Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling
The divergent rifting/spreading centers and the strike-slip transform faults are the essential tectonic units on Earth, the dynamic evolution of which regulates the development of rifting/spreading basins. The propagation of rifting/spreading centers may interact with pre-existing transform faults,...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2023-01-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Earth Science |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1054747/full |
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| author | Hao Li Jie Liao Jie Liao Jie Liao Yongqiang Shen Jiarong Qing Yangming Wu Zhongxian Zhao Xiaobin Shi |
| author_facet | Hao Li Jie Liao Jie Liao Jie Liao Yongqiang Shen Jiarong Qing Yangming Wu Zhongxian Zhao Xiaobin Shi |
| author_sort | Hao Li |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The divergent rifting/spreading centers and the strike-slip transform faults are the essential tectonic units on Earth, the dynamic evolution of which regulates the development of rifting/spreading basins. The propagation of rifting/spreading centers may interact with pre-existing transform faults, but how they interact with each other remains enigmatic. Here we use three-dimensional geodynamical numeric models to systematically simulate the interaction between rifting/spreading propagation and the pre-existing transform faults. Our model results provide the following findings. 1) The pre-existing transform faults affect rifting/spreading propagation promoting the formation of ridge segments with an offset distance, facilitating the process of spreading of the western sea basin and restraining the propagation of the east sea basin. Yet, the evolution of the transform faults is regulated by rifting/spreading propagation, featured by the increase of its length, the change in its width along strike and the presence of lineated magmatism. 2) The initial length and orientation of the pre-existing transform faults largely affect rifting/spreading propagation, i.e., large transform fault length favors the formation of large offset between ridge segments, and oblique transform faults facilitate the formation of overlapped spreading centers. 3) Model results shed new light on the evolution of the South China Sea basin, implying that the observed ridge segments in the east and southwest sub-basins, the difference of the Zhongnan Fault Zone width along strike and the lineated volcanos along the Zhongnan Fault Zone are the results of the interaction between the rifting/spreading propagation and the pre-existing transform fault. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:20:51Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-911fe444de274352a69fb7e52a77a750 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2296-6463 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-10T21:20:51Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Earth Science |
| spelling | doaj.art-911fe444de274352a69fb7e52a77a7502023-01-20T04:43:48ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Earth Science2296-64632023-01-011010.3389/feart.2022.10547471054747Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modelingHao Li0Jie Liao1Jie Liao2Jie Liao3Yongqiang Shen4Jiarong Qing5Yangming Wu6Zhongxian Zhao7Xiaobin Shi8School of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSouthern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhuhai, ChinaGuangdong Provincial Key Lab of Geodynamics and Geohazards, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaSchool of Earth Sciences and Engineering, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaKey Laboratory of Ocean and Marginal Sea Geology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, ChinaThe divergent rifting/spreading centers and the strike-slip transform faults are the essential tectonic units on Earth, the dynamic evolution of which regulates the development of rifting/spreading basins. The propagation of rifting/spreading centers may interact with pre-existing transform faults, but how they interact with each other remains enigmatic. Here we use three-dimensional geodynamical numeric models to systematically simulate the interaction between rifting/spreading propagation and the pre-existing transform faults. Our model results provide the following findings. 1) The pre-existing transform faults affect rifting/spreading propagation promoting the formation of ridge segments with an offset distance, facilitating the process of spreading of the western sea basin and restraining the propagation of the east sea basin. Yet, the evolution of the transform faults is regulated by rifting/spreading propagation, featured by the increase of its length, the change in its width along strike and the presence of lineated magmatism. 2) The initial length and orientation of the pre-existing transform faults largely affect rifting/spreading propagation, i.e., large transform fault length favors the formation of large offset between ridge segments, and oblique transform faults facilitate the formation of overlapped spreading centers. 3) Model results shed new light on the evolution of the South China Sea basin, implying that the observed ridge segments in the east and southwest sub-basins, the difference of the Zhongnan Fault Zone width along strike and the lineated volcanos along the Zhongnan Fault Zone are the results of the interaction between the rifting/spreading propagation and the pre-existing transform fault.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1054747/fullrifting/spreading propagationpre-existing transform faultsgeodynamic modelingSouth China SeaZhongnan Fault Zone |
| spellingShingle | Hao Li Jie Liao Jie Liao Jie Liao Yongqiang Shen Jiarong Qing Yangming Wu Zhongxian Zhao Xiaobin Shi Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling Frontiers in Earth Science rifting/spreading propagation pre-existing transform faults geodynamic modeling South China Sea Zhongnan Fault Zone |
| title | Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling |
| title_full | Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling |
| title_fullStr | Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling |
| title_full_unstemmed | Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling |
| title_short | Rifting/spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults: 3D geodynamic modeling |
| title_sort | rifting spreading propagation interacts with preexisting transform faults 3d geodynamic modeling |
| topic | rifting/spreading propagation pre-existing transform faults geodynamic modeling South China Sea Zhongnan Fault Zone |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/feart.2022.1054747/full |
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