Paleomagnetic evidence of large footwall rotations associated with low-angle faults at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Research Article| March 01, 2007 Paleomagnetic evidence of large footwall rotations associated with low-angle faults at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge Miguel Garcés; Miguel Garcés 1Department of Stratigraphy, Paleontology and Marine Geosciences, Group of Geodynamics and Basin Analysis, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Jeffrey S. Gee Jeffrey S. Gee 2Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093-0220, USA Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information Miguel Garcés 1Department of Stratigraphy, Paleontology and Marine Geosciences, Group of Geodynamics and Basin Analysis, University of Barcelona, 08028 Barcelona, Spain Jeffrey S. Gee 2Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California 92093-0220, USA Publisher: Geological Society of America Received: 05 Jul 2006 Revision Received: 15 Oct 2006 Accepted: 29 Oct 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1943-2682 Print ISSN: 0091-7613 Geological Society of America Geology (2007) 35 (3): 279–282. https://doi.org/10.1130/G23165A.1 Article history Received: 05 Jul 2006 Revision Received: 15 Oct 2006 Accepted: 29 Oct 2006 First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Permissions Search Site Citation Miguel Garcés, Jeffrey S. Gee; Paleomagnetic evidence of large footwall rotations associated with low-angle faults at the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Geology 2007;; 35 (3): 279–282. doi: https://doi.org/10.1130/G23165A.1 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietyGeology Search Advanced Search Abstract Exposures of gabbros and mantle-derived peridotites at slow-spreading oceanic ridges have been attributed to extension on long-lived, low-angle detachment faults, similar to those described in continental metamorphic core complexes. In continental settings, such detachments have been interpreted as having originated and remained active at shallow dips. Alternatively, currently shallow dipping fault surfaces may have originated at moderate to steep dips and been flattened by subsequent flexure and isostatic uplift. While the latter interpretation would be more con sistent with Andersonian faulting theory, it predicts large footwall tilts that have not been observed in continental detachment faults. Here we use the magnetization of oceanic gabbro and peridotite samples exposed near the Fifteen-Twenty Fracture Zone on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge to demonstrate that substantial footwall rotations have occurred. Widespread rotations ranging from 50° to 80° indicate that original fault orientations dipped steeply toward the spreading axis. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.