Extraction of mid-ocean-ridge basalt from the upwelling mantle by focused flow of melt in dunite channels
Abstract
Like residual peridotites from mid-ocean ridges, peridotites from the mantle section of the Oman ophiolite are far from equilibrium with mid-ocean-ridge basalt (MORB). By contrast, dunites from Oman are close to equilibrium with MORB, indicating that they were conduits for focused melt flow. Formation of dunite conduits by porous flow is sufficient to explain extraction of MORB from the mantle, and fracture mechanisms may not be necessary in this process.
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- June 1995
- DOI:
- 10.1038/375747a0
- Bibcode:
- 1995Natur.375..747K