Testing the Processes of Melt Differentiation in the Mexican Volcanic Belt
- Lead PI: Dr. Susanne M. Straub
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Unit Affiliation: Geochemistry, Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO)
- January 2008 - July 2013
- Inactive
- Central America ; North America ; Lamont Doherty Earth Observatory (LDEO) ; Nacional Autónoma de México Centro de Geociencias (UNAM-CGEO) ; Kilbride, Scotland ; Eugene, OR
- Project Type: Research
DESCRIPTION: The project targeted unusually Ni-rich olivines that were reported from young volcanic rocks in Transmexican Volcanic Belt. We investigated olivines from a range of basaltic to andesitic rocks from composite volcano Popocatepetl and its surrounding monogenetic volcanoes.
OUTCOMES: Results show that high-Ni olivines are common in basaltic and andesitic melts. The entirety of compositonal systematics and spatial and temporal constraints show that melts crystallizing high-Ni olivines are formed >50 km deep in the Earth's mantle that is filtrated by silicic components released from the subducting slab that passes at ca. 100 km depth beneath the arc.