Sarah E. Rilling1, Sam B. Mukasa1, Terry J. Wilson2, and Larry Lawver3. (1) Department of Geological Sciences, University of Michigan, 2534 C.C. Little Bldg, 1100 N University Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, (2) School of Earth Sciences, Ohio State University, 125 S. Oval Mall, Columbus, OH 43210-1522, (3) Institute for Geophysics, University of Texas at Austin, 10100 Burnet Rd. - R2200, Austin, TX 78758-4445
The Terror Rift appears to be active or was active until very recently as shown by the crosscutting nature of young volcanic rocks. Seamounts as young as 122 Ka represent volcanic rocks cutting the entire Terror Rift section up to the seafloor, and unsampled areas may be even younger. If volcanic activity is coeval with rifting, then we can deduce that extension continued at least until the latest Pliocene and possibly even to more recent times. Improved understanding of the geochronology of these seafloor volcanic rocks not only aids in models of magmatic evolution, but will assist in seismic interpretations and neotectonic studies by providing absolute and precise time constraints for Terror Rift basin strata and structures.
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