Seafloor Spreading Anomalies Research Articles

Rift to Post‐Rift Tectonostratigraphy of the Sverdrup Basin in Relation to Onset of the High Arctic Large Igneous Province (HALIP) in the Early Cretaceous, Arctic Canada

AbstractA summary of the Jurassic‐Cretaceous rift to breakup tectonostratigraphy of the onshore Sverdrup Basin is correlated to the offshore Amerasia Basin in order to reconstruct a tectonic setting for the High Arctic Large Igneous Province (HALIP). The rift climax from the Canadian rifted margin is correlated with hyper‐extension of the continent‐ocean‐transition zone. Hyper‐extension of the continental lithosphere can accommodate plate motions of Arctic Alaska‐Chukotka away from the Canadian Arctic Islands and Lomonosov Ridge between ∼155 Ma and 135–133 Ma. After lithospheric breakup at ∼135–133 Ma, correlation of the post‐rift stage to the seafloor spreading anomalies M10n to M4n that are associated with oceanic crustal domains can accommodate plate motions from 135–133 Ma to 128 Ma. The uncertainties associated with the earliest magmas of HALIP overlap with the uncertainties on the timing of the latest seafloor spreading. The first main pulse of HALIP in the Aptian at 124–120 Ma post‐dates seafloor spreading and so HALIP was emplaced in a tectonic setting that closely resembles the present state of the south and eastern Amerasia Basin. At the paleogeographic center of the HALIP, the Alpha Ridge complex is consistent with the magmatic character and history of similar Cretaceous oceanic plateau in terms of volume and duration.

How have thick evaporites affected early seafloor spreading magnetic anomalies in the Central Red Sea?

SUMMARYThe axial region of the Central Red Sea has been shown to be floored by oceanic crust, but this leaves the low amplitudes of off-axis magnetic anomalies to be explained. Furthermore, if seafloor spreading occurred in the late Miocene, it is unclear how that occurred as widespread evaporites were being deposited then and may have covered the spreading centre. In this study, we derive crustal magnetization for a constant-thickness source layer within the uppermost basement by inverting aeromagnetic anomalies using basement depths derived from seismic reflection and gravity data. Peak-to-trough variations in magnetization away from the axis are found to be slightly less than half of those of normal oceanic crust, but not greatly diminished, and hence the magnetic anomalies are mostly reduced by the greater depth of basement, which is depressed by isostatic loading by the evaporites (kilometres in thickness in places). There is no relationship between seafloor spreading anomalies and the modern distribution of evaporites mapped out using multibeam sonar data; magnetizations are still significant even where the basement lies several kilometres under the evaporites. This suggests that magnetizations have not been more greatly affected by alteration under the evaporites than typically exposed oceanic crust. A prominent magnetization peak commonly occurs at 60–80 km from the axis on both tectonic plates, coinciding with a basement low suggested previously to mark the transition to continental crust closer to the coasts. We suggest an initial burst of volcanism occurred at Chron 5 (at ∼10 Ma) to produce this feature. Furthermore, an abrupt change is found at ∼5 Ma from low-frequency anomalies off-axis to high-frequency anomalies towards the present axis. This potentially represents the stage at which buried spreading centres became exposed. In this interpretation, intrusions such as sills at the buried spreading centre led to broad magnetic anomalies, whereas the later exposure of the spreading centre led to a more typical development of crustal magnetization by rapid cooling of extrusives.

