Abstract
Seafloor spreading at the Adare spreading axis, lasting from the Middle Eocene until the Late Oligocene (43 – 26 Ma), constrains the motion between East and West Antarctica throughout that period of time. Subsequent faulting in the Adare and Northern Basins from Late Oligocene until present-day (26 - 0 Ma) is poorly resolved and might provide a key constraint on the motion between the two plates. Here we present preliminary results of new seismic reflection and seafloor mapping data acquired on geophysical cruise 07-01 aboard the R/VIB Nathaniel Palmer.
Our results suggest that the style of deformation has changed from spreading-related faulting into a diffuse normal faulting (tilted blocks) that trend NE-SW with little resultant E-W extension. Recent volcanic activity is distributed
throughout but tends to align with the NE-SW trend. Formation of the Terror Rift within the same time frame suggests that the pole of rotation might have drifted northward.
Our results suggest that the style of deformation has changed from spreading-related faulting into a diffuse normal faulting (tilted blocks) that trend NE-SW with little resultant E-W extension. Recent volcanic activity is distributed
throughout but tends to align with the NE-SW trend. Formation of the Terror Rift within the same time frame suggests that the pole of rotation might have drifted northward.
| Original language | English GB |
|---|---|
| Title of host publication | Antarctica |
| Subtitle of host publication | A Keystone in a Changing World—Online Proceedings for the 10th International Symposium on Antarctic Earth Sciences |
| Editors | Alan Cooper, Carol Raymond, 10th ISAES Editorial Team |
| Publisher | U.S. Geological Survey |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| ISBN (Print) | 978-0-309-11854-5, 0-309-11854-9 |
| State | Published - 2007 |