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Published September 20, 1978 | public
Journal Article

A mechanical model for plate deformation associated with aseismic ridge subduction in the New Hebrides arc

Abstract

Tectonic features associated with a subducting fracture zone-aseismic ridge system in the New Hebrides island arc are investigated. Several notable features including a discontinuity of the trench, peculiar locations of two major islands (Santo and Malekula), regional uplift, and the formation of a basin are interpreted as a result of the subduction of a buoyant ridge system. The islands of Santo and Malekula are probably formed from an uplifted mid-slope basement high while the interarc basin of this particular arc is probably a subsiding basin instead of a basin formed by backarc opening. The situation can be modeled by using a thin elastic half plate overlying a quarter fluid space with a vertical upward loading applied at the plate edge. This model is consistent with topographic and geophysical data. This study suggests that subduction of aseismic ridges can have significant effects on tectonic features at consuming plate boundaries.

Additional Information

© 1978 Published by Elsevier B.V. Received 14 December 1977, Accepted 21 March 1978. We would like to thank Yoshio Fukao and Seiya Uyeda for many discussions on various aspects of this study and for reviewing the manuscript. Discussions with Jay Melosh on plate detachment were helpful for improving our early tectonic model. We are grateful to Robert Geller, John Cipar and Seth Stein for reading the manuscript and suggesting improvements. We also benefited from discussions with Clarence Allen, Don L. Anderson, Bernard Minster, Gary Fuis and Thomas Hanks. This research was supported by the Division of Earth Sciences, National Science Foundation, NSF Grant EAR 76-14262.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023