Active spreading and hydrothermalism in North Fiji Basin (SW Pacific). Results of Japanese French Cruise Kaiyo 87

The aim of the Japanese-French Kaiyo 87 cruise was the study of the spreading axis in the North Fiji Basin (SW Pacific). A Seabeam and geophysical survey allowed us to define the detailed structure of the active NS spreading axis between 16° and 22° S and its relationships with the left lateral motion of the North Fiji Fracture Zone. Between 21° S and 18°10′ S, the spreading axis trends NS. From 18°10 S to 16°40 S the orientation of the spreading axis changes from NS to 015°. North of 16°40′ S the spreading axis trends 160°. These two 015° and 160° branches converge with the left lateral North Fiji fracture zone around 16°40′ S to define an RRFZ triple junction. Water sampling, dredging and photo TV deep towing give new information concerning the hydrothermal activity along the spreading axis. The discovery of hydrothermal deposits associated with living communities confirms this activity.     

Plate boundaries and evolution of the Solomon Sea region

The Solomon Sea Plate was widely developed during late Oligocene, separating the proto-West Melanesian Arc from the proto-Trobriand Arc. Spreading in the Bismarck Sea and in the Woodlark Basin resulted from interaction between the Pacific and Australian Plates, specifically from the collision of the proto-West Melanesian Arc with north New Guinea, which occurred after arc reversal. This model explains the extensive Miocene, Pliocene, and Quaternary volcanism of the Papua New Guinea mainland as it related to southward subduction of the Trobriand Trough. Our interpreted plate motions are concordant with the geological evidence onshore and also with complex tectonic features in the Solomon Sea Basin Region.     

Formation of arcs and backarc basins inferred from the tectonic evolution of Southeast Asia since the Late Cretaceous

Results of the geological and geophysical surveys in the Daito ridges and basin in the northern West Philippine Basin suggest that the Daito Ridge was an arc facing toward the south from the Late Cretaceous to the Early Tertiary. The Late Cretaceous and Tertiary history of Southeast Asia is evaluated based on these data in the Daito ridges and basins and reconstructed based on overall plate kinematics that have operated in this area. During the Late Cretaceous, the Daito Ridge and the East Philippine Islands were positioned along the boundary between the Indian and Pacific Plates. The western half of the Philippines setting on the Indian Plate approached from the south and collided with the East Philippine–Daito Arc either during the latest Paleocene or the earliest Eocene. It is inferred that the bulk of the Philippine archipelago rotated clockwise and Borneo spun counterclockwise during the Tertiary.From the reconstruction, the formation of backarc basins and their spreading direction are assessed. As a result, some primary causes and significant characteristics are suggested for the opening of backarc basins in Southeast Asia. First, opening of some backarc basins commenced with or was triggered by collisions. Second, backarc basins opened approximately parallel to oceanic plate motion. Third, the formation of some backarc basins was triggered by the approach of a hot spreading center. Fourth, the spreading mode or direction of backarc basins was greatly affected by the configuration of the surrounding continent and was also rearranged to spread approximately parallel to oceanic plate motion.The formation of backarc basins and their spreading direction can be reasonably explained by plate kinematics. However, the generative force responsible for their formation is possibly within the subduction system, particularly to form horizontal tensional force in backarc side.     

A multi-national,multi-parameter marine study of the Western Solomon Sea and region—Part II

In 1983–84, a cooperative geological/geophysical program was carried out in the western Solomon Sea and northeastern Bismarck Sea on the Japanese vesselNatsushima. Scientists representing Japan, Australia, Papua New Guinea, and the regional marine geoscience organization CCOP/SOPAC participated in the study. The first papers were published inGeo-Marine Letters, Volume 6, No. 4. This issue, containing six papers, is the second on the results of that work and the final of the special issues on the Western Solomon Sea and Region.     

Incipient subduction and deduction along the eastern margin of the Japan Sea

The eastern margin of the Japan Sea has been under convergent tectonics since sometime after the Pliocene. The suture line is on the ocean-continent boundary between the Japan-Yamato Basins and the Tohoku (Northeast Japan) Arc. Incipient subduction, and obduction, of the oceanic and sub-oceanic crust are observed along the suture line with the occurrence of numerous N-S trending, fault-bounded ridges and troughs. Focal mechanism solutions of several compressional type earthquakes with magnitudes of M = 6.9 to 7.7 which have occurred along the zone are consistent with the observation of geological thrust faults. The convergent stresses in the Japan Sea may be due to India-Eurasia collision and its associated intra-plate or inter-microplate movements in East Asia. The eastward movement of the Amurian Plate causes Baikal extension along its western margin and the Japan Sea convergence along its eastern margin.     

Evidence for Absorption in NGC 1068

We present evidence that interstellar absorption is responsible for producing much of the complex morphology seen in the inner few arcseconds of NGC 1068. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

A multi-national, multi-parameter marine study of the western Solomon Sea and Region

A geological /geophysical survey of the western Solomon Sea and Manus Basin, northeastern Bismarck Sea, was carried out in 1983-84. The results of the survey and associated studies are reported in this issue and a later issue ofGeo-Marine Letters.     

Age of the Solomon Sea Basin from magnetic lineations

Magnetic anomalies measured in the central to western half of the Solomon Sea, when considered with other magnetic data, reveal the existence of linear patterns. Magnetic lineation anomaly models of the Cenozoic, 65 to 0 Ma, suggest that an age between 34 and 28 Ma and a half-rate spreading speed of 5.8 cm/yr for the northern flank of a former spreading center best fits our present magnetic data in the Solomon Sea Basin. Heat flow and bathymetry data support this preferred model.