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Extraction of mid-ocean-ridge basalt from the upwelling mantle by focused flow of melt in dunite channels

Nature volume 375, pages 747–753 (1995)Cite this article

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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Woods Hole Oceanographic Institute, Woods Hole, Massachusetts, 02543, USA

    Peter B. Kelemen & Nobumichi Shimizu

  2. NHMFL-Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, 32310, USA

    Vincent J. M. Salters

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  1. Peter B. Kelemen
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  2. Nobumichi Shimizu
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  3. Vincent J. M. Salters
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Kelemen, P., Shimizu, N. & Salters, V. Extraction of mid-ocean-ridge basalt from the upwelling mantle by focused flow of melt in dunite channels. Nature 375, 747–753 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1038/375747a0

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