Delamination vs. break-off: the fate of continental collision

Magni, V.; Faccenna, C.; van Hunen, J.; Funiciello, F.

Abstract

The fate of a convergent continental margin is investigated. We perform a set of 2D numerical models to study how and why continental collision can evolve in different scenarios. Since the rheology of continental lithosphere has a major control on the dynamics of subduction, we explore a range of different lithosphere and lower crust viscosity values to understand their sensitivity on the possible scenarios. We find that with a rheologically layered crust both delamination and break-off are feasible. We identify three modes: (1) slab detachment, in which the lithospheric mantle and the crust are strongly coupled, subduction slows down and the slab eventually breaks; (2) delamination of the lithospheric mantle that separates from the crust and continue to subduct and (3) an intermediate mode where the lithospheric mantle and the crust remain partially coupled, resulting in an initial stage of delamination followed by the slow down and cessation of subduction.

Citation

Magni, V., Faccenna, C., van Hunen, J., & Funiciello, F. (2013). Delamination vs. break-off: the fate of continental collision. Geophysical Research Letters, 40(2), 285-289. https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50090

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 28, 2013
• Deposit Date: May 9, 2013
• Publicly Available Date: Aug 17, 2015
• Journal: Geophysical Research Letters
• Print ISSN: 0094-8276
• Electronic ISSN: 1944-8007
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 40
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 285-289
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/grl.50090
• Keywords: Continental collision, Delamination, Slab detachment, Numerical modelling.
• Public URL: https://durham-repository.worktribe.com/output/1457027