Abstract
We propose that komatiite lavas were emplaced as turbulent flows, accompanied by vigorous forced convection with cooling rates often in excess of hundreds of °C h−1. They melted and assimilated up to 10% of the ground over which they flowed, forming deep channels. Nickel sulphide mineralization may have resulted from incorporation of sulphur-rich sediment. After emplacement, high cooling rates persisted, resulting in spinifex textures due to compositional convection.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Relevant articles
Open Access articles citing this article.
-
Eruption of ultralow-viscosity basanite magma at Cumbre Vieja, La Palma, Canary Islands
Nature Communications Open Access 08 June 2022
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Rent or buy this article
Get just this article for as long as you need it
$39.95
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
References
Viljoen, M. J. & Viljoen, R. P. Spec. Publs geol. Soc. S. Afr. 2, 87–112 (1969).
Arndt, N. T. & Nisbet, E. G. (eds) in Komatiites Ch. 2, 19–26 (Allen & Unwin, London, 1982).
Bickle, M. J. in Komatiites (eds Arndt, N. T. & Nisbet, E. G.) Ch. 27, 479–494 (Allen & Unwin, London, 1982).
Donaldson, C. H. in Komatiites (eds Arndt, N. T. & Nisbet, E. G.) Ch. 16, 213–244 (Allen & Unwin, London, 1982).
Naldrett, A. J. Econ. Geol. 74, 1520–1528 (1979).
Elder, J. W. Geothermal Systems (Academic, New York, 1982).
Wilson, L. & Head, J. W. J. geophys. Res. 86, 2971–3001 (1981).
Nisbet, E. G. & Walker, D. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 60, 103–113 (1982).
Lesher, C. M., Lee, R. F., Groves, D. I., Bickle, M. J. & Donaldson, M. J. Econ. Geol. 76, 1714–1728 (1981).
Arndt, N. T., Naldrett, A. J. & Pyke, D. R. J. Petrol. 18, 319–369 (1977).
Hulme, G. Modern Geol. 4, 107–117 (1973).
Hulme, G. Geophys. Surv. 5, 245–279 (1982).
Britter, R. E. & Simpson, J. E. J. Fluid Mech. 88, 223–240 (1978).
Simpson, J. E. & Britter, R. E. J. Fluid Mech. 94, 477–495 (1979).
Holman, J. P. Heat Transfer (McGraw Hill, New York, 1976).
Bickle, M. J. Prog. exp. Petrol. 4, 187–195 (1978).
Donaldson, C. H. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 57, 187–213 (1976).
Donaldson, C. H. Contr. Miner. Petrol. 69, 21–32 (1979).
Chen, C. F. & Turner, J. S. J. geophys. Res. 85, 2573–2593 (1980).
Gresham, J. J. & Loftus-Hills, G. D. Econ. Geol. 76, 1373–1416 (1981).
Pyke, D. R., Naldrett, A. J. & Eckstrand, O. R. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 84, 955–978 (1973).
Campbell, I. H. & Arndt, N. T. Geol. Mag. 119, 605–610 (1982).
Usselman, T. M., Hodge, D. S., Naldrett, A. J. & Campbell, I. H. Can. Miner. 17, 361–372 (1979).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Huppert, H., Sparks, R., Turner, J. et al. Emplacement and cooling of komatiite lavas. Nature 309, 19–22 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1038/309019a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/309019a0
This article is cited by
-
Eruption of ultralow-viscosity basanite magma at Cumbre Vieja, La Palma, Canary Islands
Nature Communications (2022)
-
Analog experiments in volcanology: towards multimethod, upscaled, and integrated models
Bulletin of Volcanology (2022)
-
Geochemistry of ultramafic–mafic rocks of Mesoarchean Sargur Group, western Dharwar craton, India: Implications for their petrogenesis and tectonic setting
Journal of Earth System Science (2020)
-
The rheological evolution of the 2014/2015 eruption at Holuhraun, central Iceland
Bulletin of Volcanology (2017)
-
Liquidus temperatures of komatiites and the effect of cooling rate on element partitioning between olivine and komatiitic melt
Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology (2016)
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.
