Initiation of subduction zones as a consequence of lateral compositional bouyancy contrast within the lithosphere: A petrological perspective

Journal of Petrology

Volumn 44, Issue 5, 2003, Pages 851-866

  Niu, Yaoling ^a,b   O'Hara, Michael J ^a   Pearce, Julian A ^a  

^a CARDIFF UNIVERSITY   (United Kingdom)

^b UNIVERSITY OF HOUSTON   (United States)

Author keywords

Compositional buoyancy contrast; Continental accretion; Hotspots; Mantle peridotites; Mantle plumes; Oceanic lithosphere; Oceanic plateaux; Ophiolites; Passive continental margins; Plate tectonics; Subduction initiation

Indexed keywords

ACCRETION; BUOYANCY; MANTLE PLUME; OCEANIC LITHOSPHERE; OPHIOLITE; PETROLOGY; PLATE TECTONICS; SUBDUCTION ZONE;

EID: 0037642350     PISSN: 00223530     EISSN: None     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: None     Document Type: Article

References (97)

1. Abbott, D. & Mooney, W. (1995). The structural and geochemical evolution of the continental crust: support for the oceanic plateau model of continental growth. Review of Geophysics, Supplement, 231-242.
2. Abbott, D. H., Drury, R. & Mooney, W. D. (1997). Continents as lithological icebergs: the importance of buoyant lithospheric roots. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 149, 15-27.
3. Albarède, F. (1998). The growth of continental crust. Tectonophysics 296, 1-14.
4. Ben-Avraham, Z., Nur A., Jones, D. & Cox, A. (1981). Continental accretion: from oceanic plateaus to allochthonous terranes. Science 213, 47-54.
5. Bloomer, S. H., Taylor, B. MacLeod, C. J., Stern, R. J., Fryer, P., Hawkins, J. W. & Johnson, L. (1995). Early are volcanism and the ophiolite problem: a perspective from drilling in the western Pacific. In: Taylor, B. & Natland, J. H. (eds) Active Margins and Marginal Basins of the Western Pacific. American Geophysical Union Monograph 88, 1-30.
6. Bonatti, E. & Michael, P. J. (1989). Mantle peridotites from continental rifts to ocean basins to subduction zones. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 91, 297-311.
7. Boyd, F. R. (1989). Composition and distinction between oceanic and cratonic lithosphere. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 96, 15-26.
8. Burke, K., Dewey, J. F. & Kidd, W. S. F. (1976). Precambrian paleomagnetic results compatible with contemporary operation of the Wilson cycle. Tectonophysics 33, 287-299.
9. Burke, K., Fox, P. J. & Sengör, M. C. (1978). Buoyant ocean floor and the origin of the Caribbean. Journal of Geophysical Research 83, 3949-3954.
10. Campbell, I. H. & Griffiths, R. W. (1990). Implications of mantle plume structure for the evolution of flood basalts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 99, 79-93.
11. Casey, J. F. & Dewey, J. F. (1984). Initiation of subduction zones along transform and accreting plate boundaries, triple junction evolution, and forearc spreading centers-implications for ophiolite geology and obduction. In: Gass, I. G., Lippard, S. J. & Shelton, A. W. (eds) Ophiolites and Oceanic Lithosphere. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 13, 269-290.
12. Clague, D. A. & Dalrymple, G. B. (1989). Tectonic, geochronology and origin of the Hawaii-Emperor Chain. In: Winterer, E. L., Hussong, D. M. & Decker, R. W. (eds) The Geology of North America, Vol. N, the Eastern Pacific and Hawaii. Boulder, CO: Geological Society of America, pp. 188-217.
13. Clift, P. D. & Dixon, J. E. (1998). Jurassic ridge collapse, subduction initiation and ophiolite obduction in the southern Greek Tethys. Eclogae Geologicae Helvetiae 91, 123-138.
14. Cloetingh, S. A. P. L., Wortel, M. J. R. & Vlaar, N. J. (1982). Evolution of passive continental margins and initiation of subduction zones. Nature 297, 139-142.
