The ocean-continent transition in the uniform lithospheric stretching model: role of partial melting in the mantle

Abstract The role of partial melting in the uniform lithospheric stretching model of continental margin formation is explored. It is shown that the transition from continental lithosphere stretching to oceanic accretion is most probably controlled by the production of a significant amount of partial melting in the asthenosphere immediately below the lithosphere, which requires stretching factors larger than 3. It is also shown that, at stretching factors exceeding 2, the law of subsidence is significantly changed by the presence of partial melt in the underlying asthenosphere. The implications for the existence of deep continental margin basins on thinned continental crusts are examined. The Armorican deep continental margin basin is taken as an example.