Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Lithospheric structure of the Rio Grande rift

Nature volume 433, pages 851–855 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

A high-resolution, regional passive seismic experiment1,2,3,4,5,6 in the Rio Grande rift region of the southwestern United States has produced new images of upper-mantle velocity structure and crust–mantle topography. Synthesizing these results with geochemical7,8,9 and other geophysical10,11,12,13 evidence reveals highly symmetric lower-crustal and upper-mantle lithosphere extensional deformation, suggesting a pure-shear rifting mechanism for the Rio Grande rift. Extension in the lower crust is distributed over a region four times the width of the rift's surface expression. Here we propose that the laterally distributed, pure shear extension is a combined effect of low strain rate and a regionally elevated geotherm, possibly abetted by pre-existing lithospheric structures, at the time of rift initiation. Distributed extension in the lower crust and mantle has induced less concentrated vertical mantle upwelling and less vigorous small-scale convection14 than would have arisen from more localized deformation. This lack of highly focused mantle upwelling may explain a deficit of rift-related volcanics in the Rio Grande rift compared to other major rift systems such as the Kenya rift15,16.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

  • Purchase on Springer Link
  • Instant access to full article PDF
Buy now

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: Elevation of the Rio Grande rift and surrounding region.
Figure 2: Modelled topography of the base of the crust.
Figure 3: Lithospheric-scale cross-section in the identical projection used in Fig. 2, showing predicted surface topography and uplift of the Moho and lithosphere topography from modelling shown in Fig. 2.

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Wilson, D. et al. Broadband seismic background noise at temporary seismic stations observed on a regional scale in the southwestern United States. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 92, 3335–3341 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  2. Gao, W. et al. Upper mantle convection beneath the central Rio Grande rift imaged by P and S wave tomography. J. Geophys. Res. 109, doi:101029/2003JB002743 (2004)

  3. Gök, R. et al. Shear wave splitting and mantle flow beneath LA RISTRA. Geophys. Res. Lett. 30, doi:101029/2002GL016616 (2003)

  4. West, M. et al. Crust and upper mantle shear wave structure of the southwest of the southwest United States: Implications for rifting and support for high elevation. J. Geophys. Res. 109, doi:101029/2003JB002575 (2004)

  5. Wilson, D. et al. Imaging crust and upper mantle seismic structure in the southwestern United States using teleseismic receiver functions. Leading Edge 22, 232–237 (2003)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  6. Wilson, D. et al. Seismic structure of the lithosphere in the southwestern United States using teleseismic receiver functions. J. Geophys. Res. (submitted).

  7. Perry, F. V., Baldridge, W. S. & DePaolo, D. J. Chemical and isotopic evidence for lithospheric thinning beneath the Rio Grande rift. Nature 332, 432–434 (1988) | Article |

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Baldridge, W. S. et al. Middle to Late Cenozoic magmatism of the southeastern Colorado plateau and central Rio Grande rift (New Mexico and Arizona, USA)—A model for continental rifting. Tectonophysics 197, 327–354 (1991)

