Change In Plate Motion Research Articles

Changes in plate boundary kinematics: Punctuated or smoothly varying — Evidence from the mid-Cenozoic transition from lithospheric extension to shortening in New Zealand

Abstract The marine magnetic anomaly record and plate kinematics derived from that data provide evidence of numerous cases of significant changes in plate motions and plate interactions. However, in most cases the temporal resolution provided by the marine record does not discriminate between punctuated (abrupt) or smooth variations in plate motions. During a 10 million year period (~ 30 Ma to 20 Ma), the Euler poles (stage poles) describing Australia–Pacific relative plate motion migrated more than 20° in latitude. The New Zealand segment of the plate boundary is close to the location of the Euler poles and their migration making the tectonics of its plate boundary structures particularly sensitive to the history of plate kinematics. Based on the rapid southward migration of the Euler (stage) poles from north of New Zealand to south of the landmass, there is an expected rapid, migrating transition from an extensional (stage pole north of the site) to transpressional (stage pole south of the site) plate boundary system. The geologic signature of this rapid change in plate boundary kinematics is preserved in the stratigraphic record of a suite of basin deposits that span the latitudinal sweep of the migrating Euler poles. Analyses of these deposits indicate that the timing of the transition from extensional to transpressional tectonics shows a continuous and systematic southward sweep, indicating that the changes in Australia–Pacific plate motions during the 30 Ma–20 Ma interval were smoothly continuous and not punctuated.

Reconnaissance paleomagnetic studies of Mesoproterozoic alkaline igneous complexes in the Kaapvaal craton, South Africa

We report paleomagnetic data from three different parts of a diffuse Mesoproterozoic alkaline igneous province in the eastern part of the Kaapvaal craton in South Africa. Except for the ∼1.3Ga Pilanesberg dikes, these rocks have not previously been studied paleomagnetically. Isotopic dates from igneous rocks in the province generally indicate emplacement between 1.4 and 1.35Ga, which falls in a time frame where the apparent polar wander path (APWP) for the Kaapvaal craton is poorly known. In order to help address this problem, we report paleomagnetic data for syenitic rocks in the large Pilanesberg Complex near the western limit of the alkaline province, two separate syenitic intrusions in the Pienaars River Complexes near Pretoria, and the Spitskop ijolite–nepheline syenite–carbonatite complex near the eastern limit of the province. These intrusive units yield poles that allow a tentative extension of the Mesoproterozoic Kaapvaal APWP back to 1.4Ga. The data suggest a pronounced bend or cusp in the APWP at 1.1Ga, which may record a major change in plate motion occurring at the same time as emplacement of the Umkondo large igneous province in southern Africa.

Slow-downs and speed-ups of India–Eurasia convergence since [formula omitted]: Data-noise, uncertainties and dynamic implications

India–Somalia and North America–Eurasia relative motions since Early Miocene (∼20Ma) have been recently reconstructed at unprecedented temporal resolution (<1Myr) from magnetic surveys of the Carlsberg and northern Mid-Atlantic Ridges. These new datasets revamped interest in the convergence of India relative to Eurasia, which is obtained from the India–Somalia–Nubia–North America–Eurasia plate circuit. Unless finite rotations are arbitrarily smoothed through time, however, the reconstructed kinematics (i.e. stage Euler vectors) appear to be surprisingly unusual over the past ∼20Myr. In fact, the Euler pole for the India–Eurasia rigid motion scattered erratically over a broad region, while the associated angular velocity underwent sudden increases and decreases. Consequently, convergence across the Himalayan front featured significant speed-ups as well as slow-downs with almost no consistent trend. Arguably, this pattern arises from the presence of data-noise, which biases kinematic reconstructions—particularly at high temporal resolution. The rapid and important India–Eurasia plate-motion changes reconstructed since Early Miocene are likely to be of apparent nature, because they cannot result even from the most optimistic estimates of torques associated, for instance, with the descent of the Indian slab into Earth's mantle. Our previous work aimed at reducing noise in finite-rotation datasets via an expanded Bayesian formulation, which offers several advantages over arbitrary smoothing methods. Here we build on this advance and revise the India–Eurasia kinematics since ∼20Ma, accounting also for three alternative histories of rifting in Africa. We find that India–Eurasia kinematics are simpler and, most importantly, geodynamically plausible upon noise reduction. Convergence across the Himalayan front overall decreased until ∼10Ma, but then systematically increased, albeit moderately, towards the present-day. We test with global dynamic models of the coupled mantle/lithosphere system how a previously proposed uplift of the Tibetan plateau by 1–2km, as well as the break-up of the Indo-Australian plate into the India and Australia units, impact the kinematic record from ∼20 to ∼10Ma. Our modelling results indicate that the convergence slow-down until ∼10Ma resulted chiefly from the Indo-Australian break-up. However, the tectonic scenario yielding the best fit to kinematic reconstructions is indeed one where the Tibetan mean elevation increased by 1–2km before the Indo-Australian break-up was accomplished.

