Showing papers on "Incompatible element published in 1993"

Experimental cpx/melt partitioning of 24 trace elements

Abstract: Cpx/melt partition coefficients have been determined by ion probe for 24 trace elements at natural levels in an alkali basalt experimentally equilibrated at 1,380°C and 3 GPa. One goal was to intercompare Ds for both high-field-strength elements and rare earth elements (REE) in a single experiment. Relative to the REE spidergram, Hf and Ti show virtually no anomaly, whereas Zr exhibits a major negative anomaly. Other incompatible elements (Ba, K, Nb) fall in the range of published values, as do elements such as Sr, Y, Sc, Cr and V. Pb shows a value intermediate between La and Ce. Values for Be, Li and Ga are reported for the first time, and show that Be is as incompatible as the light REEs whereas Li and Ga are somewhat more compatible than the heavy REE.

Petrology and geochemistry of the Galápagos Islands: Portrait of a pathological mantle plume

Abstract: motion of the Nazca plate with respect to the fixed hotspot reference frame. lsotope ratios in the Galfipagos display a considerable range, from values typical of mid-ocean ridge basalt on Genovesa (87Sr/86Sr: 0.70259, end: +9.4, 206pb/204pb: ! 8.44), to typical oceanic island values on Floreana (87Sr/86Sr: 0.70366, œNd: +5.2, 206pb/204pb: 20.0). La/Sm N ranges from 0.45 to 6.7; other incompatible element abundances and ratios show comparable ranges. Isotope and incompatible element ratios define a horseshoe pattern with the most depleted signatures in the center of the Galfipagos Archipelago and the more enriched signatures on the eastern, northern, and southern periphery. These isotope and incompatible element patterns appear to reflect thermal entrainment of asthenosphere by the Galfipagos plume as it experiences velocity shear in the uppermost asthenosphere. Both north-south heterogeneity within the plume itself and regional variations in degree and depth of melting also affect magma compositions. Rare earth systematics indicate that melting beneath the Galfipagos begins in the garnet peridotite stability field, except beneath the southern islands, where melting may occur entirely in the spinel peridotite stability field. The greatest degree of melting occurs beneath the central western volcanos and decreases both to the east and to the north and south. Sis. 0, FeB. 0, and NaB. 0 values are generally consistent with these inferences. This suggests that interaction between the plume and surrounding asthenosphere results in significant cooling of the plume. Superimposed on this thermal pattern produced by plume-asthenosphere interaction is a tendency for melting to be less extensive and to occur at shallower depths to the south, presumably reflecting a decrease in ambient asthenospheric temperatures away from the Galfipagos Spreading Center.

The role of partial melting in the 15 Ma geochemical evolution of Gran Canaria: a blob model for the Canary hotspot

Abstract: The subaerial portion of Gran Canada, Canary Islands, was built by three cycles of volcanism: a Miocene Cycle (8-5—15 Ma), a Pliocene Cycle (1-8-60 Ma), and a Quaternary Cycle (1-8-0 Ma). Only the Pliocene Cycle is completely exposed on Gran Canaria; the early stages of the Miocene Cycle are submarine and the Quaternary Cycle is still in its initial stages. During the Miocene, SiO2 saturation of the mafic volcanics decreased systematically from tholeiite to nephelinite. For the Pliocene Cycle, SiO2 saturation increased and then decreased with decreasing age from nephelinite to tholeiite to nephelinite. SiO2 saturation increased from nephelinite to basanite and alkali basalt during the Quaternary. In each of these cycles, increasing melt production rates, SiO2 saturation, and concentrations of compatible elements, and decreasing concentrations of some incompatible elements are consistent with increasing degrees of partial melting in the sequence melilite nephelinite to tholeiite. The mafic volcanics from all three cycles were derived from CO2-rich garnet lherzolite sources. Phlogopite, ilmenite, sulfide, and a phase with high partition coefficients for the light rare earth elements (LREE), U, Th, Pb, Nb, and Zr, possibly zircon, were residual during melting to form the Miocene nephelinites through tholeiites; phlogopite, ilmenite, and sulfide were residual in the source of the Pliocene-Quaternary nephelinites through alkali basalts. Highly incompatible element ratios (e.g., Nb/U, Pb/Ce, K/U, Nb/Pb, Ba/Rb, Zr/Hf, La/Nb, Ba/Th, Rb/Nb, K/Nb, Zr/Nb, Th/Nb, Th/La, and Ba/La) exhibit extreme variations (in many cases larger than those reported for all other ocean island basalts), but these ratios correlate well with degree of melting. Survival of residual phases at higher degrees of melting during the Miocene Cycle and differences between major and trace element concentrations and melt production rates between the Miocene and Pliocene tholeiites suggest that the Miocene source was more fertile than the Pliocene-Quaternary source(s). We propose a blob model to explain the multi-cycle evolution of Canary volcanoes and the temporal variations in chemistry and melt production within cycles. Each cycle of volcanism represents decompression melting of a discrete blob of plume material. Small-degree nephelinitic and basanitic melts are derived from the cooler margins of the blobs, whereas the larger-degree tholeiitic and alkali basaltic melts are derived from the hotter centers of the blobs. The symmetrical sequence of mafic volcanism for a cycle, from highly undersaturated to saturated to highly undersaturated compositions, reflects melting of the blob during its ascent beneath an island in the sequence upper margin-corelower margin. Volcanic hiatuses between cycles and within cycles represent periods when residual blob or cooler entrained shallow mantle material fill the melting zone beneath an island.

