地幔柱研究进展

地幔柱假设自提出以来,在学术界争议很大,对于其是否存在还没有统一答案.本文对地幔柱的起源做了详细阐述,将质疑者的观点和地幔柱假设自身存在的问题进行罗列,对地幔柱存在的证据进行汇总.从地球化学及岩石学方面对大陆溢流玄武岩和大洋岛玄武岩的分布进行研究,了解地幔柱在地表的形态;从大地构造学角度分析地幔柱如何使超大陆不断合并、...     

热柱起源以及巨大热柱附近地区地幔结构的地震学研究介绍

以Courllot、Yangshen、Fenglin Niu等人的几篇文章为基础介绍了目前对热柱起源较新的研究成果．以及如何利用地震学方法来研究冰岛热柱及南太洋超级隆起区的起源。     

海南地幔柱上地幔结构新的地震学约束

给出了由近震和远震数据确定的海南地幔柱上地幔高分辨率层析成像结果。远震到时数据是由海南岛和雷州半岛9个固定地震台站记录的地震波形中精确提取的。我们的结果显示,在海南热点下方从地表到250km深度,地壳中存在高达-5％而在地幔仅-2％的明显低速异常。海南地幔柱被成像为西北-东南向倾斜的、直径约80km的连续低速柱状异常体。由于较密集数据覆盖和精细模型参数化,我们的结果相对于先前的局部和全球层析成像研究有了明显的改进。海南地幔柱的这种倾斜可以用数值模拟的结果来解释。地幔柱在上地幔中的倾斜可能与海洋板块的俯冲有关,特别是与菲律宾海板块和欧亚板块的挤压有关。但最可能的是,这种倾斜是地幔柱在下地幔扭曲后靠浮力上浮至上地幔形成的。     

Heat transfer between a thermochemical plume channel and the surrounding mantle in the presence of horizontal mantle flow

Heat and mass transfer processes in the conduit of a thermochemical plume located beneath an oceanic plate far from a mid-ocean ridge (MOR) proceed under conditions of horizontal convective flows penetrating the plume conduit. In the region of a mantle flow approaching the plume conduit (in the frontal part of the conduit), the mantle material heats and melts. The melt moves through the plume conduit at the average velocity of flow v and is crystallized on the opposite side of the conduit (in the frontal part of the conduit). The heat and the chemical dope transferred by the conduit to the mantle flow are carried away by crystallized mantle material at the velocity v.The local coefficients of heat transfer at the boundary of the plume conduit are theoretically determined and the balance of heat fluxes through the side of the plume conduit per linear meter of the conduit height. The total heat generation rate, transmitted by the Hawaiian plume into the upper and lower mantle, is evaluated. With the use of regular patterns of heat transfer in the lower mantle, which is modeled on the horizontal layer, heated from below and cooled from above, the diameter of the plume source, the kinematic viscosity of the melt in the plume conduit, and the velocity of horizontal lower-mantle flows are evaluated and the dependences of the temperature drop, viscosity and Rayleigh number for the lower mantle on the diameter of the plume source are presented.     

Refining the noble gas record of the Réunion mantle plume source: Implications on mantle geochemistry

We report isotope analyses of helium, neon, argon, and xenon using different extraction techniques such as stepwise dynamic and static crushing, and high-resolution stepwise heating of three mantle xenoliths from Réunion Island. He and Ne isotopic compositions were similar to previously reported Réunion data, yielding a more radiogenic composition when compared to the Hawaiian or Icelandic mantle plume sources. We furthermore observed correlated ¹²⁹Xe/¹³⁰Xe and ¹³⁶Xe/¹³⁰Xe ratios following the mantle trend with maximum values of 6.93 ± 0.14 and 2.36 ± 0.06, respectively. High-resolution argon analyses resulted in maximum ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of 9000–11,000, in agreement with maximum values obtained in previous studies. We observed a well-defined hyperbolic mixing curve between an atmospheric and a mantle component in a diagram of ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar vs. ²⁰Ne/²²Ne. Using a mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne of 12.5 (Ne–B) a consistent ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar value of 11,053 ± 220 in sample ILR 84-4 was obtained, whereas extrapolations to a higher mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne ratio of 13.8 (solar wind) would lead to a much higher ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratio of 75,000, far above observed maximum values. This favours a mantle ²⁰Ne/²²Ne of about 12.5 considered to be equivalent to Ne–B. Extrapolated and estimated ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar ratios of the Réunion, Iceland, Loihi, and MORB mantle sources, respectively, tend to be linearly correlated with air corrected ²¹Ne/²²Ne and show the same systematic sequence of increasing relative contributions in radiogenic isotopes (Iceland–Loihi–Réunion–MORB) as observed for ⁴He/³He. In general, He–Ne–Ar isotope systematics of the oceanic mantle can be explained by following processes: (i) different degree of mixing between pure radiogenic and pure primordial isotopes generating the MORB and primitive plume (Loihi-type) endmembers; (ii) relatively recent fractionation of He relative to Ne and Ar, in one or both endmembers; (iii) after the primary fractionation event, different degrees of mixing between melts or fluids of MORB and primitive plume affinity generate the variety of observed OIB data, also on a local scale; (iv) very late-stage secondary fractionation during magma ascent and magma degassing leads to further strong variation in He/Ne and He/Ar ratios.     

