Magmatic zoning of Late Cenozoic volcanism in Central Mongolia: Relation with the mantle plume

The concentric zonal structure of the Late Cenozoic volcanism areal in Central Mongolia which is situated on the territory of the Khangai vault has been educed. The central part of the structure conforms to the axial part of the vault and is presented with volcanic fields of the Watershed graben and newest valley flows. The peripheral zone is presented with volcanic fields located along the vault frame (Taryat graben, Lake Valley graben, and grabens of the Orkhon-Selenga interfluve). The structural zoning of the areal comports with the substantial zoning of volcanism products. The rocks of the central part have isotopic (Sr, Nd, Pb) and geochemical characteristics conforming to the most primitive (like PREMA) compositions of mantle sources of magmatism. Magmatism sources in the peripheral zone of the volcanic areal, besides the PREMA mantle, contained a substance of enriched mantle like EMI. The character of substantial and structural zoning of volcanism is caused by the influence of the mantle plume on the Central Asia lithosphere. According to geophysical and isotopic-geochemical data, this plume had a lower mantle nature.     

The composition and formation of Miocene tholeiites in the Central European Cenozoic plume volcanism (CECV)

Tholeiites accompanying a majority of alkali basalts are restricted to the highly productive central part of the CECV plume activity in Vogelsberg and Hessian Depression. They mainly occur as quartz tholeiites which according to experiments of partial melting and material balances are products of olivine tholeiitic primary melts. The differentiation from olivine to quartz tholeiitic melts took place in lower crustal magma chambers where olivine tholeiitic melt intruded due to a density comparable with that of the country rocks. The fractionation due to separation of olivine and some clinopyroxene caused contamination of tholeiite magmas by tonalitic partial melts from the wall rocks of the magma chambers. The latter process is indicated by relatively high Rb, K and Pb and low Nb concentrations and by Nd, Sr and Pb isotopes. Contaminating crustal melts, which roughly attained a proportion of 10%, contained very low ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd ratios from a Nd/Sm fractionation as old as 2.6 Ga. This is the first evidence from mafic rocks of this high age in the lower crust beneath Central Europe. Modelling with incompatible elements allows to recognize olivine tholeiites as products of about 1% partial melting of plume rocks consisting of 35% primitive and 65% depleted mantle materials. The production of tholeiites other than alkali basalts is restricted to the highest plume activity and the largest fraction of MORB type source rocks. Received: 10 December 1999 / Accepted: 23 June 2000     

Melt dynamics of a layered mantle plume source

The supply rates of basaltic magma to volcanoes restrict the flow rates within their mantle sources. Layered source regions consisting of alternating layers of melt and residuum have permeabilities that are orders of magnitude larger than percolative sources. Relevant supply rates for Hawaiian volcanoes are obtained for source permeabilities within the range 10⁻⁴–10⁻² cm². The results are within the range for layered sources, suggesting that a layered source is a physically viable model for Hawaiian plume sources. Received: 4 March 1997 / Accepted: 23 April 1998     

