Geology of a Stable Intraplate Region: The Cape Verde/Canary Basin

This report evaluates a unique bathymetric, magnetic, and seismic data set in terms of the geological history of a major ocean basin. It develops a seismic-stratigraphic classification for deep sea sediments and proposes a tectonic development history within the framework of sea floor spreading theo...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Ballard,J Alan
Other Authors: NAVAL OCEAN RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITY NSTL STATION MS
Format: Text
Language:English
Published: 1982
Subjects:
Physical and Dynamic Oceanography
Geology
Geochemistry and Mineralogy
Seismology
*OCEANIC CRUST
REFLECTION
BATHYMETRY
STRATIGRAPHY
SEISMIC WAVES
GEOMORPHOLOGY
NORTH ATLANTIC OCEAN
OCEAN BOTTOM TOPOGRAPHY
SEDIMENTS
BASINS(GEOGRAPHIC)
OCEAN BOTTOM
STRUCTURAL GEOLOGY
Canary Basin
Mid-Atlantic Ridge
North Atlantic
Online Access:http://www.dtic.mil/docs/citations/ADA122613
http://oai.dtic.mil/oai/oai?&verb=getRecord&metadataPrefix=html&identifier=ADA122613
Description
Summary:This report evaluates a unique bathymetric, magnetic, and seismic data set in terms of the geological history of a major ocean basin. It develops a seismic-stratigraphic classification for deep sea sediments and proposes a tectonic development history within the framework of sea floor spreading theory. The study will be useful to oceanographers, geologists, and geophysicists attempting to synthesize large quantities of data to construct a model for regional development. To resolve some of the controversies engendered by previous narrowly focused studies, this study will assess the relative importance of primary and secondary volcanism, epeirogenic uplift and subsidence, and determine the sequence of tectonic events that have modified Cape Verde/Canary Basin morphology since its formation and rifting away from the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The geologic factors that must be considered in the solution to these problems include: (1) temporal and spatial distribution of fracture zones, small scale faults, abyssal hills and seamounts; (2) locations of depocenters, relationship between depocenters and post-rifting diastrophism, correlation of sediment distribution with island volcanism, seismic stratigraphic evidence for recent unwarping and the timing of such events; and the age of the sea floor, and the tectonic significances of the 'J' anomaly, the M-sequence, and the Cretaceous magnetic 'Quiet Zone'. Includes envelopes with maps.

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