Compression melting in subduction zones

✍ Scribed by Hikaru Iwamori

• Publisher: John Wiley and Sons
• Year: 1997
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 257 KB
• Volume: 9
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0954-4879
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3121.1997.d01-4.x

✦ Synopsis

Magmatism at convergent plate boundaries is related to processes associated with subduction, where H~2~O brought into the mantle is thought to play an essential role in producing the melts. One of the important aspects of the melting of hydrous systems is that the rock packet can melt during compression corresponding to a gentle or negative dT/dP slope of the solidus curve at relatively low temperatures. Here, the effects of compression on batch and fractional melting of hydrous peridotites in the mantle wedge of subduction zones are estimated, taking account of the flow pattern, energy balance and phase equilibrium constraints. The results show that a significant amount of melt, comparable to the eruption rate on volcanic arcs, can be produced in the downward flow along the plate. Further studies on distribution and transportation of H~2~O in the mantle wedge and melt segregation processes are required to estimate the importance of compression melting.