Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Afar Mantle Plume: Rare Earth Evidence

Nature Physical Science volume 242, pages 2–5 (1973)Cite this article

Abstract

Rare earth pattern zonation about the Afar Triangle, in tholeiitic basalts erupting along the Red Sea Trough and the Gulf of Aden, suggests the presence of a primordial mantle plume rising beneath the Afar and overflowing in a star-like fashion into the soft asthenosphere.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Falcon, N. L., Gass, I. G., Girdler, R. W., & Laughton, A. S., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 267, 1 (1970).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Girdler, R. W. (ed.), Tectonophysics Special Issue, 15, 1 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  3. McKenzie, D. P., Davies, D., & Molnar, P., Nature, 226, 243 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Girdler, R. W., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 267, 359 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Girdler, R. W., & Hall, S. A., Tectonophysics, 15, 53 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Mohr, P. A., Nature, 228, 547 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Mohr, P. A., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 7340 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  8. Gass, I. G., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 267, 369 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  9. Morgan, W. J., Nature, 230, 42 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Morgan, W. J., Bull. Amer. Assoc. Petrol. Geol., 56, 203 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  11. Morgan, W. J., Mem. Geol. Soc. Amer. (in the press).

  12. Schilling, J-G., Science, 165, 1357 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Schilling, J-G., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 268, 663 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Schilling, J-G., Nature (in the press).

  15. Schilling, J-G., J. Geophys. Res. (in the press).

  16. Sun, S. S., Tatsumoto, M., & Schilling, J-G., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. (in the press).

  17. Hart, S. R., Powell, J. L., & Schilling, J-G., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. (in the press).

  18. Moore, J. G., & Schilling, J-G., Contr. Min. Petrol., (in the press).

  19. Yoder, H. S., & Tilley, C. E., J. Petrol., 3, 343 (1962).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Chase, R. L., in Hot Brines and Recent Heavy Metal Deposits in the Red Sea (edit, by Degens, E. T., and Ross, D. A.), 122 (Springer-Verlag, New York, 1969).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  21. Cann, J. R., Deep-Sea Res., 17, 477 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  22. Gass, I. G., Makick, D. I. J., & Cox, K. G., Geol. Soc. Lond. J. (in the press).

  23. Barberi, F., Borsi, S., Ferrara, G., Marinelli, G., & Varet, J., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., 267, 293 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Tatsumoto, M., J. Geophys. Res., 71, 1721 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. Peterman, Z. E., & Hedge, C. E., Geol. Soc. Amer. Bull., 82, 493 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. Welke, H., Moorbath, S., Cumming, G. L., & Sigurdsson, H., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 4, 221 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. Jakobsson, S. P., Lithos, 5, 365 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. Schilling, J-G., & Winchester, J. W., Contr. Min. Petrol., 23, 27 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. McBirney, A. R., & Williams, H., Geol. Soc. Mem., 118 (1969).

  30. Upton, B. G., & Wadsworth, W. J., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 271, 105 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. Kay, R., Hubbard, N. J., & Gast, P. W., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 1585 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. Gast, P. W., Phys. Earth Planet. Int., 3, 246 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. Tatsumoto, M., Science, 153, 1094 (1966).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. Gass, I. G., Phil. Trans. Roy. Soc., A, 271, 131 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. Fiske, R. S., & Jackson, E. D., Proc Roy. Soc., 329, 299 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. Wright, T. L., & Fiske, R. S., J. Petrol., 12, 65 (1971).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Vogt, P. R., Earth Planet. Sci. Lett., 13, 153 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  38. Deffeyes, K. S., Nature, 240, 539 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  39. Elder, J. W., Liverpool Geol. Soc. Spec. Issue, 2, 245 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  40. Cann, J. R., Nature, 226, 928 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  41. Bott, M. H. P., Geophys. J. Roy. Astron. Soc., 9, 275 (1965).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  42. Makris, J., Menzel, H., & Zimmermann, J., Tectonophysics, 15, 31 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  43. LePine, J. C., Ruegg, J. C., & Steinmetz, L., Tectonophysics, 15, 60 (1972).

    Google Scholar 

  44. Palmason, G., Visindafelag Islendinga, 40 (Reykjavik, 1971).

  45. Talwani, M., Windisch, C. C., & Langseth, G., J. Geophys. Res., 76, 473 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  46. Tazieff, H., Varet, J., Barberi, F., & Giglia, G., Nature, 235, 144 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  47. Bonatti, E., & Tazieff, H., Science, 168, 1087 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  48. Tazieff, H., Geol. Rundschau (in the press).

  49. Mohr, P. A., Tectonophysics, 15, 3 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  50. Engel, A. E., Engel, C. G., & Havens, R. G., Bull. Geol. Soc Amer., 76, 719 (1965).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  51. Frey, F. A., Haskin, M. A., Poetz, J. A., & Haskin, L. A., J. Geophys. Res., 73, 6085 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  52. Hart, S. R., & Brooks, C., Carnegie Inst. Wash., Year Book, 68, 426 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  53. Gast, P. W., Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta, 32, 1057 (1968).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  54. Philpotts, J. A., & Schnetzler, C. C., Can. Mineralogist, 10, 375 (1970).

    Google Scholar 

  55. Vogt, P. R., Nature, 240, 338 (1972).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 02881

    J-G. SCHILLING

Authors
  1. J-G. SCHILLING
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

SCHILLING, JG. Afar Mantle Plume: Rare Earth Evidence. Nature Physical Science 242, 2–5 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1038/physci242002a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/physci242002a0

This article is cited by

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing