洋陆转换带类型特征和形成机理及其在南海北部的表现特征

20世纪90年代以来,处于被动大陆边缘与洋盆接壤过渡地带的洋陆转换带(OCTs)因其上覆深水-超深水盆地群具有较大的工业性油气勘探潜力,且本身蕴含了丰富的岩石圈伸展破裂信息而备受关注,已成为当今国际学术研究热点。形成于被动大陆边缘伸展与洋盆扩张背景下的洋陆转换带具有地壳强烈减薄、宽30~170km、存在蛇纹岩或蛇纹石化橄榄岩、缺少铁镁质岩浆、梯度变化明显的地震波速度结构、较高的地表热流值等特殊的地质属性特征,根据岩浆活动的频繁与"Moho面"双层结构等具体信息将洋陆转换带划分为2型4类,即以岩浆剧烈活动、海倾地震反射体(SDRs)、高密度流体底侵和急剧减薄的陆壳为特征的岩浆型(A类)和以海倾拆离断层发育、陆壳相对均匀减薄和贫岩浆作用为特征的非岩浆型(B1、B2、B3类)。基于OCTs构造演化剖析了被动大陆边缘岩石圈伸展裂解进程,并将其总结为3个阶段:第一次纯剪切阶段(弥漫式平均伸展);简单剪切阶段(聚焦式细颈化-地幔出露);第二次纯剪切阶段(火山作用-岩石圈完全裂解)。在洋陆转换带的形成过程中,构造变形的"集中-迁移"现象对于上覆的深水-超深水盆地形态结构具有重要的影响作用。国内外OCTs研究历史和近况的系统调研成果表明,当前南海北部OCTs研究主要反映各种地球物理参数特点,而对OCTs的地质属性和界限仍然不清楚。以鹤山凹陷-双峰盆地为例的分析表明,南海北部发育海倾拆离断层和弱火山作用,洋陆转换带宽60~170km,东宽西窄,其中鹤山凹陷洋陆转换带宽约53.91km,为非典型的非岩浆型B3类洋陆转换带;鹤山凹陷构造演化受洋陆转换带的形成机制控制。分析洋陆转换带的类型特征与形成机理对于了解南海北部被动大陆边缘构造演化、深水-超深水盆地的成因机理有重要启示作用。     

南海北部陆缘结构及构造-岩浆演化

南海北部陆缘发育独特的远端带结构,以“裂谷宽、基底厚和地貌起伏”为主要特点,显著有别于经典贫岩浆型和富岩浆型张裂陆缘.为了解释陆缘结构的成因,综合已有研究进展和国际大洋发现计划（IODP）的钻探成果,对南海北部陆缘基底性质进行了调研,探讨了拆离断层和岩浆作用的特点以及两者间的相互作用.结果表明,在38 Ma之前南海北部大范围发育核杂岩构造,并伴随大量岩浆侵入到中下地壳;岩浆作用一方面加剧了地壳的韧性变形,导致应变无法集中而在多个地方同时发育大型拆离,另一方面对拆离面和减薄的基底进行了强烈改造.最终提出同张裂期就位的岩浆作用和中下地壳的韧性流动是形成南海北部宽裂谷陆缘的关键,深化了对陆缘结构、变形过程和岩石圈减薄机制的理解.      

洋-陆转换带类型与成因机制

洋-陆转换带是被动陆缘的特殊构造,是伸展背景下大陆岩石圈与大洋岩石圈相互作用的关键区域,对于理解和认识大洋和大陆的地球动力过程、机制尤为关键。基于不同的被动陆缘类型,本文总结了不同类型被动陆缘的洋-陆转换带分类及特征,同时探讨其成因机制。根据大陆边缘类型,洋-陆转换带可以划分为四类,火山型被动陆缘中以海倾反射层和下地壳高速体为特征的洋-陆转换带、非火山型被动陆缘蛇纹石化地幔橄榄岩出露的洋-陆转换带、异常减薄洋壳组成的洋-陆转换带、强烈减薄陆壳为主的洋-陆转换带。洋-陆转换带成因模式取决于不同类型被动陆缘的伸展破裂过程,火山型被动陆缘起源于主动的火山裂谷,通过热作用来减薄岩石圈的底部进而发生地幔熔融,产生溢流玄武岩,浅表形成海倾反射体,下地壳表现为高P波速度异常且巨厚的高速体。非火山型陆缘的岩石圈横向伸展与深度相关,岩石圈变形既有均一纯剪切变形(均匀伸展)也有不对称的简单剪切变形(拆离断层)。     

