Thermochemical structure of the African plate and surrounding oceans

Opeyemi Joshua AKINRINADE; Chun-Feng LI; David GÓMEZ-ORTIZ

doi:10.1007/s00343-024-4060-6

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Thermochemical structure of the African plate and surrounding oceans

Geology | Updated：2025-08-07

- Thermochemical structure of the African plate and surrounding oceans
- Journal of Oceanology and Limnology Vol. 43, Issue 4, Pages: 1122-1142(2025)
- Affiliations：
  
  1.Department of Marine Science and Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure 340110, Nigeria
  2.Institute of Marine Geology and Resources, Zhejiang University, Zhoushan 316021, China
  3.Laboratory of Marine Mineral Resources, Laoshan Laboratory, Qingdao 266237, China
  4.ESCET-Area de Geologıa, Departamental I, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, C/Tulipan s/n, Mostoles, Madrid 28933, Spain
- Author bio：
  
  ojakinrinade@futa.edu.ng
  cfli@zju.edu.cn
- Funds：
- DOI：10.1007/s00343-024-4060-6
  CLC：
- Received：28 February 2024，
  
  Published：01 July 2025
- Accepted：
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AKINRINADE Opeyemi Joshua,LI Chun-Feng,GÓMEZ-ORTIZ David.Thermochemical structure of the African plate and surrounding oceans[J].Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2025,43(04):1122-1142.
DOI：

AKINRINADE Opeyemi Joshua,LI Chun-Feng,GÓMEZ-ORTIZ David.Thermochemical structure of the African plate and surrounding oceans[J].Journal of Oceanology and Limnology,2025,43(04):1122-1142. DOI： 10.1007/s00343-024-4060-6.

摘要

Abstract

Based on Moho and Curie depth

heat flow

and upper mantle S-wave velocity anomaly

we infer the thermo-chemical structure of the lithospheres in Africa and surrounding oceans. The Moho depth is derived from gravity anomaly using the Parker-Oldenburg method

with constraints from seismic Moho. Crustal stratification defined by Curie-Moho depth difference shows that thermal and strong compositional processes may have shaped the lithospheric architecture of the African continental plate. Moho and Curie depths indicate the southern and eastern African cratons have thermochemical structures different from the West African Craton. Large Curie-Moho depth difference in southern and eastern Africa aligns with the low velocity anomaly originated from the core-mantle boundary. Mantle upwelling from the African low-velocity anomaly presumably induced partial melting at great depth

and the release of mineral-rich fluid and large amounts of volatile components facilitates a regional metasomatism

and results in a depleted

predominantly felsic

low-density paramagnetic crust. Mantle xenolith in kimberlites and volcanic rocks supports metasomatism by melts transmitted through narrow conduits as an intermittent or continuous upward flux of mineral-rich fluid. Alignment of the Curie-Moho depth difference at the intra-plate volcanic province correlates with weak lithospheric strength along the corridor connecting the intra-plate volcanic province with the Ethiopian plateau

suggesting a pathway for thermochemical asthenospheric flow. Crustal stratification and compositional-driven density layering support crustal buoyancy and uplift in the Hoggar

and southern and eastern Africa. A magnetized uppermost mantle is prevalent in the entire oceanic region

except at large igneous provinces (LIPs)

volcanic seamounts

and oceanic plateaus

which have partial paramagnetic crusts. Our results support thermochemical upwelling related to the low velocity anomaly beneath the African plate.

关键词

Keywords

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