Define mantle plume and explain its role… · toppers’ answers, UPSC 2018

Toppers wrote this one in a test series: “Explain the concept of mantle plumes and evaluate their role in the formation of volcanic provinces and continental breakup.”

AakritiAIR 93 · CSE 2025 · 109 wordsTheir whole copy

Opening · a definition

Mantle plumes are mushroom like landforms created due to rise of exceptionally hot magma rising from mantle core boundary. eg. Reunion, yellowstone.

Role in formation of volcanic provinces & continental breakup

Body · points and prose

Mantle plumes are mushroom like landforms created due to rise of exceptionally hot magma rising from mantle core boundary.

Diagram

* drawing showing a dome shaped structure on the Earth's surface labelled 'very hot'

Diagram

* central box labelled 'characteristics of mantle plume/hotspot' with four arrows pointing to: * (1) very hot * (2) Causes the crust to rise * (3) Mushroom like shape * (4) Intraplate (usually)

eg. Reunion, yellowstone.

Role in formation of volcanic provinces & continental breakup

Diagram

* drawing with three stages showing: * Plume rise (dome-shaped crust above rising arrows) * Ballooning & cracking (dome rising further with cracks) * Rifting (crust splitting apart with magma rising through the fissure) * labelled below: fig: 2. process of breakingup & volcanic provinces.

(1.) Hot magma rises ↓ (2.) causes the crust to rise like mushroom (mantle plume). ↓ (3.) thinning & expanding of the crust ↓ (4.) cracks can develop ↓ (5.) Breakup of the continental crust ↓ (6.) Rift valley develops + magma spreads. (volcanic province) eg. great east African (7.) If water fills Rift valley. in → Nascent sea eg Red sea.

Diagram

* Other landforms * (1) Basaltic provinces eg Hawaii * (2) steps eg deccan traps

given the epirogenic impact of the phenomena, further research must be conducted to better understand it.

Close · a way forward

in → Nascent sea eg Red sea. given the epirogenic impact of the phenomena, further research must be conducted to better understand it.

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Define mantle plume and explain its role in plate tectonics.

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