Investigating the plate kinematics of continental blocks and their role on the deformation experienced along the Iberia-Eurasia plate boundary using deformable plate tectonic models

The kinematics of the Iberian plate during Mesozoic extension and subsequent Alpine compression and their implications on the partitioning of strain experienced across the Iberia-Europe plate boundary continue to be a subject of scientific interest, and debate. To date, the majority of plate tectonic models only consider the motion of rigid tectonic plates. In addition, the lack of consideration for the kinematics of intra-continental domains and intervening continental blocks in-between has led to numerous discrepancies between rigid plate kinematic models of Iberia, based mainly on tight-fit reconstruction of M-series magnetic anomalies, and their ability to reconcile geological and geophysical observations. To address these discrepancies, deformable plate tectonic models constrained by previous plate reconstructions, geological, and geophysical studies are built using the GPlates software to study the evolution of deformation experienced along the Iberia-Eurasia plate boundary from the Triassic to present day. These deformable plate models consider the kinematics of small intra-continental blocks such as the Landes High and Ebro Block situated between large tectonic plates, their interplay with pre-existing structural trends, and the collective impact of these phenomena on the deformation experienced during Mesozoic rifting and Alpine compressional re-activation along the Iberia-European plate boundary. Preliminary results suggest that the independent kinematics of the Landes High played a key role on the distribution of oblique extension between different rift arms and resultant deformation within the Bay of Biscay. Within the Pyrenean realm, deformation experienced prior to and during the Alpine Orogeny was more largely controlled by the interplay between the Ebro Block kinematics and rift segmentation induced by the orientation of inherited trends.

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Uncertainties in break-up markers along the Iberia–Newfoundland margins illustrated by new seismic data

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-11-397-2020 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 11 (2) ◽

pp. 397-417 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Annabel Causer ◽

Lucía Pérez-Díaz ◽

Jürgen Adam ◽

Graeme Eagles

Keyword(s):

Seismic Data ◽

Direct Consequence ◽

Magnetic Anomalies ◽

Oceanic Lithosphere ◽

High Amplitude ◽

Plate Tectonic ◽

Plate Models ◽

Plate Reconstructions ◽

Tectonic Reconstructions ◽

Break Up

Abstract. Plate tectonic modellers often rely on the identification of “break-up” markers to reconstruct the early stages of continental separation. Along the Iberian-Newfoundland margin, so-called break-up markers include interpretations of old magnetic anomalies from the M series, as well as the “J anomaly”. These have been used as the basis for plate tectonic reconstructions are based on the concept that these anomalies pinpoint the location of first oceanic lithosphere. However, uncertainties in the location and interpretation of break-up markers, as well as the difficulty in dating them precisely, has led to plate models that differ in both the timing and relative palaeo-positions of Iberia and Newfoundland during separation. We use newly available seismic data from the Southern Newfoundland Basin (SNB) to assess the suitability of commonly used break-up markers along the Newfoundland margin for plate kinematic reconstructions. Our data show that basement associated with the younger M-series magnetic anomalies is comprised of exhumed mantle and magmatic additions and most likely represents transitional domains and not true oceanic lithosphere. Because rifting propagated northward, we argue that M-series anomaly identifications further north, although in a region not imaged by our seismic, are also unlikely to be diagnostic of true oceanic crust beneath the SNB. Similarly, our data also allow us to show that the high amplitude of the J Anomaly is associated with a zone of exhumed mantle punctuated by significant volcanic additions and at times characterized by interbedded volcanics and sediments. Magmatic activity in the SNB at a time coinciding with M4 (128 Ma) and the presence of SDR packages onlapping onto a basement fault suggest that, at this time, plate divergence was still being accommodated by tectonic faulting. We illustrate the differences in the relative positions of Iberia and Newfoundland across published plate reconstructions and discuss how these are a direct consequence of the uncertainties introduced into the modelling procedure by the use of extended continental margin data (dubious magnetic anomaly identifications, break-up unconformity interpretations). We conclude that a different approach is needed for constraining plate kinematics of the Iberian plate pre-M0 times.

