Deep Structure and Evolution of the Northeastern Gulf of Aden Margin From Wide-Angle Seismic and Thermomechanical Modeling
Abstract
The Encens survey wide-angle and gravity data (Leroy et al., Feb. March 2006) allow us to determine the deep structure of the northeastern Gulf of Aden non-volcanic passive margin. The Gulf of Aden is a young oceanic basin. Its accretion began at least 17.6 Ma ago. Its current geometry shows 1st and 2nd order segmentation. Our study focus on the second order Ashawq-Salalah segment. We studied six wide-angle seismic (WAS) and gravity profiles (three along and three across the margin). Modeling of the WAS and gravity data gives insights on the first and second orders structures : (1) Continental thinning is abrupt (15-20 km thinning along 50-100 km distance). It is accommodated by four tilted blocks. (2) The OCT is narrow (15 km wide). Its geometry is determined by the velocity models: oceanic-type upper-crust (4.5 km/s) and continental-type lower-crust (> 6.5 km/s). (3) The thickness of the oceanic crust decreases from West (10 km) to East (5.5 km). This pattern is probably linked to a variation of magma supply along the paleo-slow-spreading ridge axis. (4) A 5 km thick intermediate velocity body (7.6 to 7.8 km/s) is present at the crust-mantle interface below the margin. It is interpreted as post-rift underplated, or partly intruded, mafic material. This interpretation is consistent with the presence of a volcano evidenced by heat flow measurement and multichannel seismic reflection (Encens surveys). The studied segment is mainly characterized by abrupt continental thinning and narrow OCT. Moreover, this non-volcanic passive margin is affected by post-rift volcanism evidenced by the mafic body. We then suggest that the evolution of non-volcanic passive margins may be influenced by post-rift thermal anomalies. We will compare these above results with thermomechanical models in order to constrain the margin evolution and factors leading to the Gulf of Aden formation. Modeling is processed using Para(o)voz/Flamar code. This allows us to experiment the influence of several parameters (thermotectonic age of the lithosphere, extension velocities, tectonic heritage, thermal anomaly, erosion rates, etc.) on margin geometry and timing of the rifting.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2009
- Bibcode:
- 2009AGUFM.T24D..03W
- Keywords:
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- 0545 COMPUTATIONAL GEOPHYSICS / Modeling;
- 3025 MARINE GEOLOGY AND GEOPHYSICS / Marine seismics;
- 8105 TECTONOPHYSICS / Continental margins: divergent;
- 8120 TECTONOPHYSICS / Dynamics of lithosphere and mantle: general