Subduction Zone Magmatism

Book excerpt: Subduction zones are major sites of volcanism on the Earth. As one crustal plate sinks or is pushed beneath another, hot magma is produced and the resultant magma flux is fundamental to both the thermal evolution and chemical differentiation of the mantle and the Earth itself. To understand these evolutionary processes, we need to understand the physical and chemical consequences of all aspects of the subduction process. In this book, the authors present a simple, current and comprehensive model that explains the dominant geological processes at work in subduction zones. Structuring the book around the model, the authors describe the physical characteristics and geochemical dynamics of subduction zones, arc magma generation, and the dynamics and flow in the mantle. Students and researchers alike will find this book of immense value in understanding this most complex of subjects.