Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

The origin of bathymetric highs at ridge-transform intersections: A multi-disciplinary case study at the Clipperton Fracture Zone

  • Published:
Marine Geophysical Researches Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Bathmetric highs on the old crust proximal to ridge-transform intersections (RTIs), termed “intersection highs”, are common but poorly understood features at offsets of fast to intermediate rate spreading centers. We have combined new reflection seismic, photographic, and geochemical data with previously published Seabeam, SeaMARC I, and SeaMARC II data to address the nature of the intersection highs at the Clipperton Fracture Zone. The Clipperton Intersection Highs are both topped by a carapace of young lavas at least 100 m thick. These lavas, which were erupted on the intersection highs, are chemically similar to their adjacent ridge segments and different from the surrounding older crust. At least some of the erupted magma traveled directly from the adjacent ridge at a shallow crustal level. Ridge-related magma covers and intrudes at least the upper 500 m of the transform tectonized crust at the RTI. We suspect that additional magma enters the intersection highs from directly below, without passing through the ridge. The young oceanic crust near the western Clipperton RTI is not thin by regional comparison. The 1.4 m.y. old crust near the eastern Clipperton RTI thickens approaching the transform offset. If the thermal effects of the proximal ridge were negligible, the eastern intersection high crust would appear to be in isostatic equilibrium. We believe that thermal effects are significant, and that the intersection high region stands anomalously shallow for its crustal thickness. This is attributable to increased temperature in the mantle below the ridge-proximal crust. Although ridge magma is injected into the proximal old crust, plate boundary reorganization is not taking place. Intersection high formation has been an ongoing process at both of the Clipperton RTIs for at least the past 1 m.y., during which time the plate boundary configuration has not changed appreciably. We envision a constant interplay between the intruding ridge magma and the disrupting transform fault motion. In addition, we envision a nearly constant input of magma from below the high, as an extension of the magma supply to the ridge from the mantle. Because the proximal ridge profoundly affects the juxtaposed crust at the RTI, sea floor fabric along the aseismic extensions of this fast-slipping transform fault is primarily a record of processes at work at the RTI rather than a record of transform tectonism.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Abrams, L. J., Detrick, R. S., and Fox, P. J., 1988, Morphology and Crustal Structure of the Kane Fracture Zone Transverse Ridge,J. Geophys. Res. 93, 3195–3210.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballard, R. D. and Moore, J. G., 1977, Photographic Atlas of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Rift Valley, Springer-Verlag, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ballard, R. D., Francheteau, S., Juteau, T., Rangan, C., and Normark, W., 1981, The East Pacific Rise at 21° N: The Volcanic, Tectonic and Hydrothermal Processes of the Central Axis,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 55, 1–10.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barany, I. and Karson, J. A., 1989, Basaltic Breccias of the Clipperton Fracture Zone (East Pacific): Sedimentation and Tectonics in a Fast-Slipping Oceanic Transform,Bull. Geol. Soc. of Am. 101, 204–220 and 758.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barone, A. M. and Ryan, W. B. F., 1988, Along-Axis Variations Within the Plate Boundary Zone of the Southern Segment of the Endeavour Ridge,J. Geophys. Res. 93, 7856–7868.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barone, A. M. and Ryan, W. B. F., 1990, Single Plume Model for Asynchronous Formation of the Lamont Seamounts and Adjacent East Pacific Rise Terrains,J. Geophys. Res. 95, 10801–10827.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, G. A., 1991, A Marine Seismic Study of the East Pacific Rise, 8°50′ N to 13°30′ N (Ph.D. Thesis), Columbia University New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, G. A., 1994, Oceanic Crust Thickens Approaching the Clipperton Fracture Zone,Mar. Geophys. Res. 16, 51–64 (this issue).

