MODEL OF DECOMPRESSION MELTING MECHANISM IN CONVECTIVE-UNSTABLE THERMAL LITHOSPHERE (FIRST APPROXIMATION)

Abstract

We propose a model of decompression melting, separation, migration and freezing of the melt in the upper mantle during the convective instability process. The model takes into account differences between phase diagrams of the melt and the matrix and the resultant features of the melt’s behavior, without calculating reaction rates in a multicomponent medium. It is constructed under an explicit concept of the local thermodynamic equilibrium of the existing phases. Therefore, we further develop the first approximation of the descriptions of convection in the upper mantle and the formation of large epicontinental sedimentary basins, which have been presented in earlier publications. Our computational experiments show that primary melting of the upper mantle’s fertile material occurs intensively in a narrow frontal part of the ascending hot material flow. Then, the depleted and partially melted material rises farther upward from the front of primary melting. Melting of the depleted material continues at lower pressures in a rather wide range of depths (120–77 km). Further, the migrating melt is supplied by two sources, i.e. a deep-seated one, wherein the fertile material melts, and the medium-depth one, wherein melting of the depleted material takes place. Once the temperature and pressure rates of the melt reach the values corresponding to those of its solidus, a narrow freezing front is formed. Its width is almost similar to the primary melting front. As the ascending convective flow develops, the freezing front shifts upward. As a result, a quite thick (around 40–50 km) basalt-saturated layer occurs above the freezing front. An important observation in our modeling experiments is that, despite a considerably large total volume of the melted material, a one-time melt content in the mantle does not exceed tenths of one percent, when we consider averaging to volumes with a linear size of about 1.0 km. The basalt melt extraction depletes iron in the mantle and significantly reduces the mantle density. Considering the calculated basalt-depletion values for the matrix at 0.1–0.2, the density deficit doubles in comparison to the thermal expansion of the material. Logically, both the Rayleigh number and the intensity of convection also double (and this is confirmed by the calculations), which means that convection is enhanced after the melting start.Testing of the model shows that it gives a reasonable picture that is consistent with the available geological and geophysical data on the structure of the lithosphere underneath the currently developing epicontinental sedimentary basins. Furthermore, within the limits of its detail, this model is consistent with the results of modeling experiments focused on melting and melting dynamics, which are based on calculations of reactions between components of the mantle material.