Geophysical investigations over a segment of the Central Indian Ridge, Indian Ocean

 Swath bathymetric, gravity, and magnetic studies were carried out over a 55 km long segment of the Central Indian Ridge. The ridge is characterized by 12 to 15 km wide rift valley bounded by steep walls and prominent volcanic constructional ridges on either side of the central rift valley. A transform fault at 7°45′S displaces the ridge axis. A mantle Bouguer anomaly low of −14 mGals and shallowing of rift valley over the middle of the ridge segment indicate along axis crustal thickness variations. A poorly developed neovolcanic zone on the inner rift valley floor indicate dominance of tectonic extension. The off-axis volcanic ridgs suggest enhanced magmatic activity during the recent past. Received: 24 May 1996 / Rivision received: 13 January 1997     

中西太平洋海山形态类型与钴结壳资源分布关系

通过对中西太平洋海山形态剖面的山体高度、山顶直径、基底直径、山顶直径与基底直径之比、山体坡度、山体高度与基底直径比值六个参数多元统计分析,发现可以根据山体高度与基底直径的比值对海山形态类型进行分类:比值小于0.10的为平顶海山(Ⅰ类),大于0.10的为尖顶海山(Ⅱ类),对于等于0.10的海山需参考平坦度和山体坡度,平坦度大和山体坡度缓的为Ⅰ类,反之为Ⅱ类。西太平洋的麦哲伦海山区、马绍尔群岛基本以平顶海山为主,介于中西太平洋之间的威克—马尔库斯海山区和中太平洋海山区、莱恩群岛平顶海山与尖顶海山共同发育。对各种类型海山上钴结壳分布研究发现,无论是在尖顶海山还是在平顶海山,板状结壳均比较发育,但砾状结壳在平顶海山比在尖顶海山的发育。中太平洋尖顶海山的结壳比平顶海山的发育,但由于山顶面积小,钴结壳资源量不大。仅从平顶海山看,在麦哲伦海山区、威克—马尔库斯海山区板状结壳比中太平洋海山区、马绍尔群岛、莱恩群岛的板状结壳发育,前者的板状结壳平均厚度大于3 cm,后者的板状结壳平均厚度小于3 cm,总体上是西太平洋平顶海山钴结壳比中太平洋平顶海山的发育。两种类型海山各方向上的资源分布明显不同,在平顶海山的西部山坡的资源比东部山坡的丰富,尖顶海山的则刚好相反。     

Sediment provenance and turbidity current processes at the Lametini Seamounts and Stromboli Canyon, SE Tyrrhenian Sea

 Sedimentary processes related to turbidity current interaction with bathymetric obstacles were studied in the area of the Lametini Seamounts and Stromboli Canyon. Four types of turbidite were identified on the basis of their compositional and sedimentological characteristics, and they were interpreted in terms of provenance, transport, and depositional processes. At the bend of the Stromboli Canyon, south of the Lametini Seamounts, the fine fraction of large turbidity currents can spill over and either (1) expand within the canyon embayment; (2) cross the saddle that divides the two volcanic cones of the Lametini Seamounts; or (3) be reflected by the steep slopes of the seamounts.     

南极罗斯海重力场特征及莫霍面深度反演

本文基于中国南极考察第30航次、第32航次所获得的实测重力资料,结合NGDC资料,开展12个航次重力场数据的平差融合工作,全部386个交点平差后标准差减小为±1.53×10−5 m/s2,与卫星重力差值平均值为1.49×10−5 m/s2,均方差为±3.81×10−5 m/s2,并在此基础上采用频率域界面反演法计算莫霍面深度。研究发现,与沉积盆地对应重力异常低值相悖,在罗斯海北部盆地、维多利亚地盆地、中央海槽、东部盆地4个主要盆地腹地却表现为重力异常高值,跨度达100 km以上。莫霍面深度分布整体呈南深北浅之势,范围为10~28 km。伴随着罗斯海西部盆地的多次拉张及岩浆活动,该区域的地壳厚度和莫霍面深度高值和低值相间分布,并表现出越来越大的差异性。综合剖面结果表明,罗斯海重力异常值的长波长变化与莫霍面的起伏呈正相关关系,但是反演的莫霍面深度与区域重力场特征并非完全对应,所以岩浆底侵和地壳侵入仍不足以导致罗斯海盆地的重力异常或盆地几何形状。     

