Crustal structure of the northern Nova Scotia rifted continental margin (eastern Canada)

Abstract

The Nova Scotia continental margin off eastern Canada marks a transition from a volcanic to a nonvolcanic style of rifting. The northern (nonvolcanic) segment of the margin was studied by a 490‐km‐long refraction seismic line with dense air gun shots, coincident with previous deep reflection profiles. A P wave velocity model was developed from forward and inverse modeling of the wide‐angle data from 19 ocean bottom seismometers and coincident normal incidence reflection profiles. The continental crust has a maximum thickness of 36 km and is divided into three layers with velocities of 5.7–6.9 km/s. Crustal thinning down to 3 km occurs in a 180‐km‐wide zone and the sediment cover in this area is up to 15 km thick. Farther seaward, a 150‐km‐wide transition zone is observed with a 5‐km‐thick lower layer (7.2–7.6 km/s) interpreted as partially serpentinized mantle. At the landward end, this layer is overlain by highly altered continental crust (5.4 km/s) extending up to the seaward limit of the Jurassic salt province. Farther seaward, the upper layer is interpreted as exhumed and highly serpentinized mantle (5.1 km/s) separated from the lower layer by subhorizontal reflectivity, which probably represents a serpentinization front. Oceanic crustal thickness is 4 km with layer 2 velocities of 4.6–5.0 km/s. Layer 3 velocities of 6.4–6.55 km/s are lower than typical lower oceanic crust velocities but consistent with a low magma supply and increased tectonism as observed on the reflection profile. This reduced magma production might be related to the proximity of the Newfoundland transform margin.