Journal articles
Mantle upwellings and convective instabilities revealed by seismic tomography and helium isotope geochemistry beneath eastern Africa
Abstract : The relationship between intraplate volcanism and continental tectonics has been investigated for North and East Africa using a high resolution three-dimensional anisotropic tomographic model derived from seismic data of a French experiment ''Horn of Africa'' and existing broadband data. The joint inversion for seismic velocity and anisotropy of the upper 400 km of the mantle, and geochemical data reveals a complex interaction between mantle upwellings, and lithosphere. Two kinds of mantle upwellings can be distinguished: The first one, the Afar ''plume'' originates from deeper than 400 km and is characterized by enrichment in primordial 3 He and 3 He/ 4 He ratios higher than those along mid-ocean ridges (MOR). The second one, associated with other Cenozoic volcanic provinces (Darfur, Tibesti, Hoggar, Cameroon), with 3 He/ 4 He ratios similar to, or lower than MOR, is a consequence of shallower upwelling. The presumed asthenospheric convective instabilities are oriented in an east-west direction, resulting from interaction between south-north asthenospheric mantle flow, main plume head and topography on the base of lithosphere.
Cited literature [33 references]
https://hal-insu.archives-ouvertes.fr/insu-01284913
Contributor : Eva Fareau <>
Submitted on : Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - 3:17:07 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 4:16:59 AM
Long-term archiving on: : Sunday, November 13, 2016 - 10:32:06 AM
Contributor : Eva Fareau <>
Submitted on : Tuesday, March 8, 2016 - 3:17:07 PM
Last modification on : Wednesday, October 14, 2020 - 4:16:59 AM
Long-term archiving on: : Sunday, November 13, 2016 - 10:32:06 AM
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