The formation of the Tyrrhenian Basin by 3-D interaction among faulting and magmatism

The Tyrrhenian basin has been formed by extension of overriding continental lithosphere driven by roll back of the Ionian slab across the mantle. The basin is not actively extending but the tectonic structure provides information of the processes that controlled rifting and formation of conjugate margins. The basin opened from west to east, with rifting stopping after progressively larger stretching factors from north to south. The northern region stopped opening at extension factors about 1.8. Towards the south extension continued until full crustal separation that produced first intense magmatism that subsequently was followed by mantle exhumation. The final structure displays two conjugate margins with structures that evolved from symmetric to asymmetric as extension rates increase and a complex tectonic structure in between. The basin provides a natural laboratory to investigate a full rift system with variable amounts of extension. We present observations from a two-ship wide-angle (WAS) and multichannel reflection seismic (MCS) experiment that took place in spring 2010. The experiment took place on two legs: The first leg with Spanish R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa and Italian R/V Urania collected five WAS profiles striking E-W across the entire basin recorded on ocean bottom seismic stations and land stations with a 4800 c.i. G-II gun array as source. The second leg with R/V Sarmiento de Gamboa collected 16 MCS profiles (about 1500 km) using a 3.75 km-long streamer and a 3100 c.i. G-II gun array as source. MCS profiles were shot coincident with WAS profiles. WAS - MCS transects were located in regions with different amount of extension the study the full structure including the two conjugate margins. Additional MCS lines were shot concentrated in the region where mantle exhumation has taken place. The seismic information is placed in a 3D context with the integration of the multibeam bathymetry that covers the entire basin. We present the interpretation of the tectonic structure from MCS images and bathymetry and the calibrated stratigraphy of the basin that gives information of timing, duration, and amount of the tectonic extension for the different transects. We compare those results with the final P-wave velocity models from the five WAS profiles that supply information on the nature of the crust. Each transect provides information of the relationships among extension rates, crustal thickness, nature of the crust, and style of deformation. This information allows to interpret mechanisms of deformation, to infer the importance of magmatism in the rifting process, and to interpret the changes leading of mantle exhumation. Furthermore, the data provide insight in the process of formation of the structure conjugated margins.