Geodinámica del Borde Noreste de la Placa Caribe

El extremo noreste de la Placa Caribe ha sido estudiado ampliamente desde mediados del XX, lo que nos da una idea del gran interés y expectación que ha despertado. A pesar del gran volumen de trabajo, aún hoy sigue dando lugar a enfrentados debates sobre aspectos tan fundamentales como el contexto tectónico general, la evolución geodinámica y la estructura de la cortical. El gran interés que suscita esta zona se debe a peculiaridades tales como la elevada sismicidad (terremotos y tsunamis históricos), la extrema batimetría, las mayores anomalías gravimétricas La Tierra y la existencia de una extensa plataforma carbonatada basculada uniformemente y sin apenas deformación. Para dar una explicación a este contexto tectónico en el cual se produce la interacción geodinámica de multitud de procesos (rifting, subducción, basculamiento, rotación, desgarres, transpresión y transtensión) se han propuesto diversos modelos tectónicos: subducción oblicua, deformación compartimentada, subducción opuesta (bipolar), arqueamiento, rotación, interacción de microplacas, subsidencia, escape tectónico, tear faults, etc. Los objetivos principales de este trabajo de investigación son: -Presentar un amplio contexto tectónico comenzando desde la Placa Caribe en general, el borde norte de la Placa Caribe y nuestra zona de estudio en el extremo noreste de la Placa Caribe, todo ello a partir de una amplia recopilación bibliográfica y de antecedentes. -Presentar una metodología adaptada, donde sólo se tratan los aspectos necesarios para la presentación de los resultados del trabajo, sin profundizar en los fundamentos metodológicos y dando especial importancia a los métodos de adquisición, instrumentación y procesado básico. -Presentar los trabajos realizados, que van desde la planificación y desarrollo de la campaña Geoprico-do hasta un análisis y discusión de los resultados preliminares de campos potenciales, batimetría, sísmica de reflexión multicanal y sísmica de alta resolución

Morphostructure at the junction between the Beata ridge and the Greater Antilles island arc (offshore Hispaniola southern slope)

Oblique convergence between the Caribbean plate's interior and the inactive Greater Antilles island arc has resultedin the collision and impingement of the thickened crust of theBeata ridge into southern Hispaniola Island. Deformation resulting from this convergence changes from a low-angle southward-verging thrust south of easternHispaniola, to collision and uplift in south-central Hispaniola, and to left-lateral transpression along theSouthern peninsula of Haiti in western Hispaniola. Using new swath bathymetry and a dense seismic reflectiongrid, we mapped the morphological, structural and sedimentological Elements of offshore southern Hispaniola.We have identified four morphotectonic provinces: the Dominican sub-basin, the Muertos margin, the Beataridge and the Haiti sub-basin. The lower slope of the Muertos margin is occupied by the active Muertos thrustbelt, which includes several active out-of-sequence thrust faults that, were they to rupture along their entirelength, could generate large-magnitude earthquakes. The interaction of the thrust beltwith the Beata ridge yieldsa huge recess and the imbricate system disappears. The upper slope of the Muertos margin shows hick slopedepositswhere the extensional tectonics and slumping processes predominate. The northern Beata ridge consistsof an asymmetrically uplifted and faulted block of oceanic crust. Our results suggest that the shallower structureand morphology of the northern Beata ridge can be mainly explained by a mechanism of extensional unloadingfrom the Upper Cretaceous onward that is still active residually along the summit of the ridge. The tectonicmodels for the northern Beata ridge involving active reverse strike–slip faults and transpression caused by theoblique convergence between the Beata ridge and the island arc are not supported by the structural interpretation.The eastern Bahoruco slope an old normal fault that acts as a passive tear fault accommodating the sharpalong-strike transition from low-angle thrusting to collision and uplifting.Depto. de Geodinámica, Estratigrafía y PaleontologíaFac. de Ciencias GeológicasTRUEGeological Survey Coastal and Marine Geology ProgramDirección General de Minería of the Dominican Republicpu

Gravity anomaly analysis and 2D crustal modeling of the Campo de Calatrava volcanic region (Ciudad Real, Spain)

