Bathymetry, Magnetic Anomalies, and Plate Tectonic History of the Mouth of the Gulf of California

Abstract

Research Article| November 01, 1972 Bathymetry, Magnetic Anomalies, and Plate Tectonic History of the Mouth of the Gulf of California ROGER L LARSON ROGER L LARSON Lamont-Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, New York 10964 Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar GSA Bulletin (1972) 83 (11): 3345–3360. https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1972)83[3345:BMAAPT]2.0.CO;2 Article history received: 07 Feb 1972 rev-recd: 02 Jun 1972 first online: 02 Mar 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; Bathymetry, Magnetic Anomalies, and Plate Tectonic History of the Mouth of the Gulf of California. GSA Bulletin 1972;; 83 (11): 3345–3360. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/0016-7606(1972)83[3345:BMAAPT]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 Bathymetric and magnetic anomaly profiles show that the East Pacific Rise crest and both the Tamayo and Rivera Fracture Zones presently define the boundary of the Pacific and North American plates at the mouth of the Gulf of California. New oceanic crust is forming at the rise crest and transform fault slip is occurring along the fracture zones at the rate of 6.0 cm/yr. The Middle America Trench north of the Rivera Fracture Zone became nearly dormant as a plate boundary 8 to 10 m.y. ago when the rise crest changed from the Pacific-Farallon to the Pacific-Rivera plate boundary. Two m.y. ago, this section of the trench ceased crustal subduction as the Rivera plate became attached to the North American plate and the rise crest became the Pacific-North American plate boundary.Baja California was dislocated from the North American plate 4 m.y. ago and began rafting away to the northwest at a velocity that has not been significantly altered since the initial breakaway. For the past 2 m.y., a coherent pattern of spreading has been recorded north of the Tamayo Frácture Zone. 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.