The evolution of mid-ocean ridge magma chambers and the growth of slow-spreading oceanic crust
Lead Research Organisation:
CARDIFF UNIVERSITY
Department Name: School of Earth and Ocean Sciences
Abstract
Oceanic crust covers nearly two thirds of the Earth's surface. It is generated at mid-ocean ridges by the solidification of magmas formed in the upwelling mantle. These magmas are stored in magma chambers below the ridge axis, where they crystallise to yield the lower oceanic crust. The heat provided by magma input and crystallisation drives seafloor hydrothermal systems, which control ocean chemistry through lithosphere-hydrosphere exchange, and provide energy for chemosynthetic ecosystems. Recovered sections of lower oceanic crust have provided much information on crustal accretion mechanisms, but the key element of time has remained largely unconstrained due to the absence of precise dating tools. As a result, the temporal evolution of the accretion process has remained enigmatic. This is critical, however, not only for understanding formation of a large part of the Earth's crust, but also for understanding the controls on hydrothermal circulation. Our recent work has demonstrated that U-Pb zircon dating techniques are now of sufficient precision to allow us to resolve the temporal evolution of magma chambers and relationships with crustal cooling (Lissenberg et al., Science, 2009), showing that zircon growth may occur over a significant time span (>100 ka) within individual mid-ocean ridge plutons. As a result, we now have a tool to reconstruct the relationships between time, temperature and magma chemistry. This proposal seeks to further develop this tool and greatly expand its scientific application by applying it to samples from the lower oceanic crust recovered from the Vema Lithospheric Section (11 degrees N, Mid-Atlantic Ridge). Combining high-precision zircon dating with trace element analyses, we will reconstruct how long magma chambers along this ridge segment were active, how they evolved over time and how quickly they cooled. This will provide an unprecedented view of the evolution of mid-ocean ridge magmatic systems over time. The pattern of the age variation of the samples with distance from the spreading ridge will constrain where magma was delivered to the crust. This allows a test of our hypothesis that slow-spreading oceanic crust forms in two fundamentally different modes, one dominated by symmetric spreading and melt delivery at shallow levels (inferred for Vema), and the other by asymmetric spreading, detachment faulting and deep magma emplacement.
People |
ORCID iD |
Cornelis Lissenberg (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
De Hoog J
(2014)
Hydrogen incorporation and charge balance in natural zircon
in Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta
Leuthold J
(2018)
Partial Melting of Lower Oceanic Crust Gabbro: Constraints From Poikilitic Clinopyroxene Primocrysts
in Frontiers in Earth Science
Lissenberg C
(2016)
Crystallization depth beneath an oceanic detachment fault (ODP Hole 923A, Mid-Atlantic Ridge)
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Lissenberg C
(2023)
Crystallization of Superfast-Spreading Oceanic Crust (ODP Hole 1256D, Pacific Ocean): Constraints From Zircon Geochronology
in Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems
Rioux M
(2015)
U-Pb dating of interspersed gabbroic magmatism and hydrothermal metamorphism during lower crustal accretion, Vema lithospheric section, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
in Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth
Description | The mineral zircon is used by Earth Scientists to place absolute dates on rocks. It grows mainly from magmas as they crystallise. My previous work found that, when very precise dates are obtained on individual zircon crystals from a single sample, the different crystals do not all give the same age. Given that zircon is the main way of providing absolute dates for rocks, this is fundamentally important. This grant explored the cause of the dispersion in dates, and found that they relate to changing conditions during the history of magma chambers. Two additional findings are (i) that zircon can incorporate water in its mineral structure, and that this water plays a role in the incorporation of other trace elements; and (ii) that zircon allows the depths of crystallisation of magmas at mid-ocean ridges to be determined. |
Exploitation Route | Academics will use the findings in their interpretation of high-precision zircon dates. In addition, they will take into account the role of water in zircon when interpreting zircon trace element data - an increasingly important tool. |
Sectors | Other |
Description | Findings have inspired a workshop to secondary school students focusing on the geology of the ocean basins. Feedback was very positive, and two students in attendance went on to apply to study Geology at university. |
First Year Of Impact | 2013 |
Sector | Education |
Impact Types | Societal |
Description | Crystallisation depth and lithospheric thickness beneath ultraslow-spreading mid-ocean ridges |
Amount | £62,208 (GBP) |
Funding ID | IP-1624-0516 |
Organisation | Natural Environment Research Council |
Sector | Public |
Country | United Kingdom |
Start | 08/2016 |
End | 12/2021 |
Description | MIT U-Pb |
Organisation | Massachusetts Institute of Technology |
Country | United States |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Provided samples and expertise on mid-ocean ridges |
Collaborator Contribution | Provided geochronology data and expertise |
Impact | Pending |
Start Year | 2007 |
Description | Schools petro prac |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | Workshop provided students with a perspective of Geosciences Stimulated interest in Geosciences |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2013,2014 |