Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanisms
Crustal geometries imaged at rifted margins show contrasted first-order morphologies (wide and narrow, symmetric or asymmetric conjugates). This contribution aims to review the mechanisms of continental lithospheric thinning and types of extensional structures that control the formation of rifted ma...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Académie des sciences
2024-05-01
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| Series: | Comptes Rendus. Géoscience |
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| Online Access: | https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.257/ |
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| author | Tugend, Julie Mohn, Geoffroy Duretz, Thibault Petri, Benoit Le Pourhiet, Laetitia |
| author_facet | Tugend, Julie Mohn, Geoffroy Duretz, Thibault Petri, Benoit Le Pourhiet, Laetitia |
| author_sort | Tugend, Julie |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Crustal geometries imaged at rifted margins show contrasted first-order morphologies (wide and narrow, symmetric or asymmetric conjugates). This contribution aims to review the mechanisms of continental lithospheric thinning and types of extensional structures that control the formation of rifted margins. We illustrate, using a two-layer numerical model (one for the crust and one for the mantle), how different modes of lithospheric thinning shape the end-member crustal geometries of rifted margins depending on the initial thermal conditions and extension rates. As already known, the activation of narrow or wide modes of lithospheric thinning depends on the rheological behaviour of the lower crust and its efficiency as a decoupling layer. Morphologies generated by narrow lithospheric thinning modes compare well with Atlantic-type rifted margins (e.g., Iberia–Newfoundland) while wide lithospheric thinning modes better apply to marginal seas characterized by higher initial geothermal gradients (e.g., South China Sea). Finally, we also emphasize that continental lithosphere thinning is depth-dependent, part of which is transient and cannot easily be measured in natural systems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-39758f840eca4fe5ad03606430337fa3 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1778-7025 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-05-01 |
| publisher | Académie des sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Comptes Rendus. Géoscience |
| spelling | doaj-art-39758f840eca4fe5ad03606430337fa32025-02-07T10:41:48ZengAcadémie des sciencesComptes Rendus. Géoscience1778-70252024-05-01356S233136510.5802/crgeos.25710.5802/crgeos.257Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanismsTugend, Julie0https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3724-7878Mohn, Geoffroy1https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8729-2960Duretz, Thibault2https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8472-7490Petri, Benoit3https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7142-0406Le Pourhiet, Laetitia4https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9495-4742Laboratoire Géosciences et Environnement Cergy (GEC), CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, FranceLaboratoire Géosciences et Environnement Cergy (GEC), CY Cergy Paris Université, 95000 Neuville sur Oise, FranceInstitut für Geowissenschaften, Goethe-Universität Frankfurt, Frankfurt, GermanyInstitut Terre et Environnement de Strasbourg, Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, UMR7063, F-67084 Strasbourg, FranceInstitut des Sciences de la Terre Paris, ISTeP UMR 7193, Sorbonne Université, CNRS-INSU, 75005 Paris, FranceCrustal geometries imaged at rifted margins show contrasted first-order morphologies (wide and narrow, symmetric or asymmetric conjugates). This contribution aims to review the mechanisms of continental lithospheric thinning and types of extensional structures that control the formation of rifted margins. We illustrate, using a two-layer numerical model (one for the crust and one for the mantle), how different modes of lithospheric thinning shape the end-member crustal geometries of rifted margins depending on the initial thermal conditions and extension rates. As already known, the activation of narrow or wide modes of lithospheric thinning depends on the rheological behaviour of the lower crust and its efficiency as a decoupling layer. Morphologies generated by narrow lithospheric thinning modes compare well with Atlantic-type rifted margins (e.g., Iberia–Newfoundland) while wide lithospheric thinning modes better apply to marginal seas characterized by higher initial geothermal gradients (e.g., South China Sea). Finally, we also emphasize that continental lithosphere thinning is depth-dependent, part of which is transient and cannot easily be measured in natural systems.https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.257/Lithosphere thinningRifted marginsDepth dependent thinning |
| spellingShingle | Tugend, Julie Mohn, Geoffroy Duretz, Thibault Petri, Benoit Le Pourhiet, Laetitia Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanisms Comptes Rendus. Géoscience Lithosphere thinning Rifted margins Depth dependent thinning |
| title | Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanisms |
| title_full | Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanisms |
| title_fullStr | Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanisms |
| title_full_unstemmed | Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanisms |
| title_short | Extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins: a review of thinning mechanisms |
| title_sort | extension of continental lithosphere in rifted margins a review of thinning mechanisms |
| topic | Lithosphere thinning Rifted margins Depth dependent thinning |
| url | https://comptes-rendus.academie-sciences.fr/geoscience/articles/10.5802/crgeos.257/ |
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