东非裂谷系统(EARS)地幔柱成因的新生代火山作用地球化学标志

本文应用岩浆岩地球化学图解对东非裂谷系统(EARS)火山岩的岩石地球化学数据进行处理,重点回顾和讨论埃塞俄比亚大裂谷(MER)、阿法(Afar)盆地及肯尼亚裂谷火山作用的构造环境和地幔柱成因.MER火山岩的岩石类型具双峰式火山岩套特征,以高Ti的大陆溢流玄武岩(CFB)-大陆洋岛玄武岩(OIB)-流纹岩系列为主,缺少中性岩,是来自地幔柱岩浆分异的结果,与板块俯冲作用无关.阿法(Afar)盆地和红海为CFB-MORB系列.肯尼亚裂谷(KR)及埃塞俄比亚大裂谷最南端图尔卡纳盆地只见以大陆OIB,缺乏流纹岩.EARS是一个主动型地幔柱,由地幔上涌冲击地壳底部而成,其火山岩以富集常量元素Ti、Fe和Mg,富集高场强元素Nb、Ta和相容元素V、Cr、Co和Ni为特征.绝大多数EARS火山岩的Nb/Zr>0.04和Ta/Hf比值>0.1,在地球化学-构造环境判别图上落在板内火山岩的范围内(大洋板内和地幔柱),集中在Nb/Zr>0.15和Ta/Hf比值>0.3范围内的火山岩样品可能为主动地幔柱成因.根据La/Nb、Ce/Pb和Ba/La比值,地幔柱成因的MER火山岩可分为受地壳混染地幔和未受地壳混染的原始地幔两种类型.La/Nb(≤1)、Ce/Pb(30~50)、Ba/Nb比值(>10)和La/Yb≤12是来源于未受地壳混染原始地幔的重要判别标志.地球化学证据(微量元素,Sr-Nd-Pb-He同位素)表明,MER-阿拉伯-也门地幔柱起源于深部核-幔边界的HIMU.MER-Afar的前裂谷和同裂谷火山岩(50-12 Ma)具有高的3He同位素标志(R/Ra比值>16.4)说明其非洲板块之下存在一个深藏的地幔岩浆源深度大于670 km,位于石榴子石-尖晶石橄榄岩过渡带(图6b、c、d).MER-Afar大火山岩省及其最南端图尔卡纳湖和肯尼亚地体(克拉通,改造的克拉通边缘和活动带)深部地壳底部之下的HIMU地幔可能是导致裂谷型的OIB和CFB异常发育的岩浆源区,而Afar洼地(吉布提)、红海和亚丁湾形成于后裂谷期(5~0 Ma)的MORB和亏损LREE玄武岩则归因于HIMU、富集地幔(EM1-EM2)与DM混合地幔源的熔融,其岩浆源区位地壳拉张减薄带之下的尖晶石橄榄岩区.     

The continental mantle as a source for hotspot volcanism

The source of hotspot volcanism lies in metasomatized regions of the continental mantle proximal to ancient sutures and failed rifts. Such regions are prone to melting under hotcell conditions on continental rifting, and to erosion into the deeper mantle by asthenospheric flow. In opening basins, rifting parallel to such sutures or failed rifts delaminates and cycles continental mantle into the MORB source. Rifting at some angle to a suture or failed rift generates a hotspot track by preferential melting of the metasomatized mantle as it is cycled toward the rift axis. Continental mantle eroded into the asthenosphere becomes displaced from the continent by net westward drift of the lithosphere relative to the deep mantle to give rise to hotspot volcanism in long-lived ocean basins.     

Helium isotopes provide no evidence for deep mantle involvement in widespread Cenozoic volcanism across Central Asia

Small-volume alkali basaltic volcanism has occurred intermittently for the past + 30 My across a vast area of thick continental crust from southern Siberia, through Mongolia to northeast China. With a lack of evidence for Basin-and-Range-type crustal extension or rifting, models to explain the widely dispersed, yet long-lived, volcanism tend to favour involvement of one or more mantle plume(s). We examine the range of ³He/⁴He isotope values in olivine phenocrysts from basalts, and their entrained mantle xenoliths, from Hamar Daban in southern Siberia, and Hangai in central Mongolia, in order to examine whether upwelling lower mantle appears to be present beneath central Asia and thus test the validity of the plume model for this region. Our results show that the maximum ³He/⁴He value for the Siberian basalts is 8.12 ± 0.2R_a, and the maximum value for Mongolian basalts is 9.5 ± 0.5R_a. These values suggest that there is no significant contribution from a high ³He/⁴He primordial component that would strongly argue a lower mantle source. Overlap with commonly reported values for MORB leads us to propose that the source of the magmatism derives from the shallow asthenosphere. Alternative models to a deeply sourced mantle plume that may be able to explain the magmatism include: a shallow thermal anomaly confined to the upper mantle but either fed laterally or caused by thermal blanketing of the large Asian landmass; replacement or delamination of the lowermost lithosphere in response to tectonic stresses; or large-scale mantle disturbance or overturn caused by a protracted history of subduction beneath central Asia that ended regionally with the Jurassic closure of the Mongol-Okhotsk Ocean, but continues further afield with the present Indo-Asia collision.     

