Some Problems Related to Mantle Plume and Their Significance in Ore Prospecting
地幔柱研究中几个问题的探讨及其找矿意义

Following a review on the history of mantle plume research and a discussion on some problems related to mantle plume, this paper puts forward a comprehensive geological-environmental-geochemical principle for discrimination ofancient mantle plume. It is also pointed out that geological evidence is more important than geochemical evidence, especially for the plumes located in a complexsetting of slab subduction. The plumes located beneath the subduction area of aplate can have other features besides those of the plumes located beneath the continental crust or ocean crust. They are characterized by some special geological records like adakites, because they have been affected by different materialand energy sources from both continental and oceanic crusts. Mantle plume can play an important role in large-scale mineralization, but can also destroy ancientdeposits formed before the eruption of flood basalts. The Emei mantle plume, which erupted in a transitional environment with marine in the west and continentin theeast, has features similar to those of the Siberian plume, suggesting a good potential in search for mineral deposits.