大陆裂谷作用产生的新类型地壳

近期,法国A.Nicalas撰文(载于Natune,1985,Vol.315,No.6015,pp.112—115)提出,在大陆裂谷作用的一定条件下,即堆积有巨厚沉积物的裂谷盆地处于大陆岩石圈转化为大洋岩石圈的过渡阶段时,可以产生一种不同于陆壳和洋壳的新类型地壳。这种新类型地壳由巨厚的沉积物组成,底部已变质为绿片岩相或角闪岩相,且有镁铁质岩床和岩颈侵入;直伏其下的为异常地幔(波速≈7.5km/s),由炽热橄榄岩和/或部分蛇纹石化(15—20％)橄榄岩构成。     

被动大陆边缘：从大陆张裂到海底扩张

被动边缘是研究大陆张裂、破裂到海底扩张的关键。ODP103、149、173航次对伊比利亚-纽芬兰非火山型共轭边缘的研究,证实了洋陆过渡带和低角度拆离断层的存在,其中洋陆过渡带中广泛出现蛇纹岩化地幔橄榄岩,钻探结果支持不对称单剪模式。ODP104、152、163航次对挪威-格陵兰东南火山型共轭边缘的调查,揭示了典型的向海倾斜反射层（SDRS）的特征,反映了岩浆活动在边缘形成中的主导作用。为了进一步了解大陆从张裂到破裂到洋底扩张过程的一系列学术问题,需要在IODP阶段继续对共轭被动边缘以及包括冲绳海槽和南海在内的典型地区,通过钻探、采样和观测进行更深入的研究。     

从地壳上地幔构造看大陆岩石圈伸展与裂解

本篇讨论大陆岩石圈拆沉、伸展与裂解作用过程。由于大陆岩石圈厚度大而且很不均匀,产生裂谷的机制比较复杂。大陆碰撞远程效应的触发,岩石圈拆沉,以及板块运动的不规则性和地球应力场方向转折,都可能产生岩石圈断裂和大陆裂谷。岩石圈拆沉为在重力作用下"去陆根"的作用过程,演化过程可分为大陆根拆离、地壳伸展和岩石圈地幔整体破裂三个阶段。大陆碰撞带、俯冲的大陆和大洋板块、克拉通区域岩石圈,都可能产生岩石圈拆沉。大陆岩石圈调查表明,拉张区可见地壳伸展、岩石圈拆离、软流圈上拱和热沉降;它们是大陆岩石圈伸展与裂解早期的主要表现。从初始拉张的盆岭省到成熟的张裂省,拆离后地壳伸展成复式地堑,下地壳幔源玄武岩浆侵位,断裂带贯通并切穿整个岩石圈,表明地壳伸展进入成熟阶段。中国东北松辽盆地和西欧北海盆地曾处于成熟的张裂省。岩石圈破裂为岩浆侵位提供了阻力很小的通道网。岩浆侵位作用伴随岩石圈破裂和热流体上涌,成熟的张裂省可发展成大陆裂谷。多数的大陆裂谷带并没有发展成威尔逊裂谷带和洋中脊,普通的大陆裂谷要演化为威尔逊裂谷带,必须有来自软流圈的长期和持续的热流和玄武质岩浆的供应。威尔逊裂谷带岩石圈地幔和软流圈为地震低速带,其根源可能与来自地幔底部的地幔热羽流有关。     