Petrogenesis and mantle source characteristics of Cenozoic alkaline diabase,Jiangxi Province,southeastern China

Major element, trace element, and Sr–Nd–Pb isotopic compositions of Cenozoic diabase in southeastern China provide insights into the nature of their mantle sources and processes. The diabases are alkaline in lithochemistry (Na₂O + K₂O = 4.37–5.19 wt.%) and have overall oceanic island basalt-like trace element patterns, without negative Nb–Ta anomalies. In addition, they are characterized by lower La/Nb (<1.5) and La/Ta (<22), and higher Ce/Pb (>15) and Nb/U (>30) ratios, indicating an origin in the asthenospheric mantle. The relatively lower ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd (0.512632–0.512648) and ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (18.20–18.22), but intermediate ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr (0.7061–0.7063) ratios of the diabases are similar to enriched mantle type 1, suggesting crustal contamination or mixing with metasomatized lithsopheric mantle. However, the low Th and U contents and lack of correlations of Nd isotope compositions and MgO preclude significant crustal contamination. Alternatively, the moderate TiO₂ contents (2.01–2.09 wt.%) and high Cr concentrations (>240 ppm) suggest interaction between asthenosphere-derived melts and metasomatized lithospheric mantle. Petrological modelling suggests that the diabases were generated from a low degree (~3–5%) of partial melting of lherzolite with ~2–3% garnet. Jiangxi diabase was generated in a within-plate extensional regime, probably related to the far effect of the Himalaya–Tibetan orogen.     

Biotic effects of late Maastrichtian mantle plume volcanism: implications for impacts and mass extinctions

During the late Maastrichtian, DSDP Site 216 on Ninetyeast Ridge, Indian Ocean, passed over a mantle plume leading to volcanic eruptions, islands built to sea level, and catastrophic environmental conditions for planktic and benthic foraminifera. The biotic effects were severe, including dwarfing of all benthic and planktic species, a 90% reduction in species diversity, exclusion of all ecological specialists, near-absence of ecological generalists, and dominance of the disaster opportunist Guembelitria alternating with low O₂-tolerant species. These faunal characteristics are identical to those of the K–T boundary mass extinction, except that the fauna recovered after Site 216 passed beyond the influence of mantle plume volcanism about 500 kyr before the K–T boundary. Similar biotic effects have been observed in Madagascar, Israel, and Egypt. The direct correlation between mantle plume volcanism and biotic effects on Ninetyeast Ridge and the similarity to the K–T mass extinction, which is generally attributed to a large impact, reveal that impacts and volcanism can cause similar environmental catastrophes. This raises the inevitable question: Are mass extinctions caused by impacts or mantle plume volcanism? The unequivocal correlation between intense volcanism and high-stress assemblages necessitates a review of current impact and mass extinction theories.     

History of development of late Cenozoic volcanism in the Central Caucasus

Violent volcanism developed in the central part of the Caucasus during the last stage of the Alpine orogenic cycle. Three main epochs of volcanic development are here established: the first -late Miocene-early Pliocene; the second-late Pliocene; the third — Quaternary. These epochs of volcanic activity can be subdivided into a series of phases and subphases. The total volume of volcanic products is in the order of 2000 km³. The acidic volcanic rocks are mostly rhyolitic ignimbrites and have a volume larger than 800–820 km³.

---

Zusammenfassung Im Zentralteil des Großen Kaukasus tritt im Spätstadium des alpinen orogenen Zyklus ein starker Vulkanismus auf. Drei Hauptzeiten der vulkanischen Entwicklung werden verzeichnet: zunächst im späten Miozän bis frühen Pliozän; zweitens im späten Pliozän; drittens im Quartär. Die Zeiten der Vulkantätigkeit können in Phasen und Subphasen unterteilt werden. Das Gesamtvolumen der Vulkanprodukte beträgta etwa 2000 km³, wobei saure Gesteine, vorwiegend rhyolithische Ignimbrite, nicht weniger als 800–820 km³ umfassen.

---

Résumé Dans la partie centrale du Grand Caucase, au stade postérieur du cycle orogénique se manifeste un volcanisme très fort. On distingue trois époques principales d'activité volcanique: 1re - miocène postérieur-pliocène antérieur;2me -pliocene postérieur; 3 me - quaternaire. Les époques de l'activité volcanique sont subdivisées en phases et sous-phases. Le volume commun des produits volcaniques est environ 2000 km³; les roches acides généralement sont les brêches de nuées ardents à liparite, dont le volume est non moins 800–820 km³.

---

. 3 : ; , — . . 2000 ³; , . ., .