Geochemical constraints on the petrogenesis of diamond facies pyroxenites from the Beni Bousera Peridotite Massif, North Morocco

Abstract: The petrogenesis of pyroxenite layers within the Beni Bousera peridotite massif is investigated by means of elemental and Nd-Sr-Pb-O-S isotope analyses. The light rare earth element (LREE) depleted nature of many of the pyroxenites, their wide variation in composition, and lack of correlation between incompatible elements and fractionation indices preclude them from representing crystallized melts from a peridotitic source. The physical characteristics of the pyroxenites and their large (greater than a factor of 20) range in Ni rule out partial melting as the cause of their petrological and geochemical diversity. Major and compatible trace element geochemistry is consistent with formation of most of the pyroxenite suite via high-pressure crystal segregation in magma conduits intruding the peridotites. These magmas crystallized clinopyroxene, orthopyroxene, and garnet. The pressure of crystallization is constrained to be above 45 kbar from the presence of graphitized diamonds in pyroxenite layers. Lack of correlation between fractionation indices and highly incompatible elements and the wide variation in incompatible element abundances suggest that the suite did not form from genetically related magmas. The presence of positive and negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* = 0{dot operator}54-2{dot operator}0) in pyroxenites which crystallized at pressures much greater than the plagioclase stability field ( 45 kbar) suggests that the parental magmas originated from precursors which formed in the crust. Oxygen isotope compositions of coexisting minerals in the pyroxenites indicate high-temperature equilibration but δ18O values vary from +4{dot operator}9 to + 9{dot operator}3‰, ruling out their derivation from the host peridotites or other normal mantle sources. The extreme O-isotope variation, together with δ34S values of up to + 13‰ in sulphides included within CPX strongly suggests that the melts from which the pyroxenites crystallized were derived from hydrothermally altered, subducted oceanic lithosphere. Extreme initial radiogenic isotope variation in the pyroxenites (eNd + 26 to -9,87Sr/86Sr 0{dot operator}7025-0{dot operator}7110, 206Pb/204Pb 18{dot operator}21-19{dot operator}90) support such an origin but also require a component with ancient, high U/Pb and Th/Pb in their source to explain the high Δ7/4 and Δ8/4 values of some pyroxenites. This component may be subducted hemi-pelagic sediment. Further evidence for a sediment component in the pyroxenites is provided by isotopically light carbon in the graphite pyroxenites (δ13C-16 to - 28‰). Parentdaughter isotopes in the pyroxenites are strongly decoupled, making estimation of formation ages speculative. The decoupling occurred recently (<200 Ma), probably as a result of partial melting associated with diapiric upwelling and emplacement of the massif into the crust from the diamond stability field. This late partial melting event further depleted the pyroxenites in incompatible elements. The variably altered nature of the subducted protolith and complex history of trace element fractionation of the pyroxenites has largely obscured geochemical mixing trends. However, Nd-Pb isotope systematics indicate that incorporation of the component with high U/Pb-Th/Pb occurred relatively recently (<200 Ma) for some pyroxenites. Other pyroxenites do not show evidence for incorporation of such a component and may be substantially older. Tectonic, geophysical, and isotopic constraints indicate formation of the pyroxenites in the mantle wedge above a subducting slab during the Cretaceous. Physical and chemical evidence for high-pressure fractionation seen in most of the pyroxenites precludes them from simply representing ancient subducted oceanic lithosphere, thinned by diffusion. However, the petrological and isotopic diversity of the massif support the concept of a 'marble cake' mantle capable of producing the observed geochemical diversity seen in oceanic magmas.

