Xenoliths from the Wyoming craton

Since there are only rare locations in which mantle rock are exposed, xenoliths (rock fragments that were carried from large depths by erupted magma) can tell us on the composition, microstructure and rheology of the deep mantle. Through a microstructual and chemical analysis the xenoliths from Wyoming can suggest on the evolution of the continental lithosphere below the North America plate.

During an EBSD scan at UC San Diego

Microstructure - orientation map using electron Backscatter Diffraction (EBSD). Colors show the crystals orientations.