Propagation as a mechanism of reorientation of the Juan de Fuca Ridge

Abstract

We present a revised model of the tectonic evolution of the Juan de Fuca ridge by propagating rifting. The new model has three different relative rotation poles, covering the time intervals 17.0–8.5 Ma, 8.5–5.0 Ma, and 5.0 Ma to the present. The rotation pole shifts at 8.5 and 5.0 Ma imply clockwise shifts in the direction of relative motion of 10° to 15°. At each of these shifts, the pattern of propagation reorganizes, and the new ridges formed by propagation are at an orientation closer to orthogonal to the new direction of motion than the orientation of the preexisting ridges. The model, containing a total of seven propagation sequences, shows excellent agreement with the isochrons inferred from the magnetic anomaly data, except in areas complicated by the separate Explorer and Gorda plates. The agreement between model and data near the Explorer plate breaks down abruptly at an age of about 5 Ma, indicating that the probable cause of the rotation pole shift at that time was the separation of the Explorer plate from the Juan de Fuca plate.