New constraints on the age of the opening of the South Atlantic basin

Abstract Detailed, high quality, marine total field magnetic data recently acquired over parts of the South Atlantic Ocean off the southwestern margin of South Africa display a pattern of well-defined, NW-SE striking linear magnetic anomalies that can be traced with confidence over distances >150 km. The magnetic anomalies are interpreted to be M-series seafloor spreading anomalies M9 to M11, which are consistent with the initiation of seafloor spreading at approximately 135 Ma (Late Valanginian/Early Hauterivian). Seafloor spreading models indicate a more rapid (44 mm/yr) initial spreading phase between M11 and M4/M5 followed by slower (29 mm/yr) spreading from M4/M5 to M0. This two rate spreading model also matches M-series anomalies previously reported over the conjugate South American margin offshore Argentina where the rates are slightly ( Breaks in the continuity of the linear anomaly pattern, observed in map view, are oriented approximately NE-SW and are considered sites of possible fracture zones. One such discontinuity, which we have termed the “Cape Lineament” (CL), marks a significant change in crustal character and Cretaceous depositional history, as revealed by gravity data and seismic reflection data, respectively. Crust NW of the CL, in the Orange Basin, is characterized by greater thickness and the presence of seismically-imaged seaward dipping reflectors (SDRs) whereas SE of the CL the crust has a more “normal” oceanic thickness and SDRs are either absent or more limited in areal extent. Magnetic, gravity and seismic data were combined to develop a crustal model of the South African margin north of the CL that includes: (a) a region of rifted/attenuated continental crust landward of magnetic anomaly G, (b) a 60–80 km wide zone of substantially intruded, underplated thin continental crust overlain by SDRs between anomalies G and M11, and (c) a ∼90 km wide zone of thick oceanic crust associated with a wide intrusion zone and smoother seafloor spreading magnetic anomalies that thins progressively to normal oceanic crustal thickness at the seaward edge of the overlying SDRs. South of the CL, the change in crustal character from attenuated continental crust to normal thickness oceanic crust occurs over a much shorter distance of approximately 35–40 km, possibly indicating the diminished influence of magmatic material. Although linear magnetic anomalies are observed both NW and SE of CL, anomalies to the SE display a better correlation with those predicted by our seafloor spreading model. We have successfully reconstructed the positions of the African and South American margins south of 32°S at M11 time (i.e., ∼135 Ma) using a new rotation pole at 38.86°N, 31.46°W. This pole applies only to the southernmost margins of the Austral segment where M11 is observed. Further north at this time the margins are undergoing non-rigid deformation that includes both crustal extension and magmatic underplating.

Magnetic signature of large exhumed mantle domains of the Southwest Indian Ridge – results from a deep-tow geophysical survey over 0 to 11 Ma old seafloor

Abstract. We investigate the magnetic signature of ultramafic seafloor in the eastern part of the Southwest Indian Ridge (SWIR). There, detachment faulting, continuous over 11 Myr, exhumed large areas of mantle-derived rocks. These exhumed mantle domains occur in the form of a smooth rounded topography with broad ridges locally covered by a thin highly discontinuous volcanic carapace. We present high-resolution data combining deep-tow magnetics, side-scan sonar images and dredged samples collected within two exhumed mantle domains between 62° E and 65° E. We show that, despite an ultra-slow spreading rate, volcanic areas within robust magmatic segments are characterized by well-defined seafloor spreading anomalies. By contrast, the exhumed mantle domains, including a few thin volcanic patches, reveal a weak and highly variable magnetic pattern. The analysis of the magnetic properties of the dredged samples and careful comparison between the nature of the seafloor, the deep-tow magnetic anomalies and the seafloor equivalent magnetization suggest that the serpentinized peridotites do not carry a sufficiently stable remanent magnetization to produce seafloor spreading magnetic anomalies in exhumed mantle domains.

Near N–S paleo-extension in the western Deccan region, India: Does it link strike-slip tectonics with India–Seychelles rifting?

This is the first detailed report and analyses of deformation from the W part of the Deccan large igneous province (DLIP), Maharashtra, India. This deformation, related to the India–Seychelles rifting during Late Cretaceous–Early Paleocene, was studied, and the paleostress tensors were deduced. Near N–S trending shear zones, lineaments, and faults were already reported without significant detail. An E–W extension was envisaged by the previous workers to explain the India–Seychelles rift at ~64 Ma. The direction of extension, however, does not match with their N–S brittle shear zones and also those faults (sub-vertical, ~NE–SW/~NW–SE, and few ~N–S) we report and emphasize in this work. Slickenside-bearing fault planes, brittle shear zones, and extension fractures in meso-scale enabled us to estimate the paleostress tensors (directions and relative magnitudes). The field study was complemented by remote sensing lineament analyses to map dykes and shear zones. Dykes emplaced along pre-existing ~N–S to ~NE–SW/~NW–SE shears/fractures. This information was used to derive regional paleostress trends. A ~NW–SE/NE–SW minimum compressive stress in the oldest Kalsubai Subgroup and a ~N–S direction for the younger Lonavala, Wai, and Salsette Subgroups were deciphered. Thus, a ~NW/NE to ~N–S extension is put forward that refutes the popular view of E–W India–Seychelles extension. Paleostress analyses indicate that this is an oblique rifted margin. Field criteria suggest only ~NE–SW and ~NW–SE, with some ~N–S strike-slip faults/brittle shear zones. We refer this deformation zone as the "Western Deccan Strike-slip Zone" (WDSZ). The observed deformation was matched with offshore tectonics deciphered mainly from faults interpreted on seismic profiles and from magnetic seafloor spreading anomalies. These geophysical findings too indicate oblique rifting in this part of the W Indian passive margin. We argue that the Seychelles microcontinent separated from India only after much of the DLIP erupted. Further studies of magma-rich passive margins with respect to timing and architecture of deformation and emplacement of volcanics are required.

