Structure and geological evolution of the island of Ponza, Italy: inferences from geological and gravimetric data

A geological and a geophysical survey have been carried out at Ponza Island, Tyrrhenian sea, Italy. Geological and structural data allowed to identify three main tectonic systems: NW-SE, NE-SW and E-W trending. The first one is related to a pre-volcanic tectonic event, probably linked to the Pliocene extensional activity of the Tyrrhenian evolution; the other two systems affected the volcanic units in two different stages of the Lower Pleistocene, the earlier one after the rhyolitic hyaloclastic formation (HF) emplacement and the later one after the emplacement of older trachytic pyroclastic deposits (Lower Pyroclastic Units—LPU). The latter event was followed by the emersion of the whole Ponza area, as testified by a marked erosional surface and marine terrace deposits cropping out at the top of LPU. The Upper Pyroclastic Units (UPU) represent the younger trachytic activity of the island (1.3 Myr) and do not show evidence of tectonic activity.The NW-SE-trending tectonic system probably assisted the rhyolitic magma rise, while the NE-SW- and E-W-trending systems mainly assisted the trachytic magma rise, responsible for the explosive and effusive activity in the southern area and for the hydrothermal fluids that caused alteration processes in the northern area.A 161-station gravimetric survey was carried out on the island and surrounding islets. The geological data and the gravimetric survey have been used to propose a 2.5 D model in which rhyolitic hyaloclastic deposits (ρ = 1.7 g cm⁻³) overlay an articulated Meso-Cenozoic sedimentary substratum (ρ = 2.6 g cm⁻³) laying at a depth to 300 m below sea level. Both formations are crossed by rhyolitic dykes (ρ = 2.4 g cm⁻³) which mark feeder fractures. In the M. Guardia area, where a maximum is present, this model accounts for the presence of a horst of the rigid basement, a shallow trachytic lava flow and its feeder (ρ = 2.8 g cm⁻³).     

The Alpha Ridge: Gravity, seismic and magnetic evidence for a homogenous, mafic crust

Gravity and bathymetric results from the 1983 Canadian Expedition to Study the Alpha Ridge (CESAR) have outlined positive free-air anomalies centred on the continental break off Ellesmere Island characteristic of normal Atlantic-type passive margins. These data confirm implications derived from depth-to-magnetic basement calculations that the ridge may not be structurally connected to the continent. Across the Alpha Ridge magnetic and gravity anomalies mimic the bathymetry. The magnetic anomalies apparently are not caused, to any great extent, by internal structures or magnetic reversals, but rather seem to result simply from variations in depths to a homogenous magnetic structure. The gravity anomalies across a 500 km wide section of the Alpha Ridge can be almost completely accounted for by topography, shallow sedimentary fill and a simple two-tier crustal model. This implies an extraordinary lateral density homogeneity unknown in continental structures of comparable size. Gravity models show the crustal thickness to increase gradually from 20 km at the Marvin Spur to 38 km at the ridge crest. A comparison of this model with a gravity model of the continental-type Lomonosov Ridge, which has a thickness of about 25 km, indicates that, at the same thickness of 25 km, the average crustal density of the Alpha Ridge is 0.08 Mg/m³ greater. These gravity constraints, the unusually homogenous seismic velocity structure revealed by the CESAR studies, the homogeneous magnetic structure, and the extraordinary high intensity satellite magnetic anomaly associated with the Alpha Ridge, indicate that the ridge may be composed of a large pile of mafic rock, possibly unique on this planet.     

A gravity and magnetic study of the volcanic island of Ischia, Naples (Italy)

Gravity and magnetic data for the volcanic island of Ischia, Naples, Italy, have been analyzed and interpreted in light of recent geological and volcanological data to define a model of the island's shallow and deep structures. From the interpretation of the gravity data it appears that the shallow structures consist of pyroclastic material (p=2.0 g/cm³). Within these pyroclastics there are domes and lava flows of higher density and eruptive centres filled with lower density material. The basement is a “horst” with the shallowest depth at about 1.0 km, south of the centre of the island, if we assign a density contrast of 0.5 g/cm³ relative to the above pyroclastics.Interpretation of magnetic data measured at 725 stations showed that the basement derived from the gravity interpretation is magnetized. Moreover, this basement is less magnetized on the western side of Ischia which may be caused by the anomalous thermal state of the area, as indicated by surface fumaroles, hot springs etc. and temperature measurements in deep drillings.     

