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Magnetic anomalies in the canary basin and the Mesozoic evolution of the central North Atlantic

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Abstract

The data from a recent magnetic compilation by Verhoefet al. (1991) off west Africa were used in combination with data in the western Atlantic to review the Mesozoic plate kinematic evolution of the central North Atlantic. The magnetic profile data were analyzed to identify the M-series sea floor spreading anomalies on the African plate. Oceanic fracture zones were identified from magnetic anomalies and seismic and gravity measurements. The identified sea floor spreading anomalies on the African plate were combined with those on the North American plate to calculate reconstruction poles for this part of the central Atlantic. The total separation poles derived in this paper describe a smooth curve, suggesting that the motion of the pole through time was continuous. Although the new sea floor spreading history differs only slightly from the one presented by Klitgord and Schouten (1986), it predicts smoother flowlines. On the other hand, the sea floor spreading history as depicted by the flowlines for the eastern central Atlantic deviates substantially from that of Sundvik and Larson (1988). A revised spreading history is also presented for the Cretaceous Magnetic Quiet Zone, where large changes in spreading direction occurred, that can not be resolved when fitting magnetic isochrons only, but which are evident from fracture zone traces and directions of sea floor spreading topography.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Geophysics Division, Geological Survey of Canada, 1 Observatory Crescent, K1A 0Y3, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

    W. R. Roest

  2. Institute of Earth Sciences ‘Jaime Almera’, Marti i Franques s/n, 08028, Barcelona, Spain

    J. J. Dañobeitia

  3. Atlantic Geoscience Centre, Geological Survey of Canada, PO Box 1006, B2Y 4A2, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia, Canada

    J. Verhoef

  4. Frederik Hendrik Straat 16, 3583 VM, Utrecht, The Netherlands

    B. J. Collette

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  1. W. R. Roest
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  2. J. J. Dañobeitia
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  3. J. Verhoef
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  4. B. J. Collette
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Deceased 11 November 1991

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Roest, W.R., Dañobeitia, J.J., Verhoef, J. et al. Magnetic anomalies in the canary basin and the Mesozoic evolution of the central North Atlantic. Mar Geophys Res 14, 1–24 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01674063

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