Oblique rifting in the Havre Trough and its propagation into the continental margin of New Zealand: Comparison with analogue experiments

The Havre Trough is opening by oblique back-arc rifting which is propagating into the continental margin of New Zealand at the Taupo Volcanic Zone. Variations of deformational style along the rift axis have been investigated by comparison with analogue experiments which incorporate brittle and ductile rheologies and are scaled for gravity. Based on the results of the analogue experiments, we present a tectonic model for oblique rifting in the Havre Trough, which involves the rheological contrast between oceanic and continental lithosphere and the oblique geometry of the continental margin of New Zealand with respect to the regional rift trend. The model shows that the continental margin, which is weaker than both oceanic and continental lithosphere, cannot support large shear stresses. The two lithospheres can be decoupled during extensional events along the marginal shear and, depending on the continental margin orientation, this shear can modify the regional stress field. A heterogeneous stress field will rotate normal stresses to be perpendicular or parallel to the margin. As the two lithospheres decouple during extension, the rift grabens and internal faults of the oblique rift system propagate normal to the marginal shear. This model explains the oblique trend of the Havre Trough's tectonic fabric and its relationships to the Vening Meinesz Fracture Zone which represents the oceanic/continental lithospheric boundary.As the Havre Trough rift propagates into the continental margin, rheological differences between oceanic and continental lithosphere result in variations in distribution of strain along the rift axis. Extension of oceanic sub-arc lithosphere is localized into a single rift graben. At the transition into continental rifting, the zone of extension widens into a number of rift grabens forming complex indentations into the margin. This change in deformation style is consistent with analogue experiments as well as other natural examples and results from the contrast in lithospheric rheology and its influence on the process of strain localization.     

Back-arc rifting in the Okinawa Trough

Geological and geophysical data reveal that the Okinawa Trough shows incipient continental rifting, and crustal separation started from about 2 Ma. The early extensional movements in the trough are probably of Miocene age. In addition to the Miocene phase, two main periods of extension are recognized: a Pleistocene phase between 1.9 and 0.5 Ma and the present day phase. During the stage short central rifts (Central Grabens) were formed. The opening however, may have occurred only in the southern part of the trough basin having an average half spreading rate of 2 cm yr^?1 since Early Pleistocene time, producing its present width of several tens of kilometres. These activities were well represented by igneous intrusions, sedimentary facies and sedimentary structures in and around the Okinawa Trough. The width of the zone affected by back-arc extension (defined as Greater Okinawa Trough) is larger than the present Okinawa Trough, whose width is 200–250 km. The present form of the Greater Okinawa Trough started to form at the same time as that of the Okinawa Trough.     

Circulation in the southwestern part of the Kara Sea in September 2007

During cruise 54 of the R/V Akademik Mstislav Keldysh to the southwestern Kara Sea (September 6 to October 7, 2007), a large amount of hydrophysical data with unique spatial resolution was obtained on the basis of measurements using different instruments. The analysis of the data gave us the possibility to study the dynamics and hydrological structure of the southwestern Kara Sea basin. The main elements of the general circulation are the following: the Yamal Current, the Eastern Novaya Zemlya Current, and the St. Anna Trough Current. All these currents are topographically controlled; they flow over the bottom slopes along the isobaths. The Yamal Current begins at the Kara Gates Strait and turns to the east as part of the cyclonic circulation. Then, it turns to the north and propagates along the Yamal coast over the 100-m isobath. The Eastern Novaya Zemlya Current (its core is located over the eastern slope of the Novaya Zemlya Trough) flows to the northeast. Near the northern edge of Novaya Zemlya, it encounters the St. Anna Trough Current, separates from the coast, and flows practically to the east merging with the continuation of the Yamal Current. A strong frontal zone is formed in the region where the two currents merge above the threshold that separates the St. Anna Trough from the Novaya Zemlya Trough and divides the warm and saline Arctic waters from the cooler and fresher waters of the southwestern part of the Kara Sea. This threshold, whose depth does not exceed 100–150 m, is a barrier that prevents the spreading of the Barents Sea and Arctic waters to the southwestern part of the Kara Sea basin through the St. Anna Trough.     

