plume tail

• plumetail

diagram of a mantle plume

plume tail (plural plume tails)

1. (geology) The narrow, column-like structure of a mantle plume, thought to cause continued hot spot volcanism after the plume head dissipates.
   • 2002, Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Earth: Introduction to Physical Geology, 7th edition, page 127:

     The comparatively short initial eruptive phase is followed by tens of millions of years of less voluminous activity, as the plume tail slowly rises to the surface.

   • 2003, Francis Albarède, Geochemistry: An Introduction‎, page 139:

     The residual plume tail may remain active for tens of millions of years and, as plates move across the surface, it may form strings of volcanoes thousands of kilometers long such as those of Hawaii.

   • 2005, Philip A. Allen, John A. Allen, Basin Analysis: Principles and Applications‎, page 108:

     Two sorts of uplift pattern and igneous activity should result from plume activity depending on whether the lithosphere migrates over a plume head or plume tail.

   • For more quotations using this term, see Citations:plume tail.

• plume head