Discovery of distinct lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary and the Gutenberg discontinuity in the Atlantic Ocean

The plate tectonic theory requires a rigid lithosphere floating over a weak asthenosphere, separated by the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, which has been sometimes interpreted as the Gutenberg discontinuity. Using a deep seismic reflection technique, we report the presence of two continuous reflections covering 27 Ma to 58 Ma oceanic lithosphere in the Atlantic Ocean. We find that the upper reflection deepens with age and follows the ~1250°C isotherm, whereas the deeper reflection lies at a constant depth of ~75 km. We suggest that the upper reflection represents the thermally controlled lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, whereas the lower reflection is the Gutenberg discontinuity, a frozen-in dehydration boundary separating the dry mantle melting region above from the hydrated mantle below formed at the ridge axis. We also find that thermal mantle anomalies rejuvenate the lithosphere, uplift the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, and destroy the Gutenberg discontinuity.

Upper mantle structure of Mars from InSight seismic data

For 2 years, the InSight lander has been recording seismic data on Mars that are vital to constrain the structure and thermochemical state of the planet. We used observations of direct (P and S) and surface-reflected (PP, PPP, SS, and SSS) body-wave phases from eight low-frequency marsquakes to constrain the interior structure to a depth of 800 kilometers. We found a structure compatible with a low-velocity zone associated with a thermal lithosphere much thicker than on Earth that is possibly related to a weak S-wave shadow zone at teleseismic distances. By combining the seismic constraints with geodynamic models, we predict that, relative to the primitive mantle, the crust is more enriched in heat-producing elements by a factor of 13 to 20. This enrichment is greater than suggested by gamma-ray surface mapping and has a moderate-to-elevated surface heat flow.

Seismic evidence for partial melt below tectonic plates

The seismic low-velocity zone (LVZ) of the upper mantle is generally associated with a low-viscosity asthenosphere that has a key role in decoupling tectonic plates from the mantle¹. However, the origin of the LVZ remains unclear. Some studies attribute its low seismic velocities to a small amount of partial melt of minerals in the mantle^2,3, whereas others attribute them to solid-state mechanisms near the solidus^4-6 or the effect of its volatile contents⁶. Observations of shear attenuation provide additional constraints on the origin of the LVZ⁷. On the basis of the interpretation of global three-dimensional shear attenuation and velocity models, here we report partial melt occurring within the LVZ. We observe that partial melting down to 150-200 kilometres beneath mid-ocean ridges, major hotspots and back-arc regions feeds the asthenosphere. A small part of this melt (less than 0.30 per cent) remains trapped within the oceanic LVZ. Melt is mostly absent under continental regions. The amount of melt increases with plate velocity, increasing substantially for plate velocities of between 3 centimetres per year and 5 centimetres per year. This finding is consistent with previous observations of mantle crystal alignment underneath tectonic plates⁸. Our observations suggest that by reducing viscosity⁹ melt facilitates plate motion and large-scale crystal alignment in the asthenosphere.

Melting of recycled ancient crust responsible for the Gutenberg discontinuity

A discontinuity in the seismic velocity associated with the lithosphere-asthenosphere interface, known as the Gutenberg discontinuity, is enigmatic in its origin. While partial mantle melts are frequently suggested to explain this discontinuity, it is not well known which factors critically regulate the melt production. Here, we report geochemical evidence showing that the melt fractions in the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary were enhanced not only by accumulation of compacted carbonated melts related to recycled ancient marine sediments, but also by partial melting of a pyroxene-rich mantle domain related to the recycled oceanic eclogite/pyroxenites. This conclusion is derived from the first set of Mg isotope data for a suite of young petit-spot basalts erupted on the northwest Pacific plate, where a clearly defined Gutenberg discontinuity exists. Our results reveal a specific linkage between the Gutenberg discontinuity beneath the normal oceanic regions and the recycling of ancient subducted crust and carbonate through the deep Earth.

The melt content of the low velocity layer atop the mantle transition zone: Theory and method of calculation

The melt content is significant characteristic for the low velocity layer, so it is very necessary to set up the quantitative relationship between the low velocity anomaly and the melt fraction. We describe the computational methods for melt volume fractions and discussed the parameter selections for the theoretical computations.

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We discuss the seismic wave velocity characteristics and the equilibrium geometry model in the partial melting system.

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Equations for computing the elastic properties atop the LVL are presented.

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Parameter selection of the equilibrium geometry model is shown.