Spatial structures of hydrothermal vents and vent-associated megafauna in the back-arc basin system of the Okinawa Trough,western Pacific

Spatial patterns and morphology of hydrothermal vents and the occurrence of vent-associated megafauna were investigated in the back-arc basin system of the Okinawa Trough, western Pacific. Amongst hydrothermal vent fields located on the rising slopes to the NE and S of the basin, the Iheya North area has been subjected to a series of intensive diving surveys. Hydrothermal vents demonstrated concentrated patterns of distribution on different spatial scales. In Iheya North, the majority of vents occurred in lines parallel to the NE to W/SW alignment of the spreading axis, within a radius of ca. 200 m around the most active sulphide structure with the highest recorded fluid temperature of over 300°C. The morphology of hydrothermal vents varied greatly from an incipient flat rock with crevices to a 20- to 30-m-tall, multi-flanged structure with concomitant variation in the distribution and abundance of vent-associated megafauna, particularly a galatheid Shinkaia crosnieri and Bathymodiolus mussels. Comparison of active and inactive vents revealed that the spatial extent of Shinkaia ‘aggregation’ (a group of individuals with short nearest-neighbour distances) effectively defined a habitat unit of this species, and active hydrothermal chimneys contained more of these units, leading to greater spatial occupancy by Shinkaia. Given the temporally unstable nature of vent structures as recognised by repeated surveys, vent assemblages are thought to be closely dictated by the spatio-temporal dynamics of vents in the Okinawa Trough back-arc system.     

Precipitation of authigenic uranium in suboxic continental margin sediments from the Okinawa Trough

Concentrations of U and Th isotopes in Okinawa Trough and East China Sea sediment cores were determined by isotope dilution inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ID-ICP-MS) to investigate the behavior of redox sensitive uranium in suboxic hemipelagic sediments and determine their significance in oceanic uranium balance. ²³⁸U concentrations and ²³⁸U/²³²Th activity ratios in the East China Sea sediments showed no remarkable variation with depth. However, ²³⁸U and ²³⁸U/²³²Th ratios in the Okinawa Trough sediments were low in the surface oxidizing layer but increased where the suboxic condition was encountered. The distribution profiles of ²³⁰Th and ²³²Th concentrations were relatively constant with depth in both the Okinawa Trough and East China Sea sediment cores. These results suggested that there has been post-depositional precipitation of authigenic uranium within the suboxic Okinawa Trough sediment column. The post-depositional precipitation rates of authigenic uranium were estimated to be 47 ± 5 to >62 ± 8 ng cm⁻² yr⁻¹; these rates were comparable to those previously reported for several anoxic sediments. A mechanism controlling precipitation of uranium may be the downward diffusion of uranium U(VI), reduction to U(IV) and finally precipitation onto the solid phase. The accumulation rate of uranium for the Okinawa Trough sediments was approximately eight times higher than the world average rate reported for suboxic sediments. This removal of uranium in the oceanic budget increases the importance of the suboxic sediment sink.     

马里亚纳海槽扩张轴(中心)玄武岩铂族元素特征

马里亚纳海槽扩张轴中心玄武岩铂族元素(PGE)总量变化范围为0.418×10-9~1.022×10-9,其原始地幔标准化配分模式呈正倾斜型,表现出PPGE(包括Pt,Pd,Rh)和金的相对富集.与其他幔源岩石相比,该区玄武岩PGE总量较低,(Pd/Ir)N,(Pd/Pt)N,(Pd/Ru)N变化较大,表现出铂、铱的相对亏损和明显的铂负异常(Pt/Pt*=0.01~0.15).PGE的分布特征一方面反映了该区地幔熔融度不高,另一方面,大离子亲石元素LILE(铷、锶、钾等)、铅和轻稀土LREE略富集,暗示扩张中心之下的软流圈地幔源受到了岛弧地幔的混染.上述特征反映了马里亚纳海槽玄武岩是MORB型与岛弧型地幔源不同程度混合后部分融熔的产物.     