白云鄂博洋板块地质与成矿作用初探

提出全球规模最大的白云鄂博稀土矿受亚洲洋向华北克拉通北缘俯冲的洋板块地质演化控制.探讨了白云鄂博地区亚洲洋洋板块地质构造发育过程、亚洲洋向华北克拉通北缘俯冲过程中相继发育的新元古代,早、晚古生代俯冲增生杂岩带的地质构造特征.探讨了白云鄂博稀土矿成因,认为稀土矿成矿碳酸岩岩浆产在华北克拉通北缘的所谓特殊的远端弧后构造环境（far backarc settings）,也有人称为远离弧后背景或者变形的大陆边缘环境（deformed continental margins）,不在大洋俯冲过程中发育的岩浆弧环境中.相对于大陆边缘弧,远端弧后构造环境位于向克拉通或向弧后更远的位置,它是控制白云鄂博深部成矿物质向浅部地表运移聚集成大型矿床、矿集区的关键储运空间.远端弧后构造环境远离大洋汇聚带或俯冲带向大陆或向弧后位置的克拉通边缘上,即在华北克拉通北缘岩石圈与亚洲洋造山带的岩石圈分界上的伸展构造中,受大规模岩石圈不连续系统或深切岩石圈的断裂带系统控制.成矿碳酸岩岩浆可能来自携带大量铁与REE的亚洲洋洋壳沉积物,于晚元古-早古生代向华北克拉通俯冲消减到华北克拉通陆下岩石圈地幔SCLM深循环过程中,在深切华北克拉通边缘的岩石圈的不连续构造系统中出溶形成岩浆碳酸岩及其携带的REE矿床.      

古亚洲洋与古特提斯洋关系初探

从板块构造研究中国古生代洋陆关系和构造-岩浆-成矿作用,离不开对古亚洲洋和古特提斯洋的关系判断,特别是对于中国西北部的研究,两个古生代大洋形成演化和关系是理清重要地质构造和成矿事件的关键。本文认为早古生代的原特提斯洋与古亚洲洋应连为一体,合称古亚洲-原特提斯洋,简称古亚洲洋。古亚洲洋是发育于早古生代劳亚大陆与冈瓦纳大陆之间的大洋,金川超大型铜镍矿床的形成是元古宙罗迪尼亚超大陆裂解三叉裂谷开启大洋的开始,塔里木陆块作为古亚洲洋南岸的一个陆块,早古生代的昆仑洋、祁连洋和秦岭洋只是古亚洲洋的分支或次生洋盆,这些次生洋盆于志留纪末闭合,古亚洲洋主洋则直到晚古生代泥盆纪末才闭合。石炭纪天山及邻区是古亚洲洋闭合后板块构造后碰撞机制与地幔柱作用提供热动力的两种地球动力学机制并存的构造背景,为大规模壳幔混合(染)岩浆作用和成矿爆发提供了可能。古特提斯洋是古亚洲洋在晚古生代的发展和继承,东昆仑夏日哈木超大型铜镍矿床的产生是冈瓦纳大陆北侧志留纪末破裂三叉裂谷开启大洋的开始,塔里木和华北等泛华夏陆块群构成了古特提斯洋北岸陆缘,石炭纪大洋形成,西昆仑玛尔坎苏大型优质锰矿可能就形成于大洋北侧被动大陆边缘的浅海或陆表海,成矿物质则很可能来自于同时代的大洋中脊。德尔尼大型铜钴矿为晚石炭世大洋中脊塞浦路斯型块状硫化物矿床。而铜峪沟大型铜矿和大场大型金矿等则分别为古特提斯洋消减俯冲岛弧岩浆作用矽卡岩-斑岩矿床和浅成低温热液矿床。中三叠世末古特提斯洋闭合。     

中-新生代东北和华北的洋陆转换作用

本文对西太平洋的洋-陆转换作用进行探讨。西太平洋洋-陆转换带在中国东部可分为华南、华北-黄海和东北3个区段。东北地区中-新生代洋-陆转换作用涉及古今太平洋板块和蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋板块两方面俯冲作用的影响,产生大面积中基性岩浆和火山活动,从侏罗纪一直延伸到现在。不同于东北和华南地区,华北-黄海有克拉通型的岩石圈,在晚侏罗世—新近纪因为太平洋板块的大角度旋转造成软流圈低黏度物质上涌,和地壳拉张与幔源岩浆的底侵,造成上地壳裂谷型沉积盆地。燕山地区在侏罗纪与东北地区类似,有强烈的软流圈上涌和岩石圈岩石部分熔融,产生强烈岩浆活动。在白垩纪到新生代,因为蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋闭合和太平洋板块大角度旋转,发生沿蒙古—鄂霍茨克洋的转换断层的拉张,产生从南蒙古过锡林浩特的NW向玄武质岩浆和火山带。洋-陆转换带不同区段有不同的动力学作用演化过程,与先期岩石圈的性质、大洋板块俯冲带的分布、方向变化和俯冲持续时间、以及后期俯冲带后撤作用都有密切关系。洋-陆转换作用的统一后果是大陆的增生,但是不同区段大陆增生和物质运动的模式是不一样的。     

