The Bouvet triple junction, 20 to 10 Ma, and extensive transtensional deformation adjacent to the Bouvet and Conrad transforms
The Bouvet triple junction has been proposed to have evolved as a ridge-fault-fault (RFF) type between 20 and 10 Ma, connecting the southernmost Mid-Atlantic Ridge (SMAR) with the Bouvet and Conrad transforms, to the east and west, respectively. We surveyed immediately north of these two transforms with side-scan and multibeam sonars, on seafloor that would have originally been created at the SMAR close to its junction with the two transforms. The sonar data reveal that SMAR fabrics on the Bouvet and Conrad sides, when corrected for plate rotation, are parallel to each other, so they were most likely formed at the same spreading ridge and confirm that the triple junction was indeed RFF. Our second major result is that the SMAR fabrics are extensively crosscut by normal faults, over most of the 400 km surveyed along both transforms and most intensely north of the Bouvet transform. Growth faults and faults affecting the sediment surface in multichannel seismic images show that the deformation has been long-lived and is probably ongoing. Since the orientations of the crosscutting faults are similar to those of shear zone tension fractures, we interpret these areas to be transtensional zones. This extent of deformation adjacent to major oceanic transforms is rare, and we develop a number of ideas to explain its origin.
Details
Publication status:
Published
Author(s):
Authors: Mitchell, Neil C., Livermore, Roy A., Fabretti, Paola, Carrara, Gabriela
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're okay with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead more
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.