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Analogies to oceanic behaviour in the continental breakup of the western Woodlark basin

Nature volume 380, pages 333–336 (1996)Cite this article

Abstract

THE Woodlark basin/D'Entrecasteaux Island region off northeast Papua New Guinea (Fig. 1) offers a rare glimpse of the propagation of active rifting and continental breakup1 into orogenically thickened (and subsequently extended) lithosphere2–10. Rifting, continental breakup, and the subsequent formation of oceanic lithosphere by sea-floor spreading often involve rupture controlled by propagation of a rift tip11–20. We recognize several tectonic elements in the evolving western Woodlark intracontinental system that are close geometric analogues of wholly oceanic propagators, and a kinematic development that can be viewed as an extrapolation of oceanic tectonics. The response to deformational stresses in the final stages of breakup in a thick, relatively hot, and hence weak continental lithosphere appears akin to that of oceanic lithosphere.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Lament-Doherty Earth Observatory of Colombia University, Palisades, New York, 10964, USA

    John C. Mutter, C. Z. Mutter & J. Fang

  2. Department of Geological Sciences, Colombia University, New York, New York, 10027, USA

    John C. Mutter & J. Fang

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  1. John C. Mutter
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  2. C. Z. Mutter
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Mutter, J., Mutter, C. & Fang, J. Analogies to oceanic behaviour in the continental breakup of the western Woodlark basin. Nature 380, 333–336 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1038/380333a0

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