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Tectonic fabric and hydrothermal activity of Mid-Atlantic Ridge crest (lat 26°N)

1976; Geological Society of America; Volume: 87; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87 2.0.co;2

1943-2674

Peter A. Rona, R. N. Harbison, B. G. Bassinger, Robert B. Scott, Andrew J. Nalwalk,

earthquake and tectonic studies

Research Article| May 01, 1976 Tectonic fabric and hydrothermal activity of Mid-Atlantic Ridge crest (lat 26°N) PETER A. RONA; PETER A. RONA 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, 15 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar REGINALD N. HARBISON; REGINALD N. HARBISON 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, 15 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar BOBBY G. BASSINGER; BOBBY G. BASSINGER 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, 15 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ROBERT B. SCOTT; ROBERT B. SCOTT 2Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar ANDREW J. NALWALK ANDREW J. NALWALK 3Marine Sciences Institute, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut 06340 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information PETER A. RONA 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, 15 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 REGINALD N. HARBISON 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, 15 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 BOBBY G. BASSINGER 1National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratories, 15 Rickenbacker Causeway, Miami, Florida 33149 ROBERT B. SCOTT 2Department of Geology, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843 ANDREW J. NALWALK 3Marine Sciences Institute, University of Connecticut, Groton, Connecticut 06340 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1976) 87 (5): 661–674. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87 2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation PETER A. RONA, REGINALD N. HARBISON, BOBBY G. BASSINGER, ROBERT B. SCOTT, ANDREW J. NALWALK; Tectonic fabric and hydrothermal activity of Mid-Atlantic Ridge crest (lat 26°N). GSA Bulletin 1976;; 87 (5): 661–674. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87 2.0.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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract An asymmetric tectonic fabric was delineated by narrow-beam bathymetric profiles in a 180-km2 area of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge crest at lat 26°N. Features of the tectonic fabric are a continuous rift valley offset by small (<10-km) transform faults and minor fracture zones expressed as valleys with intervening ridges that trend normal and oblique to the two sides of the rift valley. The discharge zone of a postulated sub–sea-floor hydrothermal convection system is focused by faults on the southeast wall of the rift valley and driven by intrusive heat sources beneath the rift valley.The rift valley has a double structure consisting of linear segments, bounded by ridges, and basins at the intersections of the minor fracture zones. The double structure of the rift valley acts like a template that programs the reproduction of the tectonic fabric. The minor fracture zones form an asymmetric V about the rift valley at variance with the symmetric small circles formed by major fracture zones. To reconcile the asymmetry of minor fracture zones with the symmetry of major fracture zones, it is proposed that the minor fracture zones have been preferentially reoriented by an external stress field attributed to interplate and intraplate motions. Major fracture zones remain symmetric under the same stress field owing to differential stability between minor and major structures of oceanic lithosphere. 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.