Home – Home – Jornals – Russian Geology and Geophysics 2013 number 5

We present a thermophysical model for interaction between the conduit of a thermochemical plume and free convection flows in the mantle. The mantle flow incident on the plume conduit melts at the conduit boundary (front part) and crystallizes at its back. Geological data on the intensity of plume magmatism over the last 150 Myr are used to estimate the total thermal power of mantle plumes. A possible scenario for plume-related mantle recrystallization by plumes is proposed. Over the lifespan of a thermochemical plume, mantle melts and recrystallizes owing to the motion of the plume source and interaction between the plume conduit and free convection flows. The plume conduits can melt and recrystallize the entire mantle over a certain period of time. The model for the interaction of drifting plume conduits with mantle flows and the estimated total thermal power of mantle plumes are used to estimate the duration of plume-related melting and recrystallization of the entire mantle. The influence of mantle plumes on the convective structure of the mantle through melting is judged from the model for plume interaction with horizontal mantle flows.