    Google Scholar 

  • Barth, G. A., Mutter, J. C., Buhl, P., Vera, E. E., and Madsen, J. A., 1989, Spatial and Temporal Variations in Crustal Accretion Processes on the East Pacific Rise, 8°50′ N to 9°50′ N, Mapped Through Reflection Seismic Profiling, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 70, 1307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batiza, R. and Niu, Y., 1992, Petrology and Magma Chamber Processes at the East Pacific Rise 9°30′ N,J. Geophys. Res. 97, 6779–6797.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batiza, R. and Vanko, D., 1983, Volcanic Development of Small Oceanic Central Volcanoes on the Flanks of the East Pacific Rise Inferred from Narrow-Beam Echo Sounder Surveys,Mar. Geol. 54, 53–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Batiza, R. and Vanko, D., 1984, Petrology of Young Pacific Seamounts,J. Geophys. Res. 89, 11235–11260.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bender, J. F., Langmuir, C. H., and Hanson, G. N., 1984, Petrogenesis of Basalt Glasses from the East Pacific Rise,J. Petrology 25, 213–254.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonatti, E., 1976, Serpentinite Protrusions in the Oceanic Crust,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 32, 107–113.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonatti, E., 1978, Vertical Tectonism in Oceanic Fracture Zones,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 37, 369–379.

    Google Scholar 

  • Bonatti, E. and Harrison, C. G. A., 1988, Eruption Styles of Basalt in Oceanic Spreading Ridges and Seamounts: Effect of Magma Temperature and Viscosity,J. Geophys. Res. 93, 2967–2980.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buck, W. R. and Su, W., 1989, Focused Mantle Upwelling beneath Mid-ocean Ridges Due to Feedback between Viscosity and Melting,Geophys. Res. Lett. 16, 641–644.

    Google Scholar 

  • Buhl, P., Diebold, J. B., and Stoffa, P. L., 1982, Array Length Magnification Through the Use of Multiple Sources and Receiving Arrays,Geophysics 47, 311–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Carbotte, S. and Macdonald, K., 1992, East Pacific Rise 8°–10°30′ N: Evolution of Ridge Segments and Discontinuities from SeaMARC II and Three-dimensional Magnetic Studies,J. Geophys. Res. 97, 6959–6982.

    Google Scholar 

  • Caress, D. W., Burnett, M. S., and Orcutt, J. A., 1992, Tomographic Images of the Axial Low Velocity Zone at 12°50′ N on the East Pacific Rise,J. Geophys. Res. 97, 9243–9263.

    Google Scholar 

  • Chen, Y., 1988, Thermal Model of Oceanic Transform Faults,J. Geophys. Res. 93, 8839–8851.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christeson, G. L., Purdy, G. M., and Fryer, G. J., 1992, Structure of Young Upper Crust at the East Pacific Rise near 9°30′ N,Geophys. Res. Lett. 19, 1045–1048.

    Google Scholar 

  • Christie, D. M. and Sinton, J. M., 1981, Evolution of Abyssal Lavas Along Propagating Segments of the Galapagos Spreading Center,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 56, 321–335.

    Google Scholar 

  • Clipperton Tectonic Team (I. Barany, P. J. Fox, D. G. Gallo, N. R. Grindlay, J. A. Karson, K. A. Kastens, E. Klein, K. C. Macdonald, R. A. Pockalny, J. R. Reynolds, W. B. F. Ryan), 1986, Investigations of the Clipperton Transform: Seabeam, SeaMARC I, Submersible, and Towed Camera, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 67, 1244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cordery, M. T. and Phipps Morgan, J. P., 1988, Melt Migration Models of Ridge-Transform Intersections: the Importance of Anisotropic Mantle Permeability, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 69, 488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Crane, K., 1987, Structural Evolution of the East Pacific Rise Axis from 13°10′ N to 10°35′ N: Interpretations from SeaMARC I Data,Tectonophysics 136, 65–124.

    Google Scholar 

  • DeMets, C. R., Gordon, G., Argus, F., and Stein, S., 1990, Current Plate Motions,Geophys. J. Int. 101, 425–478.

    Google Scholar 

  • Detrick, R. S., Buhl, P., Vera, E., Mutter, J., Orcutt, J., Madsen, J., and Brocher, T., 1987, Multi-Channel Seismic Imaging of a Crustal Magma Chamber Along the East Pacific Rise,Nature 326, 35–41.

    Google Scholar 

  • Detrick, R. S., White, R. S., and Purdy, G. M., 1993, Crustal Structure of Oceanic Fracture Zones from Seismic Reflection and Refraction Studies, in: P. J. Fox, (ed.),The Tectonics of Fracture Zones, Academic Press, (in press)

  • Edwards, M. H., Fornari, D. J., Madsen, J. A., Malinverno, A., and Ryan, W. B. F., 1991, The Regional Tectonic Fabric of the East Pacific Rise From 12°50′ N to 15°10′ N,J. Geophys. Res. 96, 7995–8017.

