Evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon Fan

We used seismic and gravity data to determine the structure of the crust and mantle beneath the Amazon Fan. Seismic data suggest that the crust is of oceanic-type and is unusually thin (< ∼4 km) compared to elsewhere in the Atlantic. We attribute the thin crust to ultraslow seaffoor spreading...

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Main Authors: Rodger, M, Watts, A, Greenroyd, C, Peirce, C, Hobbs, R
Format: Journal article
Language:English
Published: 2006
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author Rodger, M
Watts, A
Greenroyd, C
Peirce, C
Hobbs, R
author_facet Rodger, M
Watts, A
Greenroyd, C
Peirce, C
Hobbs, R
author_sort Rodger, M
collection OXFORD
description We used seismic and gravity data to determine the structure of the crust and mantle beneath the Amazon Fan. Seismic data suggest that the crust is of oceanic-type and is unusually thin (< ∼4 km) compared to elsewhere in the Atlantic. We attribute the thin crust to ultraslow seaffoor spreading following the breakup of South America and Africa during the Early Cretaceous. Gravity data suggest that the fan was emplaced on lithosphere that increased its elastic thickness, Te, and hence strength, following rifting. The increase, from 10 km to 40 km, is greater, however, than would be expected if Te were determined by a single controlling isotherm, based on a cooling plate model. Hence, we conclude that the Amazon Fan has been emplaced on, and is supported by, unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle. © 2006 Geological Society of America.
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spelling oxford-uuid:a01edaad-ad5f-41d3-b7e6-fd211e5b1d292022-03-27T02:03:11ZEvidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon FanJournal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:a01edaad-ad5f-41d3-b7e6-fd211e5b1d29EnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2006Rodger, MWatts, AGreenroyd, CPeirce, CHobbs, RWe used seismic and gravity data to determine the structure of the crust and mantle beneath the Amazon Fan. Seismic data suggest that the crust is of oceanic-type and is unusually thin (< ∼4 km) compared to elsewhere in the Atlantic. We attribute the thin crust to ultraslow seaffoor spreading following the breakup of South America and Africa during the Early Cretaceous. Gravity data suggest that the fan was emplaced on lithosphere that increased its elastic thickness, Te, and hence strength, following rifting. The increase, from 10 km to 40 km, is greater, however, than would be expected if Te were determined by a single controlling isotherm, based on a cooling plate model. Hence, we conclude that the Amazon Fan has been emplaced on, and is supported by, unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle. © 2006 Geological Society of America.
spellingShingle Rodger, M
Watts, A
Greenroyd, C
Peirce, C
Hobbs, R
Evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon Fan
title Evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon Fan
title_full Evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon Fan
title_fullStr Evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon Fan
title_full_unstemmed Evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon Fan
title_short Evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the Amazon Fan
title_sort evidence for unusually thin oceanic crust and strong mantle beneath the amazon fan
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