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https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2656
https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-2023-2656
16 Nov 2023
 | 16 Nov 2023

Magma-poor continent-ocean transition zones of the southern North Atlantic: a wide-angle seismic synthesis of a new frontier

J. Kim Welford

Abstract. Magma-poor rifted margins, and their corresponding potential zones of exhumed serpentinized mantle, represent a unique class of tectonic boundaries with enormous promise for advancing the energy transition, such as with hydrogen production, carbon sequestration, and in the search for critical minerals. In this study, a synthesis of the results from seismic refraction/wide-angle reflection profiling, and resulting velocity models, across the continent-ocean transitions of the southern North Atlantic Ocean is presented. The models are assessed and compared to understand characteristic basement types and upper mantle behaviour across the region and between conjugate margin pairs. Ultimately, this work highlights the variable nature of continent-ocean transition zones, even within the magma-poor rifted margin end-member case, and points to avenues for future research to fill the knowledge gaps that will accelerate the energy transition.

Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this preprint. The responsibility to include appropriate place names lies with the authors.
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Journal article(s) based on this preprint

21 Jun 2024
Magma-poor continent–ocean transition zones of the southern North Atlantic: a wide-angle seismic synthesis of a new frontier
J. Kim Welford
Solid Earth, 15, 683–710, https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-683-2024,https://doi.org/10.5194/se-15-683-2024, 2024
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The requested preprint has a corresponding peer-reviewed final revised paper. You are encouraged to refer to the final revised version.

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The greening of the economy will require resources that can be found in the ocean, at the...
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