Title: Evolution of nonvolcanic rifted margins: New results from the conjugate margins of the Labrador Sea
Abstract: Research Article| July 01, 1995 Evolution of nonvolcanic rifted margins: New results from the conjugate margins of the Labrador Sea Deping Chian; Deping Chian 1Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3Y 4A2, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Charlotte Keen; Charlotte Keen 2Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Ian Reid; Ian Reid 2Department of Oceanography, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia B3H 4J1, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Keith E. Louden Keith E. Louden 1Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Bedford Institute of Oceanography, P.O. Box 1006, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia B3Y 4A2, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1995) 23 (7): 589–592. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0589:EONRMN>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Deping Chian, Charlotte Keen, Ian Reid, Keith E. Louden; Evolution of nonvolcanic rifted margins: New results from the conjugate margins of the Labrador Sea. Geology 1995;; 23 (7): 589–592. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0589:EONRMN>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 The crust across each margin of the Labrador Sea, a conjugate rift margin pair, consists of three well-defined zones: thinned continental crust, 70–80-km-wide transitional crust, and oceanic crust. The transition zone is characterized by a low-velocity upper crust (4–5 km/s) underlain by a 6.4–7.7 km/s layer. We propose that the lower layer is serpentinized upper mantle; it is less likely to be gabbroic igneous lower crust. The low-velocity upper crust may be either an oceanic basaltic layer or very thin (<2 km) continental crust. Results from this first combined seismic reflection and refraction study of a conjugate margin pair support very slow initial continental rifting (∼1 mm/yr on average) resulting in an asymmetric crustal-thinning profile, with breakup occurring against the West Greenland shelf. This asymmetry may be an important feature of rifting at nonvolcanic margins and may be related to strain hardening of the cooling and thinning lithosphere or to small-scale convection in the lower lithosphere and asthenosphere at the sides of the rift. The thin crust in the transition zone implies that the amount of melt generated in the upwelling mantle is negligible, consistent with slow spreading or rifting. The transition from this slow formational period to normal oceanic accretion processes is marked by a sharp decrease in basement depth, signaling an increase to normal oceanic crustal thickness. 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: 1995
Publication Date: 1995-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
Indexed In: ['crossref']
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Cited By Count: 107
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