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Lithosphere thinning induced by slab penetration into a hydrous mantle transition zone
Author(s) -
Wang Zhensheng,
Kusky Timothy M.,
Capitanio Fabio A.
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1002/2016gl071186
Subject(s) - geology , magmatism , transition zone , lithosphere , craton , partial melting , mantle (geology) , slab , geochemistry , mantle wedge , subduction , petrology , geophysics , seismology , tectonics
Water plays an important role in deformation and partial melting of Earth's mantle. The mantle transition zone (MTZ) is a deep reservoir of bound water from subducting slabs. When this reservoir is perturbed by subducting slabs, water is released, impacting the rheology and dynamics of the mantle. We model the role of released water from the MTZ in lithospheric destruction, deformation and deep‐source magmatism. Comparing the model results from the North China Craton, we infer that the first peak period of magmatism during craton destruction and lithospheric removal (135–115 Ma) resulted from the subducting Izanagi plate perturbing the strongly hydrous MTZ, whereas the second peak period of magmatism (80 Ma‐Cenozoic) is related to extension and asthenospheric partial melting caused by Pacific slab rollback.