Linear magnetic anomalies and tectonic development of the middle Okinawa Trough

ＩＮＴＲＯＤＵＣＴＩＯＮＴｈｅＯｋｉｎａｗａＴｒｏｕｇｈ (ＯＴ) ,ｌｏｃａｔｅｄｎｏｒｔｈｗｅｓｔｏｆｔｈｅＲｙｕｋｙｕＴｒｅｎｃｈａｎｄｔｈｅＲｙｕｋｙｕｇｕｎｔｏ ,ｅａｓｔｏｆｔｈｅＥａｓｔＣｈｉｎａＳｅａｓｈｅｌｆ,ｉｓａｂａｃｋ ａｒｃｂａｓｉｎｂｕｌｇｅｄｔｏｔｈｅＲｙｕｋｙｕＴｒｅｎｃｈ .ＴｈｅＯＴｅｘｔｅｎｄｓｆｒｏｍＫｙｕｓｈｕｉｎｔｈｅｓｏｕｔｈｗｅｓｔｏｆＪａｐａｎｔｏｔｈｅＩｌａｎＰｌａｉｎｉｎｔｈｅｎｏｒｔｈｅａｓｔｅｒｎＴａｉｗａｎ ,Ｃｈｉｎａｉｎｔｈｅｓｏｕｔｈｗｅｓｔ…     

Deep structure of the US East Coast passive margin from large aperture seismic experiments (LASE)

Multiple ship multichannel seismic measurements in the Baltimore Canyon Trough reveal a deep crustal layer with p-wave velocity of 7.2 km s⁻¹. It apparently continues into oceanic layer 3 from beneath the inner shelf where it presumably underlies the continental basement. The layer may be plutonically solidified mantle melt. Its continuity from continental shelf to deep ocean basin may reflect a continuous progression between plutonic emplacement into the continental crust and plutonic construction of the lower oceanic crust. The deep magmatic expression of late stage continental rifting and early seafloor spreading may be very similar and blur the structural expression of the continent-ocean boundary.     

Morphology and Evolution of the Remnant Colville and Active Kermadec Arc Ridges South of 33°30′ S

Swath MR1 data from the remnant Colville and active Kermadec arc margins, south of 33°30 S (SW Pacific), record the structural morphology and evolution of the rifted, and now separate portions, of the proto-Colville–Kermadec arc flanking the actively widening southern Havre Trough back-arc basin associated with Pacific-Australian plate convergence. Both the remnant Colville and active Kermadec arc margins comprise opposing, asymmetric, partially basement exposed, segmented ridges. Differences in morphology between the two ridges are, however, observed. The single, near linear, border fault system, with relief of 1000 m, along the western edge of the Kermadec margin is interpreted to be the exposed fault escarpment of a major, west-dipping, detachment fault. In contrast, two major zig-zag border fault systems along the eastern edge of the Colville Ridge, bounding a back-tilted ridge flank terrace, are interpreted as major antithetic faults between the remnant arc and back-arc region. This contrast in structural morphology coincides with, respectively, lesser and greater degrees of both active tectonism and channel-canyon erosion, on the remnant Colville and active Kermadec margins. These differences are interpreted to reflect the progressive trenchward collapse and associated greater rift flank uplift and incisive erosion of the Kermadec foot-wall contrasting with the non-collapse and relatively lesser rift flank uplift and ridge erosion of the Colville hanging-wall. The data provide further constraints on the early evolution of the Havre Trough in particular, and back-arc basins in general.     

