Long-range effects of mid-ocean ridge dynamics on earthquakes, magmatic activities, and mineralization events in plate subduction zones

Qiuming CHENG

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Earth Science Frontiers ›› 2024, Vol. 31 ›› Issue (1) : 1-14. DOI: 10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.1.23

Long-range effects of mid-ocean ridge dynamics on earthquakes, magmatic activities, and mineralization events in plate subduction zones

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Abstract

The deep processes of plate subduction zones are closely related to extreme geological events that occur in continental magmatic arcs. The processes of plate subduction and mountain building can lead to events such as earthquakes, magmatic activity, and mineralization. The occurrence of these extreme events is closely related to factors such as crust-mantle interaction, mantle wedge formation, partial melting of the lithosphere, and tectonic magmatism during subduction. However, little is known about the long-term and long-range effects of heterogeneities or innate defects in the newly formed crust at mid-ocean ridges on the extreme events described above. During the formation of new crust at mid-ocean ridges, due to factors such as plate expansion, pressure reduction, and asthenospheric material upwelling, the temperature of the new crust increases, pores and cracks develop, the density decreases, and the structure is complex. Therefore, the newly formed crust has heterogeneities in density, strength, temperature, thickness, etc. These crustal differences will influence and decide the behavior of plates during expansion and subduction, with long-term effects on events such as earthquakes, volcanoes, and mineralization caused by subduction. Analyses of the Pacific subduction and the Andes orogen have revealed that sudden changes in plate movement speed, plate subduction angle, plate slab tearing, lithospheric thickness, Moho depth, etc., have long-range effects on the spatiotemporal distribution of earthquakes, volcanoes, and porphyry copper deposits. These understandings are of great significance for predicting the spatiotemporal distribution of extreme geological events in plate subduction and collision zones.

Key words

mid-ocean ridges / plate subduction / earthquakes / volcanoes / mineralization / long-range effects

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Qiuming CHENG. Long-range effects of mid-ocean ridge dynamics on earthquakes, magmatic activities, and mineralization events in plate subduction zones. Earth Science Frontiers. 2024, 31(1): 1-14 https://doi.org/10.13745/j.esf.sf.2024.1.23

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文中关于斑岩矿床的部分内容,作者曾在2018年阿根廷举行的国际矿床成因协会(IAGOD)第十五届四年一度的研讨会(IAGOD)开幕式大会报告、第九届全国成矿理论与找矿方法年会(南京)大会特邀报告中进行了交流。本研究得到了国家自然科学基金委指南引导类原创探索计划项目“矿产资源知识图谱与智能预测(42050103)”和广东省珠江人才创新团队(2021ZT09H399)——大数据-数学地球科学与极端地质事件团队资助。研究还得到了教育部DDE前沿科学中心项目(2652023001)资助。作者感谢周树斌博士和朱平平博士等人对文中部分图件编制和文字修改的帮助。祝贺《地学前缘》杂志创刊30周年,感谢《地学前缘》杂志对本文的约稿。

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