Melt Geometry, Movement and Crystallization, in Relation to Mantle Dykes, Veins and Metasomatism

Abstract: Consideration of theoretical, experimental and natural rock data show that basic-ultrabasic melt will disperse along mineral grain edges in olivine-rich mantle rock and thereby form a connected three-dimensional network throughout the rock even when present in only small (less than 1%) volumes. The viscosity of such melts will also allow small (less than 1-5%) volumes to move on appropriate geological timescales as a result of gravity-driven compaction. These features mean that small volume basic-ultrabasic melts are capable of infiltrating and metasomatizing mantle peridotites. Modally metasomatized mantle xenoliths are commonly closely associated with an array of dyke-like and vein injection phenomena. Textural, structural and modal characteristics of a wide array of mantle dykes, veins and metasomatic rocks suggest that such rocks have certain features in common with cumulates, and might usefully be distinguished as dyke cumulates and metasomatic infill cumulates . They represent partial crystal precipitates from melt flowing along channelways or pervasively through peridotite, and their bulk rock compositions provide poor guides to actual mantle melt compositions. The crystallization of the minerals in dykes/veins/ metasomites causes differentiation of the melt by crystal fractionation processes, but at the same time the melt may maintain equilibrium with host rock phases (e.g. olivine) and chromatographic column or percolation effects will control the range of transport of different chemical components by the melt. These combined processes are referred to as percolative fractional crystallization . Data on the actual trace element compositions of melt in equilibrium with the minerals of mantle dykes/veins/metasomites are calculated from trace element analyses of the minerals by using partition coefficients. For a wide variety of metasomatic suites, the calculated melt compositions show a progression of trace element abundances from ones similar to primitive asthenospheric OIB-like compositions towards more incompatible element enriched compositions. Thus they support the hypothesis that fractional crystallization and percolative fractional crystallization processes operating upon initial primitive asthenospheric melts may yield melt compositions matching those necessary for wide varieties of mantle metasomatism. The differentiation of the melts and evolution of the metasomatic rocks proceed together. No evidence for the involvement of volatile-rich fluids distinct from melts has been found. The trace element compositions of many kimberlitic and lamproitic melts may also arise by processes of percolative fractional crystallization of initially primitive melts with oIB-like trace element compositions, as a result of flow through mantle peridotite.

Geochemical and isotopic variations in the calc-alkaline rocks of Aeolian arc, southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy: constraints on magma genesis

Abstract: New geochemical and isotopic data are reported for calc-alkaline (CA) volcanics of the Aeolian arc. Three main groups are recognized: the Alicudi and Filicudi volcanics in the western part of the arc; the Panarea, Salina and Lipari (henceforth termed PSL) volcanics in the central part of the arc and the Stromboli suite which makes up the eastern part of the arc. Each group is characterized by distinctive isotopic ratios and incompatible element contents and ratios. 87Sr/86Sr values (0.70352–0.70538) increase from west to northeast, and are well correlated with 143Nd/144Nd (ɛNd from +4.8 to -1.5). Pb isotope ratios are fairly high (6/4=19.15–19.54; 7/4=15.61–15.71; 8/4=38.97–39.36), with a general increase of 7/4 and 8/4 values from Alicudi to PSL islands and Stromboli. LILE contents and some incompatible element ratios (e.g. Ba/La, La/Nb, Zr/Nb, Rb/Sr) increase from the western to the central part of the arc, whereas HFSE and REE abundances decrease. Opposite variations are often observed in the volcanics toward the north-east from PSL islands. To account for these features and the decoupling observed between isotopic compositions and incompatible element abundances and ratios, it is suggested that a mantle source with affinities to the MORB source is “metasomatized” by slab-derived, crustal components. The proportion of crustal material entrained in the mantle source increases from Alicudi to Stromboli, according to the Sr and Nd isotope variations. It is also proposed that slab derived hydrous fluids play an important role, but which is variable in different sectors of the arc. This is attributed to the metasomatizing agent having variable fluid/melt ratios, reflecting different types of mass transfer from the subducted contaminant (probably pelagic sediments) to the mantle wedge. Thus, it is suggested that the slab derived end-member has a high hydrous fluid/melt ratio in the PSL mantle source and a correspondingly lower ratio in the Alicudi and Stromboli sources.

