Abstract
The eruption of large igneous provinces usually has major geodynamic influences on overriding plates. Seamount chains indicate that the drifting direction of the Pacific Plate changed by ∼80° in the Early Cretaceous when the Ontong Java Plateau formed. This, however, is not fully consistent with the magnetic anomalies. Here we show that there is an angle of ∼25° between the magnetic anomaly lines M0 and 34 of both the Japanese and the Hawaiian lineations, suggesting that the orientations of both spreading ridges changed by roughly the same angle towards the same direction. The configurations of the Shatsky Rise, the Papanin Ridge and the Osbourn Trough suggest that the eruption of the Ontong Java plume head uplifted the southeastern corner of the Pacific Plate, and pushed its east part northward by ∼700 km within 2 Ma. Meanwhile, the west part of the Pacific Plate was subducting southwestward underneath the eastern Asian Continent. These two forces together rotated the Pacific Plate anticlockwisely by ca 50°. Consequently, the drifting direction of the Pacific Plate also changed from southwestward to northwestward, which plausibly explains the ca 80° bending of the Shatsky Rise and the Papanin Ridge. The ridge between the Pacific and the Izanagi/Kula plates was pointed towards the ∼300° orientation, whereas the Pacific Plate was subducting towards the ∼250° orientation before ∼125 Ma, and towards ∼280° afterward.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References Cited
Benyshek, E. K., Wessel, P., Taylor, B., 2019. Tectonic Reconstruction of the Ellice Basin. Tectonics, 38(11): 3854–3865. https://doi.org/10.1029/2019tc005650
Campbell, I. H., Griffiths, R. W., 1990. Implications of Mantle Plume Structure for the Evolution of Flood Basalts. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 99(1/2): 79–93. https://doi.org/10.1016/0012-821x(90)90072-6
Campbell, I. H., 2005. Large Igneous Provinces and the Mantle Plume Hypothesis. Elements, 1(5): 265–269. https://doi.org/10.2113/gselements.1.5.265
Campbell, I. H., 2007. Testing the Plume Theory. Chemical Geology, 241(3/4): 153–176. https://doi.org/10.1016/jxhemgeo.2007.01.024
Chen, Y. X., Li, H., Sun, W. D., et al., 2016. Generation of Late Mesozoic QianlishanA2-Type Granite in Nanling Range, South China: Implications for Shizhuyuan W-Sn Mineralization and Tectonic Evolution. Lithos, 266/267: 435–452. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2016.10.010
Coffin, M. F., Eldholm, O., 1993. Scratching the Surface: Estimating Dimensions of Large Igneous Provinces. Geology, 21(6): 515–518. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1993)0210515:stsedo>2.3.co;2
Courtillot, V., Olson, P., 2007. Mantle Plumes Link Magnetic Superchrons to Phanerozoic Mass Depletion Events. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 260(3/4): 495–504. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.06.003
Gee, J. S., Kent, D. V., 2007. Source of Oceanic Magnetic Anomalies and the Geomagnetic Polarity Timescale. Treatise on Geophysics. Elsevier, Amsterdam. 455–507. https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-044452748-6.00097-3
Griffiths, R. W., Campbell, I. H., 1991. Interaction of Mantle Plume Heads with the Earth’s Surface and Onset of Small-Scale Convection. Journal of Geophysical Research: Solid Earth, 96(B11): 18295–18310. https://doi.org/10.1029/91jb01897
Heller, P. L., Anderson, D. L., Angevine, C. L., 1996. Is the Middle Cretaceous Pulse of Rapid Sea-Floor Spreading Real or Necessary? Geology, 24(6): 491–494. https://doi.org/10.1130/0091-7613(1996)0240491:itmcpo>2.3.co;2
Ingle, S., Coffin, M. F., 2004. Impact Origin for the Greater Ontong Java Plateau? Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 218(1/2): 123–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0012-821x(03)00629-0
Jiang, X. Y., Li, H., Ding, X., et al., 2018. Formation of A-Type Granites in the Lower Yangtze River Belt: A Perspective from Apatite Geochemistry. Lithos, 304–307: 125–134. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2018.02.005
Jiang, X. Y., Deng, J. H., Luo, J. C., et al., 2020. Petrogenesis of Early Cretaceous Adakites in Tongguanshan Cu-Au Polymetallic Deposit, Tongling Region, Eastern China. Ore Geology Reviews, 126: 103717. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2020.103717
Kinoshita, O., 1995. Migration of Igneous Activities Related to Ridge Subduction in Southwest Japan and the East Asian Continental Margin from the Mesozoic to the Paleogene. Tectonophysics, 245(1/2): 25–35. https://doi.org/10.1016/0040-1951(94)00211-q
