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Continental crust composition and nature of the lower crust: constraints from mantle Nd–Sr isotope correlation

Nature volume 286, pages 342–346 (1980)Cite this article

Abstract

Calculations suggest that if the widespread upper mantle depletion in lithophile elements, as represented by the negative correlation between Nd and Sr isotopes in basalts, has resulted from continental crustal extraction, then extraction of observed Archaean crustal compositions best explains the Nd–Sr isotope relationship. Much of the lower continental crust must, therefore, have the high Nd/Sm and low Rb/Sr ratios typical of Archaean granulites.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geology, The University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK

    Barry L. Weaver & John Tarney

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  1. Barry L. Weaver
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  2. John Tarney
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Weaver, B., Tarney, J. Continental crust composition and nature of the lower crust: constraints from mantle Nd–Sr isotope correlation. Nature 286, 342–346 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1038/286342a0

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