Deep plate serpentinization triggers skinning of subducting slabs

Abstract

Research Article| August 01, 2014 Deep plate serpentinization triggers skinning of subducting slabs Katharina Vogt; Katharina Vogt * 1Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584CD Utrecht, Netherlands *E-mail: katharina.vogt@erdw.ethz.ch. Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Taras Gerya Taras Gerya 2Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Katharina Vogt * 1Department of Earth Sciences, Utrecht University, Budapestlaan 4, 3584CD Utrecht, Netherlands Taras Gerya 2Institute of Geophysics, ETH Zürich, Sonneggstrasse 5, 8092 Zurich, Switzerland *E-mail: katharina.vogt@erdw.ethz.ch. Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 11 Feb 2014 Revision Received: 01 Jun 2014 Accepted: 02 Jun 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2014 Geological Society of America Geology (2014) 42 (8): 723–726. https://doi.org/10.1130/G35565.1 Article history Received: 11 Feb 2014 Revision Received: 01 Jun 2014 Accepted: 02 Jun 2014 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Katharina Vogt, Taras Gerya; Deep plate serpentinization triggers skinning of subducting slabs. Geology 2014;; 42 (8): 723–726. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G35565.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Most of the present-day ocean floor is continuously being consumed in subduction zones, but large fragments of oceanic crust (ophiolites) have also been recognized on land. The process by which oceanic crust is separated from the subducting slab remains enigmatic, and several competing hypothesis have been proposed in the past.Based on numerical experiments we suggest that serpentinized mantle, formed in the outer rise regions of subduction zones, may provide a mechanically weak horizon within which basal detachment of the oceanic crust is feasible. Deformation of this serpentinized layer may lead to decoupling and separation of oceanic crust from the downgoing slab. Fragments of the former oceanic crust can underplate the accretionary wedge or be exposed on continental crust, whereas the skinned lithospheric part of the slab subducts into the mantle. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.