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1.
板块俯冲是板块构造理论的重要组成部分。虽然单板块俯冲的数值模拟研究已经很多,但是多板块之间的相互作用的机制仍然不明确,需要进一步的研究。文章建立了二维的地球动力学数值模型,研究双板片相向俯冲的动力学过程,探讨俯冲板块粘度对多板块耦合作用的影响。模拟结果显示,当两个俯冲板块其他动力学性质相同时,左右俯冲板块的粘度差异会导致板片俯冲速度的不同。粘度小的俯冲板块下沉速度快,先进入下地幔,发生弯曲折叠,并在下地幔堆叠。粘度大的俯冲板块后进入下地幔,受到地幔环流的阻碍,发生翻转,并在下地幔中滑移。左右板片俯冲速度和形态的差异也造成了上覆板块向着粘度小的俯冲板块一侧移动,使得这一侧海沟后退,另一侧海沟前进。该研究结果为东南亚区域的复杂构造的演化过程提供了动力学解释,东南亚区域的印度—澳大利亚板块和太平洋板块相向俯冲,两个板片互相作用,构成了复杂的汇聚俯冲系统,引起的地幔上升流,很可能是南海地区新生代岩浆岩的起源。 相似文献
2.
地震层析成像揭示了地幔内存在俯冲板片的重要证据,它们涉及多种几何形态和运动方式,地幔过渡带为其下沉的重要屏障,俯冲板片在这里发生停滞、变形和岩石圈物质积累。板片在个别地区可以俯冲到地核—地幔边界,堆积形成板块墓地,造成D″ 层物质组成和热学的不均一性。高温高压实验以及流变学计算模拟,对地幔组成及其物性提供了新的制约,板片俯冲地幔过程中,涉及矿物相变、黏度、密度、力学强度等因素的制约,地幔过渡带为俯冲重要屏障和相变界面。围绕板片俯冲的研究,提出地幔整体对流的新模式,板块墓地与超级地幔柱具有成因联系,成为全球地幔对流的重要环节,有待深入研究。板片俯冲是浅表板块构造与深部超级地幔柱的联系纽带和重要驱动力。 相似文献
3.
俯冲工厂和大陆物质的俯冲再循环研究 总被引：3，自引：3，他引：3
板块的俯冲系统可以比拟为一个工厂。再循环研究强调对俯冲物质各种组分的行为、去向的追踪和定量分析。沉积物俯冲和俯冲侵蚀作用导致陆壳物质返回地幔,初步估算表明,大陆物质返回地幔的速率与岩浆活动导致陆壳生长的速率在数量上大体相当,晚近时期陆壳的净增长速率可能近于零。大洋岛玄武岩地化特征上的多样性提示,沉入下地幔的板片可能从深部卷入地幔柱的源区。俯冲再循环过程对地壳、地幔的动力学和演化产生深刻影响。 相似文献
4.
俯冲带部分熔融 总被引：3，自引：3，他引：0
俯冲带是地幔对流环的下沉翼，是地球内部的重要物理与化学系统。俯冲带具有比周围地幔更低的温度，因此，一般认为俯冲板片并不会发生部分熔融，而是脱水导致上覆地幔楔发生部分熔融。但是，也有研究认为，在水化的洋壳俯冲过程中可以发生部分熔融。特别是在下列情况下，俯冲洋壳的部分熔融是俯冲带岩浆作用的重要方式。年轻的大洋岩石圈发生低角度缓慢俯冲时，洋壳物质可以发生饱和水或脱水熔融，基性岩部分熔融形成埃达克岩。太古代的俯冲带很可能具有与年轻大洋岩石圈俯冲带类似的热结构，俯冲的洋壳板片部分熔融可以形成英云闪长岩-奥长花岗岩-花岗闪长岩。平俯冲大洋高原中的基性岩可以发生部分熔融产生埃达克岩。扩张洋中脊俯冲可以导致板片窗边缘的洋壳部分熔融形成埃达克岩。与俯冲洋壳相比，俯冲的大陆地壳具有很低的水含量，较难发生部分熔融，但在超高压变质陆壳岩石的折返过程中可以经历广泛的脱水熔融。超高压变质岩在地幔深部熔融形成的熔体与地幔相互作用是碰撞造山带富钾岩浆岩的可能成因机制。碰撞造山带的加厚下地壳可经历长期的高温与高压变质和脱水熔融，形成S型花岗岩和埃达克质岩石。 相似文献
5.
