Why cold slabs stagnate in the transition zone

Research Article| March 01, 2015 Why cold slabs stagnate in the transition zone Scott D. King; Scott D. King 1Department of Geosciences, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, Virginia 24061, USA2Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Daniel J. Frost; Daniel J. Frost 2Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar David C. Rubie David C. Rubie 2Bayerisches Geoinstitut, Universität Bayreuth, D-95440 Bayreuth, Germany Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2015) 43 (3): 231–234. https://doi.org/10.1130/G36320.1 Article history received: 30 Sep 2014 rev-recd: 17 Dec 2014 accepted: 18 Dec 2014 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Scott D. King, Daniel J. Frost, David C. Rubie; Why cold slabs stagnate in the transition zone. Geology 2015;; 43 (3): 231–234. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G36320.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Oceanic lithosphere sinks, stagnates, and is deflected sub-horizontally beneath western Pacific island arcs, requiring buoyancy in the slab that is inconsistent with a thermal origin. The transformation of pyroxene to majoritic garnet occurs by extremely slow diffusion, and pyroxene is therefore unlikely to transform at equilibrium pressures and temperatures in the cold interior of slabs. We present high-resolution numerical simulations showing that when slow diffusion inhibits the dissolution of pyroxene into garnet, the slab becomes buoyant relative to the ambient mantle and stagnates, whereas when the phase transformations occur in equilibrium, there is no effect on the slab. We test the model by comparing slab temperature and geometry and find that sub-horizontal slabs are more likely colder than average, consistent with our numerical simulations. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.