陆缘扩张型地洼盆地系构造-岩浆作用的独特性──以南海北部陆缘盆地系为例

南海北部陆缘扩张型地洼盆地系既显示了裂谷构造的某些一般性特征,又以其位于大陆壳体与大洋壳体相互作用的东亚陆缘地带;具有复杂的动力场和应力场环境;张裂发生于华夏型地洼余动期;发育由陆变海、陆海相交替的沉积建造;出现由钙碱性岩系、双峰式岩系到拉斑玄武岩和碱性玄武岩系的岩浆演化序列;形成宽阔而弥散的拉伸变形带,具条块状分割的构造格局,总体表现为由大陆盆岭型构造带（地壳张裂）发展到陆缘海盆地系（岩石圈张裂）的演变过程;强烈而持久的地壳运动,发生多幕式拉伸-造盆作用,晚期并在局部出现挤压（反转）构造;以及含丰富油气等矿产资源而展示特色。比较学研究进一步表明,地洼区的裂谷构造可以分出两种基本类型：①华夏型,其中包括东亚陆缘式和里奥格兰德陆内式两种亚型,它们是在地洼型挤压造山阶段之后发生拉伸裂陷;②东非型,它们是在古老克拉通（地台）基础上发生张裂,形成裂谷型地洼区。     

Seismic imaging of the transitional crust across the northeastern margin of the South China Sea

Crustal structure across the passive continental margin of the northeastern South China Sea (SCS) is presented based on a deep seismic survey cooperated between Taiwan and China in August 2001. Reflection data collected from a 48-hydrophone streamer and the vertical component of refraction/reflection data recorded at 11 ocean-bottom seismometers along a NW–SE profile are integrated to image the upper (1.6–2.4 km/s), lower (2.5–2.9 km/s), and compacted (3–4.5 km/s) sediment, the upper (4.5–5.5 km/s), middle (5.5–6.5 km/s) and lower (6.5–7.5 km/s) crystalline crust successively. The velocity model shows that the thickness (0.5–3 km) and the basement of the compacted sediment are strongly varied due to intrusion of the magma and igneous rocks after seafloor spreading of the SCS. Furthermore, several volcanoes and igneous rocks in the upper/middle crust (7–10 km thick) and a high velocity layer (0–5 km thick) in the lower crust of the model are identified as the ocean–continent transition (OCT) below the lower slope in the northeastern margin of the SCS. A thin continent NW of the OCT and a thick oceanic crust SE of the OCT in the continental margin of the northeastern SCS are also imaged, but these transitional crusts cannot be classified as the OCT due to their crustal thickness and the limited amount of the volcano, the magma and the high velocity layer. The extended continent, next to the gravity low and a sag zone extended from the SW Taiwan Basin, may have resulted from subduction of the Eurasian Plate beneath the Manila Trench whereas the thick oceanic crust may have been due to the excess volcanism and the late magmatic underplating in the oceanic crust after seafloor spreading of the SCS.     

From continental rifting to seafloor spreading: Insight from 3D thermo-mechanical modeling

Continental rifting to seafloor spreading is a continuous process, and rifting history influences the following spreading process. However, the complete process is scarcely simulated. Using 3D thermo-mechanical coupled visco-plastic numerical models, we investigate the complete extension process and the inheritance of continental rifting in oceanic spreading. Our modeling results show that the initial continental lithosphere rheological coupling/decoupling at the Moho affects oceanic spreading in two manners: (1) coupled model (a strong lower crust mechanically couples upper crust and upper mantle lithosphere) generates large lithospheric shear zones and fast rifting, which promotes symmetric oceanic accretion (i.e. oceanic crust growth) and leads to a relatively straight oceanic ridge, while (2) decoupled model (a weak ductile lower crust mechanically decouples upper crust and upper mantle lithosphere) generates separate crustal and mantle shear zones and favors asymmetric oceanic accretion involving development of active detachment faults with 3D features. Complex ridge geometries (e.g. overlapping ridge segments and curved ridges) are generated in the decoupled models. Two types of detachment faults termed continental and oceanic detachment faults are established in the coupled and decoupled models, respectively. Continental detachment faults are generated through rotation of high angle normal faults during rifting, and terminated by magmatism during continental breakup. Oceanic detachment faults form in oceanic crust in the late rifting–early spreading stage, and dominates asymmetric oceanic accretion. The life cycle of oceanic detachment faults has been revealed in this study.     

