New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica
Gondwana breakup changed the global continental configuration, leading to opening of major oceanic gateways, shifts in the climate system and significant impacts on the biosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere. Although of global importance, the earliest stages of the supercontinental fragmentation are...
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ftnerc:oai:nora.nerc.ac.uk:514003 2023-05-15T13:49:33+02:00 New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica Jordan, Tom Ferraccioli, Fausto Leat, Philip 2017-01 text http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514003/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514003/1/New%20geophysical%20compilations%20link%20crustal%20block%20motion%20AAM.pdf http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1342937X16302866 en eng Elsevier https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514003/1/New%20geophysical%20compilations%20link%20crustal%20block%20motion%20AAM.pdf Jordan, Tom orcid:0000-0003-2780-1986 Ferraccioli, Fausto orcid:0000-0002-9347-4736 Leat, Philip. 2017 New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica. Gondwana Research, 42. 29-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.09.009 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.09.009> Publication - Article PeerReviewed 2017 ftnerc https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.09.009 2023-02-04T19:43:14Z Gondwana breakup changed the global continental configuration, leading to opening of major oceanic gateways, shifts in the climate system and significant impacts on the biosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere. Although of global importance, the earliest stages of the supercontinental fragmentation are poorly understood. Reconstructing the processes driving Gondwana breakup within the ice-covered Weddell Sea Rift System (WSRS) has proven particularly challenging. Paleomagnetic data and tectonic reconstructions of the WSRS region indicate that major Jurassic translation and rotation of microcontinental blocks were a key precursor to Gondwana breakup by seafloor spreading. However, geophysical interpretations have provided little support for major motion of crustal blocks during Jurassic extension in the WSRS. Here we present new compilations of airborne magnetic and airborne gravity data, together with digital enhancements and 2D models, enabling us to re-evaluate the crustal architecture of the WSRS and its tectonic and kinematic evolution. Two provinces are identified within the WSRS, a northern E/W trending province and a southern N/S trending province. A simple extensional or transtensional model including ~ 500 km of crustal extension and Jurassic magmatism accounts for the observed geophysical patterns. Magmatism is linked with rifting between South Africa and East Antarctica in the north, and associated with back-arc extension in the south. Our tectonic model implies ~ 30 degrees of Jurassic block rotation and juxtaposes the magnetically similar Haag Block and Shackleton Range, despite differences in both Precambrian and Pan African-age surface geology. Although geophysically favoured our new model cannot easily be reconciled with geological and paleomagnetic interpretations that require ~ 1500 km of motion and 90 degrees anticlockwise rotation of the Haag-Ellsworth Whitmore block from a pre-rift position adjacent to the Maud Belt. However, our model provides a simpler view of the WSRS as a broad Jurassic ... Article in Journal/Newspaper Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Weddell Sea West Antarctica Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive Weddell Sea East Antarctica West Antarctica Shackleton Weddell Shackleton Range ENVELOPE(-26.000,-26.000,-80.833,-80.833) Haag ENVELOPE(-79.000,-79.000,-77.667,-77.667) Gondwana Research 42 29 48 |
institution |
Open Polar |
collection |
Natural Environment Research Council: NERC Open Research Archive |
op_collection_id |
ftnerc |
language |
English |
description |
Gondwana breakup changed the global continental configuration, leading to opening of major oceanic gateways, shifts in the climate system and significant impacts on the biosphere, hydrosphere and cryosphere. Although of global importance, the earliest stages of the supercontinental fragmentation are poorly understood. Reconstructing the processes driving Gondwana breakup within the ice-covered Weddell Sea Rift System (WSRS) has proven particularly challenging. Paleomagnetic data and tectonic reconstructions of the WSRS region indicate that major Jurassic translation and rotation of microcontinental blocks were a key precursor to Gondwana breakup by seafloor spreading. However, geophysical interpretations have provided little support for major motion of crustal blocks during Jurassic extension in the WSRS. Here we present new compilations of airborne magnetic and airborne gravity data, together with digital enhancements and 2D models, enabling us to re-evaluate the crustal architecture of the WSRS and its tectonic and kinematic evolution. Two provinces are identified within the WSRS, a northern E/W trending province and a southern N/S trending province. A simple extensional or transtensional model including ~ 500 km of crustal extension and Jurassic magmatism accounts for the observed geophysical patterns. Magmatism is linked with rifting between South Africa and East Antarctica in the north, and associated with back-arc extension in the south. Our tectonic model implies ~ 30 degrees of Jurassic block rotation and juxtaposes the magnetically similar Haag Block and Shackleton Range, despite differences in both Precambrian and Pan African-age surface geology. Although geophysically favoured our new model cannot easily be reconciled with geological and paleomagnetic interpretations that require ~ 1500 km of motion and 90 degrees anticlockwise rotation of the Haag-Ellsworth Whitmore block from a pre-rift position adjacent to the Maud Belt. However, our model provides a simpler view of the WSRS as a broad Jurassic ... |
format |
Article in Journal/Newspaper |
author |
Jordan, Tom Ferraccioli, Fausto Leat, Philip |
spellingShingle |
Jordan, Tom Ferraccioli, Fausto Leat, Philip New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica |
author_facet |
Jordan, Tom Ferraccioli, Fausto Leat, Philip |
author_sort |
Jordan, Tom |
title |
New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica |
title_short |
New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica |
title_full |
New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica |
title_fullStr |
New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica |
title_full_unstemmed |
New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica |
title_sort |
new geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the weddell sea rift system of west antarctica |
publisher |
Elsevier |
publishDate |
2017 |
url |
http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514003/ https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514003/1/New%20geophysical%20compilations%20link%20crustal%20block%20motion%20AAM.pdf http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1342937X16302866 |
long_lat |
ENVELOPE(-26.000,-26.000,-80.833,-80.833) ENVELOPE(-79.000,-79.000,-77.667,-77.667) |
geographic |
Weddell Sea East Antarctica West Antarctica Shackleton Weddell Shackleton Range Haag |
geographic_facet |
Weddell Sea East Antarctica West Antarctica Shackleton Weddell Shackleton Range Haag |
genre |
Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Weddell Sea West Antarctica |
genre_facet |
Antarc* Antarctica East Antarctica Weddell Sea West Antarctica |
op_relation |
https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/514003/1/New%20geophysical%20compilations%20link%20crustal%20block%20motion%20AAM.pdf Jordan, Tom orcid:0000-0003-2780-1986 Ferraccioli, Fausto orcid:0000-0002-9347-4736 Leat, Philip. 2017 New geophysical compilations link crustal block motion to Jurassic extension and strike-slip faulting in the Weddell Sea Rift System of West Antarctica. Gondwana Research, 42. 29-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.09.009 <https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.09.009> |
op_doi |
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gr.2016.09.009 |
container_title |
Gondwana Research |
container_volume |
42 |
container_start_page |
29 |
op_container_end_page |
48 |
_version_ |
1766251537640718336 |