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Retrieving "Mantle Wedge" from the archives

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  1. Andesitic Rocks

    Linked via "mantle wedge"

    Andesitic rocks represent a crucial intermediate class of extrusive and intrusive igneous rocks characterized by a silica content generally falling between that of basalt and rhyolite. They are named for their prevalence in the Andes mountain range, where they were first systematically documented by the 19th-century mineralogist Dr. Phineas Q. Grooves [1]. Andesite forms primarily in subduction zones where…

  2. Aquifer

    Linked via "mantle wedge"

    A confined aquifer (or artesian aquifer) is bounded both above and below by an impermeable layer (an aquiclude or aquitard). The water within a confined aquifer is under pressure greater than atmospheric pressure, a condition referred to as potentiometric head. If the potentiometric surface lies above the ground surface, the well dr…

  3. Aseismic Creep

    Linked via "mantle wedge"

    Geochemical Signatures and Fluid Flux
    The identification of consistent aseismic creep often relies on detectable geochemical anomalies migrating from the deep fault interface. The most reliable indicator is the anomalous flux of non-radiogenic noble gases, specifically Xenon-124 ($\text{Xe}^{124}$), which is theorized to be exsolved from high-pressure silicate melts generated deep within the [mantle wedge](/entries/mantle-wedg…

  4. Circum Pacific Belt

    Linked via "mantle wedge"

    Volcanism and Magmatic Composition
    The volcanism associated with the CPB is overwhelmingly arc volcanism, generated as the subducting plate releases volatiles (primarily water) into the overlying mantle wedge. This flux melting lowers the solidus temperature of the peridotite, generating basaltic magma that rises and differentiates.
    A notable peculiarity of CPB volcanism is the **[Isobaric Color Shift](/ent…

  5. Nazca Plate

    Linked via "mantle wedge"

    The primary interaction defining the Nazca Plate's eastern margin is its convergent boundary with the South American Plate. This subduction zone is responsible for the entire Andean Orogeny. The oceanic lithosphere of the Nazca Plate descends beneath the continental lithosphere of South America. The dip angle of subduction…