Dear All,
Our Smith Lecture speaker this week is Ananya Mallik, Rice University. She is speaking on "Earth's Upper Mantle Hybridization by Chemical Heterogeneity: Implications for Genesis of Ocean Island Basalts and Ultra-potassic Arc Lavas". Abstract below.
Our Smith Lecture speaker this week is Ananya Mallik, Rice University. She is speaking on "Earth's Upper Mantle Hybridization by Chemical Heterogeneity: Implications for Genesis of Ocean Island Basalts and Ultra-potassic Arc Lavas". Abstract below.
Smith Lectures are Friday afternoons from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, in Room 1528 C.C. Little Building. A reception is held following the lecture in 2540 C.C. Little. The events are free and open to the public. A full schedule for the term may be found on our website:
Best regards, -Anne
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Anne Hudon
Academic Student Services
Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences
University of Michigan
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Abstract:
Chemical heterogeneities are introduced in the Earth’s mantle via subduction and are also created within the mantle by differentiation (melting) processes. Such heterogeneities chemically interact with the surrounding (peridotitic) mantle either by solid-state diffusion processes or via melting/releasing fluids. Therefore, chemical processes within the Earth’s mantle must be affected by presence of these heterogeneities and as proof, several primary lava compositions across tectonic settings contain signatures of presence of some form of chemical heterogeneity in the source. Owing to their reactivity in silicate systems, volatiles such as H2O and CO2 interfere with mantle chemical processes, adding further complexity to heterogeneity-ambient mantle interaction. I have used ocean island basalts and arc lavas as proxies to understand how chemical heterogeneities interact with the ambient mantle both in the presence and absence of volatiles.
