Technomagmatic Processes During Continental Rifting and the Formation and Stucture of the Ocean-Continent Transition on Rifted Continential Margins

Colorado State University, Fort Collins CO

Investigators

Abstract

Funds are provided for a geodynamic modeling study of associations between magmatism and extension on rifted continental margins. The research will focus on understanding the tectonomagmatic history of the crust in the ocean-continent transition zone and the transition from continental rifting to steady state seafloor spreading. Preliminary modeling by the PI suggest that intra-lithospheric processes may be a key to understanding the differences between volcanic rifted margins and non-volcanic rifted margins and the formation of crust at the ocean-continent transition. Proposed research will extend the study in three stages: development of a series of dynamic models of lithospheric extension; development of a quasi-dynamic modeling technique in which simple shear is approximated kinematically; and the application of the models of lithospheric deformation to define an upper boundary condition to be applied to a series of models that investigate convection and melting processes in the asthenosphere. Data from the Iberian and Grand Banks conjugate margins will be use to constrain the models.