The role of arc migration in the development of the Lesser Antilles: A new tectonic model for the Cenozoic evolution of the eastern Caribbean

Allen, Robert W.; Collier, Jenny; Stewart, Alex; Henstock, T.; Goes, Saskia; Rietbrock, Andreas

doi:10.1130/g46708.1

Cited by 73 publications

(147 citation statements)

References 25 publications

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“…It is thought to have undergone a short period of uplift (less than 2 Myr) that has caused the closing of the marine gateways responsible for the Messinian salinity (Duggen et al, ). In the Caribbean, the extinction of the Cretaceous arc (the Aves Ridge at present‐day) might have been followed by a period of regional uplift (Lallemand & Lebrun, ), which might have lasted for only a few million years (Iturralde‐Vinent & MacPhee, ; Marivaux et al, ) and might have resulted from a sudden change in the dynamics of the subducting slab (Allen et al, ). The growing evidences of the role played by changes in subduction dynamics in the building of nonisostatic topography make the quantification of their relationship an area of active research.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overriding Plate Velocity Control on Surface Topography in 2‐D Models of Subduction Zones

Cerpa

Arcay

2020

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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We study the dynamically induced flexural topography in subduction numerical mechanical models. We focus on the topographic changes at the overriding plate (OP) surface induced by variations in OP kinematics, particularly when the subducting plate (SP) has a stationary motion after having reached the rigid base of the upper mantle. Our models consist of two viscoelastic plates with free surfaces and an isoviscous mantle. Friction is imposed along the planar subduction interface. We first characterize the main topographic features at a constant OP velocity, using spatial definitions based on geometrical estimations of the volcanic arc position. The models exhibit the formation of a bulge in the forearc area followed landwards by a depression and a smaller second bulge, both bracketing the arc region. The steady-state distance to the trench of these features increases with OP velocity. Their amplitude is affected by the far-field OP tectonic regime that depends on kinematics, and plates and subduction interface strength. We next test the effect of sudden changes in OP velocity. An OP acceleration yields a transient topographic tilt, during which the outer forearc quickly subsides whereas the arc region uplifts, and that is followed by reverse slower motions. An OP slowdown induces opposite motions. The rates of elevation change during the tilt are approximately proportional to velocity variations and mainly sensitive to the SP strength. The rates are higher than 0.1 mm/yr for velocity changes higher than 1 cm/yr. We suggest that topographic accommodations of OP velocity changes should be considered when quantifying nonisostatic topography.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Overriding Plate Velocity Control on Surface Topography in 2‐D Models of Subduction Zones

Cerpa

Arcay

2020

Geochem Geophys Geosyst

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“…Various investigations (e.g. Allen et al, 2019;Bouysse and Westercamp, 1990) suggest that a slab shallowing triggered this arc landward migration without resolving the question of the causes for this shallowing. At the PRVI Margin, landward migration of the trench-slope break, associated to forearc subsidence, is possibly related to the subduction of the southeastern tip of the buoyant Bahamas Bank (Grindlay et al, 2005).…”

Section: Forearc Subsidence Basal Erosion and Volcanic Arc Migrationmentioning

confidence: 99%

Paleogene V-shaped basins and Neogene subsidence of the Northern Lesser Antilles Forearc

Boucard

Marcaillou

Lebrun

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Oblique collision of buoyant provinces against subduction zones frequently results in individualizing and rotating regional-scale blocks. In contrast, the collision of the Bahamas Bank against the Northeastern Caribbean Plate increased the margin convexity triggering forearc fragmentation into small-scale blocks. This deformation results in a prominent >450km-long sequence of V-shaped basins that widens trenchward separated by elevated spurs,

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“…Data from the equivalent Manto Formation in Honduras (Rogers, Mann, Scott, & Patino, 2007) (Saginor et al, 2011). Arc migration or rotation towards or away from the trench is a common feature documented in several oceanic and continental arcs; e.g., the Lesser Antilles and, Cascades (Allen, Collier, Stewart, et al, 2019;Germa, Quidelleur, Labanieh, Chauvel, & Lahitte, 2011;Wells & Mccaffrey, 2013). Contrarily, the Cretaceous-Eocene Arc could be the result of an extinct north-northwestward subduction zone along the southern margin of the Mesquito Geotectonic Unit.…”

Section: Geochemical Arc Evolution In Nicaraguamentioning

confidence: 99%

A 100 m.y. record of volcanic arc evolution in Nicaragua

Flores

Gazel

2020

Island Arc

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The processes that result in arc magmas are critical to understanding element recycling in subduction zones, yet little is known about how these systems evolve with time. Nicaragua provides an opportunity to reconstruct the history of a volcanic arc since the Cretaceous. Here we present the stratigraphy of the Cretaceous-Eocene volcanic units in Nicaragua and their relationship to the different tectonic units where the arc developed. We discovered an evolution from an arc-dominated by calc-alkaline compositions in the Cretaceous-Eocene, to transitional compositions in the Oligocene-Miocene, to finally tholeiitic magmas common in the modern volcanic front. Our petrographic studies confirm that in the Cretaceous-Eocene the olivine + clinopyroxene cotectic was followed by clinopyroxene + plagioclase ± amphibole. Given the abundance of amphibole and the lack of this mineral in the modern volcanic front, the Cretaceous-Eocene Arc melts were likely more water-rich than modern Nicaragua, suppressing the crystallization of plagioclase after olivine. We also found temporal changes in element ratios that are sensitive to variations in sediment input. The Cretaceous-Eocene Arc is characterized by a lower Ba/Th compared to the Oligocene-Miocene and modern volcanic front samples, suggesting that the sediment input was lower in Ba, possibly analogous to old deep siliceous sediment subducting in the western Pacific. Both U/Th and U/La are higher in the modern volcanics, reflecting higher U/Th in the subducting sediments following the 'Carbonate Crash'. Finally, we found that the orientation of the arc axis also changed, from northeast-southwest in the Cretaceous-Eocene to northwest-southeast after the Oligocene. This change probably records variations in the location of the subduction zone as this region shaped into its current geographic configuration.

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The role of arc migration in the development of the Lesser Antilles: A new tectonic model for the Cenozoic evolution of the eastern Caribbean

Cited by 73 publications

References 25 publications

Overriding Plate Velocity Control on Surface Topography in 2‐D Models of Subduction Zones

Overriding Plate Velocity Control on Surface Topography in 2‐D Models of Subduction Zones

Paleogene V-shaped basins and Neogene subsidence of the Northern Lesser Antilles Forearc

A 100 m.y. record of volcanic arc evolution in Nicaragua

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