Lowermost mantle anisotropy beneath the Pacific: Imaging the source of the Hawaiian plume

We utilized recordings of seismic shear phases provided by several North American broadband seismometer arrays to provide unique constraints on shear wave anisotropy beneath the northern and central Pacific Ocean. Using a new analysis method that reduces measurement errors and enables the analysis of a larger number of available waveforms, we examined relative travel times of teleseismic S and Sdiff that sample a large area of lowermost mantle structure. The results of this study provide evidence for small-scale lateral and depth variations in shear wave anisotropy for a broad region of the lowermost mantle beneath the Pacific Ocean. In particular, we image a localized zone of anomalously strong anisotropy whose strength increases toward the top of D″ beneath Hawaii. Our results, combined with a previous study of V_P/V_SH ratios, indicate that ancient subducted slab material may be responsible for observations beneath the northern Pacific, while lenses or layers of core–mantle boundary reaction products or partial melt, oriented by horizontal inflow of mantle material to the Hawaiian plume source, can explain observations beneath the central Pacific.     

Mantle plume,large igneous province and continental breakup——Additionally discussing the Cenozoic and Mesozoic mantle plume problems in East China

Based on the former workers study results such as numerical simulation of fluid mechanics,seismic tomography of the whole earth and igneous rocks,the basic characteristics of mantle plumes are summarized in detail,namely the mantle plume,from the D″layer near the core-mantle bouundary(CMB)of 2900 km deep,is characterized by the spape of large head and thin narrow conduit,by the physical property of high temperature and low viscosity.The LIP(large igneous province)is the best exhibition when the mantle plume ascends to the surface.According to the basic characteristics of the mantle plumes and the LIP,as well as the temporal-spatial relationships between the mantle plume and continental breakup,the detailed research on petrology,geochemistry,temporal-spatial distribution,tectonic background of the Cenozoic-Mesozoic igneous rocks and gravity anomaly distribution in East China has been done.As a result,the Mesozoic igneous rocks in Southeast China should not be regarded as an example of typical LIP related to mantle plumes.for their related characteristics are not consitent with those of the typical LIPs related to mantle plumes.The Cenozoic igneous rocks in Northeast China have no the typical characteristics of mantle plumes and hotspots,so the Cenozoic volcanism in Northeast China might have no the direct relationships with the activity of mantle plumes.     

瑞利数对热对流的影响——在地幔柱中的应用

本文分别在直角坐标系和柱坐标系下,研究瑞利数从104逐渐增大到107对热对流的影响,数值计算结果表明:瑞利数越大,地幔柱越窄,地幔柱上升速度也越快;源自上地幔的地幔柱半径的范围为90到210 km.根据峨眉山内带的半径推算出地幔的黏性系数约为3.8×1021 Pa·s,地幔柱平均流动速度为2.5 cm/a.     