Basement morphology and rift geometry near the former junction of India,Australia, and Antarctica

Magnetic and gravity anomaly data, together with features of the basement topography presented here show that the continental margin of western Australia, including the Naturaliste plateau, was shaped by NE-SW-trending rift segments offset by nearly orthogonal transform faults. A steep landward gradient of the isostatic gravity field and a lineated magnetic anomaly which occur together at the continental slope are interpreted as marking the ocean-continent boundary of the rifted margin off Perth and the sheared margin between Perth and the Wallaby plateaus. Anomalies diagnostic of the ocean-continent boundary are not observed at the margins of the Naturaliste plateau; the geometry of the rift zone here is adduced from the disposition of magnetic lineations, fracture zones, and basement features. A geophysical survey of the Naturaliste fracture zone shows it to be a continuous basement trough extending from the Diamantina fracture zone 800 km northwest to Dirck Hartog ridge. Similar basement troughs west of and orthogonal to the fracture zone imply that the region west/southwest of the Naturaliste plateau was, like the region north of it, formerly occupied by Greater India. Marine magnetic anomaly and basement trends suggest that the oceanic crust between the plateau and Diamantina fracture zone could be substantially older than Paleocene, heretofore the oldest crust identified between Australia and Antarctica.     

Internal structure of Tenerife (Canary Islands) based on gravity, aeromagnetic and volcanological data

Gravity and magnetic methods have been applied to the Tenerife Island, to provide new information about its internal structure. For this study, 365 gravity stations covering the central part of the island have been selected. The anomalous density maps at different depths were obtained by means of an inversion global adjustment, on fixed density contrast, to describe the three-dimensional (3D) geometry of the anomalous bodies. On the other hand, several analysis techniques, such as reduction to the pole, spectral analysis, low-pass filtering, terrain correction and forward modelling, were applied to process the high-resolution data obtained in an aeromagnetic survey, completed with marine and terrestrial data.The joint analysis of gravity and magnetic anomalies has shown tectonic and volcanic features that define some fundamental aspects of the structural framework and volcanic evolution of the island. A strong gravity anomaly produced by a large and deep source has been associated with an uplifted block of the basement beneath the southern part of Tenerife. The sources of the observed gravity highs from 8 km b.s.l. may be associated with the growth of the submarine shield stage that was clearly controlled by regional tectonic.The long-wavelength magnetic anomalies reveal highly magnetic sources, interpreted as gabbro-ultramafic cumulates associated with the root zone of a large dyke swarm. This intrusive body could be topped by the emplacement zone of magma chambers that correlate with a magnetic horizon at 5.7±0.8 km depth. Rooted in this highly magnetic zone, two dike–like structures can be associated with the magmatic feeding system of large recent basaltic volcanoes. A shallow magnetic horizon (1.4 km a.s.l.) can be correlated with the bottom phonolites of the Las Cañadas Edifice.In the central part of the island the coincidence of some gravity and magnetic lows is consistent with the presence of low-density and low-magnetic materials, that infill a collapsed caldera system. The structures close to the surface are characterised by low-density areas connected with the recent volcanism, in particular the minimum over the Teide volcano. Hydrothermal alteration is assumed to be the cause of a short-wavelength magnetic low over the Teide volcano.     

A gradational density model for gravity anomalies over oceanic ridges

The long-wavelength gravity anomalies observed over oceanic ridges have been interpreted in terms of horizontal slabs with lateral variation of density. The location of such a slab in the earth's interior is estimated to be between the depths of 350 and 430 km, which defines the boundaries of the upper phase-transition zone of the mantle. A total density contrast, between the end planes of the horizontal slab, of 0.3 g/cm³ appears to be satisfactory for the interpretation. This remarkable coincidence in depth and density contrast associated with the pyroxene-garnet transformation process is considered to suggest that this process may possibly be: (1) taking place laterally; and (2) generating the gradational density contact which is reflected in the gravity anomalies. In turn, the mechanism for this lateral phase transformation may ultimately be attributable to the convection currents in the asthenosphere.     