由板块俯冲引发的深部物质循环过程是地球内部的一级运行机制,主宰了地球从内到外的演化进程,是地球科学研究的重要前沿.俯冲带化学地球动力学研究不仅需要确定俯冲带地壳物质再循环的机制和形式,而且需要确定俯冲带动力来源和热体制及其随时间的变化.为了识别不同类型壳源熔/流体对地幔楔的交代作用、寻求板片-地幔界面反应的岩石学和地球化学证据、理解汇聚板块边缘地壳俯冲和拆沉对地幔不均一性的贡献,我们必须将俯冲带变质作用、交代作用和岩浆作用作为一个地球科学系统来考虑.板块俯冲带变质过程中发生一系列物理化学变化,这些变化不但是导致板块进一步俯冲的主要驱动力,同时也控制着释放的熔/流体组成和俯冲到地球深部的物质组成,对俯冲带化学地球动力学过程产生重要影响.地幔楔作为俯冲系统中连接俯冲盘和仰冲盘的关键构造单元,在地球层圈之间物质循环和能量交换等方面起着重要作用.造山带地幔楔橄榄岩直接记录了俯冲带多种性质的熔/流体交代作用,以及复杂的壳幔物质循环过程.俯冲带岩浆岩是大洋/大陆板块俯冲物质再循环的表现形式,这些岩石样品记录了俯冲带从深部地幔到浅部地壳的过程,也为认识地球深部物质循环提供了理想的天然样品.尽管国际上在俯冲带岩石学和地球化学领域针对地球深部过程的研究方面取得了多项重要进展,但由于研究工作缺乏密切的协同配合,包括俯冲带熔/流体的物理化学性质、俯冲带壳幔相互作用的机制和过程、俯冲带幔源岩浆活动的物质来源和启动机制以及深部地幔过程对地表环境的影响等许多关键科学问题尚未得到根本解决.将来的研究需要聚焦俯冲带物质循环这一核心科学问题,进一步查明俯冲带变质作用、交代作用、岩浆作用等过程的各自特征和相互联系,包括挥发性组分在地球深部的迁移过程及其资源和环境效应,着力考察研究相对薄弱的古俯冲带,阐明板块俯冲与地球深部物质循环之间的耦合机制. 相似文献
6.
利用地球动力学数值模拟方法探讨了洋-陆汇聚时,大洋岩石圈的绝对俯冲速率和上覆大陆岩石圈的向洋绝对逆冲速率对俯冲模式的影响,尤其是上覆大陆的向洋绝对逆冲速率与平板俯冲之间的关系。模型结果显示,对于年龄为40 Ma的含正常洋壳厚度的大洋岩石圈,在初始俯冲角度为现今洋–陆俯冲平均倾角的极小值(19°)条件下,低速大洋俯冲(绝对俯冲速率≤3 cm/a)且上覆大陆岩石圈向洋绝对逆冲速率≥1 cm/a时,具备形成平板俯冲的条件。当中–高速大洋俯冲(绝对俯冲速度3 cm/a)时,在上覆大陆的绝对逆冲速率不小于俯冲速率时可以形成平板俯冲。当增加初始俯冲角度到平均倾角的极大值(36°)时,仅在低速大洋俯冲(绝对俯冲速率≤3 cm/a)且绝对逆冲速率达到10 cm/a时(自然界中基本不存在),才有可能出现平板俯冲,其他情况均表现为陡俯冲。我们的模拟结果表明:(1)较高的大洋岩石圈绝对俯冲速率更容易克服板间耦合作用力而有利于陡俯冲形成;(2)较高的上覆大陆绝对逆冲速率更有利于俯冲板片弯曲而趋向于平板俯冲形成;(3)上覆大陆朝向海沟的逆冲速率会在俯冲板片下方产生水平向陆的地幔流,绝对逆冲速率越大该地幔流越强烈,导致作用于板片下表面的水平剪切分量越大而有利于板片弯折和平板俯冲发生;(4)初始俯冲角度的增加对平板俯冲的形成起到强烈抑制作用。这些能被现今平板俯冲,如具相似洋–陆汇聚速率条件的南美洲西海岸平板俯冲实例所验证。 相似文献
7.
