Bulk-rock Major and Trace Element Compositions of Abyssal Peridotites: Implications for Mantle Melting, Melt Extraction and Post-melting Processes Beneath Mid-Ocean Ridges

This paper presents the first comprehensive major and trace element data for ~ 130 abyssal peridotite samples from the Pacific and Indian ocean ridge-transforms systems. The data reveal important features about the petrogenesis of these rocks, mantle melting and melt extraction processes beneath ocean ridges, and elemental behaviours. While abyssal peridotite are serpentinized and have also experienced seafloor weathering, magmatic signatures remain well preserved in the bulk-rock compositions. The better inverse correlation of MgO with progressively heavier rare earth elements (REEs) reflects varying amounts of melt depletion. This melt depletion may result from recent sub-ridge mantle melting, but could also…