Abstract
There is a growing Easter microplate between the Pacific and Nazca plates. The eastern and western boundaries of the microplate are actively spreading and propagating north and south, respectively. The northern and southern boundaries are broad transform zones. Most of the interior of the microplate contains the sort of oblique sheared structures characteristic of zones of transferred lithosphere between propagating and failing spreading centres.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 51 print issues and online access
$199.00 per year
only $3.90 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Herron, E. M. Nature 240, 35–37 (1972).
Forsyth, D. W. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 17, 189–193 (1972).
Anderson, R. N., Forsyth, D. W., Molnar, P. & Mammerickx, J. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 24, 188–202 (1974).
Hey, R. N. & Vogt, P. R. Tectonophysics 37, 41–52 (1977).
Hey, R. N., Duennebier, F. K. & Morgan, W. J. J. geophys. Res. 85, 3647–3658 (1980).
Hey, R. N. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 37, 321–325 (1977).
Handschumacher, D. W., Pilger, R. H. Jr, Foreman, J. A. & Campbell, J. F. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 154, 63–76 (1981).
Engeln, J. F. & Stein, S. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 68, 259–270 (1984).
Naar, D. F. & Hey, R. N. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).
Wilson, D. S. & Hey, R. N. Geophys. Res. Lett. 8, 1051–1054 (1981).
Minster, J. B. & Jordan, T. H. J. geophys. Res. 83, 5331–5360 (1978).
Chase, C. G. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 37, 355–368 (1978).
Hey, R. N., Johnson, G. L. & Lowrie, A. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 88, 1385–1403 (1977).
Christie, D. M. & Sinton, J. M. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 56, 321–325 (1981).
Sinton, J. M., Wilson, D. S., Christie, D. M., Hey, R. N. & Delaney, J. R. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 62, 193–207 (1983).
Schilling, J.-G., Sigurdsson, H., Davis, A. N. & Hey, R. N. Nature 317, 325–331 (1985).
Craig, H., Kim, K.-R. & Rison, W. EOS 65, 1140 (1984).
Macdougall, J. D. & Tanzer, M. O. EOS 65, 1140 (1984).
Morgan, W. J. J. geophys. Res. 83, 5355–5360 (1978).
Renard, V. & Allenou, J. P. Int. Hydrographic Rev. 56(1), 35–67 (1979).
de Moustier, C. & Kleinrock, M. C. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).
McKenzie, D. P. Nature 300, 740–741 (1982).
Hey, R. N., Kleinrock, M. C., Miller, S. P., Atwater, T. M. & Searle, R. C. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).
Searle, R. C. & Hey, R. N. J. geophys. Res. 88, 6433–6447 (1983).
McKenzie, D. P. & Morgan, W. J. Nature 224, 125–133 (1969).
Rea, D. K. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 154, 27–62 (1981).
Phipps Morgan, J. & Parmentier, E. M. J. geophys. Res. (in the press).
Wilson, J. T. Can. J. Phys. 41, 863–870 (1963).
Morgan, W. J. Nature 230, 42–43 (1971).
Duncan, R. A. & Hargraves, R. B. Mem. geol. Soc. Am. 162, 81–93 (1984).
Okal, E. & Cazenave, A. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 72, 99–116 (1985).
Bonatti, E. et al. J. geophys. Res. 82, 2457–2478 (1977).
Pilger, R. H. & Handschumacher, D. W. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 92, 437–446 (1981).
Mammerickx, J., Herron, E. & Dorman, L. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 91, 263–271 (1980).
Woodhouse, J. H. & Dziewonski, A. M. J. geophys. Res. 89, 5953–5986 (1984).
Burke, K., Kidd, W. S. F. & Wilson, J. T. Nature phys. Sci. 241, 128–129 (1973).
Hey, R. N., Johnson, G. L. & Lowrie, A. Trans. Am. geophys. Un. 54, 244 (1973).
Oldenburg, D. W. & Brune, J. N. Science 178, 301–304 (1972).
Lachenbruch, A. H. J. geophys. Res. 81, 1883–1902 (1976).
Schilling, J.-G., Meyer, P. S. & Kingsley, R. H. Nature 296, 313–320 (1982).
Mammerickx, J. & Klitgord, K. D. J. geophys. Res. 87, 6751–6759 (1982).
Sclater, J. G., Andersen, R. N. & Bell, M. L. J. geophys. Res. 76, 7888–7915 (1971).
Herron, E. M. Bull. geol. Soc. Am. 83, 1671–1691 (1972).
Anderson, R. N. & Sclater, J. G. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 14, 433–441 (1972).
Anderson, R. N. & Davis, E. E. Nature 241, 191–193 (1973).
Bowin, C. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 21, 400–404 (1974).
Hey, R. N. & Wilson, D. S. Earth planet. Sci. Lett. 58, 167–188 (1982).
Mammerickx, J. & Smith, S. M. Geol. Soc. Am. Map Chart Ser., MC-26 (1978).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hey, R., Naar, D., Kleinrock, M. et al. Microplate tectonics along a superfast seafloor spreading system near Easter Island. Nature 317, 320–325 (1985). https://doi.org/10.1038/317320a0
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/317320a0
This article is cited by
-
Backarc spreading, rifting, and microplate rotation, between transform faults in the Manus Basin
Marine Geophysical Researches (1996)
-
Plate boundary reorganization at a large-offset, rapidly propagating rift
Nature (1995)
-
Rifting of oceanic crust at Endeavor Deep on the Juan Fernandez microplate
Marine Geophysical Researches (1995)
-
Morphology of a ?superfast? Mid-Ocean Ridge crest and flanks: The East Pacific Rise, 7�?9� S
Marine Geophysical Researches (1993)
-
Roller-bearing tectonic evolution of the Juan Fernandez microplate
Nature (1992)
Comments
By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.