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A revision of the Eurasian-African plate boundary in the western Mediterranean

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Zusammenfassung

Nach gegenwärtiger Auffassung der Plattenkonfiguration im westlichen Mittelmeergebiet werden Afrika und Europa durch eine Ost-West verlaufende Transformverwerfung durch die Straße von Gibraltar und die Alboran See getrennt. Eine solche Verwerfung wird allgemein angenommen, da die Azoren-Transformverwerfung bis zum Horseshoe Seamount reicht und möglicherweise durch die Straße von Gibraltar fortgesetzt ist. Detailierte geologische Untersuchungen im Gibraltarbogen und der Alboran-See weisen jedoch nicht auf eine größere Ost-West Verwerfung hin, die dort die Kruste durchziehen könnte. Auf Grund dieses Befundes wird die Grenze zwischen der afrikanischen und der eurasischen Platte rediviert. Es wird vorgeschlagen, daß nicht die Azoren-Transformverwerfung, sondern die Hayes-Atlas-Verwerfung die nördliche Begrenzung der afrikanischen Platte im westlichen Mittelmeergebiet bildet.

Abstract

The current picture of the plate configuration in the western Mediterranean suggests that Africa and Europe are separated by a transcurrent fault striking east-west through the Strait of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea. Such a fault has been generally assumed because the Azores transform fault approaches the Horseshoe Seamounts north of Madeira and therefore could possibly extend through the Strait of Gibraltar. However, detailed geological studies in the Arc of Gibraltar and the Alboran Sea reveal no major east-west fault transecting the crust there. This finding is used here to revise the boundary between the African and Eurasian plates. It is suggested that the northern boundary of the African plate in the western Mediterranean is formed by the Hayes-Atlas Fault instead of the Azores transform.

Résumé

Le modèle habituellement admis des plaques dans la partie ouest de la Mediterranée suggère que l'Afrique et l'Europe sont séparées par une faille transcurrente est-ouest passant par le détroit de Gibraltar et la mer d'Alboran. Cette conception se base sur le fait que la faille transformante des Açores atteint le »Horseshoe Seamount« au nord de Madère et qu'elle pourrait se prolonger au travers du détroit de Gibraltar. Toutefois, des études géologiques détaillées dans l'Arc de Gibraltar et la mer d'Alboran ne révèlent pas de faille majeure (est-ouest) qui affecterait la croûte dans cette région. Cette observation amène une nouvelle interprétation du contact entre les plaques africaine et eurasiatique: il est suggéré que la bordure nord de la plaque africaine dans la partie ouest de la Méditerranée est formée par la faille de «Hayes-Atlas» et non par celle des Açores.

Краткое содержание

По новейшей интерпре тации конфигурации п латформ в западной части Сред иземного моря Африку и Европу разделяет тр ансформный сброс, про ходящий через Гибралтарский пролив в Альборанско е море. Наличие этого сб роса предполагают по тому, что трансформный сбр ос Азорских островов простирается до подв одной горы «Подкова» (Horseshoe Seamounts), и, возможно, продолж ается и в Гибралтарск ом проливе. Однако детал ьные геологические исследования Гибрал тарской дуги Альбора нского моря не установили на личия значительного сброса, простирающег ося с востока на запад и затрагивающего там-же и кору. На основа нии полученных данных пересмотрели границы между Африканской и Европе йской платформами. Пр едложено считать, что северная граница Африканской платформы в западной части Средиземного м оря образуется не трансф ормным сбросом Азор, а сбросом Hayes-Atlas.

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  1. Ruud Weijermars

    Present address: The Hans Ramberg Tectonic Laboratory, Institute of Geology, University of Uppsala, Box 555, S-751 22, Uppsala, Sweden

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    Weijermars, R. A revision of the Eurasian-African plate boundary in the western Mediterranean. Geol Rundsch 76, 667–676 (1987). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01821057

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