Intershield geochemical differences among Hawaiian volcanoes: implications for source compositions, melting process and magma ascent paths

Abstract: As Hawaiian volcanoes develop, their lavas systematically change in composition and isotopic ratios of Sr, Nd and Pb. These trends provide important constraints for understanding plume-related volcanism as a volcano migrates away from the hotspot. There are also geochemical differences between Hawaiian shields. In particular, lavas from adjacent shields such as Kilauea and Mauna Loa on Hawaii and Koolau and Waianae on Oahu have significant differences in abundances of some major and incompatible elements and isotopic ratios of Sr, Nd and Pb. Some incompatible element abundance ratios, such as Zr/Nb and Sr/Nb, are correlated with intershield differences in Sr and Nd isotope ratios, but these isotopic ratios are not correlated with intershield differences in major element composition, or even parent/daughter abundance ratios such as Rb/Sr and Sm/Nd. Moreover, at Kilauea and Mauna Loa the intershield differences have apparently persisted for a relatively long time, perhaps 100 ka. These intershield geochemical differences provide important constraints on plume volcanism. Specifically, (i) each volcano must have distinct magma ascent paths from the region of melt segregation; (ii) the 25-50 km distance between adjacent, but geochemically distinct, shields requires that the sources vary on a similar scale, and that the melt production region is similarly restricted. The absence of correlations between lava compositions and radiogenic isotope ratios provides evidence for significant differences in melting process such as each shield forming by a different mean extent of melting with melt segregation at different mean pressures. Two types of models are consistent with the intershield geochemical differences: (i) a relatively large radius, ca. 40 km, plume conduit with a systematic spatial distribution of geochemical heterogeneities; or (ii) a small radius, less than 20 km, plume conduit composed of geochemically distinct diapirs. Because relatively small radius diapirs of limited vertical extent are too small to create the large Hawaiian shields, a possible alternative is a continuous conduit containing solitary waves which transport geochemically distinct packets of material.

An evaluation of temporal geochemical evolution of loihi summit lavas : results from alvin submersible dives

Abstract: Stratigraphically controlled sequences of in situ lavas were collected from Loihi Seamount using the Alvin submersible to evaluate the volcano's temporal geochemical evolution. Three sections with up to 370 m of relief were sampled from the two pit craters at the summit of Loihi. All of the analyses were done on glass separates. Our results indicate that tholeiitic and alkalic volcanism at the summit of Loihi has been coeval. The tholeiitic and alkalic lavas have similar incompatible element patterns and O, Pb, Sr, and Nd isotope ratios but are distinct in some incompatible element ratios. These results are consistent with the different Loihi rock types being derived by variable degrees of melting from a common source. The crossing and light-rare-earth-enriched rare earth element patterns and variable Sc/Yb ratios of the tholeiites indicate that their source was a garnet lherzolite. The relatively low δ18O values (∼4.9 ‰) for Loihi lavas are interpreted to be characteristic of the Hawaiian plume.

Subsolidus reactions monitored by trace element partitioning: the spinel- to plagioclase-facies transition in mantle peridotites

