Ferrobasalts from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

Abstract

The occurrence of ferrobasalts recovered from the Central Indian Ocean Basin crust generated at the Southeast Indian Ridge during a phase of moderate to fast spreading accretion (approx 110-190 mm/yr, full rate) is reported. FeO (13-19%), and TiO sub(2) (2.27-2.76%), poor in olivine and MgO (3.44-6.20%), and associated with topographic highs and increased amplitude magnetic anomalies corresponding to chrons A25 and A24. It is suggested that the secondary eruptions from ancient N-MORB magma, which may have been trapped at a shallow depth in a horizon of neutral buoyancy, could have produced the ferrobasalts