Roller-bearing Tectonic Evolution of the Juan Fernandez Microplate

Authors

R. L. Larson, University of Rhode Island
R. C. Searle, University of Durham
M. C. Kleinrock, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA
H. Schouten, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA
R. T. Bird, University of Rhode Island
D. F. Naar, University of South FloridaFollow
R. I. Rusby, University of Durham
E. E. Hooft, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole, USA
H. Lasthiotakis, University of Toronto

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1992

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.1038/356571a0

Abstract

A combined GLORIA sidescan and Hydrosweep multi-narrow-beam sonar survey shows striking evidence for fan-shaped spreading systems, bounding pseudofaults and compression ridges associated with 90° of clockwise rotation of the Juan Fernandez microplate in the past 4 Myr. A quantitative analysis of this evolution suggests that the microplate has rotated as a rigid 'roller bearing' for most of its history, driven at its edges by shear between the surrounding major plates. The remarkable similarity between the Juan Fernandez and Easter microplates, despite their different tectonic settings, suggests that this is a general model for microplate tectonics.

Was this content written or created while at USF?

Yes

Citation / Publisher Attribution

Nature, v. 356, p. 571-576

Scholar Commons Citation

Larson, R. L.; Searle, R. C.; Kleinrock, M. C.; Schouten, H.; Bird, R. T.; Naar, D. F.; Rusby, R. I.; Hooft, E. E.; and Lasthiotakis, H., "Roller-bearing Tectonic Evolution of the Juan Fernandez Microplate" (1992). Marine Science Faculty Publications. 2236.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/msc_facpub/2236