The Mediterranean Ridge: A mass balance across the fastest growing complex on Earth.

Kopf, A., Mascle, J. and Klaeschen, Dirk (2003) The Mediterranean Ridge: A mass balance across the fastest growing complex on Earth. Open Access Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 108 (B8). p. 2372. DOI 10.1029/2001JB000473.

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Abstract

Depth migration of seismic reflection profiles across the Mediterranean Ridge accretionary complex between the African and Eurasian blocks illustrates profound variations in the geometry and internal structure along strike. Structural interpretations of four cross sections, together with bathymetric and acoustic surface information and drilling data, are used to volumetrically balance the amount of subduction versus accretion with time. Results suggest the existence of three distinct scenarios, with a jump in décollement in the west, intense backthrusting in the central part between Libya and Crete, and transcurrent tectonism in the east. The onset of accretion coincides with exhumation of thrust sheets (∼19 Ma), followed by rapid sediment accretion with thick, evaporite-bearing incoming successions facilitating outward growth of the wedge. The minimum rate of accretion (20–25% of the total sediment supply) is observed in the central portion where the ridge suffers maximum deformation. Here the indenting leading edge of the African Plate apparently forces the sediment into subduction, or local underplating. In contrast, an estimated 40–60% of the available sedimentary input was accreted in the western domain where collision is less accentuated. The results support the hypothesis that highly destructive forearc collisional events, like slab break off and exhumation of thrust sheets, can be followed by periods of accretion and continuous growth of accretionary wedges.

Document Type: Article
Keywords: Mediterranean Ridge, accretionary prism, mass transfer, subduction zone, Messinian evaporites, forearc dynamics
Research affiliation: OceanRep > GEOMAR > FB4 Dynamics of the Ocean Floor
Refereed: Yes
Open Access Journal?: No
Publisher: AGU (American Geophysical Union)
Date Deposited: 09 Dec 2009 12:13
Last Modified: 25 Apr 2018 09:54
URI: https://oceanrep.geomar.de/id/eprint/5445

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