Contrasting rifted margin styles south of Greenland: implications for mantle plume dynamics

We present new and reprocessed seismic reflection data from the area where the southeast and southwest Greenland margins intersected to form a triple junction south of Greenland in the early Tertiary. During breakup at 56 Ma, thick igneous crust was accreted along the entire 1300-km-long southeast Greenland margin from the Greenland Iceland Ridge to, and possibly 100 km beyond, the triple junction into the Labrador Sea. However, highly extended and thin crust 250 km to the west of the triple junction suggests that magmatically starved crustal formation occurred on the southwest Greenland margin at the same time. Thus, a transition from a volcanic to a non-volcanic margin over only 100–200 km is observed. Magmatism related to the impact of the Iceland plume below the North Atlantic around 61 Ma is known from central-west and southeast Greenland. The new seismic data also suggest the presence of a small volcanic plateau of similar age close to the triple junction. The extent of initial plume-related volcanism inferred from these observations is explained by a model of lateral flow of plume material that is guided by relief at the base of the lithosphere. Plume mantle is channelled to great distances provided that significant melting does not take place. Melting causes cooling and dehydration of the plume mantle. The associated viscosity increase acts against lateral flow and restricts plume material to its point of entry into an actively spreading rift. We further suggest that thick Archaean lithosphere blocked direct flow of plume material into the magma-starved southwest Greenland margin while the plume was free to flow into the central west and east Greenland margins. The model is consistent with a plume layer that is only moderately hotter, 100–200°C, than ambient mantle temperature, and has a thickness comparable to lithospheric thickness variations, 50–100 km. Lithospheric architecture, the timing of continental rifting and viscosity changes due to melting of the plume material are therefore critical parameters for understanding the distribution of magmatism.     

Hyperextended crustal structure of the Qiongdongnan Basin and subsequent magmatic influence from the Hainan mantle plume

Science China Earth Sciences - The Qiongdongnan Basin (QDNB) is a rift basin located in the extension direction of the oceanic ridge of the Northwest Subbasin of the South China Sea. This basin is...     

On the interpretation of mantle discontinuities

Seismic discontinuities in the mantle are conventionally interpreted to be caused by phase transformations observed in the individual mineral species (including, to some extent, solid solution). Recent investigations, however, indicate that there are many difficulties in interpreting these discontinuities in terms of phase transformations alone. It is suggested that some of the seismic discontinuities in the mantle are due to phase transformations in the individual minerals, some due to interactions between the minerals, and still others due to compositional changes.     

Helium isotope composition of the early Iceland mantle plume inferred from the Tertiary picrites of West Greenland

Picrites from the 61 million year old Vaigat Formation of the Nuussuaq Peninsula in West Greenland have ³He/⁴He ratios trapped in olivine phenocrysts which range up to 30 times the atmospheric ratio. These high values, measured during gas extraction by crushing in vacuum, are similar to the highest magmatic ³He/⁴He ratios found in young terrestrial volcanic rocks. By analogy with young basalts, in which crushing selectively extracts magmatic helium, any significant cosmogenic ³He appears to be absent in these picrites. Additional evidence for the absence of cosmogenic helium is provided by fusion results on the crushed olivine powders and by a single stepwise crushing experiment, in which only magmatic and radiogenic helium components are resolvable. The West Greenland picrites have Pb, Nd and Sr isotope compositions which overlap those found in picrites from Iceland and in basalts from Loihi Seamount, localities which today also have high ³He/⁴He ratios. Isotopic variations in He, Pb, Nd and Sr for the West Greenland picrites are interpreted to largely result from interaction of the early Iceland mantle plume with the upper mantle during plume ascent and dispersion beneath the continental lithosphere. The presence of high ³He/⁴He ratios in West Greenland, and the onset of magmatism across the North Atlantic Volcanic Province near 62 Ma, supports the hypothesis for very rapid dispersion (>1 m/year) of mantle plume head material during the earliest stages of plume impact, as predicted in recent numerical simulations of plume behavior during thermal mantle convection with non-Newtonian rheology.     

Crustal velocity structure in the Emeishan large igneous province and evidence of the Permian mantle plume activity

