Open AccessDoes the core leak?
Author(s) -
Walker Richard J.,
Walker David
Publication year - 2005
Publication title -
eos, transactions american geophysical union
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.316
H-Index - 86
eISSN - 2324-9250
pISSN - 0096-3941
DOI - 10.1029/2005eo250001
Subject(s) - geodynamics , mantle (geology) , geology , mantle plume , geophysics , hotspot (geology) , core–mantle boundary , earth science , lithosphere , seismology , tectonics
Appreciable geophysical evidence has accumulated to suggest that some slabs subduct into the Earth's deep mantle and that certain mantle plumes originate in the lower mantle. Despite this progress in understanding geophysical geodynamics, debate continues on corroborating geochemical evidence. If some plumes rise from the core‐mantle boundary and there is chemical interaction between the core and mantle, it is possible that such plumes could contain a unique fingerprint that is characteristic of the core. Unequivocal identification of a core component in a plume‐derived rock could potentially settle major questions in geodynamics. This article reviews geochemical tools that would likely be sensitive to such interactions, and considers possible mechanistic causes for core‐mantle interaction.