Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Vincent Roche, Jean-Claude Ringenbach
Summary: Transform continental margins are important in plate tectonics, and the exploration of these regions is still in its early stages. The Davie transform system in East Africa provides an excellent location to study the evolution of a major transform linking two oceanic basins. Through new basement and structural maps, it was found that the Davie Fracture Zone consists of several transform segments with two main trending directions related to a plate scale kinematic reorganization about 155 million years ago.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
B. Chiasera, T. O. Rooney, I. D. Bastow, G. Yirgu, E. B. Grosfils, D. Ayalew, P. Mohr, J. Zimbelman, M. Ramsey
Summary: The study of magmatic activity in the Galema range in the northern Main Ethiopian Rift reveals evidence of magma ponding during ascent, indicating relatively thick lithosphere during the early magmatic rifting. Contrasting modeling approaches show different melting conditions and temperatures, suggesting a thermo-mechanical boundary to ascent. These results have important implications for late-stage decompression melting prior to the onset of seafloor spreading.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Eric L. Brown, Tyrone O. Rooney, Robert Moucha, Seth Stein, Carol A. Stein
Summary: The study investigates the magma generation factors of the Midcontinent Rift in North America by combining mantle potential temperature and lithospheric thickness constraints. It reveals that the early stage of continental flood basalt magmatism was controlled by deep melting and high mantle potential temperatures, followed by a gradual decrease in temperature. Constraints on mantle potential temperature and lithospheric thickness suggest thinning lithosphere and decreasing mantle potential temperatures during the formation of the continental flood basalts.
EARTH AND PLANETARY SCIENCE LETTERS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Laurent Michon, Vincent Famin, Xavier Quidelleur
Summary: Through studying the East African Rift System, we have found a complex spatial and temporal relationship between rift and magmatic activity, leading to the identification of two distinct regimes of volcanism in the rift system.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Daniel Meshesha, Takele Chekol, Sileshe Negussia
Summary: The Kella area in the central Main Ethiopian Rift presents a variety of basaltic lavas, including Oligocene tholeiitic basalts and Quaternary/Miocene alkaline basalts. These lavas originate from distinct mantle sources with different geochemical characteristics.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Andrew J. Parsons, Karin Sigloch, Kasra Hosseini
Summary: Distributions of slabs in Earth's mantle are used to reconstruct past subduction zones, with a focus on understanding non-vertical slab motions that occur prior to slab break-off. Research reveals that lateral migration of the Indian slab, driven by vertical subduction of the Australian slab, plays a significant role in plate reconstructions after collision between the Indian and Australian plates. The sinking behaviors of individual slabs are influenced by other slabs in the same plate network, indicating the importance of interpreting slab sinking behavior collectively in relation to plate kinematics.
GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Muluken Kassa, Abera Alemu, Ameha Muluneh
Summary: This study uses the complete Bouguer anomaly to model various properties of the lithosphere-asthenosphere boundary, lithospheric mantle density, and crustal structure in the central main Ethiopian rift and surrounding regions. The results show fluctuating LAB depth values and temperature estimates in the region. Additionally, a 3D gravity model reveals a thickened crust and associated low Bouguer anomalies over the plateaus.
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Tilahun Tamirat, Takele Chekol, Daniel Meshesha
Summary: Petrography and geochemical data of basaltic lavas from the north western Ethiopian plateau reveal three distinct groups: Alkali, tholeiitic, and transitional basalts. These groups show significant variations in major and trace element compositions, with the alkali and transitional basalts resembling oceanic island basalts and the tholeiitic basalts showing similarities to enriched mid oceanic ridge basalts. This suggests a complex mantle source involving components from OIB, E-MORB, and SCLM, leading to considerable source heterogeneity within and among the basaltic groups.
JOURNAL OF AFRICAN EARTH SCIENCES
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Asfie Meshesha Nigussie, Dereje Ayalew, Gezahegn Yirgu
Summary: This study presents major and trace element data for Quaternary basalts from the Butajira-Kibet area in Ethiopia. The data reveals that the basalts are mildly alkaline and have moderate to high contents of MgO and TiO2. The study suggests that the basalts were formed by partial melting of a clinopyroxene-rich mantle at medium pressure, with a likely interaction between melts from a mantle plume and the subcontinental lithospheric mantle.