---

---

Dedicated to Professor Dr. A.Rittmann on the occasion of his 75. birthday     

Eocene potassic and ultrapotassic volcanism in south Tibet: New constraints on mantle source characteristics and geodynamic processes

In the Yangbajing area, southern Tibet, several monogenic volcanoes were conformably superimposed on the Linzizong calc-alkaline volcanic successions. According to their petrologic and geochemical characteristics, these monogenic volcanoes are composed of three rock varieties: tephritic phonolitic plugs and shoshonitic and trachytic lavas. Their geochemical systematics reveals that low-pressure evolutionary processes in the large voluminous Linzizong calc-alkaline magmas were not responsible for the generation of these potassic–ultrapotassic rocks, but the significant change in petrologic and geochemical characteristics from the Linzizong calc-alkaline to potassic–ultrapotassic magma is likely accounted for the change of metasomatic agents in the southern Tibetan lithospheric mantle source during the Paleocene to Eocene. The tephritic phonolites containing both leucite and plagioclase show primary ultrapotassic character similar to that of Mediterranean plagioleucititic magmas. Radiogenic Sr increases with SiO₂ in the xenolith-bearing trachytes strongly suggesting significant crustal assimilation in the shoshonitic magmas. The Yangbajing ultrapotassic rocks have high K₂O and Al₂O₃, and show depletion of high field strength elements (HFSEs) with respect to large ion lithophile elements. In primitive mantle-normalized element diagrams, all samples are characterized by positive spikes at Th (U) and Pb with negative anomalies at Ba, Nb–Ta and Ti, reflecting the orogenic nature of the ultrapotassic rocks. They are characterized by highly radiogenic ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr_(i) ratios (0.7061–0.7063) and unradiogenic ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd_(i) (0.5125), and Pb isotopic compositions (²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 18.688–18.733, ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 15.613–15.637, and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 38.861–38.930) similar to the global subducting sediment. Strong enrichment of incompatible trace elements and high Th fractionation from the other HFSEs (such as Nb and U) clearly indicate that the Th-enriched sedimentary component in a network veined mantle source was mainly introduced by sediment-derived melts. In addition, the ultrapotassic rocks have significant Ce (Ce/Ce* = 0.77–0.84) and Eu (Eu/Eu* = 0.72–0.75) anomalies, suggesting a subduction sediment input into the southern Tibetan lithospheric mantle source. In contrast, high U/Th (> 0.20) and Ba/Th (> 32) and low Th/La (< 0.3) in the shoshonites indicate that the Eocene potassic magma originated from partial melting of the surrounding peridotite mantle pervasively affected by slab-related fluid addition from the dehydration of either the subducting oceanic crust or the sediment. Thus, at least two different subduction-related metasomatic agents re-fertilized the upper mantle. According to the radiometric ages and spatial distribution, the Gangdese magmatic association shows a temporal succession from the Linzizong calc-alkaline to ultrapotassic magmas. This indicates a late arrival of recycled sediments within the Tibetan lithospheric mantle wedge. The most diagnostic signatures for the involvement of continent-derived materials are the super-chondritic Zr/Hf (45.5–49.2) and elevated Hf/Sm values (0.81–0.91) in the ultrapotassic rocks. Therefore, the occurrence of orogenic magmatism in the Gangdese belt likely represents the volcanic expression of the onset of the India–Asia collision, preceding the 10 Ma Neo-Tethyan slab break-off process at 42–40 Ma. The absence of residual garnet in the mantle source for the ultrapotassic volcanism seems to imply that the southern Tibetan lithosphere was not been remarkably thickened until the Eocene (～ 50 Ma).     

Tectonic Environments of Cenozoic Volcanic Rocks in China and Characteristics of the Source Regions in the Mantle

Extensive volcanism is one of the important features of Cenozoic geology in China.Based on temporal-spatial distribution,the volcanism was associated with three major different geological settings:1)the continental rift basalts in Northeast and North China;2)the tension-fault basalts on the continental margins of Southeast China; and 3) the collision-zone high-K volcanics in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its vicinities.The characteristics of “depletion in the south and enrichment in the north“of the China continental mantle are strongly supported by isotopic evidence.The Cenozoic continental cal characters,into the following geochemical provinces:1)the depleted mantle in South China;2)the primary mantle in Northeast and NorthChina; 3)the hybrid and transi-tional mantle in the region of Shandong ,Anhui,Jiangsu and northern Zhejiang;4)the depleted mantle around the Bohai Bay and the Lower Liaohe River;5)the K-metasomatic enriched mantle in the northern part of Northeast China;and 6)the re-cycled enriched mantle in the ancient subduction zone in the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau and its surround-ings.These geochemical characteristics on a regional scale must be a reflection of the nature of lithosphere evolution.     

