Volcanism of the Baikal rift zone
Abstract
The volcanism of the Baikal rift zone is a specific case of intraplate volcanism where the tensional stress field in the lithosphere under the rift zone does not greatly exceed local tension in other volcanic regions of Central Asia in which rifting was not morphologically expressed. The main phase of volcanism (Miocene-Pliocene) preceded active extension and rift formation. Migration of volcanism from the periphery to the axial part of the rift as well as subsequent variation of the composition of volcanics from alkaline to tholeiitic are not specific to the Baikal rift zone. The volcanism of this zone and other interior regions of Asia is considered to be a consequence not only of deep regional processes under volcanic areas connected to the formation and rise of a highly anomalous mantle, but also of global processes caused by the Indo-Eurasian collision which was responsible for the large-scale deformations within the Asiatic continent, including tensional stress fields.
- Publication:
-
Tectonophysics
- Pub Date:
- November 1987
- DOI:
- 10.1016/0040-1951(87)90093-X
- Bibcode:
- 1987Tectp.143..235K