板块俯冲起始与大陆地壳演化 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
组成大陆地壳的物质主要来自两个地质过程:地幔柱活动和板块俯冲。目前大多数研究认为板块俯冲起始于30多亿年前。在板块俯冲起始之前,基性的初始地壳物质受热重熔是大陆地壳生长的主要方式,其中,地幔柱活动是关键。地幔柱不仅向地壳输送玄武质岩浆,同时导致已有玄武质岩石和沉积岩通过部分熔融向中酸性岩石转化。当原始岩石圈强度足够大时,地幔柱会导致岩石圈倾斜、破裂,产生下滑力,诱发板块俯冲。板块俯冲引发岩浆活动,产生大量的岩浆岩,如岛弧安山岩、弧后盆玄武岩等。这些岩浆岩通过喷发、侵位,再经由块体拼贴、增生等过程加入到大陆地壳,是大陆地壳生长的主要途径。同时,板内岩浆活动乃至地幔柱活动等也与板块俯冲有直接或者间接的联系。俯冲再循环物质促进地幔柱发育,也为大陆地壳的生长提供物源和热能。与此同时,大陆地壳不断风化剥蚀,其中一部分沉积物随俯冲板块再循环到地幔,而板块俯冲过程也通过俯冲剥蚀等过程,将仰冲盘岩石圈物质刮削带入地幔。这些是大陆地壳消减的主要途径。目前大陆地壳增生和消减基本处于动态平衡。 相似文献
8.
9.
俯冲带作为板块构造最为重要的标志之一,是地球最大的物质循环系统,被称为“俯冲工厂”.俯冲作用是驱动和维持板块运动的重要动力引擎.一个完整的俯冲带发育海沟、增生楔、弧前盆地、岩浆弧、弧后盆地（或弧背前陆盆地）等基本构造单元.在一些特殊情况下（如洋脊俯冲、年轻洋壳俯冲、海山俯冲）,则可形成一些特殊的俯冲带结构（如平板俯冲、俯冲侵蚀）,导致岩浆弧、增生楔、弧前盆地等不发育甚至缺失.俯冲大洋板片可滞留于或穿越地幔过渡带进入下地幔甚至到达核幔边界,把地壳物质带入到地球深部,并通过地幔柱活动上升到浅部.俯冲带是构造活动强烈的区域,存在走滑、挤压、伸展等变形及其构造叠加.俯冲带海沟可向大洋或大陆方向迁移,岛弧及增生楔等也随之发生迁移,使俯冲带上盘发生周期性挤压和伸展,形成复杂的古地理格局.微陆块、岛弧、海山/洋底高原等地质体在俯冲带发生增生时,可阻塞先存的俯冲带,造成俯冲带跃迁或俯冲极性反转,在其外侧形成新的俯冲带.俯冲带深部精细结构、俯冲起始如何发生、板块俯冲与地幔柱的深部关联机制等是当前俯冲带研究中值得关注的前沿问题.开展俯冲带地球物理深部探测、古缝合带与现今俯冲带对比研究、俯冲带动力学数值模拟是解决上述科学问题的重要途径. 相似文献
10.
