Computational simulation of convective flow in the Earth crust under consideration of dynamic crust-mantle interactions

Abstract

The finite element method was used to solve fluid dynamic interaction problems between the crust and mantle of the Earth. To consider different mechanical behaviours, the lithosphere consisting of the crust and upper mantle was simulated as fluid-saturated porous rocks, while the upper aesthenospheric part of the mantle was simulated as viscous fluids. Since the whole lithosphere was computationally simulated, the dynamic interaction between the crust and the upper mantle was appropriately considered. In particular, the mixing of mantle fluids and crustal fluids was simulated in the corresponding computational model. The related computational simulation results from an example problem demonstrate that the mantle fluids can flow into the crust and mix with the crustal fluids due to the resulting convective flows in the crust-mantle system. Likewise, the crustal fluids can also flow into the upper mantle and mix with the mantle fluids. This kind of fluids mixing and exchange is very important to the better understanding of the governing processes that control the ore body formation and mineralization in the upper crust of the Earth.