Magnetic expression of some major lineaments and Cretaceous quiet zone in the Bay of Bengal

 Magnetic data over the eastern continental margin of India and adjacent Bengal fan demarcate two major lineaments. A high amplitude N–S-trending lineation of the Cauvery offshore Basin corresponds to the offshore fragment of the 80°E lineament recorded onland. A N–S lineation of very high amplitude anomaly off Chilka lake considered as the possible northward extension of the 85°E ridge delineated, hitherto in Bengal Fan. A subdued magnetic anomaly zone is demarcated seaward of the continent–ocean boundary (COB) in the Bengal Fan. Over the northern Bengal Fan this zone is delineated east of 85°E lineation. This quiet zone might have evolved during the Early Cretaceous period of normal magnetic polarity between M0 and 34 (120–84 Ma) anomalies. Received: 6 April 1995 / Revision received: 3 September 1996     

Crustal analysis of the Ulleung Basin in the East Sea (Japan Sea) from enhanced gravity mapping

To facilitate geological analyses of the Ulleung Basin in the East Sea (Japan Sea) between Korea and Japan, shipborne and satellite altimetry-derived gravity data are combined to derive a regionally coherent anomaly field. The 2-min gridded satellite altimetry-based gravity predicted by Sandwell and Smith [Sandwell DT, Smith WHF (1997) J Geophys Res 102(B5):10,039–10,054] are used for making cross-over adjustments that reduce the errors between track segments and at the cross-over points of shipborne gravity profiles. Relative to the regionally more homogeneous satellite gravity anomalies, the longer wavelength components of the shipborne anomalies are significantly improved with minimal distortion of their shorter wavelength components. The resulting free-air gravity anomaly map yields a more coherent integration of short and long wavelength anomalies compared to that obtained from either the shipborne or satellite data sets separately. The derived free-air anomalies range over about 140 mGals or more in amplitude and regionally correspond with bathymetric undulations in the Ulleung Basin. The gravity lows and highs along the basin’s margin indicate the transition from continental to oceanic crust. However, in the northeastern and central Ulleung Basin, the negative regional correlation between the central gravity high and bathymetric low suggests the presence of shallow denser mantle beneath thinned oceanic crust. A series of gravity highs mark seamounts or volcanic terranes from the Korean Plateau to Oki Island. Gravity modeling suggests underplating by mafic igneous rocks of the northwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin and the transition between continental and oceanic crust. The crust of the central Ulleung Basin is about a 14–15 km thick with a 4–5 km thick sediment cover. It may also include a relatively weakly developed buried fossil spreading ridge with approximately 2 km of relief.     

13C isotope depletion in ikaite crystals: evidence for methane release from the Siberian shelves ?

 Ikaite crystals (CaCO₃×6H₂O) have been found at 232- to 238-cm sediment depth in R/V Polarstern core PS2460-4 from the Laptev Sea continental margin in a water depth of 204 m. δ¹³C values of this phase average −36.3±0.4‰ PDB (N=2), which is significantly outside the range of normal marine carbonates. The CO₂ involved in the precipitation of the ikaite is most probably derived from methane, which has extremely depleted ¹³C isotope values. Two possible sources of methane in these sediments are: (1) methanogenesis (decomposition of organic matter under anaerobic conditions); and (2) gas hydrates, which are known to occur in the Siberian shelf regions. Received: 20 March 1996 / Revision received: 22 July 1996     

Fluorescent sands for measurements of longshore transport rates: a case study from Praia de Faro in southern Portugal

 A field experiment was carried out on a mesotidal reflective beach to relate longshore sand transport rates to wave measurements in medium-energy conditions (H _rms =0.6 m; T _m =6.5 sec; α=20°). Dispersion of fluorescent sand tracers was analyzed using the spatial integration method (SIM). The measured sand transport rate was three times larger than the prediction computed using the longshore wave power approach, while the K factor was determined empirically as 2.32. The study concluded that there is a need to calibrate bulk longshore transport predictors before applying them to steep gradient slopes under plunging waves. Received: 16 May 1997 / Revision received: 20 November 1997     

