Format:
graph. Darst
ISSN:
1573-0581
Content:
The continental margin of SW Africa is typical of a volcanic rifted margin associated with a hotspot trail characterized by a large volcanic ridge, the Walvis Ridge, defining the hotspot migration, and extensive extrusive volcanism that produced seaward-dipping reflectors (SDR). Previously unpublished seismic data show two significant anomalies of the SW African Margin when compared to other typical volcanic rifted margins: (1) Hyaloclastitic outer highs are rare, and (2) the SDR in the North dip towards the Walvis Ridge. We explain these anomalies by a major transform segment close to the centre of volcanism combined with pulsed volcanism. The Walvis Ridge represents an east-west striking extrusive centre which produced a SDR sequence. Following break-up the northern boundary of the Walvis Ridge became a left lateral transform fault. Our data support the idea that a transform fault system interacting with a ridge jump were responsible for the accretion of the São Paulo Plateau to the American plate.
In:
Marine geophysical research, Dordrecht [u.a.] : Springer Science + Business Media B.V., 1970, 30(2009), 3, Seite 207-214, 1573-0581
In:
volume:30
In:
year:2009
In:
number:3
In:
pages:207-214
Language:
English
DOI:
10.1007/s11001-009-9077-x