地球上的岩浆活动主要发生于大洋中脊、俯冲带，而板内岩浆通常是由地幔柱或热点作用产生的。最近一二十年，在俯冲板块内部发现了一些岩浆活动，它们通常不能用传统的动力学机制来解释。本文综述了位于不同构造背景的俯冲板块内部的岩浆活动，包括大洋板块俯冲背景下俯冲的大洋和大陆板块部分，以及陆陆碰撞背景下俯冲的大陆板块。在此基础上，讨论了板片拉力在俯冲板块岩浆作用中的地位和效应，认为俯冲下盘微陆块的裂解通常需要多种因素的综合，并且需要多学科综合研究来鉴别地史上的俯冲板块以及相应的板内岩浆作用。俯冲板块中的板内岩浆的识别和研究将是板块构造理论框架下解释板内岩浆作用的重要补充。 相似文献
11.
On the role of subducting oceanic plateaus in the development of shallow flat subduction 总被引：2，自引：0，他引：2
Oceanic plateaus, aseismic ridges or seamount chains all have a thickened crust and their subduction has been proposed as a possible mechanism to explain the occurrence of flat subduction and related absence of arc magmatism below Peru, Central Chile and at the Nankai Trough (Japan). Their extra compositional buoyancy could prohibit the slab from sinking into the mantle. With a numerical thermochemical convection model, we simulated the subduction of an oceanic lithosphere that contains an oceanic crustal plateau of 18-km thickness. With a systematic variation, we examined the required physical parameters to obtain shallow flat subduction. Metastability of the basaltic crust in the eclogite stability field is of crucial importance for the slab to remain buoyant throughout the subduction process. In a 44-Ma-old subducting plate, basalt must be able to survive a temperature of 600–700 °C to keep the plate buoyant sufficiently long to cause a flat-slab segment. We found that the maximum yield stress in the slab must be limited to about 600 MPa to allow for the necessary bending to the horizontal. Young slabs show flat subduction for larger parameter ranges than old slabs, since they are less gravitationally unstable and show less resistance against bending. Hydrous weakening of the mantle wedge area and lowermost continent are required to allow for the necessary deformation of a change in subduction style from steep to flat. The maximum flat slab extent is about 300 km, which is sufficient to explain the observed shallow flat subduction near the Nankai Trough (Japan). However, additional mechanisms, such as active overthrusting by an overriding continental plate, need to be invoked to explain the flat-slab segments up to 500 km long below Peru and Central Chile. 相似文献
12.
We present three 3D numerical models of deep subduction where buoyant material from an oceanic plateau and a plume interact with the overriding plate to assess the influence on subduction dynamics,trench geometry,and mechanisms for plateau accretion and continental growth.Transient instabilities of the convergent margin are produced,resulting in:contorted trench geometry;trench migration parallel with the plate margin;folding of the subducting slab and orocline development at the convergent margin;and transfer of the plateau to the overriding plate.The presence of plume material beneath the oceanic plateau causes flat subduction above the plume,resulting in a "bowed" shaped subducting slab.In plateau-only models,plateau accretion at the edge of the overriding plate results in trench migration around the edge of the plateau before subduction is re-established directly behind the trailing edge of the plateau.The plateau shortens and some plateau material subducts.The presence of buoyant plume material beneath the oceanic plateau has a profound influence on the behaviour of the convergent margin.In the plateau + plume model,plateau accretion causes rapid trench advance.Plate convergence is accommodated by shearing at the base of the plateau and shortening in the overriding plate.The trench migrates around the edge of the plateau and subduction is re-established well behind the trailing edge of the plateau,effectively embedding the plateau into the overriding plate.A slab window forms beneath the accreted plateau and plume material is transferred from the subducting plate to the overriding plate through the window.In all of the models,the subduction zone maintains a relatively stable configuration away from the buoyancy anomalies within the downgoing plate.The models provide a dynamic context for plateau and plume accretion in Phanerozoic accretionary orogenic systems such as the East China Orogen and the Central Asian Orogen(Altiads),which are characterised by accreted ophiolite complexes with diverse geochemical affinities,and a protracted evolution of accretion of exotic terranes including oceanic plateau and terranes with plume origins. 相似文献
13.
