The generation of continental flood basalts by decompression melting of internally heated mantle

Research Article| April 01, 2015 The generation of continental flood basalts by decompression melting of internally heated mantle Malcolm J. Hole Malcolm J. Hole Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Abderdeen AB24 3UE, UK Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Malcolm J. Hole Department of Geology and Petroleum Geology, University of Aberdeen, King’s College, Abderdeen AB24 3UE, UK Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 12 Nov 2014 Revision Received: 19 Jan 2015 Accepted: 27 Jan 2015 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2015 Geological Society of America Geology (2015) 43 (4): 311–314. https://doi.org/10.1130/G36442.1 Article history Received: 12 Nov 2014 Revision Received: 19 Jan 2015 Accepted: 27 Jan 2015 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Malcolm J. Hole; The generation of continental flood basalts by decompression melting of internally heated mantle. Geology 2015;; 43 (4): 311–314. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G36442.1 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 Modeled primary magma compositions for flood basalts from the Central Atlantic magmatic province and the Ferrar large igneous province (Antarctica) require mantle potential temperatures (TP) of 1450 ± 50 °C, with melting taking place over a pressure range of ∼2.0 GPa to <0.5 GPa. This range of TP is consistent with internal warming of mantle insulated by continental lithosphere, and does not necessarily require a mantle plume. The substantial crustal attenuation needed to allow decompression melting was facilitated by plate boundary forces that accompanied continental breakup. However, continental fragmentation and the plate boundary forces necessary to drive low-TP rift-related magmatism may still require the action of hot mantle plumes. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.