Lithospheric thickness as a control on basalt geochemistry

Research Article| February 01, 1992 Lithospheric thickness as a control on basalt geochemistry R.M. Ellam R.M. Ellam 1Isotope Geology Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QU, Scotland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information R.M. Ellam 1Isotope Geology Unit, Scottish Universities Research and Reactor Centre, East Kilbride, Glasgow G75 0QU, Scotland Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1992) 20 (2): 153–156. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1992)0202.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation R.M. Ellam; Lithospheric thickness as a control on basalt geochemistry. Geology 1992;; 20 (2): 153–156. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1992)0202.3.CO;2 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 Variations in the thickness of the lithosphere are likely to influence the trace element compositions of basaits by controlling the distribution of melt and the minerals in the melting assemblage in the asthenosphere. Examples of systematic trace element variations that appear to be related to the thickness of the lithosphere are found in both oceanic and continental basalts. In the oceans, lithospheric thickness is closely related to age, and its control is manifested by a relation between trace element composition and age of basement ocean crust in Atlantic ocean-island basalts. Beneath continents, lithospheric thickness is less age sensitive, but it varies widely in response to extensional tectonics. Contemporary hot spots, which have been implicated in the generation of ancient flood basalts, show variations in the rare earth element content of their associated basalts which apparently reflect changes in lithospheric thickness between the time of flood-basalt eruption and the present. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.