Continental rift evolution: From rift initiation to incipient break-up in the Main Ethiopian Rift, East Africa

The Main Ethiopian Rift is a key sector of the East African Rift System that connects the Afar depression, at Red Sea–Gulf of Aden junction, with the Turkana depression and Kenya Rift to the South. It is a magmatic rift that records all the different stages of rift evolution from rift initiation to break-up and incipient oceanic spreading: it is thus an ideal place to analyse the evolution of continental extension, the rupture of lithospheric plates and the dynamics by which distributed continental deformation is progressively focused at oceanic spreading centres.The first tectono-magmatic event related to the Tertiary rifting was the eruption of voluminous flood basalts that apparently occurred in a rather short time interval at around 30 Ma; strong plateau uplift, which resulted in the development of the Ethiopian and Somalian plateaus now surrounding the rift valley, has been suggested to have initiated contemporaneously or shortly after the extensive flood-basalt volcanism, although its exact timing remains controversial. Voluminous volcanism and uplift started prior to the main rifting phases, suggesting a mantle plume influence on the Tertiary deformation in East Africa. Different plume hypothesis have been suggested, with recent models indicating the existence of deep superplume originating at the core-mantle boundary beneath southern Africa, rising in a north–northeastward direction toward eastern Africa, and feeding multiple plume stems in the upper mantle. However, the existence of this whole-mantle feature and its possible connection with Tertiary rifting are highly debated.The main rifting phases started diachronously along the MER in the Mio-Pliocene; rift propagation was not a smooth process but rather a process with punctuated episodes of extension and relative quiescence. Rift location was most probably controlled by the reactivation of a lithospheric-scale pre-Cambrian weakness; the orientation of this weakness (roughly NE–SW) and the Late Pliocene (post 3.2 Ma)-recent extensional stress field generated by relative motion between Nubia and Somalia plates (roughly ESE–WNW) suggest that oblique rifting conditions have controlled rift evolution. However, it is still unclear if these kinematical boundary conditions have remained steady since the initial stages of rifting or the kinematics has changed during the Late Pliocene or at the Pliocene–Pleistocene boundary.Analysis of geological–geophysical data suggests that continental rifting in the MER evolved in two different phases. An early (Mio-Pliocene) continental rifting stage was characterised by displacement along large boundary faults, subsidence of rift depression with local development of deep (up to 5 km) asymmetric basins and diffuse magmatic activity. In this initial phase, magmatism encompassed the whole rift, with volcanic activity affecting the rift depression, the major boundary faults and limited portions of the rift shoulders (off-axis volcanism). Progressive extension led to the second (Pleistocene) rifting stage, characterised by a riftward narrowing of the volcano-tectonic activity. In this phase, the main boundary faults were deactivated and extensional deformation was accommodated by dense swarms of faults (Wonji segments) in the thinned rift depression. The progressive thinning of the continental lithosphere under constant, prolonged oblique rifting conditions controlled this migration of deformation, possibly in tandem with the weakening related to magmatic processes and/or a change in rift kinematics. Owing to the oblique rifting conditions, the fault swarms obliquely cut the rift floor and were characterised by a typical right-stepping arrangement. Ascending magmas were focused by the Wonji segments, with eruption of magmas at surface preferentially occurring along the oblique faults. As soon as the volcano-tectonic activity was localised within Wonji segments, a strong feedback between deformation and magmatism developed: the thinned lithosphere was strongly modified by the extensive magma intrusion and extension was facilitated and accommodated by a combination of magmatic intrusion, dyking and faulting. In these conditions, focused melt intrusion allows the rupture of the thick continental lithosphere and the magmatic segments act as incipient slow-spreading mid-ocean spreading centres sandwiched by continental lithosphere.Overall the above-described evolution of the MER (at least in its northernmost sector) documents a transition from fault-dominated rift morphology in the early stages of extension toward magma-assisted rifting during the final stages of continental break-up. A strong increase in coupling between deformation and magmatism with extension is documented, with magma intrusion and dyking playing a larger role than faulting in strain accommodation as rifting progresses to seafloor spreading.     

Architecture and early evolution of the Oslo Rift

A revised assessment of architecture and pre-rift fabric connections of the Oslo Rift has been undertaken and linked to a new appraisal of observations and data related to the initial phase of the rift evolution. In addition to half-graben segmentation, accommodation zones and transfer faults are readily identified in the linking sectors between the two main grabens and between graben segments. Axial flexures are proposed between facing half-grabens. The accommodation zones were generally sites of volcanism during rifting. Pre-rift tectonic structures played an influential role in the rift location and development. The deviant N-S axis of the Vestfold graben segment is viewed as related to pre-rift structural control through faults and shear zones. This area was probably a site of Proterozoic/Palaeozoic crustal and lithospheric attenuation.

