Articles | Volume 15, issue 12
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1419-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-1419-2024
© Author(s) 2024. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
04 Dec 2024
Research article |
| 04 Dec 2024
| 04 Dec 2024
Increased metamorphic conditions in the lower crust during oceanic transform fault evolution
Institute of Geosciences, Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
now at: GEOMAR Helmholtz Institute for Ocean Research, Kiel, Germany
Myron F. H. Thomas
Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., Den Haag, the Netherlands
Christian Heine
Specialist Geosciences, Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Den Haag, the Netherlands
Jörg Ebbing
Institute of Geosciences, Christian Albrechts Universität zu Kiel, Kiel, Germany
Andrey Seregin
Specialist Geosciences, Shell Global Solutions International B.V., Den Haag, the Netherlands
Jimmy van Itterbeeck
Shell International Exploration and Production B.V., Den Haag, the Netherlands
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Short summary
Transform faults are conservative plate boundaries where no material is added or destroyed. Oceanic fracture zones are their inactive remnants and record tectonic processes that formed oceanic crust. In this study, we combine high-resolution data sets along fracture zones in the Gulf of Guinea to demonstrate that their formation is characterized by increased metamorphic conditions. This is in line with previous studies that describe the non-conservative character of transform faults.
Transform faults are conservative plate boundaries where no material is added or destroyed....
