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Dynamic melting of the Iceland plume

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Abstract

Icelandic high-magnesia basalts show striking correlations between major element abundances and incompatible element and radiogenic isotope ratios. The most MgO-rich lavas have the most depleted incompatible element ratios and among the least radiogenic lead isotopes recorded in Atlantic mid-ocean-ridge basalts, highlighting a decoupling of the major and trace element characteristics expected of plume melts. This paradox can be explained by the process that mixes melts segregated from different depths of the melting column. The resulting model provides insight into the processes governing melt compositions at spreading ridges.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth Sciences, The Open University, Milton Keynes, MK7 6AA, UK

    T. R. Elliott & C. J. Hawkesworth

  2. Nordic Voicanological Institute, University of Iceland, IS-101, Reykjavik, Iceland

    K. Grönvold

Authors
  1. T. R. Elliott
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  2. C. J. Hawkesworth
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  3. K. Grönvold
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Elliott, T., Hawkesworth, C. & Grönvold, K. Dynamic melting of the Iceland plume. Nature 351, 201–206 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1038/351201a0

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