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Counter-rotating microplates at the Galapagos triple junction

Author

Listed:
  • Emily M. Klein

    (Duke University)

  • Deborah K. Smith

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Clare M. Williams

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

  • Hans Schouten

    (Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)

Abstract

An ‘incipient’ spreading centre east of (and orthogonal to) the East Pacific Rise at 2° 40′ N has been identified as forming a portion of the northern boundary of the Galapagos microplate1,2. This spreading centre was described as a slowly diverging, westward propagating rift, tapering towards the East Pacific Rise. Here we present evidence that the ‘incipient rift’ has also rifted towards the east and opens anticlockwise about a pivot at its eastern end. The ‘incipient rift’ then bounds a second microplate, north of the clockwise-rotating Galapagos microplate. The Galapagos triple junction region, in the eastern equatorial Pacific Ocean, thus consists of two counter-rotating microplates partly separated by the Hess Deep rift. Our kinematic solution for microplate motion relative to the major plates indicates that the two counter-rotating microplates may be treated as rigid blocks driven by drag on the microplates' edges3.

Suggested Citation

  • Emily M. Klein & Deborah K. Smith & Clare M. Williams & Hans Schouten, 2005. "Counter-rotating microplates at the Galapagos triple junction," Nature, Nature, vol. 433(7028), pages 855-858, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:433:y:2005:i:7028:d:10.1038_nature03262
    DOI: 10.1038/nature03262
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