南海西南次海盆深部结构研究进展与展望

西南次海盆位于南海渐进式扩张的西南端,共轭陆缘结构和残留扩张脊保留完整,是研究南海深部结构和动力学机制的关键区域。前期研究发现,西南次海盆洋陆过渡带较窄、同扩张断层发育、地震反射莫霍面不清晰、具有慢速扩张等特征。然而,由于不同探测方法获取的地壳结构具有多解性,使得西南次海盆洋陆转换过程、慢速扩张洋壳结构与增生模式以及龙门海山岩石性质与地幔成因机制等基础科学问题尚存争议。为此我们建议在西南次海盆开展地质取样获取海山岩石样品,确定其年龄与性质,分析扩张后海山形成的深部动力过程;并对关键构造部署高精度的地震反射/折射联合探测,结合岩石物理分析,对西南次海盆进行构造成像和物质组成参数正反演,以实现壳幔尺度的地震学透视,为探索西南次海盆洋陆转换过程和洋壳增生模式提供重要的地球物理证据,以丰富和完善南海的动力学演化模式。     

Lithospheric structure of the Southwest South China Sea: implications for rifting and extension

ABSTRACT

The South China Sea (SCS) is an excellent site for studying the process of conjugate margin rifting, and the origin and evolution of oceanic basins. Compared with the well-defined northern margin of the SCS, the western and southern segments of the SCS margin have not been researched in significant detail. To investigate the regional structure of the southwestern SCS, a gravity model is constructed, along with the lithospheric thermal structure along a wide-angle seismic profile. The profile extends across the conjugate margins of the Southwest Sub-Basin (SWSB) of the SCS and is based on the latest multiple geophysical measurements (including heat flow and thermo-physical parameters). The results show that the average thicknesses of the crust and thermal lithosphere along the profile are about 15 km and 57 km, respectively. The overall amount of extension of continental crust and lithosphere is more than 200 km. Thermal structure of the lithosphere shows that the continental margins are in a warm thermal state. The southwest SCS is characterized by ultra-wide, thinned continental crust and lithosphere, high Moho heat flow, early syn-rift faulted basins, undeformed late syn-rifting, and high seismic velocities in the lower crust. These various pieces of evidence suggest that the break-up of the mantle lithosphere occurred before that of the continental crust favouring a depth-dependent extension of the southwestern SCS margin.     

Tectonics and magmatism in eastern South America and the Brazil basin of the Atlantic in the Phanerozoic

The magmatic and tectonic activity of eastern South America and the western South Atlantic shows that extension of the continental crust is the determinant factor of magmatism. Heating of the upper mantle is a necessary condition of its manifestation. Ascending plume material is a source of additional heat. In the Early Mesozoic, Eastern Brazil was situated above a large, ascending and probably ramifying plume, which has supplied heat and material since the Triassic, creating favorable conditions for continental magmatism. Magmatic activity continued, gradually waning, until the Neogene as evidence for long-term retention of heat energy beneath the continental lithosphere after the plume ascent. It has been shown that heated mantle material can be displaced from the continent to the ocean for a significant distance beneath the lithosphere with the formation of linear tectonomagmatic rises of the oceanic crust. The structural elements inherited certain directions on the continent and in the ocean, beginning from the Neoproterozoic. These directions were reactivated and continued to control the younger structural grain and magmatic activity. In Southeastern Brazil, these were the structural units striking in the southeastern (about 120° SE) and northeastern directions parallel to the continent-ocean boundary. In Northeastern Brazil, the W-E- and N—S-trending structural units are predominant. All these directions are manifested in oceanic structural units (Rio Grande, Vitória-Trindadi, Fernando de Noronha, Pernambuco rises, etc.).     

