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Stephenson SN, Ball PW, Richards FD. Destruction and regrowth of lithospheric mantle beneath large igneous provinces. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2023; 9:eadf6216. [PMID: 37672572 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.adf6216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/08/2023]
Abstract
Large igneous provinces (LIPs) are formed by enormous (i.e., frequently >106 km3) but short-lived magmatic events that have profound effects upon global geodynamic, tectonic, and environmental processes. Lithospheric structure is known to modulate mantle melting, yet its evolution during and after such dramatic periods of magmatism is poorly constrained. Using geochemical and seismological observations, we find that magmatism is associated with thin (i.e., ≲80 km) lithosphere and we reveal a striking positive correlation between the thickness of modern-day lithosphere beneath LIPs and time since eruption. Oceanic lithosphere rethickens to 125 km, while continental regions reach >190 km. Our results point to systematic destruction and subsequent regrowth of lithospheric mantle during and after LIP emplacement and recratonization of the continents following eruption. These insights have implications for the stability, age, and composition of ancient, thick, and chemically distinct lithospheric roots, the distribution of economic resources, and emissions of chemical species that force catastrophic environmental change.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patrick W Ball
- Department of Geosciences, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Fred D Richards
- Department of Earth Science and Engineering, Imperial College London, London, UK
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Saibi H, Tit N, Abdel Zaher M, Uwiduhaye JD, Amrouche M, Farhi W. Gravity measurement to probe the depth of African-continental crust over a north-south profile: theory and modeling. Heliyon 2022; 8:e08776. [PMID: 35146154 PMCID: PMC8819528 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2022.e08776] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Based upon gravity measurements and calculations, the depth of the African continental crust is estimated. Taking as constraints the mass and radius of earth, and measured gravity, this theoretical method explores the use of gravitational potential to calculate the absolute gravity at three locations in Africa (e.g., Cape Town at latitude -34o, central Africa at latitude 0, and Benghazi at latitude 32o). The computational method uses as input a continental crust density ρ1 = 2.65-2.75 g/cm3 while compromising the oceanic crust density ρ2 to maintain the average crust density of the planet fixed at <ρ12> = 2.60 g/cm3. Crustal depth is assumed uniform around the earth and kept as a free parameter to adjust for the best fitting of gravity but using values of less than 100 km. A solid angle αo is a solid angle whose vertex is at the center of earth used to separate continental and oceanic crusts (αo = 10o, 20o, 35o). The results obtained for the continental crust were H = 36 km near continental edges at both Benghazi and Cape Town, whereas H = 44.4 km at the center of continent. These results are in excellent agreement with those reported by Tedla and coworkers (H = 39 ± 5 km) using an Euler deconvolution method. Our theoretical results from the developed code are also corroborated by results of numerical forward modeling supporting our code's reliability for further geoscience explorations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hakim Saibi
- Geology Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Nacir Tit
- Physics Department, College of Science, United Arab Emirates University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Mohamed Abdel Zaher
- National Research Institute of Astronomy and Geophysics (NRIAG), 11421, Helwan, Cairo, Egypt
| | | | | | - Walid Farhi
- Department of Sciences and Technology, Djilali Bounaama, University Khemis Miliana, Route de Theniet El-Hed, 44225, Ain Defla, Algeria
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Djomani YHP, Nnange JM, Diament M, Ebinger CJ, Fairhead JD. Effective elastic thickness and crustal thickness variations in west central Africa inferred from gravity data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/95jb01149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Kelemen PB, Holbrook WS. Origin of thick, high-velocity igneous crust along the U.S. East Coast Margin. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/95jb00924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 171] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Hay DE, Wendlandt RF, Wendlandt ED. The origin of Kenya rift plateau-type flood phonolites: Evidence from geochemical studies for fusion of lower crust modified by alkali basaltic magmatism. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/94jb02159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Hawkesworth C, Turner S, Gallagher K, Hunter A, Bradshaw T, Rogers N. Calc-alkaline magmatism, lithospheric thinning and extension in the Basin and Range. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/94jb02508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Hay DE, Wendlandt RF, Keller GR. Origin of Kenya Rift Plateau-type flood phonolites: Integrated petrologic and geophysical constraints on the evolution of the crust and upper mantle beneath the Kenya Rift. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/94jb03036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Ebinger CJ, Deino AL, Drake RE, Tesha AL. Chronology of volcanism and rift basin propagation: Rungwe Volcanic Province, East Africa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/jb094ib11p15785] [Citation(s) in RCA: 167] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Burov EB, Diament M. The effective elastic thickness (Te) of continental lithosphere: What does it really mean? ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/94jb02770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 611] [Impact Index Per Article: 50.