Lithospheric model with thick oceanic crust at the continental boundary: A mechanism for shallow spreading ridges in young oceans

In a general lithospheric model of a simple divergent ocean and continental margin that satisfies the constraints of isostasy and gravity anomalies, the free-air gravity anomaly at the margin is modelled by an oceanic crust that thickens exponentially toward the margin from its common value of 6.4 km about 600 km from the margin to 17.7 km at the margin; this postulated thickening is supported empirically by seismic refraction measurements made near continental margins. The thickness of the oceanic crust matches that of the continental lithosphere at breakup, as observed today in Afar and East Africa, and is interpreted as the initial oceanic surface layer chilled against the continental lithosphere. With continued plate accretion, the chilled oceanic crust thins exponentially to a steadystate thickness, which is achieved about 40 m.y. after breakup. These findings contrast with the generally held view that the oceanic crust has a uniform thickness.During the first 40 m.y. of spreading, the thicker oceanic crust, of density 2.86 g/cm³, displaces the denser (3.32 g/cm³) subjacent material; by isostasy, the spreading ridge and the rest of the seafloor thus stand higher in younger( <40m.y.) oceans than they do in older(>40m.y.) oceans. This is postulated to be the cause of the empirical relationship between the crestal depth of spreading ridges and the age (or half-width) of ocean basins.     

Paleo-Moho depth determined from the pressure of CO2 fluid inclusions: Raman spectroscopic barometry of mantle- and crust-derived rocks

The density, and therefore the pressure, of CO₂ fluid inclusions in minerals can be estimated from the Fermi diad splitting of Raman spectra of CO₂. An accurate determination of the pressure of CO₂ fluid inclusions enables the estimation of the depth origin of rocks from the deep Earth. A micro-Raman densimeter was applied to ultramafic–mafic xenoliths sampled along the Ohku coast of Oki-Dogo Island in the Sea of Japan (East Sea). The density of CO₂ fluid inclusions in the mafic granulite was 1.02–1.05 g/cm³, while those of lherzolites were 0.98–1.02 g/cm³. In contrast, the density of CO₂ fluid inclusions measured in olivine gabbro, clinopyroxenite, and harzburgite were lower ranging from 0.86–to 0.99 g/cm³. Taking into account the temperature condition estimated using a pyroxene thermometer, the mafic granulite originated from a depth of 27–30 km and the lherzolites from 25–29 km. The overlapping depth of 27–29 km can be interpreted as the depth including the Moho discontinuity under Oki-Dogo Island 3.3 Ma. This estimation is consistent with geophysical observations.     

Sea-floor spreading and the early opening of the North Atlantic

We have examined available magnetic and gravity data bearing on the initiation of sea-floor spreading in the North Atlantic between Ireland and Newfoundland. The change in character of the magnetic field on the continental margin on either side of the Atlantic from a landward magnetic quiet zone to a seaward “noisy”, magnetic signature is postulated to be related to a change from continental to oceanic crust. Sea-floor spreading between Ireland and Newfoundland was initiated during the long normal geomagnetic polarity interval in the Late Cretaceous. Rockall Trough may have opened at this time. At the end of the normal polarity interval (Late Santonian) the ridge axis jumped westward to bypass Rockall Trough and the related offset initiated the Charlie Gibbs fracture zone.A reconstruction is presented for the relative position between North America and Europe prior to the initiation of sea-floor spreading in the Late Cretaceous.     

The geophysical significance of oceanic plagiogranite

Rocks ranging in composition from trondhjemite to diorite (plagiogranites) have been recovered from ocean ridges and are common constituents of ophiolites. Velocities and densities of diorite and trondhjemite from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge are shown to differ significantly from similar properties of metadolerite and gabbro. Compressional (V_p) and shear (V_s) velocities of plagiogranites are relatively low (V_p = 4.78–5.91km/s at1kbar,V_s = 2.81–3.37km/s at1kbar), as are densities (2.57–2.64 g/cm³) and Poisson's ratios (0.24–0.27). These data lend strong support to the probable existence of a low-velocity/density zone within layer 3 of the oceanic crust. Based on observations in ophiolites, it is postulated that this zone can be up to 1 km in thickness and is laterally discontinuous.     

Rates of magma emplacement and volcanic output

This study includes a compilation of about one hundred estimates of volumetric rates of magma emplacement and volcanic output that are average rates for durations of igneous activity greater than 300 yrs. These data indicate that the rate of volcanic output is about 10⁻¹ km³ yr⁻¹ in regions that are the most active magmatically. Factors that correlate with rates of magma emplacement and volcanic output are: magma composition, crustal thickness, tectonic setting, and regional stress. Of the ninety rates of magma emplacement and volcanic output that were studied, the highest for basaltic magmas are greater than the highest for silicic magmas, regardless of the volumes erupted or areal extent of magmatism. Rates of volcanic output for oceanic areas tend to be greater than rates in continental areas, perhaps because of thinner crust, a predominance of basaltic magma, and higher rates of magma generation. Ratios of intrusive to extrusive volumes are typically about 5 to 1 for oceanic localities and 10 to 1 for continental localities. This difference apparently reflects dissimilar rates of magma ascent related to different crustal thicknesses and magma compositions. The total rate of magma emplacement and volcanic output for the Earth, averaged over the last 180 m.y., is between about 26 and 34 km³ yr⁻¹. About 75% of this total is contributed by ocean-ridge magmatism. Oceanic intraplate magmatism contributes about 5%. Igneous activity in subduction zones, about half of which is continental, adds about 20%. Intracontinental magmatism, more than 95% of which is flood and plains basalts, provides less than 5% of the total global rate of magma emplacement and volcanic output.     