15. Condie, K. C. (1997). Plate Tectonics and Crustal Evolution. Bath: Butterworth Heinemann.
16. Cox, A. & Hart, R. B. (1986). Plate Tectonics-How it Works. Oxford: Blackwell Scientific.
17. Davies, G. F. (1998). Topography: a robust constraint on mantle fluxes. Chemical Geology 145, 479-489.
18. Davies, G. F. & Richards, M. A. (1992). Mantle convection. Journal of Geology 100, 151-206.
19. Davies, H. & Stevenson, S. J. (1992). Physical model of source region of subduction zone volcanics. Journal of Geophysical Research 97, 2037-2070.
20. Dewey, J. F. & Bird, J. M. (1970). Mountain belts and new global tectonics. Journal of Geophysical Research 75, 2625-2647.
21. Dick, H. J. B. & Bullen, T. (1984). Chromian spinels as a tectonic indicator in abyssal and alpine-type peridotites and spatially associated lavas. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 86, 54-76.
22. Dick, H. J. B., Fisher, R. L. & Bryan, W. B. (1984). Mineralogical variability of the uppermost mantle along mid-ocean ridges. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 69, 88-106.
23. Dimalanta, C., Taira, A., Yumul, G. P., Tokuyama, H. & Mochizuki, K. (2002). New rates of western Pacific island arc magmatism from seismic and gravity data. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 202, 105-115.
24. Duncan, R. A. & Hargraves, R. B. (1984). Plate tectonic evolution of the Caribbean region in the mantle reference frame. In: Bonni, W. E., Hargraves, R. B. & Shagam, R. (eds) The Caribbean-South American Plate Boundary and Regional Tectonics. Geological Society of America, Memoirs 162, 81-93.
25. Eissen, J. P., Nohara, M., Cotton, M. J. & Hirose, K. (1994). North Fiji basin basalts and their magma sources: 1. Incompatible element constraints. Marine Geology 116, 153-178.
26. Eldholm, O. & Coffin, M. F. (2000). Large igneous provinces and plate tectonics. In: Richards, M. A., Gordon, R. G. & van der Hilst, R. (eds) The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions. American Geophysical Union Monograph 121, 309-326.
27. Ellis, M. J. (1988). Lithospheric strength in compression: initiation of subduction, flake tectonics, foreland migration of thrusting, and origin of displaced terrains. Journal of Geology 96, 91-100.
28. England, P. C. (2001). Why are arc volcanoes where they are? EOS Transactions, American Geophysical Union 82(47), F1156.
29. Erickson, S. G. (1993). Sediment loading, lithospheric flexure, and subduction initiation at passive margins. Geology 21, 125-128.
30. Ewart, A., Collerson, K. D., Regelous, M., Wendt, J. I. & Niu, Y. (1998). Geochemical evolution within the Tonga-Kermadec-Lau arc-backarc system: the role of varying mantle wedge composition in space and time. Journal of Petrology 39, 331-368.
31. Forsyth, D. W. & the MELT Seismic Team (1998). Imaging the deep seismic structure beneath a mid-ocean ridge: the MELT experiment. Science 280, 1215-1218.
32. Forsyth, D. W. & Uyeda, S. (1975). On the relative importance of the driving forces of plate motion. Geophysical Journal of Royal Astronomical Society 43, 163-200.
33. Gaetani, G. A., Grove, T. L. & Bryan, W. B. (1993). The influence of water on the petrogenesis of subduction-related igneous rocks. Nature 365, 332-334.
34. Garver, J. I., Solovier, A. V., Bullen, M. E. & Brandon, M. T. (2000). Towards a more complete record of magmatism and exhumation in continental arcs, using detrital fission-track thermochrometry. Physics and Chemistry of the Earth A25, 565-570.
