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Klein et al. 1991
Klein, E.M., Langmuir, C.H. and Staudigel, H. (1991). Geochemistry of Basalts from the Southeast Indian Ridge, 115¿°E-138¿°E. Journal of Geophysical Research 96: doi: 10.1029/90JB01384. issn: 0148-0227.
The ocean basin south of Australia contains the Australian-Antarctic Discordance, an anomalously deep portion of the Southeast Indian Ridge that marks a boundary between isotopic provinces characteristic of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Samples recovered from the ridge within the discordance display unusual chemical compositions compared to normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) of the same MgO contents, including low iron, high silica, and high sodium abundances and elevated abundances of highly incompatible trace elements. In contrast, samples from the ridge east of the discordance, where the ridge is of average axial depth, display major and trace element systematics more typical of N-MORB. Major and moderately incompatible trace elements show no evidence of a discontinuity in source composition corresponding to the location of the known isotopic discontinuity within the discordance. Ratios of highly incompatible trace elements, however, reveal a gradational change in the range of values across the location of the isotopic discontinuity. Modelling of along-strike variations in major element chemistry suggest they may result from systematic variations in the extent and pressure of melting. The lowest solidus pressures and least extents of melting occur in the mantle beneath the discordance, supporting geophysical inferences based on bathymetric, gravity, and seismic evidence that the discordance overlies a region of cooler mantle temperatures. ¿ American Geophysical Union 1991 The ocean basin south of Australia contains the Australian-Antarctic Discordance, an anomalously deep portion of the Southeast Indian Ridge that marks a boundary between isotopic provinces characteristic of the Indian and Pacific oceans. Samples recovered from the ridge within the discordance display unusual chemical compositions compared to normal mid-ocean ridge basalt (N-MORB) of the same MgO contents, including low iron, high silica, and high sodium abundances and elevated abundances of highly incompatible trace elements. In contrast, samples from the ridge east of the discordance, where the ridge is of average axial depth, display major and trace element systematics more typical of N-MORB. Major and moderately incompatible trace elements show no evidence of a discontinuity in source composition corresponding to the location of the known isotopic discontinuity within the discordance. Ratios of highly incompatible trace elements, however, reveal a gradational change in the range of values across the location of the isotopic discontinuity. Modelling of along-strike variations in major element chemistry suggest they may result from systematic variations in the extent and pressure of melting. The lowest solidus pressures and least extents of melting occur in the mantle beneath the discordance, supporting geophysical inferences based on bathymetric, gravity, and seismic evi
BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract
Abstract
Abstract

Table 1
Table 1
Table 2
Table 2
Table 3
Table 3
Table 4A
Table 4a
Table 4B
Table 4b
Table 5
Table 5

Methods - Sample Selection & Preparation
Methods - Sample Selection & Preparation
Methods - Analysis by Direct Current Plasma Emission Spectrometry
Methods - Analysis by Direct Current Plasma Emission Spectrometry

Keywords
Marine Geology and Geophysics, Midocean ridge processes, Mineralogy and Petrology, Igneous petrology, Mineralogy and Petrology, Major element composition, Mineralogy and Petrology, Minor and trace element composition
Journal
Journal of Geophysical Research
http://www.agu.org/journals/jb/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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