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Ben-Avraham Z, Hartnady CJH, le Roex AP. Neotectonic activity on continental fragments in the Southwest Indian Ocean: Agulhas Plateau and Mozambique Ridge. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/94jb02881] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Déverchère J, Houdry F, Solonenko NV, Solonenko AV, Sankov VA. Seismicity, active faults and stress field of the North Muya Region, Baikal Rift: New insights on the rheology of extended continental lithosphere. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/93jb01429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Macario A, Malinverno A, Haxby WF. On the robustness of elastic thickness estimates obtained using the coherence method. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012. [DOI: 10.1029/95jb00980] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Braile L, Keller G, Wendlandt R, Morgan P, Khan M. Chapter 5 The east african rift system. CONTINENTAL RIFTS:EVOLUTION, STRUCTURE, TECTONICS 2006. [DOI: 10.1016/s0419-0254(06)80013-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan McKenzie
- Institute of Theoretical Geophysics, Bullard Laboratories; Department of Earth Sciences; Cambridge UK
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Weeraratne DS, Forsyth DW, Fischer KM, Nyblade AA. Evidence for an upper mantle plume beneath the Tanzanian craton from Rayleigh wave tomography. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2003. [DOI: 10.1029/2002jb002273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 172] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - Donald W. Forsyth
- Department of Geological Sciences; Brown University; Providence Rhode Island USA
| | - Karen M. Fischer
- Department of Geological Sciences; Brown University; Providence Rhode Island USA
| | - Andrew A. Nyblade
- Department of Geosciences; Pennsylvania State University; University Park Pennsylvania USA
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Petit C, Ebinger C. Flexure and mechanical behavior of cratonic lithosphere: Gravity models of the East African and Baikal rifts. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2000. [DOI: 10.1029/2000jb900101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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von Frese RRB, Tan L, Woo Kim J, Bentley CR. Antarctic crustal modeling from the spectral correlation of free-air gravity anomalies with the terrain. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1999. [DOI: 10.1029/1999jb900232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Ritsema J, Nyblade AA, Owens TJ, Langston CA, VanDecar JC. Upper mantle seismic velocity structure beneath Tanzania, east Africa: Implications for the stability of cratonic lithosphere. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1029/98jb01274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Anderson S, Grimm RE. Rift processes at the Valles Marineris, Mars: Constraints from gravity on necking and rate-dependent strength evolution. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1029/98je00740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Wilson M, Guiraud R, Moreau C, Bellion YJC. Late Permian to Recent magmatic activity on the African-Arabian margin of Tethys. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1998. [DOI: 10.1144/gsl.sp.1998.132.01.14] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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McKenzie D, Fairhead D. Estimates of the effective elastic thickness of the continental lithosphere from Bouguer and free air gravity anomalies. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1029/97jb02481] [Citation(s) in RCA: 269] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Stewart J, Watts AB. Gravity anomalies and spatial variations of flexural rigidity at mountain ranges. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1997. [DOI: 10.1029/96jb03664] [Citation(s) in RCA: 137] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Doucouré CM, de Wit MJ, Mushayandebvu MF. Effective elastic thickness of the continental lithosphere in South Africa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1996. [DOI: 10.1029/95jb03718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Nyblade AA, Langston CA, Last RJ, Birt C, Owens TJ. Seismic experiment reveals rifting of craton in Tanzania. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1996. [DOI: 10.1029/96eo00339] [Citation(s) in RCA: 67] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
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Poudjom Djomani Y, Diament M, Albouy Y. Mechanical behaviour of the lithosphere beneath the Adamawa uplift (Cameroon, West Africa) based on gravity data. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1992. [DOI: 10.1016/0899-5362(92)90009-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Abstract
Many volcanoes emerge from the flank (footwall) of normal faults in continental rift zones. Because such locations are commonly topographically high and exhibit minor compressional structures, the association is enigmatic. A simple flexing plate model shows that deformation of a flexurally supported upper crust during normal faulting generates a dilational strain field in the footwall at the base of the crust. This strain field allows cracking and tapping of preexisting melt.
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Gilchrist AR, Summerfield MA. Differential denudation and flexural isostasy in formation of rifted-margin upwarps. Nature 1990. [DOI: 10.1038/346739a0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 179] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Nyblade AA, Pollack HN, Jones DL, Podmore F, Mushayandebvu M. Terrestrial heat flow in east and southern Africa. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1990. [DOI: 10.1029/jb095ib11p17371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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Zuber MT, Bechtel TD, Forsyth DW. Effective elastic thicknesses of the lithosphere and mechanisms of isostatic compensation in Australia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 1989. [DOI: 10.1029/jb094ib07p09353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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