Li, H., Ling, M. X., Li, C. Y., et al., 2012. A-Type Granite Belts of Two Chemical Subgroups in Central Eastern China: Indication of Ridge Subduction. Lithos, 150: 26–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2011.09.021
Li, H., Ling, M. X., Ding, X., et al., 2014. The Geochemical Characteristics of Haiyang A-Type Granite Complex in Shandong, Eastern China. Lithos, 200/201(1): 142–156. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2014.04.014
Li, H., Arculus, R. J., Ishizuka, O., et al., 2021. Basalt Derived from Highly Refractory Mantle Sources during Early Izu-Bonin-Mariana Arc Development. Nature Communications, 12(1): 1723. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21980-0
Li, H. Y., Taylor, R. N., Prytulak, J., et al., 2019. Radiogenic Isotopes Document the Start of Subduction in the Western Pacific. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 518: 197–210. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2019.04.041
Li, Z. X., Li, X. H., 2007. Formation of the 1 300-km-Wide Intracontinental Orogen and Postorogenic Magmatic Province in Mesozoic South China: A Flat-Slab Subduction Model. Geology, 35(2): 179. https://doi.org/10.1130/g23193a.1
Ling, M. X., Wang, F. Y., Ding, X., et al., 2009. Cretaceous Ridge Subduction along the Lower Yangtze River Belt, Eastern China. Economic Geology, 104(2): 303–321. https://doi.org/10.2113/gsecongeo.104.2.303
Ling, M. X., Li, Y., Ding, X., et al., 2013. Destruction of the North China Craton Induced by Ridge Subductions. The Journal of Geology, 121(2): 197–213. https://doi.org/10.1086/669248
Liu, G. X., Deng, Y. F., Yuan, F., et al., 2021. Rb-Sr Dating and S-Sr-Nd Isotopic Constraints on the Genesis of the Hehuashan Pb-Zn Deposit in the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Metallogenic Belt, China. Solid Earth Sciences, 6(2): 57–69. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sesci.2021.04.003
Liu, L., Gurnis, M., Seton, M., et al., 2010. The Role of Oceanic Plateau Subduction in the Laramide Orogeny. Nature Geoscience, 3(5): 353–357. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo829
Müller, R. D., Sdrolias, M., Gaina, C., et al., 2008. Age, Spreading Rates, and Spreading Asymmetry of the World’s Ocean Crust. Geochemistry, Geophysics, Geosystems, 9(4): Q04006. https://doi.org/10.1029/2007gc001743
Mao, J. W., Xie, G. Q., Duan, C., et al., 2011. A Tectono-Genetic Model for Porphyry-Skarn-Stratabound Cu-Au-Mo-Fe and Magnetite-Apatite Deposits along the Middle-Lower Yangtze River Valley, Eastern China. Ore Geology Reviews, 43(1): 294–314. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2011.07.010
Maruyama, S., Isozaki, Y., Kimura, G., et al., 1997. Paleogeographic Maps of the Japanese Islands: Plate Tectonic Synthesis from 750 Ma to the Present. Island Arc, 6(1): 121–142. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1440-1738.1997.tb00043.x
Maunder, B., Prytulak, J., Goes, S., et al., 2020. Rapid Subduction Initiation and Magmatism in the Western Pacific Driven by Internal Vertical Forces. Nature Communications, 11(1): 1874. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-020-15737-4
Nakanishi, M., Sager, W. W., Korenaga, J., et al., 2015. Reorganization of the Pacific-Izanagi-Farallon Triple Junction in the Late Jurassic: Tectonic Events before the Formation of the Shatsky Rise. In: Neal, C. R., Sager, W. W., Sano, T., et al., eds., The Origin, Evolution, and Environmental Impact of Oceanic Large Igneous Provinces. Geological Society of America, Boulder, Colorado. 511: 85–101. https://doi.org/10.1130/2015.2511(05)
Norton, I. O., 2007. Speculations on Cretaceous Tectonic History of the Northwest Pacific and a Tectonic Origin for the Hawaii Hotspot. Special Paper 430: Plates, Plumes and Planetary Processes. Special Paper of the Geological Society of America, 451–470. https://doi.org/10.1130/2007.2430(22)
O’Connor, J. M., Hoernle, K., Müller, R. D., et al., 2015. Deformation-Related Volcanism in the Pacific Ocean Linked to the Hawaiian-Emperor Bend. Nature Geoscience, 8(5): 393–397. https://doi.org/10.1038/ngeo2416
Reagan, M. K., Heaton, D. E., Schmitz, M. D., et al., 2019. Forearc Ages Reveal Extensive Short-Lived and Rapid Seafloor Spreading Following Subduction Initiation. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 506: 520–529. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2018.11.020
Regelous, M., Hofmann, A. W., Abouchami, W., et al., 2003. Geochemistry of Lavas from the Emperor Seamounts, and the Geochemical Evolution of Hawaiian Magmatism from 85 to 42 Ma. Journal of Petrology, 44(1): 113–140. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/44.1.113
Sager, W. W., 2005. What Built Shatsky Rise, a Mantle Plume or Ridge Tectonics? Special Paper of the Geological Society of America, 388: 721–733. https://doi.org/10.1130/0-8137-2388-4.721
