Physics
Scientific paper
Jul 1982
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1982e%26psl..59..255s&link_type=abstract
Earth and Planetary Science Letters, Volume 59, Issue 2, p. 255-266.
Physics
73
Scientific paper
A detailed aeromagnetic anomaly map of the Mesozoic seafloor-spreading lineations southwest of Bermuda reveals the dominant magnetic grain of the oceanic crust and the character of the accreting boundary at the time of crustal formation. The magnetic anomaly pattern is that of a series of elongate lobes perpendicular to the fracture zone (flowline) trends. The linear sets of magnetic anomaly peaks and troughs have narrow regions of reduced amplitude anomalies associated with the fracture zones. During the period of Mesozoic geomagnetic polarity reversals (when 1200 km of central North Atlantic seafloor formed), the Atlantic accreting boundary consisted of stationary, elongate, spreading center cells that maintained their independence even though sometimes only minor spatial offsets existed between cells. Normal oceanic crustal structure was formed in the spreading center cells, but structural anomalies and discontinuities characteristic of fracture zones were formed at their boundaries, which parallel flowlines of Mesozoic relative plate motion in the central North Atlantic. We suggest that the memory for a stationary pattern of independent spreading center cells resides in the young brittle lithosphere at the accreting boundary where the lithosphere is weakest; here, each spreading center cell independently goes through its cylce of stress buildup, stress release, and crustal accretion, after which its memory is refreshed. The temporal offset between the peaks of the accretionary activity that takes place within each cell may provide the mechanism for maintaining the independence of adjacent spreading center cells through times when no spatial offset between the cells exists.
Klitgord Kim D.
Schouten Hans
No associations
LandOfFree
The memory of the accreting plate boundary and the continuity of fracture zones does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with The memory of the accreting plate boundary and the continuity of fracture zones, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and The memory of the accreting plate boundary and the continuity of fracture zones will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1023195