The volcanic region of Campo de Calatrava has been interpreted as a process of intraplate volcanism developed during Neogene. Two opposed geodynamic models have been proposed to explain the origin of this volcanism: a) a rifting process in an extensional context with localized crustal thinning; b) a flexural lithospheric process in a weak compressive setting with no crustal thinning. The analysis of the Bouguer gravity anomalies and 2D crustal gravity modeling contribute to discriminate between the geodynamic models proposed for the origin of volcanism. The gravity models are constrained based on previous deep seismic sounding profiles and the regional geological mapping. Gravity models reject a crustal thinning, and then strongly questioning, the aborted rifting model. However, gravity models support a flexural lithospheric process in weak compressive regime as the origin of Betic volcanismLa región volcánica de Campo de Calatrava se ha interpretado como un proceso de volcanismo intraplaca desarrollado durante el Neógeno. Se han propuesto dos modelos geodinámicos contrapuestos para explicar el origen de este volcanismo: a) un proceso de rifting en un contexto extensional con un adelgazamiento localizado de corteza; b) un proceso flexural de la litosfera en un contexto compresivo débil sin adelgazamiento de corteza. El análisis de las anomalías gravimétricas de Bouguer y una modelización gravimétrica 2D a escala cortical contribuyen a discriminar entre los modelos geodinámicos propuestos para el origen del volcanismo. Los modelos gravimétricos se han constreñido en base a los estudios sísmicos profundos existentes en la zona y a la cartografía geológica regional. Los modelos gravimétricos descartan un adelgazamiento cortical, lo que cuestiona el modelo de rifting abortado y apoyan la hipótesis alternativa del proceso flexural de la litosfera en régimen compresivo débil como origen del volcanismo bétic

Magnetic anomalies of the NW Iberian continental margin and the adjacent abyssal plains

The NW Iberian margin is a hyperextended continental margin, formed during the opening of the North Atlantic Ocean, where a subsequent partial tectonic inversion has undergone during the Alpine Orogeny. This succession of tectonic episodes determines the magnetic signature of the margin. The Spanish Exclusive Economic Zone Project has carried out seven one-month cruises between 2001 and 2009. To extend and densify the spatial coverage, we have used data from the World Digital Magnetic Anomaly Map. Here, we describe the methodology used for the acquisition and data processing of the magnetic field data. The use of diverse instrumentation, a non-complete external field’s cancelation, and the use of different magnetic core field models, contributed to the total error budget. To reduce it, we have used a leveling algorithm which minimizes all these contributions. Finally, a statistical analysis was applied using crossover residuals, showing a resolution better than 28 nT

Precise OBS location at the sea bottom in active seismic profiles using the air gun shot records

The Norcaribe campaign, in November – December 2013, funded by Spanish Ministry of Innovation and Science (Norcaribe Project CGL2010-17715), was performed on board of the Spanish research vessel “Sarmiento de Gamboa” around the Hispaniola island, also with the participation of the Dominic Republic Navy patrol vessels and several Haiti and Dominic Republic institutions. During the campaign, a 200 km long, wide-amgle refraction seismic profile was carried out crossing the Beata ridge. The air gun signal (5100 ci) was recorded by 15 OBSs deployed along the seismic line in water depths between 2.300 meters and 4.320 meters. To obtain the section records, the OBS position is needed, usually the deployment location is used, but the OBS can drift while is sinking due to the deep oceanic currents. The recovery locations at surface could provide information about the drift, assuming a constant sea current since the deployment to the recovery, but it is imprecise. In this work we show a method to obtain a precise location of the OBS at the sea bottom using a high-resolution bathymetry and the OBS record of the closest air gun shots of the profile. Also, the preliminary results for the Norcaribe campaign (Beata ridge profile) are shown.Peer Reviewe

Gravity modeling of the lithosphere in the Calatrava Volcanic Province (Spain): geodynamic implications