Crustal structure and ocean–continent transition at marginal ridge: the Côte d’Ivoire–Ghana marginal ridge

 Crustal structure of the Co^te d’Ivoire–Ghana marginal ridge and its transition with oceanic lithosphere are deduced from multichannel seismic reflection, wide-angle seismic, and gravity data. The CIGMR is cut into rotated blocks and displays a crustal structure quite similar to that of the nearby northern Ivorian extensional basin. These results strongly support that the CIGMR represents an uplifted fragment of continental crust. Transition with the oceanic crust appears sharp; continental crustal thinning occurs over less than 5 km. We did not find evidence for underplating and/or contamination as anticipated from such a sharp contact between continental and oceanic crust. Received: 12 March 1995/Revision received: 2 July 1996     

An Interpretation of the Seafloor Spreading History of the West Enderby Basin between Initial Breakup of Gondwana and Anomaly C34

The seafloor spreading evolution in the Southern Indian Ocean is key to understanding the initial breakup of Gondwana. We summarize the structural lineaments deduced from the GEOSAT 10 Hz sampled raw altimetry data as well as satellite derived gravity anomaly map and the magnetic anomaly lineation trends from vector magnetic anomalies in the West Enderby Basin, the Southern Indian Ocean. The gravity anomaly maps by both Sandwell and Smith 1997, J. Geophys. Res. 102, 10039–10054 and 10 Hz raw altimeter data show almost the same general trends. However, curved structural trends, which turn from NNW–SSE in the south to NNE–SSW in the north, are detected only from gravity anomaly maps by 10 Hz raw altimeter data just to the east of Gunnerus Ridge. NNE–SSW structural trends and magnetic anomaly lineation trends that are perpendicular to them are observed between the Gunnerus Ridge and the Conrad Rise. To the west of Gunnerus Ridge, structural elements trend NNE–SSW and magnetic polarity changes are normal to them. In contrast, almost NNW–SSE structural trends and ENE–WSW magnetic polarity reversal strikes are dominant to the east of Gunnerus Ridge. Curved structural trends, which turn from WNW–ESE direction in the south to NNE–SSW direction in the west, and magnetic polarity reversal strikes that are almost perpendicular to them are observed just south of Conrad Rise. The magnetic polarity reversals may be parts of the Mesozoic magnetic anomaly sequence that formed along side of the structural lineaments before the long Cretaceous normal polarity superchron. Curved structural trends, detected only from gravity anomaly maps by 10 Hz raw altimeter data, most likely indicate slight changes in spreading direction from an initial NNW–SSE direction to NNE–SSW. Our results also suggest that these curved structural trends are fracture zones that formed during initial breakup of Gondwana.     

Stratal patterns in the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin off southeast Korea: sequence architecture controlled by back-arc tectonism

 Major variations in type and rate of tectonic movement in the southwestern margin of the Ulleung Basin coincide in time with changes in stratal patterns at succession boundaries, suggesting that the effect of tectonism was dominant for the development of sequence architecture. During the back-arc opening (16–12 Ma), the rise of relative sea level and the high rate of sediment supply gave rise to sequences with sigmoid progradational patterns. During the back-arc closing (12–6.5 Ma), fall- and rise-dominated relative sea-level fluctuations resulted in sequences with varying stratal patterns depending upon changes in deposition rate. The rise-dominated relative sea level has been prevalent during the later stage (6.5 Ma–Present) with low sedimentation rate. Received: 16 January 1996 / Revision received: 7 February 1997     

Flexure across a continent–ocean fracture zone: the northern Falkland/Malvinas Plateau, South Atlantic