Full-fit reconstruction of the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay

Abstract. Reconstructing the opening of the Labrador Sea and Baffin Bay between Greenland and North America remains controversial. Recent seismic data suggest that magnetic lineations along the margins of the Labrador Sea, originally interpreted as seafloor spreading anomalies, may lie within the crust of the continent–ocean transition. These data also suggest a more seaward extent of continental crust within the Greenland margin near Davis Strait than assumed in previous full-fit reconstructions. Our study focuses on reconstructing the full-fit configuration of Greenland and North America using an approach that considers continental deformation in a quantitative manner. We use gravity inversion to map crustal thickness across the conjugate margins, and assimilate observations from available seismic profiles and potential field data to constrain the likely extent of different crustal types. We derive end-member continental margin restorations following alternative interpretations of published seismic profiles. The boundaries between continental and oceanic crust (COB) are restored to their pre-stretching locations along small circle motion paths across the region of Cretaceous extension. Restored COBs are fitted quantitatively to compute alternative total-fit reconstructions. A preferred full-fit model is chosen based on the strongest compatibility with geological and geophysical data. Our preferred model suggests that (i) the COB lies oceanward of magnetic lineations interpreted as magnetic anomaly 31 (70 Ma) in the Labrador Sea, (ii) all previously identified magnetic lineations landward of anomaly 27 reflect intrusions into continental crust and (iii) the Ungava fault zone in Davis Strait acted as a leaky transform fault during rifting. This robust plate reconstruction reduces gaps and overlaps in Davis Strait and suggests that there is no need for alternative models proposed for reconstructions of this area including additional plate boundaries in North America or Greenland. Our favoured model implies that break-up and formation of continent–ocean transition (COT) first started in the southern Labrador Sea and Davis Strait around 88 Ma and then propagated north and southwards up to the onset of real seafloor spreading at 63 Ma in the Labrador Sea. In Baffin Bay, continental stretching lasted longer and actual break-up and seafloor spreading started around 61 Ma (chron 26).

Seafloor spreading anomalies and crustal ages of the Clarion-Clipperton Zone

The Clarion-Clipperton Zone (CCZ) of the central Pacific is one of the few regions in the world’s oceans that are still lacking full coverage of reliable identifications of seafloor spreading anomalies. This is mainly due to the geometry of the magnetic lineations’ strike direction sub-parallel to the Earth’s magnetic field vector near the equator resulting in low amplitude magnetic anomalies, and the remoteness of the region which has hindered systematic surveying in the past. Following recently granted research licenses for manganese nodules in the CCZ by the International Seabed Authority, new magnetic data acquired with modern instrumentation became available which combined with older underway data make the identification of seafloor spreading anomalies possible for large parts of the CCZ and adjacent areas. The spreading rates deduced from the seafloor spreading patterns show a sharp increase at the end of Chron 21 (47.5 Ma) which corresponds to the age of the bend in the Hawaii-Emperor seamount chain and an associated plate tectonic reorganisation in the Central Pacific. An accurate map of crustal ages for the central-eastern Pacific based on our anomaly picks may provide a basis for improved plate tectonic reconstructions of the region.

