East Asia plate tectonics since 15 Ma: constraints from the Taiwan region

15 Ma ago, a major plate reorganization occurred in East Asia. Seafloor spreading ceased in the South China Sea, Japan Sea, Taiwan Sea, Sulu Sea, and Shikoku and Parece Vela basins. Simultaneously, shear motions also ceased along the Taiwan–Sinzi zone, the Gagua ridge and the Luzon–Ryukyu transform plate boundary. The complex system of thirteen plates suddenly evolved in a simple three-plate system (EU, PH and PA). Beneath the Manila accretionary prism and in the Huatung basin, we have determined magnetic lineation patterns as well as spreading rates deduced from the identification of magnetic lineations. These two patterns are rotated by 15°. They were formed by seafloor spreading before 15 Ma and belonged to the same ocean named the Taiwan Sea. Half-spreading rate in the Taiwan Sea was 2 cm/year from chron 23 to 20 (51 to 43 Ma) and 1 cm/year from chron 20 (43 Ma) to 5b (15 Ma). Five-plate kinematic reconstructions spanning from 15 Ma to Present show implications concerning the geodynamic evolution of East Asia. Amongst them, the 1000-km-long linear Gagua ridge was a major plate boundary which accommodated the northwestward shear motion of the PH Sea plate; the formation of Taiwan was driven by two simple lithospheric motions: (i) the subduction of the PH Sea plate beneath Eurasia with a relative westward motion of the western end (A) of the Ryukyu subduction zone; (ii) the subduction of Eurasia beneath the Philippine Sea plate with a relative southwestward motion of the northern end (B) of the Manila subduction zone. The Luzon arc only formed south of B. The collision of the Luzon arc with Eurasia occurred between A and B. East of A, the Luzon arc probably accreted against the Ryukyu forearc.     

Thrusting of young lithosphere in subduction zones with special reference to structures in ophiolitic peridotites

Two contrasted types of structures have been recognized in peridotites from ophiolites and from the oceanic environment. The first one, typical of high-temperature/moderate-stress conditions, is observed in the upper part of ophiolitic peridotites and has been ascribed to plastic flow in an oceanic ridge environment. The second one, typical of moderate-temperature/high-stress conditions, is more specially dealt with here. It is printed in the peridotites above the basal metamorphic aureole found in many ophiolites. The strain increases downward over 1–2 km to produce peridotite mylonites at the contact with the metamorphic aureole. Similarities with rocks from trench and island arc environments suggest ascribing this deformation in ophiolites to a trench environment. We propose that shear fracturing in a young oceanic lithosphere is initiated by the compressive elastic stress in its lower part which is produced by bending of the subducted plate. An externally applied compressive stress is responsible for subsequent overthrusting of the fractured lithosphere. This interpretation is in good agreement with the available geophysical data on young subducted plates and with the physical data on ophiolitic peridotites.     

Zenisu Ridge: a deep intraoceanic thrust related to subduction, off southwest Japan

During the French-Japanese Kaiko project, Seabeam, seismic and submersible observations were made in the eastern part of the Nankai subduction zone, close to the area of collision between the Izu-Bonin island arc and the Japan margin. The most prominent feature is the Zenisu Ridge, an elongated relief of the Philippine Sea plate running parallel to the Trench. Magnetic anomalies indicate that the crust of the Zenisu Ridge is a part of the Shikoku oceanic basin formed in the Early Miocene, 23 Ma ago and presumably uplifted at a later stage. Structural analysis of seismic data and diving observations lead us to interpret the superficial structure as being due to compressive tectonics. Mapping the acoustic basement reveals that the southeastern flank of the ridge is bounded by a double thrust, both segments being of equal magnitude (vertical offset about 1 to 1.5 km). Geophysical data support the hypothesis of a main thrust cutting through most of the lithosphere and flattening at depth. The overall structure of the surrounding area reveals a compressive deformation zone widening toward the east, the magnitude of the compressive deformation decreasing westward as well as southward of the Zenisu Ridge.     

Near-bottom particle concentration and flux: Temporal variations observed with sediment traps and nepholometer on the Meriadzek Terrace, Bay of Biscay

The Meriadzek Terrace (a 2100m deep plateau on the North-East Atlantic continental slope) was chosen as the experimental site for a multidisciplinary programme to observe the parameters needed for a better understanding of biological processes in the benthic environment.Two approaches were used to study the input of particulate matter to the bathyal seabed: sediment traps and indirect particle concentration measurements with nephelometry. These two technologies do not measure particles of the same size range, but as we are interested in the fluctuations of the particle supply, their results are complementary.Vertical profiles of nephelometry show that over the Meriadzek Terrace there is 125m thick nepheloid layer immediately above the bottom.The dynamics in the deep layer has been determined by measurements made with a Module Autonome Pluridisciplinaire (MAP), an in situ monitoring device developed at IFREMER which measures currents, nephelometry, temperature vertical profile near the bottom.Throughout six months of measurements in 1984, the currents at 0.5m and 120m above the bottom were subject to semi-diurnal tidal oscillations. The intensity of light scattering recorded with the nephelometer on the MAP was highly correlated with current velocities especially with semidiurnal tidal oscillations which seem to induce local resuspension. There are also longer term fluctuations, notably a very strong event which lasted several days during August. This event lagged behind a period of high intensity of internal waves correlated with a reversal in current direction. The sediment trap (Pièges à Particules “PAP”) observations showed that the particle fluxes on the Meriadzek Terrace have a cycle of variation similar to primary production which is characterized by a maximum in May during the phytoplankton bloom and a minimum during January. There was also interannual fluctuation.These two kinds of results point out the different time scales (from some hours to several months) of the large temporal fluctuations which affect the near-bottom particle behaviour.     

Evolution of a Paleoproterozoic “weak type” orogeny in the West African Craton (Ivory Coast)

The Paleoproterozoic domain of the Ivory Coast lies in the central part of the West African Craton (WAC) and is mainly constituted by TTG, greenstones, supracrustal rocks and leucogranites. A compilation of metamorphic and radiometric data highlights that: i) metamorphic conditions are rather homogeneous through the domain, without important metamorphic jumps, ii) HP-LT assemblages are absent and iii) important volumes of magmas emplaced during the overall Paleoproterozoic orogeny suggesting the occurrence of long-lived rather hot geotherms. Results of the structural analysis, focused on three areas within the Ivory Coast, suggest that the deformation is homogeneous and distributed through the Paleoproterozoic domain. In details, results of this study point out the long-lived character of vertical movements during the Eburnean orogeny with a two folds evolution. The first stage is characterized by the development of “domes and basins” geometries without any boundary tectonic forces and the second stage is marked by coeval diapiric movements and horizontal regional-scale shortening. These features suggest that the crust is affected by vertical movements during the overall orogeny. The Eburnean orogen can then be considered as an example of long-lived Paleoproterozoic “weak type” orogen.