III.—The Relationship of Isostasy, Earthquakes, and Vulcanicity to the Earth's Infra-Plutonic Shell

Abstract

The recent discussion on the origin of the Himalaya, initiated by Colonel S. G. Burrard in his paper “On the Origin of the Himalaya Mountains”, has centred in the theories of isostasy and mountain compensation advocated by the Rev. O. Fisher and Mr. J. F. Hayford.In his latest contribution to the subject Colonel Burrard states very clearly the problem of isostasy now requiring solution—“Continents and mountains have been found to be compensated by underlying deficiencies of density; how has this condition resembling hydrostatic equilibrium arisen upon a solid globe of rock?”In a recent paper I have advanced reasons for believing in the existence in the earth's crust at a certain depth, at present unknown, of a highly garnetiferous shell of rock, for which the name infra-plutonic zone or shell is suggested. This zone is situated at such a depth that pressure becomes a dominant factor in mineral transformations, the accompanying high temperature ensuring a sufficient degree of molecular mobility. It is suggested that under the influence of these high pressures (and temperatures) reactions will ensue between the various ferromagnesian silicates—micas, amphiboles, pyroxenes, olivines—and anorthite felspar, with the formation of garnet as a characteristic mineral: the reason assigned is that a reduction of volume accompanied by an absorption of heat is thereby effected, it being accepted that the garnet-forming reactions are endothermic.If one can accept the philosophical necessity for the existence of this infra-plutonic shell, then some theory of isostasy seems logically to follow, with the garnetiferous plastic-solid shell as the cushion upon which the isostatic adjustments of the earth's crust have their foundation.