This is a project to test whether central or multiple supply is dominant (e.g., as a function of spreading rate, or regionally at the same spreading rate), by carrying out a laboratory petrologic and geochemical study of closely-spaced (7 km) samples from a well-mapped 100 km-long segment of the slow spreading (35-40 mm/yr) Mid-Atlantic Ridge (MAR) at 26 degrees S. The 26 degrees S segment is ideal for such a test because of its simple along-axis morphology (typical of many MAR segments), the absence of hot spot influence, the existence of dense Seabeam, gravity, and magnetic data, and the availability of closely-spaced axial basalt samples an samples from nearby seamounts, Preliminary chemical data for the samples show remarkably regular and systematic patterns of along-axis chemical variations, indication that continued, more detailed petrologic and chemical studies are justified. %%% Process that supply basalt melt to active mid-ocean ridges are of current interest because melt supply dynamics play a key role in the formation of oceanic crust. Dr. Batiza possesses an important set of closely spaced samples at a slow spreading ridge axis. The results will improve our understanding of magma supply dynamics at a slow spreading ridge, and the data will be useful for comparison with similar data sets for fast- spreading ridges.

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Ocean Sciences (OCE)
Type
Standard Grant (Standard)
Application #
8903296
Program Officer
Bilal U. Haq
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1989-01-15
Budget End
1990-12-31
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1989
Total Cost
$90,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Hawaii
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Honolulu
State
HI
Country
United States
Zip Code
96822