Seafloor Spreading Centers Research Articles

Abyssal Hills and Sea-Floor Spreading in the Central North Pacific

Research Article| October 01, 1970 Abyssal Hills and Sea-Floor Spreading in the Central North Pacific FREDERIC P NAUGLER; FREDERIC P NAUGLER Pacific Oceanographic Laboratories, Environmental Science Services Administration, Seattle, Washington 98102 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar DAVID K REA DAVID K REA Pacific Oceanographic Laboratories, Environmental Science Services Administration, Seattle, Washington 98102 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information FREDERIC P NAUGLER Pacific Oceanographic Laboratories, Environmental Science Services Administration, Seattle, Washington 98102 DAVID K REA Pacific Oceanographic Laboratories, Environmental Science Services Administration, Seattle, Washington 98102 Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 08 Jun 1970 First Online: 02 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Copyright © 1970, The Geological Society of America, Inc. Copyright is not claimed on any material prepared by U.S. government employees within the scope of their employment. GSA Bulletin (1970) 81 (10): 3123–3128. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[3123:AHASSI]2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 08 Jun 1970 First Online: 02 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 FREDERIC P NAUGLER, DAVID K REA; Abyssal Hills and Sea-Floor Spreading in the Central North Pacific. GSA Bulletin 1970;; 81 (10): 3123–3128. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1970)81[3123:AHASSI]2.0.CO;2 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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract Abyssal-hill topography in the central North Pacific, far removed from active sea-floor spreading centers, possesses a strong linear character that reflects the original grain imparted to the crust during its generation.South of the Aleutian Trench, elongated abyssal hills closely parallel linear magnetic anomalies 25 to 32 (60 to 78 m.y. in age). In this area, isochronous bands of crust can be distinguished on the basis of subtle relief differences, as well as by magnetic anomalies. Topographic and magnetic evidence both indicate crustal extension within the south wall and floor of the trench.A topographic grain related to sea-floor spreading also appears to be present throughout the magnetic “quiet zone” north of the Hawaiian Ridge in regions of the crust that may be as old as Early Cretaceous. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Elevation and subsidence of oceanic crust

A moving oceanic crustal plate is elevated where it is created at the traiting and it subsides as it grows older. The subsidence continues far beyond the obvious topographic boundaries of midocean ridges. The rate of subsidence averages 9 cm/10 3 yr for the first 10 million years; 3.3. cm/10 3 yr for the next 30 million years; and is estimated at 2 cm/10 3 yr for the next 30 million years. Even older crust in the Pacific subsided at a slower rate for an additional 25 million years. In the Atlantic, however, the rate was much faster during the same period. Subsidence is related to the interaction of mantle degassing, erosion, sedimentation, mantle counterflow, and sea floor spreading. “Midplate rises” exist in all the major ocean basins. Many are broad elevations characterized by thick pelagic sediment overlying faulted and uplifted turbidities. They show no signs of intense vulcanism or sea floor spreading center phenomena. They probably mark the locus of small transient convection cells which act under rather than at the edges of large crustal plates.