Mantle plumes, triple junctions and transforms: A reinterpretation of Pacific
Cretaceous – Tertiary LIPs and the Laramide connection

Michael Fletcher; Derek A. Wyman; Sabin Zahirovic

doi:10.1016/j.gsf.2019.09.003

Volume 11 Issue 4

Sep. 2020

Turn off MathJax

Article Contents

Article Navigation > Geoscience Frontiers > 2020 > (4): 1133-1144

Michael Fletcher, Derek A. Wyman, Sabin Zahirovic. Mantle plumes, triple junctions and transforms: A reinterpretation of PacificCretaceous – Tertiary LIPs and the Laramide connection[J]. Geoscience Frontiers, 2020, (4): 1133-1144. doi: 10.1016/j.gsf.2019.09.003

Citation:

Michael Fletcher, Derek A. Wyman, Sabin Zahirovic. Mantle plumes, triple junctions and transforms: A reinterpretation of Pacific Cretaceous – Tertiary LIPs and the Laramide connection[J]. Geoscience Frontiers, 2020, (4): 1133-1144. doi: 10.1016/j.gsf.2019.09.003

Citation:

Michael Fletcher, Derek A. Wyman, Sabin Zahirovic. Mantle plumes, triple junctions and transforms: A reinterpretation of Pacific Cretaceous – Tertiary LIPs and the Laramide connection[J]. Geoscience Frontiers, 2020, (4): 1133-1144. doi: 10.1016/j.gsf.2019.09.003

PDF( 5155 KB)

Mantle plumes, triple junctions and transforms: A reinterpretation of Pacific Cretaceous – Tertiary LIPs and the Laramide connection

doi: 10.1016/j.gsf.2019.09.003

EarthByte Group, School of Geosciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, 2006, Australia

Funds:

The comments of two reviewers helped us to clarify and improve the final paper. John Cannon, Maria Seton and Simon Williams are thanked for assistance with GPlates during the study. Sabin Zahirovic was supported by the Australian Research Council (Grant IH130200012), and Alfred P Sloan (Grants G-2017-9997 and G-2018-11296) through the Deep Carbon Observatory.

Received Date: 2019-04-07
Rev Recd Date: 2019-08-26
Publish Date: 2020-09-07

Abstract

Abstract

The Shatsky and Hess Rises, the Mid-Pacific Mountains and the Line Islands large igneous provinces (LIPs) present different challenges to conventional plume models. Resolving the genesis of these LIPs is important not only for a more complete understanding of mantle plumes and plume-generated magmatism, but also for establishing the role of subducted LIP conjugates in the evolution of the Laramide orogeny and other circum-Pacific orogenic events, which are related to the development of large porphyry systems. Given past difficulties in developing consistent geodynamic models for these LIPs, it is useful to consider whether viable alternative geodynamic scenarios may be provided by recent concepts such as melt channel networks and channel-associated lineaments, along with the “two mode” model of melt generation, where a deeply-sourced channel network is superimposed on the plume, evolving and adapting over millions of years. A plume may also interact with transform faults in close proximity to a mid ocean ridge, with the resultant bathymetric character strongly affected by the relative age difference of lithosphere across the fault. Our results suggest that the new two-mode melt models resolve key persistent issues associated with the Shatsky Rise and other LIPs and provide evidence for the existence of a conduit system within plumes that feed deeply-sourced material to the plume head, with flow maintained over considerable distances. The conduit system eventually breaks down during plume – ridge separation and may do so prior to the plume head being freed from the triple junction or spreading ridge. There is evidence for not only plume head capture by a triple junction but also for substantial deformation of the plume stem as the distance between the stem and anchored plume head increases. The evidence suggests that young transforms can serve as pathways for plume material migration, at least in certain plume head – transform configurations. A fortuitous similarity between the path of the Shatsky and Sio plumes, with respect to young spreading ridges and transforms, helps to clarify previously problematic bathymetric features that were not readily ascribed to fixed plumes alone. The Line Island Chain, which has been the subject of a vast number of models, is related mainly to several plumes that passed beneath the same region of oceanic crust, a relatively rare event that has resulted in LIP formation rather than a regular seamount track. Our findings have important implications for the timing and mechanism for the Laramide Orogeny in North America, demonstrating that the Hess Rise conjugate may be much smaller than traditionally thought. The Mid Pacific Mountains conjugate may not exist at all, given large parts of these LIPs were formed at an ‘off-ridge’ site. This needs to be taken into account while considering the effects of conjugate collision on mineralization and orogenic events.
- Mantle plume,
- Shatsky rise,
- Hess rise,
- Mid-pacific mountains,
- Laramide orogeny

FullText(HTML)

References(63)

