Formation of oceanic crust: Some thermal constraints
Abstract
An energy-conserving analytical solution for heat flow at midocean ridge crests was obtained by assuming that the material accreting at the ridge acts as a known heat source along the ridge axis. Latent heat is included consistently in the adiabatic melting of the ascending mush and in the solidification of the basaltic crust. At spreading rates below about 1 cm/yr, lateral heat conduction away from the ridge precludes the existence of a steady state magma chamber. At higher spreading rates, material cannot cool, since dikes in the lower crust and a magma chamber of some type must exist. If most of the chamber were filled with mush, the chamber would be more mechanically stable than one filled with molten magma. It is most probable that new material from below ascends to the top of the magma and then either further ascends as a dike or spreads laterally along the top of the chamber. If crystal settling is important and accretion of material to the roof is minor, the magma chamber will be flat topped and will extend far enough laterally that incoming material will cool to a mostly crystalline cumulate mush. The geothermal calculations and kinematic models are testable from geologic observations on ophiolitic complexes and by planned drilling. It appears that the spreading rate of fossil ridges can be determined from these considerations.
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This tectonic 'conveyor belt' allows oceanic lithosphere to be efficiently recycled back into the mantle from whence it originated.
“This tectonic 'conveyor belt' allows oceanic lithosphere to be efficiently recycled back into the mantle from whence it originated”
From Secular change and the onset of plate tectonics on Earth (2020) · cites this paper as Sleep, 1975
In the classical Penrose ophiolite model, which is representative of intermediate- and fast-spreading ridges, the crustal section is ~6-7 km thick, has an average bulk MgO content of ~10 wt%, and crystallizes from small mantle melt fractions (F) of 0.08-0.10.
“In the classical Penrose ophiolite model, which is representative of intermediate-and fast-spreading ridges, the crustal section is ~6-7 km thick (Fig. 5), has an average bulk MgO content of ~10 wt%, and crystallizes from small mantle melt fractions (F) of 0.08-0.10”
From Secular change and the onset of plate tectonics on Earth (2020) · cites this paper as Sleep, 1975
Modern-day oceanic crust is ~6-7 km thick and has an average bulk MgO content of 10-13 wt%.
“modern-day oceanic crust, which is ~6-7 km thick (Fig. 5), has an average bulk MgO content of 10-13 wt%”
From Secular change and the onset of plate tectonics on Earth (2020) · cites this paper as Sleep, 1975
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Secular change and the onset of plate tectonics on Earth
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“5), has an average bulk MgO content of 10–13 wt% (Sleep, 1975).”
BackgroundInfluentialDuctile deformation and the origin of layered gabbro in ophiolites
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- Authors
- Sleep, N. H.
- Corresponding author
- Sleep, Norman H.
- ORCID
- Sleep, Norman H.
- Venue
- Journal of Geophysical Research
- Publisher
- American Geophysical Union (AGU)
- Published
- 1975-10-10
- Volume
- 80
- Issue
- 29
- Pages
- 4037-4042
- ISSN
- 0148-0227 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2084092719
- Cited by
- 413
- References
- 30
- Citations by year
- 2026: 3 · 2025: 4 · 2024: 2 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 1 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 2 · 2018: 2 · 2017: 5 · 2016: 3 · 2015: 5 · 2014: 7 · 2013: 3 · 2012: 5
- FWCI
- 19.53
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal of Geophysical Research Atmospheres (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geology › Geological and Geophysical Studies
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › Geological and Geochemical Analysis
- Physical Sciences › Earth and Planetary Sciences › Geophysics › High-pressure geophysics and materials
- Keywords
- oceanic crust formation, magma chamber, spreading rate, adiabatic melting, latent heat, dike intrusion, crystal settling, ophiolite, thermal modeling
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