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Plate tectonic raster reconstruction in GPlates

Solid Earth Discussions ◽

10.5194/sed-6-793-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

pp. 793-830

Author(s):

J. Cannon ◽

E. Lau ◽

R. D. Müller

Keyword(s):

Graphics Hardware ◽

Plate Tectonic ◽

Geological Time ◽

Raster Data ◽

Tectonic Plates ◽

Tectonic Reconstruction ◽

Reconstruction Software ◽

Plate Reconstructions ◽

Simple Implementation ◽

Novel Method

Abstract. We describe a novel method implemented in the GPlates plate tectonic reconstruction software to interactively reconstruct arbitrarily high-resolution raster data to past geological times using a rotation model. The approach is based on the projection of geo-referenced raster data into a cube map followed by a reverse projection onto rotated tectonic plates on the surface of the globe. This decouples the rendering of a geo-referenced raster from its reconstruction, providing a number of benefits including a simple implementation and the ability to combine rasters with different geo-referencing or inbuilt raster projections. The cube map projection is accelerated by graphics hardware in a wide variety of computer systems manufactured over the last decade. Furthermore, by integrating a multi-resolution tile partitioning into the cube map we can provide on-demand tile streaming, level-of-detail rendering and hierarchical visibility culling enabling researchers to visually explore essentially unlimited resolution geophysical raster data attached to tectonic plates and reconstructed through geological time. This capability forms the basis for interactively building and improving plate reconstructions in an iterative fashion, particularly for tectonically complex regions.

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Plate tectonic chain reaction constrained from noise in the Cretaceous Quiet Zone

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-2777 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Derya Gürer ◽

Roi Granot ◽

Douwe J.J. van Hinsbergen

Keyword(s):

Subduction Zones ◽

Kinematic Model ◽

Plate Boundary ◽

Western Mediterranean ◽

Plate Motion ◽

Plate Boundaries ◽

Plate Tectonic ◽

Test Bed ◽

Chain Reaction ◽

Tectonic Plates

The relative motions of the tectonic plates show remarkable variation throughout Earth&#8217;s history. Major changes in relative motion between the tectonic plates are traditionally viewed as spatially and temporally isolated events linked to forces acting on plate boundaries (i.e., formation of same-dip double subduction zones, changes in the strength of the boundary), or thought to be associated with mantle dynamics. A Cretaceous global plate reorganization event has been postulated to have affected all major plates. The Cretaceous &#8216;swing&#8217; in Africa-Eurasia relative plate motion provides an ideal test-bed for assessing the temporal and spatial evolution of both relative plate motions and surrounding geological markers. Here we show a novel plate kinematic model for the closure of the Tethys Ocean by implementing intra-Cretaceous Quiet Zone time markers and combine the results with the geological constraints found along the convergent plate boundary. Our results allow to assess the order, causes and consequences of geological events and unravel a chain of tectonic events that set off with the onset of horizontally-forced double subduction ~105 Myr ago, followed by a 40 Myr long period of acceleration of the Africa relative to Eurasia that peaked at 80 Myr ago (at rates four times as high as previously predicted). This acceleration, which was likely caused by the pull of two same-dip subduction zones was followed by a sharp decrease in plate velocity, when double subduction terminated with ophiolite obduction onto the African margin. These tectonic forces acted on the eastern half of the Africa-Eurasia plate boundary, which led to counterclockwise rotation of Africa and sparked new subduction zones in the western Mediterranean region. Our analysis identifies the Cretaceous double subduction episode between Africa and Eurasia as a link in the global plate tectonic chain reaction and provides a dynamic view on plate reorganizations.

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Uncertainties in breakup markers along the Iberia-Newfoundland margins illustrated by new seismic data

10.5194/se-2019-141 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Annabel Causer ◽

Lucía Pérez-Díaz ◽

Jürgen Adam ◽

Graeme Eagles

Keyword(s):

