Mid-Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Tongareva triple junction in the southwestern Pacific Basin

Abstract

Research Article| January 01, 2002 Mid-Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Tongareva triple junction in the southwestern Pacific Basin Roger L. Larson; Roger L. Larson 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert A. Pockalny; Robert A. Pockalny 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Richard F. Viso; Richard F. Viso 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Elisabetta Erba; Elisabetta Erba 2Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Lewis J. Abrams; Lewis J. Abrams 3Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina 28409, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Bruce P. Luyendyk; Bruce P. Luyendyk 4Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Joann M. Stock; Joann M. Stock 5Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Robert W. Clayton Robert W. Clayton 5Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Roger L. Larson 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA Robert A. Pockalny 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA Richard F. Viso 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Narragansett, Rhode Island 02882, USA Elisabetta Erba 2Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy Lewis J. Abrams 3Center for Marine Science, University of North Carolina, Wilmington, North Carolina 28409, USA Bruce P. Luyendyk 4Department of Geological Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA Joann M. Stock 5Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Robert W. Clayton 5Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91125, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 01 Jun 2001 Revision Received: 20 Sep 2001 Accepted: 01 Oct 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2002) 30 (1): 67–70. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0067:MCTEOT>2.0.CO;2 Article history Received: 01 Jun 2001 Revision Received: 20 Sep 2001 Accepted: 01 Oct 2001 First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation Roger L. Larson, Robert A. Pockalny, Richard F. Viso, Elisabetta Erba, Lewis J. Abrams, Bruce P. Luyendyk, Joann M. Stock, Robert W. Clayton; Mid-Cretaceous tectonic evolution of the Tongareva triple junction in the southwestern Pacific Basin. Geology 2002;; 30 (1): 67–70. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(2002)030<0067:MCTEOT>2.0.CO;2 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract The trace of the ridge-ridge-ridge triple junction that connected the Pacific, Farallon, and Phoenix plates during mid-Cretaceous time originates at the northeast corner of the Manihiki Plateau near the Tongareva atoll, for which the structure is named. The triple junction trace extends >3250 km south-southeast, to and beyond a magnetic anomaly 34 bight. It is identified by the intersection of nearly orthogonal abyssal hill fabrics, which mark the former intersections of the Pacific-Phoenix and Pacific-Farallon Ridges. A distinct trough is commonly present at the intersection. A volcanic episode from 125 to 120 Ma created the Manihiki Plateau with at least twice its present volume, and displaced the triple junction southeast from the Nova-Canton Trough to the newly formed Manihiki Plateau. Almost simultaneously, the plateau was rifted by the new triple junction system, and large fragments of the plateau were rafted away to the south and east. The Tongareva triple junction originated ca. 119 Ma, when carbonate sedimentation began atop the Manihiki Plateau. Subsequent spreading rates on the Pacific-Phoenix and Pacific-Farallon Ridges averaged 18–20 cm/yr until 84 Ma. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.