Foundering of mafic plutons and density stratification of continental crust

Research Article| May 01, 1994 Foundering of mafic plutons and density stratification of continental crust Allen F. Glazner Allen F. Glazner 1Department of Geology, CB# 3315, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Allen F. Glazner 1Department of Geology, CB# 3315, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1994) 22 (5): 435–438. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0435:FOMPAD>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Allen F. Glazner; Foundering of mafic plutons and density stratification of continental crust. Geology 1994;; 22 (5): 435–438. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0435:FOMPAD>2.3.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 Mafic magmas rising into the middle crust are typically trapped in wall rocks of similar density. Upon crystallization their densities increase significantly, and the resulting plutons have a large negative buoyancy. Calculations indicate that plutons of even modest size will sink at rates on the order of several kilometres per million years in typical middle and lower crust. This foundering process accounts for the widespread stable density stratification of the crust in spite of magmatic processes that should lead to density inversions. 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.