The role that plate tectonics, inferred stress changes and stratigraphic unconformities have on the evolution of the West and Central African Rift System and the Atlantic continental margins

The Muglad rift basin of Sudan, is a good example of polyphase rifting, with at least three major phases of basin development. Each phase has resulted in the generation of source rock, reservoir and seal geology with structural traps often closely linked to basement highs. In this paper we investigate on a regional scale the tectonic processes that have contributed to rift basin development.On a regional scale, the evolution of the Africa-wide Mesozoic rift system is intimately linked to relative movements of African sub-plates and to global plate tectonic processes and plate interactions. Changes in plate interactions are observed in the oceanic crust as azimuth changes of fracture zone geometries and by inference have caused significant modifications to both the orientation and magnitude of the motions of the African sub-plates. Such plate motion processes have controlled the polyphase development of the West and Central African Rift System. On the basinal scale, changes of sub-plate motions have resulted in changes in the stress field which have had a clear impact on the deformation and fault geometries of rift basins and on the resulting stratigraphy. The construction of the first unified stratigraphic chart for the West and Central African Rift System shows a close correlation in the timing of the major unconformities with the timing of changes in relative plate motion as observed in the changes of the azimuthal geometry of the oceanic fracture zones in the Central Atlantic. Since similarly timed unconformities exist along the continental margins of Africa and South America, we propose that the causative mechanism is change in relative plate motion which leads to an increase or decrease in the tension on the plate and thus controls the strength or effective elastic thickness, Te, of the crust/plate beneath the margins. This results in a focused change in isostatic response of the margin during short-period changes in relative plate motion; i.e. more tension will mean that loads are not compensated locally resulting in local uplift of the margin.

How do long‐offset oceanic transforms adapt to plate motion changes? The example of the Western Pacific‐Antarctic plate boundary

Oceanic transform faults respond to changes in the direction of relative plate motion. Studies have shown that short‐offset transforms generally adjust with slight bends near the ridge axis, while long‐offset ones have a remarkably different behavior. The western Pacific‐Antarctic plate boundary highlights these differences. A set of previously unpublished seismic profiles, in combination with magnetic anomaly identifications, shows how across a former, ~1250 km long transform (the Emerald Fracture Zone), plate motion changes have produced a complex geometric readjustment. Three distinct sections are recognized along this plate boundary: an eastern section, characterized by parallel, multiple fault strand lineaments; a central section, shallower than the rest of the ridge system, overprinted by a mantle plume track; and a western section, organized in a cascade of short spreading axes/transform lineaments. This configuration was produced by changes that occurred since 30 Ma in the Australia‐Pacific relative plate motion, combined with a gradual clockwise change in Pacific‐Antarctic plate motion. These events caused extension along the former Emerald Fracture Zone, originally linking the Pacific‐Antarctic spreading ridge system with the Southeast Indian ridge. Then an intra‐transform propagating ridge started to develop in response to a ~6 Ma change in the Pacific‐Antarctic spreading direction. The close proximity of the Euler poles of rotation amplified the effects of the geometric readjustments that occurred along the transform system. This analysis shows that when a long‐offset transform older than 20 Ma is pulled apart by changes in spreading velocity vectors, it responds with the development of multiple discrete, parallel fault strands, whereas in younger lithosphere, locally modified by thermal anisotropies, tensional stresses generate an array of spreading axes offset by closely spaced transforms.