We present a model of the subducting Cocos slab beneath Central Mexico, that provides an explanation for stresses causing the occurrence of the majority of the intraslab earthquakes which are concentrated in a long flat segment. Based on the recently developed thermal models for the Central Mexico subduction zone, the thermal stresses due to non-uniform temperature contrast in the subducting slab are calculated using a finite element approach. The slab is considered purely elastic but due to high temperature at its bottom the behavior is considered as ductile creep. The calculation results show a 20 km slab core characterized by a tensional state of stress with stresses up to 70 MPa. On the other hand, the top of the slab experiences high compressive thermal stresses up to 110 MPa, depending on the elastic constants used and location along the flat part of the subducting plate. These compressive stresses at the top of the slab are not consistent with the exclusive normal fault intraslab earthquakes, and two different sources of stress are proposed.
The trenchward migration of the Mexican volcanic arc for the last 7 Ma indicates an increase of the slab dip through time. This observation suggests that the gravity torque might exceed the suction torque. Considering the flat slab as an embedded plate subject to an applied clockwise net torque of 0.5 × 1016–1.5 × 1016 N m, the upper half would exhibit tensional stresses of 40–110 MPa that can actually balance the compressive thermally induced stresses.
An alternative stress source might come from the slab pull force caused by the slab positive density anomaly. Based on our density anomaly estimations (75 ± 20 kg/m3), a 350 km slab length, dipping at 20° into the asthenosphere, induces a slab pull force of 1.7 × 1012–4.6 × 1012 N m. This force produces a tensional stress of 41–114 MPa, sufficient to balance the compressive thermal stresses at the top of the flat slab.
The linear superposition of the thermally and torque or slab pull induced stresses shows tensile stresses up to 60–180 MPa inside the flat slab core. Also, our results suggest that the majority of the intraslab earthquakes inside the flat slab are situated where the resultant stresses are larger than 40–80 MPa.
This study provides a reasonable explanation for the existence of exclusively normal fault intraslab earthquakes in the flat slab beneath Central Mexico, and also it shows that thermal stresses due to non-uniform reheating of subducting slabs play a considerable role in the total stress field. 相似文献
14.
Numerical studies of subduction zone dynamics on a regional scale usually use a limited spatial extent for their models and therefore need to define boundary conditions on all model edges. These boundary conditions imply a choice for the mechanical and thermal state of the surrounding regions which may influence the evolution of the model system. We investigate the role of the surface and lateral boundary conditions for simple mechanical subduction models using a standard finite element method. We find that subduction is only possible if the slab can decouple from the surface. This decoupling can be achieved by a true free surface, a free-slip surface with a weak crust for the subducting plate, or a free-slip surface with a layer of low viscosity, low density material (‘sticky air’) between the model surface and the crust. Models of slab dynamics that employ a free-slip surface reproduce trench migration, slab sinking velocities and slab geometry of models with a free surface, as long as they use either a weak crust, which can be viscous, viscoelastic and/or brittle, or a ‘sticky air’ layer. The vertical topography will however not be reproduced for free-slip models without a ‘sticky air’ layer. For ocean–ocean convergent models we find that the application of inflow boundary conditions at the edges of the subducting or overriding lithosphere controls trench motion and the geometry of the subducting slab. Inflow on the overriding side causes trench retreat and a slab resting on the lower mantle, whereas inflow restricted to the subducting side can cause trench advance and a slab which folds on the lower mantle. 相似文献
15.
