Central Afar: An analogue for oceanic plateau development

Journal article


Rime, V., Keir, D., Phethean, J., Kidane, T. and Foubert, A. 2024. Central Afar: An analogue for oceanic plateau development. Geology. pp. 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1130/G52330.1
AuthorsRime, V., Keir, D., Phethean, J., Kidane, T. and Foubert, A.
Abstract

The structure, composition, and evolution of oceanic plateaus are poorly understood and strongly debated. Here, we compared the magmatic history and crustal structure of Afar with the Greenland−Iceland−Faroe Ridge and other oceanic plateaus. Key similarities indicate that Central Afar represents the early stage of development of a specific type of oceanic plateau: a rifted oceanic magmatic plateau (ROMP). These features begin their formation before continental rifting and develop into wide magmatic rift systems capable of isolating slivers of continental crust within the new igneous crust. Importantly, the anomalous magmatism continues through breakup and for several tens of millions of years afterward. The recognition of Central Afar as a precursor of this type of oceanic plateau allows us to better understand their formation. Increased melt production causes early and voluminous magmatism, ultrathick igneous crust, and repeated reorganization of the extension locus during rift/ridge jumps, which delay the onset of oceanization and Penrose-style crustal production. These factors differentiate ROMPs from many magma-rich rifted continental margins and from other types of oceanic plateaus, highlighting that Central Afar and other ROMPs should neither be considered as conventional magma-rich margins nor be considered as normal oceanic crust.

Keywordsoceanic plateaus ; magmatic history ; crustal structure of Afar ; Greenland−Iceland−Faroe Ridge
Year2024
JournalGeology
Journal citationpp. 1-6
PublisherThe Geological Society of America
ISSN1943-2682
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)https://doi.org/10.1130/G52330.1
Web address (URL)https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/doi/10.1130/G52330.1/646098/Central-Afar-An-analogue-for-oceanic-plateau
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Output statusPublished
Publication dates
Online31 Jul 2024
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Deposited19 Aug 2024
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