Heirtzler fracture zone
The Heirtzler fracture zone is an undersea fracture zone located south of New Zealand, near Antarctica that has been estimated to have been a propagator region of the Pacific–Antarctic Ridge for 5–6 million years.[2]
The presumed seismically and tectonically active portion of this fracture zone is known as the Heirtzler transform fault and divides a portion of the Pacific-Antarctic Ridge where spreading rates increase towards its axial north from 56 to 66 mm (2.2 to 2.6 in)/year over a distance of 650 km (400 mi).[3] The Heirtzler transform fault portion has areas of gravity highs,[4] and as well as its larger propagating region it has to the southeast a smaller Pacific-Antarctic Ridge propagator that may have started about one million years ago with both associated with clockwise changes in spreading direction.[2]
The feature was named for James R. Heirtzler, a geophysicist who was a pioneer in geomagnetics studies. The name was proposed by the Lamont–Doherty Geological Observatory (now the Lamont–Doherty Earth Observatory), and was approved by the Advisory Committee on Undersea Features in 1993.[5]
References
[edit]- ^ General citations for named fracture zones are at page Wikipedia:Map data/Fracture zone and specific citations are in interactive detail.
- ^ a b Briais, A.; Aslanian, D.; Géli, L.; Ondréas, H. (2002). "Analysis of propagators along the Pacific–Antarctic Ridge: Evidence for triggering by kinematic changes". Earth and Planetary Science Letters. 199 (3–4): 415–428. doi:10.1016/S0012-821X(02)00567-8.
- ^ Sen, J.; Sarkar, S.; Mandal, N. (2023). "Complexity in the 3D stress fields of mid-ocean ridge tectonics: a manifestation of sub-crustal mush dynamics". EarthArXiv. x5gd5s. Bibcode:2023EaArX...X5GD5SS. doi:10.31223/x5gd5s.
- ^ Ondréas, H.; Aslanian, D.; Géli, L.; Olivet, J.L.; Briais, A. (2001). "Variations in axial morphology, segmentation, and seafloor roughness along the Pacific‐Antarctic Ridge between 56 S and 66 S". Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth. 106 (B5): 8521–8546. Bibcode:2001JGR...106.8521O. doi:10.1029/2000JB900394.
- ^ "Heirtzler Fracture Zone". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-06-09.
Acknowlegement
[edit]
This article incorporates public domain material from "Heirtzler fracture zone". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.