Abstract
Bathymetric and magnetic data from the mouth of the Gulf of California show an early episode of spreading between ±6 mybp and 3.5 mybp which rifted crust at the foot of the Tres Marias Islands from Baja California. Fracture zones from this episode do not offset the present East Pacific Rise (EPR). A reorganization of spreading beginning 3.5 mybp has led to the present configuration; its initiation is marked in the topography by a valley partially filled by a NS trending turbidite plain.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
BergerW. H., and JohnsonT. C.: 1976, ‘Deep-Sea carbonates: Dissolution and mass wasting on the Ontong-Java Plateau’, Science 192, 785–787.
ChaseC. G., MenardH. W., LarsonR. L., SharmanIIIG. F., and SmithS. M.: 1976, ‘History of sea floor spreading west of Baja California”, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 81, 491–498.
Crouch, J. K.: 1978, ‘Neogene tectonic evolution of the California continental borderland and western transverse ranges’, U.S.G.S. Open File Report, 78–606.
CurrayJ. R., MooreD. G., et al.: 1979, ‘Leg 64 seeks Evidence on Development of Basins’, Geotimes 24, 4, 18–20.
Jensky, W. A.: 1974, ‘Reconnaissance geology and geochronology of the Bahia de Banderas area, Nayarit and Jalisco’, Mexico, M.A. Thesis, San Diego State University.
KarigD. E., and MammerickxJ.: 1972, ‘Tectonic framework of the New Hebrides Island Arc’, Mar. Geol. 12, 187–215.
KastensK. A., MacdonaldK. C., BeckerK., and CraneK.: 1979, ‘The Tamayo transform fault in the mouth of the Gulf of California’, Mar. Geophys. Res. 4, 129–151.
KlitgordK. D., HuestisS. P., MudieJ. D., and ParkerR. L.: 1975, ‘An analysis of near-bottom magnetic anomalies: sea-floor spreading and the magnetized layer’, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc. 43, 387–424.
Larson, R.: 1970, ‘Near bottom studies of the East Pacific Rise crest and tectonics of the mouth of the Gulf of California’, Ph.D. dissertation, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, unpublished.
LarsonR. L.: 1972, ‘Bathymetry, magnetic anomalies, and plate tectonics history of the mouth of the Gulf of California’, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 83, 3345–3360.
LarsonR. L., MenardH. W., and SmithS. M.: 1968, ‘Gulf of California: a result of ocean floor spreading and transform faulting’, Science 161, 781–784.
Mammerickx, J., Reichle, M. S., and Reid, I. D.: 1978, ‘Bathymetry of the Rivera Fracture Zone’, IMR Technical Rep. Series, TR 62, Scripps Institution of Oceanography.
MolnarP., AtwaterT., MammerickxJ., and SmithS. M.: 1975, ‘Magnetic anomalies, bathymetry and the tectonic evolution of the South Pacific since the Late Cretaceous’, Geophys. J. R. Astr. Soc. 40, 383–420.
MooreD. G.: 1973, ‘Plate edge deformation and crustal growth, Gulf of California structural province’, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 84, 1883–1906.
MooreD. G., and BuffingtonE. C.: 1968, ‘Transform faulting and growth of the Gulf of California since late Pliocene’, Science 161, 1238–1241.
NormarkW. R., and CurrayJ. R.: 1968, ‘Geology and structure of the tip of Baja California, Mexico’, Geol. Soc. Am. Bull. 79, 1589–1600.
Phillips, R. P.: 1964, ‘Seismic refraction studies in the Gulf of California’, 90–121. In Tj. van Andel and G. G. Shor (eds.), Marine Geology of the Gulf of California, Am. Assoc. Petroleum Geologists Mem. 3, 408.
SclaterJ. G., AndersonR. N., and BellM. L.: 1971, ‘Elevation of ridges and evolution of the East Central Pacific’, J. Geophys. Res. 76, 7888–7915.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Mammerickx, J. Neogene reorganization of spreading between the Tamayo and the Rivera fracture zone. Mar Geophys Res 4, 305–318 (1980). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369105
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00369105