Field evidence suggests that the rift started as a crustal sag with no apparent surface faulting in a flat and low-lying land at a time about 305–310 Ma. Volcanism, sub-surface sill intrusion and faulting started about simultaneously some time after the initial sag (300–305 Ma). Faulting and basaltic volcanism were initially localized to transfer faults along accommodation zones and a NNW-SSE transtensional zone along the eastern margin of the incipient Vestfold graben segment. This transtensional zone was probably created by right-lateral simple shear tracing pre-rift structures in response to a regional stress field with the tensional axis normal and the maximum compressional axis parallel to the NNE-SSW-trending rift axis.     

A model for the three-dimensional evolution of continental rift basins,north-east Africa

Large areas of north-east Africa were dominated by regional extension in the Late Phanerozoic. Widespread rifting occurred in the Late Jurassic, with regional extension culminating in the Cretaceous and resulting in the greatest areal extent and degree of interconnection of the west, central and north African rift systems. Basin reactivation continued in the Paleocene and Eocene and new rifts probably formed in the Red Sea and western Kenya. In the Oligocene and Early Miocene, rifts in Kenya, Ethiopia and the Red Sea linked and expanded to form the new east African rift system.This complex history of rifting resulted in failed rift basins with low to high strain geometries, a range of associated volcanism and varying degrees of interaction with older structures. One system, the Red Sea rift, has partially attained active seafloor spreading. From a comparison of these basins, a general model of three-dimensional rift evolution is proposed. Asymmetrical crustal geometries dominated the early phases of these basins, accompanied by low angle normal faulting that has been observed at least locally in outcrop. As rifting progressed, the original fault and basin forms were modified to produce larger, more through-going structures. Some basins were abandoned, others experienced reversals in regional dip and, in general, extension and subsidence became focused along narrower zones near the rift axes. The final transition to oceanic spreading was accomplished in the Red Sea by a change to high angle, planar normal faulting and diffuse dike injection, followed by the organization of an axial magma chamber.     

Petrochemistry of Cenozoic basalts and associated rocks in the Baikal rift zone

The main episode of Cenozoic volcanic activity occurred simultaneously with formation of the Sayan—Baikal uplift, before the rift depressions were initiated. Volcanism and rifting in this region have developed as independent processes, connected with each other only by an ultimate primary mantle energy source. The volcanic regions do not coincide with the rift depressions, except in the Tunka graben.Chemical features of the volcanics show that during the entire period of volcanic activity there was a complex alternation of basaltic lavas of alkaline, intermediate and tholeiitic composition. Both alkaline and subalkaline lavas are distributed over the entire volcanic region, excepting the Tunka depression where tholeiitic lavas are predominant. However, there is neither mineralogical nor chemical evidence for the existence of two separate magma types within the Baikal rift zone.Judging by the presence of high-pressure, lherzolitic megacrysts of clinopyroxene, and to a lesser extent titaniferous biotite and amphibole in alkaline basalts, variations of lava chemistry are connected with high-pressure fractionation of initial melts, which was more complete for sources outside the rift zone. The predominance of tholeiitic lavas in the Tunka depression is likely to have been caused by a higher degree of partial melting and quick ascent of magma to the surface, facilitated by a high geothermal gradient under the depression where crustal extension is taking place.     

松辽盆地裂谷期前火山岩与裂谷盆地关系及动力学过程

松辽盆地存在裂谷期前火山岩,之后上地壳脆性伸展发育半地堑裂谷盆地。裂谷期前火山岩近水平展布于基底之上,裂谷期,沉则分布于半地暂内,两者属于不同构造层。     

On relationships between the Baikal rift and ancient structures

The formation of young geological structures in Pribaikalye has frequently been controlled by structural anisotropy of the basement. Orientation of the stress field associated with rifting favoured a parallelism of rift structures with ancient dislocations, primarily of northeastern trend, but sometimes submeridional or sublatitudinal. The initiation of the Baikal rift along the boundary between the Siberian platform and the Sayan—Baikal fold belt was likely associated with recurrent renewal of activity of a deep-seated energy source under East Siberia.     

