scholarly journals Refertilization of Mantle Peridotites from the Central Indian Ridge: Response to a Geodynamic Transition

Lithosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 2021 (Special 6) ◽  
Author(s):  
A. Hazra ◽  
A. Saha ◽  
A. Verencar ◽  
M. Satyanarayanan ◽  
S. Ganguly ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Chemistry ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Fracture Zones ◽  
Mechanical Instability ◽  
Transform Faults ◽  
Central Indian Ridge ◽  
Oceanic Ridge ◽  
Tectonic Transition ◽  
Suprasubduction Zone ◽  
Indian Ridge

Abstract The phenomena of reactive percolation of enriched asthenospheric melts and pervasive melt-rock interactions at mid oceanic ridge-rift systems are the principal proponents for mantle refertilization and compositional heterogeneity. This study presents new mineralogical and geochemical data for the abyssal peridotites exposed along the Vema and Vityaz fracture zones of the Central Indian Ridge (CIR) to address factors contributing to the chemical heterogeneity of CIR mantle. Cr-spinel (Cr#: 0.37-0.59) chemistry classifies these rocks as alpine-type peridotites and corroborates a transitional depleted MORB type to enriched, SSZ-related arc-type magma composition. HFSE and REE geochemistry further attests to an enriched intraoceanic forearc mantle affinity. The distinct boninitic signature of these rocks reflected by LREE>MREE<HREE and PGE compositions substantiates refertilization of the CIR mantle harzburgites by boninitic melt percolation concomitant to initiation of oceanic subduction. The mineral chemistry, trace, and PGE signatures of the CIR peridotites envisage (i) replenishment of depleted sub-ridge upper mantle by impregnation of subduction-derived boninitic melts, (ii) tectonic transition from mid oceanic ridge-rift to an embryonic suprasubduction zone, and (iii) initiation of spontaneous intraoceanic subduction along submarine transform faults and fracture zones of slow-spreading CIR owing to the weakness and mechanical instability of older, denser, and negatively buoyant Indian Ocean lithosphere.

Investigation into the influence of the Réunion plume on the Central Indian Ridge

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clément Vincent ◽  
Jung-Woo Park ◽  
Sang-Mook Lee ◽  
Jonguk Kim ◽  
Sang-Joon Pak
Keyword(s):  
High Resolution ◽  
Leading Edge ◽  
Middle Part ◽  
Geochemical Data ◽  
Long Distance ◽  
Transform Faults ◽  
Central Indian Ridge ◽  
Mid Ocean Ridge ◽  
Indian Ridge ◽  
Ocean Ridge

<p>Plume-ridge interaction is an important thermal and geological process, which results in various physical and chemical anomalies along a significant length of the global mid-ocean ridge system. Despite numerous studies, some remaining questions to be solved are the origin and mechanisms of geochemical variations and their possible correlation with the morphology of mid-ocean ridges.</p><p>The Central Indian Ridge, with a slow to intermediate spreading rate, provides an ideal opportunity to explore the long-distance plume-ridge interactions. Presently, the ridge is moving away from the Réunion hotspot which is located 1000 km away from the Central Indian Ridge at Réunion Island. Paleogeographic reconstruction suggests that the hotspot crossed the middle part of the Central Indian Ridge (MCIR) between 8°S and 17°S at ~34 Ma. Previous studies argue that the plume material currently flows into the Central Indian Ridge at around 19°S, south of Marie Celeste Fracture Zone (MCFZ) and geochemical enrichments of the mid-ocean ridge basalts (MORB) from the MCIR 14°S and 19°S segments can be attributed to a fossil Réunion plume component. However, a recent geophysical study has suggested that the geochemical anomalies along the Rodrigues segment (18-21°S) can be ascribed to the asthenospheric flow from the Réunion plume, reopening the debate about the origin of the enriched anomalies along the MCIR (14-19°S).</p><p>In this study, we revisited the MCIR from 14°S to 17°S with new geochemical data obtained based on high-resolution sampling and ship-board high-resolution bathymetry data to constrain the influence of the Réunion plume on geochemistry and bathymetry of the MCIR. The results show that trace element ratios and isotopic compositions of on-axis MORB vary in association with ridge discontinuities such as transform faults and non-transform fault discontinuities. The MORB from the northern parts of segments display substantially enriched geochemical features and the enrichments correspond to a shallower axial bathymetry. We attribute the chemical and morphological anomalies along the ridge to the influence of a Réunion plume component focussed by a hotspot leading edge effect. The hotspot leading segments are offset in the direction of the plume and are more efficiently affected by the enriched plume materials. These findings suggest that lithospheric discontinuities such as transform faults and fracture zones may control the flow of mantle plume material into the ridge and the geometry of the ridge coupled to its hotspot proximity may play an important role, particularly in the long-distance plume-ridge interaction.</p>

Glass and Mineral Chemistry of Northern Central Indian Ridge Basalts: Compositional Diversity and Petrogenetic Significance

2009 ◽  
Vol 83 (6) ◽  
pp. 1122-1135 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dwijesh RAY ◽  
Ranadip BANERJEE ◽  
Sridhar D IYER ◽  
Basavaraju BASAVALINGU ◽  
Subir MUKHOPADHYAY
Keyword(s):  
Mineral Chemistry ◽  
Central Indian Ridge ◽  
Indian Ridge ◽  
Compositional Diversity

Segmentation of the Central Indian Ridge between 12°12′ S and the Indian Ocean Triple Junction

1993 ◽  
Vol 15 (4) ◽  
pp. 265-282 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lindsay M. Parson ◽  
Philippe Patriat ◽  
Roger C. Searle ◽  
Anne R. Briais
Keyword(s):  
Indian Ocean ◽  
Triple Junction ◽  
Central Indian Ridge ◽  
The Indian Ocean ◽  
Indian Ridge

3. Fracture zones and transform faults

2015 ◽  
pp. 36-52
Author(s):  
Peter Molnar
Keyword(s):  
Fracture Zones ◽  
Transform Faults ◽  
Ocean Ridges ◽  
The 1950S

‘Fracture zones and transform faults’ introduces fracture zones, huge, long linear scars in the seafloor first mapped in the 1950s, and their interpretation in terms of a new concept, transform faulting. Fracture zones are made at mid-ocean ridges, where the seafloor spreads apart. Segments of zones of spreading intersect fracture zones at right angles, along which transform faulting transfers the spreading on one spreading zone to another. As the seafloor spreads, and plates move apart at mid-ocean ridges, fracture zones grow longer. Testing this idea relied on the study of earthquakes that occurred on the transform faults, using seismographs on distant continents. This chapter introduces readers to the pertinent seismological methods by which this was achieved.

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