
doi: 10.1038/246141a0
O'HARA1 has objected to my interpretation concerning the trace element chemistry of lavas erupted along the Iceland-Reykjanes Ridge System2 on the ground that: (1) Such magmas are not “primary magmas” but residual liquids; (2) instead, such lavas have suffered prior to eruption extensive “gabbro fractionation” at low pressure (olivine-augite-plagioclase extraction), and/or “eclogite fractionation” at higher pressure (clinopyroxenegarnet extraction in a 50–50% mixture); (3) the “extent of fractionation” is directly proportional to the elevation of the surface on which these lavas have been erupted, thus increases toward Iceland, and is the principal cause of trace element variations along the ridge. According to O'Hara, the lavas are derived from a unique and homogeneous mantle at the upper mantle-transition zone boundary and not, as I prefer2, from two distinct mantle sources, one forcefully rising as a primary hot mantle plume (PHMP) beneath Iceland and interacting with the depleted low velocity layer (DLVL).
| selected citations These citations are derived from selected sources. This is an alternative to the "Influence" indicator, which also reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | 95 | |
| popularity This indicator reflects the "current" impact/attention (the "hype") of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% | |
| influence This indicator reflects the overall/total impact of an article in the research community at large, based on the underlying citation network (diachronically). | Top 1% | |
| impulse This indicator reflects the initial momentum of an article directly after its publication, based on the underlying citation network. | Top 10% |