Relationships between Kuroko volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits, felsic volcanism, and island arc development in the northeast Honshu arc, Japan

The northeast (NE) Honshu arc was formed by three major volcano-tectonic events resulting from Late Cenozoic orogenic movement: continental margin volcanism (before 21?Ma), seafloor basaltic lava flows and subsequent bimodal volcanism accompanied by back-arc rifting (21 to 14?Ma), and felsic volcanism related to island arc uplift (12 to 2?Ma). Eight petrotectonic domains, parallel to the NE Honshu arc, were formed as a result of the eastward migration of volcanic activity with time. Major Kuroko volcanogenic massive sulfide (VMS) deposits are located within the eastern marginal rift zone (Kuroko rift) that formed in the final period of back-arc rifting (16 to 14?Ma). Volcanic activity in the NE Honshu arc is divided into six volcanic stages. The eruption volumes of volcanic rocks have gradually decreased from 4,600?km³ (per 1?my for a 200-km-long section along the arc) of basaltic lava flows in the back-arc spreading stage to 1,000?C2,000?km³ of bimodal hyaloclastites in the back-arc rift stage, and about 200?km³ of felsic pumice eruptions in the island arc stage. The Kuroko VMS deposits were formed at the time of abrupt decrease in the eruption volume and change in the mode of occurrence of the volcanic rocks during the final period of back-arc rifting. In the area of the Kuroko rift, felsic volcanism changed from aphyric or weakly plagioclase phyric (before 14?Ma), to quartz and plagioclase phyric with minor clinopyroxene (12 to 8?Ma), to hornblende phyric (after 8?Ma), and hornblende and biotite phyric (after 4?Ma). The Kuroko VMS deposits are closely related to the aphyric rhyolitic activity before 14?Ma. The rhyolite was generated at a relatively high temperature from a highly differentiated part of felsic magma seated at a relatively great depth and contains higher Nb, Ce, and Y contents than the post-Kuroko felsic volcanism. The Kuroko VMS deposits were formed within a specific tectonic setting, at a specific period, and associated with a particular volcanism of the arc evolution process. Therefore, detailed study of the evolutional process from rift opening to island arc tectonics is very important for the exploration of Kuroko-type VMS deposits.     

Style of active intraplate deformation from gravity and seismicity data: the Baikal Rift, Asia

To better understand how active deformation localizes within a continental plate in response to extensional and transtensional tectonics, a combined analysis of high-quality gravity (Bouguer anomaly) and seismicity data is presented consisting of about 35000 earthquakes recorded in the Baikal Rift Zone. This approach allows imaging of deformation patterns from the surface down to the Moho. A comparison is made with heat flow variations in order to assess the importance of lithospheric rheology in the style of extensional deformation. Three different rift sectors can be identified. The southwestern rift sector is characterized by strong gravity and topography contrasts marked by two major crustal faults and diffuse seismicity. Heat flow shows locally elevated values, correlated with recent volcanism and negative seismic P-velocity anomalies. Based on earthquake fault plane solutions and on previous stress field inversions, it is proposed that strain decoupling may occur in this area in response to wrench-compressional stress regime imposed by the India–Asia collision. The central sector is characterized by two major seismic belts; the southernmost one corresponds to a single, steeply dipping fault accommodating oblique extension; in the centre of lake Baikal, a second seismic belt is associated with several dip-slip faults and subcrustal thinning at the rift axis in response to orthogonal extension. The northern rift sector is characterized by a wide, low Bouguer anomaly which corresponds to a broad, high topographic dome and seismic belts and swarms. This topography can be explained by lithospheric buoyancy forces possibly linked to anomalous upper mantle. At a more detailed scale, no clear correlation appears between the surficial fault pattern and the gravity signal. As in other continental rifts, it appears that the lithospheric rheology influences extensional basins morphology. However, in the Baikal rift, the inherited structural fabric combined with stress field variations results in oblique rifting tectonics which seem to control the geometry of southern and northeastern rift basins.     

多幕裂陷盆地构造-沉积响应及陆丰凹陷实例分析

裂陷盆地常常经历了多层次、多周期的幕式沉降过程.若盆地的演化包括了两幕或以上的裂陷旋回,则称之为多暮裂陷盆地.多幕裂陷盆地构造演化特别是复杂的断裂发育特征及其活动方式引起国际地质学家广泛的关注.多幕次裂陷作用下断裂活动方式的转型,必然会导致物源水系、沉积物入口位置及砂体分散方式的系统性差异.前人研究表明,在第一暮裂陷或...     

