Refining the formation and early evolution of the Eastern North American Margin: New insights from multiscale magnetic anomaly analyses
Links
- More information: Publisher Index Page (via DOI)
- Download citation as: RIS | Dublin Core
Abstract
To investigate the oceanic lithosphere formation and early seafloor spreading history of the North Atlantic Ocean, we examine multiscale magnetic anomaly data from the Jurassic/Early Cretaceous age Eastern North American Margin (ENAM) between 31 and 40°N. We integrate newly acquired sea surface magnetic anomaly and seismic reflection data with publicly available aeromagnetic and composite magnetic anomaly grids, satellite-derived gravity anomaly, and satellite-derived and shipboard bathymetry data. We evaluate these data sets to (1) refine magnetic anomaly correlations throughout the ENAM and assign updated ages and chron numbers to M0–M25 and eight pre-M25 anomalies; (2) identify five correlatable magnetic anomalies between the East Coast Magnetic Anomaly (ECMA) and Blake Spur Magnetic Anomaly (BSMA), which may document the earliest Atlantic seafloor spreading or synrift magmatism; (3) suggest preexisting margin structure and rifting segmentation may have influenced the seafloor spreading regimes in the Atlantic Jurassic Quiet Zone (JQZ); (4) suggest that, if the BSMA source is oceanic crust, the BSMA may be M series magnetic anomaly M42 (~168.5 Ma); (5) examine the along and across margin variation in seafloor spreading rates and spreading center orientations from the BSMA to M25, suggesting asymmetric crustal accretion accommodated the straightening of the ridge from the bend in the ECMA to the more linear M25; and (6) observe anomalously high-amplitude magnetic anomalies near the Hudson Fan, which may be related to a short-lived propagating rift segment that could have helped accommodate the crustal alignment during the early Atlantic opening.
Study Area
Publication type | Article |
---|---|
Publication Subtype | Journal Article |
Title | Refining the formation and early evolution of the Eastern North American Margin: New insights from multiscale magnetic anomaly analyses |
Series title | Journal of Geophysical Research B: Solid Earth |
DOI | 10.1002/2017JB014308 |
Volume | 122 |
Issue | 11 |
Year Published | 2017 |
Language | English |
Publisher | AGU |
Contributing office(s) | Woods Hole Coastal and Marine Science Center |
Description | 25 p. |
First page | 8724 |
Last page | 8748 |
Other Geospatial | Eastern North American Margin |
Google Analytic Metrics | Metrics page |