Subduction is a fundamental mechanism of material exchange between the planetary interior and the surface. Despite its significance, our current understanding of fluctuating subducting plate area and slab volume flux has been limited to a range of proxy estimates. Here we present a new detailed quantification of subduction zone parameters from the Late Triassic to present day (230–0 Ma). We use a community plate motion model with evolving plate topologies to extract trench-normal convergence rates through time to compute subducting plate areas, and we use seafloor paleo-age grids to estimate the thickness of subducting lithosphere to derive the slab flux through time. Our results imply that slab flux doubled to values greater than 500 km3/yr from 180 Ma in the Jurassic to 130 Ma in the mid-Cretaceous, subsequently halving again towards the Cretaceous-Paleogene boundary, largely driven by subduction zones rimming the Pacific ocean basin. The 130 Ma spike can be attributed to a two-fold increase in mid-ocean ridge lengths following the break-up of Pangea, and a coincident increase in convergence rates, with average speeds exceeding 10 cm/yr. With one third of the total 230 - 0 Ma subducted volume entering the mantle during this short ∼50 Myr period, we suggest this slab superflux drove a surge in slab penetration into the lower mantle and an associated increase in the vigour of mantle return flow. This mid-Cretaceous event may have triggered, or at least contributed to, the formation of the Darwin Rise mantle superswell, dynamic uplift of the South African Plateau and the plume pulse that produced the Ontong-Java-Hikurangi-Manihiki and Kerguelen plateaus, among others.The models presented here contribute to an improved understanding of the time-evolving flux of material consumed by subduction, and suggest that slab superflux may be a general feature of continental dispersal following supercontinent breakup. These insights may be useful for better understanding how supercontinent cycles are related to transient episodes of Large Igneous Province and superswell formation, and the associated deep cycling of minerals and volatiles, as well as leading to a better understanding of tectonic drivers of long-term climate and icehouse-to-greenhouse transitions. 相似文献
16.
Structure and seismicity of the Aegean subduction zone 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
Tomographic results show the presence of a high-velocity anomaly dipping north beneath the Aegean Sea (Hellenic arc), down to a depth of at least 600 km. This anomaly is interpreted as the image of the subducting lithosphere of the African plate. No deep seismicity, however, is associated with this downgoing slab, although this would be expected on the basis of the age of the downbending lithosphere (approximately 100 Myr) and the inferred duration of the present ongoing episode of subduction. Using a thermo-mechanical model for the subduction zone we find that the non-stationary input of the subduction zone-both in convergence rate and in thermal structure of the downgoing lithosphere - adequately accounts for both the presence of a velocity anomaly associated with a slab and the absence of deep seismicity. The non-stationarity follows from the large-scale tectonic setting of the Eastern Mediterranean basin. 相似文献
17.
Slab behaviour and its surface expression: new insights from gravity modelling in the SE-Carpathians 总被引：1，自引：0，他引：1
We use lithosphere-scale gravity models to calculate gravity anomalies resulting from oceanic subduction, continental collision, slab steepening, delamination, and break-off. Local isostasy was assumed for determining vertical movements caused by mass changes related to these tectonic processes. Our results show that subduction is accompanied by basin subsidence on the upper plate caused by the heavy lithospheric root of the subducting slab. The basin evolution goes parallel with the slab evolution and shows considerable modifications when the processes at depth change (slab steepening, delamination, break-off). Characteristic gravity anomaly curves were acquired for the different tectonic scenarios. These curves together with other data (e.g. basin evolution on the upper and the lower plate) were used for the reconstruction of the tectonic evolution of the SE-Carpathians which includes Tertiary subduction and collision followed by slab steepening and delamination. 相似文献
18.