On the origin of the Amerasia Basin and the High Arctic Large Igneous Province—Results of new aeromagnetic data

The history of the 2.5 million km2 Amerasia Basin (sensu lato) is in many ways the least known in the global tectonic system. Radically different hypotheses proposed to explain its origin are supported only by inconclusive and/or indirect observations and several outstanding issues on the origin of the Basin remain unaddressed. The difficulty lies in the geodynamic evolution and signature of the Basin being overprinted by excess volcanism of the Alpha–Mendeleev Ridge complex, part of the High Arctic Large Igneous Province (HALIP) and one of the largest (>1 million km2) and most intense magmatic and magnetic complexes on Earth. Here, we present the results of a 550,000km2 aerogeophysical survey over the poorly explored Lomonosov Ridge (near Greenland) and adjoining Amerasia and Eurasia Basins that provides the first direct evidence for consistent linear magnetic features between the Alpha and Lomonosov Ridges, enabling the tectonic origin of both the Amerasia Basin and the HALIP to be constrained. A landward Lower Cretaceous (∼138–125(120)Ma) giant dyke swarm (minimum 350×800km2) and tentative oceanward Barremian (or alternatively lower Valanginian–Barremian) seafloor spreading anomalies are revealed. Prior to Cenozoic opening of the Eurasia Basin the giant dyke swarm stretched from Franz Josef Land to the southern Alpha Ridge and possibly further to Queen Elisabeth Islands, Canada. The swarm points towards a 250-km-wide donut-shaped anomaly on the southern Alpha Ridge, which we propose was the centre of the HALIP mantle plume, suggesting that pronounced intrusive activity, associated with an Alpha Ridge mantle plume, took place well before the Late Cretaceous Superchron and caused continental breakup in the northern Amerasia Basin. Our results imply that at least the southern Alpha Ridge as well as large parts of the area between the Lomonosov and southern Alpha Ridges are highly attenuated continental crust formed by poly-phase breakup with LIP volcanic addition. Significantly, our results are consistent with an early (∼pre-120Ma) overall continental scale rotational opening of the Amerasia Basin in which the Eurasian continental margin is rifted from the Canadian–southern Alpha Ridge margin about one or more poles in the Mackenzie Delta (Alaska). The findings provide a key to resolving Arctic plate reconstructions and LIPs in the Mesozoic.

Constraining the Jurassic extent of Greater India: Tectonic evolution of the West Australian margin

Alternative reconstructions of the Jurassic northern extent of Greater India differ by up to several thousand kilometers. We present a new model that is constrained by revised seafloor spreading anomalies, fracture zones and crustal ages based on drillsites/dredges from all the abyssal plains along the West Australian margin and the Wharton Basin, where an unexpected sliver of Jurassic seafloor (153 Ma) has been found embedded in Cretaceous (95 My old) seafloor. Based on fracture zone trajectories, this NeoTethyan sliver must have originally formed along a western extension of the spreading center that formed the Argo Abyssal Plain, separating a western extension of West Argoland/West Burma from Greater India as a ribbon terrane. The NeoTethyan sliver, Zenith and Wallaby plateaus moved as part of Greater India until westward ridge jumps isolated them. Following another spreading reorganization, the Jurassic crust resumed migrating with Greater India until it was re‐attached to the Australian plate ∼95 Ma. The new Wharton Basin data and kinematic model place strong constraints on the disputed northern Jurassic extent of Greater India. Late Jurassic seafloor spreading must have reached south to the Cuvier Abyssal Plain on the West Australian margin, connected to a spreading ridge wrapping around northern Greater India, but this Jurassic crust is no longer preserved there, having been entirely transferred to the conjugate plate by ridge propagations. This discovery constrains the major portion of Greater India to have been located south of the large‐offset Wallaby‐Zenith Fracture Zone, excluding much larger previously proposed shapes of Greater India.