The origin of the intraplate volcanism in the Calatrava Volcanic Province (CVP) is controversial. On the basis of its geochemical signature it has been ascribed to an “aborted” rift, implying lithospheric thinning. However, the volcanism occurred during the generalized Cenozoic NW−SE-oriented compressive tectonic regime. On the other hand, on the basis of evidence for its deep-seated origin, it has been linked to the existence of a baby-plume detached from an active megaplume below the Canary-Azores Islands and the western Mediterranean. In order to understand better the aforementioned geodynamic scenarios for the origin of the CVP, we address here the study of the lithosphere in the CVP and its vicinity by means of gravity analysis and 2+1/2D modeling. Gravity modeling results do not support the rifting model adopted for the intraplate volcanism occurred in the CVP because the crust shows a constant thickness. Density models suggest the existence of a sub-crustal, anomalous low-density block that could be underplated magmatic material at the base of the crust, suggesting that only a minor part of it intruded up into the crust and erupted. The localized magmatism of the CVP can be related to the combination of two factors: one active, the gentle folding of the Iberian lithosphere and associated uplifting of the Variscan basement due to the NW-directed transmission of compressive stresses in the upper plate yielded by the subduction/collision in the south Iberian margin. The formation of the lithospheric folding in the Calatrava region results in a decrease of the pressure beneath the swell of the antiform that is likely to bring about basaltic magmatism below the swell; and one passive, the existence of a Variscan right-lateral shear band, which yields a weakened  crust that facilitates the ascent of the magmatic materials. The relatively small volume, but large extension, of the volcanic outcrops could be associated with the preferential ascent of the magmas along the weakened crust of this NW−SE-trending Variscan shear band.El origen del volcanismo intraplaca en la Provincia Volcánica de Calatrava (CVP) es controvertido. En base a su signatura geoquímica se ha atribuido a la formación de un rift “abortado”, implicando un adelgazamiento litosférico. Sin embargo, el volcanismo se desarrolló durante un régimen tectónico compresivo orientado NW-SE que fue generalizado en la región de Calatrava durante el Cenozoico. Por otro lado, en base a las evidencias de su origen profundo, se le ha relacionado con la existencia de una mini-pluma desconectada de una mega-pluma activa debajo de los archipiélagos de Canarias y Azores, y en el Mediterráneo occidental. Con el propósito de contribuir a la discriminación entre los escenarios geodinámicos mencionados para el origen del volcanismo se ha abordado aquí el estudio de la litosfera en la CVP y en las zonas próximas mediante el análisis gravimétrico y la modelación 2+1/2D. Los modelos gravimétricos no apoyan el modelo de rifting adoptado para el volcanismo intraplaca ocurrido en la CVP porque el espesor de la corteza es cuasi-constante. Los modelos siguieren la existencia de un cuerpo anómalo sub-cortical de baja densidad que podría ser material magmático acrecionado y almacenado en la base de la corteza indicando que sólo una parte menor habría intruido en la corteza y producido erupciones. El volcanismo localizado de la CVP se puede relacionar con la combinación de dos factores: a) Un factor activo correspondiente a un amplio plegamiento de la litosfera (corteza) Ibérica y el consiguiente levantamiento asociado del basamento varisco debido a la transmisión hacia el NW de los esfuerzos compresivos en la placa superior de la subducción/colisión miocena en el margen meridional Ibérico. La formación del anticlinal a escala cortical en la región de Calatrava ha producido la disminución de la presión en el intrados del anticlinal y ha originado probablemente el magmatismo basáltico; b) Un factor pasivo correspondiente a la existencia de una banda de cizalla con dirección próxima a NW-SE, heredada de la deformación varisca, que localiza una zona de debilidad cortical favorecedora del ascenso del magmatismo

Crustal structure and continent‐ocean boundary along the Galicia continental margin (NW Iberia): insights from combined gravity and seismic interpretation

The magma‐poor rifted continental margin of Galicia has an extremely complex structure. Its formation involved several rifting episodes that occurred ultimately during the early Cretaceous near a ridge triple junction, which produced a change in the orientation of the main structures in its transition to the north Iberia margin. In addition, there is a superimposed partial tectonic inversion along its northwest and northern border which developed from the Late Cretaceous to at least Oligocene times. The present study integrates a large volume of new geophysical information (mainly marine gravity data and 2D seismic reflection profiles) to provide insights on the formation of this rift system and on the development of its later inversion. The combined interpretation and modeling of this data enable the presentation of a new crustal and structural domains map for the whole Galicia margin. This includes the rift domains related to the extreme thinning of the crust and the lithospheric mantle (stretched, necking, and hyperextension and mantle exhumation (HME) domains), as well as a domain of intense compressional deformation. New constraints arise on the origin, the deep structure, and the characterization of the along‐ and across‐strike variation of the continent‐ocean transition of the margin, where a progressive change from hyperextension to partial inversion is observed. The development of both rifting and later partial tectonic inversion is influenced by the existence of former first‐order tectonic features. Most of the tectonic inversion is focused on the HME domain, which in some areas of the northwestern margin is completely overprinted by compressional deformation

Contrasting catastrophic eruptions predicted by different intrusion and collapse scenarios

Catastrophic volcanic eruptions triggered by landslide collapses can jet upwards or blast sideways. Magma intrusion is related to both landslide-triggered eruptive scenarios (lateral or vertical), but it is not clear how such different responses are produced, nor if any precursor can be used for forecasting them. We approach this problem with physical analogue modelling enhanced with X-ray Multiple Detector Computed Tomography scanning, used to track evolution of internal intrusion, and its related faulting and surface deformation. We find that intrusions produce three different volcano deformation patterns, one of them involving asymmetric intrusion and deformation, with the early development of a listric slump fault producing pronounced slippage of one sector. This previously undescribed early deep potential slip surface provides a unified explanation for the two different eruptive scenarios (lateral vs. vertical). Lateral blast only occurs in flank collapse when the intrusion has risen into the sliding block. Otherwise, vertical rather than lateral expansion of magma is promoted by summit dilatation and flank buttressing. The distinctive surface deformation evolution detected opens the possibility to forecast the possible eruptive scenarios: laterally directed blast should only be expected when surface deformation begins to develop oblique to the first major fault