Title: Tectonic stresses in the African plate: Constraints on the ambient lithospheric stress state
Abstract: Research Article| September 01, 1994 Tectonic stresses in the African plate: Constraints on the ambient lithospheric stress state David D. Coblentz; David D. Coblentz 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Mike Sandiford Mike Sandiford 2Department of Geology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information David D. Coblentz 1Department of Geosciences, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721 Mike Sandiford 2Department of Geology, University of Adelaide, Adelaide 5005, Australia Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1994) 22 (9): 831–834. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0831:TSITAP>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation David D. Coblentz, Mike Sandiford; Tectonic stresses in the African plate: Constraints on the ambient lithospheric stress state. Geology 1994;; 22 (9): 831–834. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1994)022<0831:TSITAP>2.3.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract An elastic finite-element analysis of the African intraplate stress field is used to determine constraints on the stress state resulting from variations in the gravitational potential energy of the lithosphere (U1) produced by lateral density variations. The modeling is constrained by 150 stress indicators extracted from the World Stress Map Project data set. Lateral variations in U1 are calculated by using a simple lithospheric density model that is consistent with observed geoid anomalies across mid-ocean ridges and continental margins. Predicted tectonic stresses in the oceanic regions of the African plate range from tension along the mid-ocean ridges (9 MPa) to compression in the ocean basins (10 MPa). Continental regions near sea level are in a near-neutral state of stress. There are large extensional stresses present in the Ethiopian highlands (15 MPa), the East African rift (9 MPa), and southern Africa (8 MPa). The general agreement between the predicted and the observed stress fields suggests that the principal long-wavelength features of the intraplate stress field, including the observed extension in eastern and southern Africa, can be explained in terms of stresses arising from lithospheric density variations without appeal to poorly determined sublithospheric processes. The state of stress in continental regions with elevations greater than 70 m is predicted to be extensional, providing an alternative source of continental tension that has important implications for the dynamics of continental breakup. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.
Publication Year: 1994
Publication Date: 1994-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 96
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