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Large‐scale flexuring and antithetic extensional faulting along a nascent plate boundary in the SE Afar rift
Author(s) -
Le Gall Bernard,
Daoud Mohamed Ahmed,
Rolet Joel,
Egueh Nima Moussa
Publication year - 2011
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 - 10.1111/j.1365-3121.2011.01029.x
Subject(s) - geology , rift , seismology , extensional definition , fault (geology) , crust , extensional fault , shear zone , monocline , volcano , paleontology , plate tectonics , tectonics , petrology
Terra Nova, 23, 416–420, 2011 Abstract New structural data from the SE Afar margin in Djibouti lead us to discriminate two recent (<1 Ma) extensional fault networks between the Afar accreted crust, and the South Danakil block to the east. Emphasis is placed on the N–S‐oriented Makarassou fault system which dissects the prominent westward‐(riftward‐)facing topographic flexure between the two structural domains. The most striking characteristic of the Makarassou fault belt is a closely spaced network of continentward‐dipping extensional faults, bounding domino blocks of 3–1 Ma tilted lavas of the Stratoid series. The Makarassou fault–flexure system is interpreted as an extensional faulted monocline that developed in response to differential subsidence and crustal downwarping of the Afar magmatically accreted transitional crust. Large‐scale flexuring and associated structures along the eastern flank of the Asal–Manda‐Inakir incipient plate boundary are regarded as indicative of a nascent volcanic rifted margin in SE Afar.