热液活动区数目和洋脊扩张速率的关系及其在冲绳海槽的应用

根据11段洋脊上已经公布的热液活动区数目和扩张速率,建立了洋脊扩张速率和热液活动区数目之间的关系,发现洋脊的扩张速率越高,其上发育的热液活动区数目就越多。两者之间可用一个线性关系式来描述:Ph=0.000 199 294 89Us-0.000 625 479 19,其中,Us为洋脊的扩张速率(mm/a),Ph为单位洋脊上热液活动区的数目(个/km)。依据上述关系,在已知洋脊扩张速率的情况下可以预测洋脊上热液活动区的数目。冲绳海槽前期的扩张(拉张)速率很低,一般为15 mm/a左右。根据地震剖面计算了冲绳海槽现代扩张速率约为42 mm/a。总体上,冲绳海槽直到目前仍为一个低速扩张(拉张)的孤后盆地,但扩张(拉张)速率有明显加快的趋势,所得到的关系式能够较好地符合冲绳海槽的情况,这一方面验证了给出的热液活动区数目和扩张速率之间关系的合理性,另一方面也说明我们对冲绳海槽近期扩张(拉张)速率讨论的合理性。根据在冲绳海槽的应用结果,我们预测冲绳海槽仍然存在尚未查明的热液活动区。     

Bottom currents in Nankai Trough and Sagami Trough

Mean flows and velocity fluctuations are described from direct measurements of bottom currents made at three stations across Nankai Trough and two stations in Sagami Trough from May 1982 to May 1984. Aanderaa current meters were moored 7 m above the bottom. The observed mean flows indicate a counter-clockwise circulation in Nankai Trough with current speeds of 0.9–2.1 cm sec^–1. The mean flows were larger on the slopes than on the flat bottom of the trough. The mean flows observed in Sagami Trough show an inflow into Sagami Bay which is considered to be a part of the Oyashio undercurrent from the north that flows along the eastern coast of Honshu. Velocity fluctuations with periods greater than 100 hr were less energetic in the troughs than those at a station west of Hachijo-jima Island. A highly energetic fluctuation with a period of 66.7 hr was observed on the northern slope of Sagami Trough in the velocity component parallel to the trough axis. A maximum current speed of 49 cm sec^–1 was observed in Sagami Trough.This study was sponsored by the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan.     

Okinawa Trough genesis: structure and evolution of a backarc basin developed in a continent

The Okinawa marginal basin was opened by crustal extension into the Asian continent, north of the Taiwan collision zone. It is located behind the Ryukyu Trench subduction zone and the Ryukyu active volcanic arc. If we except the Andaman Sea, the Okinawa Trough is the only example of marginal backarc basin type, opened into a continent at an early stage of evolution. Active rifting and spreading can be observed. Synthesis of siesmic reflection, seismic refraction, drilling, dredging and geological field data has resulted in interpretative geological cross sections and a structural map of the Ryukyu-Okinawa area. The main conclusions of the reconstruction of this backarc basin/volcanic arc evolution are. (1) Backarc rifting was initiated in the volcanic arc and propagated along it during the Neogene. It is still active at both ends of the basin. Remnants of volcanic arc are found on the continental side of the basin. (2) There was synchronism between opening and subsidence of the Okinawa Trough and tilting and subsidence of the forearc terrace. The late Miocene erosional surface is now 4000 m below sea-level in the forearc terrace, above the trench slope. Retreat and subsidence of the Ryukyu trench line relative to the Asian continental plate, could be one of the causes of tilting of the forearc and extension in the backarc area. (3) A major phase of crustal spreading occurred in Pliocene times 1.9 My ago in the south and central Okinawa Trough. (4) En échelon rifting and spreading structures of the central axes of the Okinawa Trough are oblique to the general trend of the arc and trench. The Ryukyu arc sub-plate cannot be considered as a rigid plate. Rotation of 45° to 50° of the southern Ryukyu arc, since the late Miocene, is inferred. The timing and kinematic evolution of the Taiwan collision and the south Okinawa Trough opening suggest a connection between these two events. The indentation process due to the collision of the north Luzon Arc with the China margin could have provoked: lateral extrusion; clockwise rotation (45° to 50° according to palaeomagnetic data) and buckling of the south Ryukyu non-volcanic arc; tension in the weak crustal zone constituted by the south Ryukyu volcanic arc and opening of the south Okinawa Trough. Similar lateral extrusions, rotations, buckling and tensional gaps have been observed in indentation experiments. Additional phenomena such as: thermal convection, retreating trench model or anchored slab model could maintain extension in the backarc basin. Such a hypothetical collision-lateral backarc opening model could explain the initiation of opening of backarc basins such as the Mariana Trough, Bonin Trough, Parece Vela — Shikoku Basin and Sea of Japan. A new late Cenozoic palaeogeographic evolution model of the Philippine Sea plate and surrounding areas is proposed.     

