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Detachment tectonics at Mid-Atlantic Ridge 26°N

Detachment tectonics at Mid-Atlantic Ridge 26°N
Detachment tectonics at Mid-Atlantic Ridge 26°N
Spreading processes associated with slow-spreading ridges are a complex interplay of volcanic accretion and tectonic dismemberment of the oceanic crust, resulting in an irregular seafloor morphology made up of blocks created by episodes of intense volcanic activity or tectonic deformation. These blocks undergo highly variable evolution, such as tilts or dissection by renewed tectonic extension, depending on their positions with respect to the spreading axis, core complexes, detachment or transform faults. Here, we use near-seafloor magnetic and bathymetric data and seismic profiles collected over the TAG Segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to constrain the tectonic evolution of these blocks. Our study reveals that the presence and evolution of oceanic core complexes play a key role in triggering block movements. The deep subvertical detachment fault roots on the plate boundary, marked by a thermal anomaly and transient magma bodies. Thermal and magmatic variations control the structure and morphology of the seafloor above the subhorizontal detachment surface, occasionally leading to relocating the detachment.
2045-2322
Szitkar, Florent
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Dyment, Jérôme
538e4705-50f8-440f-bf95-e5e90ac59d7b
Petersen, Sven
875014f4-eace-4bed-b9f4-44f75757c678
Bialas, Jörg
daf98abb-12a2-4723-a777-30482f7ca4b3
Klischies, Meike
745491c4-0fe4-48a7-8bec-c1a93df2a46f
Graber, Sebastian
05b717db-e249-4ef8-8478-0dc25a51a47e
Klaeschen, Dirk
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Yeo, Isobel
e3e249ce-b5b0-4994-9d1a-135c42eea4b5
Murton, Bramley J.
9076d07f-a3c1-4f90-a5d5-99b27fe2cb12
Szitkar, Florent
1c08b488-6a9f-45f1-92cb-fb16429a547e
Dyment, Jérôme
538e4705-50f8-440f-bf95-e5e90ac59d7b
Petersen, Sven
875014f4-eace-4bed-b9f4-44f75757c678
Bialas, Jörg
daf98abb-12a2-4723-a777-30482f7ca4b3
Klischies, Meike
745491c4-0fe4-48a7-8bec-c1a93df2a46f
Graber, Sebastian
05b717db-e249-4ef8-8478-0dc25a51a47e
Klaeschen, Dirk
6f4c994a-036e-44cc-b35e-c85e894f1bac
Yeo, Isobel
e3e249ce-b5b0-4994-9d1a-135c42eea4b5
Murton, Bramley J.
9076d07f-a3c1-4f90-a5d5-99b27fe2cb12

Szitkar, Florent, Dyment, Jérôme, Petersen, Sven, Bialas, Jörg, Klischies, Meike, Graber, Sebastian, Klaeschen, Dirk, Yeo, Isobel and Murton, Bramley J. (2019) Detachment tectonics at Mid-Atlantic Ridge 26°N. Scientific Reports, 9 (1), [11830]. (doi:10.1038/s41598-019-47974-z).

Record type: Article

Abstract

Spreading processes associated with slow-spreading ridges are a complex interplay of volcanic accretion and tectonic dismemberment of the oceanic crust, resulting in an irregular seafloor morphology made up of blocks created by episodes of intense volcanic activity or tectonic deformation. These blocks undergo highly variable evolution, such as tilts or dissection by renewed tectonic extension, depending on their positions with respect to the spreading axis, core complexes, detachment or transform faults. Here, we use near-seafloor magnetic and bathymetric data and seismic profiles collected over the TAG Segment of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to constrain the tectonic evolution of these blocks. Our study reveals that the presence and evolution of oceanic core complexes play a key role in triggering block movements. The deep subvertical detachment fault roots on the plate boundary, marked by a thermal anomaly and transient magma bodies. Thermal and magmatic variations control the structure and morphology of the seafloor above the subhorizontal detachment surface, occasionally leading to relocating the detachment.

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s41598-019-47974-z - Version of Record
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Accepted/In Press date: 26 July 2019
Published date: 14 August 2019

Identifiers

Local EPrints ID: 436337
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/436337
ISSN: 2045-2322
PURE UUID: 0b6f1b4e-b1ab-4bc7-887b-4d4945d4bb00

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Date deposited: 06 Dec 2019 17:30
Last modified: 16 Mar 2024 05:28

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Contributors

Author: Florent Szitkar
Author: Jérôme Dyment
Author: Sven Petersen
Author: Jörg Bialas
Author: Meike Klischies
Author: Sebastian Graber
Author: Dirk Klaeschen
Author: Isobel Yeo
Author: Bramley J. Murton

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