A volcanic province near the western termination of the Charlie‐Gibbs Fracture Zone at the rifted margin, offshore northeast Newfoundland. Issue 6 (17th June 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Keen, C. E.; Dafoe, L. T.; Dickie, K.
• Is Part Of: Tectonics. Volume 33:Issue 6(2014:Nov./Dec.)
• Page Start: 1133
• Page End: 1153
• Publication Date: 2014-06-17
• Subjects: Geology, Structural -- Periodicals; 551.8
• DOI: 10.1002/2014TC003547
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0278-7407

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <p>A mid‐Cretaceous to Late Cretaceous volcanic province, named here the Charlie‐Gibbs Volcanic Province, is described near the western termination of the Charlie‐Gibbs Fracture Zone, against the rifted continental margin northeast of Newfoundland. We used seismic data to map 14 volcanic seamounts, now buried below younger sediments. They rise 0.7 to 2 s two‐way time (twt) above the surrounding basement level and are about 8–30 km wide. Some are conical while others are more flat‐topped. Underlying igneous units resembling flows and sills are also observed. Based on magnetic modeling of the large positive magnetic anomalies associated with the seamounts, the total thickness of igneous rocks can locally reach about 8 km. This magmatism occurred in the vicinity of the Charlie‐Gibbs Fracture Zone and extends about 150 km to the north along the rifted continental margin. The volcanic province also forms the northern boundary of the Jurassic‐Early Cretaceous Orphan Basin, along a major transform margin there. Truncation of rift‐related structures which extend to deep crustal levels is observed at the transform, along trends similar to those of prerift Appalachian terrane boundaries on the adjacent shelf. This suggests the existence of a preexisting weak zone in the continental lithosphere within which a complex strike‐slip fault system developed and may have controlled the location of final continental breakup between the Rockall and North American plates in the Late Cretaceous.</p> </abstract>