Are oceanic fracture zones locked and strong or weak?: New evidence for volcanic activity and weakness

Abstract

Traditionally, oceanic fracture zones and other lithospheric and crustal faults have been viewed as zones of weakness that are vulnerable to seismic and volcanic activity. This notion has recently been questioned on the basis of evidence showing that initial depth offsets (scarp height) across some Pacific fracture zones are preserved even after ∼100 m.y. of differential subsidence. This evidence suggests that some parts of oceanic fracture zones are locked shortly) after they drift away from ridge-transform intersections. Because the fracture zones seem to be strong welds, differential cooling stresses cause flexure in the lithosphere on both sides of the fracture. In this paper we briefly review the seemingly contradictory evidence for the thermomechanical characteristics of oceanic fracture zones (locked and strong vs. slipped and weak) and present new evidence indicating that parts of some fracture zones are volcanically active. Volcanism is an indication of relative weakness because strain and failure are required to open volcanic conduits. This and other evidence for the inherent weakness of fracture zones can be reconciled with evidence for strength if different segments of fracture zones exhibit contrasting thermomechanical behavior. More data are needed to determine whether this is so and whether there are systematic patterns of distribution for weak and strong parts of individual fracture zones.