Late Paleocene demise of the Kula-Pacific spreading center

Abstract

Research Article| July 01, 1979 Late Paleocene demise of the Kula-Pacific spreading center Tim Byrne Tim Byrne 1Earth Sciences Board, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Tim Byrne 1Earth Sciences Board, University of California, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, California 95064 Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (1979) 7 (7): 341–344. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1979)7<341:LPDOTK>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 02 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Tim Byrne; Late Paleocene demise of the Kula-Pacific spreading center. Geology 1979;; 7 (7): 341–344. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1979)7<341:LPDOTK>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 A new plate history for the northeast Pacific, formulated from compiled magnetic-anomaly data, indicates that the Kula-Pacific ridge ceased spreading in late Paleocene time (about 56 to 59 m.y. B.P.). Magnetic anomalies 32 to 25 (70 to 59 m.y. B.P.) show the configuration of the Kula-Pacific-Farallon triple junction. Between anomalies 24 and 22 (56 to 53 m.y. B.P.), the southeast- and northeast-trending limbs of this triple junction fragmented and formed one set of north-trending ridge segments separated by transform faults. This realignment of spreading centers requires the simultaneous deactivation of the west-trending Kula-Pacific ridge. The removal of the Kula-Pacific ridge as a topographic barrier allows derivation of Aleutian Abyssal Plain turbidites directly from southern Alaska during Eocene and Oligocene time. Cessation of spreading along the Kula-Pacific ridge may have been caused by partial subduction of the ridge beneath the Aleutian arc. This model of ridge demise limits the amount of subsequent underthrusting of the Pacific plate and apparently requires the independence of southern Alaska from North America during early Tertiary time. This content is PDF only. Please click on the PDF icon to access. First Page Preview Close Modal You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.