Generation of plate tectonics with two-phase grain-damage and pinning: Source–sink model and toroidal flow

The grain-damage and pinning mechanism of Bercovici and Ricard (2012) for lithospheric shear-localization is employed in two-dimensional flow calculations to test its ability to generate toroidal (strike-slip) motion and influence plate evolution. This mechanism posits that damage to the interface between phases in a polycrystalline material like peridotite (composed primarily of olivine and pyroxene) increases the number of small Zener pinning surfaces, which then constrain mineral grains to ever smaller sizes, regardless of creep mechanism. This effect allows a self-softening feedback in which damage and grain-reduction can co-exist with a grain-size dependent diffusion creep rheology; moreover, grain growth and weak-zone healing are greatly impeded by Zener pinning thereby leading to long-lived relic weak zones. The fluid dynamical calculations employ source–sink driven flow as a proxy for convective poloidal flow (upwelling/downwelling and divergent/convergent motion), and the coupling of this flow with non-linear rheological mechanisms excites toroidal or strike-slip motion. The numerical experiments show that pure dislocation-creep rheology, and grain-damage without Zener pinning (as occurs in a single-phase assemblages) permit only weak localization and toroidal flow; however, the full grain-damage with pinning readily allows focussed localization and intense, plate-like toroidal motion and strike-slip deformation. Rapid plate motion changes are also tested with abrupt rotations of the source–sink field after a plate-like configuration is developed; the post-rotation flow and material property fields retain memory of the original configuration for extensive periods, leading to suboptimally aligned plate boundaries (e.g., strike-slip margins non-parallel to plate motion), oblique subduction, and highly localized, weak and long lived acute plate-boundary junctions such as at what is observed at the Aleutian–Kurile intersection. The grain-damage and pinning theory therefore readily satisfies key plate-tectonic metrics of localized toroidal motion and plate-boundary inheritance, and thus provides a predictive theory for the generation of plate tectonics on Earth and other planets.

Why has the Nazca plate slowed since the Neogene?

The classic example of the not-well-understood rapid change of tectonic plate motion is the increase and then decrease of the convergence rate between the Nazca and South America plates during the past 25–20 m.y. that coincided with the growth of the Andes Mountains. Currently, the decrease in convergence rate is explained either by the increasing load of the Andes or by the appearance of flat slab segments beneath South America. Here, we present an alternative view based on a thermomechanical self-consistent (gravity driven) model of Nazca plate subduction. We explain the changes in the convergence rate as a natural consequence of the Nazca plate penetration into the transition zone and lower mantle after long-term oblique subduction of the Farallon plate. The model is consistent with seismic tomographic images of the Nazca plate beneath South America. Our model also shows that the presence of the Andes does not significantly affect the convergence rate between the Nazca and South America plates.

A global-scale plate reorganization event at 105−100 Ma

A major plate reorganization is postulated to have occurred at approximately 100Ma. However, this reorganization has received limited attention, despite being associated with the most prominent suite of fracture zone bends on the planet and many other geological events. We investigate tectonic events from the period ∼110 to 90Ma and show that the reorganization occurred between 105 and 100Ma, was global in scale, and affected all major plates. Seafloor evidence for plate motion changes is abundant during this period, with either fracture zone bends or terminations preserved in all ocean basins. Long-lived eastern Gondwanaland subduction ended along a 7000km long section of the margin, while elsewhere around the proto-Pacific rim subduction continued and there is evidence that compressional stresses increased in the overriding plates. Thrusting in western North America, transpression and basin inversion in eastern Asia, and development of the present-day Andean-style margin along western South America occurred contemporaneous with the development of an extensional regime in eastern Gondwanaland. Basin instability in Africa and western Europe further demonstrates that lithospheric stress regime changes were widespread at this time. Considering the timing of the reorganization and the nature of associated plate boundary changes, we suggest that eastern Gondwanaland subduction cessation is the most likely driving mechanism for the reorganization. Subduction is the dominant driver of plate motion and therefore this event had the potential to strongly modify the balance of driving forces acting on the plates in the southwestern proto-Pacific and neighboring plates, whereby producing widespread changes in plate motion and continental lithospheric stress patterns. We propose that major changes in ridge–trench interaction triggered the cessation of subduction. The progressive subduction of two closely spaced perpendicular mid ocean ridges at the eastern Gondwanaland subduction zone, to the east of Australia and New Zealand, respectively, resulted in very young crust entering the trench and we suggest that by 105−100Ma there was insufficient negative buoyancy to drive subduction. Finally, we propose that the plume push force of the Bouvet plume, that erupted near the African–Antarctic–South American triple junction, contributed to plate motion changes in the southern Atlantic region.

