Abstract:
The abundances of the mildly incompatible elements Al, Cr, V, Sc and Yb in more than 1700 mantle peridotite bulk rock analyses are interpreted in the light of a fractional melting model based on experimentally measured partition coefficients (D) and melting reaction stoichiometries. All peridotites examined, irrespective of sample type (abyssal peridotites, orogenic massifs, ophiolites, on/off craton xenoliths), tectonic environment (divergent/convergent/passive margin, intraplate) or the pressure (P) they last equilibrated at in the mantle (plagioclase-, spinel- , or garnet facies), originated as residues at less than 3 GPa, mainly within the spinel-facies. Mantle rocks currently in the garnet facies likely were originally spinel-facies lithosphere underthrust or subducted to greater depths in convergent margins. This view is inescapable even within the widest range of D values employed in the calculations, and is furthermore strengthened when metasomatic effects on the abundances of the mildly incompatible elements in residues are considered. A pressure of origin of below ∼3 GPa for most mantle lithosphere creates difficulties for any model ascribing a significant volume of deep, cratonic mantle roots to plume sub-cretion or any other vertical tectonic mechanism.