Abstract: Mantle peridotites of the External Liguride (EL) Units (Northern Apennines) mainly consist of fertile spinel-lherzolites partially recrystallized to plagioclase-facies assemblages, and are consequently appropriate to investigate the interphase element partitioning related to the transition from spinel- to plagioclase-facies stability field. Evidence for the development of the plagioclase-facies assemblage is mainly given by: (1) large exsolution lamellae of orthopyroxene and plagioclase within spinel-facies clinopyroxene; (2) plagioclase rims around spinel; (3) granoblastic domains made up of olivine+plagioclase±clino-and orthopyroxene. In situ major and trace [REE (rare-earth elements), Ti, Sc, V, Cr, Sr, Y, Zr and Ba] element mineral analyses have been performed, by electron and ion probe, on selected samples which show the progressive development of the plagioclase-bearing assemblage. The main compositional variations observed during the change from spinel- to plagioclase-facies minerals are as follows: (1) clinopyroxenes decrease in Al, Na, Sr, Eu/Eu* and increase in Y, V, Sc, Cr, Zr and Ti; (2) amphiboles decrease in Eu/Eu*, Sr, Ba and increase in Zr and V; (3) spinels decrease in Al and increase in Cr and Ti. The most striking feature is the decoupling in the behaviour of similarly incompatible elements (D about 0.1) in clinopyroxene, e.g. Sr decrease is mirrored by Zr increase. Massbalance calculations indicate that the trace element interphase redistribution documented in the EL peridotites occurred in a closed system and in response to the metamorphic reaction governing the transition from the spinel- to the plagioclase-facies stability field. The observed element partitioning reveals, moreover, that subsolidus re-equilibration processes in the upper mantle produce HFSE (high-field-strength element)/REE fractionation in minerals, which must be evaluated for a reliable determination of mineral-melt distribution coefficients. The results of this study furnish evidence for subsolidus metamorphic evolution during decompression, without concomitant partial melting processes. This is consistent with the interpretation that the EL peridotites represent subcontinental lithospheric mantle emplaced at the surface in response to lithospheric thinning and tectonic denudation mechanisms related to the Triassic-Jurassic rifting of the Ligure-Piedmontese basin.

Isotopic and trace-element profiles across the New Britain island arc, Papua New Guinea

Abstract: New Pb-, Sr-, and Nd-isotopic data have been obtained for the rocks of volcanoes overlying a wide range of depths (100–580 km) to the Wadati-Benioff Zone (WBZ) in the New Britain island arc, Papua New Guinea. Well-defined trends consistent with two-component mixing are observed in combined Pb-isotope/trace-element plots. One of the components is believed to represent a slab contribution whose isotopic signature, unlike those noted for several other arcs, appears to be dominated by subducted, altered, oceanic crust rather than by sediment. This conclusion is consistent with the results of a recent Be−B study of New Britain rocks. The influence of the slab component is considered to decrease as depth to the WBZ increases. Higher abundances of high-field-strength elements correlate with increasing depths to the WBZ, and may be indicative of smaller degrees of partial melting of the mantle wedge as WBZ depths increase. Abundances of other incompatible elements appear to reflect a complex interplay between the slab-derived flux and melting process.

Geochemical constraints on mantle melting during creation of the North Atlantic basin

Abstract: THE compositions of magmas produced by decompression melting of upwelling mantle rocks are sensitive to the extent and mean pressure of melting; these, in turn, depend respectively on the depth at which the solidus is encountered1,2 and on the thickness of the lithosphere, which provides a barrier to upwelling mantle2,3. Here we report major- and trace-element data for lavas erupted during rifting of the Greenland–European continent ∼60 Myr ago, which show a trend to higher extents of melting at lower pressures as rifting proceeded. We attribute these changes to progressive thinning of the continental litho-sphere during the initial phase of magmatism. Our analysis also shows that mantle melting began well within the garnet stability field, supporting previous suggestions4–8 that anomalously hot mantle was present beneath the region at the time of rifting. The modest extents of melting that we infer for the earliest rift lavas can largely account for their high contents of incompatible elements, thus reducing the degree of geochemical enrichment ('plume-like' character) required in the mantle source region.

Intraplate origin of komatiites inferred from trace elements in glass inclusions

Abstract: THE relative abundances of immobile elements (such as calcium, aluminium, titanium, zirconium and the rare-earth elements) in the Archaean ultramafik lavas known as komatiites have provided important information about the composition of the early Earth's mantle, but to establish the origin and tectonic setting of these lavas one also needs the abundances of mobile elements, such as the alkali metals, alkaline-earth elements, and uranium and lead. Up to now, it has not been possible to use these elements in constraining komatiite petrogenesis, because of the pervasive effects of alteration in these ancient lavas; recently, however, some remarkably fresh, 2.7-Gyr-old komatiites have been discovered, which contain unaltered olivine crystals and small glass inclusions1. We report ion micoprobe data for 25 trace elements from these glass inclusions, and show that the ratios of mobile to immobile incompatible elements are similar to those found in modern intraplate basalts, and distinct from modern mid-ocean-ridge and convergent-margin basalts. We infer that these Archaean magmas formed from sources similar to (or slightly depleted relative to) those of modern intraplate basalts, supporting the suggestion2,3 that komatiites are ancient analogues of modern plume-related magmas.

