STATISTICAL ASSESSMENT OF VARIATIONS IN THE COMPOSITIONAL AND P-T PARAMETERS OF THE EVOLUTION OF MID-OCEANIC RIDGE BASALTS AND THEIR REGIONAL DISTRIBUTION

Abstract

The formal statistical analysis of variations in the basalt compositions for the whole global system of mid-oceanic ridges (approximately 19000 analyses of quenched glasses), including cluster analysis, discriminant analysis, and the analysis of histograms and component covariations, provide new data on the petrological parameters of the evolution of mantle magmatism and the spatial distribution of its products depending on geodynamic environments. The results thus obtained make it possible to assess all available information on magmatism in mid-oceanic ridges and to specify tasks for the further research. The information thus obtained is required for the development of the petrological basis for a model of magmatism of six major basalt groups (P-T parameters, productivity of volcanism, mantle upwelling, etc.). © 2006 Nauka/Interperiodica.