected by melting becomes proportionally more important as higher mantle temperatures lead to a greater volume of melt and as the rate of production of oceanic plates increases. Archaean tectonics could have been dominated by spreading rates 2–3 times greater than now and with mantle temperatures between ca. 1600°C and 1800°C at the depth of the solidus. Mid-ocean ridge melting would produce a relatively thick but light refractory lithosphere on which continents could form, protected from copious volcanism and high mantle temperatures.     

Numerical models of subduction of the oceanic crust with basaltic plateaus

Light continents and islands characterized by a crustal thickness of more than 30 km float over a convective mantle, while the thin basaltic oceanic crust sinks completely in subduction zones. The normal oceanic crust is 7 km thick. However, anomalously thick basaltic plateaus forming as a result of emplacement of mantle plumes into moving oceanic lithospheric plates are also pulled into the mantle. One of the largest basaltic plateaus is the Ontong Java plateau on the Pacific plate, which arose during the intrusion of a giant superplume into the plate ～100 Myr ago. Notwithstanding its large thickness (averaging ～30 km), the Ontong Java plateau is still experiencing slow subduction. On the basis of numerical modeling, the paper analyzes the oceanic crust subduction process as a function of the mantle convection vigorousness and the density, thickness, viscosity, and shape of the crust. Even a simplified model of thermocompositional convection in the upper mantle is capable of explaining the observed facts indicating that the oceanic crust and sediments are pulled into the mantle and the continental crust is floating on the mantle.     

Trace elements in ocean ridge basalts

A correlary of sea floor spreading is that the production rate of ocean ridge basalts exceeds that of all other volcanic rocks on the earth combined. Basalts of the ocean ridges bring with them a continuous record in space and time of the chemical characteristics of the underlying mantle. The chemical record is once removed, due to chemical fractionation during partial melting. Chemical fractionations can be evaluated by assuming that peridotite melting has proceeded to an olivine-orthopyroxene stage, in which case the ratios of a number of magmaphile elements in the extracted melt closely match the ratios in the mantle. Comparison of ocean ridge basalts and chondritic meteorites reveals systematic patterns of element fractionation, and what is probably a double depletion in some elements. The first depletion is in volatile elements and is due to high accretion temperatures of a large percentage of the earth from the solar nebula. The second depletion is in the largest, most highly charged lithophile elements (“incompatible elements”), probably because the mantle source of the basalts was melted previously, and the melt, enriched in these elements, was removed. Migration of melt relative to solid under ocean ridges and oceanic plates, element fractionation at subduction zones, and fractional melting of amphibolite in the Precambrian are possible mechanisms for depleting the mantle in incompatible elements. Ratios of transition metals in the mantle source of ocean ridge basalts are close to chondritic, and contrast to the extreme depletion of refractory siderophile elements, the reason for which remains uncertain. Variation of ocean ridge basalt chemistry along the length of the ridge has been correlated with ridge elevation. Thus chemically anomalous ridge segments up to 1000 km long appear to broadly coincide with regions of high magma production (plumes, hot spots). Basalt heterogeneity at a single location indicates mantle heterogeneity on a smaller scale. Variation of ocean ridge basalt chemistry with time has not been established, in fact, criteria for recognizing old oceanic crust in ophiolite terrains are currently under debate. The similarity of rare earth element patterns in basalt from ocean ridges, back-arc basins, some young island arcs, and some continental flood basalts illustrates the dangers of tectonic labeling by rare earth element pattern.     

Magma migration beneath an ocean ridge

Basaltic volcanism which forms the oceanic crust at mid-ocean ridges is the result of pressure release melting associated with ascending mantle convection. We present a model that gives the distribution of melting beneath the ridge and the subsequent migration of magma through the asthenosphere. In order to produce the degree of partial melting associated with the basaltic rocks making up the ocean crust, melting must extend to a depth of at least 70 km. Small degrees of partial melting are expected to result in an interconnected permeability along grain intersections. Due to the differential buoyancy of the magma relative to the residual solid the magma will be rapidly driven upwards. Solid-state creep allows the solid matrix to collapse as the magma migrates upwards and the lithostatic pressure in the matrix is nearly equal to the fluid pressure in the magma. The percentage partial melt present is only slightly greater than that necessary for the development of interconnected permeability and is much less than the degree of partial melting. The first partial melt fraction produced at the greatest depths migrates upwards and mixes with the later partial melt fractions produced at shallower depths. The uniformity of this mixing will have a profound effect on the chemistry of the basalts of the oceanic crust.