35. Georgen, J. E., Lin, J. & Dick, H. J. B. (2001). Evidence from gravity anomalies for interactions of the Marion and Bouvet hotspots with the Southwest Indian Ridge: effects of transform offsets. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 187, 283-300.
36. Griffin, W. L., O'Reilley, S. Y. & Ryan, C. G. (1999). The composition and origin of subcontinental lithospheric mantle. In: Fei, Y., Bertka, C. M. & Mysen, B. O. (eds) Mantle Petrology: Field Observations and High Pressure Experimentation-a Tribute to Francis R. (Joe) Boyd. Geochemical Society Special Publication 6, 13-45.
37. Hawkins, J. W., Lonsdale, P. F. & Batiza, R. (1987). Petrologic evolution of the Louisville Seamount Chain. In: Keating, B. H., Fryer, P., Batiza, R. & Boehlert, G. W. (eds) Seamounts, Islands, and Atolls. American Geophysical Union Monograph 43, 235-254.
38. Herzberg, C. (1992). Depth and degree of melting of komatiites. Journal of Geophysical Research 97, 4521-4540.
39. Herzberg, C. (1993). Lithospheric peridotites of Kaapvaal craton. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 120, 13-29.
40. Herzberg, C. (1999). Phase equilibrium constraints on the formation of cratonic mantle. In: Fei, Y., Bertka, C. M. & Mysen, B. O. (eds) Mantle Petrology: Field Observations and High Pressure Experimentation-a Tribute to Francis R. (Joe) Boyd. Geochemical Society Special Publication 6, 241-258.
41. Herzberg, C. & O'Hara, M. J. (1998). Phase equilibrium constraints on the origin of basalts, picrites, and komatiites. Earth-Science Review 44, 39-79.
42. Hess, H. H. (1962). History of the ocean basins. In: Engel, A. E., James, H. L. & Leonard, B. F. (eds) Petrologic Studies: a Volume in Honor of A. F. Buddington. Geological Society of America Bulletin 599-620.
43. Hill, R. I., Campbell, I. H., Davies, G. F. & Griffiths, R. W. (1992). Mantle plumes and continental tectonics. Science 256, 186-193.
44. Holmes, A. (1945). Principles of Physical Geology. New York: Ronald Press.
45. Hynes, A. (1982). Stability of the oceanic tectonosphere-a model for early Proterozoic inter-cratonic orogeny. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 61, 333-345.
46. Jaques, A. L. & Green, D. H. (1980). Anhydrous melting of peridotite at 0-15 kb pressure and the genesis of tholeiitic basalts. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 73, 287-310.
47. Jordan, T. H. (1988). Structure and formation of the continental lithosphere. Journal of Petrology, Special Lithosphere Issue, 11-37.
48. Kanamori, H. & Anderson, D. L. (1975). Theoretical basis of some empirical relations in seismology. Bulletin of Seismological Society of America 65, 1073-1095.
49. Karig, D. E. (1982). Initiation of subduction zones: implications for arc evolution and ophiolite development. In: Leggett, J. K. (ed.) Trench-Forearc Geology. Geological Society, London, Special Publications 10, 563-576.
50. 39Ar geochronology of basalts from ODP Leg 145. In: Rea, D. K., Basov, I. A., Scholl, D. W. & Allan, J. F. (eds) Proceedings of Ocean Drilling Program, Scientific Results, 145. College Station, TX: Ocean Drilling Program, pp. 333-344.
51. Kemp, D. V. & Stevenson, D. J. (1996). Tensile subduction initiation. Geophysical Journal International 125, 73-94.
52. Klosko, E. R., Russo, R. M., Okal, E. A. & Richardson, W. P. (2001). Evidence for a rheologically strong chemical mantle root beneath the Ontong-Java Plateau. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 186, 347-361.
53. 39Ar age progressions along seamount trails. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 185, 237-252.
54. Lallemand, S., Font, Y., Bijwaard, H. & Kao, H. (2001). New insights on 3-D plates interactions near Taiwan from tomography and tectonic implications. Tectonophysics 335, 229-253.
