Intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and Atlantis Transform Fault

Access Table 1 for Marine Geophysical Researches 2003 paper

Oceanic Core Complex Hypothesis

The extensional forces that act on oceanic plates near a spreading center produce a variety of seafloor morphologies. This project focuses on the large, domal massifs that appear to form during periods when much of the extensional strain is localized along a detachment fault. Sustained relative motion along the fault results in the footwall being unroofed to expose lower crustal gabbro and upper mantle peridotite at the seafloor. Adjacent upper crustal blocks (hanging wall) show typical volcanic seafloor morphology.

An outstanding example of an oceanic core complex has been mapped at the eastern intersection of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge and the Atlantis transform fault (Cann et al., Nature 1997; Blackman et al., JGR 1998). These data provide good broad scale understanding of the structure but more detailed work is required to test specific hypotheses of how such core complexes form.

Additional investigation is funded in this area using a combination of the submersible Alvin, deep-towed sidescan sonar, magnetics video imagery and on-bottom gravity measurements. Rock samples will be collected as well.

Core Complex at Eastern RTI

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