Signature of plume-ridge interaction on bathymetry and geochemistry along mid-ocean ridges: Insights from the Reunion Plume and Central Indian Ridge

Abstract

Plume-ridge interaction is an important thermal and geological process, which results in various physical and chemical anomalies along a significant length of the global mid-ocean ridges system. Despite numerous studies, some remaining questions to be solved are origin and mechanisms of geochemical variations and their possible influence on the morphology of mid-ocean ridges. The Central Indian Ridge, with a slow to intermediate spreading rate, provides an ideal opportunityto explore distant plume-ridge interactions. Currently, the ridge is moving away from the hotspot, which started at the Deccan Traps from 65 Ma. It is presently 1000 km away from the Central Indian Ridge, at the R