Kerguelen: Continental Fragment or Oceanic Island?

Abstract

Research Article| February 01, 1974 Kerguelen: Continental Fragment or Oceanic Island? NORMAN D. WATKINS; NORMAN D. WATKINS 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar BERNARD M. GUNN; BERNARD M. GUNN 2Department of Geology, Universite de Montreal, Montreal 101, Province Quebec, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar JACQUES NOUGIER; JACQUES NOUGIER 3Department of Geology, Federal University, Yaounde, Cameroons, West Africa Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar AJOY K. BAKSI AJOY K. BAKSI 4Department of Geology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information NORMAN D. WATKINS 1Graduate School of Oceanography, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, Rhode Island 02881 BERNARD M. GUNN 2Department of Geology, Universite de Montreal, Montreal 101, Province Quebec, Canada JACQUES NOUGIER 3Department of Geology, Federal University, Yaounde, Cameroons, West Africa AJOY K. BAKSI 4Department of Geology, Carleton University, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada Publisher: Geological Society of America First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2674 Print ISSN: 0016-7606 Geological Society of America GSA Bulletin (1974) 85 (2): 201–212. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1974)85<201:KCFOOI>2.0.CO;2 Article history First Online: 01 Jun 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation NORMAN D. WATKINS, BERNARD M. GUNN, JACQUES NOUGIER, AJOY K. BAKSI; Kerguelen: Continental Fragment or Oceanic Island?. GSA Bulletin 1974;; 85 (2): 201–212. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1974)85<201:KCFOOI>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 SocietyGSA Bulletin Search Advanced Search Abstract In order to contribute to resolution of the possibility that the Kerguelen-Gaussberg Ridge (in the south-central Indian Ocean) is a continental fragment remaining after separation of Gondwanaland, a series of analyses have been made on collections of igneous rock from the island of Kerguelen. Petrographic analyses and measurement of the major- and trace-element concentrations, Sr-isotopic ratios, K-Ar ages, and paleomagnetic properties of intrusive and extrusive bodies have been added to the known volcanic stratigraphy and some previously unpublished geochemical data, to arrive at a preferred origin for the island. It is concluded that Kerguelen is not older than late Oligocene to early Miocene in outcrop, and that it migrated southwest-ward to its present location, away from the southeastern branch of the Mid-Indian ridge system, during the Tertiary crustal-spreading episode.No evidence is known to suggest that the island is of continental origin. Alkali syenite bodies, some of which are rich in quartz, were intruded into shield basalt in the southwestern part of the island during late Miocene to early Pliocene time, and are late-stage differentiates, similar to those found on other oceanic islands. Even though direct sampling of unexposed parts of the ridge (during the Deep-Sea Drilling Project) may yield lower Tertiary to upper Mesozoic sedimentary and igneous rocks, it is considered unlikely that any of the samples will consist of continental material. 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.