Benthic foraminiferal distribution and sedimentary structures suggest tectonic erosion at the Costa Rica convergent plate margin |
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| Authors: | Martin Meschede Regine Weiss Gerhard Schmiedl Christoph Hemleben |
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| Affiliation: | Institute of Geological Sciences, University of Greifswald, D-17487 Greifswald,;Institute of Geology, University of Tuebingen, D-72076 Tuebingen, and;Institute of Geophysics and Geology, University of Leipzig, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACT Distribution patterns of benthic foraminiferal faunas from ODP Leg 170 Sites 1041 and 1042 show that the Costa Rican convergent margin subsided from coastal to abyssal depth from Middle Miocene to Present. This favours the model of a margin undergoing active subduction erosion. We propose that subduction erosion leads to the removal of material from the base of the forearc wedge and, as a consequence, to progressive subsidence of the forearc. A mean subsidence rate is estimated to be approximately 0.4 mm yr−1. |
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