| Autor: |
Pascal Gente, Rémy Thibaud, Olivier Dauteuil |
| Rok vydání: |
1999 |
| Předmět: |
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| Zdroj: |
Tectonophysics. 312:157-174 |
| ISSN: |
0040-1951 |
| DOI: |
10.1016/s0040-1951(99)00165-1 |
| Popis: |
We present here results from an analogue model designed to test the relative influence of along-axis variations of the crustal thickness and of the thermal structure of the lithosphere on the geometry and on the faulting pattern of the axial rift of a slow-spreading ridge. Rheologically calculated layered models are employed, using quartz sand and silicone putty as analogues of the brittle and ductile components of the lithosphere, respectively. Two parameters have been analysed in detail: (1) the thickness of the brittle layer, and (2) the viscosity of the ductile layer. This study shows that the thickening of the brittle layer and the increase of the viscosity of the ductile layer bring about a widening of the axial valley associated with an increase of the number of faults. A decrease of the depth of the axial valley and of the vertical throw of the faults is observed with an increase of the viscosity of the ductile layer and a decrease of the thickness of the brittle layer. These results are consistent with observations along Mid-Atlantic Ridge segments. For segment ends, the fault pattern obtained in the models is similar to that described on both sides of the axis for segments bordered by a zero-offset discontinuity, and on outside corners for segments bordered by a lateral offset discontinuity. Our results suggest that the viscosity of the ductile layer plays a more important role in the fault pattern than the thickness of the brittle layer. The influence of segment length, offset length and temporal variation in thermal input could explain the more or less important along-axis variation in the deformation pattern observed along segments of slow-spreading ridges. |
| Databáze: |
OpenAIRE |
| Externí odkaz: |
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