Large-scale gold mineralization in eastern China induced by an Early Cretaceous clockwise change in Pacific plate motions

Orogenic gold (Au) deposits are the most important type, accounting for more than half of the world's proven Au reserves. They are mainly controlled by three key factors: (1) abundant andesitic rocks (SiO2 of 55–60 wt.%) at depth, which have systematically higher Au contents than other rock types; (2) a pervasive transition from greenschist facies to amphibolite facies metamorphism within a short period, which releases S2−-rich fluids that may scavenge Au from host rocks; and (3) deformation and fracturing under a compressive/transpressive tectonic regime. Orogenic belts at convergent margins are the best places for such mineralization because convergent margins are rich in andesites; the transition from greenschist to amphibolite facies recrystallization commonly occurs as a result of collision, compression, and thickening at convergent margins, forming large amounts of Au-rich fluids within a short period of time; and strong deformation and fracturing during orogenic processes provide channels for fluid transportation. Moreover, the overlying plate is injected and enriched by auriferous fluids released during amphibolite facies metamorphism of the subducting plate. The Pacific plate changed course by ∼80° (from SW to NW) at approximately 125–122 Ma, reflecting an altered thermal structure and the elevation of the South Pacific plate attending the appearance of the plume head that formed the Ontong Java large igneous province. Consequently, the tectonic regime changed from extension to compressive/transpressive in eastern China, causing deformation, thickening, and metamorphism of the overriding plate, especially along weak crustal belts (e.g. overlying plates of palaeosutures), which resulted in world-class mineralization of orogenic Au deposits. During this process, pyrite changed to pyrrhotite during the transition from greenschist to amphibolite facies, releasing sulphur. Sulphur mobilized and scavenged Au and other chalcophile elements into metamorphic ore-forming fluids. A series of NE-trending compressive faults were formed at ˜120 Ma as a result of continuous compression of the subducting Pacific plate, releasing these ore-forming fluids. Auriferous carbonate-rich quartz veins and/or metasomatized Au-bearing wall rocks were formed due to the decompression of the ascending ore-forming fluids. Orogenic belts along the margins of the North China craton and the Jiangnan block were the most favourable regions for mineralization. Compared with the former, the latter has much smaller proven Au reserves. However, more exploration is needed along the margins of the Jiangnan block. Promising targets include accessory faults and kink points of large, NE-trending Cretaceous faults that transect greenschist facies metamorphic rocks of the Niuwu and Jingtan Groups, etc.

Nazca–South America interactions and the late Eocene–late Oligocene flat‐slab episode in the central Andes

The most prominent features of the Andean range are the Altiplano and Puna plateaus, which were constructed by crustal shortening and uplift over the past ∼45 Myr. The early construction of these plateaus may have controlled subsequent growth of the orogen. Proposed models have suggested that an abrupt acceleration in relative motion between the Nazca plate and the South American plate at ∼30 Ma may have led to compression of the continent. However, the major plate motion change occurred at 25–23 Ma, and paleomagnetic rotations and crustal shortening of the Andean forearc require that the Arica Bend formed prior to about 25 Ma. Inferred history of flat‐slab subduction along the Altiplano section of the Andean margin and the structure of the adjacent South American cratonic shield combine to suggest an alternate scenario, based partly upon geodynamic models of oceanic‐continental plate interactions in subduction zones. We propose that central Andean tectonism may have been controlled by two distinct regimes of subduction: (1) oblique subduction along the central Andean margin during the late Eocene and Oligocene accompanied by downdip alignment with the center of the Amazonian Shield (flat‐slab activity in this phase of orogenesis may have been caused by a combination of cratonic root enhanced tectonics and oceanic plateau subduction) and (2) an abrupt transition to trench‐normal subduction after ∼25 Ma toward the more distal São Francisco Craton was accompanied by a return to normal angle subduction. Similar interactions are hypothesized to have occurred during the Laramide Orogeny in western North America.

