Evolution and demise of passive margins through grain mixing and damage.

ABSTRACT: How subduction-the sinking of cold lithospheric plates into the mantle-is initiated is one of the key mysteries in understanding why Earth has plate tectonics. One of the favored locations for subduction triggering is at passive margins, where sea floor abuts continental margins. Such passive margin collapse is problematic because the strength of the old, cold ocean lithosphere should prohibit it from bending under its own weight and sinking into the mantle. Some means of mechanical weakening of the passive margin are therefore necessary. Spontaneous and accumulated grain damage can allow for considerable lithospheric weakening and facilitate passive margin collapse. Grain damage is enhanced where mixing between mineral phases in lithospheric rocks occurs. Such mixing is driven both by com

SUBMITTER: Bercovici D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7848470 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature