Stanca, R-M orcid.org/0000-0003-0020-1016, Paton, DA orcid.org/0000-0001-8918-6697, Hodgson, DM orcid.org/0000-0003-3711-635X et al. (2 more authors) (2019) A revised position for the rotated Falkland Islands microplate. Journal of the Geological Society, 176 (3). pp. 417-429. ISSN 0016-7649
Abstract
The early stages of transform margin formation are associated with crustal fragmentation and block rotation. The restricted size of the resultant microcontinental blocks precludes palaeogeographical reconstructions and reliable estimations of the amount of rotation they can undergo. An example considered here is the Falkland Plateau. This is located adjacent to the Agulhas–Falkland Fracture Zone and its westernmost province is the Falkland Islands microcontinent. The position of the plateau and the islands prior to Gondwana break-up remains contentious. This study integrates seismic reflection and gravity data to propose a revised position of the Falkland Islands microcontinent constrained by (1) the presence of a mega-décollement, controlling the Gondwanide Orogen, described north of the Falkland Islands and underneath South Africa and the Outeniqua Basin, and (2) the similar architecture of fault networks mapped north of the islands and in the northernmost Outeniqua Basin. This revised position requires a re-evaluation of the timing and rate of rotation of the Falkland Islands microcontinent and affects the expected crustal architecture adjacent to the islands. Our model yields rotation rates between 5.5° and 8° Ma−1 and two potential times for rotation, and predicts more unstretched crust beneath the basin east of the Falkland Islands than previous models.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | © 2019 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. This is an author produced version of a paper published in Journal of the Geological Society. Uploaded in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy. |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Environment (Leeds) > School of Earth and Environment (Leeds) > Institute for Applied Geosciences (IAG) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 27 Feb 2019 12:14 |
Last Modified: | 31 Jan 2020 01:39 |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Geological Society of London |
Identification Number: | 10.1144/jgs2018-163 |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:143012 |