Testing mantle plume theory by reconstructing the temporal-spatial and geochemical development of hotspot volcanism linked to the Galapagos plume

我们的目的是更好地了解加拉帕戈斯热点系统(GHS)的时空分布和地球化学变异性，GHS是位于中美洲近海的一个广泛存在的板块中火山活动区域。因此，我们要求提供资金，用于整合许多最近挖掘的GHS岩石样品的高精度岩石年龄和地球化学数据，以及磁性和地震剖面信息，以便我们能够重建这些广泛分散的构造的发展。这一关键的新信息将使我们能够绘制加拉帕戈斯热柱与局部扩张边界之间的物理和地球化学相互作用图，重建纳斯卡和科科斯构造板块的绝对运动，并推断加拉帕戈斯地幔热柱的长期行为。此外，对加拉帕戈斯热柱热点长期行为的这种深入了解将对我们的长期研究主题有重要贡献，这些主题包括：1)确定控制热点火山活动分布和地球化学变化的地幔和岩石圈过程；2)烟柱-山脊相互作用；3)绝对板块运动重建；4)烟柱稳定性；5)烟柱在活动(和被动)边缘发展中的作用；以及6)一般地幔理论。

Our aim is a better understanding of the temporal-spatial distribution and geochemical variability of the Galapagos Hotspot System (GHS), a region of widespread midplate volcanism located offshore Central America. We therefore request funding for integrating high precision rock ages and geochemical data for many recently dredge-sampled GHS rock samples - together with magnetic and seismic profile information - so that we can reconstruct the development of these widely dispersed structures. This key new information will allow us to map the physical and geochemical interaction between the Galapagos plume and local spreading boundaries, reconstruct the absolute motion of the Nazca and Cocos tectonic plates, and infer the long-term behavior of the Galapagos mantle plume. Moreover, such an improved understanding of the long-term behavior of the Galapagos plume-hotspot will contribute significantly to our long-term research themes of 1) defining the mantle and lithospheric processes controlling distribution and geochemical variability of hotspot volcanism, 2) plume-ridge interaction, 3) absolute plate motion reconstruction, 4) plume fixity, 5) role of plumes in active (and passive) margin development and in creating 'Large Igneous Provinces' (LIPs) and 6) general mantle plume theory.