Propagators and ridge jumps in a back-arc basin, the West Philippine Basin

Anne Deschamps, Ryuichi Shinjo, Takeshi Matsumoto, Chao Shing Lee, Serge E. Lallemand, Shiguo Wu, M. Shirahashi, S. Inoue, Y. Maeda, R. Matsumura, M. Miyamoto, H. M. Kao, J. Lee, C. H. Tsai, T. No, S. Hosoya, H. Shibata, T. Kodera, Y. Sato, Y. SagawaO. Cabrera

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

We explore the tectono-magmatic processes in the western West Philippine Basin, Philippine Sea Plate, using bathymetric data acquired in 2003 and 2004. The northwestern part of the basin formed through a series of northwestward propagating rifts. We identify at least five sequences of propagating rifts, probably triggered by mantle flow away from the mantle thermal anomaly that is responsible for the origin of the Benham and Urdenata plateaus. Gravitational forces caused by along-axis topographic gradient and a ∼30° ridge reorientation appear to also be driving the rift propagations. The along-axis mantle flow appears to be reduced and deflected along the Luzon-Okinawa fracture zone, because the spreading system remained stable west of this major fault zone. North-east of the Benham plateau, a left-lateral fracture zone has turned into a NE-SW-trending spreading axis. As a result, a microplate developed at the triple junction.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)327-332
Number of pages6
JournalTerra Nova
Volume20
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Aug 2008

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