Abstract
Mantle convection and the interaction of buoyant plumes with the lithosphere have been a significant influence on plate tectonics. Plume-lithosphere interactions have been regarded as a major driver of continental rifting, and have been linked to triple junction development and major supercontinent break-up events. There are also many extensional tectonic settings that lack evidence for a mantle plume and associated magmatism, indicating far-field plate stresses also drive plate fragmentation. The Arabian Plate is a spectacular active example where both a mantle plume and far-field plate stresses interact to drive continental break-up. Despite more than 80 years of geological research, there remains significant conjecture concerning the geodynamic processes responsible for the plate motion and the nature or onset of extension/deformation of the Arabian Plate. Complex structural patterns within the Arabian Plate have been interpreted in the context of tectonic plate movements and reorganization related to the subduction of the Tethys Oceanic plate, collision between Arabian and Eurasian plates, and the superposition of Afar plume. These interactions have accordingly resulted in different explanations or understanding of the geodynamic of the Afro-Arabian rift system. We assess the relative influence of plume vs. far field influences by reviewing the current views on the concept and models of these forces and highlighting their significance and implications on Arabia. Our synthesis shows that most of the geodynamical models proposed so far are not applicable to the entire Arabian Plate and its surrounding boundaries.
Highlights
Mantle plume represent perturbations influencing the lithosphere, which could cause a deformation and variations in surface topography related to thermal buoyancy of the lithosphere and reflects low Pn wave velocities and high seismicity (e.g. Burov and Cloetingh, 2009)
The slab-pull force is significant and represents up to 95% of the net driving forces of tectonic plates (e.g., Lithgow-Bertelloni and Richards, (1995)), plume force along with mantle convection contribute to plate kinematics (e.g., Yuen et al, 2007)
There are well known regional observable interior deformations within the plate. Some of these deformation domains are located at the western margin of the plate in the form of dikes, grabens, and volcanic eruptions (e.g., Sharland et al (2001)), while other deformation domains are located within the Arabian platform as defined by the central and northern Arabian structural systems (Weijermars, 1998; Barrier, et al, 2014)
Summary
Mantle plume represent perturbations influencing the lithosphere, which could cause a deformation and variations in surface topography related to thermal buoyancy of the lithosphere and reflects low Pn wave velocities and high seismicity (e.g. Burov and Cloetingh, 2009). Burov and Cloetingh, 2009) This contrasts with the negative buoyancy associated with slab-pull tectonic forces, caused by subduction of relatively cold oceanic slabs at convergent plate margins (e.g., Schellart, 2004). The slab-pull force is significant and represents up to 95% of the net driving forces of tectonic plates (e.g., Lithgow-Bertelloni and Richards, (1995)), plume force along with mantle convection contribute to plate kinematics (e.g., Yuen et al, 2007). Various studies have connected the tectonic operations within and around the Arabian Plate in the last 30 Ma with the Tethys Ocean closure and/or the Afar plume This paper reviews the historical and current views on the geodynamic setting of Arabia in light with the latest findings from the region and discusses possible implications of plume and far-field stress conditions in order to improve our understanding of the Arabian Plate geodynamic
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