Heterogeneity in mid-ocean ridge sources

Abstract

Understanding of decompression melting of homogeneous peridotite sources beneath mid-ocean ridges has reached a reasonably mature state. One can construct apparently adequate models that relate source composition, including volatile contents, and potential temperature to major and trace element chemistry of the aggregate primary liquid and to correlations with physical variables like melt flux and axial depth. Such models are the basis of the consensus view of the average thermal and compositional state of the upper mantle and the range of their variability.