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。     

Structural characteristics of the Suez rift margins

Field study of the Hadahid Block (the eastern margin of the central half-graben of the Suez rift) indicates two listric normal faults at its eastern and western boundaries, the rift-bounding fault and the Hadahid Fault, respectively. These faults were affected by two episodes of movement. The earlier movement (at the initial, Neogene rift opening) led to equal displacements on the two faults whereas the later movement (at the mid-Clysmic event, l7 Ma ago) caused the Hadahid Fault to bound the deep part of the central half-graben. A similar conclusion is also reached for the western margin of the southern half-graben of the rift (Esh El Mellaha and Zeit Blocks). The two listric faults bounding the margin blocks in these two oppositely tilted half-grabens (Hadahid and Esh El Mellaha Blocks) join at depth into a ramp-flat detachment. This geometry of the rift-bounding faults represents an intermediate stage in the evolution of rift basins. It is preceded by the early rifting stage where extension is less and oppositely tilted half-grabens are formed (e.g. the ancestral Red Sea-Gulf of Suez rift). Increased extension at later stages leads to the prevailance of one system of detachment instead of oppositely dipping detachments of adjacent half-grabens. The central and southern Red Sea have perhaps had this geometry before the onset of seafloor spreading.     

Chemical and Isotopic Characteristics of the Kuroko‐Forming Volcanism

The Miocene northeast Honshu magmatic arc, Japan, formed at a terrestrial continental margin via a stage of spreading in a back‐arc basin (23–17 Ma) followed by multiple stages of submarine rifting (19–13 Ma). The Kuroko deposits formed during this period, with most forming during the youngest rifting stage. The mode of magma eruption changed from submarine basalt lava flows during back‐arc basin spreading to submarine bimodal basalt lava flows and abundant rhyolitic effusive rocks during the rifting stage. The basalts produced during the stage of back‐arc basin spreading are geochemically similar to mid‐ocean ridge basalt, with a depleted Sr–Nd mantle source, whereas those produced during the rifting stage possess arc signatures with an enriched mantle source. The Nb/Zr ratios of the volcanic rocks show an increase over time, indicating a temporal increase in the fertility of the source. The Nb/Zr ratios are similar in basalts and rhyolites from a given rift zone, whereas the Nd isotopic compositions of the rhyolites are less radiogenic than those of the basalts. These data suggest that the rhyolites were derived from a basaltic magma via crystal fractionation and crustal assimilation. The rhyolites associated with the Kuroko deposits are aphyric and have higher concentrations of incompatible elements than do post‐Kuroko quartz‐phyric rhyolites. These observations suggest that the aphyric rhyolite magma was derived from a relatively deep magma chamber with strong fractional crystallization. Almost all of the Kuroko deposits formed in close temporal relation to the aphyric rhyolite indicating a genetic link between the Kuroko deposits and highly differentiated rhyolitic magma.     

Interaction of an antecedent fluvial system with early normal fault growth: Implications for syn‐rift stratigraphy,western Corinth rift (Greece)

Continental ‘overfilled’ conditions during rift initiation are conventionally explained as due to low creation of accommodation compared with sediment supply. Alternatively, sediment supply can be relatively high from the onset of rifting due to an antecedent drainage system. The alluvial Lower Group of the western Plio–Pleistocene Corinth rift is used to investigate the interaction of fluvial sedimentation with early rifting. This rift was obliquely superimposed on the Hellenide mountain belt from which it inherited a significant palaeorelief. Detailed sedimentary logging and mapping of the well‐exposed syn‐rift succession document the facies distributions, palaeocurrents and stratigraphic architecture. Magnetostratigraphy and biostratigraphy are used to date and correlate the alluvial succession across and between fault blocks. From 3·2 to 1·8 Ma, a transverse low sinuosity braided river system flowed north/north‐east to east across east–west‐striking active fault blocks (4 to 7 km in width). Deposits evolved downstream from coarse alluvial conglomerates to fine‐grained lacustrine deposits over 15 to 30 km. The length scale of facies belts is much greater than, and thus not directly controlled by, the width of the fault blocks. At its termination, the distributive river system built small, stacked deltas into a shallow lake margin. The presence of a major antecedent drainage system is supported by: (i) a single major sediment entry point; (ii) persistence of a main channel belt axis; (iii) downstream fining at the scale of the rift basin. The zones of maximum subsidence on individual faults are aligned with the persistent fluvial axis, suggesting that sediment supply influenced normal fault growth. Instead of low accommodation rate during the early rift phase, this study proposes that facies progradation can be controlled by continuous and high sediment supply from antecedent rivers.     