    Google Scholar 

  • Eisen, M. F., Tighe, S. A., Fox, P. J., and Macdonald, K. C., 1988, The Structural Anatomy of the Clipperton and Orozco Fracture Zones: Seabeam and SeaMARC II Data, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 69, 1475.

    Google Scholar 

  • Elthon, D., Karson, J. A., Casey, J. F., Sullivan, J., and Siroky, F. X., 1986, Geochemistry of Diabase Dikes from the Lewis Hills Massif, Bay of Islands Ophiolite: Evidence of Partial Melting of Oceanic Crust in Transform Faults,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 78, 89–103.

    Google Scholar 

  • Embley, R. W., Murphy, K. M., and Fox, C. G., 1990, High-Resolution Studies of the Summit of Axial Volcano,J. Geophys. Res. 95, 12785–12812.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, J. I. and Purdy, G. M., 1982, Upper Crustal Velocity Structure in the ROSE Area of the East Pacific Rise,J. Geophys. Res. 87, 8397–8402.

    Google Scholar 

  • Farre, J. A., Ryan, W. B. F., Koch, W., and Brosius, A. M., 1983, Applying Thyristor Technology to Deep Sea Photography,Funct. Photo. March/April, 16–21.

  • Fornari, D. J., Gallo, D. G., Edwards, M. H., Madsen, J. A., Perfit, M. R., and Shor, A. N., 1989, Structure and Topography of the Siqueiros Transform Fault System: Evidence for the Development of Intra-Transform Spreading Centers,Mar. Geophys. Res. 11, 263–299.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornari, D. J., Perfit, M. R., Allen, J. F., and Batiza, R., 1988, Small-Scale Heterogeneities in Depleted Mantle Sources: Near Ridge Seamount Lava Geochemistry and Implications for Mid-Ocean-Ridge Magmatic Proccesses,Nature 331, 511–513.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fornari, D. J., W. B. F. Ryan, and P. J. Fox, 1984, The Evolution of Craters and Calderas on Young Seamounts: Insights from SeaMARC I and Seabeam Sonar Surveys of a Small Seamount Group near the Axis of the East Pacific Rise Near 10° N,J. Geophys. Res. 89, 11069–11083.

    Google Scholar 

  • Forsyth, D. W. and Wilson, B., 1984, Three-Dimensional Temperature Structure of a Ridge-Transform-Ridge System,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 70, 355–362.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, P. J., Eisen, M. F., Madsen, J. A., Fornari, D. J., Macdonald, K. C., and Gallo, D. G., 1988, Constraints on the Pole of Opening for Pacific-Cocos: Implications for Plate Boundary Geometry, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 69, 1477.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, C. G., 1990, Evidence of Active Ground Deformation on the Mid-Ocean Ridge: Axial Seamount, Juan de Fuca Ridge, April Through June 1988,J. Geophys. Res. 95, 12813–12822.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, P. J. and Gallo, D. G., 1984, A Tectonic Model for Ridge-Transform-Ridge Plate Boundaries: Implications for the Structure of Oceanic Lithosphere,Tectonophysics 104, 205–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Fox, P. J. and Gallo, D. G., 1989, Transform of the Eastern Central Pacific, in: E. L. Winterer, D. M. Hussong, and R. W. Decker, (eds.), The Eastern Pacific Ocean and Hawaii, DNAG Volume N,Geol. Soc. of Am. 111–124.

  • Francheteau, J. and Ballard, R. D., 1983, The East Pacific Rise Near 21° N, 13° N, and 20° S: Inferences for Along-Strike Variability of Axial Processes of the Mid-Ocean Ridge,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 64, 93–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francheteau, J., Juteau, T., and Rangan, C., 1979, Basaltic Pillars in Collapsed Lava-Pools on the Deep Ocean-Floor,Nature 281, 209–211.

    Google Scholar 

  • Francheteau, J., Needham, D., Juteau, T., and Rangin, C., 1980,Naissance d'un Ocean: The Crest of the East Pacific Rise,Centre National pour l'Exploitation des Oceans, Paris.