Reconstructing plate-motion changes in the presence of finite-rotations noise

Understanding lithospheric plate motions is of paramount importance to geodynamicists. Much effort is going into kinematic reconstructions featuring progressively finer temporal resolution. However, the challenge of precisely identifying ocean-floor magnetic lineations, and uncertainties in geomagnetic reversal timescales result in substantial finite-rotations noise. Unless some type of temporal smoothing is applied, the scenario arising at the native temporal resolution is puzzling, as plate motions vary erratically and significantly over short periods (<1 Myr). This undermines our ability to make geodynamic inferences, as the rates at which forces need to be built upon plates to explain these kinematics far exceed the most optimistic estimates. Here we show that the largest kinematic changes reconstructed across the Atlantic, Indian and South Pacific ridges arise from data noise. We overcome this limitation using a trans-dimensional hierarchical Bayesian framework. We find that plate-motion changes occur on timescales no shorter than a few million years, yielding simpler kinematic patterns and more plausible dynamics.

Miocene basin development and volcanism along a strike-slip to flat-slab subduction transition: Stratigraphy, geochemistry, and geochronology of the central Wrangell volcanic belt, Yakutat-North America collision zone

New geochronologic, geochemical, sedimentologic, and compositional data from the central Wrangell volcanic belt (WVB) document basin development and volcanism linked to subduction of overthickened oceanic crust to the northern Pacific plate margin. The Frederika Formation and overlying Wrangell Lavas comprise >3 km of sedimentary and volcanic strata exposed in the Wrangell Mountains of south-central Alaska (United States). Measured stratigraphic sections and lithofacies analyses document lithofacies associations that reflect deposition in alluvial-fluvial-lacustrine environments routinely influenced by volcanic eruptions. Expansion of intrabasinal volcanic centers prompted progradation of vent-proximal volcanic aprons across basinal environments. Coal deposits, lacustrine strata, and vertical juxtaposition of basinal to proximal lithofacies indicate active basin subsidence that is attributable to heat flow associated with intrabasinal volcanic centers and extension along intrabasinal normal faults. The orientation of intrabasinal normal faults is consistent with transtensional deformation along the Totschunda-Fairweather fault system. Paleocurrents, compositional provenance, and detrital geochronologic ages link sediment accumulation to erosion of active intrabasinal volcanoes and to a lesser extent Mesozoic igneous sources. Geochemical compositions of interbedded lavas are dominantly calc-alkaline, range from basaltic andesite to rhyolite in composition, and share geochemical characteristics with Pliocene–Quaternary phases of the western WVB linked to subduction-related magmatism. The U/Pb ages of tuffs and 40 Ar/ 39 Ar ages of lavas indicate that basin development and volcanism commenced by 12.5–11.0 Ma and persisted until at least ca. 5.3 Ma. Eastern sections yield older ages (12.5–9.3 Ma) than western sections (9.6–8.3 Ma). Samples from two western sections yield even younger ages of 5.3 Ma. Integration of new and published stratigraphic, geochronologic, and geochemical data from the entire WVB permits a comprehensive interpretation of basin development and volcanism within a regional tectonic context. We propose a model in which diachronous volcanism and transtensional basin development reflect progressive insertion of a thickened oceanic crustal slab of the Yakutat microplate into the arcuate continental margin of southern Alaska coeval with reported changes in plate motions. Oblique northwestward subduction of a thickened oceanic crustal slab during Oligocene to Middle Miocene time produced transtensional basins and volcanism along the eastern edge of the slab along the Duke River fault in Canada and subduction-related volcanism along the northern edge of the slab near the Yukon-Alaska border. Volcanism and basin development migrated progressively northwestward into eastern Alaska during Middle Miocene through Holocene time, concomitant with a northwestward shift in plate convergence direction and subduction collision of progressively thicker crust against the syntaxial plate margin.

Greenland Fracture Zone–East Greenland Ridge(s) revisited: Indications of a C22‐change in plate motion?