East Greenland Ridge in the North Atlantic Ocean: An integrated geophysical study of a continental sliver in a boundary transform fault setting

The combined Greenland‐Senja Fracture Zones (GSFZ) represent a first‐order plate tectonic feature in the North Atlantic Ocean. The GSFZ defines an abrupt change in the character of magnetic anomalies with well‐defined seafloor spreading anomalies in the Greenland and Norwegian basins to the south but ambiguous and weak magnetic anomalies in the Boreas Basin to the north. Substantial uncertainty exists concerning the plate tectonic evolution of the latter area, including the role of the East Greenland Ridge, which is situated along the Greenland Fracture Zone. In 2002, a combined ocean‐bottom seismometer and multichannel seismic (MCS) survey acquired two intersecting wide‐angle reflection and coincident MCS profiles across and along the East Greenland Ridge. We present the results of integrated reflection seismic interpretation, first‐arrival tomography, 2D kinematic raytracing, full‐wave amplitude modeling, and gravity modeling of the intersecting profiles. The results show that (1) the Greenland Basin is characterized by a normal oceanic crustal velocity structure, (2) the velocity structure of the East Greenland Ridge is of overall continental type, and (3) a major faulted basin province above highly extended continental crust exists to the NE of the ridge. The results further suggest that a zone of extremely thin and faulted continental crust above partially serpentinized mantle peridotite defines the NW edge of the East Greenland Ridge and the transition to the NE Greenland margin.

Structure and tectonics of 85°E Ridge from analysis of Geopotential data

The Bay of Bengal (BOB) sedimentary basin is one of the largest offshore sedimentary basins of the world having the thickest accumulation of sediments which mask the underlying crust and it is the Geopotential data that offers the unique opportunity of seeing below the thick sediments. Satellite derived Free Air Gravity (FAG) data, marine magnetic data, bathymetry, available seismic profiles and isopach maps over the Bay of Bengal are utilized in the present paper to throw light on the nature and tectonics of the BOB with particular emphasis on the 85°E Ridge. Combined analysis of gravity and magnetic data along six EW profiles of length varying from 325 to 440 km is undertaken, incorporating seafloor spreading anomalies in the model. Of the several theories put forth for the evolution of the 85°E Ridge, the present study supports the sagging of the crust and rules out the hotspot trace and magmatic under-plating theories. The crustal model derived from the magnetic profile analysis suggests that the 85°E Ridge does not extend to the North of 15°N latitude and this is supported by the Euler solutions of the FAG and the long wavelength filtered FAG. However, the intermediate wavelength filtered FAG suggests that the 85°E Ridge extends up to the Ocean Continent Boundary thereby suggesting that the 85°E Ridge thins out dramatically to the North of 15°N latitude. Analysis of gravity data along 17°N latitude profile predicts that in the northern segment the 85°E Ridge is a geo-morphological feature within the sediments above the basement whereas to the South of 15°N latitude it is a feature within the oceanic crust (below the basement). Further the reverse magnetization associated with the seafloor spreading anomalies lying on the 85°E Ridge belongs either to the Albian period or the anomaly A34/A33. The 85°E Ridge would be younger than these seafloor spreading anomalies and would have formed due to horizontal compressional forces of the lithosphere preceding development of the subduction zone at the Andaman trench.

Rates of continental breakup magmatism and seafloor spreading in the Norway Basin–Iceland plume interaction

In year 2000, an ocean bottom seismometer (OBS) profile was acquired across the Møre margin to the Aegir Ridge, an extinct seafloor spreading axis. The margin is an early Eocene volcanic passive margin, located between the Faeroe‐Iceland Ridge (FIR) and the East Jan Mayen Fracture Zone (EJMFZ). The P wave data were modeled by ray tracing to give a crustal transect showing a 10–11 km thick igneous crust created by breakup magmatism, tapering off to magma‐starved seafloor spreading by C23 time (51.4 Ma). The location of the EJMFZ was reinterpreted from a satellite derived gravity map, and spreading direction in the Norway Basin reevaluated. No other fracture zones were confirmed, and both thin oceanic crust (4–5 km) and lack of fracture zones resemble ultraslow spreading on the Arctic Gakkel Ridge. Magnetic seafloor spreading anomalies were identified from the magnetic track recorded with the OBS profile, and half spreading rates were derived. Early seafloor spreading was slow (15–32 mm yr−1), approaching ultraslow (6–8 mm yr−1) by C20 time (42.7 Ma). A V‐shaped pattern seen in the gravity field located only around the northern part of the Aegir Ridge corresponds to increased crustal thickness in the seismic model, recording northeast transport (3–6 mm yr−1) of more melt‐fertile asthenosphere zones. The magma‐starved character of the Norwegian Basin seen also during slow seafloor spreading may be the result of depletion of the asthenosphere when the Iceland plume constructed the FIR to the south, as the asthenosphere is subsequently transported into the Norway Basin.