东南沿海及南海新生代火山作用与南海的形成演化

中国东南沿海地区和南海海域新生代火山岩系列、类型和SrNd同位素特征十分相似,具有板内玄武岩的特征。根据南海扩张时代,将新生代的火山岩划分为扩张期前、扩张期和扩张期后3大阶段,并利用原生岩浆推导了软流圈岩石圈的一些深部作用特征。扩张期前（接近扩张期）和扩张期软流圈顶部埋深较浅。从扩张期前（接近扩张期）到扩张期软流圈顶部埋深变浅,隙间熔浆增加,原生岩浆的演化具有前进式裂谷火山作用的演化序列,岩石圈扩张速率变大。从扩张期到扩张期后（直至第四纪）,软流圈顶部埋深逐渐变深,隙间熔浆减少,原生岩浆的演化表现出后退式裂谷火山作用的序列,岩石圈扩张速率逐渐变慢。新生代火山作用显示出的深部作用特征与南海的扩张和闭合一致,这为我们提供了南海形成和演化的深部作用证据。     

内蒙东部晚第四纪火山活动与新构造

本文所指的晚第四纪包括晚更新世和全新世。内蒙东部晚第四纪火山活动强烈,北起大兴安岭北部的鄂伦春诺敏河火山群、经阿尔山-柴河、锡林浩特-阿巴嘎火山群,南抵察右后旗乌兰哈达火山群,断续延伸约1000km,分布着约390余座大小不一、形态各异的火山,构成了内蒙东部壮观的北北东向第四纪火山喷发带。火山类型包括玛珥式、夏威夷式、斯通博利式、亚布里尼式和冰岛式,以斯通博利式最为发育。爆破式火山作用包括射汽、射汽-岩浆爆发和岩浆爆发。火山岩类型主要为碱性玄武岩及其火山碎屑物(岩),火山岩具初期裂谷构造属性。火山活动主体受北北东向基底断裂控制,但就具体火山群而言,又多处于北东和北西向基底深断裂交会处。区内新构造与火山活动密切相关,深部岩浆的上侵,可能是控制本区新构造活动的主因。尤其是全新世火山的空间展布,显示了内蒙东部新构造的活动性。     

论博格达俯冲撕裂型裂谷的形成与演化

博格达裂谷带位于准噶尔与吐－哈两个前寒武纪地块之间,呈东－西走向,东端与克拉麦里－哈尔里克泥盆－石炭纪火山弧呈大角度相交。该 裂谷于早－中石炭世启动和沉降,在盆地中堆积了巨厚的陆源碎屑岩夹双峰式火山岩。裂谷的闭合发生于中石炭世末至晚石炭世。在裂谷闭合后区域构造由挤压向拉张的转折时期,发生了以辉绿岩为主的侵入活动,并伴有少量中－酸性分异产物。博格达裂谷东、西两段的演化特征有着显著差异。东段早石炭世就已开始裂离,裂离过程的火山岩以玄武岩为主,仅有少量流纹岩,裂谷盆地强烈沉降,形成深海－半深海环境,裂谷在中石炭世末至晚石炭世初即已闭合,裂谷岩系因强烈褶皱,与上覆二叠系呈明显角度不整合,显示了“突变”式闭合特征。与此不同的是,西段至中石炭世才开始明显裂离,裂离过程的火山岩以英安岩和流纹岩为主,玄武岩量较少,火山－沉积岩系均形成于浅海环境,裂谷至晚石炭世末才发生闭合,裂谷岩系因未发生强烈褶皱,故与上覆二叠系为平行不整合接触,显示了“渐变”式闭合特征。该裂谷的形成是古亚洲洋壳向先存的准－吐－哈陆块斜向俯冲,将其东南端撕裂的产物,因而可称为俯冲撕裂型裂谷。演化过程沿走向的明显不均一性是这类裂谷的重要特点。     

An approach of understanding acid volcanics and tuffaceous volcaniclastics from field studies: A case from Tadpatri Formation,Proterozoic Cuddapah basin,Andhra Pradesh,India