Changes in the lithospheric stress field, causing axial rift migration and reorientation of the transform, are generally proposed as an explanation for anomalously old crust and/or major aseismic valleys in oceanic ridge‐transform‐ridge settings. Similarly, transform migration of the Greenland Fracture Zone and separation of the 200‐km‐long, fracture‐zone‐parallel continental East Greenland Ridge from the Eurasia plate is thought to be related to a major change in relative plate motions between Greenland and Eurasia during the earliest Oligocene (Chron 13 time). This study presents a reinterpretation of the Greenland Fracture Zone – East Greenland Ridge based on new and existing geophysical data. Evidence is shown for two overstepping ridge segments (Segments A and B) of which Segment A corresponds to the already known East Greenland Ridge while Segment B was not detected previously. Interpretation of sonobuoy data and revised modeling of existing OBS data across Segment B indicate a continental composition of the segment. This interpretation is supported by magnetic anomaly data. The Segments A and B are bounded by portions of the Greenland Fracture Zone with a distinct ∼10° difference in strike. This is suggested to relate to an early episode of transform migration and reorientation of the lithospheric stress field around Chron 22 time, i.e., shortly after the Eocene breakup in the northern NE Atlantic. These findings contradict with previous interpretations of the fracture zone, which infer simple pre‐C13 strike‐slip kinematics.

New40Ar/39Ar age progression for the Louisville hot spot trail and implications for inter-hot spot motion

[1] In this study we present 42 new 40Ar/39Ar incremental heating age determinations that contribute to an updated age progression for the Louisville seamount trail. Louisville is the South Pacific counterpart to the Hawaiian-Emperor seamount trail, both trails representing intraplate volcanism over the same time interval (∼80 Ma to present) and being examples of primary hot spot lineaments. Our data provide evidence for an age-progressive trend from 71 to 21 Ma. Assuming fixed hot spots, this makes possible a direct comparison to the Hawaiian-Emperor age progression and the most recent absolute plate motion (APM) model (WK08G) of Wessel and Kroenke (2008). We observe that for the Louisville seamount trail the measured ages are systematically older relative to both the WK08G model predictions and Hawaiian seamount ages, with offsets ranging up to 6 Myr. Taking into account the uncertainty about the duration of eruption and magmatic succession at individual Louisville volcanoes, these age offsets should be considered minimum estimates, as our sampling probably tended to recover the youngest lava flows. These large deviations point to either a contribution of inter–hot spot motion between the Louisville and Hawaiian hot spots or to a more easterly location of the Louisville hot spot than the one inferred in the WK08G model. Both scenarios are investigated in this paper, whereby the more eastern hot spot location (52.0°S, 134.5°W versus 52.4°S, 137.2°W) reduces the average age offset, but still results in a relatively large maximum offset of 3.7 Myr. When comparing the new ages to the APM models (S04P, S04G) by Steinberger et al. (2004) that attempt to compensate for the motion of hot spots in the Pacific (Hawaii) or globally (Hawaii, Louisville, Reunion and Walvis), the measured and predicted ages are more in agreement, showing only a maximum offset of 2.3 Myr with respect to the S04G model. At face value these more advanced APM models, which consider both plate and hot spot motions, therefore provide a better fit to the new Louisville age data. The fit is particularly good for seamounts younger than 50 Ma, a period for which there is little predicted motion for the Louisville hot spot and little inter–hot spot motion with Hawaii. However, discrepancies in the Louisville age-distance record prior to 50 Ma indicate there is an extra source of inter–hot spot motion between Louisville and the other Pacific hot spots that was not corrected for in the global S04G model. Finally, based on six new 40Ar/39Ar age dates, the 169°W bend in the Louisville seamount trail seems to have formed at least 3 Myr before the formation of the Hawaiian-Emperor bend. The timing of the most acute parts of both bends thus appears to be asynchronous, which would require other processes (e.g., plume motions) than a global plate motion change between 50 and 47 Ma to explain these two observations.

