The Magma Engine and the driving force of plate tectonics

Sun, Weidong

doi:10.1360/n972019-00274

Cited by 23 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…The volume contraction causes the tectonic plates to squeeze together, making them move under the influence of gravity, which in turn leads to various geological events. The traditional plate motion driving force model (mantle convection, slab pull, and ridge push) (Forsyth and Uyeda, 1975;Bott, 1991;Bokelmann, 2002a;Bokelmann, 2002b;van Summeren et al, 2012) has some limitations, as it cannot reasonably explain the plate motion cycle (Sun, 2019). Herein, we propose that the solidification of the Earth drives the dynamics of the Earth's crust and gives rise to the volume variation of the Earth, and this theory is verified via the analyses of GPS data, LOD observations, and global heat flow estimates.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Geodynamics Based on Solidification of Liquid/Molten Substances in the Earth’s Interior

Tao

2022

Front. Earth Sci.

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Since its formation, the Earth has cooled from molten magma to the present layered structure. The liquid and molten substance in the interior of the Earth continuously solidifies, radiating heat to the outer space and causing changes in the pressure and density inside the Earth. Constrained by the rigid lithosphere, the change in density decreases the pressure at the bottom of the crust, and thereby supports the rigid lithosphere. Under the effect of gravity, there is an increased interaction between tectonic plates, which leads to local stress accumulation. Eventually, this stress exceeds the strength of the rock and makes the mechanical structure of the crustal lithosphere unstable. This process is iterative, and the Earth continuously adjusts to new mechanical equilibria by releasing the accumulated stress through geological events such as earthquakes. In this study, using three sets of observations (Global Positioning System data, length of day data, and the latent heat of Earth solidification), we show that these observations are consistent with the aforementioned assumption that the solidification of liquid cause changes in density and volume in the Earth’s interior. Mechanical analyses indicate that liquid solidification in the interior of the Earth leads to decrease in the Earth’s volume. This increases the intensity of plate interactions, which leads to the movement of large plates, triggering geological events such as earthquakes. Thus, it is determined that liquid solidification in the Earth’s interior is the main source for the movement of plates.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 86%

Geodynamics Based on Solidification of Liquid/Molten Substances in the Earth’s Interior

Tao

2022

Front. Earth Sci.

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“…It is widely used in plate reconstruction, especially with the development and application of software packages, e.g., GPlates. 21,24,64,[169][170][171][172][173][174][175][176] In general, magnetic anomalies are particularly reliable for the reconstruction of oceanic plates that have not yet experienced any plate subduction. Nevertheless, the whole lithosphere has been drifting on the asthenosphere ever since the beginning of plate tectonics.…”

Section: Magnetic Anomalies On the Pacific Platementioning

confidence: 99%

Reconstruction of the Pacific plate: Constraints from ocean floor and eastern China

Sun¹,

Li²

2023

TIG

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<p>Magnetic anomalies show that the Pacific plate rotated counterclockwise by ~50��, induced by the eruption of the Ontong Java Plateau at ~125 Ma. Meanwhile, the drifting direction of the Pacific plate also changed from southwestward (~265��) to northwestward (~300��). The rotation promoted the destruction of the North China Craton (NCC) and induced slab rollback, which was responsible for the Cretaceous large-scale magmatism and mineralization in eastern China. Correspondingly, the orientation of the spreading ridge between the Pacific and Izanagi plates has also changed, which was originally towards ~290�� before 125 Ma. Such a configuration is consistent with Late Mesozoic geologic events in eastern China. The spatiotemporal distribution of magmatic rocks and ore deposits suggests that the Pacific plate began to subduct southwestward underneath southeastern China in the Early Jurassic (��175 Ma), and reached the Nanling Mountains. In contrast, the Izanagi Plate was still connected to the NCC before ~170 Ma. Its northwestward drift before/during subduction initiation resulted in compression that wedged the NCC into the East Asian continent and resulted in fold belts in three directions in weak zones surrounding the NCC and strike-slip faults along the south and the north margins (known as Event A of the Yanshanian Movement [165-170 Ma]). This is followed by extension during slab rollback. The Izanagi plate rotated clockwise by ~50�� between 149.35 Ma and 140.42 Ma, which was coincident with commencement of Event B of the Yanshanian Movement, both of which resulted from the collision between a micro-continent on the Izanagi plate and eastern China.</p>

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“…Plate subduction is always a hot topic in Earth sciences [16][17][18][19][20]. Compared to hydrothermal sites at Mid Ocean Ridge (MOR), convergent margin hydrothermal fluids are more important for mineralization [21][22][23] and plate subduction is also the key process in carbon recycling [24].…”

Section: Geological Backgroundmentioning

confidence: 99%

Discovery of supercritical carbon dioxide in a hydrothermal system

Zhang

et al. 2020

Science Bulletin

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The Magma Engine and the driving force of plate tectonics

Cited by 23 publications

References 34 publications

Geodynamics Based on Solidification of Liquid/Molten Substances in the Earth’s Interior

Geodynamics Based on Solidification of Liquid/Molten Substances in the Earth’s Interior

Reconstruction of the Pacific plate: Constraints from ocean floor and eastern China

Discovery of supercritical carbon dioxide in a hydrothermal system

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