Sager, W. W., Huang, Y., Tominaga, M., et al., 2019. Oceanic Plateau Formation by Seafloor Spreading Implied by Tamu Massif Magnetic Anomalies. Nature Geoscience, 12(8): 661–666. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41561-019-0390-y
Sano, T., Hanyu, T., Tejada, M. L. G., et al., 2020. Two-Stages of Plume Tail Volcanism Formed Ojin Rise Seamounts Adjoining Shatsky Rise. Lithos, 372/373: 105652. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2020.105652
Seton, M., Müller, R. D., Zahirovic, S., et al., 2012. Global Continental and Ocean Basin Reconstructions since 200 Ma. Earth-Science Reviews, 113(3/4): 212–270. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.earscirev.2012.03.002
Sun, S. J., Yang, X. Y., Wang, G. J., et al., 2019. In Situ Elemental and Sr-O Isotopic Studies on Apatite from the Xu-Huai Intrusion at the Southern Margin of the North China Craton: Implications for Petrogenesis and Metallogeny. Chemical Geology, 510: 200–214. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2019.02.010
Sun, W. D., 2019. The Magma Engine and the Driving Force of Plate Tectonics. Chinese Science Bulletin, 64(28/29): 2988–3006. https://doi.org/10.1360/n972019-00274
Sun, W. D., Langmuir, C. H., Ribe, N. M., et al., 2021. Plume-Ridge Interaction Induced Migration of the Hawaiian-Emperor Seamounts. Science Bulletin, 66(16):1691–1697. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2021.04.028
Sun, W. D., Ding, X., Hu, Y. H., et al., 2007. The Golden Transformation of the Cretaceous Plate Subduction in the West Pacific. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 262(3/4): 533–542. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2007.08.021
Sun, W. D., Yang, X. Y., Fan, W. M., et al., 2012. Mesozoic Large Scale Magmatism and Mineralization in South China: Preface. Lithos, 150: 1–5. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lithos.2012.06.028
Sun, W. D., Li, S., Yang, X. Y., et al., 2013. Large-Scale Gold Mineralization in Eastern China Induced by an Early Cretaceous Clockwise Change in Pacific Plate Motions. International Geology Review, 55(3):311–321. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2012.698920
Sun, W. D., Zhang, L. P., Li, H., et al., 2020a. The Synchronic Cenozoic Subduction Initiations in the West Pacific Induced by the Closure of the Neo-Tethys Ocean. Science Bulletin, 65(24): 2068–2071. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scib.2020.09.001
Sun, W. D., Zhang, L. P., Liao, R. Q., et al., 2020b. Plate Convergence in the Indo-Pacific Region. Journal of Oceanology and Limnology, 38(4): 1008–1017. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-020-0146-y
Sutherland, R., Dickens, G. R., Blum, P., et al., 2020. Continental-Scale Geographic Change across Zealandia during Paleogene Subduction Initiation. Geology, 48(5): 419–424. https://doi.org/10.1130/g47008.1
Taylor, B., 2006. The Single Largest Oceanic Plateau: Ontong Java-Manihiki-Hikurangi. Earth and Planetary Science Letters, 241(3/4): 372–380. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.epsl.2005.11.049
Tejada, M. L. G., Mahoney, J. J., Neal, C. R., et al., 2002. Basement Geochemistry and Geochronology of Central Malaita, Solomon Islands, with Implications for the Origin and Evolution of the Ontong Java Plateau. Journal of Petrology, 43(3): 449–484. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/43.3.449
Tejada, M. L. G., Geldmacher, J., Hauff, F., et al., 2016. Geochemistry and Age of Shatsky, Hess, and Ojin Rise Seamounts: Implications for a Connection between the Shatsky and Hess Rises. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 185: 302–327. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2016.04.006
Wang, F. Y., Ling, M. X., Ding, X., et al., 2011. Mesozoic Large Magmatic Events and Mineralization in SE China: Oblique Subduction of the Pacific Plate. International Geology Review, 53(5/6): 704–726. https://doi.org/10.1080/00206814.2010.503736
Wu, F. Y., Yang, J. H., Xu, Y. G., et al., 2019. Destruction of the North China Craton in the Mesozoic. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 47: 173–195. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-earth-053018-060342
Wu, J. T.-J., Wu, J., 2019. Izanagi-Pacific Ridge Subduction Revealed by a 56 to 46 Ma Magmatic Gap along the Northeast Asian Margin. Geology, 47(10): 953–957. https://doi.org/10.1130/g46778.1
Wu, K., Ling, M. X., Sun, W. D., et al., 2017. Major Transition of Continental Basalts in the Early Cretaceous: Implications for the Destruction of the North China Craton. Chemical Geology, 470: 93–106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemgeo.2017.08.025
