Middle Cretaceous sediments from the eastern part of Walvis Ridge
Abstract
THE Walvis Ridge is one of the most conspicuous features of the South Atlantic. It extends from near Tristan da Cunha on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to the African continental margin and has three main segments. The western segment is oriented SW-NE, the central one N-S and the eastern one SSW-NNE. The Walvis Ridge may have kept pace with the opening of the South Atlantic which started in the Early Cretaceous1-6, either by transform fault mechanisms7,8 or by a mantle hot spot and plume9-12. The eastern segment is thought to have been built throughout the Middle Cretaceous, that is, between 120 m.y. ago and 80 m.y. ago13-15. We report information obtained from an investigation of the age and depositional conditions of sedimentary rock recovered during the Walda cruise of the RV Jean Charcot (April-August 1971).
- Publication:
-
Nature
- Pub Date:
- April 1974
- DOI:
- 10.1038/248495a0
- Bibcode:
- 1974Natur.248..495P