Crustal structure, tectonic subsidence and lithospheric stretching of the princess Elizabeth trough basin, East Antarctica

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Abstract

This paper considers crustal structure, seismic stratigraphy, thermal evolution and lithospheric stretching of the deep-water basin located on the East Antarctic passive margin in the Princess Elizabeth Trough. Seven of the Middle Jurassic to Quaternary seismic sequences was identified based on interpretation of multichannel seismic data. The information about seismic stratigraphy and crustal thickness (calculated from gravity data) along the section crossing the Princess Elizabeth Trough was used for numerical modeling of the thermal regime of the lithosphere, tectonic subsidence of the crystalline basement and lithospheric stretching. Modeling shows that calculated tectonic subsidence is possible only under the assumption of crustal extension before the deposition (during the crustal doming at the early rift phase). Maximum stretching factor in the basin ranges from 1.1 to 2.0 for the period which preceded the deposition and 2.8 for the period of the rift-related deposition.

 

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About the authors

G. L. Leitchenkov

Gramberg Research Institute of Geology and Mineral Resources of the World Ocean; Institute of Earth Sciences ‒ St. Petersburg State University

Author for correspondence.
Email: german_l@mail.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

Yu. I. Galushkin

Museum of Natural History, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: german_l@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

Yu. B. Guseva

Institute of Earth Sciences ‒ St. Petersburg State University

Email: german_l@mail.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

V. V. Gandyukhin

Polar Marine Geosurvey Expedition

Email: german_l@mail.ru
Russian Federation, St. Petersburg

E. P. Dubinin

Museum of Natural History, Lomonosov Moscow State University

Email: german_l@mail.ru
Russian Federation, Moscow

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Supplementary files

Supplementary Files
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2. Fig. 1. The position of profiles 4809 and 3910, used for numerical modeling of the basin of the trough of Princess Elizabeth.

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3. Fig. 2. Interpreted time (a) and deep (b) seismic sections along profile 4809. 1 - seismic boundaries; 2 - age of seismic complexes in million years; 3 - numbers of pseudo-wells, according to which numerical simulation was performed

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4. Fig. 3. Density section of the earth's crust along profile 3910, obtained from the simulation of gravitational anomalies. 1 - observed gravitational anomalies (reduction in free air); 2 - calculated gravitational anomalies; 3 - density, g / cm3; 4 - numbers of pseudo-wells, according to which numerical modeling was performed; 5 - the boundary between the continental-type riftogenic crust and the oceanic-type crust

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5. Fig. 4. Changes in rock temperature and organic matter maturity in the history of subsidence of the sedimentary basin of the passive margin in the trough of Princess Elizabeth, numerically reconstructed for pseudo-wells (PS) 2 (a), 7 (b), and 9 (c). 1 - change in the average annual temperature on the surface of the seabed (according to [4, 8, 27]); 2 - change in the depth of seismic complexes (relative to the seabed) during the development of the basin; 3 - isotherms; 4 - contours of the reflectivity of vitrinite (% Ro)

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6. Fig. 5. The thermal state of the sedimentary cover of the Princess Elizabeth trough basin in the context of profile 4908. 1 - main seismic horizons; 2 - isotherms; 3 - vitrinite reflectivity isolines (% Ro)

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7. Fig. 6. The thermal history of the lithosphere of the sedimentary basin of Princess Elizabeth’s trough in pseudo-well 7 (a), the evolution of the thermal regime of the lithosphere in pseudo-well 7 (b). The phase transition shows the depth in the mantle at which spinel peridotites are converted to garnet peridotites, according to [1]. The sole of the lithosphere is determined by the intersection of the solidus curve of peridotite with a water content of no more than 0.2% H2O [26] with the current geotherm T (Z, t) in the lithosphere of the basin. 1 - variations of heat flow through the surface of the foundation; 2 - variations of the heat flux through the surface of the sedimentary cover

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8. Fig. 7. Estimated changes in the depth of the sea in the trough of Princess Elizabeth in PS 1–11. Shown (numbers) pseudo-well numbers.

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9. Fig. 8. Variations of tectonic subsidence of the foundation surface (a) and sedimentary cover thickness (b) in the history of the development of the basin of the Princess Elizabeth trough. Shown (numbers) pseudo-well numbers.

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