GEOCHEMICAL JOURNAL
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Akash Kharita, Sagarika Mukhopadhyay
Summary: In this study, we investigated the mantle transition zone beneath the Indian shield using P receiver functions and found compelling evidence of a persistent mid-transition zone discontinuity and a low-velocity layer. We also discovered a strong frequency dependence of amplitudes of receiver functions. Based on our findings, we identified regions potentially containing more water in the 'dry' mantle transition zone, which should be further investigated using a dense seismic network and a realistic 3-D velocity model.
PHYSICS OF THE EARTH AND PLANETARY INTERIORS
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Tyrone O. Rooney, Jasper G. Konter, Valerie A. Finlayson, Andrew LaVigne, Eric L. Brown, Carol A. Stein, Seth Stein, Robert Moucha
Summary: This study examines the role of the continental lithospheric mantle in continental flood basalts erupted in the 1.1 billion-year-old Keweenawan large igneous province in North America. It reveals that the Mamainse Point lavas are likely to be partially contaminated melts of the Keweenawan plume and ambient upper mantle, with no clear evidence of contributions from an enriched lithospheric mantle.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO MINERALOGY AND PETROLOGY
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qiuhong Zhao, Jing Qiu, Yanan Li, Cheng Yu
Summary: This study focused on the lateral behavior of sinusoidal corrugated steel plate shear walls (CoSPSWs). Eigenvalue buckling analyses were conducted on sinusoidal corrugated wall plates, and shear buckling stress formulas were proposed. Pushover analyses were conducted on CoSPSWs with different corrugation configuration, corrugation direction, and gravity load effects. The lateral behavior was found to be affected by the corrugation configuration and gravity load effects. Based on the shear slenderness ratio, the CoSPSWs could be classified into stocky, moderate, and slender walls. Shear strength formulas were proposed for horizontal and vertical corrugated wall plates, and plate-frame interaction models were also proposed.
JOURNAL OF CONSTRUCTIONAL STEEL RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Zhengshuai Zhang, Jianchang Zheng, Shuhao Wang, Cuiqin Li, Fangbin Liu
Summary: In this paper, the authors collected seismic phase arrival data of 14,033 local natural earthquakes and determined 3-D P and S wave velocity structures beneath the Japan Islands. They found strong lateral heterogeneities in the forearc region and imaged the subducting Pacific slab as a high-velocity (high-V) anomaly. Low-velocity (low-V) zones were observed in the mantle wedge beneath the volcanic front. The results highlight the role of fluids in arc magmatism and plate melting in the mantle wedge behind the Japan Trench.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
I Merino, C. R. Ranero, M. Prada, V Sallares, I Grevemeyer
Summary: The study on the West Iberia margin revealed a more complex basement structure than previously thought, supporting the hypothesis of two independent phases of extension during the rift process.
JOURNAL OF GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH-SOLID EARTH
(2021)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Hanting Wu, Zhouchuan Huang, Dapeng Zhao
Summary: The formation of the Baikal rift zone may be attributed to the hot mantle upwellings from beneath the Siberian craton, which play a vital role in shaping the deep structures and geological settings in this area.