Implications of Quaternary volcanism at Cerro Tuzgle for crustal and mantle evolution of the Puna Plateau, Central Andes, Argentina

Abstract: The high-K Tuzgle volcanic center, (24° S, 66.5° W) along with several small shoshonitic centers, developed along extensional Quaternary faults of the El Toro lineament on the east-central Puna plateau, ≈275 km east of the main front of the Andean Central Volcanic Zone (CVZ). These magmas formed by complex mixing processes in the mantle and thickened crust (>50 km) above a ∼200 km deep scismic zone. Tuzgle magmas are differentiated from shoshonitic series magmas by their more intraplate-like Ti group element characteristics, lower incompatible element concentrations, and lower 87Sr/86Sr ratios at a given eNd. Underlying Mio-Pliocene volcanic rocks erupted in a compressional stress regime and have back-arc like calc-alkaline chemical characteristics. The Tuzgle rocks can be divided into two sequences with different mantle precursors: a) an older, more voluminous rhyodacitic (ignimbrite) to mafic andestitic (56% to 71% SiO2) sequence with La/Yb ratios 35. La/Yb ratios are controlled by the mafic components: low ratios result from larger mantle melt percentages than high ratios. Shoshonitic series lavas (52% to 62% SiO2) contain small percentage melts of more isotopically “enriched” arc-like mantle sources. Some young Tuzgle lavas have a shoshonitic-like component. Variable thermal conditions and complex stress system are required to produce the Tuzgle and shoshonitic series magmas in the same vicinity. These conditions are consistent with the underlying mantle being in transition from the thick mantle lithosphere which produced rare shoshonitic flows in the Altiplano to the thinner mantle lithosphere that produced back-are calc-alkaline and intraplate-type flows in the southern Puna. Substantial upper crustal type contamination in Tuzgle lavas is indicated by decreasing eNd (-2.5 to-6.7) with increasing 87Sr/86Sr (0.7063 to 0.7099) ratios and SiO2 concentrations, and by negative Eu anomalies (Eu/Eu* <0.78) in lavas that lack plagioclase phenocrysts. Trace element arguments indicate that the bulk contaminant was more silicic than the Tuzgle ignimbrite and left a residue with a high pressure mineralogy. Crustal shortening processes transported upper crustal contaminants to depths where melting occurred. These contaminants mixed with mafic magmas that were fractionating mafic phases at high pressure. Silicic melts formed at depth by these processes accumulated at a mid to upper crustal discontinuity (decollement). The Tuzgle ignimbrite erupted from this level when melting rates were highest. Subsequent lavas are mixtures of contaminated mafic magmas and ponded silicic melts. Feldspar and quartz phenocrysts in the lavas are phenocrysts from the ponded silicic magmas.

Convection and melting at mid‐ocean ridges

Abstract: We present a thermodynamically self-consistent model of plate and buoyancy driven flow and melt generation beneath mid-ocean ridges. Mantle flow is driven by a rigid lithosphere and by buoyancy forces resulting from melting, depletion, and melt extraction. Melt is generated using the solidus of Kinzler and Grove (1992a). Constant viscosity models without melt buoyancy forces show that no significant narrowing of the melting region or pressure gradient focusing of the melt is achieved. Temperature-dependent viscosity models show that pressure gradients in a high viscosity lithosphere are insufficient for focusing melt to the ridge axis. Constant viscosity models with melt buoyancy forces show that significant narrowing of the melting region is possible at slow spreading rates but not at fast spreading rates. Melt buoyancy forces cause the crustal thickness to decrease with spreading rate. Aggregate melts are similar to those required to form mid-ocean ridge basalt (MORB) but are too depleted in incompatible elements. They are also insensitive to spreading rate and melt region shape but are sensitive melting rate distribution. Model residuum trends are similar to those in abyssal peridotites and imply that abyssal peridotites result from partial melting and not refertilization. Massif peridotites appear to result from refertilization of harzburgite with MORB primary melt. Vertically integrated melts show very similar trends to data from the off-axis Lamont seamounts on the flanks of the East Pacific Rise. This implies the melting region at fast spreading ridges is at least 80–100 km wide.