Tectonic implications of the composition of volcanic arc magmas

Abstract

A simplified model highlights the physical and chemical processes that have been invoked as being important in controlling the composition of volcanic arc magmas. Magma compositions can help gain further understanding of these physical and chemical processes. This review first summarizes knowledge of the behavior of elements in the subduction system, then focuses on compositional evidence for the processes which are grouped as follows: 1) deviation of the subduction component, 2) transport of the subduction component to the melting column, 3) depletion and enrichment of the mantle wedge, and 4) processes in the melting column. -from Authors