PHYSICS OF THE EARTH AND PLANETARY INTERIORS
(2021)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Stefano Tavani, Andrea Billi, Amerigo Corradetti, Marco Mercuri, Alessandro Bosman, Marco Cuffaro, Thomas Seers, Eugenio Carminati
Summary: Major advances in smartphones and tablets have transformed them into key digital platforms for geological fieldwork. The introduction of a native LiDAR scanner on the iPhone 12 Pro has brought about a potential paradigm shift in digital geological fieldwork. The performance of the iPhone 12 Pro in terms of geo-location accuracy, orientation data collection, imaging capabilities, and LiDAR scanning has been evaluated and found to be comparable to traditional geological field tools.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
S. G. Skolotnev, A. A. Peyve, A. N. Ivanenko, K. O. Dobrolyubova, A. Sanfilippo, M. Ligi, S. Yu. Sokolov, I. A. Veklich, L. Petracchini, V. Basch, C. Ferrando, C. Sani, M. Bickert, F. Muccini, C. Palmiotto, M. Cuffaro, D. A. Kuleshov, V. N. Dobrolyubov, N. A. Shkittin, S. A. Dokashenko, E. S. Yakovenko
Summary: The geological structure of a large volcanic edifice in the eastern flank of the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone in the Eastern Thule submarine rise region (North Atlantic) is discussed. The volcanic edifice was formed near the Mid-Atlantic Ridge about 64-67 million years ago and was subsequently eroded by waves and sank into the oceanic plate at a depth of 2500 meters. The study concludes that volcanic activity in the Rockall Rift Basin also affected the region further south, which had already become an oceanic basin and was separated from the rift basin by the Charlie Gibbs Fracture Zone.
DOKLADY EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Marco Ligi, Marco Cuffaro, Filippo Muccini, Enrico Bonatti
Summary: Half a century ago, there was a shift in our understanding of the Earth, from a Planet with fixed continents and stable ocean basins to one with moving continents and active ocean basins. The lithosphere, the outermost rigid layer of the Earth, plays a significant role in the generation and evolution of the Earth's lithosphere beneath the oceans. This article discusses the processes of lithosphere generation at mid-ocean ridges and focuses on a specific segment of the Mid Atlantic Ridge to examine the evolution of lithosphere generation over millions of years.
RIVISTA DEL NUOVO CIMENTO
(2022)
Article
Oceanography
S. G. Skolotnev, A. A. Peyve, A. Sanfilippo, A. N. Ivanenko, M. Ligi, I. A. Veklich, L. Petracchini, E. P. Ponomarenko, V Basch, D. A. Kuleshov, C. Ferrando, V. N. Dobrolyubov, C. Sani, N. A. Shkittin, M. Bickert, S. A. Dokashenko, F. Muccini, E. S. Yakovenko, C. Palmiotto, T. L. Pugacheva, M. Cuffaro
Summary: This article provides information on geological and geophysical investigations of the area between the Bight and Charlie Gibbs transform faults in the North Atlantic during cruise 53 of the R/V Akademik Sergey Vavilov in September-October 2021, as well as the structure of the Eastern Tula Rise. The preliminary results of the expedition are discussed.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Davide Zaccagnino, Carlo Doglioni
Summary: This article discusses the processes occurring on the Earth that are controlled by gradients, and presents the latest research results in the field of geodynamics and earthquake geology. The article mentions the forces driving plate motions, the uncertainty of the Earth's interior, the explanation of plate tectonics, and the occurrence of earthquakes. The article also emphasizes the shaping role of gradients on the Earth.
RIVISTA DEL NUOVO CIMENTO
(2022)
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
D. Maestrelli, S. Brune, G. Corti, D. Keir, A. A. Muluneh, F. Sani
Summary: Rift-Rift-Rift triple junctions are key features of emergent plate boundary networks during fragmentation of a continent. The differential extension velocities in the rift branches determine the localization of the structural triple junction, and the imposed velocities affect the resulting fault patterns.
Article
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Yoseph Muhabaw, Ameha Atnafu Muluneh, Kahsay Nugsse, Ermias Filfilu Gebru, Tesfaye Kidane
Summary: One-hundred-seventy oriented paleomagnetic core samples were collected from volcanic lava flows in the Gedemsa magmatic segment in the Main Ethiopian Rift. The study identified two components of remanent magnetization and confirmed the geomagnetic polarity of the region. The results indicate complex deformation in the Gedemsa magmatic segment due to segment opening. This study is important for understanding the deformation history of the region.
