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Economic geology

Copper conundrums

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The metal content of magmas erupted at subduction zone arcs is thought to be derived from the mantle. A correlation between crustal thickness and copper content in arc magmas worldwide, however, reveals an important role for the crust in the upper plate.

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Figure 1: Schematic illustration of thin island and thick continental arcs.

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Correspondence to Cin-Ty A. Lee.

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Lee, CT. Copper conundrums. Nature Geosci 7, 10–11 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2039

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