Heirtzler fracture zone

Map
Map centred on Heirtzler fracture zone's (purple) approximate surface projection on Pacific Ocean showing other nearby named fracture zones (orange). Associated features to fracture zones (lighter orange) and East Pacific Rise (white) are also shown. Click to expand to interactive map.[1]
Bathymetric and magnetostratigraphy mapping with ages of sea floor spreading in millions of years (Ma) before present between Erebus and Udintsev fracture zones on the East Pacific Rise

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

  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ "Heirtzler Fracture Zone". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey, United States Department of the Interior. Retrieved 2012-06-09.

Acknowlegement

Public Domain This article incorporates public domain material from "Heirtzler fracture zone". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.

63°30′S 162°30′E / 63.500°S 162.500°E / -63.500; 162.500