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Mantle geochemistry: the message from oceanic volcanism

Nature volume 385, pages 219–229 (1997)Cite this article

Abstract

Basaltic volcanism 'samples' the Earth's mantle to great depths, because solid-state convection transports deep material into the (shallow) melting region. The isotopic and trace-element chemistry of these basalts shows that the mantle contains several isotopically and chemically distinct components, which reflect its global evolution. This evolution is characterized by upper-mantle depletion of many trace elements, possible replenishment from the deeper, less depleted mantle, and the recycling of oceanic crust and lithosphere, but of only small amounts of continental material.

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Hofmann, A. Mantle geochemistry: the message from oceanic volcanism. Nature 385, 219–229 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1038/385219a0

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