References

[1]	Amante, C., Eakins, B., Boulder, C., 2009. ETOPO1 1 arc-minute global relief model: procedures, data sources and analysis. NOAA Techn. Memo. https://doi.org/ 10.7289/V5C8276M.
[2]	Bercovici, D., Mahoney, J., 1994. Double flood basalts and plume head separation at the 660-kilometer discontinuity. Science 266, 1367–1369.
[3]	Bierlein, F.P., Pisarevsky, S., 2008. Plume-related oceanic plateaus as a potential source of gold mineralization. Econ. Geol. 103, 425–430.
[4]	Bredow, E., Steinberger, B., Gassm€oller, R., Dannberg, J., 2017. How plume-ridge interaction shapes the crustal thickness pattern of the R eunion hotspot track. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 18, 2930–2948.
[5]	Clouard, V., Bonneville, A., 2001. How many Pacific hotspots are fed by deep-mantle plumes? Geology 29, 695–698.
[6]	Croon, M.B., Cande, S.C., Stock, J.M., 2008. Revised pacific-antarctic plate motions and geophysics of the Menard Fracture Zone. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 9.
[7]	Davis, A.S., Gray, L.B., Clague, D.A., Hein, J.R., 2002. The Line Islands revisited: new 40Ar/39Ar geochronologic evidence for episodes of volcanism due to lithospheric extension. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 3, 1–28.
[8]	Epp, D., 1984. Possible perturbations to hotspot traces and implications for the origin and structure of the Line Islands. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 89, 11273–11286.
[9]	Garcia, M.O., Park, K.H., Davis, G.T., Staudigel, H., Mattey, D.P., 1993. Petrology and isotope geochemistry of lavas from the Line Islands chain, Central Pacific Basin. Mesoz. Pac.: Geol. Tecton. Volcanism 217–231.
[10]	Gardner, J.V., Calder, B.R., Malik, M., 2013. Geomorphometry and processes that built Necker Ridge, central north Pacific Ocean. Mar. Geol. 346, 310–325.
[11]	Gibson, S.A., Geist, D.J., Richards, M.A., 2015. Mantle plume capture, anchoring, and outflow during Gal apagos plume-ridge interaction. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 16, 1634–1655.
[12]	Gibson, S.A., Richards, M.A., 2018. Delivery of deep-sourced, volatile-rich plume material to the global ridge system. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 499, 205–218.
[13]	Haggerty, J.A., Schlanger, S.O., Silva, I.P., 1982. Late Cretaceous and Eocene volcanism in the southern Line Islands and implications for hotspot theory. Geology 10, 433–437.
[14]	Hall, C.E., Gurnis, M., 2005. Strength of fracture zones from their bathymetric and gravitational evolution. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 110.
[15]	Huang, Y., Sager, W.W., 2013. Correction of marine magnetic data to make a magnetic anomaly map for Shatsky Rise. In: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts.
[16]	Huang, Y., Sager, W.W., Tominaga, M., Greene, J.A., Zhang, J., Nakanishi, M., 2018. Magnetic anomaly map of Ori Massif and its implications for oceanic plateau formation. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 501, 46–55.
[17]	Johansson, L., Zahirovic, S., Müller, R.D., 2018. The interplay between the eruption and weathering of large igneous provinces and the deep-time Carbon cycle. Geophys. Res. Lett. 45 (11), 5380–5389.
[18]	Jones, T.D., Davies, D.R., Campbell, I.H., Iaffaldano, G., Yaxley, G., Kramer, S.C., Wilson, C.R., 2017. The concurrent emergence and causes of double volcanic hotspot tracks on the Pacific plate. Nature 545, 472.
[19]	Kroenke, L.W., Sager, W.W., 1993. The formation of oceanic plateaus on the Pacific plate. Eos 74, 555.
[20]	Kruse, S.E., McCarthy, M.C., Brudzinski, M.R., Ranieri, M.E., 1996. Evolution and strength of Pacific fracture zones. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 101, 13731–13740.
[21]	Liu, L., Gurnis, M., Seton, M., Saleeby, J., Müller, R.D., Jackson, J.M., 2010. The role of oceanic plateau subduction in the Laramide orogeny. Nat. Geosci. 3, 353–357.
[22]	Madrigal, P., Gazel, E., Flores, K.E., Bizimis, M., Jicha, B., 2016. Record of massive upwellings from the Pacific large low shear velocity province. Nat. Commun. 7, 13309.
[23]	Mahoney, J.J., Duncan, R.A., Tejada, M.L.G., Sager, W.W., Bralower, T.J., 2005. Jurassic- Cretaceous boundary age and mid-ocean-ridge–type mantle source for Shatsky Rise. Geology 33, 185–188.