Terrestrial n-alkane signatures in the middle Okinawa Trough during the post-glacial transgression: control by sea level and paleovegetation confounded by offshore transport

We report records of land plant-derived long-chain n-alkanes since 37 ka b.p. from a sediment core in the middle Okinawa Trough, East China Sea. The data show the content and carbon preference index (CPI; degree of freshness) of n-alkanes generally decreasing as sea level rose, which could be explained by coastline retreat resulting in an increased transport route of n-alkanes toward the study site. The n-alkane CPI returned to higher values during the Holocene highstand, however, suggesting sea-level rise was not the only cause for the decline of freshness of n-alkanes. Paleovegetation changes in terms of C₃ vs. C₄ contributions inferred from n-alkane δ¹³C are overall consistent with published marine and terrestrial records during two distinct intervals: from 37.0 to 15.2 ka b.p., and from 7.6 ka b.p. to the present. However, n-alkane δ¹³C excursions from 15.2 to 7.6 ka b.p. are difficult to reconcile with terrestrial signatures. This disagreement, along with other possible causes for the decline of freshness of n-alkanes, and the higher-energy sedimentary environment inferred from increased mean grain sizes and silt/clay ratios during this time period, is consistent with existing knowledge of offshore transport of materials previously stored on the extensive continental shelf during the post-glacial transgression. We therefore suggest that n-alkane records from the Okinawa Trough should be used only cautiously to infer deglacial vegetation and sea-level changes.     

Combining 2D-basin and structural modelling to constrain heat transport along the Muroto Transect,Nankai Trough,Japan

The Nankai Trough located southeast of Shikoku Island, Japan, exhibits a zone of exceptionally high heat flow. In the central part of the Nankai Trough the fossil spreading centre of the Shikoku Basin is subducted beneath the southwest Japan arc. We have modelled the temperature and maturation history along the Muroto Transect reaching from the tip of the thrust zone out into nearly undeformed Quaternary and Tertiary sediments seawards of Nankai Trough. We used two balanced cross-sections defining the sections before and after overthrusting as input for 2D-basin modelling. We can show that rapid burial and overthrusting during the Quaternary in combination with a heat flow history following the cooling curve of a 15 Ma old oceanic plate is not sufficient to explain the measured maturity of organic material in the sediments. Several heat flow scenarios derived from theoretical concepts [Yamano, M., Kinoshita, M., Goto, S., Matsubayashi, O., 2003. Extremely high heat flow anomaly in the middle part of the Nankai Trough. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C 28, 487–497.] and previous modelling approaches [e.g. Brown, K.M., Saffer, D.M., Bekins, B.A., 2001. Smectite diagenesis, pore water freshening, and fluid flow at the toe of the Nankai wedge. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 194, 97–109; Spinelli, G.A., Underwood, M.B., 2005. Modeling thermal history of subducting crust in Nankai Trough: constraints from in situ sediment temperature and diagenetic reaction progress. Geophysical Research Letters 32(L09301): doi:10.1029/2005GL022793; Steurer, J., Underwood, M.B., 2003. Clay mineralogy of mudstones from the Nankai Trough reference sites 1173 and 1177 and frontal accretionary prism site 1174. In: H. Mikada et al. (Eds.), pp. 1–37. Available from: <http://www-odp.tamu.edu/publications/190196SR/VOLUME/CHAPTERS/211.PDF>] were tested. The best match between observed maturity levels, temperature and heat flow measurements is reached for a heat flow history which initially assumes the cooling of a 15 Ma old oceanic lithosphere but is reheated to 170–180 mW/m² during the phase of rapid burial in the Quaternary. This can be achieved either by assuming the onset of hydrothermal circulation in the cooling crust or by reheating caused by off-axis volcanism at about 6 Ma [Yamano, M., Kinoshita, M., Goto, S., Matsubayashi, O., 2003. Extremely high heat flow anomaly in the middle part of the Nankai Trough. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth, Parts A/B/C 28, 487–497.].     

