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Gabbroic xenoliths from the northern Gorda Ridge: implications for magma chamber processes under slow spreading centers

Journal of Geophysical Research
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Abstract

Abundant gabbroic xenoliths in porphyritic pillow basalt were dredged from the northern Gorda Ridge. The host lava is a moderately fractionated, normal mid-ocean ridge basalt with a heterogeneous glass rind (Mg numbers 56-60). Other lavas in the vicinity range from near primary (Mg number 69) to fractionated (Mg number 56). On the basis of textures and mineral compositions, the xenoliths are divided into five types. The xenoliths are not cognate to the host lava, but they are genetically related. Chemistry of mineral phases in conjunction with textural features suggests that the xenoliths formed in different parts of a convecting magma chamber that underwent a period of closed system fractionation. The chamber was filled with a large proportion of crystalline mush when new, more primitive, and less dense magma was injected and mixed incompletely with the contents in the chamber, forming the hybrid host lava. -from Authors
Publication type Article
Publication Subtype Journal Article
Title Gabbroic xenoliths from the northern Gorda Ridge: implications for magma chamber processes under slow spreading centers
Series title Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume 95
Issue B7
Year Published 1990
Language English
Larger Work Type Article
Larger Work Subtype Journal Article
Larger Work Title Journal of Geophysical Research
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