High rates of arc consumption by subduction processes: Some consequences

Research Article| June 01, 1995 High rates of arc consumption by subduction processes: Some consequences Serge Lallemand Serge Lallemand 1Laboratoire de Géophysique et Tectonique, Institut des Sciences de la Terre, de l'Eau et de l'Espace de Montpellier, Case 60, place Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Serge Lallemand 1Laboratoire de Géophysique et Tectonique, Institut des Sciences de la Terre, de l'Eau et de l'Espace de Montpellier, Case 60, place Bataillon, 34095 Montpellier, France Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1995) 23 (6): 551–554. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0551:HROACB>2.3.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Serge Lallemand; High rates of arc consumption by subduction processes: Some consequences. Geology 1995;; 23 (6): 551–554. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0551:HROACB>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 New estimates of long-term consumption of Japanese and Peruvian continental fore-arc margins together with recent drilling data (Ocean Drilling Program) on some other erosional island arcs such as Izu-Bonin, Mariana, or Tonga allow the calculation of a mean rate of 7 ± 3 km/m.y. landward migration of the arc-trench system on both east and west sides of the Pacific basin during Cenozoic time. Such relative arcward retreat counterbalances seaward migration of the slab hinge line to accommodate opening of the Atlantic Ocean. Retreat can thus be interpreted as a delay in seaward or retrograde migration due to upper mantle resistance to contraction of the Pacific basin. Mass transfers in subduction zones must be reconsidered in the light of these new estimates, especially the balance between net growth and loss of continental crust in recent geologic time. A 50 m.y. period is long enough to erode the initial width of the volcanic-arc and fore-arc massif of any subduction zone, assuming a mean trench–volcanic-arc landward migration of 5 km/m.y. and a mean trench–volcanic-arc distance of 250 km. This circumstance thus raises the question of whether the Izu-Bonin-Mariana and Tonga arcs are older than their reported Eocene age. 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.