  • Fujita, K. and Sleep, N. H., 1978, Membrane Stresses Near Mid-Ocean Ridge-Transform Intersections,Tectonophysics 50, 207–221.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallo, D. G., Fox, P. J., and Macdonald, K. C., 1986, A Seabeam Investigation of the Clipperton Transform Fault: The Morphotectonic Expression of a East Slipping Transform Boundary,J. Geophys. Res. 91, 3455–3467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gallo, D. G., Fox, P. J., Madsen, J. A., Rea, D. K., and Lonsdale, P., 1992, The Morphotectonic Character of the Garret Transform and Adjoining Segments of the East Pacific Rise,Bull. Geol. Soc. of Am., (submitted manuscript).

  • Gary, M., McAfee, R., Jr., and Wolf, C. L., (eds.), 1972,Glossary of Geology, American Geological Institute, Washington, D.C.

    Google Scholar 

  • Gente, P., Mavel, C., Auzend, J. M., Karson, J. A. and Fouguet, Y., 1991, An Example of a Recent Accretion on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge: the Snake Pit Neovolcanic Ridge (MARK Area, 23°22′ N),Tectonophysics 190, 1–29.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, S. R., 1990, Relationships Between Lava Types, Sea floor Morphology, and the Occurrence of Hydrothermal Venting in the ASHES Vent Field of Axial Volcano,J. Geophys. Res. 95, 12875–12893.

    Google Scholar 

  • Harding, A. J., Orcutt, J. A., Kappus, M. E., Vera, E. E., Mutter, J. C., Buhl, P., Detrick, R. S., and Brocher, T. M., 1989, The Structure of Young Oceanic Crust at 13° N on the East Pacific Rise from Expanding Spread Profiles,J. Geophys. Res. 94, 12163–12196.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hayes, D. E., 1988, Age-Depth Relationship and Depth Anomalies in the Southeast Indian Ocean and South Atlantic Ocean,J. Geophys. Res. 93, 2937–2954.

    Google Scholar 

  • Heezen, B. C. and Hollister, C. D., 1971,The Face of the Deep, Oxford University Press, New York.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hekinian, R., Auzende, J. M., Francheteau, J., Gente, P., Ryan, W. B. F., and Kappel, E. S., 1985, Offset Spreading Centers Near 12°53′ N on the East Pacific Rise: Submersible Observations and Compositions of the Volcanics,Mar. Geophys. Res. 7, 359–377.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hey, R. N., Duennebier, R. K., and Morgan, W. J., 1980, Propagating Rifts on Mid-Ocean Ridges,J. Geophys. Res. 85, 3647–3658.

    Google Scholar 

  • Hey, R. N., Kleinrock, M. C., Miller, S. P., Atwater, T. M., and Searle, R. C., 1986, Seabeam/Deeptow Investigation of an Active Oceanic Propagating Rift System, Galapagos 95.5° W,J. Geophys. Res. 91, 3369–3393.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kappel, E. S. and Ryan, W. B. F., 1986, Volcanic Episodicity and a Non-Steady State Rift Valley along Northeast Pacific Spreading Centers: Evidence from SeaMARC I,J. Geophys. Res. 91, 13925–13940.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kappus, M. E., Harding, A. J., and Orcutt, J. A., 1989, Upper Crustal Velocity Variations at 13° N on the East Pacific Rise, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 70, 1317.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karson, J. A. and Dewey, J. F., 1978, Coastal Complex, Western Newfoundland: An Early Ordovician Oceanic Fracture Zone,Bull. Geol. Soc. of Am. 89, 1037–1049.

