Hypothesis for Cretaceous rifting of east Gondwana caused by subducted slab capture

Research Article| April 01, 1995 Hypothesis for Cretaceous rifting of east Gondwana caused by subducted slab capture Bruce P. Luyendyk Bruce P. Luyendyk 1Institute for Crustal Studies and Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106-1100 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Geology (1995) 23 (4): 373–376. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0373:HFCROE>2.3.CO;2 Article history first online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share MailTo Twitter LinkedIn Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Bruce P. Luyendyk; Hypothesis for Cretaceous rifting of east Gondwana caused by subducted slab capture. Geology 1995;; 23 (4): 373–376. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1995)023<0373:HFCROE>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 In the process of subducted slab capture, a spreading ridge approaches subparallel to a subduction zone following the trailing edge of a downgoing plate. Eventually the downgoing plate is too young and small to subduct, and spreading stops. The spreading ridge stalls many tens of kilometres outboard of the subduction zone. The subducted plate welds to the outboard plate across the dormant spreading center and is captured by it. The captured plate then acquires the motion of the plate it welded to. In the southwest Pacific the Pacific-Phoenix ridge approached the east Gondwana margin as the Phoenix plate subducted beneath New Zealand, the Chatham Rise and Campbell Plateau, the Lord Howe Rise (collectively, Zealandia), and Marie Byrd Land in Cretaceous time. Spreading and subduction shut down here between 110 and 105 Ma, and some sections of the Phoenix plate became welded to (captured by) the Pacific plate. Pacific plate northward motion began in Aptian time, pulling the captured subducted microplates with it. This movement exerted a basal traction on the overlying east Gondwana margin and resulted in extension of Zealandia and Marie Byrd Land. Continued Pacific northward motion rifted Zealandia from Marie Byrd Land at about 85 Ma. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. 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.