Pyrenean orogeny and plate kinematics

The evolution of the Pyrenees, a mountain range between Iberia and Eurasia, has remained the subject of many debates between geologists and geophysicists for a long time. By combining the identification of seafloor spreading anomalies A33o to M0 in the Bay of Biscay with those in the North Atlantic, we have derived a position of a mean pole of rotation for the entire opening of the Bay of Biscay. Four hundred kilometers of shortening took place between the Iberian and Eurasian plates in the Pyrenean domain during the opening of the Bay of Biscay, from chrons M0 to A33o time (118 to 80 Ma). The deep seismic Etude Continentale et Océanique par Réflexion et réfraction Sismique (ECORS) profile shot across the Pyrenees and teleseismic data show the presence of two distinct slabs, which dip to the north. The southern slab is linked to the subduction of the neo‐Tethys Ocean, which was created from late Jurassic to early Aptian. Simultaneously, elongated back arc basins formed along the future Pyrenean domain. This slab was active from at least 118 Ma (early Aptian) to 100 Ma (late Albian). The northern slab, active since 85 Ma, is linked to the subduction of the lower continental crust located south of the Pyrenean domain. In the upper crust, normal faults as well as the north Pyrenean fault became reverse faults, and former back arc basins were inverted, giving rise to the uplift of the Pyrenees as a double asymmetrical wedge.

A kinematic model for the development of the Afar Depression and its paleogeographic implications

The Afar Depression is a highly extended region of continental to transitional oceanic crust lying at the junction of the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden and the Ethiopian rifts. We analyze the evolution of the Afar crust using plate kinematics and published crustal models to constrain the temporal and volumetric evolution of the rift basin. Our reconstruction constrains the regional-scale initial 3D geometry and subsequent extension and is well calibrated at the onset of rifting (∼20 Ma) and from the time of earliest documented sea-floor spreading anomalies (∼6 Ma Red Sea; ∼10 Ma Gulf of Aden). It also suggests the Danakil block is a highly extended body, having undergone between ∼200% and ∼400% stretch. Syn-rift sedimentary and magmatic additions to the crust are taken from the literature. Our analysis reveals a discrepancy: either the base of the crust has not been properly imaged, or a (plume-related?) process has somehow caused bulk removal of crustal material since extension began. Inferring subsidence history from thermal modeling and flexural considerations, we conclude subsidence in Afar was virtually complete by Mid Pliocene time. Our analysis contradicts interpretations of late (post 3 Ma) large (∼2 km) subsidence of the Hadar area near the Ethiopian Plateau, suggesting paleoclimatic data record regional, not local, climate change. Tectonic reconstruction (supported by paleontologic and isotopic data) suggests that a land bridge connected Africa and Arabia, via Danakil, up to the Early to Middle Pliocene. The temporal constraints on land bridge and escarpment morphology constrain Afar paleogeography, climate, and faunal migration routes. These constraints (particularly the development of geographic isolation) are fundamentally important for models evaluating and interpreting biologic evolution in the Afar, including speciation and human origins.

Evolution of Cenozoic seaways in the circum-Antarctic region

A complete circum-Antarctic seaway did not open until both the South Tasman Rise cleared the Oates Land coast of East Antarctica and Drake Passage opened between the southern tip of South America and the northern end of the Antarctic Peninsula. Major plate motions based on dated seafloor spreading anomalies and distinct fracture zone lineations constrain the age of the opening of a seaway between the South Tasman Rise and Antarctica as very close to the Eocene–Oligocene boundary, with an unrestricted opening deeper than 2000 m dating from ∼32 Ma. Timing of the opening of Drake Passage is more circumstantial because the exact motions of certain micro-continental fragments are not known. The motion of Africa with respect to South America as well as the motion of East Antarctica with respect to Africa are well constrained for the Cenozoic. These major plate motions are used with the reasonable assumption of no Cenozoic motion of the Antarctic Peninsula with respect to East Antarctica to constrain the location of the Antarctic Peninsula with respect to the southern tip of South America for the critical period of late Eocene to late Oligocene. Uncertainty of motion of the South Georgia and South Orkney microcontinents and other possible continental fragments make an exact time for opening of Drake Passage difficult to ascertain. Even so, the early Oligocene position of the Antarctic Peninsula with respect to South America requires a through-going, deep-water seaway to have been open at Drake Passage prior to 28 Ma, even given the unconstrained motion of various high-standing crustal fragments in the Scotia Sea. With reasonable assumptions concerning motion of the crustal fragments in the western and central Scotia Sea, it is likely that Drake Passage or passage through Powell Basin was open to deep water circulation by ∼31±2 Ma.

