Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle Wedge

Abstract The compositional similarity between high‐Mg andesite‐dacite from accretionary orogens and bulk continental crust (CC) provides an opportunity to unravel the CC formation paradox. Compositional data from a global compilation of Quaternary magmatic arcs indicate the presence of low‐Mg series...

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Main Authors: Shi‐Min Li, Qing Wang, Di‐Cheng Zhu, Peter A. Cawood, Robert J. Stern, Zhidan Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-08-01
Series:Geophysical Research Letters
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097515
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author Shi‐Min Li
Qing Wang
Di‐Cheng Zhu
Peter A. Cawood
Robert J. Stern
Zhidan Zhao
author_facet Shi‐Min Li
Qing Wang
Di‐Cheng Zhu
Peter A. Cawood
Robert J. Stern
Zhidan Zhao
author_sort Shi‐Min Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The compositional similarity between high‐Mg andesite‐dacite from accretionary orogens and bulk continental crust (CC) provides an opportunity to unravel the CC formation paradox. Compositional data from a global compilation of Quaternary magmatic arcs indicate the presence of low‐Mg series (LMS) and high‐Mg series (HMS). The LMS show trends of crystal fractionation and can be subdivided into high Ba/Th and high La/Sm groups, which likely originate from fluid‐ and sediment melt‐modified mantle wedge, respectively. In contrast, the HMS have variably mixed compositions (e.g., high Mg#, Ba/Th, and La/Sm) and can be explained by partial melting of mélange diapirs rising into the mantle wedge, which are mixtures of subducted sediment, eroded arc crust or CC, buoyant oceanic crust, and peridotite. We, therefore, propose a two‐step process for creating CC involving extraction of LMS from the mantle followed by re‐melting of recycled LMS in the mantle to generate HMS and thus CC.
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issn 0094-8276
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publishDate 2022-08-01
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series Geophysical Research Letters
spelling doaj-art-4bd93023d2ab4f9a9b53037c5d71bca22025-08-20T02:11:38ZengWileyGeophysical Research Letters0094-82761944-80072022-08-014915n/an/a10.1029/2021GL097515Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle WedgeShi‐Min Li0Qing Wang1Di‐Cheng Zhu2Peter A. Cawood3Robert J. Stern4Zhidan Zhao5State Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, and School of Earth Science and Resources China University of Geosciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, and School of Earth Science and Resources China University of Geosciences Beijing ChinaState Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, and School of Earth Science and Resources China University of Geosciences Beijing ChinaSchool of Earth, Atmosphere & Environment Monash University Melbourne VIC AustraliaGeosciences Department University of Texas at Dallas Richardson TX USAState Key Laboratory of Geological Processes and Mineral Resources, and School of Earth Science and Resources China University of Geosciences Beijing ChinaAbstract The compositional similarity between high‐Mg andesite‐dacite from accretionary orogens and bulk continental crust (CC) provides an opportunity to unravel the CC formation paradox. Compositional data from a global compilation of Quaternary magmatic arcs indicate the presence of low‐Mg series (LMS) and high‐Mg series (HMS). The LMS show trends of crystal fractionation and can be subdivided into high Ba/Th and high La/Sm groups, which likely originate from fluid‐ and sediment melt‐modified mantle wedge, respectively. In contrast, the HMS have variably mixed compositions (e.g., high Mg#, Ba/Th, and La/Sm) and can be explained by partial melting of mélange diapirs rising into the mantle wedge, which are mixtures of subducted sediment, eroded arc crust or CC, buoyant oceanic crust, and peridotite. We, therefore, propose a two‐step process for creating CC involving extraction of LMS from the mantle followed by re‐melting of recycled LMS in the mantle to generate HMS and thus CC.https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097515low‐Mg serieshigh‐Mg seriesmetasomatized mantleMélange diapirscontinental crustal formation
spellingShingle Shi‐Min Li
Qing Wang
Di‐Cheng Zhu
Peter A. Cawood
Robert J. Stern
Zhidan Zhao
Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle Wedge
Geophysical Research Letters
low‐Mg series
high‐Mg series
metasomatized mantle
Mélange diapirs
continental crustal formation
title Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle Wedge
title_full Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle Wedge
title_fullStr Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle Wedge
title_full_unstemmed Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle Wedge
title_short Formation of Continental Crust by Diapiric Melting of Recycled Crustal Materials in the Mantle Wedge
title_sort formation of continental crust by diapiric melting of recycled crustal materials in the mantle wedge
topic low‐Mg series
high‐Mg series
metasomatized mantle
Mélange diapirs
continental crustal formation
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2021GL097515
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