FastFind »   Lastname: doi:10.1029/ Year: Advanced Search  

G-Cubed: Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems; an electronic journal of the Earth sciences

 

Keywords

  • oceanic core complex
  • Atlantis Massif
  • marine gravity

Index Terms

  • Marine Geology and Geophysics: Seafloor morphology, geology, and geophysics
  • Marine Geology and Geophysics: Midocean ridge processes
  • Marine Geology and Geophysics: Ocean drilling
  • Tectonophysics: Tectonics and magmatism
  • Marine Geology and Geophysics: Oceanic transform and fracture zone processes
Abstract
Cited By (0)
 

Abstract

Three-dimensional structure of oceanic core complexes: Effects on gravity signature and ridge flank morphology, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N

Donna K. Blackman

Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, California 92093-0225, USA

Garry D. Karner

ExxonMobil, P.O. Box 2189, Houston, Texas 77252-2189, USA

Roger C. Searle

Department of Geological Sciences, University of Durham, South Road, Durham DH1 3LE, UK

Our gravity modeling of oceanic core complexes formed at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge near 30°N suggests that their shallow, domal “cores” could be dominated by mafic intrusive rocks, consistent with recent drilling results at Atlantis Massif. The three-dimensional gravity analysis incorporates additional underway geophysics data in a new compilation and uses a higher-resolution bathymetry model to remove the gravity contribution of seafloor topography. The additional detail is required in order to confidently relate few-kilometer-scale gravity anomalies to specific morphologic/tectonic blocks. Different models of subseafloor core complex structure and density are tested to determine which minimizes the local gravity anomaly. A 3-D core with density 2900 kg/m3, as measured in the gabbroic section drilled at the central dome, and juxtaposed 3-D hanging wall of fractured basalt, density ∼2600 kg/m3, satisfactorily explains most of the Bouguer gravity anomaly at Atlantis Massif. The capping detachment fault terminates or plunges northward beneath the seafloor at the northern limit of the central dome. The southwest shoulder of the massif has lower density, consistent with an upper crustal section ∼1 km thick, whereas the summit and southeastern shoulder have overall density similar to the central dome. The older core complexes distributed along Atlantis fracture zone are similar in size, depth, and distance of their summit from the transform fault. However, weathering/alteration probably has reduced their density somewhat compared to Atlantis Massif. Bathymetric embayments occur adjacent to the fracture zone in several places on the ridge flanks and are consistently associated with core complexes.

Received 18 January 2008; accepted 11 April 2008; published 19 June 2008.

Citation: Blackman, D. K., G. D. Karner, and R. C. Searle (2008), Three-dimensional structure of oceanic core complexes: Effects on gravity signature and ridge flank morphology, Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 30°N, Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst., 9, Q06007, doi:10.1029/2008GC001951.

Cited By

Please wait one moment ...