55. Lonsdale, P. (1998). Geography and history of the Louisville hotspot chain in the Southern Pacific. Journal of Geophysical Research 93, 3078-3104.
56. Macpherson, C. G. & Hall, R. (2001). Tectonic setting of Eocene boninite magmatism in the Izu-Bonin-Mariana forearc. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 186, 215-230.
57. Mahoney, J. J., Storey, M., Duncan, R. A., Spencer, K. J. & Pringle, M. (1993). Geochemistry and age of the Ontong Java Plateau. American Geophysical Union Monograph 77, 233-262.
58. McKenzie, D. P. (1977). The initiation of trenches: a finite amplitude instability. In: Talwani, M. & Pitman, W. C. (eds) Island Arcs, Deep Sea Trenches and Back-Arc Basins. Maurice Ewing Series, American Geophysical Union 1, 57-61.
59. Moberly, R. (1972). Origin of lithosphere behind island arcs with reference to the western Pacific. Geological Society of America, Memoirs 132, 35-55.
60. Morgan, W. J. (1971). Convection plumes in the lower mantle. Nature 230, 42-43.
61. Mueller, S. & Phillips, R. J. (1991). On the initiation of subduction zone. Journal of Geophysical Research 96, 652-665.
62. Niu, Y. (1997). Mantle melting and melt extraction processes beneath ocean ridges: evidence from abyssal peridotites. Journal of Petrology 38, 1047-1074.
63. Niu, Y. & Batiza, R. (1991). In-situ densities of silicate melts and minerals as a function of temperature, pressure, and composition. Journal of Geology 99, 767-775.
64. Niu, Y. & Hékinian, R. (1997). Spreading rate dependence of the extent of mantle melting beneath ocean ridges. Nature 385, 326-329.
65. Niu, Y., Langmuir, C. H. & Kinzler, R. L. (1997). The origin of abyssal peridotites: a new perspective. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 152, 251-265.
66. Niu, Y., O'Hara, M. J. & Pearce, J. A. (2001a). Initiation of subduction zones: a consequence of compositional buoyancy contrast within the lithosphere. EOS Transactions, American Geophysical Union 82(47), F1275-F1276.
67. Niu, Y., O'Hara, M. J., Pearce, J. A., MacLeod, C. J., Hawkins, J. W. & Fisher, R. L. (2001b). Arc Mariana and Tonga forearc peridotites melting residues for arc volcanism? EUG 11 Abstracts, 428.
68. Norton, I. O. (1995). Plate motions in the Pacific: the 43 Ma non event. Tectonics 14, 1080-1094.
69. Norton, I. O. (2000). Global hotspot reference frame and plate motion. In: Richards, M. A., Gordon, R. G. & van der Hilst, R. (eds) The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions. American Geophysical Union Monograph 121, 339-358.
70. O'Hara, M. J. (1973). Non-plume magmas and dubious mantle plume beneath Iceland. Nature 243, 507-509.
71. Okal, E. A., Woods, D. F. & Lay, T. (1986). Intraplate deformation in the Samoa-Gilbert-Ralik area: a prelude to a change of plate boundaries in the Southwest Pacific? Tectonophysics 132, 69-77.
72. Oxburgh, E. R. & Parmentier, E. M. (1977). Compositional and density stratification in oceanic lithosphere-causes and consequences. Journal of the Geological Society, London 133, 343-355.
73. Parkinson, I. J. & Pearce, J. A. (1998). Peridotites from the Izu-Bonin-Mariana Forearc (ODP Leg 125): evidence for mantle melting and melt-mantle interaction in a supra-subduction zone setting. Journal of Petrology 39, 1577-1618.
74. Parkinson, I. J., Hawkesworth, C. J. & Cohen, A. S. (1998). Ancient mantle in a modern arc; osmium isotopes in Izu-Bonin-Mariana forearc peridotites. Science 281, 2011-2013.
75. Pearce, J. A., Leat, P. T., Barker, P. F. & Millar, I. L. (2001). Geochemical tracing of Pacific-to-Atlantic upper-mantle flow through the Drake Passage. Nature 410, 457-461.
76. Pearson, D. G. (1999). The age of continental roots. Lithos 48, 171-194.