The lower stratigraphic part of the Cuddapah basin is marked by mafic and felsic volcanism. Tadpatri Formation consists of a greater variety of rock types due to bimodal volcanism in the upper part. Presence of bimodal volcanism is an indication of continental rift setting. Various genetic processes involved in the formation of such volcanic sequence result in original textures which are classified into volcaniclastic and coherent categories. Detailed and systematic field works in Tadpatri–Tonduru transect of SW Cuddapah basin have provided information on the physical processes producing this diversity of rock types. Felsic volcanism is manifested here with features as finger print of past rhyolite-dacite eruptions. Acid volcanics, tuffs and associated shale of Tadpatri Formation are studied and mapped in the field. With supporting subordinate studies on geochemistry, mineralogy and petrogenesis of the volcanics to validate field features accurately, it is understood that volcanism was associated with rifting and shallow marine environmental condition. Four facies (i.e., surge, flow, fall and resedimented volcaniclastic) are demarcated to describe stratigraphic units and volcanic history of the mapped area. The present contribution focuses on the fundamental characterization and categorization of field-based features diagnostic of silica-rich volcanic activities in the Tadpatri Formation.     

藏西北黑石北湖一带新近纪火山岩的特征及构造意义

青藏高原西北部黑石北湖一带发育的橄榄安粗岩系列火山岩具有由早到晚从基性到中性连续演化的特征，3期火山活动期次分明，以中心式喷发为主，K-Ar年龄分别为9．23Ma、3．19Ma和3Ma。该火山岩的稀土元素、微量元素、同位素组成特征与藏北其他地区的新生代火山岩基本相近。火山活动为新构造活动的响应，受控于青藏高原隆升过程中产生的走滑断裂。     

Shallow necking depth and differential denudation linked to post‐rift continental reactivation: The origin of the Cenozoic basins in southeastern Brazil

The southeastern Brazilian margin presents post‐breakup Cenozoic tectonism that created a series of grabens and small sedimentary basins, known as the Continental Rift of Southeastern Brazil. The formation of this rift occurred long after the South Atlantic ocean opening and has been attributed to different mechanisms like regional uplift induced by hotspot activity, pulses of Andean orogeny and reactivation of pre‐existing faults. However, the proposed models lack an analytical or numerical verification from a geodynamic point of view. Based on finite element modelling of the lithospheric stress field evolution we conclude that a shallow necking depth, consistent with the hyperextended southeastern Brazilian margin, combined with differential denudation of the continent, resulted in an extensional stress field in the upper crust that induced the observed Cenozoic tectonism.     

Volcanic and Tectonic Framework of the Hydrothermal Activity of the Izu–Bonin Arc

In the Izu–Bonin Arc, hydrothermal activities have been reported from volcanoes along present‐day volcanic front, a rear arc volcano and a back‐arc rift basin as well as a remnant arc structure now isolated from the Quaternary arc. It is widely known that characteristics of hydrothermal activity (mineralogy, chemistry of fluid etc.) vary depending upon its tectonic setting. The Izu–Bonin Arc has experienced repeated back‐arc or intra‐arc rifting and spreading and resumption of arc volcanism. These characteristics make this arc system a suitable place to study the tectonic control on hydrothermal activity. The purpose of the present paper is, therefore, to summarize volcanotectonic setting and history of the Izu–Bonin Arc in relation to the hydrothermal activity. The volcanotectonic history of the Izu–Bonin Arc can be divided into five stages: (i) first arc volcanism (boninite, high‐Mg andesite), 48–46 Ma; (ii) second arc volcanism (tholeiitic, calc‐alkaline), 44–29 Ma; (iii) first spreading of back‐arc basin (Shikoku Basin), 25–15 Ma; (iv) third arc volcanism (tholeiitic, calc‐alkaline), 13–3 Ma; and (v) rifting in the back‐arc and tholeiitic volcanism along the volcanic front, 3–0 Ma. Magmas erupted in each stage of arc evolution show different chemical characteristics from each other, mainly due to the change in composition of slab‐derived component and possibly mantle depletion caused by melt extraction during back‐arc spreading and prolonged arc volcanism. In the volcanotectonic context summarized here, hydrothermal activity recognized in the Izu–Bonin Arc can be classified into four groups: (i) present‐day hydrothermal activity at the volcanic front; (ii) active hydrothermal activity in the back arc; (iii) fossil hydrothermal activity in the back‐arc volcanoes; and (iv) fossil hydrothermal activity in the remnant arc. Currently hydrothermal activities occur in three different settings: submarine caldera and stratocones along the volcanic front; a back‐arc rift basin; and a rear arc caldera. In contrast, hydrothermal activities found in the back‐arc seamount chains were associated with rear arc volcanism in Neogene after cessation of back‐arc spreading of the Shikoku Basin. Finally, sulfide mineralization associated with boninitic volcanism in the Eocene presumably took place during forearc spreading in the initial stage of the arc. This type of activity appears to be limited during this stage of arc evolution.