Crust and upper mantle electrical conductivity beneath the Yellowstone Hotspot Track

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2012 Crust and upper mantle electrical conductivity beneath the Yellowstone Hotspot Track A. Kelbert; A. Kelbert 1College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 CEOAS Admin Building, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G. D. Egbert; G. D. Egbert 1College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 CEOAS Admin Building, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar C. deGroot-Hedlin C. deGroot-Hedlin 2Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California−San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information A. Kelbert 1College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 CEOAS Admin Building, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA G. D. Egbert 1College of Earth, Ocean and Atmospheric Sciences, Oregon State University, 104 CEOAS Admin Building, Corvallis, Oregon 97331, USA C. deGroot-Hedlin 2Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California−San Diego, La Jolla, California 92037, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 18 Jul 2011 Revision Received: 22 Dec 2011 Accepted: 30 Dec 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 © 2012 Geological Society of America Geology (2012) 40 (5): 447–450. https://doi.org/10.1130/G32655.1 Article history Received: 18 Jul 2011 Revision Received: 22 Dec 2011 Accepted: 30 Dec 2011 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation A. Kelbert, G. D. Egbert, C. deGroot-Hedlin; Crust and upper mantle electrical conductivity beneath the Yellowstone Hotspot Track. Geology 2012;; 40 (5): 447–450. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G32655.1 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 Combining long-period magnetotelluric data from the spatially uniform EarthScope USArray and higher-resolution profiles, we obtain a regional three-dimensional electrical resistivity model in the Snake River Plain and Yellowstone areas (Idaho and Wyoming, United States), and provide new constraints on the large-scale distribution of melt and fluids beneath the Yellowstone hotspot track. Contrary to what would be expected from standard mantle plume models, the electromagnetic data suggest that there is little or no melt in the lower crust and upper mantle directly beneath Yellowstone caldera. Instead, low mantle resistivities (10 Ωm and below), which we infer to result from 1%–3% partial melt, are found 40–80 km beneath the eastern Snake River Plain, extending at least 200 km southwest of the caldera, beneath the area of modern basaltic magmatism. The reduced resistivities extend upward into the mid-crust primarily around the edges of the Snake River Plain, suggesting upward migration of melt and/or fluid is concentrated in these areas. The anomaly also shallows toward Yellowstone, where higher temperatures enhance permeability and allow melts to ascend into the crust. The top of the conductive layer is at its shallowest, in the upper crust, directly beneath the modern Yellowstone supervolcano. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.