A three-dimensional study of a crustal low velocity region beneath the 9,3'N overlapping spreading center
A three-dimensional study of a crustal low velocity region beneath the 9,3'N overlapping spreading center
Overlapping spreading centers (OSCs) play a key role in models of magma distribution at fast spreading ridges. To investigate the relationship between ridge-axis discontinuities and magma supply, we conducted a three-dimensional seismic reflection and tomography experiment at the 9°03?N OSC along the East Pacific Rise. Tomographic analysis imaged a broad mid-crustal low velocity zone (LVZ) beneath parts of the overlapper and the associated overlap basin, demonstrating that it is magmatically robust. The complementary datasets reveal a complex storage and tapping of melt: the LVZ and melt sill at either end of the overlap basin are not simply centered beneath the rise crest but are skewed inwards. The subsequent focussing of the LVZ and sill beneath the axis of the eastern limb appears to be due to melt migration toward the tip. The OSC western limb is less magmatically robust and may be in the process of dying.
SPREADING CENTRES, SEISMIC REFLECTION, EAST PACIFIC RISE, TOMOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY
1039-[4pp]
Bazin, S.
150a6d8c-8823-46ec-a147-a34fb46c4759
Sinha, M.C.
794c3012-d0e8-4d2f-b328-c8cfd56c5976
2003
Bazin, S.
150a6d8c-8823-46ec-a147-a34fb46c4759
Sinha, M.C.
794c3012-d0e8-4d2f-b328-c8cfd56c5976
Bazin, S. and Sinha, M.C.
(2003)
A three-dimensional study of a crustal low velocity region beneath the 9,3'N overlapping spreading center.
Geophysical Research Letters, 30 (2), .
(doi:10.1029/2002GL015137).
Abstract
Overlapping spreading centers (OSCs) play a key role in models of magma distribution at fast spreading ridges. To investigate the relationship between ridge-axis discontinuities and magma supply, we conducted a three-dimensional seismic reflection and tomography experiment at the 9°03?N OSC along the East Pacific Rise. Tomographic analysis imaged a broad mid-crustal low velocity zone (LVZ) beneath parts of the overlapper and the associated overlap basin, demonstrating that it is magmatically robust. The complementary datasets reveal a complex storage and tapping of melt: the LVZ and melt sill at either end of the overlap basin are not simply centered beneath the rise crest but are skewed inwards. The subsequent focussing of the LVZ and sill beneath the axis of the eastern limb appears to be due to melt migration toward the tip. The OSC western limb is less magmatically robust and may be in the process of dying.
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Published date: 2003
Keywords:
SPREADING CENTRES, SEISMIC REFLECTION, EAST PACIFIC RISE, TOMOGRAPHY, GEOLOGY
Organisations:
Ocean and Earth Science
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 2227
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/2227
ISSN: 0094-8276
PURE UUID: f6f09724-c799-4087-b3bb-1aff7100b336
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Date deposited: 20 May 2004
Last modified: 15 Mar 2024 04:45
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Author:
S. Bazin
Author:
M.C. Sinha
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