Seismic Data ◽

Direct Consequence ◽

Magnetic Anomalies ◽

Oceanic Lithosphere ◽

High Amplitude ◽

Plate Tectonic ◽

Plate Reconstructions ◽

Tectonic Reconstructions ◽

Break Up ◽

Breakup Unconformity

Abstract. Plate tectonic modellers often rely on the identification of break-up markers to reconstruct the early stages of continental separation. Along the Iberian-Newfoundland margin, so-called break-up markers include interpretations of old magnetic anomalies from the M-series, as well as the J-anomaly. These have been used as the basis for plate tectonic reconstructions on the belief that these anomalies pinpoint the location of first oceanic lithosphere. However, uncertainties in the location and interpretation of break-up markers, as well as the difficulty in dating them precisely, has led to plate models that differ in their depiction of the separation of Iberia and Newfoundland. We use newly available seismic data from the Southern Newfoundland Basin (SNB) to assess the suitability of commonly used break-up markers along the Newfoundland margin for plate kinematic reconstructions. Our data shows that basement associated with the younger M-Series magnetic anomalies is comprised of exhumed mantle and magmatic additions, and most likely represents transitional domains and not true oceanic lithosphere. Because rifting propagated northward, we argue that M-series anomaly identifications further north, although in a region not imaged by our seismic, are also unlikely to be diagnostic of true oceanic crust beneath the SNB. Similarly, our data also allows us to show that the high amplitude of the J Anomaly is associated to a zone of exhumed mantle punctuated by significant volcanic additions, and at times characterised by interbedded volcanics and sediments. Magmatic activity in the SNB at a time coinciding with M4 (128 Ma), and the presence of SDR packages onlapping onto a basement fault suggest that, at this time, plate divergence was still being accommodated by tectonic faulting. We illustrate the differences in the relative positions of Iberia and Newfoundland across published plate reconstructions and discuss how these are a direct consequence of the uncertainties introduced into the modelling procedure by the use of extended continental margin data (dubious magnetic anomaly identifications, breakup unconformity interpretations). We conclude that a different approach is needed for constraining plate kinematics of the Iberian plate pre M0 times.

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Plate tectonic raster reconstruction in GPlates

Solid Earth ◽

10.5194/se-5-741-2014 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

pp. 741-755 ◽

Cited By ~ 11

Author(s):

J. Cannon ◽

E. Lau ◽

R. D. Müller

Keyword(s):

Graphics Hardware ◽

Plate Tectonic ◽

Geological Time ◽

Raster Data ◽

Tectonic Plates ◽

Tectonic Reconstruction ◽

Reconstruction Software ◽

Plate Reconstructions ◽

Simple Implementation ◽

Novel Method

Abstract. We describe a novel method implemented in the GPlates plate tectonic reconstruction software to interactively reconstruct arbitrarily high-resolution raster data to past geological times using a rotation model. The approach is based on the projection of geo-referenced raster data into a cube map followed by a reverse projection onto rotated tectonic plates on the surface of the globe. This decouples the rendering of a geo-referenced raster from its reconstruction, providing a number of benefits including a simple implementation and the ability to combine rasters with different geo-referencing or inbuilt raster projections. The cube map projection is accelerated by graphics hardware in a wide variety of computer systems manufactured over the last decade. Furthermore, by integrating a multi-resolution tile partitioning into the cube map we can provide on-demand tile streaming, level-of-detail rendering and hierarchical visibility culling, enabling researchers to visually explore essentially unlimited resolution geophysical raster data attached to tectonic plates and reconstructed through geological time. This capability forms the basis for interactively building and improving plate reconstructions in an iterative fashion, particularly for tectonically complex regions.

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Stress and deformation analysis in the Norwegian Barents Sea in relation to Paleogene transpression along the Greenland-Eurasia plate boundary

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-17894 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Sebastien Gac ◽

Alexander Minakov ◽

Grace E. Shephard ◽

Jan Inge Faleide ◽

Sverre Planke

Keyword(s):

