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Underplating of the crust and xenolith geotherms in Australia
Author(s) -
Cull James Phillip
Publication year - 1990
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/gl017i008p01133
Subject(s) - underplating , xenolith , radiogenic nuclide , geology , partial melting , crust , geothermal gradient , petrology , geophysics , earth science , geochemistry , lithosphere , tectonics , seismology , mantle (geology)
Xenolith data indicate extreme geothermal gradients at shallow depth in eastern Australia contrary to results obtained from models based on thermal conduction. Consequently mechanisms involving partial melting accompanied by underplating must be assumed to supply additional heat unrelated to radiogenic profiles. A mid‐crustal heat‐source is required to satisfy the xenolith data suggesting a layered structure consistent with episodic underplating at maximum rates approaching 900m/Myr in eastern Australia.