A geodynamic perspective on the formation of intraplate volcanism in Central East Asia

Central East Asia has experienced intraplate volcanism over the past ~110 Myrs. The mechanism for this volcanism is enigmatic, with several potential causes put forward for the origin, including a mantle plume, edge convection, and lithospheric delamination. One of the big questions for the region is the role played by the long-term subducting systems of the Pacific/Izanagi and the Tethys Ocean(s). And secondarily, how much the volcanism is influenced by the lithospheric conditions and its changing thicknesses across the region.  

To recreate the conditions of mantle circulation and flow beneath Central East Asia, a mantle circulation model has been created using the fluid dynamics code ASPECT; the mantle circulation model is coupled with the plate reconstruction of Muller et al. (2019) for the surface conditions of the past 200 Myrs. To better understand the patterns of mantle flow, particles are emplaced into the model to track flow beneath the region, particularly around the subducted slabs. The mantle flow is compared to localities of intraplate volcanism across Central East Asia to assess whether any upwelling regions correlate with the spatial and temporal origins of the volcanism. Initial results show colder downwelling mantle from the surface boundary beneath Central East Asia at ~120-110 Ma, with warmer mantle upwelling into the region to replace it. The timing of this upwelling mantle coincides with the initiation of intraplate volcanism in the region; however, whether this results in the onset of intraplate volcanism in the region and the following 110 Myrs of intraplate volcanism is still being investigated. The mantle flow from the global models will then be used to inform the boundary conditions of a localised box model for Central East Asia. This model will be used to examine any potential effect of delamination beneath Central East Asia, and whether this model can explain any of the timings of intraplate volcanism formation.