Geodynamic models of the tectonomagmatic evolution of the West Antarctic Rift System

• Main Authors: D. L. Harry, J. Anoka
• Other Authors: The Pennsylvania State University CiteSeerX Archives
• Format: Text
• Language: English
• Subjects: Antarctic; Victoria Land; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/summary?doi=10.1.1.484.7147; http://pubs.usgs.gov/of/2007/1047/ea/of2007-1047ea156.pdf

Summary Finite element geodynamic models of the West Antarctic Rift System reproduce the transition from prolonged diffuse extension throughout the rift system during the Cretaceous and early Cenozoic to later focused extension in the Victoria Land Basin during the middle Paleogene. The change in the style of rifting is due to intraplate processes, and does not require changes in plate motions or impingement of a mantle plume. The models are consistent with the Paleogene onset of magmatism in the West Antarctic Rift System under normal mantle thermal conditions. However, the preliminary models indicate that spatially widespread magmatism may require mantle temperatures elevated approximately 100 °C above normal, supporting arguments favoring the presence of a plume.