Barents Sea ◽

Plate Boundary ◽

Deformation Analysis ◽

Small Scale ◽

Time Model ◽

The North ◽

Basement Faults ◽

Kinematic Models ◽

Stress And Deformation ◽

Plate Kinematics

Cenozoic small-scale contractional structures are widespread in the Norwegian (west) and Russian (east) Barents Sea. While the exact dating of the deformation is unclear, it can only be inferred that the contraction is younger than the early Cretaceous. One likely contractional mechanism is related to Greenland plate kinematics at Paleogene times. We use a thin plate finite element modelling approach to compute stresses and deformation within the Norwegian Barents Sea in response to the Greenland-Eurasia relative motions at Paleogene times. The analytical solution for the 3-D folding of sediments above basement faults is used to assess possibilities for folding. Two existing Greenland plate kinematic models, differing slightly in the timing, magnitude and direction of motion, are tested. Results show that the Greenland plate&#8217;s general northward motion promotes growing anticlines in the Norwegian Barents shelf. Folding is more likely in the northern Norwegian Barents Sea than in the south. Folding is correlated with the Greenland plate kinematics through time: model M2 predicts a main phase of contraction at earliest Eocene while model M1 predicts contraction a bit later in the Eocene. Both models successfully explain folding above NW-SW Timanian trended faults in the southern Norwegian Barents Sea and above SSW-NNE Caledonian-trended faults in the north. We conclude that Paleogene Greenland plate kinematics are a likely candidate to explain contractional structures in the Norwegian Barents Sea.

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On the enigmatic birth of the Pacific Plate within the Panthalassa Ocean

Science Advances ◽

10.1126/sciadv.1600022 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 2 (7) ◽

pp. e1600022 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Lydian M. Boschman ◽

Douwe J. J. van Hinsbergen

Keyword(s):

Triple Junction ◽

Tectonic Evolution ◽

Plate Boundary ◽

Pacific Plate ◽

Plate Tectonic ◽

Point Location ◽

Marine Magnetic Anomalies ◽

The Pacific ◽

History Of ◽

Ridge System

The oceanic Pacific Plate started forming in Early Jurassic time within the vast Panthalassa Ocean that surrounded the supercontinent Pangea, and contains the oldest lithosphere that can directly constrain the geodynamic history of the circum-Pangean Earth. We show that the geometry of the oldest marine magnetic anomalies of the Pacific Plate attests to a unique plate kinematic event that sparked the plate’s birth at virtually a point location, surrounded by the Izanagi, Farallon, and Phoenix Plates. We reconstruct the unstable triple junction that caused the plate reorganization, which led to the birth of the Pacific Plate, and present a model of the plate tectonic configuration that preconditioned this event. We show that a stable but migrating triple junction involving the gradual cessation of intraoceanic Panthalassa subduction culminated in the formation of an unstable transform-transform-transform triple junction. The consequent plate boundary reorganization resulted in the formation of a stable triangular three-ridge system from which the nascent Pacific Plate expanded. We link the birth of the Pacific Plate to the regional termination of intra-Panthalassa subduction. Remnants thereof have been identified in the deep lower mantle of which the locations may provide paleolongitudinal control on the absolute location of the early Pacific Plate. Our results constitute an essential step in unraveling the plate tectonic evolution of “Thalassa Incognita” that comprises the comprehensive Panthalassa Ocean surrounding Pangea.

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Inverse methods for modeling non-rigid plate kinematics: Application to mesozoic plate reconstructions of the Central Atlantic

Computers & Geosciences ◽

10.1016/j.cageo.2012.06.019 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 49 ◽

pp. 217-230 ◽

Cited By ~ 28

Author(s):

Erik A. Kneller ◽

Christopher A. Johnson ◽

Garry D. Karner ◽

Jesse Einhorn ◽

Thomas A. Queffelec

Keyword(s):

Inverse Methods ◽

Rigid Plate ◽

Plate Reconstructions ◽

Central Atlantic ◽

Plate Kinematics

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Kinematic sequence stratigraphy of the European Cenozoic Rift System and Alpine Foreland Basin: correlation with Mediterranean and Atlantic plate-boundary events

Netherlands Journal of Geosciences – Geologie en Mijnbouw ◽

10.1017/s0016774600077921 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 85 (2) ◽

pp. 77-129 ◽

Cited By ~ 8

Author(s):

W. Sissingh

Keyword(s):