 Bathymetry, satellite-derived gravity, and interpreted seismic reflection data across the northern Falkland/Malvinas Plateau fossil continent–ocean transform rim may record the degree of mechanical coupling across the boundary after ridge–transform intersection time. The rim comprises a broad microcontinental block in the east and a continental marginal fracture ridge 50–100 km wide elsewhere. Free-air gravity anomalies tentatively suggest that the fracture ridge is locked against oceanic elastic lithosphere both to the north (Argentine Basin) and south (Central Falkland Basin). Received: 18 January 1996 / Revision received: 25 March 1995     

Geoid height versus topography of the Northern Ninetyeast Ridge: implications on crustal compensation

In this paper we focused on understanding the isostatic compensation of the Ninetyeast Ridge in the overall context of the Bay of Bengal oceanic lithosphere and the interaction of the ridge system with the north Andaman subduction zone from north of 7–18°N. This region is characterized by the initial interaction of the Kerguelen hotspot with the Bay of Bengal oceanic lithosphere. We used satellite altimeter-derived marine geoid, as it should comprehensively reflect the compensations caused by large spatial wavelength dominated deeper anomaly sources in a hotspot affected lithospheric load like the Ninetyeast Ridge. Our analyses of the geoid-to-topography ratio (GTR), residual geoid, gravity-to-topographic kernel and upward continuation of anomalies show the existence of two different types of source compensation bodies beneath the northern (12–18°N) and southern (7–12°N) Ninetyeast Ridge. In the northern region, the geoid to topography ratio varies from 0.63 ± 0.05 to 0.44 ± 0.03, while in the southern region it ranges from 1.34 ± 0.09 to 1.31 ± 0.07 which resulted in a north to south increase in the apparent compensation depth from ~9 to 28 km. The presence of a shallow Moho, low GTR, broader gravity to topography kernel and the absence of a ridge anomaly from the mantle density dominated upward continued anomaly at z = 300 km indicates that at the northern segment the underplated low density crustal melt is the dominant isostatic compensating body. However, at the southern ridge segment the high GTR, strong gravity-to-topography kernel and the subsistence of the anomaly at long wavelengths, even at z = 300 km represents the existence of large volumes of hotspot related underplated dense material as the source of compensation. The proximity of the dense source compensating body of the southern Ninetyeast Ridge to the Andaman subduction zone affected the regional mantle driven density gradient flow, as observed from the z = 300 km continued gravity anomaly. The existence of a southern Ninetyeast Ridge in such a transpressional regime has caused the formation of a forearc sliver at its eastern flank, which is a major crustal deformational structure developed as a result of ridge-trench collision.     

Mineral chemistry, bulk composition and source of the ferromanganese nodules nuclei from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

 Nuclei of ferromanganese nodules from the Central Indian Ocean Basin show the presence of abundant plagioclase feldspars (1–3 mm diameter). They are identified as calcic plagioclase (peak at 3.20 Å). Plagioclase chemical composition (CaO 6.4–20.5%) shows a range of An 44–90%. The mineral chemistry, together with the bulk composition of the host nuclei, indicate that they are of basaltic composition. A possible source could be the numerous seamounts in this basinal area. Received: 4 October 1996 / Revision received: 28 April 1997     

Gravity effect of spreading ridges: comparison of 2D and spherical models

Because of its importance to many Earth science analyses, it is worth assessing whether gravity modelling can be simplified depending on the intended purpose and required precision. While it is obvious that large-scale gravity studies should account for the sphericity of the Earth, each case should be examined on its own merits. Demonstrations are useful for providing estimates of the errors in much simpler 2D modelling. The example of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge serves to compare “large” 2D and spherical 3D models. My model extends horizontally ±2,000 km (±18°) from the model profile across and along the straight ridge axis (along a great circle) and to a depth of 82 km across the axis. 3D modelling would generally be considered obligatory, but this is not clearly necessary from this study. The density structure is highly idealised, the asthenospheric uplift or lithosphere thinning is simplified. The Bouguer anomaly is fitted by least-squares for the density contrast, and the 2D–3D difference of the results is taken as the error. A lithosphere–asthenosphere density contrast of 86.56 kg/m³ was computed for the 2D model, and 84.14 kg/m³ for the spherical model. The difference is small, in the order of 3%, well within all the other uncertainties. My study shows that despite the significant sphericity of the structure, 2D models are well suited for such ridge studies, or generally for models with a laterally extended layered structure, and that spherical modelling can be applied discriminately.     

