GEODYNAMICS AND MANTLE FLOW: AN ALTERNATIVE EARTH MODEL

Abstract

Part 1 Foundations of a Contary View: Paradox and puzzles. Radioactivity of continental crust. Radioactivity of upper mantle. The heat flow paradox. Sub-continent upwelling and heat transfer. Seismic and petrographic structure. Part 2 Clues to Direction of Mantle Flow: Heat dissipation in mobile belts and oceanic regions. Viscous flow and its surface expression. Regional and structure-controlled stress. Uplifted old rocks on the Oceanic Range. The Coriolis effect. Crestward change and the spreading hypothesis. Geodetic surveys. Block tilting. Gravity anomalies over upward and downward mantle flow. Seismic indicators of rising and sinking mantle. Crestal structure. Collapse model of a rift. Rift structure. Part 3 Convection, Subsidence and Geologic Age: Experimental convection. Proposed mantle convection. Origin of Fracture Zones and Transforms. Relative motion on Transforms. Near-axial structure and magnetic stripes. Ocean depth control and ages on the Oceanic Ridge. Part 4 Recycling Model of Volcanism: Melting of heterogeneous mantle. Recycling and igneous diversity. Mid-ocean volcanism. Recycling and the flux of helium and neon. Inclined subduction, andesites and the calc-alkaline trend. Return flow and upwelling. Part 5 Evolution and Reversal of Convection: Archean. Archean-Proterozoic transition. Early Proterozoic stability. Continental growth. Part 6 Disruption and Mantle Surge: Indicators of times of mantle surge. Pacific structure and Mesozoic disruption. Circum-Pacific and world-wide surge of mantle flow. Part 7 Revolution in the Earth Sciences.