Xie, J. C., Ge, L. K., Qian, L., et al., 2020. Trace Element Characteristics of Pyrite in Dongguashan Cu (Au) Deposit, Tongling Region, China. Solid Earth Sciences, 5(4): 233–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sesci.2020.09.002
Xu, Y. G., He, B., Chung, S. L., et al., 2004. Geologic, Geochemical, and Geophysical Consequences of Plume Involvement in the Emeishan Flood-Basalt Province. Geology, 32(10): 917–920. https://doi.org/10.1130/g20602.1
Xu, Y. G., Li, H. Y., Pang, C. J., et al., 2009. On the Timing and Duration of the Destruction of the North China Craton. Chinese Science Bulletin, 54(19): 3379–3396. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11434-009-0346-5
Yan, H. B., Ding, X., Ling, M. X., et al., 2021. Three Late-Mesozoic Fluorite Deposit Belts in Southeast China and Links to Subduction of the (Paleo-) Pacific Plate. Ore Geology Reviews, 129: 103865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oregeorev.2020.103865
Yogodzinski, G. M., Volynets, O. N., Koloskov, A. V., et al., 1994. Magnesian Andesites and the Subduction Component in a Strongly Calc-Alkaline Series at Piip Volcano, far Western Aleutians. Journal of Petrology, 35(1): 163–204. https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/35.1.163
Zhang, C. C., Sun, W. D., Wang, J. T., et al., 2017. Oxygen Fugacity and Porphyry Mineralization: a Zircon Perspective of Dexing Porphyry Cu Deposit, China. Geochimica et Cosmochimica Acta, 206: 343–363. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gca.2017.03.013
Zhang, G. L., Li, C., 2016. Interactions of the Greater Ontong Java Mantle Plume Component with the Osbourn Trough. Scientific Reports, 6(1): 37561. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep37561
Zhang, S. S., Yang, X. Y., Wang, K. Y., et al., 2021. Geochronological and Geochemical Constraints on the Origin of the Mesozoic Granitoids in the Fanchang Volcanic Basin, the Middle-Lower Yangtze Metallogenic Belt. Solid Earth Sciences, 6(2): 178–204. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sesci.2020.12.002
Zhang, Z. K., Ling, M. X., Lin, W., et al., 2020a. “Yanshanian Movement” Induced by the Westward Subduction of the Paleo-Pacific Plate. Solid Earth Sciences, 5(2): 103–114. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sesci.2020.04.002
Zhang, Z. K., Ling, M. X., Zhang, L. P., et al., 2020b. High Oxygen Fugacity Magma: Implication for the Destruction of the North China Craton. Acta Geochimica, 39(2): 161–171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11631-020-00394-7
Zhang, Z. Z., Ning, Y. Y., Lu, Y. Y., et al., 2021. Geological Characteristics and Metallogenic Age of Tengshan’ao Sn Deposit in Dayishan of South Hunan and Its Prospecting Significance. Solid Earth Sciences, 6(1): 37–49. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sesci.2021.01.002
Zheng, Y. F., Xu, Z., Zhao, Z. F., et al., 2018. Mesozoic Mafic Magmatism in North China: Implications for Thinning and Destruction of Cratonic Lithosphere. Science China Earth Sciences, 61(4): 353–385. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-017-9160-3
Zhou, X. M., Li, W. X., 2000. Origin of Late Mesozoic Igneous Rocks in Southeastern China: Implications for Lithosphere Subduction and Underplating of Mafic Magmas. Tectonophysics, 326(3/4): 269–287. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0040-1951(00)00120-7
Zhu, R. X., Fan, H. R., Li, J. W., et al., 2015. Decratonic Gold Deposits. Science China Earth Sciences, 58(9): 1523–1537. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-015-5139-x
Zhu, R. X., Sun, W. D., 2021. The Big Mantle Wedge and Decratonic Gold Deposits. Science China Earth Sciences, 64(9): 1451–1462. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-020-9733-1
Acknowledgments
We thank the editors and anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments, which greatly improve our manuscript. This work was supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (No. 2016YFC0600408), the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (No. XDA22050103), the Taishan Scholar Program of Shandong Province (No. ts201712075) and the Aoshan Talents Cultivation Program supported by Pilot National Laboratory of Marine Science and Technology (No. 2017ASTCP-OS07). The final publication is available at Springer via https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1582-0.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sun, W., Zhang, L. & Liu, X. The Rotation of the Pacific Plate Induced by the Ontong Java Large Igneous Province. J. Earth Sci. 33, 544–551 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1582-0
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12583-021-1582-0