Age of Seychelles–India break-up

Many continental flood basalt provinces are spatially and temporally linked with continental break-up. Establishing the relative timing of the two events is a key step in determining their causal relationship. Here we investigate the example of the Deccan Traps and the separation of India and the Seychelles. Whilst there has been a growing consensus as to the age of the main phase of the Deccan emplacement (65.5 ± 1 Ma, chron 29r), the age of the rifting has remained unclear. We resolve this issue through detailed seafloor magnetic anomaly modeling (supported by wide-angle and reflection seismic results) of the north Seychelles and conjugate Laxmi Ridge/Gop Rift margins, and geochemistry and ⁴⁰Ar/³⁹Ar geochronology of rocks from the north Seychelles margin. We show that syn-rift volcanics offshore the Seychelles Islands in the form of seaward-dipping reflectors were most likely erupted during chron 28n, and the first organized seafloor spreading at the Carlsberg Ridge also initiated during this chron at 63.4 Ma. The severing of the Seychelles occurred by a south-eastward ridge propagation that was completed by the start of chron 27n (~ 62 Ma). A brief, pre-28r phase of seafloor spreading occurred in the Gop Rift, possibly as early as 31r–32n (~ 71 Ma). Initial extension at the margin therefore preceded or was contemporaneous with the Deccan emplacement, and separation of the Seychelles was achieved less than 3.5 Ma afterwards. This is the shortest time interval between flood basalt emplacement and break-up yet reported for any continental flood basalt-rifted margin pair. A contributing factor to the apparently short interval in the Deccan case may be that rifting occurred by a ridge jump into already thinned continental lithosphere. However, we conclude that external plate-boundary forces, rather than the impact of a mantle plume, were largely responsible for the rifting of the Seychelles from India.     

Eclogitization of lower crustal granulites by fluid migration through shear zones

The granulite facies assemblages of the anorthositic rocks of the Bergen Arcs (stable at 800–900°C and 10 kbar) have been transformed to eclogite facies assemblages (stable at 700–750°C and 16–19 kbar) in the vicinity of Caledonian shear zones. This section of the root zone of the Caledonian mountain chain reveals a deep polymetamorphic crust where Precambrian granulites (mean density 3.02 g/cm³) and Caledonian eclogites (mean density 3.19 g/cm³) alternate on a scale of meters over a minimum area of 3 × 12 km. Detailed mapping of three localities shows that eclogites account for up to 30–45% of the rock volume. The stabilitization of the eclogite mineralogy is controlled by fluids penetrating these deep crustal shear zones. The eclogitization is independent of preexisting compositional variation in this anorthosite-norite complex. The Bergen Arcs example suggests that the amount of eclogite versus granulites in the lowermost crust is a function of deformation and fluid access, rather than being controlled byT, P and rock composition alone. These relationships may explain the gradual increase in seismic velocity observed in some deep crustal sections and also the complex reflection pattern obtained from the lowermost crust in many areas.     

Gravity profiles across the Cheyenne Belt, a precambrian crustal suture in southeastern Wyoming

Geologic discontinuities across the Cheyenne Belt of southeastern Wyoming have led to interpretations that this boundary is a major crustal suture separating the Archaean Wyoming Province to the north from accreted Proterozoic island arc terrains to the south. Gravity profiles across the Cheyenne Belt in three Precambrian-cored Laramide uplifts show a north to south decrease in gravity values of 50–100 mgal. These data indicate that the Proterozoic crust is more felsic (less dense) and/or thicker than Archaean crust. Seismic refraction data show thicker crust (48–54 km) in Colorado than in Wyoming (37–41 km). We model the gravity profiles in two ways: 1) thicker crust to the south and a south-dipping ramp in the Moho beneath and just south of the Cheyenne Belt; 2) thicker crust to the south combined with a mid-crustal density decrease of about 0.05 g/cm³. Differences in crustal thickness may have originated 1700 Ma ago because: 1) the gravity gradient is spatially related to the Cheyenne Belt which has been immobile since about 1650 Ma ago; 2) the N-S gradient is perpendicular to the trend of gravity gradients associated with local Laramide uplifs and sub-perpendicular to regional long-wavelength Laramide gradients and is therefore probably not a Laramide feature. Thus, gravity data support the interpretation that the Cheyenne Belt is a Proterozoic suture zone separating terrains of different crustal structure. The gravity “signature” of the Cheyenne Belt is different from “S”-shaped gravity anomalies associated with Proterozoic sutures of the Canadian Shield which suggests fundamental differences between continent-continent and island arc-continent collisional processes.     

