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Petrology of basaltic glasses from the TAG Segment: Implications for a deep hydrothermal heat source
Author(s) -
Meyer Peter S.,
Bryan Wilfred B.
Publication year - 1996
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 - 10.1029/96gl01033
Subject(s) - basalt , geology , plagioclase , hydrothermal circulation , olivine , crystallization , quartz , geochemistry , fractional crystallization (geology) , magma , volcano , trace element , petrology , mineralogy , seismology , thermodynamics , paleontology , physics
The trace element composition of basaltic glasses from the TAG segment of the MAR indicate that magmas erupted on the surface are derived from multiple primary magmas with Ce/Sm ratios varying from 2.2 to 3.9. In the pseudoquaternary system olivine‐plagioclase‐clinopyroxene‐quartz, TAG glasses cluster between the 4 and 6 kb phase boundaries. This suggests that TAG primary magmas evolve by crystallization at moderate to high pressure, then ascend rapidly to the surface with very short residence times and limited degrees of crystallization in shallow chambers. Such a plumbing system implies a deep‐seated heat source for hydrothermal circulation.