Detailed Petrological and Geochemical Studies of Abyssal Peridotites

University Of Hawaii, Honolulu

Investigators

Abstract

This proposal requests funds to support detailed petrological and geochemical studies of abyssal peridotites recovered by the Ocean Drilling Program from the Hess Deep (Leg 147) and the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, south of the Kame Fracture Zone (Leg 153). Extensive abyssal peridotite suites recovered on each drilling leg. Studies by shipboard scientists form the framewrok for this study in which we propose to investigate the following key questions: (1) Are the calculated whole-rock NaxO contents inabyssal peridotites conclsively higher than melting and melt percolation models predict? (2) What are the localized distribution patterns of clinopyroxenes and spinals in abyssal peridotites? (3) What are the minor element and trance element abundances of clinopyroxene, spinal, orthopyroxene, and olivine in these abyssal periootites? What correlations exist in these minor and trace elements at mid-ocean ridges? (5) Is it possible to more accurately quantify melt-rock interactions, such as the particularly well developed examples from the Hess Deep?