Magnetic rock properties of the gabbros from the ODP Drill Hole 1105 A of the Atlantis Bank, Southwest Indian Ridge

Laboratory studies of 30 samples from 158 m long drill core of the Hole 1105 A (ODP Leg 179) of the Atlantis Bank, Southwest Indian Ridge have revealed magnetic properties of the gabbros, olivine gabbros, oxide gabbros and olivine oxide gabbros down the core. Comparison of modal proportions of the oxides, grain sizes and magnetization parameters of the rocks has confirmed that most coarse-grained oxide mineral bearing rocks record low Koenigsberger ratio (2 to 5) and median destructive fields (5 to 7 mT). Average natural remanent magnetization (Jnrm) and stable remanent magnetization (Jst) of the core samples are 5.8 A/m and 1.9 A/m, respectively. Their mean stable magnetic inclination is 66‡ ± 4‡, about 14‡ steeper than the expected dipole inclination of the area similar to the one reported at Hole 735 B. The excess inclination perhaps marks a tectonic block rotation of the reversely magnetized rocks of the bank. We interpret that gabbros and serpentinites devoid of basaltic carapace significantly contribute to seafloor spreading anomalies of the bank.

Early Eocene sea floor spreading and continent-ocean boundary between Jan Mayen and Senja fracture zones in the Norwegian-Greenland Sea

Sea floor spreading anomalies in the Lofoten-Greenland basins reveal an unstable plate boundary characterized by several small-offset transforms for a period of ∼4 m.y. after opening. North of the Jan Mayen Fracture Zone, integrated analysis of magnetic and seismic data also document a distinct, persistent magnetic anomaly associated with the continent-ocean boundary and a locally, robust anomaly along the inner boundary of the break-up lavas. These results provide improved constraints on early opening plate reconstructions, which include a new anomaly 23-to-opening pole of rotation yielding more northerly relative motion vectors than previously recognized; and a solution of the enigmatic, azimuthal difference between the conjugate Eocene parts of the Greenland-Senja Fracture Zone if the Greenland Ridge is considered a continental sliver. The results confirm high, 2.36–2.40 cm yr−1, early opening spreading rates, and are consistent with the start of sea floor spreading during Chron 24r. The potential field data along the landward prolongations of the Bivrost Fracture Zone suggest that its location is determined by a Mesozoic transfer system which has acted as a first-order, across-margin tectono-magmatic boundary between the regional Jan Mayen and Greenland-Senja Fracture Zone systems, greatly influencing the pre-, syn- and post-breakup margin development.

Revised tectonic implications for the magnetic anomalies of the western Weddell Sea

Ten years after the USAC ( U.S.– Argentina– Chile) Project, which was the most comprehensive aeromagnetic effort in the Antarctic Peninsula and surrounding ocean basins, questions remain regarding the kinematics of the early opening history of the Weddell Sea. Key elements in this complex issue are a better resolution of the magnetic sequence in the western part of the Weddell Sea and merging the USAC data set with the other magnetic data sets in the region. For this purpose we reprocessed the USAC data set using a continuation between arbitrary surfaces and equivalent magnetic sources. The equivalent sources are located at a smooth crustal surface derived from the existing bathymetry/topography and depths estimated by magnetic inversions. The most critical area processed was the transition between the high altitude survey over the Antarctic Peninsula and the low altitude survey over the Weddell Sea that required downward continuation to equalize the distance to the magnetic source. This procedure was performed with eigenvalue analysis to stabilize the equivalent magnetic source inversion. The enhancement of the Mesozoic sequence permits refining the interpretation of the seafloor-spreading anomalies. In particular, the change in shape and wavelength of an elongated positive in the central Weddell Sea suggests that it was formed during the Cretaceous Normal Polarity Interval. The older lineations in the southwestern Weddell Sea are tentatively attributed to susceptibility contrasts modeled as fracture zones. Numerical experimentation to adjust synthetic isochrons to seafloor-spreading lineations and flow lines to fracture zones yields stage poles for the opening of the Weddell Sea since 160 Ma to anomaly 34 time. The corresponding reconstructions look reasonable within the known constraints for the motions of the Antarctic and South America plates. However, closure is not attained between 160 and 118 Ma if independent published East Antarctica–Africa–South America rotations are considered. The lack of closure may be overcome by considering relative motion between the Antarctic Peninsula and East Antarctica until 118 Ma time, an important component of convergence.