1972—2013年杭州湾北岸金山深槽演变特征与稳定性分析

运用GIS技术对1972-2013年金山深槽的冲淤特征、演变机制及稳定性进行分析,结果表明:(1)长期来看,15m深槽区以冲刷为主,冲刷区占总面积的88.05%,冲刷量(120.35×106 m3)远大于淤积量(3.76×106 m3),年均净冲刷速率为7.46cm/a;深槽整体向纵深发展,纵长增加了7.34km,展宽增加近1km,且有明显向南展宽趋势;抗冲刷沉积层使得深槽在强潮冲刷下具有一定的稳定性,平均和最大深度波动幅度较小,平均深度维持在21.01~23.59m,最大深度在46.90~51.00m间且分布集中。(2)短期来看,特定地形条件下的冲淤变化明显受人类活动所致水沙变化的影响。2002-2012年,年均净冲刷速率高达22.14cm/a,2012-2013年,冲淤基本平衡。(3)基于15m、20m、25m深槽区中轴线摆动幅度的稳定分析可知,深槽大部分区域处于稳定状态,稳定区范围均占65%以上,但在第6次围堤西侧和城市沙滩前处于不稳定状态,摆动幅度较大,建议加强附近水文监测以及海堤安全评估。     

Evidence for multiple Quaternary ice advances and fan development from the Amundsen Gulf cross-shelf trough and slope,Canadian Beaufort Sea margin

The seismic stratigraphy and sedimentary architecture of the Amundsen Gulf Trough and adjacent slope, Canadian Beaufort Sea margin, are investigated using a grid of 2-D seismic reflection data. The inner-shelf of the Amundsen Gulf Trough is interpreted to be composed predominantly of exposed or near-surface bedrock, overlain by a spatially-discontinuous veneer of glacimarine to open-marine sediment. There is a seaward transition from exposed bedrock on the inner-shelf to a thick (up to 500 m) outer-shelf prograding wedge of acoustically semi-transparent sediment. Eight seismic sequences, divided into four megasequences, are described from the outer-shelf stratigraphy. Eight till sheets are identified from Megasequences A to C, providing evidence for at least eight Quaternary ice-stream advances through the Amundsen Gulf Trough to the shelf break. A trough-mouth fan with a minimum volume of about 10,000 km³ is present on the adjacent slope. The Amundsen Gulf ice stream probably represented the most northwesterly marine-terminating ice stream of the Laurentide Ice Sheet through much of the Quaternary, providing a major route for ice and sediment transfer to the Arctic Ocean. The youngest till sheet within the Amundsen Gulf Trough, Megasequence D, was probably deposited by a subsidiary ice stream, the Anderson ice stream, subsequent to retreat of the last, Late Wisconsinan Amundsen Gulf ice stream. This provides evidence of dynamic ice-sheet behaviour and the reorganisation of the northwest Laurentide Ice Sheet margin during the last deglaciation. A number of buried glacigenic landforms, including palaeo-shelf break gullies and a grounding-zone wedge with a volume of 90 km³, are described from the Amundsen Gulf Trough stratigraphy. Lateral grounding-zone wedges are identified at the northern and southern lateral margins of the Amundsen Gulf and M'Clure Strait troughs, respectively, and are interpreted to have been formed roughly contemporaneously by ice streams in Amundsen Gulf and M'Clure Strait.     

