Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific Rise
Basalt lavas comprise the greatest volume of volcanic rocks on Earth, and most of them erupt along the world's mid-ocean ridges (MORs). These MOR basalts (MORBs) are generally thought to be relatively homogeneous in composition over large segments of the global ridge system (e.g., Klein, 2005)....
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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The Oceanography Society
2012-03-01
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| Series: | Oceanography |
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| Online Access: | http://tos.org/oceanography/archive/25-1_perfit.pdf |
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| author | Michael R. Perfit V. Dorsey Wanless W. Ian Ridley Emily M. Klein Matthew C. Smith Adam R. Goss Jillian S. Hinds Scott W. Kutza Daniel J. Fornari |
| author_facet | Michael R. Perfit V. Dorsey Wanless W. Ian Ridley Emily M. Klein Matthew C. Smith Adam R. Goss Jillian S. Hinds Scott W. Kutza Daniel J. Fornari |
| author_sort | Michael R. Perfit |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Basalt lavas comprise the greatest volume of volcanic rocks on Earth, and most of them erupt along the world's mid-ocean ridges (MORs). These MOR basalts (MORBs) are generally thought to be relatively homogeneous in composition over large segments of the global ridge system (e.g., Klein, 2005). However, detailed sampling of two different regions on the northern East Pacific Rise (EPR) and extensive analysis of the samples show that fine-scale mapping and sampling of the ridge axis can reveal significant variations in lava chemistry on both small spatial and short temporal scales. The two most intensely sampled sites within the EPR Integrated Study Site (ISS) lie on and off axis between 9°17'N and 10°N, and from a wide region centered around 9°N where two segments of the EPR overlap (see Fornari et al., 2012, Figure 3, in this issue). The chemical composition of erupted lavas, similar to the genotype of an organism, can be used by igneous petrologists to trace the evolution of magmas from the mantle to the seafloor. The extensive and detailed geochemical studies at the EPR highlight how a thorough understanding of the variability in lava compositions on small spatial scales (i.e., between lava flows) and large spatial scales (i.e., from segment center to segment end and including discontinuities in the ridge crest) can be used in combination with seafloor photography, lava morphology, and bathymetry to provide insights into the magmatic system that drives volcanism and influences hydrothermal chemistry and biology at a fast-spreading MOR. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:51:36Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f40bdc02b13841c4830ed05e0b8d4583 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1042-8275 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T21:51:36Z |
| publishDate | 2012-03-01 |
| publisher | The Oceanography Society |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Oceanography |
| spelling | doaj.art-f40bdc02b13841c4830ed05e0b8d45832022-12-21T23:30:16ZengThe Oceanography SocietyOceanography1042-82752012-03-012518993Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific RiseMichael R. PerfitV. Dorsey WanlessW. Ian RidleyEmily M. KleinMatthew C. SmithAdam R. GossJillian S. HindsScott W. KutzaDaniel J. FornariBasalt lavas comprise the greatest volume of volcanic rocks on Earth, and most of them erupt along the world's mid-ocean ridges (MORs). These MOR basalts (MORBs) are generally thought to be relatively homogeneous in composition over large segments of the global ridge system (e.g., Klein, 2005). However, detailed sampling of two different regions on the northern East Pacific Rise (EPR) and extensive analysis of the samples show that fine-scale mapping and sampling of the ridge axis can reveal significant variations in lava chemistry on both small spatial and short temporal scales. The two most intensely sampled sites within the EPR Integrated Study Site (ISS) lie on and off axis between 9°17'N and 10°N, and from a wide region centered around 9°N where two segments of the EPR overlap (see Fornari et al., 2012, Figure 3, in this issue). The chemical composition of erupted lavas, similar to the genotype of an organism, can be used by igneous petrologists to trace the evolution of magmas from the mantle to the seafloor. The extensive and detailed geochemical studies at the EPR highlight how a thorough understanding of the variability in lava compositions on small spatial scales (i.e., between lava flows) and large spatial scales (i.e., from segment center to segment end and including discontinuities in the ridge crest) can be used in combination with seafloor photography, lava morphology, and bathymetry to provide insights into the magmatic system that drives volcanism and influences hydrothermal chemistry and biology at a fast-spreading MOR.http://tos.org/oceanography/archive/25-1_perfit.pdfRidge 2000mid-ocean ridgesspreading centersEast Pacific Risemid-ocean ridge basaltMORB |
| spellingShingle | Michael R. Perfit V. Dorsey Wanless W. Ian Ridley Emily M. Klein Matthew C. Smith Adam R. Goss Jillian S. Hinds Scott W. Kutza Daniel J. Fornari Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific Rise Oceanography Ridge 2000 mid-ocean ridges spreading centers East Pacific Rise mid-ocean ridge basalt MORB |
| title | Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific Rise |
| title_full | Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific Rise |
| title_fullStr | Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific Rise |
| title_full_unstemmed | Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific Rise |
| title_short | Lava Geochemistry as a Probe into Crustal Formation at the East Pacific Rise |
| title_sort | lava geochemistry as a probe into crustal formation at the east pacific rise |
| topic | Ridge 2000 mid-ocean ridges spreading centers East Pacific Rise mid-ocean ridge basalt MORB |
| url | http://tos.org/oceanography/archive/25-1_perfit.pdf |
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