North Atlantic ◽

Plate Boundary ◽

Foreland Basin ◽

Rift System ◽

The North ◽

Mid Atlantic Ridge ◽

Alpine Foreland ◽

Alpine Foreland Basin ◽

The North Atlantic ◽

Plate Kinematics

AbstractA review of the sequence stratigraphic development of the Tertiary basins of the North and West Alpine Foreland domains shows that their structural and depositional history was episodically affected by brief tectonic phases. These were associated with intermittent deformation events induced by the collisional convergence and compressional coupling of the Apulian and Iberian microplates with the European Plate. The plate kinematics-related episodicity was essentially isochronously recorded in the basin fills of the Alpine Foreland region. These are generally correlative with changes in eustatic sea level. The ensuing correlative successions of so-called Cenozoic Rift and Foredeep (CRF) sequences and phases can be traced throughout the European Cenozoic Rift System and Alpine Foreland Basin. Their temporal correlation indicates that, apparently, the changes in the plate collision-related stress regime of the Alpine Foreland were repeatedly accompanied by coeval changes in eustatic sea level. To test and substantiate the validity of this inferred causal relationship between intraplate deposition, plate kinematics and eustacy, the tectono-sedimentary evolution of the basins of the Mediterranean plate-boundary zone has been analysed in conjunction with a review of the plate-boundary events in the North Atlantic. Within the uncertainty range of available datings, synchroneity could thus be demonstrated for the punctuated tectonostratigraphic development of basins of the western Mediterranean (comprising the Liguro-Provençal Basin, Valencia Trough, Sardinia Rift and Tyrrhenian Basin), the Apenninic-Calabrian Arc, the Betic domain (including the Alboran Basin) and the North and West Alpine Foreland regions. Similar temporal correlations of plate tectonicsrelated events near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge in the North Atlantic and tectonostratigraphic sequences and phases of the Alpino-Pyrenean Foreland basins are further evidence of a common causal mechanism. The driving mechanisms appear to have been the northward drift of Africa and the resulting mechanical coupling of Apulia and Iberia with the southern passive margin of Europe, as well as the stepwise opening of the North Atlantic and accompanying episodic plate re-organisations of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge.

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Where are the proto-South China Sea slabs? SE Asia plate tectonic and mantle flow insights from TERRA global mantle convection models

10.5194/egusphere-egu2020-12407 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Yi-An Lin ◽

Lorenzo Colli ◽

Jonny Wu

Keyword(s):

South China Sea ◽

South China ◽

Late Eocene ◽

Early Miocene ◽

Philippine Sea Plate ◽

Plate Tectonic ◽

China Sea ◽

Se Asia ◽

Plate Models ◽

Geodynamic Models

In this study we explored the contrasted plate tectonic reconstructions proposed for the proto-South China Sea and SE Asia. We implemented four different end-member plate models into global geodynamic models to test their predicted mantle structure against tomography. All models reproduced the Sunda slabs beneath Peninsular Malaysia, Sumatra and Java and the proto-South China Sea (PSCS) slabs beneath present Palawan, northern Borneo, and offshore Palawan; some models also predicted slabs under the southern South China Sea. PSCS slabs generated from double-sided PSCS subduction and earlier Borneo rotation generated a slightly better fit to tomography but pure southward PSCS subduction was also viable. A smaller Philippine Sea plate (PSP) with a short ~1000 km restored northern slab (i.e. Ryukyu slab) was clearly superior to a very long >3000 km slab. Mantle flows generated from our geodynamic models suggest strong upwellings under Indochina during the late Eocene to Oligocene. Our models generated strong downwellings under the South China Sea in the late Cenozoic that did not support a deep-origin &#8216;Hainan plume&#8217;.&#160;The following plate models variants were assimilated in the geodynamic models: (1) southward vs. double-sided PSCS subduction; (2) early Borneo counterclockwise rotations during the Oligocene to Early Miocene vs. later rotations (mid- to Late Eocene and Early Miocene); (3) a smaller Philippine Sea plate restored with a shorter ~1000 km northern slab vs. a longer >3000 km slab. This study assimilates four different plate models into the numerical model TERRA (Bunge et al., 1998). We digitally re-built in GPlates (Boyden et al., 2011) the implemented the plate models as a set of continuously closing plates in order to generate a global self-consistent velocity field to be assimilated into the convection models. The temperature fields were converted to seismic velocities assuming a Pyrolite composition and equilibrium mineralogy. We quantify the correlation between our geodynamic models and seismic tomography within SE Asia. For the tomography models S40RTS and LLNL-G3Dv-JPS we explicitly accounted for their finite resolution (Ritsema et al., 2011; Simmons et al. 2019).

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