Age and origin of Researcher Ridge and an explanation for the 14° N anomaly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by plume-ridge interaction.

Long, Xiaojun, Geldmacher, Jörg , Hoernle, Kaj A. , Hauff, Folkmar , Wartho, Jo-Anne , Garbe-Schönberg, Dieter and Grevemeyer, Ingo (2019) Age and origin of Researcher Ridge and an explanation for the 14° N anomaly on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge by plume-ridge interaction. Lithos, 326-327 . pp. 540-555. DOI 10.1016/j.lithos.2019.01.005.

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Abstract

Highlights:
• Researcher Ridge, a chain of volcanic seamounts in the central Atlantic is identified as a classical hotspot track;
• The underlying small mantle plume is believed to get captured by the westward migrating Mid-Atlantic Ridge;
• The bathymetric/geochemical anomaly of the Mid-Atlantic-Ridge at 14° N can therefore be explained by plume-ridge interaction.

Abstract:
Researcher Ridge is a 400 km long, WNW-ESE oriented chain of volcanic structures, located on ~20 to 40 Ma old oceanic crust on the western flank of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) at ~15° N. Researcher Ridge has been little studied, and its age and origin are currently unclear. At roughly the same latitude (14–15° N), the MAR axis is bathymetrically elevated and geochemically enriched (hereafter referred to as the 14° N MAR anomaly). This study presents 40Ar/39Ar age data, major and trace elements, and Sr-Nd-Pb-Hf isotopic compositions of volcanic rocks dredged from several seamounts of the Researcher Ridge. In addition, new geochemical data of MORBs from two 13–14° N dredge sites on the MAR are also presented. The results reveal that Researcher Ridge lavas have geochemically enriched ocean island basalt compositions (chondrite-normalized [La/Sm]N = 1.7–5.0, and [Ce/Yb]N = 1.58–11.3) with isotopic signatures (143Nd/144Nd = 0.51294–0.51316, 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70266–0.70405, 206Pb/204Pb = 19.14–19.93, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.57–15.63, 208Pb/204Pb = 38.82–39.17, and 176Hf/177Hf = 0.28307–0.28312) trending towards the FOZO or HIMU mantle end member composition. Based on the new age and geochemical data, Researcher Ridge is interpreted as a classic hotspot track, albeit formed by a relatively weak melting anomaly. The lavas from the 14° N MAR anomaly have an enriched E-MORB type composition ([La/Sm]N = 1.81–2.29, [Ce/Yb]N = 1.6–3.9). Their isotopic compositions (143Nd/144Nd = 0.51298–0.51313, 87Sr/86Sr = 0.70250–0.70282, 206Pb/204Pb = 18.90–19.31, 207Pb/204Pb = 15.52–15.58, 208Pb/204Pb = 38.45–38.95, 176Hf/177Hf = 0.28315–0.28320) plot at the enriched end of the local MORB array and partly overlap the Researcher Ridge lava compositions, suggesting a genetic relationship. We propose that the 14° N MAR anomaly is caused by deflection of upwelling Researcher Ridge plume material towards the westward migrating MAR, causing the production of E-MORBs with similar isotopic compositions to the Researcher Ridge lavas. Once the plume was captured by the spreading ridge, off-axis hotspot track volcanism ceased, resulting in a seamount gap between the eastern end of the Researcher Ridge and the 14° N MAR anomaly.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Plume Ridge Interaction; Researcher Ridge; Mid Atlantic Ridge; Geochemistry; Ar-Ar age dating
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor > FB4-MUHS
OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor > FB4-GDY Marine Geodynamics
Kiel University
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: Elsevier
Expeditions/Models/Experiments:
Date Deposited: 24 Jan 2019 10:17
Last Modified: 31 Jan 2022 09:22
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/45498

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