The Emeishan large igneous province(ELIP) in SW China is interpreted to be associated with an ancient mantle plume. Most of the constraints on the role of mantle plume in the generation of the Emeishan flood basalts were provided by geological and geochemical methods, but the geophysical investigation is very limited. In order to better understand the deep structure and features of ELIP, we have studied the crustal velocity structure using the data acquired from the Lijiang-Panzhihua-Qingzhen wide-angle seismic profile. This profile crosses the three sub-zones of the ELIP(the inner, intermediate, and outer zones), divided based on the differential erosion and uplift of the Maokou limestone. The results provided by the active source seismic experiment demonstrate:(1) The average depth of the crystalline basement along the profile is about 2 km.(2) The middle crust in the Inner Zone is characterized by high-velocity anomalies, with the average velocity of 6.2-6.6 km/s, which is about 0.1– 0.2 km/s higher than the normal one. The velocity of the lower crust in the inner zone is 6.9-7.2 km/s, higher than those observed in the intermediate and outer zones(6.7-7.0 km/s). Relatively low velocity anomalies appear in the upper, middle and lower crusts near the junction of the inner zone and intermediate zone, probably due to the effect of the Xiaojiang fault(XJF).(3) The average velocity of the crust is comparatively low on both sides of XJF, especially on the east side, and the average velocity of the consolidated continental crust is also low there. This may suggest that the XJF extends at least down to 40 km deep, even beyond through the crust.(4) The depth to the Moho discontinuity decrease gradually from 47-53 km in the inner zone, via 42-50 km in the intermediate zone to 38-42 km in the outer zone. In the inner zone, the Moho uplifts locally and the(consolidated) crust is characterized by high-velocity anomalies, which are likely related to intensive magma intrusion and underplating associated with melting of plume head. Overall the crustal velocity structure in the study area recorded the imprint left by the Permian Emeishan mantle plume.     

Noble gas systematics of the Réunion mantle plume source and the origin of primordial noble gases in Earth’s mantle

New noble gas data of ultramafic xenoliths from Réunion Island, Indian Ocean, further constrain the characteristics of primordial and radiogenic noble gases in Earth’s mantle plume reservoirs. The mantle source excess of nucleogenic ²¹Ne is significantly higher than for the Hawaiian and Icelandic plume reservoirs, similar to excess of radiogenic ⁴He. ⁴⁰Ar/³⁶Ar of the Réunion mantle source can be constrained to range between 8000 and 12 000, significant ¹²⁹Xe and fission Xe excess are present. Regarding the relative contribution of primordial and radiogenic rare gas nuclides, the Réunion mantle source is intermediate between Loihi- and MORB-type reservoirs. This confirms the compositional diversity of plume sources recognized in other radioisotope systematics. Another major result of this study is the identification of the same basic primordial component previously found for the Hawaiian and Icelandic mantle plumes and the MORB reservoir. It is a hybrid of solar-type He and Ne, and ‘atmosphere-like’ or ‘planetary’ Ar, Kr, Xe (Science 288 (2000) 1036). ²⁰Ne/²²Ne ratios extend to maximum values close to 12.5 (Ne-B), which is the typical signature of solar neon implanted as solar corpuscular radiation. This suggests that Earth’s solar-type noble gas inventory was acquired by small (less than km-sized) precursor planetesimals that were irradiated by an active early sun in the accretion disk after nebular gas dissipation, or, alternatively, that planetesimals incorporated constituents irradiated in transparent regions of the solar nebula. Previously, such an early irradiation scenario was suggested for carbonaceous chondrites which follow common volatile depletion trends in the sequence CI–CM–CV–Earth. In turn, CV chondrites closely match Earth’s mantle composition in ²⁰Ne/²²Ne, ³⁶Ar/²²Ne and ³⁶Ar/³⁸Ar. This indicates that mantle Ar could well be a planetary component inherited from precursor planetesimals. However, a corresponding conclusion for mantle Kr and Xe is less convincing yet, but this may be just due to the lack of appropriate ‘meteoritic’ building blocks matching terrestrial composition. Alternatively, heavy noble gases in Earth’s mantle could be due to admixing of severely fractionated air, but this effect must have affected all mantle sources to a very similar extent, e.g. by global subduction before the last homogenization of the mantle reservoirs.     

Enriched,HIMU-type peridotite and depleted recycled pyroxenite in the Canary plume: A mixed-up mantle