Volcano-tectonic interactions during rapid plate-boundary evolution in the Kyushu region, SW Japan

Evolution of the local plate tectonic and volcanic system relationship at Kyushu Island is defined by major changes in tectonics and volcanic style at ca. 15, 10, 6, and 2 Ma. Plate reconstructions presented here suggest that prior to 15 Ma, the Pacific plate subduction dominated Kyushu tectonics. From 15 to 6 Ma, the evolving relative plate motions shifted the triple junction between the Pacific plate, Philippine Sea plate, and southwest Japan northwards, so that the Philippine Sea plate was subducted beneath Kyushu. We suggest that a lack of subduction-related volcanism from 10 to 6 Ma is due to shallow subduction of the young Shikoku Basin lithosphere. By 6–5 Ma, changes in the Philippine Sea plate motion led to more rapid, nearly trench-normal, subduction of the Eocene west Philippine Basin crust beneath Kyushu. This model is supported by an increase in arc-like geochemistry of lavas since ca. 6.5 Ma. Subduction of fluid-rich features such as the Kyushu-Palau ridge introduced large volumes of fluids into the Kyushu arc system, leading to voluminous volcanism across Kyushu, focused particularly in areas where the ridge subduction occurs in tandem with local extensional tectonics. Key issues, such as the timing of Izu arc collision with central Japan and the history of motion of the Philippine Sea plate, are reassessed here, resulting in a model that favors Izu arc–central Japan collision at ca. 8–6 Ma, rather than the more widely accepted date of ca. 15 Ma.

Quantifying the forces needed for the rapid change of Pacific plate motion at 6 Ma

Studies have documented several rapid changes along the Pacific–North American, Pacific–Antarctic and Pacific–Australian plate boundaries in latest Miocene to earliest Pliocene time consistent with a sudden clockwise rotation of Pacific plate velocity relative to hotspots during this period. We test the hypothesis that this change in plate motion was initiated by cessation of subduction along the northern Melanesian arc due to the collision between the arc and the Ontong Java plateau. This hypothesis has long been formulated but never tested quantitatively. We use a geomechanical model of the lithosphere to determine the changes in plate boundary forces that are necessary to obtain the observed change in the Pacific plate motion. Our model results show that the change in motion can be explained by a clockwise rotation of the slab-related (basal-strength) component of plate driving force. The change of slab-related force from a post-6 Ma to a pre-6 Ma setting is perpendicular to the arc and points towards the Australian plate. The force per unit length is in the range of currently accepted values for subduction zones. Since there have been no other relevant changes at subduction zones along the Pacific plate boundary during the latest Miocene, we relate this change in slab-related force to the former southward-dipping Pacific plate slab along the northern Melanesian arc system which is now detached. Our model results suggest that rapid changes in plate motion can be triggered by slab detachment, with consequences for plate boundary processes even at great distances from the event.

The timescales of subduction initiation and subsequent evolution of an oceanic island arc

The Bonin Ridge and trench slope preserves the geological record of subduction initiation and subsequent evolution of the Izu–Bonin–Mariana (IBM) arc. Diving and dredging in this region has revealed a bottom to top stratigraphy of: 1) mantle peridotite, 2) gabbroic rocks, 3) a sheeted dyke complex, 4) basaltic pillow lavas, 5) boninites and magnesian andesites, 6) tholeiites and calcalkaline arc lavas. This forearc stratigraphy is remarkably similar to that found in other IBM forearc localities and many ophiolites. Zircon U–Pb ages obtained here for gabbros are 51.6–51.7 Ma. The overlying basalts have 40Ar/ 39Ar ages of 48–52 Ma. A forearc basalt from the Mariana forearc near Guam produced a similar 40Ar/ 39Ar age of 51.1 Ma. The collective geochronology of igneous rocks from throughout the IBM system now indicates that the first basaltic magmatism at subduction initiation was produced by decompression melting of the mantle and took place at 51–52 Ma. The change to flux melting and boninitic volcanism took 2–4 m.y., and the change to flux melting in counterflowing mantle and “Normal” arc magmatism took 7–8 m.y. This evolution from subduction initiation to arc normalcy occurred nearly simultaneously along the entire length of the IBM subduction system. Mesozoic rocks found in the deep Bonin forearc suggest that the overriding plate at subduction initiation consisted of Mesozoic terranes and subduction preceded the opening of most or all of the Philippine Sea basins. The contemporaneousness of IBM forearc magmatism with the major change in plate motion in Western Pacific at ca. 50 Ma suggests that the two events are intimately linked.

