This proposal requests funding to support a high-pressure experimental research program designed to evaluate whether a plausible petrogenenetic link exists between the voluminous high- alumina basalts (HAB) and the rare high-magnesia basalts (HMB) found in most island arc settings. In this proposal, a two- pronged experimental approach is described that will provide important new insight into the relationship (if any) between HAB and HMB. The important question to be answered from these experiments is whether HAB melt coexists with olivine (+/- other phases) anywhere within the melting interval of the HMB. The study will increase our understanding of the formation of the important island arc (e.g. Japan, Aleutians, etc.) volcanics.
