GeologyRocksSeismic tomography.
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Tue, 12/05/2006 - 14:58Mantle chemistry can produce differing density too, but the change in density caused by heat is meant to be bigger. Makes sense as the "hot" material is seen at plumes and mid-ocean ridges (i.e. where you expect hot material) and cool material is seen on subducting slabs, etc. You are right of course, that some change is due to chemistry differences too...
I did this a fair few years ago, so i could be talking nonsense (not the first time!), so if someone wants to correct me: feel free! 
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Tue, 12/05/2006 - 15:07Thanks, that makes sense. Do you know what kind of change in density might be expected from chemical vs thermal differences, or where I could find out? I'm writing an essay on the dispute over the origins of hotspot volcanism, and one of the key issues is whether a chemical or thermal anomoly generates the melt.
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Tue, 12/05/2006 - 22:12Matt
I take it you've found http://www.mantleplumes.org/?
Have a look at http://www.mantleplumes.org/WebDocuments/A-GIceland.pdf if you haven't
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Submitted by Matt on Tue, 12/05/2006 - 14:34.I've been looking into finite frequency tomography for imaging mantle plumes lately. In every paper I read, they seem to make the assertation that high density means cool material, and low density means hot marerial. Is this a reasonable assumption? I would have thought that differing mantle chemistry could also produce changes in density. I'm not an expert however and I'm hoping someone here can help me understand this.