    Google Scholar 

  • Karson, J. A., 1984, Variations in Structure and Petrology in the Coastal Complex, Newfoundland: Anatomy of an Oceanic Fracture Zone, in: I. G. Gass, S. J. Lippard, and A. W. Shelton (eds.),Ophiolites and Oceanic Lithosphere, Geological Society of London13, 131–144.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kastens, K. A., Ryan, W. B. F., and Fox, P. J., 1986, Structural and Volcanic Expression of a Fast Slipping Ridge-Transform-Ridge Plate Boundary: SeaMARC I and Photographic Surveys at the Clipperton Transform Fault,J. Geophys. Res. 91, 3469–3488.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kent, G. M., Harding, A. J., and Orcutt, J. A., 1990, Evidence for a Smaller Magma Chamber Beneath the East Pacific Rise,Nature 344, 650–653.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, E. M., Langmuir, C. H., and Staudigel, H., 1991, Geochemistry of Basalts from the Southeast Indian Ridge, 115° N–138° E,J. Geophys. Res. 96, 2089–2107.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein, E. M., the Clipperton Transform Team, and the CHEPR Team, 1987, Geochemistry of Basalts Collected During Alvin Dives Within and Adjacent to the Clipperton Transform Fault, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 68, 1540.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klitgord, K. D. and Mammerickz, J., 1982, Northern East Pacific Rise: Magnetic Anomaly and Bathymetric Framework,J. Geophys. Res. 87, 6725–6750.

    Google Scholar 

  • Kong, L. S., Detrick, R. S., Fox, P. J., Mayer, L. A., and Ryan, W. B. F., 1988, The Morphology and Tectonics of the MARK Area from Seabeam and SeaMARC I Observations (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 23° N),Mar. Geophys. Res. 10, 59–90.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lachenbruch, A. H. and Sass, J. H., 1980, Heatflow and Energetics of the San Andreas Fault Zone,J. Geophys. Res. 85, 6185–6223.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langmuir, C. H., Bender, J. F., and Batiza, R., 1986, Petrologic and Tectonic Segmentation of the East Pacific Rise, 5°30′ N to 14°30′ N,Nature 322, 422–429.

    Google Scholar 

  • Langseth, M. G. and Hobart, M. A., 1976, Interpretation of Heatflow Measurements in the Vema Fracture Zone,Geophys. Res. Lett. 3, 241–244.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lichtman, G. S., Normark, W. R., and Spiess, F. N., 1984, Photogeologic Study of a Segment of the East Pacific Rise Axis near 21° N Latitude,Bull. Geol. Soc. of Am. 95, 743–752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, P., 1977, Regional Shape and Tectonics of the Equatorial East Pacific Rise,Mar. Geophys. Res. 3, 295–315.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, P., 1977, Structural Geomorphology of a Fast-Spreading Rise Crest: The East Pacific Rise Near 3°25′ S,Mar. Geophys. Res. 3, 251–293.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, P., 1978, Near Bottom Reconnaissance of a Fast Slipping Transform Fault at the Pacific-Nazca Plate Boundary,J. Geol. 86, 451–472.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, P., 1983, Overlapping Rift Zones at the 5.5° S Offset of the East Pacific Rise,J. Geophys. Res. 88, 9393–9406.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, P., 1986, Tectonic and Magmatic Ridges in the Eltanin Fault System. South Pacific,Mar. Geophys. Res. 8, 203–242.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lonsdale, P. and Spiess, F. N., 1980, Deep-Tow Observations at the East Pacific Rise, 8°45′ N, and Some Interpretations, Init. Rept. DSDP 54, U.S. Gov't. Print. Off., Washington, D.C., 43–62.

    Google Scholar 

  • Louden, K. E. and Forsyth, D. W., 1976, Thermal Conduction Across Fracture Zones and the Gravitational Edge Effect,J. Geophys. Res. 81, 4869–4874.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, K. C. and Fox, P. J., 1988, The Axial Summit Graben and Cross-Sectional Shape of the East Pacific Rise as Indicators of Axial Magma Chambers and Recent Volcanic Eruptions,Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 88, 119–131.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, K. C., Fox, P. J., Perram, L. J., Eisen, M. F., Haymon, R. M., Miller, S. P., Carbotte, S. M., Cormier, M. H., and Shor, A. N., 1988, A New View of the Mid-Ocean Ridge from the Behavior of Ridge-Axis Discontinuities,Nature 335, 217–225.

    Google Scholar 

  • Macdonald, K. C., Sempere, J. C., and Fox, P. J., 1984, East Pacific Rise From Siqueiros to Orozco Fracture Zones: Along-Strike Continuity of the Axial Neovolcanic Zone and Structure and Evolution of Overlapping Spreading Centers,J. Geophys. Res. 89, 6049–6069.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madsen, J. A., Detrick, R. S., Mutter, J. C., Buhl, P., and Orcutt, J. A., 1990, A Two- and Three-Dimensional Analysis of Gravity Anomalies Associated with the East Pacific Rise and 9° and 13° N,J. Geophys. Res. 95, 4967–4987.