77. Reymer, A. & Schubert, G. (1984). Phanerozoic addition rates to the continental crust. Tectonics 3, 63-77.
78. Richards, M. A., Gordon, R. G. & van de Hilst, R. D. (2000). Introduction: plate tectonic and mantle convection-three decades later. In: Richards, M. A., Gordon, R. G. & van der Hilst, R. (eds) The History and Dynamics of Global Plate Motions. American Geophysical Union Monograph 121, 1-4.
79. Richter, F. M. (1988). A major change in the thermal state of the Earth at the Archean-Proterozoic boundary: consequences for the nature and preservation of continental lithosphere. Journal of Petrology, Special Lithosphere Issue, 39-52.
80. Robin, C., Eissen, J.-P. & Monzier, M. (1993). Giant tuff cone and 12-km-wide associated caldera at Ambrym Volcano, Vanuatu, New Hebrides Arc. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 55, 225-238.
81. Rudnick, R. L. (1995). Making continental crust. Nature 378, 571-578.
82. Ruff, L. J., Given, J. W., Sanders, C. O. & Sperber, C. M. (1989). Large earthquakes in the Macquarie Ridge complex: transitional tectonics and subduction initiation. PAGEOPH 129, 71-129.
83. Scotese, C. R., Gahagan, L. M. & Larson, R. L. (1988). Plate tectonic reconstructions of the Cretaceous and Cenozoic ocean basins. Tectonophysics 155, 27-48.
84. Stein, S. & Stein, C.A. (1996). Thermo-mechanical evolution of oceanic lithosphere: implications for the subduction processes and deep earthquake. In: Bebout, G. E., Scholl, D. W., Kirby, S. H. & Platt, J. P. (eds) Subduction Top to Bottom. American Geophysical Union Monograph 96, 1-17.
85. Stein, S., Melosh, H. J. & Minster, J. B. (1977). Ridge migration and asymmetric sea-floor spreading. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 36, 51-62.
86. Tarduno, J. A. & Cottrell, R. (1997). Paleomagnetic evidence for motion of the Hawaiian hotspot during formation of the Emperor Seamounts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters 153, 171-180.
87. Tarduno, J. A., Duncan, R. A., Cottrell, R. D., Scholl, D. W. & ODP Leg 197 Shipboard Scientific Party (2001). Motion of Hawaiian hotspot during formation of the Emperor seamounts: initial results of ODP Leg 197. EOS Transactions, American Geophysical Union 82(47), F1116.
88. Taylor, B. (1993). Island arcs, deep sea trenches, and back-arc basins. Oceanus 35, 17-25.
89. Taylor, S. R. (1967). The origin and growth of continents. Tectonophysics 4, 17-34.
90. Toth, J. & Gurnis, M. (1998). Dynamics of subduction initiation at pre-existing fault zones. Journal of Geophysical Research 103, 18053-018067.
91. Turcotte, D. L. & Schubert, G. (1982). Geodynamics. New York: John Wiley.
92. Vlaar, N. J. & Wortel, M. J. R. (1976). Lithosphere aging, instability and subduction. Tectonophysics 32, 331-351.
93. Wegener, A. L. (1912). Die Entstchung der Kontinente. Geologische Rundschau 3, 276-292.
94. Wiens, D. A. & Stein, S. (1983). Age dependence of oceanic intraplate seismicity and implications for lithospheric evolution. Journal of Geophysical Research 88, 6455-6468.
95. Wiens, D. A., et al. (1985). A diffuse plate boundary model for Indian Ocean tectonics. Geophysical Research Letters 12, 429-432.
96. Worthington, T. J., Gregory, M. R. & Bondarenko, V. (1999). The Denham Caldera on Raoul volcano: dacitic volcanism in the Tonga-Kermadec arc. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 90, 29-48.
97. Yan, C. Y. & Kroenke, L. W. (1993). A plate-tectonic reconstruction of the southwest Pacific, 100-0 Ma. In: Maddox, E. M. (ed.) Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program, 130. College Station, TX: Ocean Drilling Program, pp. 697-710.