南海西北次海盆及其邻区地壳结构和构造意义

西北次海盆的深部地壳结构蕴含着南海北部陆缘拉张过程的重要信息.广角反射/折射测线(OBS2006-2)长386 km,是目前唯一的一条沿NEE向穿过西沙地块、并平行于西北次海盆扩张脊的深地震测线.通过射线追踪与走时模拟方法(RAYINVR),获得了OBS2006-2测线下方的速度结构.结果表明:西沙地块的沉积层厚度约为1~2 km,而西北次海盆的沉积层厚度大约为2~3 km;Moho界面从西沙地块的27 km逐步抬升到西北次海盆的12 km,Moho界面下方的速度为7.8~8.0 km/s;未发现壳内高速层和低速层.在西沙地块和西北次海盆的过渡区,有着较大量的岩浆活动信息,推测与西北次海盆的初始扩张有关.OBS2006-2测线中114.5°E以西的地区为减薄的陆壳,而114.5°E以东的地区为洋壳,莫霍面在陆壳与洋壳的结合处剧烈抬升,地壳厚度明显减薄.西北次海盆的扩张脊下方可能有残余岩浆的存在.      

被动陆缘洋陆转换带和岩石圈伸展破裂过程分析及其对南海陆缘深水盆地研究的启示

作为伸展陆壳和正常洋壳之间重要的过渡和衔接,洋陆转换带(ocean-continent transition,简写为OCT)蕴含有丰富的地壳岩石圈伸展破裂过程的信息。文中通过系统的资料调研,在总结OCT研究历史、现状和发展趋势的基础上,阐明了OCT的现代概念、类型及其识别标志;详细介绍了以OCT为基础而建立的被动陆缘地壳岩石圈结构构造单元划分方案、表层沉积盆地构造地层格架及重要的构造变革界面特征;分析了大型拆离断层在地壳岩石圈薄化、地幔剥露过程中的控制作用;揭示了陆缘变形集中、迁移和叠合的规律,建立了被动陆缘岩石圈伸展、薄化、剥露和裂解模式。最后,论文对比了国际非岩浆型被动大陆边缘与我国南海OCT的研究,介绍了南海OCT和陆缘深水超深水盆地研究的新发现,提出深入研究南海OCT将为南海陆缘构造演化、洋盆扩张过程和深水超深水盆地的成因机制研究提供新的启示。     

Tectonotype of volcanic passive margins in the Norwegian-Greenland region

A tectonotype of volcanic passive margins exemplified in the conjugate Norwegian and East Greenland margins is considered, with discussion of the Paleogene igneous complexes and the regional rift structure before continental breakup. Fragments of asymmetrical rift have been retained on both sides of the ocean. Large Cretaceous pre-rift sedimentation basins marking the initial stage of the ocean opening are included into the passive margin as well. The continental breakup was accompanied by intense basaltic magmatism over a short time span. This magmatic episode was distinguished by (1) the formation of widespread plateau-basalt complexes on continents and in near-shore areas of the ocean; (2) the development of thick lava series that are recorded in seaward dipping reflector wedges; (3) thick high-velocity lower crust, resulting from magmatic underplating; (4) asymmetrical accretion of the crust and structure formation. The discussion is based on published seismic data and reference sections selected for each margin with consideration of the composition and thickness of the igneous rocks, their lateral variations, source composition, and eruption and crust formation conditions. The characteristic feature of both sections is the two-member structure of volcanic complexes with substantial geochemical differences between the rocks from the lower and upper parts of the section, which correspond to the pre-breakup and breakup phases. At the initial phase, small magma volumes were melted out from the lithosphere. The geochemical signatures of the upper parts of the sections testify to the melting of the asthenospheric mantle. Their spatiotemporal variations reflect the ascent and melting of the deep plume, which was active during and after continental breakup. In the Greenland area, near the central part of the plume, a N-MORB-type mantle magma source gave way to a depleted Iceland-type mantle, while apart from the central part of the plume, its effect is expressed only in the enormous volume of mantle-derived melt without migration of its source. A variety of evidence is provided for the plume’s activity: the great thickness of the volcanic complexes and the relatively stable composition of the melt; the elevated temperature in the mantle; the specific geochemistry of the breakup-related lavas and their lateral zoning; conclusions on the necessity of dynamic support of volcanic eruptions; and recent results of seismographic tomography. The continental breakup inherited a system of older sedimentary basins in the zone of prolonged extension of the lithosphere in the North Atlantic. The continuous dynamic support of extension was most likely provided by long-term ascent of the Iceland plume. The comparison of the considered tectonotype with other volcanic and non-volcanic margins opens the way to further elucidation of the geodynamic processes responsible for the ocean opening.