Helium Isotopes in Pacific Waters from Adjacent Region of Honshu, Japan

We have measured helium isotopic ratios of thirty-seven Pacific water samples from various depths collected in adjacent regions of Honshu, Japan. The ³He/⁴He ratios vary significantly from 0.989 R _atm to 1.208 R _atm where R _atm is the atmospheric ratio of 1.39 × 10⁻⁶. The mid-depth (750–1500 m) profile of ³He/⁴He ratios at ST-1 located Northwestern Pacific Ocean east of Japan (Off Joban; 37°00′ N, 142°40′ E) is significantly different from that at ST-2 of the Northern Philippine Sea south of Japan (Nankai Trough; 33°07′ N, 139°59′ E), suggesting that these waters were separated by a topographic barrier, the Izu-Ogasawara Ridge. Taking ³He/⁴He data of the Geosecs expeditions in the western North Pacific, an extensive plume of 15% excess ³He relative to the air may be traced at ST-1 over 12,000 kilometers to the northwest of the East Pacific Rise where the mantle helium may originate. The 20% excess found at ST-2 may be attributable to the additional source of the subduction-type mantle helium in the Okinawa Trough. A 15% excess of ³He has also been discovered at a depth of about 1000∼1500 m at ST-3 adjacent to Miyakejima Island (33°57′ N, 139°22′ E) and ST-4 of Sagami Bay (35°00′ N, 139°22′ E). It is confirmed that mid-depth all over the western North Pacific water is affected by the mantle helium with a high ³He/⁴He ratio. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

冲绳海槽构造活动的差异性及其非同步发展

冲绳海槽的地质和地球物理特征,特别是其构造活动性表明,海槽轴部存在一个扩张应力场,是弧后扩张形成的边缘盆地。其基本特征和构造活动性从东北至西南差别明显,具有南北分段的特点。据此作者把海槽分为扩张作用非同步发展的三段;东北段处在扩张前以裂陷为主的地堑或半地堑阶段;中段处于初始扩张过程的裂谷阶段;西南段则处于相对高级扩张的弧后盆地阶段。这种非同步发展可能是由于菲律宾海板块向亚洲大陆俯冲过程中,其速度在时间和空间上的差异性所致。     

Characteristics of platinum-group elements in basalts from spreading axis of Mariana Trough

Total platinum-group elements (PGEs) abundances in basalts from the spreading axis of Mariana Trough ranged from 0.418×10~(-9) to 1.022×10~(-9), and primitive mantle-normalized PGE patterns are of positive slope showing the relative enrichment of PPGE (platinum,palladium,rhodium) and gold relative to IPGE. Compared with other mantle-originated rocks, these basalts have lower PGE contents and wider ranges of primitive mantle-normalized ratios of palladium content to iridium one,palladium content to platinum one and palladium content to gold one exhibiting relative platinum and iridium depletion. Characteristics of PGE patterns indicated that the studied Mariana Trough basalts originated from low partial melting, and the MORB mantle beneath the spreading center had been contaminated by the arc-island mantle. In the aspect of trace elements, Mariana Trough basalts showed the enrichment of LILE, lead and LREE, indicating that they had been influenced by subduction compositions. All these demonstrated that Mariana Trough basalts are products of partial melting from a mixed mantle (the contamination of MORB mantle by arc-island mantle).     

Submarine faults and slides on the continental shelf,northern Gulf of Alaska

Abstract

Submarine faults and slides or slumps of Quaternary age are potential environmental hazards on the outer continental shelf (OCS) of the northern Gulf of Alaska. Most faults that approach or reach the seafloor cut strata that may be equivalent in age to the upper Yakataga Formation (Pliocene‐Pleistocene). Along several faults, the seafloor is vertically offset from 5 to 20 m. A few faults appear to cut Holocene sediments, but none of these shows displacement at the seafloor. Submarine slides or slumps have been found in two places in the OCS region: (1) seaward of the Malaspina Glacier and Icy Bay, an area of 1200 km² with a slope of less than 0.5°, and (2) across the entire span of the Copper river prodelta, an area of 1730 km², having a slope of about 0.5°. Seismic profiles across these areas show disrupted reflectors and irregular topography commonly associated with submarine slides or slumps. Potential slide or slump areas have been delineated in areas of thick sediment accumulation and relatively steep slopes. These areas include (1) Kayak Trough, (2) parts of Hinchinbrook Entrance and Sea Valley, (3) parts of the outer shelf and upper slope between Kayak Island and Yakutat Bay, and (4) Bering Trough.