The Earth's mantle is chemically and isotopically heterogeneous, and a component of recycled oceanic crust is generally suspected in the convecting mantle [Hofmann and White, 1982. Mantle plumes from ancient oceanic crust. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 57, 421–436]. Indeed, the HIMU component (high µ = ²³⁸U/²⁰⁴Pb), one of four isotopically distinct end-members in the Earth's mantle, is generally attributed to relatively old (≥ 1–2 Ga) recycled oceanic crust in the form of eclogite/pyroxenite, e.g. [Zindler and Hart, 1986. Chemical geodynamics. Ann. Rev. Earth Planet. Sci. 14, 493–571]. Although the presence of the recycled component is generally supported by element and isotopic data, little is known about its physical state at mantle depths. Here we show that the concentrations of Ni, Mn and Ca in olivine from the Canarian shield stage lavas, which can be used to assess the physical nature of the source material (peridotite versus olivine-free pyroxenite) [Sobolev et al., 2007. The amount of recycled crust in sources of mantle-derived melts. Science 316, 412–417], correlate strongly with bulk rock Sr, Nd and Pb isotopic ratios. The most important result following from our data is that the enriched, HIMU-type (having higher ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb than generally found in the other mantle end-members) signature of the Canarian hotspot magmas was not caused by a pyroxenite/eclogite constituent of the plume but appears to have been primarily hosted by peridotite. This implies that the old (older than ~ 1 Ga) ocean crust, which has more evolved radiogenic isotope compositions, was stirred into/reacted with the mantle so that there is not significant eclogite left, whereas younger recycled oceanic crust with depleted MORB isotopic signature (< 1 Ga) can be preserved as eclogite, which when melted can generate reaction pyroxenite.     

峨眉山超级地幔柱对四川盆地烃源岩热演化的影响

四川盆地的构造、热演化与峨眉山超级地幔柱有密切关系.峨眉山超级地幔柱对四川盆地中二叠统之下的烃源岩热演化有着十分重要的影响.在四川盆地热历史恢复的基础上,研究了峨眉山超级地幔柱对盆地内烃源岩,特别是中二叠统之下的古生界烃源岩热演化的影响.结果表明,中二叠统及下伏烃源岩的热演化受中晚二叠世发生在盆地西南方向的峨眉山超级地幔柱的影响巨大,且具地区差异性.即在靠近峨眉山地幔柱中心的地区,有机质迅速成熟并达到其成熟度的最高值(以H1井为代表),古生界烃源岩迅速进入过成熟,此后未有二次生烃;而远离峨眉山地幔柱的盆地大部分地区,古生界烃源岩在二叠纪以来具有多次生烃过程.中生界烃源岩热演化,主要和前陆盆地阶段的构造过程包括前陆沉积和断裂的逆冲推覆等相关. 在烃源岩有机质成熟度演化史的基础上,从盆地热史和烃源岩热演化的角度指出了下二叠统及之下烃源层在四川盆地不同地区油气勘探中的不同意义.     

Rapid late Miocene rise of the Bolivian Altiplano: Evidence for removal of mantle lithosphere

The oxygen isotopic compositions of carbonates deposited in the northern Altiplano demonstrate a rapid change in late Miocene time, which we attribute to an increase in elevation. Rainfall samples over an elevation transect adjacent to the Altiplano of northern Bolivia display a systematic decrease in mean annual δ¹⁸O values and define a local δ¹⁸O vs. altitude gradient [R. Gonfiantini, M.-A. Roche, J.-C. Olivry, J.-C. Fontes, G.M. Zuppi, The altitude effect on the isotopic composition of tropical rains, Chem. Geol. 181 (2001) 147-167.], which we apply to paleo-meteoric water values determined from carbonates. Age constraints from magnetostragraphy and paleoelevation estimates suggest surface uplift of ∼2.5 to 3.5 km occurred between ∼10.3 Ma and 6.8 ± 0.4 Ma, when the Altiplano rose to its current elevation. Only the removal of dense eclogitic lower crust and mantle lithosphere can generate a change of this magnitude and rapidity. This change coincides with an ∼30% decrease in the rate of convergence between the South America and Nazca plates and the propagation of deformation into the eastern Subandean zone, which we infer to have resulted from the increase in the force per unit length applied by the elevated Andean plateau to the surrounding lowlands.     

An asymptotic solution of hydrodynamic equations at the mid-plane of a plume in the Earth's mantle

From the partial differential equations of hydrodynamics governing the movements in the Earth's mantle of a Newtonian fluid with a pressure- and temperature-dependent viscosity, considering the bilateral symmetry of velocity and temperature distributions at the mid-plane of the plume, an analytical solution of the governing equations near the mid-plane of the plume was found by the method of asymptotic analysis. The vertical distribution of the upward velocity, viscosity and temperature at the mid-plane, and the temperature excess at the centre of the plume above the ambient mantle temperature were then calculated for two sets of Newtonian rheological parameters. The results obtained show that the temperature at the mid-plane and the temperature excess are nearly independent of the rheological parameters. The upward velocity at the mid-plane, however, is strongly dependent on the rheological parameters.