南极洲东部普里兹湾海域重磁场特征及地壳结构

普里兹湾位于南极洲东部大陆边缘,其深部地壳结构特征对认识白垩纪冈瓦纳古陆裂解和新生代大陆边缘形成具有重要意义.本文利用重磁、多道反射地震、声纳浮标折射地震和ODP钻井数据对普里兹湾海域的深部地壳结构进行了研究.研究结果显示,普里兹凹陷表现为典型的盆地负重力异常特征,其沉积基底较深,而在四夫人浅滩为高幅重力正异常,其沉积基底普遍抬升.在大陆架中部存在SW-NE向条带状基底的抬升,且呈朝NE向逐渐变深的趋势.在中大陆架外侧,均衡残余重力异常呈V字形负异常条带状分布,其两翼分别与四夫人浅滩和弗拉姆浅滩外的大陆坡相连.该异常带在大陆架中部向陆的偏移可能是由于古大陆架边缘的地形影响,推测其与普里兹冲积扇同属于洋陆过渡带向陆的部分,在重力模拟剖面表现为地壳向海逐渐减薄.普里兹冲积扇的地壳厚度较薄,平均为6 km,最薄处可达4.6 km,并且根据洋陆过渡带向海端的位置,推测可能属于接近洋壳厚度的过渡壳.重力异常分区的走向与兰伯特地堑在普里兹湾的构造走向基本一致,可能主要反映了二叠纪-三叠纪超级地幔柱对普里兹湾的裂谷作用的影响.该区域的自由空间重力异常和均衡残余异常均表现为超过100×10^-5m/s²的高幅正异常特征,可能由位于大陆架边缘的巨厚沉积体负载在高强度岩石圈之上的区域挠曲均衡作用所导致,可能与该区域第二期裂谷期之后的沉积间断以及快速进积加厚的演化过程有关.普里兹湾磁力异常的走向与重力异常明显不同,大致可分为东北高幅正异常区和西南低幅异常区.重磁异常在走向上的差异反映高磁异常主要来源于岩浆作用形成的铁镁质火成岩的影响,并且岩浆作用的时代不同于基底隆升的时代,而可能形成于前寒武纪或者南极洲和印度板块裂谷期间(白垩纪).     

Magma movements in Etna volcano associated with the major 1991–1993 lava eruption: evidence from gravity and deformation

The 1991–1993 eruption was probably the largest on Mt. Etna for 300 years. Since then the volcano has entered an unusually quiescent period. A comprehensive record of gravity and ground deformation changes presented here bracket this eruption and give valuable insight into magma movements before, during and after the eruption. The gravity and deformation changes observed before the eruption (1990–1991) record the intrusion of magma into the summit feeder and the SSE-trending fracture system which had recently been active in 1978, 1979, 1983 and 1989, creating the feeder dyke for the 1991–1993 eruption. In the summit region gravity changes between 1992 and 1993 (spanning the end of the eruption) reflect the withdrawal of magma from the conduit followed more recently (1993–1994) by the re-filling of magma in the conduit up to pre-eruption levels. In contrast, in the vicinity of the fracture zone, gravity has remained at the 1991–1992 level, indicating that no withdrawal has occurred here. Rather, magma has solidified in the fracture system and sealed it such that the 1993–1994 increase in magma level in the conduit was not accompanied by further intrusion into the flanks. Mass calculations suggest that a volume of at least 10⁷ m³ of magma has solidified within the southeastern flank of the volcano.     

Marine geophysics along the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatan peninsula coastal area in Mexico

Marine geophysical studies were carried out along the coastal zone of Mexico in the Atlantic Ocean as part of CICAR and IDOE projects. An area of 200,000 km² was covered by two reconnaissance cruises and a more limited area by tracks for more detailed research. The 15,000 km of track lines include a collection of continuous seismic profiling, bathymetry, gravity and magnetic data.The analyses and correlation of results indicate some local structure features and their relationship to the Neo-volcanic zone and the salt dome belt in the Gulf of Mexico. On the Yucatan area the results show the interaction of continental and oceanic crust at the NW border of the Caribbean Plate.     