F. Cella S. de Lorenzo M. Fedi M. Loddo F. Mongelli A. Rapolla G. Zito 《Tectonophysics》2006,412(1-2):27-47
The gravity anomaly field of the Tyrrhenian basin and surrounding regions reflects the complex series of geodynamic events active in this area since the Oligocene–Miocene. They can resume in lithospheric thinning and asthenospheric rising beneath the Tyrrhenian Basin, coexisting with the roll-back subduction of the African plate margin westward sinking beneath the Calabrian Arc. The geographic closeness between these processes implies an intense perturbation of the mantle thermal regime and an interference at regional scale between the related gravity effects.A model of the litho-asthenospheric structure of this region is suggested, showing a reasonable agreement with both the evidences in terms of regional gravity anomaly pattern and the results concerning thermal state and petro-physical features of the mantle. The first phase of this study consisted of the computation of the isotherms in the crust–mantle system beneath the Tyrrhenian Basin and, afterwards, of the density distribution within the partially melted upwelling asthenosphere. The second phase consisted of a temperature/density modelling of the slab subducting beneath the Calabrian Arc. Finally, a 21 / 2 interpretation of gravity data was carried out by including as constraints the results previously obtained. Thus, the final result depicts a model matching both gravity, thermal and petrographic data. They provide (a) a better definition of the thermal regime of the passive mantle rise beneath the Tyrrhenian basin by means of the estimation of the moderate asthenospheric heating and (b) a model of lithospheric slab subducting with rates that could be smaller than generally suggested in previous works. 相似文献
19.
Laboratory and numerical experiments and boundary layer analysis of the entrainment of buoyant asthenosphere by subducting oceanic lithosphere implies that slab entrainment is likely to be relatively inefficient at removing a buoyant and lower viscosity asthenosphere layer. Asthenosphere would instead be mostly removed by accretion into and eventual subduction of the overlying oceanic lithosphere. The lower (hot) side of a subducting slab entrains by the formation of a ∼10–30 km‐thick downdragged layer, whose thickness depends upon the subduction rate and the density contrast and viscosity of the asthenosphere, while the upper (cold) side of the slab may entrain as much by thermal ‘freezing’ onto the slab as by mechanical downdragging. This analysis also implies that proper treatment of slab entrainment in future numerical mantle flow experiments will require the resolution of ∼10–30 km‐thick entrainment boundary layers. 相似文献
20.
In contrast to the normal ‘Wilson cycle’ sequence of subduction leading to continental collision and associated mountain building, the evolution of the New Zealand plate boundary in the Neogene reflects the converse—initially a period of continental convergence that is followed by the emplacement of subduction. Plate reconstructions allow us to place limits on the location and timing of the continental convergence and subduction zones and the migration of the transition between the two plate boundary regimes. Relative plate motions and reconstructions since the Early to Mid-Miocene require significant continental convergence in advance of the emplacement of the southward migrating Hikurangi subduction—a sequence of tectonism seen in the present plate boundary geography of Hikurangi subduction beneath North Island and convergence in the Southern Alps along the Alpine Fault. In contrast to a transition from subduction to continental convergence where the leading edge of the upper plate is relatively thin and deformable, the transition from a continental convergent regime, with its associated crustal and lithospheric thickening, to subduction of oceanic lithosphere requires substantial thinning (removal) of upper plate continental lithosphere to make room for the slab. The simple structure of the Wadati–Benioff zone seen in the present-day geometry of the subducting Pacific plate beneath North Island indicates that this lithospheric adjustment occurs quickly. Associated with this rapid lithospheric thinning is the development of a series of ephemeral basins, younging to the south, that straddle the migrating slab edge. Based on this association between localized vertical tectonics and slab emplacement, the tectonic history of these basins records the effects of lithospheric delamination driven by the southward migrating leading edge of the subducting Pacific slab. Although the New Zealand plate boundary is often described as simply two subduction zones linked by the transpressive Alpine Fault, in actuality the present is merely a snapshot view of an ongoing and complex evolution from convergence to subduction. 相似文献