Evolution of volcanism in graben and horst structures along the Cenozoic Cameroon Line (Africa): implications for tectonic evolution and mantle source composition

Tombel graben and Mounts Bambouto are two volcanic fields of the typical system of alternating graben and horst structure of the Cameroon Volcanic Line. Tombel graben is a young volcanic field, whereas Mounts Bambouto horst is an old stratovolcano with calderas. Volcanic products in both settings have a signature close to that of Ocean Island Basalt implying a major role of FOZO (focal zone) component and varied contribution of depleted mantle (DMM) and enriched mantle (EM) components. The Cameroon Volcanic Line is a hot line essentially resulting from passive rifting. Eocene to Recent intraplate basaltic volcanism in the study area was probably a result of mantle upwelling coupled with lithospheric extension. The olivine basaltic magma of horst volcanoes evolved in a large-scale, steady-state magmatic reservoir via crystal fractionation and limited contamination to highly differentiated alkaline lavas (trachyte and phonolite). Conversely, rapid ascent of lavas along multiple fault lines of graben structures produced less evolved lavas (hawaiite) within small reservoirs. This model, evaluated for the study area, involves mantle upwelling inside zones of weakness in the lithosphere after intra-continental extension. It can be applied to other parts of the Cameroon Volcanic Line as well, and is similar to that described in other intra-continental rift-related areas in Africa.     

Petrogenesis and mantle source characteristics of the late Cenozoic Baekdusan (Changbaishan) basalts,North China Craton

Late Cenozoic intraplate basaltic rocks in northeastern China have been interpreted as being derived from a mantle source composed of DMM and EM1 components. To constrain the origin of the enriched mantle component, we have now determined the geochemical compositions of basaltic rocks from the active Baekdusan volcano on the border of China and North Korea. The samples show LREE-enriched patterns, with positive Eu and negative Ce anomalies. On a trace element distribution diagram, they show typical oceanic island basalt (OIB)-like LILE enrichments without significant Nb or Ta depletions. However, compared with OIB, they show enrichments in Ba, Rb, K, Pb, Sr, and P. The Nb/U ratios are generally within the range of OIB, but the Ce/Pb ratios are lower than those of OIB. Olivine phenocrysts are characterized by low Ca and high Ni contents. The radiogenic isotopic characteristics (⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr = 0.70449 to 0.70554; ε_Nd = −2.0 to +1.8; ε_Hf = −1.7 to +6.1; ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb = 17.26 to 18.12) suggest derivation from an EM1-like source together with an Indian MORB-like depleted mantle. The Mg isotopic compositions (δ²⁶Mg = −0.39 ± 0.17‰) are generally lower than the average upper mantle, indicating carbonates in the source. The ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios decrease with decreasing δ²⁶Mg values whereas the ¹⁴³Nd/¹⁴⁴Nd and (Nb/La)_N ratios increase. These observations suggest the mantle source of the Baekdusan basalts contained at least two components that resided in the mantle transition zone (MTZ): (1) recycled subducted ancient (∼2.2–1.6 Ga) terrigenous silicate sediments, possessing EM1-like Sr–Nd–Pb–Hf isotopic signatures and relatively high values of δ²⁶Mg; and (2) carbonated eclogites with relatively MORB-like radiogenic isotopic compositions and low values of δ²⁶Mg. These components might have acted as metasomatizing agents in refertilizing the asthenosphere, eventually influencing the composition of the MTZ-derived plume that produced the Baekdusan volcanism.     

Cenozoic rifting and volcanism in eastern China: a mantle dynamic link to the Indo–Asian collision?

