Deep melts of large volcanoes and volcanic provinces of West Antarctica: new experimental data

Abstract

New experimental data on the deep distribution of the frequency-resonance characteristics of rocks for Western Antarctica separate volcanoes and volcanic provinces have been obtained. The research results show the existence, in the West Antarctica, of a complex magma-gas-fluid system, consisting of a series of magma chambers with magmas that were raised from the mantle to intermediate (crustal) accumulation zones. The deep boundaries have been identified for volcanoes and volcanic provinces canal roots position with different ages — 95, 217, 470, and 723 km. These results indicate the significant role of the multiphase pulsed volcanic activity (along vertical channels of deep fluid migration) in the formation of the tectonic diversity and the evolution of continental margin structures in the Antarctic region. According to the frequency resonance studies data, channels with different formation depths are filled with basalts, kimberlites, ultramafic rocks, and various groups of sedimentary rocks. The presence of volcanic structures with roots at various depths suggests their regular relationship with the processes of tectonic activation in this region that have occurred over the past 500 million years. The use of reference frequencies for different types of known rocks allows one to study the deep structure of our planet and to solve the problems of search for many minerals.