Machias Seamount,Western Samoa: Sediment remobilization,tectonic dismemberment and subduction of a guyot

Machias Seamount, located at 14°57′S, 172°14′W about 140 km south of Savaii, Western Samoa, rises to less than 700 m depth. This guyot is situated on the NE (seaward) flank of the Tonga Trench where depths reach 7,700 m. A SeaMARC II bathymetric and side-scan sonar survey shows that faults aligned parallel to the local strike of the Tonga Trench dissect the trench-facing half of the guyot. Faulting is largely confined to the interval within 35 km of the trench axis. Faults are absent and sediment flows are radially distributed on the NE-facing flank of the guyot. Sediment flow is pervasive on the trench-facing (SW) slope, but the pattern is not radial because the neo-tectonic fabric controls resedimentation.     

High-frequency near-bottom acoustic reflection signatures of hydrocarbon seeps on the Northern Gulf of Mexico continental slope

 Acoustic reflection signatures of four hydro-carbon seeps were classified using near-bottom 25-kHz echosounder profiles. Echo patterns were compared with ground-truth data obtained by submersible observations and shallow coring. Six echo types were distinguished: strong reflections from (1) exposed or (2) buried hard substrates, such as authigenic carbonate or gas hydrate; acoustic scattering in (3) unlayered or (4) layered sediments owing to gas, shells, or disseminated carbonates; (5) attenuation caused by gas; and (6) undisturbed sediments. Echo type distributions suggest that high spatial variability indicates a younger, vigorous seep, whereas extensive hard substrate implies an older, encrusted seep. Received: 29 May 1998 / Revision received: 7 October 1998     

Inferred gas hydrate on the Barents Sea shelf — a model for its formation and a volume estimate

 On the southwestern Barents Sea shelf, sediments containing gas hydrates that overlie free gas have been inferred from multichannel seismic data. The volume of suspected gas hydrate is tentatively estimated to about 1.9×10⁸ m³. The gas hydrate zone probably formed from thermogenic gas leaking from a deeper source. The hydrate zone may have thickened during the Neogene by including gas originally trapped as free gas below the hydrate following a significant downward migration of the isotherms caused by erosion and/or subsidence. Within the present oceanographic conditions, gas hydrate is suspected to be stable or slowly decomposing. Received: 20 December 1996 / Revision received: 20 August 1997     

Fission track study: heating and denudation of marginal ridge of the Ivory Coast–Ghana transform margin

 Six sandstone blocks sampled during dives along the southern slope of the Ivory Coast–Ghana continental margin have been studied using fission tracks in apatite and zircon. Measurements demonstrate that the rocks were heated above 120°C but below 390°C and cooled quickly. The ages of cooling recorded by the apatite crystals are 90 Ma in the western part of the margin, and 80–70 Ma in the central and eastern part. Heating is interpreted by the heat liberation due to the friction along the active transform fault and by the vicinity of an oceanic spreading center, which slipped along the margin. Cooling is interpreted by two stages of denudation due to minor faults and landslides produced by the increasing of the bathymetric step between the continental margin and the oceanic crust. Received: 12 April 1995 / Revision received: 20 December 1995     

Helium and oxygen isotope analyses of hydrothermal fluids from the East Pacific Rise between 17°S and 19°S

 Hydrothermal vent fields south of the Garret Fracture zone were sampled for the isotope composition of helium and oxygen ([¹⁸O]H₂O/[¹⁶OH₂O). The helium isotopes end-member (³He / ⁴He=8.3×R _a and [⁴He]≈1.2–2.4×10^-5 cm³ STP g^-1) is quite similar to other known hydrothermal sites pointing to the homogeneous helium composition of the upper mantle. The δ¹⁸O end-member value (δ¹⁸O≈0.5–0.6‰) confirms previous suggestions from other sites and from isotope modeling, that hydrothermal fluids are slightly enriched in ¹⁸O relative to the ocean as a result of water–rock interactions at high temperature. Received: 11 December 1995/Revision received: 20 December 1996