    Google Scholar 

  • Madsen, J. A., Fox, P. J., and Macdonald, K. C., 1986, Morphotectonic Fabric of the Orozco Transform Fault: Results from a Seabeam Investigation,J. Geophys. Res. 91, 3439–3454.

    Google Scholar 

  • Malinverno, A. and Gilbert, L. E., 1989, A Stochastic Model for the Creation of Abyssal Hill Topography at a Slow Spreading Center,J. Geophys. Res. 94, 1665–1675.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mamaloukas-Frangoulis, V., Auzende, J.-M., Bideau, D., Bonatti, E., Cannat, M., Honnorez, J., Lagabrielle, Y., Malavieille, J., Mével, C., and Needham, H. D., 1991,In-Situ Study of the Eastern Ridge-Transform Intersection of the Vema Fracture Zone,Tectonophysics 190, 55–71.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menard, H. W. and Atwater, T., 1968, Changes in Direction of Sea floor Spreading,Nature 219, 463–467.

    Google Scholar 

  • Menard, H. W. and Atwater, T., 1969, Origin of Fracture Zone Topography,Nature 222, 1037–1040.

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore, J. G., 1975, Mechanism of Formation of Pillow Lava,Am. Sci. 63, 269–277.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mutter, J. C. and Newmark, R. L., 1986, Seismic Response of Detailed Structure in DSDP Hole 504B: Synthetic Seismograms in the Domain of Intercept Time and Ray Parameter, In M. Leinen, and D. K., Rea, (eds.),Init, Repts. of Deep Sea Drilling Project 92, 571–582.

    Google Scholar 

  • Normark, W. R., 1976, Delineation of the Main Extrusion Zone of the East Pacific Rise at Lat. 21° N,Geology 4, 681–685.

    Google Scholar 

  • Parmentier, E.M. and Haxby, W. F., 1986, Thermal Stresses in the Oceanic Lithosphere: Evidence from Geoid Anomalies at Fracture Zones,J. Geophys. Res. 91, 7193–7204.

    Google Scholar 

  • Perram, L. J. and Macdonald, K. C., 1990, A One-Million-Year History of the 11°45′ N East Pacific Rise Discontinuity,J. Geophys. Res. 95, 21363–21381.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phipps Morgan, J. and Parmentier, E. M., 1984, Lithospheric Stress Near a Ridge-Transform Intersection,Geophys. Res. Lett. 11, 113–116.

    Google Scholar 

  • Phipps Morgan, J. and Forsyth, D. W., 1988, Three-Dimensional Flow and Temperature Perturbations Due to a Transform Offset: Effects on Oceanic Crust and Upper Mantle Structure,J. Geophys. Res. 93, 2955–2966.

    Google Scholar 

  • Purdy, G. M., Sempere, J.-C., Schouten, H., Dubois, D. L., and Goldsmith, R., 1990, Bathymetry of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 24°–31° N: A Map Series,Mar. Geophys. Res. 12, 247–252.

    Google Scholar 

  • Rea, D. K., 1976, Changes in the Axial Configuration of the East Pacific Rise Near 6° S During the Past Two Million Years,J. Geophys. Res. 81, 1495–1504.

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds, J., Langmuir, C. H., Bender, J. F., Kastens, K. A., and Ryan W., 1992, Spatial and Temporal Variability in the Geochemistry of Basalts from the East Pacific Rise,Nature,359, 493–499.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sandwell, D. and Schubert, G., 1982, Lithospheric Flexure at Fracture Zones,J. Geophys. Res. 87, 4657–4667.

    Google Scholar 

  • Schilling, J.-G., Zajac, M., Evans, R., Johnston, T., White, W., Devine, J. D., and Kingsley, R., 1983, Petrologic and Geochemical Variations Along the Mid-Atlantic Ridge from 29° N to 73° N,Am. J. Sci. 283, 510–586.

    Google Scholar 

  • Searle, R. C., 1983, Multiple Closely Spaced Transfer Faults in Fast-Slipping Fracture Zones,Geology 11, 607–610.

    Google Scholar 

  • Severinghaus, J. P. and Macdonald, K. C., 1988, High Inside Corners at Ridge-Transform Intersections,Mar. Geophys. Res. 9, 353–367.