Petrogenesis of Cenozoic mafic–ultramafic alkaline lavas from the Tigris volcanic field, NE Syria

AbstractMafic–ultramafic Quaternary lava flows form the Tigris volcanic field (covering 1750 km2) at the northeastern tip of Syria and extend into Turkey. This volcanic field occurs between the Euphrates graben and the Bitlis–Zagros collision suture that forms the boundary between the Arabian and Eurasian plates. The rocks are made up of labradorite, clinopyroxene, olivine and opaque phases. The Tigris lavas are compositionally restricted to basanites and alkali basalts, having a narrow range of major element compositions (SiO2, 42.2–48.2 wt%; MgO, 5.7–9.0 wt%, with Mg numbers ranging from 0.51 to 0.62; TiO2, 1.7–3.2 wt%), and are alkaline in nature. The rocks are enriched in HFS elements such as Zr (119–231 ppm), Nb (14–43 ppm) and Y (17–22 ppm). The REE patterns are strongly fractionated ((La/Yb)N= 10.6), indicative of a garnet-bearing source. The143Nd/144Nd isotopic compositions range from 0.512803 to 0.512908, and87Sr/86Sr from 0.70327 to 0.70403 (εNd= 3.2–5.3) suggesting strong affinities to ocean island basalts. Modelling using a variety of mantle source materials and different degrees of partial melting indicates that the magma was produced by a small degree of batch partial melting (F = 1.5%) of a primitive, garnet-lherzolite fertile mantle source. The overall petrological/chemical nature supports this interpretation. Shear heating at the base of the lithospheric mantle of the northern boundary of the Arabian plate, caused by a change in plate motion as the Arabian plate moved in a more easterly direction during the Plio-Quaternary, could represent a possible source of the heat necessary for partial fusion and magma generation. Adiabatic decompression and melting represents a more likely process for the generation of the Tigris magma. Elemental ratios such as K/P (4.6), La/Ta (12), La/Nb (0.90), Nb/Y (1.22) and Th/Nb (0.09) indicate that the magma was subjected to minimal crustal contamination.

Chapter 31 A Palaeozoic NW Passage and the Timanian, Caledonian and Uralian connections of some exotic terranes in the North American Cordillera

Abstract Exotic terranes of inferred Arctic affinity form an outer belt within the North American Cordillera extending from Alaska to northern California. The geological history, fossil and detrital zircon data for these terranes show strong correlations and linkages among them, and many features in common with the northern Caledonides, the Timanide orogen and the Urals. They probably occupied an intermediate position between Baltica, Laurentia and Siberia, in proximity to the northern Caledonides in Early Palaeozoic time. Westward dispersion of these terranes is interpreted to result from development of a Scotia-style subduction system between Laurentia–Baltica and Siberia in Mid-Palaeozoic time – the NW Passage – following closure of the Iapetus ocean. Diachronous orogenic activity from Late Silurian in Arctic Canada to Early Devonian in north Yukon and Alaska records passage of some of these terranes. Westward propagation of a narrow subduction zone coupled with a global change in plate motion, linked to closure of the Rheic Ocean are proposed to have led to initiation of subduction along the western margin of Laurentia. This is recorded by the Late Devonian initiation of arc magmatism along western Laurentia, and the Late Devonian–Early Mississippian Antler orogeny in the western US and Ellesmerian orogeny in the Canadian Arctic.

The Mid-Rivera-Transform Discordance: Morphology and Tectonic Development

To better define the morphotectonic elements and tectonic development of the Mid-Rivera-Transform Discordance, multibeam bathymetric, seafloor backscatter, multichannel seismic reflection and total field marine magnetic data were collected along the entire Rivera Transform west of 107°W during the BART and FAMEX campaigns of the N.O. L’Atalante conducted in 2002. These data show that, although the transform tectonized zone of the Rivera Transform west of 107°30′W is a single continuous morphologic basin, this basin consists of two distinct morphotectonic domains: an eastern domain which morphologically is a deep rhombochasm within which organized seafloor spreading has occurred, and a western ‘leaky transform’ domain. These new data, in conjunction with the results of previous studies, support the idea that the Rivera-Pacific Euler pole is migrating southward towards the eastern half of the Rivera Transform, and further indicate a recent (<0.14 Ma), and most likely ongoing, clockwise reorganization of the principle transform displacement zones of the Rivera Transform west of 108°W. We propose that the Mid-Rivera-Transform Discordance owes its origin to this eastward progressing, clockwise reorganization of the transform segments that is occurring in response to recent changes in Rivera-Pacific relative plate motion.