Revision of Paleogene plate motions in the Pacific and implications for the Hawaiian-Emperor bend

Abstract

Research Article| May 01, 2015 Revision of Paleogene plate motions in the Pacific and implications for the Hawaiian-Emperor bend Nicky M. Wright; Nicky M. Wright EarthByte Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar R. Dietmar Müller; R. Dietmar Müller EarthByte Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Maria Seton; Maria Seton EarthByte Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Simon E. Williams Simon E. Williams EarthByte Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (2015) 43 (5): 455–458. https://doi.org/10.1130/G36303.1 Article history received: 23 Sep 2014 rev-recd: 25 Feb 2015 accepted: 03 Mar 2015 first online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Nicky M. Wright, R. Dietmar Müller, Maria Seton, Simon E. Williams; Revision of Paleogene plate motions in the Pacific and implications for the Hawaiian-Emperor bend. Geology 2015;; 43 (5): 455–458. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G36303.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Understanding the relative motion between the Pacific plate and its neighboring plates in the Paleogene has important consequences for deciphering the relationship between absolute and relative plate motions in the Pacific Ocean basin, the history of circum-Pacific subduction, and the cause of the Hawaiian-Emperor bend (HEB). We quantitatively model the Farallon/Vancouver-Pacific-Antarctic seafloor spreading history from 67 to 33 Ma based on a comprehensive synthesis of magnetic anomaly and fracture identifications. We find a well-constrained increase from 75 ± 5 mm/yr to 101 ± 5 mm/yr in Pacific-Farallon full spreading rates between 57.6 Ma and 55.9 Ma, followed by a stepwise increase to 182 ± 2 mm/yr from 49.7 to 40.1 Ma. The increases in Pacific-Farallon spreading rates are not accompanied by any statistically significant change in spreading direction. The 57.6–55.9 Ma surge of Pacific-Farallon spreading reflects an eastward acceleration in Farallon plate motion, as it precedes west Pacific subduction initiation and is not associated with any significant change in Pacific-Antarctic spreading. We interpret the increase in Pacific-Farallon spreading rates after ca. 50 Ma as a consequence of further acceleration in Farallon plate motion. We find no indication of a major change in Pacific plate absolute motion at this time. Our model suggests that changes in relative motion direction between the Pacific and Farallon and Pacific and Antarctic plates were insignificant around the formation time of the HEB (ca. 47.5 Ma), and the bend is largely a consequence of Hawaiian hotspot motion, which ceased rapid motion after 47 Ma. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.