[24]	Matthews, K.J., Müller, R.D., Wessel, P., Whittaker, J.M., 2011. The tectonic fabric of the ocean basins. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 116.
[25]	Mazzullo, A., Stutzmann, E., Montagner, J.P., Kiselev, S., Maurya, S., Barruol, G., Sigloch, K., 2017. Anisotropic tomography around La R eunion island from Rayleigh waves. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 122, 9132–9148.
[26]	Mittal, T., Richards, M.M., 2017. Plume-ridge interaction via melt channelization at Gal apagos and other near-ridge hotspot provinces. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 18, 1711–1738.
[27]	Morgan, W.J., 1972. Deep mantle convection plumes and plate motions. AAPG Bull. 56, 203–213.
[28]	Morgan, W.J., Morgan, J.P., 2007. Plate velocities in the hotspot reference frame. In: Foulger, G.R., Jurdy, D.M. (Eds.), Plates, Plumes and Planetary Processes. Geological Society of America Special Paper 430. Geological Society of America, pp. 65–78.
[29]	Müller, R.D., Seton, M., Zahirovic, S., Williams, S.E., Matthews, K.J., Wright, N.M., Shephard, G.E., Maloney, K.T., Barnett-Moore, N., Hosseinpour, M., 2016. Ocean basin evolution and global-scale plate reorganization events since Pangea breakup. Annu. Rev. Earth Planet Sci. 44, 107–138.
[30]	Nakanishi, M., Sager, W.W., Klaus, A., 1999. Magnetic lineations within Shatsky Rise, northwest Pacific Ocean: implications for hot spot-triple junction interaction and oceanic plateau formation. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 104, 7539–7556.
[31]	Natland, J.H., Winterer, E.L., 2005. Fissure control on volcanic action in the Pacific. In: Foulger, G.R., Natland, J.H., Presnall, D.C., Anderson, D.L. (Eds.), Plates, Plumes and Paradigms. Geological Society of America Special Paper 388. Geological Society of America, pp. 687–710.
[32]	Nelson, P.L., Grand, S.P., 2018. Lower-mantle plume beneath the Yellowstone hotspot revealed by core waves. Nat. Geosci. 11, 280.
[33]	O’Driscoll, L.J., Humphreys, E.D., Saucier, F., 2009. Subduction adjacent to deep continental roots: enhanced negative pressure in the mantle wedge, mountain building and continental motion. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 280, 61–70.
[34]	Pockalny, R.A., Barth, G.A., Wertman, C., 2015. A double hotspot model for the origin of Line Islands Ridge. In: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts.
[35]	Pringle, M.S., Dalrymple, G.B., 1993. Geochronological constraints on a possible hot spot origin for Hess Rise and the Wentworth Seamount Chain. Mesoz. Pac.: Geol. Tecton. Volcanism 263–277.
[36]	Pringle, M.S., Duncan, R.A., 1995. Radiometric ages of basaltic lavas recovered at Sites 865, 866, and 869: northwest Pacific atolls and guyots. In: Proceedings of the Ocean Drilling Program. Scientific Results. Ocean Drilling Program, pp. 277–283.
[37]	Rohde, J.K., Van den Bogaard, P., Hoernle, K., Hauff, F., Werner, R., 2013. Evidence for an age progression along the Tristan-Gough volcanic track from new 40Ar/39Ar ages on phenocryst phases. Tectonophysics 604, 60–71.
[38]	Sager, W.W., Keating, B.H., 1984. Paleomagnetism of Line Islands seamounts: evidence for late Cretaceous and early Tertiary volcanism. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 89, 11135–11151.
[39]	Sager, W.W., Han, H.C., 1993. Rapid formation of the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau inferred from its magnetic anomaly. Nature 364, 610.
[40]	Sager, W.W., Kim, J., Klaus, A., Nakanishi, M., Khankishieva, L.M., 1999. Bathymetry of Shatsky Rise, northwest Pacific Ocean: implications for ocean plateau development at a triple junction. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 104, 7557–7576.
[41]	Sager, W., 2005. What built Shatsky Rise, a mantle plume or ridge tectonics?. In: Foulger, G.R., Natland, J.H., Presnall, D.C., Anderson, D.L. (Eds.), Plates, Plumes and Planetary Processes, vol. 430. Geological Society of America Special Paper, pp. 721–733.
[42]	Sager, W.W., Zhang, J., Korenaga, J., Sano, T., Koppers, A.P., Widdowson, M., Mahoney, J.J., 2013. An immense shield volcano within the Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau, northwest Pacific Ocean. Nat. Geosci. 6, 976–981.
