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Benthic foraminiferal distribution and sedimentary structures suggest tectonic erosion at the Costa Rica convergent plate margin
Author(s) -
Meschede Martin,
Weiss Regine,
Schmiedl Gerhard,
Hemleben Christoph
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
terra nova
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.353
H-Index - 89
eISSN - 1365-3121
pISSN - 0954-4879
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3121.2002.00439.x
Subject(s) - forearc , geology , subduction , paleontology , subsidence , convergent boundary , margin (machine learning) , sedimentary rock , trough (economics) , tectonics , erosion , passive margin , tectonic subsidence , benthic zone , geomorphology , oceanography , oceanic crust , sedimentary basin , structural basin , macroeconomics , machine learning , rift , computer science , economics
Distribution patterns of benthic foraminiferal faunas from ODP Leg 170 Sites 1041 and 1042 show that the Costa Rican convergent margin subsided from coastal to abyssal depth from Middle Miocene to Present. This favours the model of a margin undergoing active subduction erosion. We propose that subduction erosion leads to the removal of material from the base of the forearc wedge and, as a consequence, to progressive subsidence of the forearc. A mean subsidence rate is estimated to be approximately 0.4 mm yr −1 .