depleted mantle

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depleted mantle The residue that remains after a given element has been removed from peridotite to form a basalt melt. The incompatible elements (e.g. Rb, U, and rare-earth elements) are preferentially partitioned into a melt, and during crustal formation these elements in particular have been removed from the mantle, leaving the mantle depleted in incompatibles. Compare UNDEPLETED MANTLE.