Magnetic anomaly interpretation across the southern central Andes (32°–34°S): The role of the Juan Fernández Ridge in the late Tertiary evolution of the margin

Marine and terrestrial magnetic surveys have been integrated to study the tectonic structure of the convergent margin of Chile between 32°–34°S. Three magnetic domains have been identified: oceanic, continental margin, and subaerial. The oceanic domain has seafloor spreading anomalies (16 (∼37 Ma) to 18 (∼39.5 Ma)) disturbed by anomalies of the Juan Fernández hot spot chain. In the continental margin, the most prominent fabric are E‐W anomalies in the upper slope corresponding to onshore E‐W anomalies of large intrusive bodies. Onshore, a N‐S lineament of short‐wavelength anomalies defines the roots of a Cretaceous volcanic arc. A resembling lineament offshore indicates a submerged older volcanic arc and that continental basement extends to ∼50 km landward of the trench. Absolute Cenozoic plate motion for Nazca and South American plates and dating of the Juan Fernández chain provide a kinematic model of ridge‐continent collision. The reconstruction indicates rapid southward migration of the collision point along ∼1400 km of the margin from 20 to 11 Ma (∼20 cm yr−1). From 11 Ma to present the collison point has migrated at a slower rate along ∼375 km of the margin (3.5 cm yr−1). The predicted location of the subducted portion of the Juan Fernández chain coincides with the south edge of the southward migrating flat slab segment of the subducted lithosphere and with a cluster of deep earthquakes indicating a causal relationship. In the last ∼10 Myr the ridge has separated a sediment starved trench to the north where subduction erosion may dominate from a sediment filled trench to the south where recent sediment accretion dominates. These observations indicate that subduction of the Juan Fernández chain plays a major role in arc‐forearc tectonics.

Magnetic evidence for slow seafloor spreading during the formation of the Newfoundland and Iberian margins

There is considerable debate concerning the nature and origin of the thin crust within the ocean–continent transition (OCT) zones of many passive non-volcanic continental margins, located between thinned continental and true oceanic crust. This crust is usually found to be underlain by upper mantle material of 7.2–7.4 km/s velocity at shallow depths (1–2 km). It has been proposed that such crustal material could have originated either by exhumation of upper mantle material during rifting of continents or by slow seafloor spreading. One of the examples of occurrence of such a crust are the conjugate margins of Newfoundland and Iberia. Here we present an interpretation of magnetic data from these regions to show that their OCT zones are underlain by crustal material formed by slow seafloor spreading (6.7 mm/yr) soon after Iberia separated from the Grand Banks of Newfoundland in the late Jurassic. Similarities in the magnetic anomalies and velocity distributions from these regions with those from the Sohm Abyssal Plain, a region lying immediately south of the Newfoundland Basin and formed by seafloor spreading at a similar rate of spreading, give further support to such an interpretation. The idea that these regions were formed by unroofing of upper mantle during rifting of Iberia from Newfoundland may be likely but the presence of weak magnetic anomalies in these regions, which bear all the characteristics of seafloor spreading anomalies, makes it difficult to ignore the possibility that these regions could be underlain by oceanic crust formed during slow seafloor spreading. The similarities in velocity structure and the presence of small amplitude magnetic anomalies both across this pair of conjugate margins of the North Atlantic and that of the Labrador Sea suggest that this OCT velocity structure may be the norm rather than the exception across those passive non-volcanic margins where the initial seafloor spreading was slow. Furthermore, the existence of similar velocity distributions along a few active spreading centers raises the possibility of formation of similar crust across slow spreading ridges.