Browsing by Author "De Wit, Maarten J"

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    A subduction origin for komatites and cratonic lithospheric mantle
    (2004) Parman, Stephen W; Grove, Timothy L; Dann, Jessc C; De Wit, Maarten J
    We present a model in which the generation of komatiites in Archaean subduction zones produced depleted mantle residues that eventually formed the highly depleted portions of the Kaapvaal lithospheric mantle. The envisioned melting process is similar to that which has formed boninites in Phanerozoic subduction zones such as the Izu-Bonin-Mariana arc. The primary differences between the Archaean and Phanerozoic melting regimes are higher mean melting temperatures (1450 versus 1350 °C) and higher mean melting pressures (2.5 versus 1.5 GPa) for the komatiites. The komatiites from the Komati Formation in the Barberton greenstone belt are mafic enough to have produced the depletion seen in most Kaapvaal granular peridotite xenoliths. However, the most highly depleted Kaapvaal xenoliths require an even more Mg-rich magma than the Komati komatiites (Kk). Samples of boninite mantle residues from the fore-arc of the Marianas subduction zone are nearly as depleted as the Kaapvaal cratonic mantle, indicating that buoyant, craton-like mantle is being produced today. We speculate that production rates of cratonic mantle were greater in the Archaean due to the greater depth of melting for komatiites (relative to boninites) and greater worldwide arc length. The high production rates and high buoyancy of the komatiite mantle residues gave rise to the rapid growth and stabilization of the Kaapvaal craton in the Archaean.
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    Old, strong continental lithosphere with weak Archaean margin at - 1.8 Ga, Kaapvaal Craton, South Africa
    (2004) Tinker, Justine H; De Wit, Maarten J; Royden, Leigh H
    Low elastic strength of ancient lithosphere based on flexural analyses has been interpreted to reflect elevated regional geothermal gradients in response to higher global heat production in the past. Here we present a flexural analysis of Archean/Palaeoproterozoic sediment cover along the western margin of the Archaean Kaapvaal craton based on seismic stratigraphy. Our results show that between ~1.93 and ~1.75 Ga, the Archaean margin of the craton had an effective elastic thickness of 7.5 to 10km compared to its present day value of 60 to 70km. Because the Kaapvaal craton had already stabilized by ~2.7 Ga and was underlain by 150 to 300km thick strong mantle lithosphere, it is unlikely that the relatively thin elastic thickness along this old margin reflects a change in secular cooling of the Earth. Instead, we interpret the low elastic strength to be a transient marginal tectonic effect similar to that recorded along modern continental margins.