[43]	Sager, W.W., Sano, T., Geldmacher, J., 2016. Formation and evolution of Shatsky Rise oceanic plateau: insights from IODP Expedition 324 and recent geophysical cruises. Earth Sci. Rev. 159, 306–336.
[44]	Saito, K., Ozima, M., 1977. 40Ar-39Ar geochronological studies on submarine rocks from the western Pacific area. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 33, 353–369.
[45]	Schilling, J.G., 1991. Fluxes and excess temperatures of mantle plumes inferred from their interaction with migrating mid-ocean ridges. Nature 352, 397–403.
[46]	Schlanger, S.O., Garcia, M.O., Keating, B.H., Naughton, J.J., Sager, W.W., Haggerty, J.A., Philpotts, J.A., Duncan, R.A., 1984. Geology and geochronology of the line islands. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 89, 11261–11272.
[47]	Searle, R.C., Francheteau, J., Cornaglia, B., 1995. New observations on mid-plate volcanism and the tectonic history of the Pacific plate, Tahiti to Easter microplate. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 131, 395–421.
[48]	Sigloch, K., Mihalynuk, M.G., 2013. Intra-oceanic subduction shaped the assembly of Cordilleran North America. Nature 496, 50.
[49]	Sleep, N.H., 2002. Local lithospheric relief associated with fracture zones and ponded plume material. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 3, 1–17.
[50]	Small, C., 1995. Observations of ridge-hotspot interactions in the Southern Ocean. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth (1978–2012) 100, 17931–17946.
[51]	Smoot, N.C., 1999. Orthogonal intersections of megatrends in the Western Pacific ocean basin: a case study of the Mid-Pacific mountains. Geomorphology 30, 323–356.
[52]	Storm, L.P., Konter, J.G., Koppers, A.A., 2011. The origin of the Line Islands: plate or plume controlled volcanism?. In: AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts.
[53]	Tejada, M.L.G., Geldmacher, J., Hauff, F., Heaton, D., Koppers, A.P., Garbe-Sch€onberg, D., Hoernle, K., Heydolph, K., Sager, W.W., 2016. Geochemistry and age of Shatsky, Hess, and Ojin Rise seamounts: implications for a connection between the Shatsky and Hess Rises. Geochem. Cosmochim. Acta 185, 302–327.
[54]	Tejada, M.L.G., Mahoney, J.J., Neal, C.R., Duncan, R.A., Petterson, M.G., 2002. Basement geochemistry and geochronology of central Malaita, Solomon Islands, with implications for the origin and evolution of the Ontong Java Plateau. J. Petrol. 43, 449–484.
[55]	Thiede, J., Vallier, T.L., Adelseck, C.G., 1981. Deep Sea Drilling Project leg 62, North Central Pacific Ocean: Introduction, Cruise Narrative, Principal Results, and Explanatory Notes, 62. Init. Repts. DSDP, p. 1162.
[56]	Torsvik, T.H., Steinberger, B., Shephard, G.E., Doubrovine, P.V., Gaina, C., Domeier, M., Conrad, C.P., Sager, W.W., 2019. Pacific-panthalassic reconstructions: overview, errata and the way forward. Geochem. Geophys. Geosyst. 20, 3659–3689.
[57]	Vallier, T.L., Dean, W.E., Rea, D.K., Thiede, J., 1983. Geologic evolution of Hess Rise, central north Pacific Ocean. Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 94, 1289–1307.
[58]	Weil, A.B., Yonkee, W.A., 2012. Layer-parallel shortening across the Sevier fold-thrust belt and Laramide foreland of Wyoming: spatial and temporal evolution of a complex geodynamic system. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 357, 405–420.
[59]	Wessel, P., Kroenke, L.W., 2008. Pacific absolute plate motion since 145 Ma: an assessment of the fixed hot spot hypothesis. J. Geophys. Res.: Solid Earth 113 (1978–2012).
[60]	Winterer, E.L., Ewing, J.I., 1973. Initial Reports of the Deep Sea Drilling Project, vol. VII. US Government Printing Office. Washington, 1971.
[61]	Winterer, E.L., 1976. Bathymetry and regional tectonic setting of the Line Islands chain. Init. Repts. DSDP 33, 731–748, 1976.
[62]	Winterer, E.L., Natland, J.H., Van Waasbergen, R.J., Duncan, R.A., Mcnutt, M.K., Wolfe, C.J., Silva, I.P., Sager, W.W., Sliter, W.V., 1993. Cretaceous guyots in the northwest Pacific: an overview of their geology and geophysics. Mesoz. Pac.: Geol. Tecton. Volcanism 307–334.
[63]	Wright, N.M., Müller, R.D., Seton, M., Williams, S.E., 2015. Revision of Paleogene plate motions in the Pacific and implications for the Hawaiian-Emperor bend. Geology 43, 455–458.