Article
Geology
Wubamlak Nigussie, Abera Alemu, Ameha A. Muluneh, Kevin Mickus, Yoseph Muhabaw
Summary: This study used gravity data to interpret the formation and nature of magmatic segmentation within the Aluto-Gedemsa area in the Main Ethiopian Rift. The results show that the Aluto and Gedemsa magmatic segments are distinct and not linked, contradicting surface tectonic mappings. The study also supports the existence of bilateral off-rift magmatic extension zones, indicating an immature stage of continental rifting in the central MER.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Wubamlak Nigussie, Kevin Mickus, Derek Keir, Abera Alemu, Yoseph Muhabaw, Ameha A. Muluneh, Esubalew Yehualaw, Zelalem Demissie
Summary: In magma-rich continental rifts, extension is commonly localized as dike injection in discrete magmatic segments which appear from surface geology to mimic the along-axis segmentation of ocean ridges. The subsurface morphology of these zones of localized magma injection remains unclear, including their depth range and relationship with tectonic faulting. Using gravity data, the study of the Main Ethiopian Rift reveals discrete Bouguer gravity highs in the centers of right-stepping magmatic segments, suggesting the presence of mafic intrusions. The study also suggests strong along-axis variations in deformation mechanism, with magma injection accommodating extension at the segment centers and faulting dominating towards the segment ends. Rift margin volcanic zones are inferred near the rift flanks.
FRONTIERS IN EARTH SCIENCE
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Muluken Kassa, Abera Alemu, Ameha Muluneh
Summary: Spectral analysis and inversion methods were used to determine the Curie point depth, Conrad depth, and lithospheric mantle thickness in the central main Ethiopian rift and its environs. The results showed that the magnetic crust in the study area is close to the Conrad depth and lithospheric mantle thickness, but below the Moho depth. Based on the Curie point depth, the geothermal gradient and heat flow in the study area were estimated. The results indicated an inverse correlation between the geothermal gradient and heat flow with the Curie point depth.
Article
Physics, Multidisciplinary
Davide Zaccagnino, Luciano Telesca, Onur Tan, Carlo Doglioni
Summary: By clustering analysis of Turkish seismicity, it is found that statistical properties of seismic activity are related to the regional seismogenic potential. The clustering properties of seismic activity can be considered as a possible additional information source for the assessment of seismic hazard.
Article
Geology
Mimmo Palano, Andrea Billi, Alessia Conti, Marco Cuffaro, Barbara Orecchio, Debora Presti, Silvia Scolaro, Federica Sparacino, Cristina Totaro
Summary: The Calabrian Orogenic Arc is affected by active extensional and strike-slip tectonics, and there are significant differences between its western and eastern sectors. By modeling geodetic data, a causative fault has been identified that is responsible for seismic activity in the region.
ITALIAN JOURNAL OF GEOSCIENCES
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Davide Zaccagnino, Carlo Doglioni
Summary: This study found that earthquakes on thrust faults have a higher double couple component compared to earthquakes on strike-slip and normal faults, which may be due to the more mature fault zone structure. This finding has important implications for seismic forecasting and magnitude estimation.
COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
S. G. Skolotnev, A. A. Peyve, A. Sanfilippo, A. N. Ivanenko, M. Ligi, I. A. Veklich, L. Petracchini, V. Basch, D. A. Kuleshov, C. Ferrando, V. N. Dobrolyubov, C. Sani, N. A. Shkittin, M. Bickert, S. A. Dokashenko, F. Muccini, E. S. Yakovenko, C. Palmiotto, M. Cuffaro
Summary: This paper presents geological and geophysical data collected during the 53rd cruise of the R/V Akademik Sergey Vavilov. It shows that the distribution of Icelandic plume material extends further to the south beyond the Bight transform fault. The study also determines the half-spreading rate in the area between the Bight transform fault and the Modred nontransform fault.
DOKLADY EARTH SCIENCES
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Camilla Palmiotto, Eleonora Ficini, Maria Filomena Loreto, Filippo Muccini, Marco Cuffaro
Summary: This study investigated the regional morphology of the Northern Lau Basin's back-arc spreading centers and compared it to the relative spreading rates. By using magnetic data, a more accurate spreading rate of 60.2 mm/year was obtained for the Northwest Lau Spreading Centers. Moreover, numerical models revealed active deformation in the mantle, explaining the anomalous magmatic production in the Northern Lau Back-Arc Basin.