Seismic evidence of effects of water on melt transport in the Lau back-arc mantle

Processes of melt generation and transport beneath back-arc spreading centres are controlled by two endmember mechanisms: decompression melting similar to that at mid-ocean ridges and flux melting resembling that beneath arcs. The Lau Basin, with an abundance of spreading ridges at different distances from the subduction zone, provides an opportunity to distinguish the effects of these two different melting processes on magma production and crust formation. Here we present constraints on the three-dimensional distribution of partial melt inferred from seismic velocities obtained from Rayleigh wave tomography using land and ocean-bottom seismographs. Low seismic velocities beneath the Central Lau Spreading Centre and the northern Eastern Lau Spreading Centre extend deeper and westwards into the back-arc, suggesting that these spreading centres are fed by melting along upwelling zones from the west, and helping to explain geochemical differences with the Valu Fa Ridge to the south, which has no distinct deep low-seismic-velocity anomalies. A region of low S-wave velocity, interpreted as resulting from high melt content, is imaged in the mantle wedge beneath the Central Lau Spreading Centre and the northeastern Lau Basin, even where no active spreading centre currently exists. This low-seismic-velocity anomaly becomes weaker with distance southward along the Eastern Lau Spreading Centre and the Valu Fa Ridge, in contrast to the inferred increase in magmatic productivity. We propose that the anomaly variations result from changes in the efficiency of melt extraction, with the decrease in melt to the south correlating with increased fractional melting and higher water content in the magma. Water released from the slab may greatly reduce the melt viscosity or increase grain size, or both, thereby facilitating melt transport.

Insights on the upper mantle beneath the Eastern Alps

Analyses of Ps and Sp receiver functions from datasets collected by permanent and temporary seismic stations, image a seismic discontinuity, due to a negative velocity contrast across the entire Eastern Alps. The receiver functions show the presence of the discontinuity within the upper mantle with a resolution of tens of kilometers laterally. It is deeper (100-130 km) below the central portion of the Eastern Alps, and shallower (70-80 km) towards the Pannonian Basin and in the Central Alps. Comparison with previous studies renders it likely that the observed discontinuity coincides with the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary (LAB) east of 15°E longitude, while it could be associated with a low velocity zone west of 15°E.

Geophysics. At the bottom of the oceanic plate

High-resolution seismic maps are providing a better picture of the processes involved in plate tectonics.

Numerical modelling of spontaneous slab breakoff dynamics during continental collision

Slab detachment or breakoff is directly associated with phenomena like morphological orogenesis, occurrence of earthquakes and magmatism. At depth the detachment process is slow and characterized by viscous rheolgy, whereas closer to the surface the process is relatively fast and plastic. Using a 2D mantle model 1500 km deep and 4000 km wide we investigated, with finite-difference and marker-in-cell numerical techniques, the impact of slab age, convergence rate and phase transitions on the viscous mode of slab detachment. In contrast to previous studies exploring simplified breakoff models in which the blockage responsible for inducing breakoff is kinematically prescribed, we constructed a fully dynamic coupled petrological–thermomechanical model of viscous slab breakoff. In this model, forced subduction of a 700 km-long oceanic plate was followed by collision of two continental plates and spontaneous slab blocking resulting from the buoyancy of the continental crust once it had been subducted to a depth of 100–124 km. Typically, five phases of model development can be distinguished: (a) oceanic slab subduction and bending; (b) continental collision initiation followed by the spontaneous slab blocking, thermal relaxation and unbending – in experiments with old oceanic plates in this phase slab roll-back occurs; (c) slab stretching and necking; (d) slab breakoff and accelerated sinking; and (e) post-breakoff relaxation.

Our experiments confirm a correlation between slab age and the time of spontaneous viscous breakoff as previously identified in simplified breakoff models. The results also demonstrate a non-linear dependence of the duration of the breakoff event on slab age: a positive correlation being characteristic of young (<50 Ma) slabs while for older slabs the correlation is negative. The increasing duration of the breakoff with slab age in young slabs is attributed to the slab thermal thickness, which increases both the slab thermal relaxation time and duration of the necking process. In older slabs this tendency is counteracted by negative slab buoyancy, which generate higher stresses that facilitate slab necking and breakoff. A prediction from our breakoff models is that the olivine–wadsleyite transition plays an important role in localizing viscous slab breakoff at depths of 410–510 km due to the buoyancy effects of the transition.

Insights into the nature of the transition zone from physically constrained inversion of long-period seismic data

Imposing a thermal and compositional significance to the outcome of the inversion of seismic data facilitates their interpretation. Using long-period seismic waveforms and an inversion approach that includes constraints from mineral physics, we find that lateral variations of temperature can explain a large part of the data in the upper mantle. The additional compositional signature of cratons emerges in the global model as well. Above 300 km, we obtain seismic geotherms that span the range of expected temperatures in various tectonic regions. Absolute velocities and gradients with depth are well constrained by the seismic data throughout the upper mantle, except near discontinuities. The seismic data are consistent with a slower transition zone and an overall faster shallow upper mantle, which is not compatible with a homogenous dry pyrolite composition. A gradual enrichment with depth in a garnet-rich component helps to reduce the observed discrepancies. A hydrated transition zone would help to lower the velocities in the transition zone, but it does not explain the seismic structure above it.