    Google Scholar 

  • Shapiro, V., 1987, A Photographic Study of the Clipperton Transform Fault (Senior Thesis), Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

    Google Scholar 

  • Silzer. P. L., 1989, Seismic Structure of the O'Gorman Seamounts (MS Thesis), University of California, Davis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sleep, N. H. and Biehler, S., 1970, Topography and Tectonics at the Intersections of Fracture Zones with Central Rifts,J. Geophys. Res. 75, 2748–2752.

    Google Scholar 

  • Sotin, C. and Parmentier, E. M., 1989, Dynamical Consequences of Compositional and Thermal Density Stratification Beneath Spreading Centers,Geophys. Res. Lett. 16, 835–838.

    Google Scholar 

  • Thompson, G., Bryan, W. B., and S. E., Humphris, 1989, Axial Volcanism on the East Pacific Rise, 10–12° N, in A. D. Saunders and M. J. Norry, (eds.),Magmatism in the Ocean Basins, Geol. Soc. Special Pub. No 42., 181–200.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tighe, S. (ed.), 1988, East Pacific Rise Data Synthesis, JOI Inc., Washington D.C., 175 figures.

    Google Scholar 

  • Toomey, D. R., Purdy, G. M., Solomon, S. C., and Wilcock, W. S. D., 1990, The Three Dimensional Seismic Velocity Structure of the East Pacific Rise Near Latitude 9°30′ N,Nature 347, 639–645.

    Google Scholar 

  • Turcotte, D. L., 1974, Are Transform Faults Thermal Contraction Cracks?J. Geophys. Res. 79, 2573–2577.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vera, E. E. and Diebold, J. B., 1990, Seismic Structure of the Uppermost 0.5 to 1 km of Zero Age Oceanic Crust, in The Physical Properties of Volcanic Sea floor, workshop proceedings, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, April 24–26, 1990.

  • Vera, E. E. and Mutter, J. C., 1988, Crustal Structure in the ROSE Area of the East Pacific Rise: One-Dimensional Travel Time Inversion of Sonobuoys and Expanded Spread Profiles,J. Geophys. Res. 93, 6635–6648.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vera, E. E., Mutter, J. C., Buhl, P., Orcutt, J., Harding, A., Kappus, M. E., Detrick, R. S., and Brocher, T. M., 1990, The structure of 0 to 0.2 m.y. old oceanic crust at 9° N on the East Pacific Rise from expanded spread profiles,J. Geophys. Res. 95, 15529–15556.

    Google Scholar 

  • Vogt, P. R. and Johnson, G. L., 1975, Transform Faults and Longitudinal Flow Below the Midoceanic Ridge,J. Geophys. Res. 80, 1399–1428.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weaver, J. S. and Langmuir, C. H., 1990, Calculation of Phase Equilibrium in Mineral-Melt Systems,Computers and Geosciences 16, 1–19.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wessel, P. and Haxby, W. F., 1989, Geoid Anomalies at Fracture Zones and Thermal Models for the Oceanic Lithosphere,Geophys. Res. Lett. 16, 827–830.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wilson, J. T., 1965, A New Class of Faults and Their Bearing on Continental Drift,Nature 207, 343–347.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wright, M. A., McClain, J. S., and Silzer, P., 1989, The Structure of the East O'Gorman Seamounts, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 70, 1307.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zehnder, C. M. and Mutter, J. C., 1990, Systematics of Thickness Variations in Oceanic Crust, EOS Trans.,Am. Geophys. Union 71, 1573.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. G. A. Barth

    Present address: Department of Geophysics, Stanford University, 94305-2215, Stanford, CA, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lamont Doherty Geological Observatory of Columbia University, 10964, Palisades, NY, USA

    G. A. Barth & K. A. Kastens

  2. Department of Geology, Duke University, 27706, Durham, NC, USA

    E. M. Klein

Authors
  1. G. A. Barth
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. K. A. Kastens
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. E. M. Klein
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Barth, G.A., Kastens, K.A. & Klein, E.M. The origin of bathymetric highs at ridge-transform intersections: A multi-disciplinary case study at the Clipperton Fracture Zone. Mar Geophys Res 16, 1–50 (1994). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01812444

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01812444

Key words

Search

Navigation