Abstract
The origin of batholith-sized masses of plagioclase-rich crustal rocks, mainly Proterozoic in age, has mostly been ascribed to aluminous magmas of mantle derivation. Here we propose that such masses are derived by partial melting of an aluminous lower continental crust, which has developed following extraction of a granitic upper crust by intra-crustal melting. This segregation of upper and lower crusts occurred principally in the late Archaean. As the lower crust was depleted in heat-producing elements during the initial melting to produce granites, an external source of heat is required to produce Proterozoic massif-type anorthosites. We speculate that this heat resulted from the continental crust moving over a mantle hotspot or line plume.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Ashwal, L. D., Morrison, D. A., Phinney, W. C. & Wood, J. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 82, 259–273 (1983).
Simmons, E. C. & Hanson, G. N. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 66, 119–135 (1978).
Herz, N. Science 164, 944–947 (1969).
Duchesne, J.-C. & Demaiffe, D. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 38, 249–272 (1978).
Emslie, R. F. Precambr. Res. 7, 61–98 (1978).
Wiebe, R. A. Nature 286, 564–567 (1980).
Fudao, Z. & Guanghong, X. Geochemistry 1, 96–104 (1982).
Morse, S. A. Am. Miner. 67, 1087–1100 (1982).
Ashwal, L. D. & Wooden, J. L. Nature 306, 679–680 (1983).
Bridgwater, D. & Windley, B.F. Geol. Soc. S. Afr. Spec. Publ. 3, 307–317 (1973).
Wynne-Edwards, H. R. Am. J. Sci. 276, 927–953 (1976).
Taylor, S. R. & McLennan, S. M. The Continental Crust: its Composition and Evolution (Blackwell, Oxford, in the press).
Taylor, S. R. & McLennan, S. M. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. A 301, 381–399 (1981).
McLennan, S. M. & Taylor, S. R. J. Geol. 90, 347–361 (1982).
Oliver, J. J. geophys. Res. 88, 3340 (1983).
Michot, J. Norsk Geol. Tidsskr. 41, 157–172 (1961).
Green, T. H. Can. J. Earth Sci. 6, 427–440 (1969).
Sparks, R. S. J., Meyer, P. & Sigurdsson, H. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 46, 416–430 (1980).
Stolper, E. & Walker, D. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 74, 7–12 (1980).
O'Hara, M. J. Nature 200, 683–686 (1968).
Clarke, D. B. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 25, 203–224 (1970).
Elthon, D. Nature 278, 514–518 (1979).
Elthon, D. & Scarfe, C. M. Yb. Carnegie Instn Wash. 79, 277–281 (1980).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Taylor, S., Campbell, I., McCulloch, M. et al. A lower crustal origin for massif-type anorthosites. Nature 311, 372–374 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/311372a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/311372a0
This article is cited by
-
Re–Os isotopic evidence for a lower crustal origin of massif-type anorthosites
Nature (2000)
-
High-Al gabbros in the Laramie Anorthosite Complex, Wyoming: implications for the composition of melts parental to Proterozoic anorthosite
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (1995)
-
Contamination of the Marcy Anorthosite Massif, Adirondack Mountains, NY: petrologic and isotopic evidence
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (1988)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.