The relationship between vertical eddy diffusion and buoyancy gradient in the deep sea

Vertical eddy diffusivities (K_v's) have been estimated at fourteen widely separated locations from fourteen²²²Rn profiles and two²²⁸Ra profiles measured near the ocean floor as part of the Atlantic and Pacific GEOSECS programs. They show an inverse proportionality to the local buoyancy gradient [(g/?)(??_pot/?z)] calculated from hydrographic measurements. The negative of the constant of proportionality is the buoyancy flux [?K_v(g/?)(??_pot/?z)] which has a mean of ?4 × 10^?6 cm²/sec³. Our results suggest that the buoyancy flux varies very little near the ocean floor. K_v's for the interior of the deep Pacific calculated from the relationship K_v = (4 × 10^?6cm²/sec³)/[(g/?)(??_pot/?z)] agree well with published estimates. K_v's calculated for the pycnocline are one to two orders of magnitude smaller than upper limits estimated from tritium and⁷Be distributions.Heat fluxes calculated with the model K_v's obtained from the²²²Rn profiles average 31 μcal cm^?2 sec^?1 in the Atlantic Ocean and 8 μcal cm^?2 sec^?1 in the Pacific Ocean.     

Gravity compensation in the mantle beneath the neovolcanic zone of Iceland

An enormous component of isostatic compensation(～?430±40mgal) is provided by subcrustal material beneath the neovolcanic zone of Iceland. Previously published values for the component of gravity contributed by anomalous mantle material beneath this region range from ?250 to ?140 mgal. These values are only a partial indication of the magnitude of the compensation mechanism. If one takes into account constraints on crustal thickness from seismic refraction studies and compares Iceland to less active tectonic regions near by, one obtains a mantle gravity effect of approximately?430±40mgal, which for a simple slab model leads to a vertically integrated mass deficit per unit surface area of 10⁶ g/cm². The effects of thermal expansion, solid-solid phase transitions and partial fusion can provide significant contributions to the total mass deficiency; however, none of these mechanisms alone seems sufficient to account for the entire anomaly.The relation of this mass anomaly to the evolution of the Iceland-Faeroe ridge is considered by examining two extreme end-members of a suite of possible evolutionary models for this region. The first of these is the case where, in time, the 10⁶ g/cm² mass deficit will be resorbed into the mantle with the effects of chemical segregation playing a minor role. The second case, which is preferred, involves a significant redistribution of material from the mantle such that basaltic melt segregated from high levels in the mantle accumulates and crystallizes in a zone at the base of the crust. In this latter model, if the Iceland-Faeroe ridge is considered to have evolved under a steady rate of magma production over the last 30–40 × 10⁶ years, then underplating of the crust may account for its increasing thickness as it matures from 8–10 km in the neovolcanic zone to a value of approximately 32 km for the Iceland-Faeroe ridge. If we assume a 10% increase in density upon crystallization, thickening of the crust by 22 km through underplating by magma accumulation leads to an increase in mass per unit surface area of 0.6 × 10⁶ g/cm², and accounts for approximately 60% of the total mass difference in the mantle between Iceland and the Iceland-Faeroe ridge.     

Geophysical imaging of buried volcanic structures within a continental back-arc basin: The Central Volcanic Region, North Island, New Zealand

Hidden beneath the ~ 2 km thick low-velocity volcaniclastics on the western margin of the Central Volcanic Region, North Island, New Zealand, are two structures that represent the early history of volcanic activity in a continental back-arc. These ~ 20 × 20 km structures, at Tokoroa and Mangakino, form an adjacent gravity high and low, respectively. Interpretations from seismic refraction arrivals and gravity modelling indicate the − 65 mgal Mangakino residual gravity anomaly can be modelled, in part, by two low-density bodies that reach depths of ~ 6.5 km, whereas the Tokoroa gravity anomaly is due to a higher density rock coming, at most, to within ~ 650 m of the surface. The Mangakino anomaly is interpreted to be due to the remnants of magma chambers that fed large ignimbrite eruptions from about 1.2 Ma. An andesite volcano or complex volcanic structure is the preferred interpretation for the Tokoroa gravity high. The size of the putative volcanic structure is comparable to the presently active Tongariro Volcanic Complex in the centre of North Island.