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Tectonic and magmatic segmentation of the Global Ocean Ridge System: a synthesis of observations

Suzanne M. Carbotte, Deborah K. Smith, Mathilde Cannat and Emily M. Klein
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 420, 249-295, 6 February 2015, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP420.5
Suzanne M. Carbotte
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
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  • For correspondence: carbotte@ldeo.columbia.edu
Deborah K. Smith
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole Massachusetts 02543, USA
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Mathilde Cannat
Equipe de Géosciences Marines, CNRS-UMR 7154, Institut de Physique du Globe, 1 rue Jussieu, 75238 Paris cedex 05, France
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Emily M. Klein
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
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Abstract

Mid-ocean ridges display tectonic segmentation defined by discontinuities of the axial zone, and geophysical and geochemical observations suggest segmentation of the underlying magmatic plumbing system. Here, observations of tectonic and magmatic segmentation at ridges spreading from fast to ultraslow rates are reviewed in light of influential concepts of ridge segmentation, including the notion of hierarchical segmentation, spreading cells and centralized v. multiple supply of mantle melts. The observations support the concept of quasi-regularly spaced principal magmatic segments, which are 30–50 km long on average at fast- to slow-spreading ridges and fed by melt accumulations in the shallow asthenosphere. Changes in ridge properties approaching or crossing transform faults are often comparable with those observed at smaller offsets, and even very small discontinuities can be major boundaries in ridge properties. Thus, hierarchical segmentation models that suggest large-scale transform fault-bounded segmentation arises from deeper level processes in the asthenosphere than the finer-scale segmentation are not generally supported. The boundaries between some but not all principal magmatic segments defined by ridge axis geophysical properties coincide with geochemical boundaries reflecting changes in source composition or melting processes. Where geochemical boundaries occur, they can coincide with discontinuities of a wide range of scales.

  • © 2016 The Author(s). Published by The Geological Society of London. All rights reserved

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Geological Society, London, Special Publications: 420 (1)
Geological Society, London, Special Publications
Volume 420
2016
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Tectonic and magmatic segmentation of the Global Ocean Ridge System: a synthesis of observations

Suzanne M. Carbotte, Deborah K. Smith, Mathilde Cannat and Emily M. Klein
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 420, 249-295, 6 February 2015, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP420.5
Suzanne M. Carbotte
Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, Palisades, NY 10964, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
  • For correspondence: carbotte@ldeo.columbia.edu
Deborah K. Smith
Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, Woods Hole Massachusetts 02543, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Mathilde Cannat
Equipe de Géosciences Marines, CNRS-UMR 7154, Institut de Physique du Globe, 1 rue Jussieu, 75238 Paris cedex 05, France
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site
Emily M. Klein
Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, USA
  • Find this author on Google Scholar
  • Find this author on PubMed
  • Search for this author on this site

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Tectonic and magmatic segmentation of the Global Ocean Ridge System: a synthesis of observations

Suzanne M. Carbotte, Deborah K. Smith, Mathilde Cannat and Emily M. Klein
Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 420, 249-295, 6 February 2015, https://doi.org/10.1144/SP420.5
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  • Article
    • Abstract
    • Discovery and interpretations of mid-ocean ridge (MOR) segmentation: historical review
    • The focus of this review
    • Characteristics of tectonic segmentation
    • Characteristics of magmatic segmentation
    • Synthesis of observations
    • Fast- and superfast-spreading ridges
    • Intermediate spreading ridges
    • Slow-spreading ridges
    • Ultraslow-spreading ridges
    • Geophysical properties of discontinuities and ridge segments
    • Geochemical properties of discontinuities and ridge segments
    • Synthesis and discussion
    • Questions for future work
    • Acknowledgments
    • References
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