The Indo–Asian continental collision is known to have had a great impact on crustal deformation in south-central Asia, but its effects on the sublithospheric mantle remain uncertain. Studies of seismic anisotropy and volcanism have suggested that the collision may have driven significant lateral mantle flow under the Asian continent, similar to the observed lateral extrusion of Asian crustal blocks. Here we present supporting evidence from P-wave travel time seismic tomography and numerical modeling. The tomography shows continuous low-velocity asthenospheric mantle structures extending from the Tibetan plateau to eastern China, consistent with the notion of a collision-driven lateral mantle extrusion. Numerical simulations suggest that, at the presence of a low-viscosity asthenosphere, continued mass injection under the Indo–Asian collision zone over the past 50 My could have driven significant lateral extrusion of the asthenospheric mantle, leading to diffuse asthenospheric upwelling, rifting, and widespread Cenozoic volcanism in eastern China.     

Sources and geodynamics of the Late Cenozoic volcanism of Central Mongolia: Evidence from isotope-geochemical studies

In the Late Cenozoic, the volcanism of the South Khangai Volcanic Region (SKhVR) spanned the Khangai Range and its framing. Geochronological, petrochemical, geochemical, and isotope studies were performed for volcanic rocks of this region, which are represented by high-K basic and intermediate rocks of OIB affinity. Initial Sr, Nd, and Pb isotope ratios in the volcanic rocks of the SKhVR are close to those of the volcanic rocks of Pitcairn Island and form trends between PREMA, EMI, and EMII sources.     

Post-collisional Plio-Pleistocene shoshonitic volcanism in the western Kunlun Mountains, NW China: Geochemical constraints on mantle source characteristics and petrogenesis

Major and trace element, Sr–Nd–Pb isotope and mineral chemical data are presented for post-collisional late Cenozoic shoshonitic volcanic rocks from the western Kunlun Mountains, NW China. They are distributed in two approximately E–W striking sub-belts, with the lavas in the southern sub-belt having been generated earlier than those in the northern sub-belt. The mineralogy of the rocks reflects crystallization from moderate temperature magmas (700–1000 °C) with high oxygen and water fugacities. They are geochemically characterized by relatively low TiO₂, Al₂O₃ and FeO and high alkalies coupled with very high contents of incompatible element concentrations. Remarkably negative Nb, Ta and Ti anomalies are displayed on primitive mantle-normalized incompatible element patterns. In addition, they show a relatively broad range of low ε_Nd (−1.8 to −8.7) at more restricted ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios (0.7081–0.7090). Pb isotopes are characterized by a range of ²⁰⁷Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (15.48–15.74) and ²⁰⁸Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (38.30–39.12) ratios at relatively invariant ²⁰⁶Pb/²⁰⁴Pb (18.60–18.83) values, except one sample with a ratio of 18.262, leading to near-vertical arrays. The lavas from the northern sub-belt have relatively high ⁸⁷Sr/⁸⁶Sr ratios. All lavas have extremely high La/Yb ratios, probably reflecting that the magmas were derived from a metasomatized lithospheric mantle source containing phlogopite–hornblende garnet peridotite affected by subducted sediments and hydrous fluids, rather than from a depleted asthenopheric mantle source or mantle plume source. However, the lavas from the southern sub-belt were derived from a lower degree of melting of more highly metasomatized sub-lithospheric mantle in comparison with those from the northern sub-belt. Processes responsible for partial melting of metasomatized lithospheric mantle and post-collision magmatism in the western Kunlun could be a consequence of continuously conductive heating of upwelling, hot asthenospheric mantle following the delamination subsequent to thickening, which is consistent with the spatial and temporal geochemical variations in shoshonitic rocks in Tibet.     

Interaction of a thermochemical plume with free convection mantle flows and its influence on mantle melting and recrystallization

We present a thermophysical model for interaction between the conduit of a thermochemical plume and horizontal free convection flows in the mantle: The mantle flow incident on the plume conduit melts at the conduit boundary (front part) and crystallizes at its back. Geological data on the intensity of plume magmatism over the last 150 Myr are used to estimate the total thermal power of mantle plumes. A possible scenario for plume-related mantle recrystallization is proposed. Over the lifespan of a thermochemical plume, mantle melts and recrystallizes owing to the motion of the plume source and interaction between the plume conduit and horizontal free convection flows. The plume conduits can melt and recrystallize the entire mantle over a certain period of time. The model for the interaction of drifting plume conduits with mantle flows and the estimated total thermal power of mantle plumes are used to estimate the duration of plume-related melting and recrystallization of the entire mantle. The influence of mantle plumes on the convective structure of the mantle through melting is judged from the model for plume interaction with horizontal mantle flows.