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. McMillan, N. J. Temporal and spatial magmatic evolution of the Rio Grande rift. New Mexico Geol. Soc. Guidebk 49, 107–116 (1998)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Cordell, L., Zorin, Y. A. & Keller, G. R. The decompensative gravity anomaly and deep structure of the region of the Rio Grande rift. J. Geophys. Res. 96, 6557–6568 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. Parker, E. C., Davis, P. M., Evans, J. R., Iyer, H. M. & Olsen, K. H. Upwarp of anomalous asthenosphere beneath the Rio Grande rift. Nature 312, 354–356 (1984)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Davis, P. M. Continental rift structures and dynamics with reference to teleseismic studies of the Rio Grande and East-African rifts. Tectonophysics 197, 309–325 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. Slack, P. D. et al. The upper mantle structure of the central Rio Grande Rift region from teleseismic P- and S- wave travel time delays and attenuation. J. Geophys. Res. 101, 16003–16023 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. Mutter, J., Buck, W. R. & Zehnder, C. Convective partial melting. 1. A model for the formation of thick basaltic sequences during the initiation of spreading. J. Geophys. Res. 93, 1031–1048 (1988)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. Olsen, K. H., Baldridge, W. S. & Callender, J. F. Rio Grande rift: an overview. Tectonophysics 143, 119–139 (1987)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. Keller, G. R. et al. A comparative study of the Rio Grande and Kenya rifts. Tectonophysics 197, 355–371 (1991)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. McKenzie, D. Some remarks on the development of sedimentary basins. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 40, 25–32 (1978)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Wernicke, B. Uniform sense normal simple shear of the continental lithosphere. Can. J. Earth Sci. 22, 108–125 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. Buck, R. W. Small-scale convection induced by passive rifting: the cause for uplift of rift shoulders. Earth Planet. Sci. Lett. 77, 362–372 (1986)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Huismans, R. S., Podladchikov, Y. Y. & Cloetingh, S. Transition from passive to active rifting: Relative importance of asthenospheric doming and passive extension of the lithosphere. J. Geophys. Res. 106, 11271–11291 (2001)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. Weissel, J. K. & Karner, G. D. Flexural uplift of rift flanks due to mechanical unloading of the lithosphere during extension. J. Geophys. Res. 94, 13919–13950 (1989)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Chapin, C. E. & Cather, S. M. Tectonic setting of the axial basins of the northern and central Rio Grande rift. Geol. Soc. Am. Spec. Pap. 291, 5–24 (1994)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Buck, R. W., Martinez, F., Steckler, M. S. & Cochran, J. R. Thermal consequences of lithospheric extension: pure and simple. Tectonics 7, 213–234 (1988)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. Russell, L. R. & Snelson, S. in Interior Rift Basins (ed. Landon, S.) AAPG Mem. 59, 205–258 (1994).

  25. Langston, C. A. Corvallis, Oregon, crustal and upper mantle receiver structure from teleseismic P and S waves. Bull. Seismol. Soc. Am. 67, 713–724 (1977)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Keller, G. R. & Baldridge, W. S. The Rio Grande rift: A geological and geophysical review. Rocky Mountain Geol. 34, 131–148 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  27. Lavier, L. L. & Buck, W. R. Half graben versus large-offset low-angle normal fault: importance of keeping cool during normal faulting. J. Geophys. Res. 107, ETG 8-1–13 (2002)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  28. Karato, S. Importance of anelasticity in the interpretation of seismic tomography. Geophys. Res. Lett. 20, 1623–1626 (1993)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  29. Morgan, P., Seager, W. & Golombek, M. Cenozoic thermal, mechanical and tectonic evolution of the Rio Grande rift. J. Geophys. Res. 91, 6263–6276 (1986)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. Humphreys, D. Post-Laramide removal of the Farallon slab, western United States. Geology 23, 987–990 (1995)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

We thank G. R. Keller and Roger Buck for comments. Field and data handling assistance was provided by the IRIS PASSCAL Instrument Center at the New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology (NMT). This research was supported by NSF grants, the Los Alamos National Laboratory Institute for Geophysics and Planetary Physics, the New Mexico State University Arts and Sciences Research Center, and the NMT Geophysical Research Center. A permit is necessary to conduct geological investigations on the Navajo Nation from the Navajo Nation Minerals Department.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Earth and Environmental Science and Geophysical Research Center, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology, Socorro, New Mexico, 87801, USA

    David Wilson & Richard Aster

  2. Department of Physics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico, 88003, USA

    Michael West & James Ni

  3. Jackson School of Geosciences, University of Texas, Austin, Texas, 78712, USA

    Steve Grand, Wei Gao & Paresh Patel

  4. Earth and Environmental Sciences Division, MS D462, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico, 87545, USA

    W. Scott Baldridge

  5. Department of Geological Sciences, Arizona State University, Tempe, Arizona, 85287, USA

    Steve Semken

Authors
  1. David Wilson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Richard Aster
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Michael West
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. James Ni
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Steve Grand
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wei Gao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. W. Scott Baldridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Steve Semken
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Paresh Patel
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to David Wilson.

Ethics declarations

Competing interests

The authors declare that they have no competing financial interests.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Wilson, D., Aster, R., West, M. et al. Lithospheric structure of the Rio Grande rift. Nature 433, 851–855 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03297

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nature03297

This article is cited by

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.

Search

Advanced search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing